Better Together

As we continue our emphasis on literacy development and work to promote a love of reading throughout our district, students in Dr. Melissa Jersawitz's sixth-grade English class at Clarke Middle School worked in groups to annotate the text they were reading while identifying examples of imagery and personification. Continue to follow CCSD and our schools on social media for photos of more activities promoting literacy with the hash tags #CCSDReads and #Literacy4Life.

Registration for the CCSD Pre-K Lottery for the 2025-26 school year begins Feb. 7 and runs through Feb. 21! In the above video, CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker speaks with Monica Drayton and Greg Hull from the CCSD Office of Early Learning about the registration process. If you or anyone you know have a child who will be eligible to attend pre-K in CCSD next school year (4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025), we encourage you to check out the video and then go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/registration to help get you prepared for the start of registration. And, as a reminder, K-12 new student registration will also begin Feb. 7, so stay tuned next week for a video overview of the K-12 registration process!

CCSD was well represented this week at the Clarke County Mentor Program's annual celebration and fundraising breakfast.

Cedar Shoals High School ninth-grader and current mentee Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez and her mentor, Clarke Central High School Class of 2019 alum and local nurse Marilen Rodriguez-Antunez, received the Celebrated Connections Award along with Marilen's mentor, Dr. Barbara Benson. CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker received the Impact Award, presented annually to an individual associated with the Mentor Program who, through steadfast commitment and selfless service, has made a lasting impact in the greater Athens community. And Tharon Johnson, Clarke Central High Class of 1996 alum and nationally recognized political strategist, consultant, and talk show commentator, gave the keynote address reflecting on the impact of the mentorship he received that helped set him on the path toward a successful career in politics and media.

As we celebrate January as National Mentoring Month, we ask that all adults in our community consider becoming a mentor to a CCSD student today and committing time each week to meeting with them and being a difference-maker in their lives. You can learn more about the program and the process for becoming a mentor at clarkecountymentorprogram.org. The right time is now!

Congratulations to Lizbeth Castro, eighth-grader at Coile Middle School, on winning the 2025 CCSD District Spelling Bee! This was Lizbeth's fourth consecutive appearance in the district bee as she represented Coile all three years of middle school. She advances to represent CCSD in the GAE Region 7 Spelling Bee at Putnam County Middle School on Feb. 22 and will compete for the opportunity to advance to the state bee later this spring. We also want to congratulate Clarke Middle School eighth-grader Ojas Kulkarni, who finished as our district runner-up. Click here for a full photo gallery from the district spelling bee!

The annual CCSD District Science and Engineering Fair for middle school students last weekend showcased the work of our brilliant and talented students and gave them the opportunity to present their projects and their findings to judges as well as fellow students, staff, and community members. Dozens of projects won first-, second-, and third-place prizes, and those students qualified to advance to the Northeast Georgia Regional Science and Engineering Fair, scheduled for Feb. 8 at Piedmont University in Demorest.

Click here to see more photos from the district fair and for a full list of students who qualified for the regional fair!

Congratulations to Nate Guidry, sophomore at Cedar Shoals High School, who was among 30 students from across the state who were selected to participate in the 2025 class of Youth LEAD Georgia! Nate and the other 29 10th- and 11th-grade students were selected by an external committee from more than 340 nominations received by the University of Georgia, which facilitates the program.

As part of the program, the 2025 class will participate in four weekend retreats held in different communities across the state as well as a four-day summer bus tour of south Georgia. Experiential activities, in-depth dialogue on current issues and challenges facing Georgia, and opportunities to interact with prominent business and community leaders will complement the leadership training.

Read more about the program here.

Congratulations to the Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School girls' and boys' basketball teams for winning the 2024-25 Clarke County championships! The BHL girls defeated runner-up Clarke Middle, while the boys ended Hilsman Middle's two-year reign at the top as both Lion teams finished the year undefeated. Great job by all of our players and coaches on a fantastic season!

CCSD emphasizes the importance of reading, especially from a young age, to build a foundation for a lifetime of success and opportunities for our students. The non-profit Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) helps put children on the path to reading proficiency and a better future by sparking the joy of reading. RIF highlights the importance of wellness in this month's Rally to Read feature of authors reading their books aloud, as Anna Llenas reads her book, "Dr. Color Monster!"

Read along by watching the video below and head to bit.ly/RIFrallytoread to take the Rally to Read pledge of reading 100 books!

