Better Together

We were thrilled to welcome back our students across the district on Wednesday, Aug. 6, and are looking forward to the best year yet – one where we will be raising the bar across all levels! See our full Facebook gallery for more first-day photos!

Every graduating senior in CCSD this school year will receive $1,000 investment portfolios and financial education through a brand-new initiative and partnership between the district and nonprofit organizations Gifted Savings and TED-Ed. The initiative will make CCSD the first public school district in the nation where every senior graduates as an investor.

Click here to see more photos from this week's big announcement and schools assemblies!

And read more here about how this initiative serves to help fulfill CCSD’s mission of creating educational journeys that empower all students to fulfill their potential.

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.

Congressman Mike Collins, who represents Athens-Clarke County, will host his 2025 Service Academy Day from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Prince Avenue Christian School, 2201 Ruth Jackson Rd., Bogart. Designed to familiarize students with the application and nomination process for the nation’s five military service academies, the event will feature representatives from the United States Military, Naval, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and Air Force academies.

Students and their families may register by emailing their name, phone number, school, and grade to GA10Noms@mail.house.gov. Please provide names (note relationship) for each person attending with you.

Students who are admitted to our nation’s military service academies must first receive a nomination from at least one member of their state's Congressional Delegation, the Vice President, or the President of the United States. Students seeking Congressman Collins’ nomination should submit a completed application to his office by Friday, October 10, 2025.

Click here to learn more about the nomination process and access the application.

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.

Did you know reading aloud to your child could help develop key skills in their development? In this blog post from Reading Is Fundamental, explore ways you can help your child enjoy reading as an engaging activity and more than a subject to learn, as well as free read-aloud support resources!

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!

• 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.

It's time for year three of CCSD's regional AdaptED Sports Program! The Classic City Dawgs will start adapted handball in August. Participation is free for any public or private school students with a qualified disability who attend grades K-12 in northeast Georgia.

Wheelchair handball is a GHSA-sanctioned co-ed sport. All athletes compete in wheelchairs regardless of whether they use a wheelchair in everyday life. Wheelchairs are provided by CCSD at no cost to students and families. If you know a student or family who may be interested in participating, please share this link with them: bit.ly/clarkeadapted.

For more information and to sign up, please contact CCSD AdaptED Sports Athletic Director Chris Aiken at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz is looking for students in grades 10-12 who are passionate about community and want to serve on the 2025-2026 Mayor's Youth Council! The program is designed to encourage effective youth engagement in Athens and is a great opportunity to learn more about the workings of local government.

Eligible students can attend public or private schools or be homeschooled, but must be Athens-Clarke County residents. Members attend monthly meetings and periodic service activities, adding up to about four hours per months.

Apply online at www.accgov.com/youthcouncil by Sunday, Aug. 17.

In accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, CCSD and all of its schools and programs are required to notify parents/guardians at the beginning of each school year (or at the time of enrollment of the student) of their “right to know” the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals.

Learn more about this process here.

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, Aug. 14, 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.

Registration for the fall Sirius Athletics cross country season is now open for ages 6-15. The first team practice will be held Monday, Aug. 11. Go to siriusathletics.org for more information and to register.

Registration for the fall Athens Little League is now open. Go to athenslittleleague.org for more information and to register.

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.

The Georgia Museum of Art, 90 Carlton St., Athens, hosts a free monthly Family Day event from 10 a.m. to noon on a Saturday. See the flyer below for the upcoming monthly schedule. Printed versions of these bookmarks will be distributed to all elementary schools so be on the lookout for it in your child's take-home folder soon!

Check out the 2025 Athens Quality of Life Guide flip book here! The guide is a publication of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and includes information about recreation, housing, education, business and industry, and things to do in Athens-Clarke County.

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.