Tonight's boys basketball game against Salina South Middle School has been postponed. Discussions regarding a possible rescheduling are currently underway, and we will keep you updated as details become available. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you

This week, we are proud to recognize Marah Koster as our "Like a Champion" Pillar of Leadership! Marah embodies many of the essential characteristics outlined in the seven habits, including resourcefulness, commitment, integrity, fairness, respect, humility, and balance, among others. In fact, these qualities truly define who she is. Marah is always there for her students and her colleagues, excelling in her roles as both a team leader and teacher leader in our school. She is consistently willing to assist others in solving problems or simply offering a listening ear when needed. Her genuine ability to listen and understand others encourages those around her to be open-minded and receptive to new ideas. CCCMS would be lost without her leadership and smile!

USD 379 Announcement

This week's Bengal Spotlight Featured Department is our Social Studies department! We are fortunate at CCCMS to have three of the best Social Studies teachers!
This is Patrick Taylor's fourth year at CCCMS and of teaching. He grew up in Manhattan and went to K-State. So far, he has enjoyed teaching and it has been very rewarding for him. History has been his favorite subject for as long as he can remember!
McKinley Mellies is a first year teacher who graduated from Kansas State University in May. Originally from Clay Center, where she graduated high school in 2020, McKinley now teaches 7th-grade social studies at the middle school, as well as government and current events at the high school. She loves books, coffee, trivia, creative projects, and going on walks.
JD Lane is in year 35 of teaching middle school Social Studies, with 26 of those being at McKinley/CCCMS. He enjoys reading, golf, spending time with family, and traveling. He also coaches football and track at CCCHS and 7th-grade girls basketball. Married to Carrie, a Clay Center native with 3 children; Lauren, Peyton, and Sydney.
This is definitely a quote these three amazing teachers teach by! “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Thanks for all you do for the students and for CCCMS!

Thank you, USD 379 parents!

UPDATE! Due to the anticipated weather conditions, tonight's Boys Basketball game has been postponed. A makeup date is pending.
Thank you

UPDATE! Due to the potential weather forecasted tonight's game has been postponed. Makeup date is pending...
Thank you
Join us this evening to cheer on our Bengal Basketball teams as the Boys kick off their season at home at 4:30 PM! Admission prices are $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for students, while Bengal students can enjoy the game for free. The schedule for the games is as follows: 7th Grade: The ‘A’ team will start their game at 4:30 PM, followed by the ‘B’ team 10 minutes after the first game ends in the District Gym. 8th Grade: The ‘A’ team will also tip off at 4:30 PM, with the ‘B’ team playing 10 minutes after the conclusion of the first game in the CCCMS Gym. We hope to see you there to support our teams!

January is National Mentoring Month. USD 379 participates in the Teammates mentoring program, which is funded by the Clay Counts Coalition.
According to TeamMates data, 84% of mentors report that they return to their workplace/home more engaged after mentoring. What are you waiting for? Join the team! Contact lisalast@usd379.org for more information or to sign up.

What goes into a USD 379 snow day? This video is a behind-the-scenes look at the January 2025 snowstorm that dropped a record 16+ inches in parts of Clay County. It shows the district's preparation before the storm and highlights what went into getting our buildings ready to open again.
https://youtu.be/KBN4iTejiek
Today, we are thrilled to announce our first "Like a Champion" recognition for 2025, and this award goes to a truly deserving student: Cayden Schwab! Cayden is an exceptional athlete, but what Mr. Brummet values most about him is the positive influence he has on his classmates. He is respected and has the remarkable ability to transform the culture within our school. Many of our most vulnerable students have noted that Cayden is someone who will step up, stand by them, and offer support in difficult times. Nominated by Mr. Brummet, it's clear that Cayden's impact resonates with all the staff at CCCMS. We are fortunate to have him as a proud member of the Bengal community!

USD 379 will be on a two-hour delay on Wednesday, January 8th, 2025. There will be no AM preschool. CCCHS, CCCMS and Wakefield will start at 10:10am. LES and GES will start at 10:25am.

Lisa Last is once again hosting a FREE parenting course through USD 379 and funded by the Clay Counts Coalition.


USD 379 will be closed on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025. No school or activities.

All USD 379 sites, including the Stuart Administrative Center, will be closed on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

USD 379 will be closed on Monday, January 6th, 2025. No school or activities.

Today's "Like a Champion" Call of the Day is sure to warm your heart, as we celebrate Jace Kloft! During band class, they played a game involving rhythms, and Jace emerged as the competition winner. However, instead of keeping his prize for himself, Jace chose to give it to a classmate who had come in second place. His friend had been feeling down, but Jace’s generous act turned that around and brought a big smile to his face. This moment truly made everyone in the class feel like winners! Keep it up, Jace! Your commitment to Habit 4, "Think Win-Win," really shines through in your everyday actions!

We are incredibly proud of our 8th Grade Lady Bengals for their outstanding basketball season! They returned home last night as the NCKL runners-up. Excellent job, ladies!


This week, we are excited to present the "Like a Champion" Pillar of Leadership award to Mr. Kelly! He has been doing an outstanding job embodying Habit 5, "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood," particularly through his engaging vocabulary lessons. Many students have started incorporating the new words they learn into their everyday conversations. Mr. Kelly also excels at Habit 4, "Think Win-Win." He consistently creates a warm and inviting classroom environment, and the pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee adds to the welcoming atmosphere! Additionally, Mr. Kelly has demonstrated exceptional skills in using Habit 6, "Synergize." During 6th hour, he invites some of his students to assist in moving and setting up wrestling mats. Their teamwork made a challenging task much more manageable and was greatly appreciated. We are truly fortunate to have dedicated educators like Mr. Kelly in our school!

"The “other” Mr. Lane’s PAWS class is in the spotlight this week. Do we like being the center of attention? Absolutely not. We are introverts to the core. But we love learning about things they are passionate about, such as technology, science, and social studies. Our group loves hands on in our learning and we enjoy having a creative outlet and to build things. The thing we enjoy the most is being social with our friends." Ian Lane

Today, we are proud to recognize Jamis Pumarlo and his partner as our "Like a Champion" Call of the Day recipients. Throughout the year, Jamis and his sidekick have been embracing Habit 6 with their delightful morning announcements. Jamis kicks off the day with a funny dad joke that breaks the ice, and his partner follows up by reciting the pledge of allegiance. Together, they create a fantastic synergy that sets a positive tone for our school day!
*Both students were nominated by Jeremy Lund*

