Jag News

Upcoming Events at CSHS:

• 4/24: Prom
• 4/25: Free Sports Physical Day
• 4/28: 9-12 Awards Day
• 4/25: Free Physical Day
• 4/30: Senior Breakfast
• 4/30: Cap & Gown Delivery
• 4/30: Decision Day
• 5/4-13: EOC Testing
• 5/8: Dance Recital

Clarke County School District Updates:

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

All students who plan to participate in sports at Cedar Shoals during the 26-27 school year are encouraged to attend the Free Sports Physical Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

• Students should arrive at the CSHS gym by 9:00 am (Report to the bus at the front of the gym) Students will be bussed over to Piedmont Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Physicals take approximately one hour. Students will need to be picked up from Cedar Shoals after all students have received physicals. Students will be back at Cedar Shoals at 12:00 noon.
• Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Students must bring a physical form, including the completed health history portion signed by a guardian (have the first three pages filled out and signed by a guardian on Saturday morning). You can print a copy, or pick up a physical form from your coach or in the front office. For any questions, please contact your coach.

End of Course (EOC) testing is quickly approaching. Please review the attached EOC letter for important details about testing procedures and expectations. EOC Letter Students should arrive on time, be well-rested, and be present on their testing days!

Testing Dates:

May 4 – Literature & Composition (Section 1)

May 5 – Literature & Composition (Sections 2 & 3)

May 11 – Biology (Sections 1 & 2)

May 12 – U.S. History (Sections 1 & 2)

May 13 – Algebra (Sections 1 & 2)

Awards Day for grades 9–12 will be held on Tuesday, April 28 at 9:30 AM in the Cedar Shoals Gym. Students and parents who are invited received an email this week with event details.

Please note that Senior Honors Night is a separate event that will take place on May 18. Invitations for Senior Honors Night will be sent to eligible seniors and their families closer to the event.

The 2026 Junior-Senior Prom will take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM at the Classic Center (300 N Thomas St, Athens, GA 30601). This year’s theme is “A Night in Athens, Greece” Please see the following document for information on parking, security, and other information you will need if attending the event: Prom Information 2026

Senior portrait appointments are now open for summer sessions in June and July. Please note that there will be no extended makeup opportunities once school begins, so it is important to attend your scheduled appointment or cancel in advance. Students who do not show up will not be included in the yearbook and will not have a makeup opportunity.

Session Dates & Details:

June 15–16 (Fine Arts Building)

July 21–23 (Fine Arts Building)

Students may choose between: a Full Senior Session (formal, cap/gown, and casual poses) for $29.99 or a Formal Yearbook Pose Only for $19.99. Sign up for your preferred session using the links provided in the email that went out to juniors and junior parents. For questions, please contact Mr. Ginsberg at ginsbergm@clarke.k12.ga.us

Get ready for an exciting evening of rhythm and movement! The Cedar Shoals High School Dance Department proudly presents “Dancing Through the Decades” on May 8th. This year’s spring recital will take audiences on a journey through time, celebrating the evolution of music and dance while honoring influential artists who have shaped the sounds we love today.

Join us as our talented dancers bring energy, creativity, and passion to the stage in a performance you won’t want to miss. Tickets are available now—scan the QR code on the flyer to purchase! Need service hours? Email Mrs. Midgette @midgettec@clarke.k12.ga.us

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Title I Input Meeting. If you were unable to attend or would like to review the information shared, you can access the presentation here. We are asking all families to complete our Title I Input Survey to help guide decisions, improve programs, and better support our students and school community. Your feedback is important and directly impacts our planning for next year. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey here: bit.ly/cedarfeedback26

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

Cedar Shoals High School is excited to introduce our new Dance Team, Xpression: House of Jaguars! Interested in joining? Clinicals are April 27–28 and auditions are May 13. Students must have no behavioral referrals, be passing at least three classes, and maintain good attendance.
For more information, contact Mrs. Midgette at midgettec@clarke.k12.ga.us or Ms. Strong at strongz2@clarke.k12.ga.us.

The Cedar Shoals Counseling Department recently shared important information with our Class of 2027 students during the 11th Grade Class Meeting and Junior Family Day. Families and students can review the presentation slides for key updates on graduation requirements, post-secondary planning, and important senior-year preparation steps. Access the presentation here. Please reach out to the Counseling Department if you have any questions!

The Cedar Shoals Counseling Department recently shared important information about Dual Enrollment opportunities with 10th and 11th grade students and families. Dual Enrollment allows eligible students to earn both high school and college credit while taking courses through partnering colleges and universities. Access the Dual Enrollment slides here.

