Better Together

CCSD's Pre-K Lottery registration for the 2026-27 school year will be held Monday through Friday, Feb. 2-6, 2026.

Student enrollment in CCSD is an online process. The online registration link will be available starting Feb. 2 and can be found on the district website along with a list of documents required to complete registration successfully. The lottery registration window will close at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 6; however, pre-K registration for next school year will remain open until all spots are filled. Students must turn 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026, to be eligible to attend pre-K in CCSD next school year.

In advance of the lottery registration period, CCSD encourages families to familiarize themselves with the registration process and begin gathering the required documentation. For more information, go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/registration.

CCSD is pleased to announce the winners of our 2025-26 school-level spelling bees! These 18 students — representing the 14 elementary schools and four middle schools across the district — will now compete in the annual district bee on Friday, Jan. 30. The event will be held at the District Office, starting at 10 a.m., and will be live-streamed and available for on-demand viewing on the CCSD YouTube channel! The winner will advance to the region bee in February for the chance to qualify for the state bee.

Congratulations to these school-level winners and good luck!

• Barnett Shoals Elementary - Leah Hussain, 4th grade
• Barrow Elementary - Wilder Steele, 5th grade
• Bettye H. Holston Elementary - Alaina Sesson, 5th grade
• Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle - Phoebe Geisenhof, 7th grade
• Clarke Middle - Ione Forschler, 6th grade
• Cleveland Road Elementary - Nafaf Thaw, 5th grade
• Coile Middle - Gabriel Marcos-Ventura, 8th grade
• Fowler Drive Elementary - Aalaiyah Goss Arevalo, 4th grade
• Gaines Elementary - Jadon Greene, 5th grade
• Howard B. Stroud Elementary - Phuong Nguyen, 5th grade
• Hilsman Middle - Kyle DeMott, 6th grade
• J.J. Harris Elementary - Yesica Umana Acevedo, 5th grade
• Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary - Nora Varsa, 5th grade
• Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary - Arlo Turner, 3rd grade
• Timothy Road Elementary - Jarron Dorsey, 4th grade
• Whit Davis Elementary - Naomi Yacob, 5th grade
• Whitehead Road Elementary - Natalya Houk, 4th grade
• Winterville Elementary - Madeline Davis, 5th grade

Congratulations to Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez, 10th-grade student at Cedar Shoals High School, who was one of 30 students statewide recently named to the third annual cohort of Youth LEAD Georgia!

The program, facilitated by the University of Georgia's J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle challenges that impact Georgia’s vitality as future leaders of the state. Each year, 10th- and 11th-grade students from across the state apply for and are selected to the cohort and take part in four weekend retreats held throughout the year in different regions of the state and a week-long summer bus tour visiting areas not covered in the retreats. They also will serve as leaders in a two-day statewide youth summit in Athens.

This year's cohort has representation from 27 different counties, and it is the third consecutive year that CCSD has had representation.

Fourteen high school students in CCSD have been selected to receive scholarships from the Athens Area Human Relations Council and will be honored at the organization's 47th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Banquet on Jan. 17.

Congratulations to the students listed below!

• Arleth Aguilar, Cedar Shoals
• Jameson Brown, Clarke Central
• Mariah Carson, Clarke Central
• Ella Conway, Cedar Shoals
• Jayda Dunn, Cedar Shoals
• Chizoba Emegwam, Cedar Shoals
• Amari Goddard, Cedar Shoals
• Benjamin Graichen, Cedar Shoals
• Brooklynn Hall, Cedar Shoals
• Marquavis King, Cedar Shoals
• Kimberly Linares-Chagolla, Cedar Shoals
• Derriana Smith, Cedar Shoals
• Atyiah Thompson, Cedar Shoals
• Julissa Zuniga, Clarke Central

Congratulations to the following students from Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals high schools who have been selected to the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) District 14 Honor Bands!

