001[Music] Welcome to the Clawcast Podcast, the Shell Shocked Edition. I'm Mr. Shell Clawson, public school superintendent. The Clawcast Podcast is where we get to know our phenomenal students, all elementary, middle school, and high school, and find out what they're all about, have a little bit of fun, and uh see what they've got cooking today. And I am joined by none other than the amazing eighth grade Boston Middle School student Taliana Merritt aka Tali Merritt. Welcome. Thank you. Long and embarrassing intro. You're good. Are you ready to talk shop a little bit? Have a little fun. Yeah. Let all of these people get to know you. Yeah. Let's do it. Let's do it. We're gonna start simple. Okay. What does Tally's life look like at home? Brothers, sisters, mom, dad, dogs, cats, stuff, birds, fish, what
002do you got? Well, I live with my mom, my dad, um my sister who's in sixth grade, and my brother who's in first grade. They both go to Clawson and their names are Azara and Emerson. Awesome. Those as well. Okay, so mom, dad, Zara, Emerson, any pets at home? No. Oh my gosh. Well, this is the second official no pet household. Um, probably smart quite honestly and you guys are busy, so that's a lot to to take care of. Totally. Totally get that. So, okay. So, school, you are doing so many great things and and such a great young lady. Want to talk about what you like to do when you're not classing? when you're not in class for six hours a day. What do you like to do extracurricularly? Well, um I do a
003lot of like I do clubs here. I do TCC and NJHS. I do um track and cross country. And I also do the like school musicals. Sure. Performing arts. And then do you play any instruments? Oh yeah. I play the I play the bass. You play the bass. Yeah. So some tell the people what the bass is because some people might be rock and rollers and think that that's this bass. Well, this a different bass. It's the standup bass. So it's like a really really big violin. A really really big violin. Yes. And will that be your instrument forever in orchestra? Yeah. You're gonna stick with that? Yeah. Awesome. Okay. So a lot going on performing arts play. Recently you were in Foot Loose, right? Tell us about that. How how what was that like?
004Um well it was really fun cuz like just being with all the people that you get to see every year and just making more connections and stuff. That's one of the best parts about it. So what is it? You had a pretty big role. What was your role in Foot Loose? Um Ariel. Okay. Did you feel um was there a lot of pressure with that being I mean you're you're you're on stage a lot. You're you're singing, you're you're you're dancing, the the the cameras are right on you, so to speak. The lights are right on you. Um, how did you feel about that being so young and thrust into that role? Well, I've just I've always loved doing theater, so like it was it's just something I love. So, it wasn't there's no pressure.
005It was just fun. Just having fun. Second nature for you. Yeah. And you do theater outside of school as well? Yeah, I'm doing Beetlejuice right now. Where do you do that at? Uh, Stage Crafters in Royale. So, transitioning into that a little bit outside of school this summer. Um, what a what do you like to do? You just mentioned a little bit of it when you're not at school. Talk to us about that. But also, what are your plans for the summer? What are you What are you looking forward to? Well, I'll do Beetlejuice goes all the way till August. Um, and I'll do we I might do a national singing competition in Pennsylvania. I think we find out this weekend. Um, I'll do I do like orchestra camps. Um, I I'll do we go
006on a lot of family vacations. Um, and then we'll do like cross country just like offseason training and stuff. That starts in August probably, right? Yeah. End of August. Where are your orchestra camps? Um, I don't know. They change every year. They've Are they like overnight? You go someplace? Yeah, it's like a week overnight. And yeah. Awesome. So busy. Like I said, busy. And it's probably only going to get more busy. You're involved in just about everything. Extracurricular. That's that's that's amazing. Keeps you busy. Okay. So, I'm going to ask you the same thing I asked your friend, your your fellow eighth grade student, um peer Gabe. Million bucks on the table right now. Audio. Um what do you do with a million dollars? Well, um I'd probably put some of it into like me,
007my brother and sister's college accounts to help pay for college. Um and then I'd probably give some of it to charity. Um and then I'd probably save some to do like traveling and stuff because I've always loved traveling and it's something I've wanted to do for a while. Any place in particular you would like to travel to? Greece. Oh my goodness. I don't know why I had a feeling you were going to say that. I've been there. You know that? Really? I've been to Greece the last two summers. Oh, that's so fun. My My wife's family lives there and she's she's Greek. So, I would highly recommend that trip. Yeah, I've I've wanted to go for a long time. Good choice. Yeah, it's a good one. You'll enjoy it. They'll enjoy it. Okay, last question.