Registration is now open for the spring Sirius Athletics track and field season, and CCSD elementary school students can join for free! The program is open to children ages 6-15, and the first practice is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9. The number of registration fee waivers is capped, and waivers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register by Feb. 6. Go to siriusathletics.org to register or scan the QR code in the flyer above for more information!

Clarke Middle School will host a Community Night event Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 5:30-7 p.m. The event is open to families from all of Clarke County and is intended to connect students and families with many of our wonderful community partners. Organizations in attendance will offer information and resources related to student mentoring, health care, mental health, financial assistance, legal assistance, and restorative justice practices. There will also be student performances, a free spaghetti dinner (meatless options available), and free haircuts available on a first-come, first-served basis. See the flyer above for additional information. We look forward to seeing you there!

CCSD will hold an Educator Career Fair on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the District Office, 595 Prince Ave., Athens. Whether you're a soon-to-be college graduate ready to start your teaching career or you're a veteran educator looking to make a move, this career fair is the perfect opportunity to speak with many of our current teachers and principals to understand in detail about their school and the positions they are hiring for. At the event, you may be invited to interview with school teams and potentially offered a teaching position on the spot. Representatives from our Human Resources Division will also be there to answer any questions you may have.

With excellent pay and benefits, innovative partnerships and programs, and a commitment to providing teachers with the professional development resources they need to succeed, CCSD aspires to be the employer of choice for teachers to advance our mission of creating educational journeys that empower all students to fulfill their potential. Register and find more information at bit.ly/ccsdfair25!

CCSD's Business Services Division is pleased to announce a new series of free workshops designed for current and prospective vendors. The goal of the sessions is to enhance local and area businesses' understanding of the district's procurement processes and foster stronger community partnerships.

The first workshop — "Deep Dive into the Solicitation Process" — is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the District Office, 595 Prince Ave., Athens. Additional sessions on the schedule include "Accounts Payable & Invoicing" (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 20) and "CCSD Contract Management and Expectations" (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 29).

For more information, contact Veronica Jackson, CCSD's Purchasing and Contracts Supervisor, at 706-546-7721, Ext. 79711, or jacksonv@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Five CCSD students will be participating in the Extra Special People Big Hearts Talent Show next month, and we are asking students, staff, and families around the district to cheer them on! The event will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at Athens Church Beechwood campus, 196 Alps Rd., Suite 69, Athens.

One of ESP's goals this year is to involve the participants' peers in the event so the participants can feel extra excitement and pride as they hit the stage. Community members are also encouraged to donate $1 to the cause by voting for the People's Choice Award. Click here to vote and view all the participants performing in the talent show. Click here to purchase tickets for the event.

The Athens Community Career Academy provides CCSD high school students with opportunities that foster career readiness – including resume development and building job interview skills. To that end, local business leaders and community members are invited to participate in "Project Yellow Jacket," ACCA's annual student mock interview competition where students participate in 5-to-10-minute mock interviews with employers, community partners, and volunteers who evaluate them and provide feedback on a scoring rubric. Awards are given to students based on their professionalism ratings.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19, and volunteers are sought for one or both of two time periods – 10:30 a.m. to noon or 1:15-2:15 p.m. To RSVP, go to bit.ly/accamockinterviews.

The Athens Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is now accepting applications for its 2025 scholarship. Find more information at this link and apply by Feb. 28. The application can be found here.

The Future Business Leaders of America chapter at Clarke Central High School will have a fundraiser event Monday, Feb. 10, from 5-9 p.m. at Chipotle, 165 Alps Rd., Athens. The chapter will receive 25% of proceeds from sales during this time. Eat in-person and show the flyer above or order online for pickup with the code YREEX9B.

For more information, contact Jaclyn Brown, Clarke Central FBLA faculty advisor, at brownja@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Join us Saturday, March 1, for a day of fun at the Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary annual Ribbit Run, presented by Fleet Feet! Whether it’s the 5K race, 1K Fun Run, or Tiny Tree Frog Trot, there will be races for all ages and paces. In addition to running, there will be complimentary hot chocolate and coffee from Java Joy, food for purchase from Cafe Racer, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and other children's activities.

All event proceeds will go to the Burks Elementary PTO, which provides support for teacher and school-wide projects. Register at this link by Monday, Feb. 10, to receive a T-shirt.