9th/10th Grade Honor Band

Sakaya Eickholt, Clarke Central

Evan Greene, Cedar Shoals

Quinn Hilten, Cedar Shoals

Melody Morris, Clarke Central

Jonah Toon, Clarke Central

11th/12th Grade Honor Band

Lorelai Barfield, Cedar Shoals

Colin Boyle, Clarke Central

Myriah Burton, Clarke Central

Ruby Frye, Clarke Central

Caroline Michael, Cedar Shoals

Kimberly Reyes-Horta, Clarke Central

Simon Scott, Clarke Central

Avery Walton, Clarke Central

Thomas Wilson-Adkins, Cedar Shoals

If you are a high school senior or an adult member of Peach State Federal Credit Union seeking career advancement, you are invited to apply for the credit union's 2026 scholarship program by Feb. 27.

The Peach State FCU Scholarship Program was established more than 20 years ago as a way to honor the educators who founded the credit union, and scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. The student scholarships are open to high school seniors planning to pursue higher education, while the career advancement scholarships are for adult members of the credit union whose accounts are in good standing.

Click here for more information about the scholarships and qualifications and to apply.

CCSD is seeking advisory board members for each of its career, technical, and agriculture education (CTAE) pathways. The advisory boards provide guidance to improve the district’s CTAE programs. Their purpose is ensure the curriculum aligns with local and regional workforce needs, identify industry trends, strengthen business and industry partnerships, and help students transition smoothly to postsecondary education or the workforce immediately out of high school.

The boards are open to families, business representatives, industry employees, educators, training professionals, and students. They meet three times per year.

Advisory boards include:

• Agriculture and Animal Science
• Animation, Digital Media, Broadcasting
• Automotive
• Biotechnology
• Business
• Computer Science
• Cosmetology
• Criminal justice, Law, Public Safety
• Culinary Arts, Hospitality, and Event Management
• Engineering
• Education (all levels)
• Firefighting, EMT, Public Safety
• JROTC
• Graphic Design, Digital Media, Marketing
• Healthcare, Medicine, Public Health
• Public Sector - Local Government.

For more information, contact Halo Smart, CCSD’s Workforce Development Coordinator, at smarth@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Registration for the spring Sirius Athletics youth track and field season is open for ages 6-15, and CCSD elementary school students can join now for free!

Sirius Athletics provides a fun introduction to various track and field events by teaching proper techniques and sportsmanship in a safe and encouraging environment. Sirius is CCSD's partner in providing an organized youth track and field experience for students through the Athens Youth Development Initiative.

Registration for middle and high school students for the season is $175; however, financial assistance is available for families in need. Fees for all elementary students currently enrolled in CCSD are waived until the maximum number of waivers is reached.

Go to siriusathletics.org for more information and to register. The first practice of the season will be Sunday, Feb. 8.

Still looking for a fulfilling New Year's resolution? Become a mentor to a student in the Clarke County School District!

CCSD joins the rest of the nation in recognizing January as National Mentoring Month, which celebrates and promotes the power of mentorship, encourages people to become mentors, and raises awareness about the impact of mentorship on youth and personal development.

Here in Athens-Clarke County, community members just like you have been making a difference in the lives of CCSD students for 35+ years through the Clarke County Mentor Program. As part of this program, a mentor acts as a role model and friend; they encourage positive choices, promote high self-esteem, and support academic achievement. Mentors visit their assigned “mentee” at school, ideally once each week during the school year, for a meal, game, academic help, school program, and conversation.

Go to clarkecountymentorprogram.org to learn more about the program requirements and its impact, and start the process of becoming a mentor today! The application is open year-round, and there is currently a wait list of students wanting a mentor this year. For more information, email mentor@clarkementors.com.

The Third Annual Classic City Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon Relay, presented by Piedmont Athens Regional, will be held in Athens on Saturday, Jan. 24, and is a great way to support CCSD. The Classic City Marathon Association is a volunteer group of local runners and race professionals — many of whom are CCSD employees, current parents, or parents of graduates — and regularly supports programs in the district. In addition, the race’s medals are always designed by a CCSD art student, with Clarke Central High School senior Cordasia Mitchell designing this year's.

You can support this year's marathon in the following ways.

