Dear Parent/Guardian,
Beginning February 3, 2026, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and fourth through 12th-grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, your district has chosen to provide the optional supplement parent survey. If at least 20 percent of Clay City CUSD #10 parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent report will also be generated. The parent data will not be included on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted from February 3, 2026, to March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Sincerely,
John Neubaum
Beginning February 3, 2026, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and fourth through 12th-grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, your district has chosen to provide the optional supplement parent survey. If at least 20 percent of Clay City CUSD #10 parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent report will also be generated. The parent data will not be included on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted from February 3, 2026, to March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Sincerely,
John Neubaum
Weekly Announcements • February 9-14
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted from February 3, 2026, to March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
Kindergartner Mary Jane H. noticed she and librarian Mrs. Goodrum were matching today. They made sure to snap a photo since they were "twinning"!
CCJH Volleyball will now play at 4:30pm on Thursday, February 12.
North Clay • Clay City Co-Op High School Girls' Softball sign-ups are happening now. Please sign-up in the high school office.
Congratulations to fifth grader Masyn W. and third grader Piper B. for being the first ones to get donations for the Kids Heart Challenge and signing the hearts on the wall! Great work girls!
Clay City CUSD 10 will dismiss at 12:00 PM on Friday, February 6.
Mark your calendars! CCHS Class of 2026 invite you to a porkburger sale on Sunday, February 15. The sale will take place in the Clay City Christian Church parking lot from 11:00am - 1:00pm.
Valentine's Gram orders are due tomorrow — Friday, February 6.
Parents/ community members can also purchase grams online by using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/K2SzGsgoptbc4RRbA Online orders need to be paid using Venmo or CashApp (instructions in the form).
Parents/ community members can also purchase grams online by using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/K2SzGsgoptbc4RRbA Online orders need to be paid using Venmo or CashApp (instructions in the form).
REMINDER: There will be NO pre-k tomorrow — Friday, February 6.
From pajamas because we are so tired, to 100 displayed on shirts, to dressing like a 100 year old, there were many ways students and staff celebrated the 100th day of school. All students were also on the hunt for 100 pictures of principal Mr. Wattles hidden around the school. Students finished the day with 95 pictures collected!
Miss Fender's first graders had a great 100th day celebration! They made a 100 day monster, raced to 100, made necklaces with 100 fruit loops, and did the 100 licks challenge.
There will be no pre-k on Friday, February 6.
Meyer Art Program is tomorrow - Wednesday, February 4. This is the make-up day from being cancelled due to last week's snow days. Participant pick-up is at 4:45pm. No late registration will be accepted.
Weekly Announcements • February 2-7
TOMORROW: Tuesday, February 3 will be the 100th day of school!
Students K-5 are invited to dress in one of three ways to celebrate:
1. Wear a shirt with 100 things on it.
2. Dress as a 100 year old person.
3. Wear your pajamas because we are so tired from working so hard.
(Snow days will move the 100th day back.)
Students K-5 are invited to dress in one of three ways to celebrate:
1. Wear a shirt with 100 things on it.
2. Dress as a 100 year old person.
3. Wear your pajamas because we are so tired from working so hard.
(Snow days will move the 100th day back.)
The Senior Class is selling Valentine's Day Grams. Order forms will go home with Pre-K-5 students today, and JH and HS students can purchase grams from any senior class member.
Parents/ community members can also purchase grams online by using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/K2SzGsgoptbc4RRbA
Online orders need to be paid using Venmo or CashApp (instructions in the form).
Parents/ community members can also purchase grams online by using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/K2SzGsgoptbc4RRbA
Online orders need to be paid using Venmo or CashApp (instructions in the form).
February 2 - February 6 is School Counselor Appreciation Week. We at Clay City are thankful for all of Miss Hall's hard work as she serves our student population. Thank you Miss Hall!
CCJH Volleyball will have practice tomorrow – Friday, January 30 – from 1:30-3:00pm.
