Better Together

It's been another terrific week across CCSD – one that included an epic Classic City Championship football game that went right down to the final minute, perfect health inspection scores for several of our school cafeterias, more hands-on and engaging classroom learning, and professional learning opportunities for our educators to exchange ideas and learn from each other about instructional practices that are moving the needle and helping us Raise the Bar as a district! Enjoy these photos and many more by following CCSD (@ClarkeCoSchools) and our schools on social media!

We are excited to announce the dates and times for our 2026 high school graduation ceremonies!

• The Classic City High School ceremony will be held Friday, May 22, at 6 p.m. in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the CCSD District Office, 595 Prince Ave., Athens.
• The Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central ceremonies will both be held Saturday, May 23, at Akins Ford Arena, 300 North Thomas St., Athens, with the Cedar Shoals ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. followed by Clarke Central's at 4 p.m.

Admission is free and open to all, and there is no limit on the number of guests for each graduate. Each high school will communicate directly with seniors and families regarding additional information on the ceremonies, including rehearsal dates and times and other details.

We wish all of our seniors a great year and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 in May!

Calling all high school juniors and seniors: Those interested in serving on the 2025-26 CCSD Superintendent's Student Advisory Council are invited to complete the brief online application at bit.ly/ccsdsac by Friday, Sept. 5!

Through participation on the council, students will learn about CCSD initiatives and share their perspective on being a CCSD student with Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott. All students will also have a chance to develop their leadership and advocacy skills. The council will meet four times throughout the year. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23.

High school students who are interested in taking classes at the Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA) are invited to a Future Student Fair from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the ACCA building, 440-1 Dearing Ext.

ACCA is open to CCSD high school students in grades 10-12 and offers courses in more than a dozen high school and college level career pathways as part of CCSD's Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program. The Future Student Fair is designed to introduce students to these pathways and allow them to tour the building and learning spaces.

Be on the lookout later this school year for information about applying to ACCA!

High school seniors are invited to apply for the 2025-26 Athens Area Human Relations Council scholarship by Friday, Sept. 26. A completed application will consist of the following items:

• the completed scholarship application form (attached below).
• an essay
• two (2) recommendations
• Copy of high school transcript.

A detailed description of requirements can be found on the application itself. For more information, email scholarships@humanrelationscouncil.org.

As we settle into the school year, CCSD joins the nationwide Be SMART campaign in encouraging families to keep our students safe by securely storing any firearms in the home. Locking up your guns and practicing responsible gun ownership can help prevent tragedies.

• Secure all guns in homes and vehicles
• Model responsible behavior around guns
• Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes your child visits
• Recognize the role of guns in suicide
• Tell your peers to Be SMART.

Learn more at besmartforkids.org.

• Open to all CCSD students ages 6-12
• Registration fees - $50 for football, $30 for cheerleading
• Teams will compete in the North Georgia Youth Football Association.

See the flyers below for additional information.

Registration for our *FREE* 21st Century after-school program is now open! We are pleased to continue offering 21st Century programming through federal grant money to all middle school students and elementary school students enrolled at either Fowler Drive, Gaines, or J.J. Harris Elementary. Transportation home is provided for students.

Programming includes academic enrichment, STEM, arts, and other educational activities. Days and times vary by school site.

Space is limited! Apply now at bit.ly/21stclarke.

High school students: Make your voice heard and be a voice for your peers!

State School Superintendent Richard Woods is seeking students in grades 10-12 to serve on his 2025-2026 Student Advisory Council. These students will meet with Superintendent Woods four times throughout the school year to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom and other education-related issues.

Click here for the 2025-2026 Student Advisory Council application. Students must apply by Friday, September 5, at 5 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

Youth LEAD Georgia is a statewide youth leadership program for high school students run through the University of Georgia's Fanning Institute for Leadership and is now accepting nominations for the 2026 cohort. Selected participants will have the opportunity for extensive leadership skills development while building a statewide network of peer and professional connections, exploring Georgia industries and businesses, and visiting various colleges, universities, and technical schools around the state.

To be eligible for Youth LEAD Georgia 2026, a student must be in 10th or 11th grade in the 2025-26 school year in the state of Georgia. Interested youth must be nominated by an adult and complete an application to be considered for the program. A limited number of students will be chosen by a selection committee based on review of the applications.

Click here to nominate a student! Nominations are due Friday, Sept. 5.

The Employee of the Month program recognizes and rewards staff members for their service and dedication to CCSD students and families. Parents/guardians, staff, students, and community members may nominate any full-time employee with at least one full year of service for the award. The program is sponsored by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, and many local businesses contribute gifts to the monthly Employee of the Month gift basket.

An Employee of the Month will be selected each month from September through May, and nominations for the September award are now open! Nominate someone at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward or go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/eom for more information!

Families with a student eligible for the 2025-26 CCSD Gifted Savings program: If you have not already done so, we encourage you to sign the consent form by Thursday, August 28, for your student to participate in the program! This unique, first-in-the-nation opportunity combines real-world financial education with a gifted $1,000 investment portfolio that your student will be able to take full control of once they turn 18 and complete the program.

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions, in English and Spanish, about the Gifted Savings Program. And learn more here about the program and ways you can support its growth for future students!

The CCSD Family Advisory Board (FAB) is made up of representatives from every elementary, middle, and high school in CCSD. Its purpose is to advise the administration on issues related to the overall success of the district. The board invites families to share their feedback and concerns by completing this form. You can learn more about the FAB at www.clarke.k12.ga.us/fab.

In the booming age of the internet, social media, and online gaming and apps, it's more important than ever to ensure our children's safety. If you're looking to more closely monitor and manage your child's screen time and are seeking strategies to help them build smart and safe online habits, Parent ProTech has resources that can help you get started! Click here or scan the QR code below to open a free account and to find solutions for keeping your student safe online and thriving!

The Clarke County Board of Education welcomes community feedback. Here are ways you can share your voice:

• Contact BOE Members: Click here to view a list of the BOE members and their contact information.
• Find Your Board Member: Use Athens-Clarke County's online voter information tool at www.accgov.com/voterinfo to enter your address and find your BOE member and your other elected representatives.
• Attend a Meeting: The board's next scheduled meeting is Thursday, September 11, with the work session beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. All meetings are held in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the CCSD administrative offices building, located at 595 Prince Ave. in Athens. The public is invited to attend meetings in person. Meetings are also streamed live and are available for on-demand viewing on the CCSD YouTube channel. Click here for the board meeting schedule.
• Agendas: Click here to access board meeting agendas.
• Board Briefs: Click to read the "Board Briefs" overview from meetings.
  
• Public Comments: Click here for information on how to sign up to speak at a BOE meeting.
• Review Policies for Review: View and comment on district policies pending public review.

Community Spark Solutions, an organization dedicated to improving community health outcomes through education, outreach, and resource connection, will host a "Back to School and Back to Health" fair on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lay Community Center, 297 Hoyt St., Athens.

This free community event is designed to equip Clarke County students and families with the tools they need for a healthy and successful school year. The following will be provided:

• free health screenings and wellness resources
• school supply giveaways
• free haircuts for students
• fun activities and raffles
• on-site community health education.

For more information, email info@communitysparksolutions.org.

As part of Dancefx's outreach efforts, the organization holds monthly free community classes. Students from ages 4-10 can take classes for free this Saturday, Aug. 23 at the following times:

• 12:30 p.m. - Kids Hip-Hop (ages 4-6)
• 12:30 p.m. - Elementary Hip-Hop (ages 7-10)
• 1:30 p.m. - Kids Ballet and Jazz (ages 4-6)
• 1:30 p.m. - 'Wicked' themed Jazz (ages 7-10).

Sign up at dancefx.org/drop-in-form. For more information, email allison@dancefx.org.

The Georgia Museum of Art, 90 Carlton St., Athens, will hold its monthly free Family Day event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 23. The exhibition, "Brilliant Exiles,” features portraits of trailblazing American women who visited Paris in the early 1900s. Experience the glamour of Parisian fashion and the buzz of café culture while exploring the lives of remarkable figures like Josephine Baker, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. Enjoy hands-on art cart activities and create a take-home art project inspired by the show. Then stick around for our open house and Friends Appreciation Month kick-off, including photos with UGA's mascot, Hairy Dawg.

Students in grades 2-12 are invited to audition for the Georgia Children's Chorus 2025-26 season! The Georgia Children's Chorus includes five different ensembles and performances at the University of Georgia and allows singers to build confidence in their singing abilities while being part of a creative community. Financial assistance is available. For more information, go to www.georgiachildrenschorus.org or email jkanegcc@gmail.com.

As part of Sun Day, a nationwide event on September 21 promoting solar and wind power, local organizers are including a youth photography competition. The top two dozen photos – each one depicting a tree or trees – will be on display at the Winterville Cultural Center. Cash prizes ($50 for first prize and $25 for second) will be awarded for each age group (6-10, 11-14, and 15-18).

The Winterville Cultural Center at 371 North Church St. will display the photos from Sept. 16-21. The Center’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The center will be open during the Sun Day event, when winners will be announced.

One photo per child should be sent via text to 706-372-5406 with the following information:

• the young person’s name
• age
• the general location (such as Green Acres, Sandy Creek Park, or Nellie B.) A title is optional. AI-generated images are not allowed.

Judges for the contest include wildlife photographer and instructor Chuck Murphy; macro photography expert and frequent national workshop leader Heather Lickliter Larkin, and photographer Kidd Fielteau, mentor for the Teen Media Arts group at the Lyndon House.

The contest is part of the Athens-area Sun Day celebration from 2:30-5:30 p.m. on Sept. 21. "Sun Day Sunday" is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, contact Sun.Day.GA2025@gmail.com.

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government will host its annual Athens Water Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Sandy Creek Park, 400 Bob Holman Rd. Athens. Meet animals, listen to music, swim, and take part in plenty of other family-friendly activities!

Admission is $2 per person. For more information, go to athenswaterfestival.com.

i9 Sports will have fall seasons for flag football, soccer, basketball, and baseball. Registration is now open. Go to i9sports.com or call 678-792-5542 for more information.

Registration for the weekly fall sessions of the Little Bellas mountain biking program is open. The program is open to girls ages 7-13 and will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Mondays beginning on Sept. 8 and running through Nov. 3 at Walker Park, 200 Trail Creek St., Athens. Learn more and register at littlebellas.org.

Anyone in the community may sign up for email and/or text notifications from the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government in a wide variety of categories with more than 100 different options. Visit accgov.com/notifyme and select the list you'd like to sign up for.