Volunteers

The event needs groups and individuals to help before, during, and after the race. Roles include handing out water to runners, pointing the right direction on the course, handing out medals at the finish line, and many others. Email lisa@classiccitymarathon.com if you’d like to arrange for a group to volunteer together, or explore classiccitymarathon.com/volunteer and sign up.

Run

The Marathon Relay option divides the course into four segments of only 6-7 miles each. It’s a fun way for people to share in the excitement of a marathon without having to run a whole marathon! Read more about the relay on the website, and join the free relay training runs to help you be ready. Or try the full marathon or the half marathon distance!

Cheer

The race route runs by the CCSD District Office on Prince Avenue, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, and Clarke Central High School. There are plenty of other places along the course that need your energy on race day!

And speaking of running and fitness, there are more 5K opportunities in early 2026 to support CCSD through the CCSD Race Series:

• Saturday, Feb. 7 - Joshua Sampson Memorial 5K at Sandy Creek Park
• Saturday, Feb. 28 - Barrow Boogie at Barrow Elementary School
• Saturday, March 7 - Burks Ribbit Run at Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School.

If you are interested in running, jogging, or walking in any of these events, sign up at classicraceservices.com! Anyone who participates in all three will receive public recognition at the conclusion of all races.

CCSD is pleased to announce that, with support from Georgia Department of Education funds, telehealth counseling services with Daybreak Health are cost-free to families in grades 6-12 through September 2026.

Families can self-refer by creating an account at this link. You can also reach out to your school’s counselor to discuss these supports and additional options to help support your child’s overall wellness and mental health needs.

Daybreak also hosts live monthly webinars with licensed counselors on topics related to student wellness. These webinars are free to all CCSD families. Recordings for previous webinars are available in English and Spanish here.

The monthly Parent Institute newsletter, available in English and Spanish with early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school versions, 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 the buttons below to access each version!

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, January 15, 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.

The Georgia Children's Chorus is welcoming new singers for its 2025-26 season and invites students in grades 2-12 to audition. The organization includes five separate ensembles and has rehearsals and performances throughout the year. Financial scholarships are available. Click here for more information and to register for a placement audition.

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government's Waste Reduction Division is hosting its annual Green Life student art exhibition contest and invites all students grades PK-12 to submit an entry. Students are invited to explore and express their unique perspectives on sustainability and nature in the Classic City by depicting stewards of the environment as "Hometown Heroes" through a painting, drawing, sculpture, photograph, or poem. Submissions are due March 4, and winning entries will be displayed during the exhibition at the Lyndon House Arts Center in April. Click here for more contest rules and to enter.

Registration is now open for the spring 2026 season of Athens Little League baseball and softball. Go to athenslittleleague.org for more information, including league rules and age classifications, and to register. You will be prompted to create a free account to complete the registration process. Registration runs through Feb. 6, and the season begins in March.

The University of Georgia baseball program will host a single-day Lil Dawgs Baseball Camp on Monday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Foley Field, 1 East Rutherford St., Athens. The camp is open to ages 5-12 and is designed to help young players enhance their skills and love for the game. Find more information and register HERE.

The Georgia Museum of Art, 90 Carlton St., Athens, announces its monthly Family Day schedule for 2026. One Saturday each month, from 10 a.m. to noon, the museum welcomes families and children of all ages for a free event to view art and complete art activities with a monthly theme. The dates scheduled so far for 2026 are Jan. 24, Feb. 21, March 28, April 18, May 30, June 27, July 25, and Aug. 22. Visit georgiamuseum.org for more information on Family Day and other events at the Museum of Art.

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.

Click the links to view the Leisure Pursuits newsletter for January, which contains information about upcoming events and programs in Athens-Clarke County:

• English
• Español

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.

CCSD families: If you or someone you know are in need of assistance, the Georgia Department of Education has a live-updating online "Hope Map" with information on resources ranging from food pantries to shelter and healthcare.

Go to hopemapgeorgia.org to get started. You can select your language preference, search by zip code or city to find services available in a specific area, and filter by categories of services you are looking for.

211 is United Way of Northeast Georgia’s health and human service helpline – a free and confidential program accessible to anyone. Call 211, text your zip code to 898-211, or visit the online database.