Students celebrated Claypool Elementary School’s 10th anniversary. Photo provided.

Press Release

CLAYPOOL — Oct. 10 was Claypool Elementary School’s 10th birthday.

The elementary school’s students and staff celebrated the anniversary on Friday, Oct. 9, with an outdoor celebration. Claypool Principal Missy Rees addressed students seated across the playground area in front of their building. Rees’ opening remarks emphasized Claypool’s values, history and future.

“It’s all about community,” said Rees. “With the help of the community,w e came together to offer meals and start a clothing closet. Together, we set and achieved big goals.”

Rees went on to highlight accomplishments that include Claypool as one of only 11 Model Professional Learning Community schools in the state of Indiana. Claypool is also a Project Lead The Way Distinguished School. Recently, Claypool added to this list when they received STEM certification from the state of Indiana. Other notable accomplishments include pioneering work with streams, lakes and agriculture to design an outdoor classroom where students have hands-on learning in nature. Claypool also expanded its grounds to add a new field for extending opportunities for outdoor activities and learning.

Following Rees’ address, students sang Happy Birthday, filed out to the newly acquired field, blew bubbles and ended the celebration with a decorated sugar cookie.