CCSD students in grades PK-12 are invited to participate in the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Waste Reduction Division's annual Green Life Art Contest. Winning entries will be included in the Green Life Art Exhibition in April.

This year, students are invited to explore and express their unique perspectives on sustainability and nature in the Classic City. Create a work of art that shares how you see Athens embracing the balance between urban life and the natural world, highlighting both its challenges and the beauty that lies in its landscapes and environment. Students are encouraged to create a painting, drawing, sculpture, take a photograph, or write a poem to demonstrate Athens through your eyes.

Visit accgov.com/GreenLife for more information.

The third and final Clarke County Board of Education public hearing on its potential opt-out of the House Bill 581 property-tax legislation that was originally rescheduled for Feb. 4 has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in order to accommodate the Clarke County legal organ’s publishing schedule and comply with the requirement that hearings be advertised at least seven days in advance.

Three public hearings are required before the board can take a vote on whether to opt out. The first hearing was held Jan. 14, and the second hearing was held Jan. 28. All board meetings are held in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the District Office, located at 595 Prince Ave., Athens. All concerned citizens are invited to these public hearings on this matter.

The purpose of these hearings is to gather public input on the question. Those who wish to make public comments during a hearing may sign up in person before the hearing begins. The board’s vote is not predetermined, and all public input will be carefully considered.

Following the public hearings, the board will consider the adoption of an opt-out resolution at its regular meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13.

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, Feb. 13, 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.

Girl Scout Troop 12050, a newly-formed troop led by University of Georgia campus Girl Scouts, will hold an informational meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 6-7 p.m. at 185 Newton Bridge Rd., Athens. The troop is open to all girls in Clarke County in grades K-5 and will meet the first and third Wednesday of every month from 6-7 p.m. Membership is $30 per year, and membership vouchers are available. For more information, contact membership manager Ellie Riddell at eriddell@gshg.org or 678-769-5005.

Registration for the Athens Little League spring baseball and softball season is now open. Registration fees vary by age level:

• Softball (6-8 years old) - $75
• Softball (9+) - $100
• Tee Ball - $80
• Coach Pitch - $100
• Rookies, Minors, and Majors - $125.

Find more information and register at www.athenslittleleague.org.

Registration is open for the Athens United Soccer spring developmental program for ages 4-12. Registration fees vary by age group:

• U5-U6 - $135
• U7-U8 - $150
• U9-U10 - $175
• U11-U12 - $200.

No previous playing experience or advanced skill level is required. The program is focused on providing opportunities for more children to participate in and develop a love for the game of soccer while learning new motor skills and having fun.

Go to www.athensunited.net to register. For more information, call 706-224-7260.

Registration for youth spring programming at the Athens YMCA is now open. Activities include soccer, track and field, swim lessons, dance, teen fitness and gardening, and STEAM Club. Additional information and the registration links can be found here. See the flyers below for additional information.

Registration is ongoing for spring English classes facilitated by Casa de Amistad, an Athens-based nonprofit that works to identify and address the needs of the local Hispanic community. Scan the QR code in the flyer below for the registration link and go to athensamistad.com for more information.

Casa de Amistad is also currently offering free GED courses taught in Spanish every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Goodwill Center, 4070 Lexington Rd., Athens. Scan the QR code in the flyer below for the registration link and go to athensamistad.com for more information.

The Athens Land Trust is offering free housing and financial literacy, workshops housing counseling services, and homebuyer education to Athens-Clarke County residents.

See the flyer below for additional information and click here to sign up.

The Athens Farmers Market is now accepting applicants for its FARM (Food as Real Medicine) Rx program. FARM Rx is a proven, evidence-based model of preventative healthcare with a demonstrated impact, resulting in healthier communities, food systems, and local economies. The 2025 FARM Rx program begins in April and runs through early November. For those eight months, participants attend the Saturday farmers markets at Bishop Park (or Wednesday markets at Creature Comforts) to receive fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families, along with attending a series of cooking and wellness classes hosted by the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed program. The FARM Rx program serves both English- and Spanish-speaking families. Transportation is also offered to the market and classes for all those who need it.

To be eligible for the program, people must self-qualify as food-insecure (based on two questions from the USDA) and suffer from a diet-related illness. See the flyer below for additional information and click here to access the waitlist form.

Project Safe's annual Jessica Nowell Memorial "Stomp Out Domestic Violence" step show will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, at Clarke Central High School.

Step teams from CCSD schools will be among those participating in the event. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students.