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Letter from the Principal

Happy Fall! Can you believe we're already finished with the first grading period? It feels like we just started the year, but, at the same time, our students and staff have accomplished so much, both in and out of the classroom (see below for some highlights).

As we move into the second grading period, we will be emphasizing consistent attendance. Daily attendance in school is a strong indicator of future success. At Clifton, students are engaged in teamwork, hands-on learning, and internships that cannot always be made up. Consistent attendance supports student learning and also helps prepare students for their future careers. When we talk with employers, they repeatedly tell us they are looking for reliable employees.

To help reinforce strong attendance, we have been recognizing students with 90% or higher attendance for the first grading period with a certificate and small prize. We also started our weekly attendance incentives this week. We will track individual student attendance AND class attendance, with the option to win prizes and a class celebration. Please encourage your student to maintain 90% attendance, which is the expectation to earn credit in a class.

In partnership,

Tony Dishner

Attendance

Students must by physically present at Clifton to be marked present. Students are considered tardy if they arrive after the last bus. Students are considered absent if they arrive after 10:30 AM in the morning section or 2:15 PM in the afternoon section.

Reporting Absences

Parents/guardians reporting an absence can

• Send a physical note/documentation to the Clifton Front Office. We will always offer to make a copy of the note if the student also needs to report the absence to their home campus.
• E-mail clifton@austinisd.org
• Submit an absence note online using the Austin ISD School Absence Form

Students who stay at their home campus during their Clifton period will be marked absent. Home campus attendance specialists can change the attendance code in these situations if the student is participating in another school event, has an educational meeting, etc. This should be the exception, not the rule, and it does not excuse a student from their Clifton coursework.

📳 If a student knows they will be absent, we encourage them to contact their Clifton teacher directly. Although this does not excuse the absence, this is another great habit to practice for life after high school.

Leaving Early

Students who leave early must be signed out in the office by an adult on the approved pick-up list. Leaving for any part of the day will result in an unexcused tardy. Students leaving for or arriving from a medical appointment must bring a note from the doctor to excuse the absence/tardy.

Learn more about AISD attendance

A Few Highlights from the 1st Grading Period

Agricultural Technology (Welding)

First-year students have wrapped up their Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) certifications and transitioned into the shop this week. They are starting their hands-on skills by learning how to cut metal with the oxyfuel torch. Meanwhile, second and third-year students in the welding shop have earned an impressive 48 Industry-Based Certifications (American Welding Society D9.1 Sheet Metal) this grading period! Congratulations on all their hard work!

Culinary Arts

First-year students in Culinary Arts successfully earned their Food Handlers Certificates and have begun practicing knife skills and measurement in the lab. This week, in honor of Transportation Appreciation Week, they baked goodies to help us recognize the 65+ bus drivers, monitors, dispatchers, schedulers, and maintenance workers who make Clifton programming accessible to students across the district. Second-year students are developing their baked good and preserved food recipes for the upcoming Travis County Youth Show, while third-year students have been busy planning their own luncheons. Together, the Culinary Team has hosted three successful Clifton luncheons, including our first ever student-curated luncheon. Today's luncheon was planned entirely by senior and third-year student, Betzaida Rivas Barrera.

Early Learning

In partnership with Child Inc., Early Learning students are going to internship twice per week to gain hands-on experience working with toddlers and preschoolers. Our students help keep the kids playing and learning safely. They also earned their Food Handlers Certificates so they can support during lunch service. Students will continue to improve their positive redirection skills and will learn more about developmental observations and assessments as the semester progresses.

Health Science

First-year students have been learning about the range of therapeutic careers and had the chance to hear from a guest speaker who is a current medical assistant continuing her education to become a surgical technician. Second and third-year students have already begun preparing for their Medical Assistant certifications exams and recently learned how to position patients for different procedures/purposes. At the end of September, several of our seniors had the opportunity to attend the Galen College Nursing Academy (out of 16 students chosen from AISD, Clifton students were awarded 10 spots!), which offered hands-on simulations. We're looking forward to more opportunities as the year continues!

Career Preparation

Our seniors in Career Prep are focused on developing their resumes and applying for jobs, including following up with potential employers via phone and email. They are also learning independent living skills, such as navigating CapMetro, budgeting, exploring community resources, and obtaining a Texas ID or driver license. Students have also finished their first month at internship across multiple sites: Child Craft School, Double Tree Hotel, Parson's House, and Urban Roots.

Students of the Month

Each month, Clifton teachers choose one student across all their sections to be recognized for their hard work, initiative, and leadership in the classroom. Join us in congratulating our first round of students for the 24-25 school year!