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Clay Art Show 2022
Clay 8-12 art students worked hard this year experimenting with different art materials and art styles all while finding their own personal journeys within their artwork. The Picasso quote, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life," was used in this year's show because life can give us ups and downs, but art can give us a new look at life.
Please enjoy this year's Clay Jr/Sr High School Virtual Night of the Arts 2021-2022.
Youthful Visions
In celebration of Youth Art Month in March, local art students display "Youthful Visions" at the Portsmouth Public Library. Clay students with art displayed are Gracie Rideoutward, Gabrielle McElroy, and Rylan Jenkins. Art students also designed bookmarks for the library to distribute throughout the month. Mrs. Tiffany Moore is the Clay art instructor.
Scioto County Spelling Bee 2022
The sixty-ninth annual Scioto County Spelling Bee was held at the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center, in New Boston, on Thursday, March 10, 2022.
Nineteen students advanced to the County Spelling Bee after winning at their own schools including Eli Bailey and Lexi Kennison from Clay. The 2022 Champion of the Scioto County Spelling Bee was Andrew Hoffer, who is in the eighth grade at Green High School. Andrew was awarded a trophy and $300. Second place was awarded to Nicholas Sylvia, eighth grader at Wheelersburg Middle School, who received $150. Third place went to Lexi Kennison, fifth grader at Clay Elementary, receiving $75. Fourth place went to Madeline Litz, eigth grader at Minford Middle School, who received $50. Eli Bailey was sixth.
Congratulations, Lexi!
COVID-19 Update: Facial Coverings
Effective Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the use of facial coverings became OPTIONAL for the Clay Local Schools. Effective, Monday, February 28, 2022, the use of facial coverings became OPTIONAL on district transportation.
Clay Elementary Spelling Bee
Clay Elemantary held their Spelling Bee on January 26, 2022. The Champion was Alexis Kennison from 5th Grade and the Runner-up was Luke McClary from 4th Grade.
Clay Winter Sports Highlights, 2021-22
Clay High School Boys' Basketball
Clay High School Girls' Basketball
Clay Junior High Boys' Basketball
Clay Jr-Sr HS Science Fair 2021-2022
Special Recognition Recipients
Zoey Moore - Do Sponges Cut Cost of Oil Spill Cleanup?
Collin Burnside - Can The Way You Breathe Affect Your Mood?
Zach Pyne - PH Indicator
Team Project Winners
3rd Place: Bella Dotson & Alyssa Knauff - What Stains Your Teeth More?
2nd Place: London Sinclair & Evan Rider - Does Practice Make Perfect?
1st Place: Wade Bailey & Cayden McKenzie - How Different Liquids Affect Your Teeth?
Individual Project Winners
4th Place: TIE - Laney Shepherd - Musical Plants & Dalton Shepherd - Which Popcorn Brand Popped the Most?
3rd Place: Madelyn Bach - G-Force
2nd Place: Laikyn Puckett - What Materials Can Alter Wifi Signals?
1st Place: Griffin Gerard - Which Video Game Affects Blood Pressure More?
Grand Champion Project
Audrey Bach & Elin Shaw - Which Toothpast Whitens Best?
Clay Junior High Spelling Bee 2022
The 2021-22 Clay Middle School Spelling Bee was held Friday, January 21, 2022, at 1:00 PM in the Clay HS/MS Library.
The following sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students represented their classes in the school spelling bee:
Sixth graders: Layla Dawes, Madelyn Penix, Laikyn Puckett, & Evan Rider
Seventh graders: Eli Bailey, Kyla Duckett, & Mason Greene
Eighth graders: Lilli Allen, Madelyn Bach, & Zane Ball
Clay’s 2021-22 Spelling Bee champion is Eli Bailey (right), a seventh grader and son of Jason and Andrea Bailey. Eli will represent Clay Middle School in the Scioto County Spelling Bee, which will be held on March 10, 2022, at the SOMC Friends Center. Eli will also take an online spelling test to try to qualify for the Regional Spelling Bee at Ohio University. The runner-up, who will act as alternate for Clay, is Mason Greene (left), a seventh grader and son of April and Jordan Greene. Mrs. Parkes is the Clay Spelling Bee coordinator.
Clay High School Homecoming 2021-2022
The 2022 Clay High School Homecoming was held on Friday, January 14, 2022, before the varsity boys' basketball game.
The 2002 Clay High School Homecoming Queen and Her Court:
Clay HS Homecoming Queen
Kailey Ware
Senior Attendant
Briana Bennett
Senior VOTEC Attendant
Adrianna McCoy
Junior Attendant
Katelyn Smith
Junior VOTEC Attendant
Morgan McCoy
Sophomore Attendant
Cassidy Bazler
Freshmen Attendant
Laney Fife
Clay HS Inducts Seven New National Honor Society Members
Clay High School held its National Honor Society Induction on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, in the high school cafetorium. Seven new students were inducted into Clay’s National Honor Society.
