Maverick pride, and proud of it

Students at Clay Central/Everly Elementary are keyed up for one of the biggest weeks of the year.

Sept. 23-27 marks Homecoming at CC/E. Though it may look different than when the district still had grades 7-12, Maverick pride is pulsating.

"We are so excited about Homecoming, because keeping our school spirit and the pride of being a Maverick alive matters greatly to the generations that have come before us and those that will follow," said CC/E Director of Student Services Michelle Huntress. "We have a great lineup planned."

2024 marks the third year of CC/E's resurrected Homecoming celebration. Iesha Toft, CC/E's Beyond the Bell director and outreach/culture coordinator, was instrumental in bringing it back in 2022 after a three-year hiatus. The celebration was shelved when CC/E ceased offering grades 7-12 in 2019, but she believed it was important to get it back on the schedule.

For Toft, it was all about community togetherness.

"We are Mavericks and we are proud of it," she said. "When you realize that we are all part of this one magical family unit called CC/E and that being a Maverick is something to wear with honor, pride and joy, then not only will feeling that school spirit be an uplifting and exciting thing for our students, but it will also be spread to others within our communities and school district."

Though there won't be any Friday night lights during Homecoming, elementary students will still enjoy a packed schedule. The lineup features dress-up days, poster contests, window painting, parade, pep rally, cheer clinics, teacher/student ball games, and more.

Toft said it was important for the student body to see the community's support this week.

"Homecoming builds a team of staff, students, families and community members that understand the importance of what a Maverick stands for and that each of our students are worth celebrating," she said. "It bridges the gap between community and school district, bringing in those that support our school all year."

Homecoming isn't only about school spirit at CC/E, it's a celebration of resiliency.

Low enrollment has continued to plague CC/E since it transitioned to an elementary-only district after the junior/senior high was shuttered back in 2019. This year marked the first in which some grade levels were combined into one classroom to give students more educational opportunities and social interactions. Now, grades 3-4 are combined, as are grades 5-6.

School officials have reported a positive experience thus far following the change. Toft believed the district's resolve in the face of change was worth celebrating.

"Each year CC/E faces new hurdles and new expectations that every public school feels in some way or another," she said. "We continue to fight through with grace, kindness and persistence. Our spirit truly is our fame and we will continue to fight to offer safe learning environments, exciting and top-notch curriculum, and of course the best in one-on-one nurturing and education to our precious Mavericks."