Better Together
8/9/24 • News from the Clarke County School District
Fast Start
STEM students at Cleveland Road Elementary have already eagerly jumped into the new school year with interactive classroom investigations exploring the scientific method.
Almost Ready to Roll
With a new school year comes a new sports season, and the Clarke Central High School flag football team is just one of many teams of CCSD student-athletes hard at work. The Gladiators have been putting in some strong work in the weight room in preparation for their Sept. 24 season opener against East Jackson.
Big Check!
At the Aug. 8 Board of Education meeting, recently-retired CCSD bus driver Evelyn Barrow was presented with a check for $2,250 in unused sick leave. Ms. Barrow was one of three retired bus drivers who received the payouts, which go to retired CCSD employees who have at least 10 years of service with the district but are not eligible for Teacher Retirement System benefits. The other two retirees recognized last night were Jasson Molina and Sondra Riden.
A Deeper Dive
Bettye H. Holston Elementary School principal Dr. Melanie James has her staff focused on "Taking a Deeper Dive Toward Excellence" this school year, and the door decorations throughout the building show it! With newly established systems in place, the team at Holston will "D.I.V.E." deeper into those systems to continue building a strong school culture:
D: Data
I: Instructional Practices
V: Values
E: Engagement with Stakeholders.
School Governance Teams to Meet Next Week at District Office
School-level local-school-governance teams (LSGTs) throughout CCSD will gather next week at the District Office for internal training sessions and then individually hold their first public meetings of the year.
Next week's meetings will be spread across three days at the District Office, located at 595 Prince Ave., Athens. Following the internal training session with district staff, the public is invited to attend the individual school meetings from 5-7 p.m. at the District Office. CCSD staff will be in attendance to help direct visitors throughout the building to their school's meeting.
As a charter system, CCSD is required to maximize school-level governance through LSGTs. These teams play a key role in critical governance decisions in their schools and serve to foster communication and collaboration between schools, families, and the community. The teams consist of school administrators, teachers, staff, parents/guardians, community members, and, at the middle and high school levels, students. They help make data-driven decisions that determine their school's long-term direction, design innovative solutions to increase student achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community.
See the schedule below for the list of school LSGTs that will be at the District Office each day and be on the lookout soon for more information regarding each LSGT's full meeting schedule for the school year.
Monday, Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m.
- Cedar Shoals High
- Clarke Central High
- Classic City High
- Cleveland Road Elementary
- Coile Middle
- Howard B. Stroud Elementary
- J.J. Harris Elementary
- Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary
- Timothy Road Elementary
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 5-7 p.m.
- Barnett Shoals Elementary
- Bettye H. Holston Elementary
- Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle
- Fowler Drive Elementary
- Gaines Elementary
- Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary
- Whit Davis Elementary
Thursday, Aug. 15, 5-7 p.m.
- Barrow Elementary
- Clarke Middle
- Hilsman Middle
- Whitehead Road Elementary
- Winterville Elementary.
It's time once again to nominate a CCSD Employee of the Month! The Employee of the Month program recognizes and rewards staff members for their service and dedication to the students and families of the Clarke County School District. Each month (September through May), a CCSD employee is chosen for the award, surprised at their school or building, and invited to the monthly Board of Education meeting for recognition.
Any member of the CCSD community (student, parent/guardian, staff member, community member) may nominate any full-time district employee with at least one full year of service. Nominations for September Employee of the Month are now open! Go to bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward to get started!
Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central Football Teams to Meet for 58th Time to Open 2024 Season
It's time for some football! The Cedar Shoals Jaguars and Clarke Central Gladiators will renew their annual "Classic City Championship" rivalry on Thursday, Aug. 15, in both teams' first game of the new season.
Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. at Billy Henderson Stadium on the Clarke Central campus, 350 South Milledge Ave. General admission is $12; CCSD employees will receive free admission by showing a valid district employee ID badge.
Tickets will go on sale on GoFan digitally on Monday, Aug. 12, and will be available to purchase with cash at the stadium gates. Gates will open at 5 p.m. As a reminder, a clear-bag policy will be in effect as shown in the illustration below. All spectators will pass through a security check at the gate upon entering the stadium.
Please come out and support all of our players, coaches, cheerleaders, band members, and JROTC cadets on this special evening in our community. Best of luck to both sides on a great game and season!
Serve on Dr. Hooker's Student Advisory Council
High school students: Make your voice heard! All CCSD students in grades 11-12 who are interested in serving on this year’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council are invited to complete the online application by Friday, Aug. 30.
Through participation on the council, students will learn about district initiatives and share their perspective on being a CCSD student with Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker. All students will also have a chance to develop their leadership and advocacy skills. The council will meet five times over the course of the year; students are asked to commit to attend all meetings.
State Superintendent's Advisory Council Application Period Also Open
CCSD students in grades 10-12 also have an opportunity to apply to serve on Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods' advisory council this year. Students selected will meet with Superintendent Woods throughout the year to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom and other education-related issues. They will also serve as the Superintendent's ambassadors to their respective schools. Cedar Shoals High School Class of 2024 graduate Alejandra Cerron-Palomino (pictured) served on last year's state council.
Interested students should complete and submit the online application by Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted. Selected students will be contacted via email. All students may visit gadoe.org/studentadvisory on Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. to determine if they have been selected.
Join Mayor Girtz's Youth Council
Mayor Kelly Girtz and the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government are seeking applications by Sunday, Aug. 18 from students in grades 10-12 who are interested in taking part in the Mayor's Youth Council. Students must be Athens-Clarke County residents to be eligible. Applications, including one reference, should be submitted at www.accgov.com/youthcouncil.
The goal of the Mayor’s Youth Council is to encourage effective youth engagement in Athens-Clarke County and to provide an opportunity for youth voices to communicate directly with local government leadership. The Mayor's Youth Council will encourage civic engagement and community service while also building a working understanding of how local government works.
Selected applicants will be interviewed in late August/early September, with the first council meeting happening in September. Council members will attend monthly meetings and also work on small group projects throughout the year focusing on issues impacting youth today.
Apply for an AAHRC Scholarship
The Athens Area Human Relations Council is now accepting scholarship applications through Friday, Sept. 27, from all high school seniors in Clarke, Oglethorpe, Madison, and Oconee counties. Find application forms here.
A completed application must include the completed form, an essay, two recommendations, and a high school transcript. All documents must be submitted via email to scholarships@humanrelationscouncil.org.
A downloadable and printable copy of the application can be found below.
Spend Your Spring Break Abroad!
Clarke Central High School Spanish teacher Dr. Lynne Sparks will be leading a Spring Break trip in April to Spain, the British territory of Gibraltar, and Morocco. The trip is open to middle and high school students throughout CCSD.
There will be Google Meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, and Wednesday, Aug. 14, to discuss the trip. View more information about the trip here and email Dr. Sparks at sparksl@clarke.k12.ga.us with questions.
When Class is in Session, Put the Phones Away
CCSD is implementing updated cell phone guidelines for the 2024-25 school year to improve student engagement, decrease distractions, and improve the overall educational experience in our classrooms.
As a reminder, middle school students will be asked to leave phones in their lockers during instructional time, while high school students will be asked to either keep their phones in their backpacks or place them in pouches inside their classrooms.
Download the CCSD Mobile App!
Stay up to date with access to event information, documents, school news, student stories, and even emergency notifications. See the video below for a tutorial on downloading and customizing the app to your preferred settings. You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.
Download for Android: https://aptg.co/xQ_qX1
Download for iPhone: https://aptg.co/zCh8gX
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2024-25 Academic Calendar.
Important dates:
- 9/2: Labor Day (all schools and buildings closed)
- 9/3: District professional learning day (schools closed)
Update or Create Parent Portal Account
Follow these directions for updating the contact information in your Parent Portal account. Don't have an account yet? Follow these directions to set one up. Having a Parent Portal account allows parents and guardians to access attendance records, class schedules, grades, and assignment information for their students. If you already have an account but forgot your password and need a reset, use the links on the login page to reset your password or username or to request help. You may also email campus@clarke.k12.ga.us for additional assistance.
How to Address Questions, Concerns
Have a question or concern that you'd like to address? CCSD has put together a matrix of who to reach out to depending on the situation. Please click here to view this information. You can also go to CCSD's main site at clarke.k12.ga.us, go to the "I Want To" tab at the top of the page, and select “Ask a Question/Submit a Concern.”
Download the Edulog App for Bus Info
Parents/guardians of students who ride a bus to and/or from school can use the Edulog page on the district website or download the Edulog Parent Portal mobile app to find information about their student’s bus.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Take Advantage of our School-based Health Centers!
- The Clarke Middle Health Center (CMHC) is a free clinic that serves students and staff and is an extension of the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership’s mobile clinic. Click here for hours, contact information, and more.
- The Hilsman Health Center, the first school-based health clinic to open in northeast Georgia, is a partnership between CCSD and the Athens Neighborhood Health Center and is a comprehensive medical office. It is staffed by a nurse practitioner, dentist, and support staff. Click here for a list of services provided, hours, contact information, and more.
See Something, Say Something
CCSD considers the safety and security of our students and staff our highest priority, and utilizes the CCSD Tip Line as a critical tool for us to help ensure that our schools remain safe and promote a welcoming environment for learning. It is also another mechanism for us to celebrate good deeds or achievements by our staff members and students that may have gone unreported but deserve recognition and celebration. Tips can be submitted online at www.clarke.k12.ga.us/tipline or by phone by dialing 706-353-1737. All tips are anonymous by default, but you do have the option of including your name and contact information. Once received, your tip will be investigated by the CCSD response team. The Tip Line can also be accessed online from the home page of the district website and all school websites.
Board Contact Information, Meetings
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.
- Attend a Meeting: The board's next scheduled meeting is Thursday, Sept. 12, 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.
Boys and Girls Club After-school Program Registration Open
The Boys and Girls Club of Athens has opened registration for its after-school programs, featuring academic support, enrichment activities, life skill development, and healthy snacks. The programs are open to students in grades 1-12 and are held weekdays from 2:45-6:30 p.m. at the Joel E. Smilow and H.T. Edwards clubs and the Nellie B., Rocksprings, Parkview, and Broad Acres community centers.
Visit www.GreatFuturesAthens.com/after-school to register. Call 706-546-5910 for more information.
Georgia Museum of Art Presents Family Day: Line and Color
The Georgia Museum of Art, 90 Carlton St., Athens, will hold its monthly free Family Fun Day event on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon.
For the event "Line and Color," come learn about the elements of art with fun art cart games and crafts; then create your own work of art using line, shape, and color. For those who cannot attend in-person, Family Day to-go kits will be available for pick-up starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, through the end of day Sunday, Aug. 18, while supplies last.
Georgia Museum of Art Presents Teen Studio: A Perfect Model
Teens ages 13-18 are invited to the Georgia Museum of Art from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, for this studio-based workshop led by local artist and educator Kristen Bach. Explore the galleries and make your own work of art inspired by the exhibition, “A Perfect Model: Prints after Anthony van Dyck’s Portraits.”
The program is free and includes a pizza dinner from DePalma’s Italian Cafe. Seats are limited; email gmoa-tours@uga.edu to register.
Casa de Amistad Updates
Athens nonprofit Casa de Amistad has the following upcoming events:
- A 12-week Spanish-language course for English speakers, every Wednesday from Aug. 21 through Nov. 14
- Fall ESL courses for adults
- Fall GED courses for adults.
See the flyers below for details about each event and QR codes that will take you to the registration link. For additional information, go to athensamistad.com.
Library PLAY Card
As part of a collaboration between CCSD and the Athens Regional Library System, the PLAY Card account provides each CCSD student with free materials (books, magazines, etc.) and online resources from the public library to help your child succeed in school, along with fun resources to support a lifelong love of reading. You and your child can check out materials at the libraries by entering their student ID number.
Teen Newsletter from ACC Library
Click to view the latest ACC Library Teen Newsletter.