The new members inducted were Owen Adkins-Plumlee, son of Marvin and Amy Plumlee of Portsmouth; Amadea Everman, daughter of DJ and Heather Everman of Portsmouth; Madison S. Jackson, daughter of Jeffrey Jackson and Jennifer Colegrove of New Boston; Allyssa Maynard, daughter of Stephanie Maynard of Portsmouth and the late David Adkins of Franklin Furnace; Abigail Scott, daughter of John and Michelle Scott of Lucasville; Mallory Swords, daughter of Tracy and Zachary Swords of West Portsmouth; and Adrienne Whitley, daughter of Laura Whitley and the late Bryan Whitley of Rosemount. These seven new members joined Gavin Cayton, Mitchell King, Preslee Lutz, Kyleigh Oliver, and Kailey Ware as current Clay NHS members.
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Mr. Michael Thacker, a 2006 Clay graduate. He is the Director of Government Contracts at the Portsmouth Flour-BWXT facility in Piketon. Members of the chapter are selected based on the criteria of character, leadership, scholarship, and service; and members must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and meet the other chapter requirements to be considered. Members are involved in many activities and service projects throughout the year. The advisers for the Clay National Honor Society are Mrs. Lisa Phillips and Mr. Mark Rose.
Clay NHS Tapping Ceremony, 2021
The Clay High School National Honor Society held its annual "tapping" ceremony on Thursday, December 16, 2021. The theme of this year's tapping was based on the popular movie Toy Story. The current NHS members tapped the seven new members during the day, giving each new member gift items related to the movie to remember this special day. They played music from the movie to signal the tapping of a new member.
Current members include Gavin Cayton, Mitchell King, Preslee Lutz, Kyleigh Oliver, and Kailey Ware
Seven new members will be inducted. They include Owen Atkins-Plumlee, Madison Jackson, Amadea Everman, Allyssa Maynard, Abigail Scott, Mallory Swords, and Adrienne Whitley.
The NHS induction ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Mr. Rose and Mrs. Phillips are the Clay High School National Honor Society advisors.
Clay - Empowered District 2021

Heisman HS Scholarship - School Winners
Congratulations to Mitchell King and Preslee Lutz - Heisman High School Scholarship School Winners presented by Acceptance Insurance!
The Heisman High School Scholarship.
The Heisman Memorial Trophy is annually awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the nation. The Heisman High School Scholarship presented by Acceptance Insurance extends the Heisman prestige to our nation’s most esteemed high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field but also in their schools and communities. These remarkable young leaders set the example and make a game-changing difference every day, paving the way to greatness for everyone around them.
To have applied, students must be graduating with the Class of 2022, have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of a B (3.0) or better, participate in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Games and/or the National Federation of State High School Association, and be a leader in his/her school and community.
CHS Student Council, 2021-22
Clay High School
Student Council Officers
2021-2022
Freshmen
McKenzie Bailey - Class Representative
Sarah Cassidy - Class Secretary/Treasurer
Macyn Johnson - Class President
Tristan Large - Class Representative
Blaine Lunsford - Class Representative
Sophomores
Delaney Bowen - Class President
Abby Clausing - Class Representative
Jessyka Davis - Class Representative
Megan King - Class Secretary/Treasurer
Marissa Mogan - Class Representative
Marshall Thornton - Class Representative
Juniors
Amadea Everman - Class Representative
Abbey Scott - Class Representative
Angel Stump - Class Representative
Mallory Swords - Class President
Adrienne Whitley - Class Secretary/Treasurer
Seniors
Owen Atkins-Plumlee - Class Representative
Gavin Cayton - Class President
Austin Smith - Class Vice-President
Kailey Ware - Class Secretary/Treasurer
Student Council Leaders
Bri Bennett - Council Secretary
Preslee Lutz - Council Treasurer
Jordyn Mathias - Council Vice-President
Kyleigh Oliver - Council President
Advisor - Mrs. Willis
Clay Key Club Volunteers on Serve Day
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, several members of the Clay High School Key Club volunteered with LifePoint Church to help clean up the Portsmouth-area community. All volunteers pulled weeds, swept the streets, picked up trash, and painted the curbs. Great service project. Great job, Clay Key Club members!
Miss Clay - Kyleigh Oliver
Miss Clay, Kyleigh Oliver
Congratulations to Kyleigh Oliver for placing in the Top 5 at the River Days Pageant on Saturday. She also won the People's Choice Award. Great job, Kyleigh!
Clay High School Commencement Ceremonies 2021
The Clay Local School District's 81st Commencement Exercises occurred at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 30, 2021. The following forty-three (43) seniors participated in the ceremony: