Jag News

Upcoming Events at CSHS:

• 3/21: Soccer Youth Day/Classic City Championship
• 3/24: Title I & PTO Meeting
• 3/27: Senior Sunrise
• 4/1: James Holston Baseball Field Dedication
• 4/6-10: Spring Break (No School)
• 4/14: 11th Grade ACT Test Day
• 4/15: FAFSA Night
• 4/16-18: Cedar Theatre Presents: The Wiz
• 4/24: Prom
• 4/25: Free Sports Physical Day

Clarke County School District Updates:

• Link to CCSD Newsletter: English/Español
• Link to the CCSD Academic Calendar
• Link to the High School Lunch Menu

Thank you for attending fall conferences! Advisers and teachers are always available to support you and your student. If you attended a conference and did not do so already, please take 30 seconds to complete our Spring Conferences Sign-In so we can track participation and share any follow-up resources: https://clarkesd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8D0drTPnWIL39gW If you were unable to attend last week, please reach out to your student’s adviser to reschedule, or contact Ms. Reese at reesec@clarke.k12.ga.us

We also invite families to participate in the Georgia Family Survey to share their experience with Cedar Shoals and how the school engages with families. Responses are anonymous and will be used to help school leaders continue improving our school community. Link to survey: https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=2CAE05A5

Families are invited to join us for our Title I & PTO Parent Night on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 PM in the Cedar Shoals High School Media Center. This meeting is a great opportunity for parents and guardians to connect with other families, learn more about the Title I program, and discover ways to support teachers and students at Cedar Shoals. During the meeting, we will also be seeking parents interested in serving as PTO officers for the upcoming school year. If you would like to become more involved and help support our school community, we encourage you to attend and learn more. We hope to see you there as we continue building strong partnerships between families and Cedar Shoals!

As we move through this important time of the school year, we want to make sure you have access to helpful information and resources. Please use the following website as your go-to resource for all senior information, including important dates, graduation details, and next steps: Cedar Shoals Senior Website

This site is designed to keep both students and families informed and organized as we prepare for the end of the school year and graduation. We encourage you to check it regularly for updates. If you have any questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Reese at reesec@clarke.k12.ga.us

Let’s show the class of 2026 that they are special to us and that we acknowledge their achievements! Continuing the "Blue Letter" tradition, we are giving relatives, friends, community members, and teachers an opportunity to honor Seniors by sending them a special letter of congratulations on their May 2026 graduation.

We will carefully keep cards and letters for each student and distribute them at Graduation Practice to students who have completed graduation requirements. Every graduate will receive a large blue envelope containing these messages and well wishes. All cards and letters, including those on this Google Form, must be received at school by Friday, May 1, 2026. We encourage you to send your letters as early as possible.

Submit letters here: bit.ly/CEDletters26 Letters submitted here will be printed and will be added to students' envelopes. Letters can be sent to the school at the following address:

Cedar Shoals High School

℅ Senior Letter for (senior first and last name)

1300 Cedar Shoals Drive

Athens, GA 30605

CCSD is accepting applications through Tuesday, March 24, from students in grades 3-12 for the upcoming TEDxCCSD event on May 9! Students are invited to share their ideas, talents, and stories on stage at this event. This year's theme, "Raising the Bar," celebrates young people who challenge themselves to grow, inspire others to aim higher, and turn bold ideas into meaningful impact for their schools and communities. We are looking for bold thinkers and courageous voices ready to challenge expectations, inspire growth, and push themselves and others to new heights. Go to bit.ly/TEDxCCSD26 for more information and to apply!

Join us on Saturday, March 21st for Jaguar Soccer's Youth Day at this year's Classic City Championship! All elementary and middle schoolers get in free to support their high school teams. Students must be accompanied by an adult for entry and accompanied by an adult throughout the game. Don't forget to wear a soccer jersey! We will also be selling jerk chicken plates at the concession stand. Go to bit.ly/321food or use the QR Code above to pre-order a plate!

CCSD invites the Athens-Clarke County community to the official dedication ceremony for the Cedar Shoals High School baseball field, which has been renamed in honor of the late James Holston, the school's first baseball coach and a longtime member of the Cedar Science Department faculty who worked there from the school's opening in 1972 until his retirement in 1994.

The dedication ceremony will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, leading up to the Jaguars' home game against Greene County at 6 p.m. Read more about Coach Holston's remarkable legacy at this link (https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/article/2772232) and enjoy these old photos shared with us by his wife, retired CCSD educator Bettye Henderson Holston!

Student Government Association and Model UN are teaming up to host Cedar’s Annual World Culture Day on April 3rd! We are looking for students to sign up to present and share different cultures from around the world. This is a great opportunity to showcase traditions, food, clothing, music, history, and more.

If you are interested in participating, please sign up using the link below: https://forms.gle/8eiqVeeFrsEPen6u5 We would love to see a wide variety of cultures represented, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting event!

Cedar Shoals High School is excited to host a transition camp for rising 9th graders this summer! Freshman Camp is free and offered to any student who will be a 9th grade student at Cedar Shoals next year. Camp is a one day experience offered on Monday, July 27th from 9:00 am-2:00 pm at Cedar Shoals High School. Transportation will be provided. This will be an opportunity for rising 9th graders to be introduced to campus, meet classmates, learn the responsibilities of high school, and more! The deadline to register is May 20, 2026. Please contact Courtni Reese with any questions at reesec@clarke.k12.ga.us Registration: bit.ly/FreshmanCamp26

Cedar Shoals Cheerleading Tryouts for the 26-27 Varsity & JV basketball and football cheerleading squads are happening Saturday, March 28th at 8 AM in the Cedar Auditorium! If interested, sign up by March 22nd: bit.ly/cedarcheer26

Students trying out must have a current physical uploaded to Rank One, be passing 3/4 classes, have no discipline infractions, bring $5 tryout fee (Cash or Check to Cedar Shoals High School) Don’t miss your chance to be part of the squad!

If you would like to support our students while showing your Cedar pride, we invite you to purchase a Wiz t-shirt or hoodie using the order form below. Each item is priced close to cost, as this is not intended to be a fundraiser but rather a way to build community and celebrate our students.

Detailed instructions can be found within the Google Form. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Milsap at milsapr@clarke.k12.ga.us Order your Wiz shirt here: Order Form for Wiz shirts

As we begin planning for Decision Day, we invite you to support our senior Jags by donating or sharing our wishlist. Decision Day is a special annual celebration of our seniors’ postsecondary plans — whether college, military, or career.

Many of our students are preparing for college, and dorm/living essentials make a big difference in their transition. If you’re able, please consider purchasing an item from our Amazon wishlist or dropping off donations to the counseling office. Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/KL4M894DLDIM?ref_=wl_share

We are sharing important information regarding Junior Dues for the Class of 2027 and Senior Dues for the Class of 2026. Prom will be held on April 24, 2026 at The Classic Center. Please review the details below carefully, as dues support prom and several end-of-year activities.

Junior Dues: $150: Junior dues cover: Junior prom ticket, Senior prom ticket, End-of-year junior celebration, All senior year gifts and activities (senior breakfast, picnic, t-shirt, legacy gift, and more). Paying junior dues now helps reduce additional costs during senior year!

Senior Dues: $155: Senior dues cover: Senior prom ticket, All senior year gifts and activities (senior breakfast, picnic, t-shirt, legacy gift, and more)

Important Notes:

• Prom date tickets must be purchased separately.

• A form must be completed to bring a guest from another school.

• Dues may be paid in multiple payments.

• All dues must be paid by March 31, 2026.

• Refunds are not available, as dues are used for prom deposits and senior activities.

How to Pay: Dues can be paid online through the Cedar Shoals website under Online Payments (Linked Here), or in person to Ms. Thornton with cash, check, or money order made out to Cedar Shoals High School. If you have questions or are unsure about your payment status, please contact Ms. Thornton at thorntonv@clarke.k12.ga.us

Coach Logan Garrett recently took a group of Cedar Shoals student-athletes to the GHSA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in Macon, GA! Representing the Jaguars were Reese Pepin, Riley Freeman, Kaley Lopez-Abarca, Kaitlyn Paige, Kathleen Graichen, Perla Ramirez Muralles, and Joshua Malave Guaiquirain.

Students had the opportunity to grow as leaders, connect with athletes from across the state, and bring valuable experiences back to Cedar. They had a special moment seeing Cedar Shoals alum Jay Russell serving as a conference speaker, continuing to inspire the next generation. Go Jags!

Big congratulations to students of Cedar Shoals BluePrints Journalism and their adviser, Mr. Marc Ginsberg, for an outstanding year of achievement at the state level. CedarBluePrints.com earned All-Georgia and Superior ratings, while BluePrints Magazine received a Superior rating, Little Blue Book was recognized as Excellent, and the Yearbook staff earned an Achievement rating.We are also proud to celebrate our individual award winners: All-Georgia honors: Aislynn Chau – Information Graphic, Maggie Gillan – Illustration, Eva Lucero – Feature/Entertainment Photograph, Sophie Meile – Feature Story Superior honors: Eva Lucero – Feature Profile and Information Graphic, Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez – News Story and Caption Writing, Jillian Stirn – Commentary, BluePrints Staff – House Editorial, Julianna Robledo Briseno – Critical Review, Katie Kulik – Sports Photography

Congratulations to the Cedar Shoals Rifle Team on finishing 10th in the State! The team shot their highest scoring round of the season, finishing strong at the state competition.

The Jaguars qualified for the state finals last week after winning the semifinals against St. Vincent’s Academy. The match ended in a 1119–1119 tie, coming down to a tiebreaker of centers (bullseyes). Cedar Shoals secured the win with 49 centers to St. Vincent’s 43.

Congratulations to our Jags on making history this season and representing Cedar Shoals at the state level!

Congratulations to our Cedar Shoals Track & Field seniors who were recognized this weekend during the annual Loch Johnson Track Meet. Your hard work, dedication, and leadership have left a lasting impact on our program. Thank you for representing Cedar Shoals with pride! Once a Jag, always a Jag.

Class of 2030- we are ready for YOU! We had a great time this welcoming our soon-to-be Jaguars from Hilsman, Coile, Double Helix, and Athens Montessori! Students got to learn about academics, athletics, clubs, and other extracurricular activities at Cedar Shoals High School. Go Jags!

Graduation is an exciting time, but moving through one of the most significant moments of your life without your loved ones can be challenging. That doesn’t mean we cannot keep them with us for these moments, even if it is not how we once thought it would be!

Please register for our grief support activity by April 6, 2026 to learn ways to honor your loved one as you prepare for graduation. Once registered, you will receive an email with more information regarding dates and times. We will create tassels that are approved for graduation that you can wear at the ceremony. For more information, reach out to Ms. Wingfield at wingfieldk@clarke.k12.ga.us Seniors should check their CCSD email for the Grief Support Registration Link.

We are excited to announce the dates and times for the Cedar Shoals High School Class of 2026 graduation ceremony! Cedar Shoals High School ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 23, at Akins Ford Arena, 300 North Thomas St., Athens, GA at 10 a.m.

Admission is free and open to all, and there is no limit on the number of guests for each graduate.

Click here for the information for the Piedmont Athens Regional Teen Volunteer Program summer volunteer program for 16 and 17 year olds. This is a great opportunity for students who have an interest in healthcare and want to know what life in the hospital (from a volunteer/staff side) is like.

Seniors who are interested in volunteering within the hospital, please encourage them to look into our college program (they do not have to be enrolled in college, just college age). We will accept applications for the summer during the first week of March at College volunteers | Piedmont Healthcare.

The ACT and SAT are standardized tests that many colleges use to help determine college readiness. All 11th and 12th grade students are eligible to take the National ACT and SAT. All juniors will take the ACT during the school day in April for free.

If you are interested in taking either test, please schedule an appointment with Cedar Shoals’ College Advisor, Ms. Medina, in the counseling office. She can help with registration, questions, and fee waivers if you qualify. Her email is medinak@clarke.k12.ga.us

Seniors: Even if the college you plan to attend does not require the ACT or SAT, it is strongly recommended that you take at least one test, especially if you plan to apply for the Zell Miller Scholarship. Ms. Medina can also assist with scholarship and college planning questions.

Learn more about the Zell Miller Scholarship here: Zell Miller Scholarship | Georgia Student Finance Commission

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Coach Wall, Coach Jones, and Coach Richardson took members of the Lady Jags Basketball Team to the ACC Women’s Championship Game in Duluth, GA. The team had the opportunity to watch Duke take on Louisville in an exciting matchup, with Duke coming away with the championship win. Go Jags!

Congratulations to our Student-Athletes of the Month at Cedar Shoals! We are proud to recognize these outstanding Jaguars who have demonstrated leadership, effort, and commitment to their teams.

• Audrey Umble – JV Girls Basketball. Nominated by Coach Richardson

• Kariah Butler – Varsity Girls Basketball. Nominated by Coach Wall

• Jasiah Wymbs – Varsity Girls Basketball. Nominated by Coach Wall

• Hank Ruder – Varsity Boys Soccer. Nominated by Coach Naughton

• Jawon Harper – JV Boys Soccer. Nominated by Coach Naughton

For the 2025-26 school year, CSHS Athletics will be using, Rank One, to store all pre participation forms. All prospective students must complete the required forms on Rank One before being cleared to participate in any CSHS Athletic program. LINK: Pre Participation Forms 2025-26 School Year

All student-athletes must also have a valid physical on file to participate in any CSHS Athletic program. The link to upload it to the Rank One platform is below. A blank copy of the GHSA Physical form is located below also.Students or parents upload a completed physical directly to Rank One here. Here is a copy of a GHSA Blank Physical. Please reach out to your coach for more information!

Support the Jaguars! Students can purchase an all-sport pass here for $49.25 and adults can purchase an all-sport pass here for $80.75. This pass will admit one person to every regular season home athletic event - Freshman/Junior Varsity/Varsity.

The monthly Parent Institute newsletter for high schoolers, available in English and Spanish is intended to:

• help families effectively support their children's education at home
• provide practical, proven information families can act on right away
• offer guidance on a comprehensive array of school success topics
• reinforce the importance of the school-home partnership.

Click here to see the newsletter: https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4638/Ccsd/2813c43b-c692-49e1-ad49-b62d5729d108/highmar26.pdf?disposition=inline

• Cedar Shoals Pathways to Success Program (PSP) is free to all students each Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday is Language Arts/Social Studies tutoring and Thursday is Math/Science tutoring until 5:30 pm. Transportation can be provided upon request.
• Saturday School is free from 8-12 on select Saturdays for 9th grade students and students in EOC or credit recovery classes. Transportation can be provided upon request.
• Varsity Tutoring is free to all our students, and students can log on to the virtual tutoring via our Clever page.
• Equal Education for Athens is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free online tutoring for students in Athens-Clarke County. UGA students and recent alumni oversee the program. Learn more and find the registration form here.
• GA Tutor offers free online tutoring sessions through scheduled Zoom meetings with certified Georgia teachers. Tutoring is available in all high school core content areas. Sessions are scheduled through student's Campus Student Portal accounts. You can learn more and sign up by visiting the GA Tutor website here.

Athens-based nonprofit Casa de Amistad, with support from CCSD federal funds, will be offering FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) classes this spring for family members of CCSD English Learners. Classes will be available at either of the following locations:

• City of Refuge, 565 Tallassee Rd., Athens, on Mondays, starting Jan. 26, from 6:30-8 p.m.
• Country Corners, 1495 U.S. Hwy. 29, Athens, on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 27, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Click HERE or on the button below for more information and to sign up!

As a parent, you can monitor your student’s performance by using Campus Parent Portal. Parent Portal provides current information on course and assignment grades as well as attendance. It can be accessed through a computer or your phone. For instructions on how to create an account, click here. Questions? Email campus@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Cedar Shoals High School's PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is easy to join and is a great way to show support to Cedar Shoals High School! Any parents interested in joining PTO should join the GroupMe here for communication. Please contact Brandy Justice with any questions at cedarshoalspto@gmail.com

Donate:

You can support our teachers and staff by donating to the PTO! The mission is to fund events that show our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our educators. Your contributions help us create memorable experiences and provide much-needed support, ensuring our teachers and staff feel valued and motivated. Donate to Cedar Shoals PTO via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JT7YCAS4NYW6L

Do you want Jag Gear? Here is the link to our sideline store where you can get countless Jaguar apparel customized. Check out our Jaguar Sideline Store here!

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/georgia/athens/cedar-shoals-high-school

This is a friendly reminder that The Georgia Department of Public Health requires all students who are 16 years of age be up to date with the State's Meningitis Immunization requirement. Students who are not in compliance with the State of Georgia's immunization requirements are subject to withdrawal from school. Please contact one of our CCSD School Based Health Centers listed below, or your child’s pediatrician, in order to find out if your child needs an additional vaccination.

CCSD SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTERS:

HILSMAN HEALTH CENTER: 706-546-7463

COILE HEALTH CENTER : 706-352-9244 EXT 4800

CLARKE MIDDLE HEALTH CENTER: 706-208-1190

CLASSIC CITY HEALTH CENTER: 706-389-1095 EXT 4700

Keep up with all things Cedar Shoals! Please contact us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Email: reesec@clarke.k12.ga.us
Website: https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/Domain/26
Location: 1300 Cedar Shoals Drive, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706-546-5375
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedarShoalsHS
Twitter: @CedarShoalsHS