Announcement:
There will be extra meals served from the cafeteria at Celina K-8 and Hermitage Springs schools
for any child 18 years old or younger. Pick-up will be on Thursdays (June 4, June 11, & June 18)
from 11:30-12:30. If you plan on picking up a meal, please call 931-243-5511 and let us know
how many children you will be picking up for and at which location. Please call by 1:00 pm one
day prior to pick-up so that we can have the meals prepared. Thank you.
2025-26 VPK Family Satisfaction Survey: Due May 15, 2026
Help Clay County Schools improve our program and continue receiving state funds for pre-k classes in Clay County Schools. This survey is for families of children currently enrolled in the Voluntary Pre-K Program (Pre-K) to provide important feedback regarding your child’s VPK participation, including in areas of family engagement, kindergarten readiness activities, and general satisfaction with the program. The information you provide in response to this survey will be used by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and VPK programs to continuously improve the VPK experience for enrolled children and their families.
This survey is voluntary, but participation is strongly encouraged, as this is a great way for the TDOE and VPK programs to hear your voice about your experience. Please only submit one survey per VPK family by May 15, 2026.
2025-26 VPK Family Survey (English)
Encuesta de satisfacción familiar del programa VPK 2025-26:
Fecha límite: 15 de mayo de 2026
Ayude a las Escuelas del Condado de Clay a mejorar nuestro programa y a seguir recibiendo fondos estatales para las clases de preescolar en las Escuelas del Condado de Clay. Esta encuesta es para las familias de niños en el Programa Voluntario de Educación Preescolar (VPK) El objetivo es brindar información valiosa sobre la participación de su hijo/a en el programa VPK, incluyendo aspectos como la participación familiar, las actividades de preparación para el jardín de infantes y la satisfacción general con el programa. La información que proporcione en esta encuesta será utilizada por el Departamento de Educación de Tennessee (TDOE) y los programas VPK para mejorar continuamente la experiencia de los niños inscritos y sus familias.
Esta encuesta es voluntaria, pero Se anima encarecidamente a participar. Esta es una excelente manera para que el Departamento de Educación de Tennessee (TDOE) y los programas VPK conozcan su opinión sobre su experiencia. Por favor, envíe solo una encuesta por familia participante en el programa VPK antes del 15 de mayo de 2026.
Encuesta a familias del programa VPK 2025-26 (en español)
Clay County Schools elementary students at Celina K-8 School and Hermitage Springs School have been selected to participate in a home library program this upcoming summer.
The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation’s K-3 Home Library Program is an annual book delivery initiative throughout the summer for public school students across the state. All students who will be in 1st through 3rd grade for the 2026-2027 school year have the opportunity to receive six books and activity pages.
Each book will be delivered to the students’ homes for free. The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation uses the program to support student learning through the summer break and combat student learning loss.
Books were chosen by the GELF’s statewide Educator Advisory Council of 22 teachers, reading specialists, librarians and school administrators across Tennessee. The books will align with curriculum content for the student’s upcoming grade level.
Families wishing to participate do not need to do anything, as they are by default enrolled in the program.
The summer 2026 book list of six age-appropriate books and thinksheet activity resources are:
Rising 1st grade:
Watch Me Throw the Ball by Mo Willems
Frog Meets Dog/Rana Conoce Perro by Janee Trasler
Boxitects by Kim Smith
Tadpole to Frog, Level 1 by Shira Evans
Unexpected Swimmers by Claire Caprioli
Baa Baa Black Belt by Gavin Aung Than
Rising 2nd grade:
Wallace & Grace Take the Case by Heather Alexander
Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds
Do You Like My Bike by Norm Feuti
Little Nita’s Big Idea/La Gran Idea de la Pequeña Nita by Anna W. Bardaus
Unexpected Flyers by Jay Lslie
Inky’s Amazing Escape by Sy Montgomery
Rising 3rd grade:
Hut! Hut! Hike! by Andrew Maraniss
Owly Tiny Tales by Andy Runton
Elle May on President’s Day by Hilary Homzie
Cats vs. Dogs — Science Readers Level 3 by Elizabeth Carney
Ambibians by Brenna Maloney
Evergreen by Matthew Cordell
Student book packs for rising 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders are mailed directly to students homes beginning in June.
Student book packs that were undeliverable will be rerouted to their school of record in August.
Public Release
Clay County Schools announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. For School Year 2025-2026 Clay County Schools will continue participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). No further action is required of you. This USDA provision allows your child(ren) to participate in the school meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.
CEP is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools and school districts in low-income areas to eliminate school meal applications and serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all enrolled students. CEP gives food service professionals more time to focus on preparing nutritious meals that their students will enjoy and gives students more time to eat those meals by cutting down on time spent in the lunch line. More importantly, by offering all students a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost, CEP helps ensure more students come to class well-nourished and ready to learn.
Children need healthy meals to learn and the Clay County School District offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so please encourage students to participate. “In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.”
Parents or guardians who need further information may contact Teia Arms, Child Nutrition Program Director at 931-243-5511.
USDA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632- 9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Board Meeting Notice for Website.docThe Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has developed a reporting app that will allow users to anonymously report safety concerns. The Homeland Security office will review, assess, and then forward reports to law enforcement, mental health crisis teams, and/or school administrators based on the information received. The attached FAQ provides additional details on the app and the notification process. The attached handout addresses how the app works, what to report, and where the app can be downloaded.
SafeTN is free. Students, staff, parents, and the community need only to download the free mobile app on a compatible device.
CLAY COUNTY - We are looking for parents to help!
Do you need a hand up with getting a job or getting a better job? Childcare? Budgeting? Financial resources? Apply today!
Empower TN and the Highlands Economic Partnership strive to improve the quality of life for all citizens by providing opportunities for businesses to grow and prosper, and by providing access for citizens of all ages educational and work experiences that will allow them to better themselves generationally. We do this through Economic Development, Workforce Development, and Workplace Education.
FLYER.ADULT.ED.docx
Welcome
In 1919 all high schools in Clay County came under the control of the Clay County School Board. Public high schools were established at Celina (Clay County High School) with Professor J. J. Hendrickson as principal, Spivey (Hermitage Springs) Mattie Capshaw and Eva Capshaw were teachers the Principal is unknown, Moss High School with Professor O. L. Carnahan as principal, and Willow Grove High School with T. L. Sewell as principal.
In 1914, the year following the passing of the compulsory education law in Tennessee, there were 3035 students enrolled in grades 1-8 plus the high school students.
The Clay County Elementary System had 65 schools located throughout the County in 1920.
By 1977, the number of schools in Clay County had been reduced to four sites, Celina K-8, Celina High School, Hermitage Springs School (Grades K-12), and Maple Grove. The student population was 1556.
Celina High School was closed in 2003. Clay County High School (located on Highway 52 just outside Celina) opened in the fall of 2003. Hermitage Springs High School was consolidated into Clay County High School in 2007.
Clay County Schools' student population is now 1081.
The Mission Of Clay County Schools Is
To Provide A Positive Learning Environment
In Which Students Develop To Their Fullest
Potential, Achieve Success, And Are
Prepared To Meet The Challenges Of An
Ever-Changing World.