Families are encouraged to review the presentation slides for details on:

• Eligibility requirements
• Application steps and deadlines
• Participating colleges and course options
• Important expectations for student success

For questions or support with the application process, please contact the Counseling Department.

We invite our families of students receiving special education services to participate in the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) Special Education Parent Survey. Click here to access the survey: 2026 GaDOE Parent Survey Link

Your feedback is extremely important and helps our school and district improve services, supports, and communication for students and families. The survey is now open and will remain available through May 31, 2026. You can also view additional information clicking the flyers below: English Flyer / Spanish Flyer

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

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’re proud to share that Cedar Shoals High School has been named a 2025 School of Excellence by ACT’s American College Application Campaign! This honor, awarded to just one high school per state, recognizes our commitment to student success and college readiness.

This achievement would not be possible without our incredible College Adviser, Kelly Medina, a proud Cedar Shoals graduate. Ms. Medina serves through the University of Georgia’s Georgia College Advising Corps, whose mission is to increase the number of first-generation and under-resourced students who enroll in and complete college. Her dedication played a key role in earning this prestigious award. We’re proud of our students, staff, and community for supporting our Jaguars as they pursue their future goals. Go

Cedar Shoals High School is happy to recognize our amazing assistant principals this week! Join us in celebrating our leaders: Mrs. Kim Arnold, Dr. Dione Morris, Mr. James Price, and Mr. Nathan Reincheld. We are grateful for their leadership, support, and commitment to our students and staff. Thank you for all you do for Cedar Shoals.

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.

• Eli Conway – Track, Seth Johnson– Track, Al LaTrace – Rifle, Zeke Williams – Varsity Boys Soccer, Angel Martinez – JV Boys Soccer, Tati Rodriguez Linares– Varsity Girls Soccer, Sam Lumpkin – Tennis, Jose Melendez – JV Boys Soccer

During spring break, Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central soccer players traveled together to England and Wales for a soccer experience of a lifetime. Players and coaches spent time in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, and Wales, playing exhibition matches against local academy teams, participating in training sessions with professional academy coaches, attending professional matches, touring famous stadiums, and sightseeing around the country.

This week we held first official gameday of James Holston Field at Cedar Shoals High School, with a field dedication ceremony that featured many family members, friends, and former players under Coach Holston's leadership.

We are thankful to the Holston family for their impact in our community, and for our community in joining us in celebrating and honoring Coach James Holston at the field he contributed so much time, effort, and energy both for the field itself, the players under his leadership, and the school they represented.

Join us on April 30 from 12:30–2:00 PM in the Cedar Shoals Auditorium as we celebrate our seniors and their plans after graduation. This special event will include a DJ, photo booth, guest speakers, raffles, and recognition of students’ postsecondary plans (college, career, or military). Families are invited to attend— Please RSVP here. For more information, contact Ms. Medina at medinak@clarke.k12.ga.us Reminder: Students must be on track to graduate in order to attend.

Cap and gowns can be ordered online at www.herffjones.com. The required package is the “Cap, Gown & Tassel Unit for Cedar Shoals High School,” which will be $86.40 at checkout. Please place all orders before the end of April.

Delivery Information:
All cap and gown orders will be delivered to Cedar Shoals. Seniors should make arrangements to pick up their cap & gown and free Class of 2026 yard sign on Thursday, April 30th from 2:00-4:00 pm in front of the gym.

If you are unable to make it on this day, Herff Jones will also be at the graduation meeting on May 21st at 1:00 pm in Cedar Shoals Gym. At this meeting, we will take a class photo, so all students should wear their cap and gown.

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

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.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is a nationally recognized nonprofit that supports students attending public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs) through scholarships, leadership development, and career opportunities.

TMCF’s Seeking, Observing, and Achieving Results (SOAR) Program is designed for rising seniors to help them plan for life after high school. Students will learn about the college application process, financial literacy, career pathways, and how to use their strengths to make informed decisions. Participants will also experience HBCU culture through a free, one-week residential program (families only cover transportation), followed by monthly virtual sessions and additional support after graduation.

Learn more: https://tmcf.org/programs/tmcf-soar/
Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/260356809923060
Watch: https://youtu.be/-3vxzZMP6ec?feature=shared

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

There will be a flag football interest meeting on April 2nd during lunch. Tryouts will be May 5th-7th @ Cedar Shoals on the practice field from 4pm to 6:30 pm. Any student interested in playing should fill out this form: https://forms.gle/JXMQH3dmt8NkSMG69

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