008So, you've been at Clawson Public School since kindergarten, right? Second grade. Second grade. Okay. So, a lot of teachers, a lot of educators around you doing great things for you. Most impactful educator in your life to date. Who would that be and why? Probably Mr. Clafy because um he's always so supportive and like I think he just has a really great way of teaching and helping you understand things and it's really like u what's the word he has understanding for sure he he has a great balance of of of all of those things teaching accountability understanding patience that's the word patient man patient the popular answer to that questions. What about your uh orchestra teacher? Oh, well, um I might be a little biased, but I think she's I like her. She's pretty also a
009popular answer. Um well, I appreciate you. Appreciate you sitting here with me. Appreciate your time and and certainly appreciate all that you do here and looking forward to the next four years as you transition Boston High School and the great things you're going to continue to do. And have a have an awesome summer. Thank you. You too. All right. Thanks. We're now joined by Clawson Elementary School first grade students, Max, Jake, and Edie Bransner. Welcome to the podcast, my friends. So happy to to have you today. Hi, Mr. Michelle. Hi, Mr. You guys are awesome. So, this is the first ever podcast where we have had certainly triplets, but any brother and sister combinations, but this is a first. So, awesome. Awesome stuff. So, so fired up to to get to know you guys even
010more than I already do and talk about what uh what you're all about. So, we're gonna we're going to start with Max. Max, tell us about home. Mom, dad, brothers and sisters, pets. What's that look like? So, my dad's name Evan and my Hold on a minute. Your dad's name is Evan and mom's name is what? Megan. Megan. Nice. Good job. Lean in just a little bit, buddy. Okay. And I have a cat named Ayla. A cat named Ayla. We used to have a a cat, two cats and a dog. Okay. Pause for one second. Let's go to Jake. Cat. Two cats and a dog. What were their names? Um Orson and like in Dublin and then they died and then and we now we have one cat and we're going to get like a
011wiener dog. The sound. All right. Hold on. Let's ask Let's ask Edie about that. Edy, lean in just a little bit. You guys are going to get another dog, a wiener dog this summer. Yeah, maybe. Maybe. Tell us about that, Edie. Um, well, let me ask you this. If you do, what do you think you might name the wiener dog? Um, we don't know what we want to name yet. Do you have anything that you'd really like to name him? Him or her? I don't know. I know. I would like to name it. Um, if it was a boy, I'm going to name it like Roxlin. I don't know. Okay. All right. What about you? Um, think about it and I'll come back to you. Okay. Because we have to we have to stick with
012Edie for a second. Let's talk about this summer. Two questions. One, have you ever been on a vacation before? Yes. What was your f Edie, what was your favorite place to go on vacation? Florida. Florida. Okay. So, we're school's out. Did you know school's going to be out in like a month? Yeah. And you're going to be on to summer vacation. What are you looking forward to, Edie, doing this summer on summer vacation? I don't know. Swimming, maybe. You like to swim? Mhm. Okay. Do you like to What do you like to do at home? Like when you're playing, like what do you what's your favorite thing to do at home when you're not at school? Um, play on my tablet. Play on your tablet. You like to watch a Do you have a favorite
013show that you like to watch? No. Okay. All right. What about you? Um, Jake, what do you what do you like to do when you're not at school? Maybe this summer during summer break. What do you like to do? Well, we la a couple I think like maybe last summer we built a I think we and we built a homemade sandbox and we like sandbox and we like to and I like to play in it a little bit. Okay. And plant and we like planting and everything. Oh, planting. What about you, Max? What do you like to do and look forward to doing this summer? Um, play it. Lean in just a little bit, buddy. You're doing great. Um, you're doing great, guys. Um, she said, "Get off his chair. Get off my chair." All
014right, just stand up. And so we're we're doing it. Yeah. Okay. Doing great. Okay. You got it. That's perfect spot. Are we gonna edit this off? Heck yes, we're gonna edit it. Yeah, they're they're so talented and with editing. We're we're good. But what do you what do you like to do this summer? Um maybe go on a hotel trip. Oh man, a hotel trip. Those are fun. Those are fun. And have breakfast and go in swimming pools. Fantastic. Uh vacation plan. Love that. Edie, school every day. First grade. What's your favorite subject or to do at while you're at school? I like to do art. You like to do art? Because I like to um do a I like to um make a lot of stuff in art. Art. Does is some of your
015stuff up at our art show right now that's on display? Mhm. Are you going to go see it? I already saw it. Oh, you went last night? I went last night, too. It's really cool. You saw all of your stuff? Yeah. I saw a Minecraft one. That was really cool. Okay. All right. So, big time question. You ready for this? Start with Max. What do you want to be when you grow up? Um, a I don't know. Let me think a little bit. Okay, we're coming back to you. You got to give me something. I'm I'm excited to hear what it is. Jake, what do you think? What do you want to be when you grow up? What I want to be is a construction worker, an astronaut, and an and a rocket and a
