How We Communicate

SchoolMessenger is the primary way that the District will communicate with staff and parents in the event of an emergency. This tool is also used to share school news. Parents will receive two types of information:​

• Emergency Messages - If there is a crisis situation in a school or in the District, we will keep parents informed through regular updates via phone, email and text using SchoolMessenger. SchoolMessenger can contact parents using voice, email and text alerts. These alerts, along with inclement weather messages, will be sent to all contact numbers available for the family as listed in PowerSchool.
• School Outreach Messages - Schools keep parents connected to news and information through school eNewsletters, email messages, phone updates and text messaging. Parents receive school outreach communication on their primary phones and email addresses.

How do I sign up for SchoolMessenger's Contact Manager Parent Portal?
Parents and guardians do not need to sign up for SchoolMessenger just to receive messages, the basic contact information parents provided to your child’s school has been added to the system. Parents do need to log on to the SchoolMessenger Contact Manager Parent Portal to activate an account, select how they would like to be contacted (phone, e-mail and text message) and add additional contact points.

Do I need to set up an account for each child?
Yes, you must set up an account for each of your children. You will have to set preferences for each child in their respective accounts.

What type of messages will I receive from SchoolMessenger?
SchoolMessenger will be used to send information about snow closures, school updates from your child’s principal, PTO messages and District updates.

Is SchoolMessenger secure?
Your student's information is stored on a secure server and all personal data is sent in an encrypted format. Please remember, just like with any application, if you give your password to anyone, including your child, your contact information can be changed and messages regarding attendance, grades and emergencies can be diverted or discontinued.

A recorded message from the school was delivered to my home phone. I said “hello” and no message played. What should I do?
Log on to your SchoolMessenger account to see a list of all messages sent to your home and review the message. SchoolMessenger can work like a mailbox, giving you a place to review messages you may have missed.

The District website serves as the primary source of information about the School District of Clayton. It is updated regularly to ensure our community has access to accurate, timely and relevant information. The site is managed by the Communications department, with various content contributors.

Browse our website to: 

• Learn more about the School District of Clayton, including our mission, values, strategic priorities and ongoing initiatives.
• Explore our schools with dedicated pages for each building.
• Connect with department leaders to find guidance, request support or get answers to your questions.
• Stay up-to-date on events, activities and more. 

There are great things happening in the School District of Clayton every day. The Communications department works proactively to share information with the media and assist journalists with inquiries. Members of the press are encouraged to contact the Communications department for support.

All media requests to interview, photograph or film District employees, students, or Board members should be directed to:

Gina Tarte
Chief Communications Officer
314.854.6015

Once a request is submitted, you will receive a response identifying the appropriate spokesperson to address your questions. Please note that student interviews and photography require parental consent and will be scheduled at a District-designated location to minimize classroom disruption.

Find out more about our guidelines for media. 

The School District of Clayton is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. These channels are officially managed by the District's Communications team. In addition, many Clayton schools, departments and athletic teams use social media to share events, community activities and other information. 

Our parent-teacher organizations help keep families informed through the PTO pages on each school’s website.

The PTO Executive Council meets quarterly to collaborate and strengthen connections among the individual school PTOs. Parents and guardians who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to visit their child’s school website to connect with the PTO and learn about opportunities to participate and support school activities. 

PTO Communication Tools

Explore the resources below for quick access to PTO communication tools and helpful links designed to make outreach with families easier and more impactful. For questions, please contact Madison Turner, community relations specialist.

PTO Email Blasts
Eblasts are an effective way to share information about upcoming events or initiatives. To maximize their impact, tailor the message to your audience and highlight only the most essential details. Include direct links whenever possible to make it easy for families to take action—whether that’s donating, RSVPing or learning more.

Please note:

• Requests should be submitted at least three (3) business days before your desired distribution date. Business days are Monday–Friday and exclude weekends and District holidays. Requests submitted on a weekend or holiday will be considered received on the next business day.
• Requests are only processed when students are in school, including summer break.
• Requests may be submitted only by the PTO Communications Chair.

Follow the links below to submit a request:

• Glenridge Email Blast Request Form
• Meramec Email Blast Request Form
• R.M. Captain Email Blast Request Form
• Wydown Email Blast Request Form
• Clayton High Email Blast Request Form
• The Family Center Email Blast Request Form

Your School’s Electronic Monthly Newsletter
By partnering with your school principal, you can help ensure that important information reaches families through the school’s newsletter. This platform is an excellent way to occasionally highlight high-impact events that benefit the entire school community, share successes from recent activities or extend messages of appreciation.

When submitting a recap, it’s best practice to include a photo to help bring your story to life. Contact your building principal for details on who manages newsletter submissions  and the publication schedule. 

District Communications
Occasionally, PTO information with broad appeal or districtwide relevance may be shared with the entire School District of Clayton through the District’s eNews, social media or website. While the Communications team reviews all submissions, not every request will be shared districtwide. However, keeping the team informed of top-level updates is always encouraged. 

What Makes Something Newsworthy?
When considering whether to submit information for districtwide communication, ask whether your event or update:

• Impacts a large number of students, families or schools.
• Showcases innovation, creativity or unique learning experiences.
• Celebrates significant achievements or milestones.
• Highlights partnerships, service or activities that strengthen the broader Clayton community.
• Offers timely, relevant or highly engaging content that would interest families across the District.

If your idea meets one or more of these criteria, it may be a good fit for wider distribution. Please contact the Communications team team to share your story idea or request consideration for districtwide promotion.