016rocket engineer. Okay, so construction worker, astronaut, and a rocket engineer. That's incredible. Edie, what do you want to be when you grow up? Um, a ballerina. A ballerina. So, we've got a ballerina, construction worker, astronaut, and a rocket engineer. Okay. Um, Max, what about you? A firefighter, a a cook, and a server. A firefighter, a cook, and a server. I mean, you guys are going to be so You're already talented, but that's going to be incredible. So, I'm going to come to your restaurant. You're going to cook the food and serve it. Yeah. I cannot wait to eat at your restaurant. And then if the fire for some reason breaks out, you're there and can help us. Right. Yeah. Okay. One of my favorite parts. So, so incredible. Important question. You ready? Mhm. And we're
017going to start with Edie. What's your favorite thing about going to school at Clawson Elementary School? Um, recess. Recess. Why do you love recess? Because I like to play. And you have new playgrounds to play on, right? Do you like those? Mhm. Okay. Jake, favorite thing about going to Clawson Elementary School? Um, I like recess, gym class, and and and art. Recess, gym class, and art and technology. Technology. So, your specials. You like the specials. Yeah. Yep. And so and and what I like about recess is because I like to jump off the all some like the walk and stuff. Okay. And play the hide and seek. Get up. Okay. Max, you ready? What do you love about going across elementary? You're good. You're in a perfect spot. You're great. Stay right there. Stay right
018there. Um gym, art, and math. I like math because we're learning about measurement. Measurement. And we we did data and measurement. Data. Data. Data. I think you can probably say it both ways, but I hear I get it. What kind of measurement? What do you mean? Um like we we were collecting data. Cime cubes. Centimeters. Yeah. What about inches? Do you measure things in inches? Yeah. Like with paper strip. Okay. And like a ruler, Max. Like a ruler. Do you use a ruler? No, we use the paper strip. Oh, the paper strip with the Gotcha. Gotcha. That makes sense. That's fun. All right. So, last question and I'm gonna let you get out of here. You're okay, buddy. You're doing great. What's one pick? What's one plus one? Uh, two. Yes. That is easy. Really
019easy. What? Yeah. Oh, I thought that was hard. That's easy. Ky, what's one plus two? Three. Oh my goodness. You guys are so smart. You guys are so smart and talented. Okay. So, your mom works here at at Yes. one of our schools, right? Yeah. So, it's cool. At preschool, so you see her sometimes when she she comes around a little bit and and you get to see her. Isn't that cool, too? Yeah. And she can And she's right here. She's here. Yeah. Right. She's watching you guys. Yeah. Is Can she come up maybe? Well, we'll get her next time. Maybe we'll do that. We'll get We'll get her up here next time. Is that all right? So, okay. And I'm going to close with this. You guys are so fun. I appreciate you being
020here on the podcast. You've done a great job. You really did a Do you feel like you did a really good job today? You should. You should be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you guys. Nice job, Edie. Hey, have a great summer, guys. Enjoy the hotel trip and the swimming and all that fun stuff. Okay? And let me know what you're going to name that wiener dog once you when you come back in September. Bye-bye. Bye, guys. Thank you. We're now joined by fabulous Clawson High School freshman, Miss Elena McDonald. Elena, thank you for joining us on the Claw Cast podcast. Thank you for having me. Honored to sit with you, especially right now in this important time for you, which we'll get to in a little bit and talk
021about. But let's start with our standard buildup question about um family. We always want to know what uh what that's all about. being the family so important to all of us, like brothers and sisters and things of that nature. What uh what's that look like for you? So, I live with both of my parents and then I have a brother. He's 14. He goes to middle school. His name is Miles. And then I live with my grandparents and I have two dogs. Grandparents, you have two dogs and Miles. And you love Miles so much and you're so kind and sweet to him. We know that. So, we won't even get into that. Um so, thank you for being a great sister. And those dogs, we know about those a little bit, but tell us about
022those two dogs. Um, my dogs, I have two. Mabel is a lap hound mix and she eats everything. Okay. And then Louis, we just got him two years ago. He's an Aussie doodle. He's four and he basically just eats everything that my other dog eats. Interesting. Y do you enjoy those two? I love my dog so much, but I have to lock every door and close every cabinet when I leave the house. Yeah, that's fair. I get it. Hopefully, they'll grow out of that. Yes, I hope so. Okay, so let's talk about school. So freshman year, big year for you, exciting. A lot of great things going on. You're doing great in class, obviously. And and but what about outside of class? What do you like to do when you're not in class? Uh extracurricularly,
023what are you involved in things like that? Um most of the time I'm playing sports. I do volleyball, basketball, and track year round and flag football. I'm also in student senate and in a bunch of different clubs. Okay. Do you anticipate as you build in high school that you'll do any add anything to any of that as you go? Anything more? Um, I'm not sure yet. Just take sports more seriously. Sure. Focus on sports. And what about uh internally at school like uh things like National Honor Society or different clubs like that? Do you think you'll go that route at some point too? National Honor Society. Okay. Some things like that and continue to get involved. So four sports right now. Pretty interesting. and one and it's really it's you could say it's more than
024that because you do track year round. So you're doing track while you do your other sports. So I I know that that's uh important to you. So I'm curious to talk to you about it today. By the time that this uh this episode is released, you'll have already participated in the state regionals which are today. Yes. This afternoon at at Alganac. And I'd like to talk to you about that. So what events are you participating in at the regional meet today? So today I'm running 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles in the 4x1. Okay. And if I get top two in any of those races or a qualifying time, I go to states. Okay. So just to for those who don't know, track that. Well, you said 4 by one. What is it? 4x 100. Yes. So
025100 meters. So it's one full lap around the four people run 100 meters. You pass the baton. Okay. Who are the other three running with you? It's me, London Evans, Daniel Moss, and Brooke. We're all freshman. Okay. And then hurdles, your individual events, that's 100 meter and 300 meter. Yes. So tell us about that 300 meter race. Is that a pretty tough race because it's almost a full lap? Yes. It's so hard. Yes. My legs, you can feel it in my legs at the end of the run. Pretty intense. Yeah. So is if you had to choose, would you like to run that race first so you're the freshest? Do you Which event will be first for you? For me, 100 hurdles will be first and I'll probably have to run it twice because I
026run the prelims and the finals. Okay. So, I'm going be pretty tired, but sure. It's a long day. Is there anything that you do in particular with your preparation today that's whether it's nutrition or hydration or that you're looking to do um to make sure that you can maximize what you're doing today? What what's your what's your your routine look like? Um, the night before I always eat like a carb loaded dinner and then I kind of just eat light the day of and just drink a bunch of water. Okay. Drink a bunch of water. Yeah. And do you listen to music? I do. Okay. So, here's the question for you. If you could walk into track meet, every classroom, school, your house with one walkup song. Oh jeez. One walkup song. Like I'm walking
027up to the to the what do you call the things you put your feet in for a 100 meter race? You puts the blocks. You're walking up to the blocks. You're walking into algebra one class and Miss Stankcross class. You're walking into bio. What would be a great Elena McDonald walkup song that you would choose today? I have a whole playlist of songs I listen to before I race. So, anything by Lil Baby. Okay. Who I listen to before I Lil Baby? Yeah, Lil Baby. No T's. Just L I L I L. Okay, got it. Yeah. What else would be an option? Anything by Lil Baby. Um, Baby Smooth. I listen to Baby Smooth. Baby Smooth. I'm guessing that's S M O V. Yeah. Okay. Baby Smooth. I'm going to have to look into this
028in terms of my my own playlist to see if these are worthy of of adding, but those would be So, you're walking into Stan Cross class algebra one. You're going with one of those. Yeah. I love that. Okay. Um, fantastic. Well, good luck today. That's I know it's a big day and especially as a freshman. You're you're um good for you for being in that position. I know a number of Clawson Trojan High School students are competing today and we wish them nothing but great luck as they try to advance to the the state meet which I believe if you qualify is maybe in the Grand Rapids area, something like that. In Grand Rapids. Okay. So, best of luck to you today. So, as we start to close here, you know, we've we've talked about
029and you have three more years to go here and and and we know that they're going to be great years for you to this point. You've had a lot of teachers and coaches and educators in your life and around you. Do any of them stick out that have been particularly particularly most impactful for you as a young lady as you've gone through your time in school? I've had a lot of impactful teachers, but I would say the most impactful is probably Miss Hate. I had her for two years. And she just taught me a lot, not only about school, but like also a lot of life lessons. Okay. That would have been middle school, ELA. Yes. Seventh and eighth grade. She's awesome teacher. A great choice. I know she will be moved and touched to
030hear that. Um, any teachers like in your that live in like your house that you really appreciate or Yeah, my mom. She's been pretty impactful, too. Pretty impactful for you. Yeah. I know she's uh and she's a great fan. Yes. And mom. We we taught her a lot this year with basketball and what certain terminology means because she was yelling some things that didn't make sense. Didn't make sense. So, we got her we got her. She's good to go now. She knows now. Um so, she she's a rockstar fan, which we love. Um but also a great choice. So, um, they'll both love to hear that, even though I had to prompt you for the second one. But, well, uh, not surprisingly, I've enjoyed sitting with you and getting continuing to to get to know
031you. Again, good luck today and good luck to all our other athletes competing and we can't wait to see, um, that uh, the great stories of success today and beyond the years uh, years beyond for you. So, continue to to do great things and uh, we look forward to talking to you again soon, Miss McDonald. Thank you. Thank you. [Music]