Better Together

Supporters of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia left the organization’s annual Empty Bowl fundraiser this week with more than just a full stomach - each attendee took home a one-of-a-kind bowl created by our very own students across CCSD! The more than 700 clay bowls were made possible by CCSD students and teachers as part of a project spearheaded by Dan Smith, CCSD’s Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education Curriculum Coordinator. We are pleased to partner with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and support their vision of seeing “every neighbor, with enough food, every day.”

While working as a camp counselor in college, Chris Batson realized his strengths lied in his ability to connect with children, which led him on a path toward being an educator. For the last 12-plus years at Clarke Middle School, he has sought to be part of the spark igniting a passion for learning in his students. In his own words: “I believe that all students are capable of achieving. We just don’t always find the path or avenue to get them hooked and see the relevance of what they are teaching to their own lives. The more we are consciously working to improve what we are teaching and funnel it through a student-focused lens, the better off all our students will be.” CCSD is proud to present this celebration video of our 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, Mr. Chris Batson, which debuted this week at the annual Athens Area Chamber of Commerce awards dinner.

This week, CCSD and the Athens Community Career Academy held an official ribbon-cutting for the new lab for the brand-new Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing pathway. Local community and industry leaders and representatives from organizations who made generous donations to help make the lab and pathway a reality were on hand for a tour of the lab and demonstrations by current pathway students and their instructor, Stan Harrison.

This new, three-course pathway introduces CCSD high school students to the science of using natural biological processes to manufacture products to solve human problems through a variety of methods. It also forms a vital connection between students (our future workforce) and local employers in a growing industry and targeted sector for Athens-Clarke County Economic Development with more and more investments continuing to pour in. Students who complete the pathway can earn professional certification as a biotechnician assistant and will have a leg up on their peers whether they continue their studies in the field in college or go directly into the workforce with well-paying jobs and upward mobility.

See more photos from the ribbon-cutting here!

We are excited to announce the 2024-25 Young Georgia Authors contest winners from CCSD! Every spring our students submit work to their schools, and the winning entries are then judged by a district team. This year, we had many strong entries from our amazing writers. Congratulations to these winners who will now be judged by a panel from Northeast Georgia RESA for the opportunity to advance to the state competition!

• Kindergarten - Leo Finlay, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary
• 1st Grade - Rowan Sarvis, Barnett Shoals Elementary
• 2nd Grade - Cecilia Breña Muñoz, Barnett Shoals Elementary
• 3rd Grade - Micah Fayoyin, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary
• 4th Grade - Nelith Jayshan Weliweriya Liyanage, Barnett Shoals Elementary
• 5th Grade - Brandon Lopez Hernandez, J.J. Harris Elementary
• 6th Grade - Angel Lopez Martinez, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle

• 7th Grade - Alexa Suarez, Hilsman Middle
• 8th Grade - Geniyah Norris, Hilsman Middle
• 9th Grade - Angeles Olali, Cedar Shoals High
• 10th Grade - Mary Wicker, Clarke Central High
• 11th Grade - Yilana Andre, Cedar Shoals High
• 12th Grade - Luna Patterson, Cedar Shoals High

We are pleased to announce Rusty Charpia as the new head varsity football coach at Cedar Shoals High School! The move was approved by the Clarke County Board of Education during its meeting on Feb. 13.

Coach Charpia’s coaching career in football, baseball, and track and field has spanned more than 30 years. He brings to Cedar Shoals a proven track record of not only winning games but connecting student-athletes with opportunities to further their education and continue their playing careers after high school.

Read more about Coach Charpia here!

The ODYSSEY Media Group, Clarke Central High School's student journalist organization, continues to rack up awards on the national stage, recently earning several recognitions from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

The National Scholastic Press Association recognized the ODYSSEY for its online coverage in the 2024-25 school year by evaluating the OMG website with an “All-American” ranking in a critique released this month. Meanwhile, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association announced the winners of its Centennial Student Essay Contest, and ODYSSEY Editor-in-Chief Wyatt Meyer won first place. Wyatt will receive a $3,000 scholarship, free registration to the CSPA Spring Convention/Centennial Celebration, and be invited to participate on a Centennial panel during the convention.

Congratulations to the Classic City Dawgs, CCSD's own AdaptED wheelchair athletic program, for qualifying for the GHSA basketball playoffs beginning March 1!

This free program, coordinated by CCSD, is open to all students grades 1-12 throughout northeast Georgia with a qualifying physical disability. Wheelchair football practice starts March 9. If you're interested in signing your student up, please complete this interest form or contact CCSD AdaptED coordinator Chris Aiken at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.

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 nonprofit Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) helps put children on the path to reading proficiency and a better future by sparking the joy of reading.

This month, RIF highlights the importance of "change-makers" with videos of authors reading their books aloud. Check out the video below to read along with your child as Nathan Bryon reads his book, "Rocket Says Speak Up!" Then head over to Read along by clicking the link below and head to bit.ly/RIFrallytoread to take the Rally to Read pledge of reading 100 books!

Is your company hiring, providing internship opportunities, or looking for more ways to connect with high school students? The Athens Community Career Academy, 440-1 Dearing Ext., Athens, will host a career fair on Wednesday, April 2, 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1-2:15 p.m.

The event connects local employers with CCSD students seeking full-time jobs, summer positions, or internships starting in August. Graduating seniors are looking for employment, while sophomores and juniors will be in search of part-time work or Work-Based Learning credit opportunities. If you or a colleague are interested in recruiting, please complete this registration form by Friday, March 21.

The Athens Youth Development Initiative will be holding tryouts for a CCSD-based U11 volleyball team from 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, and 5:45-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. Tryouts will be held at the district gymnasium, located at 595 Prince Ave., Athens, across the parking lot from the main District Office building.

This team will compete against area recreational department teams with both home and away matches. To be eligible for the team, girls cannot turn 11 years old before Sept. 1. For more information, contact YDI Volleyball Coordinator Nora Fowler at fowlern@clarke.k12.ga.us.

The Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA) offers an opportunity for CCSD students in grades 10-12 to participate in high school- and college-level career-themed pathways that are aligned with in-demand local workforce needs. Students can earn early college essentials credits, technical college certifications, industry-recognized credentials, and participate in unique apprenticeships or internships through taking courses at ACCA.

Students currently in grades 9-11 with a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher and fewer than 36 period absences can still apply until March 1 for several ACCA pathways for next school year.

Students interested in enrolling in one of the pathways listed in the flyer above should complete the short interest form at bit.ly/accainterest.

Find more information at this link or register directly for the tournament here or scan the QR code in the flyer above.

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.

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, March 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.

The Georgia Museum of Art, 90 Carlton St., Athens, will host its monthly free Family Day event Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. Travel back to 17th-century Florence by exploring the exhibition, “Beyond the Medici: The Haukohl Family Collection.” Discover the unique Florentine take on baroque art with Art Cart activities and a hands-on art project. Then stick around for the rest of the museum's open house activities, including a baroque music performance and more drop-in art-making until 5 p.m.

For those who cannot attend in person, Family Day to-go kits will be available for pick-up starting at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 through the end of day Sunday, Feb. 23, while supplies last.

Other Museum Activities

The Museum of Art has the other regular programming opportunities available for children and families:

• Toddler Tuesdays featuring art and story time together in the galleries followed by an art activity for little ones. This free program is designed for families with children ages 18 months to 3 years. Seats are limited; email gmoa-tours@uga.edu to reserve a spot.
• Teen Studio is geared toward ages 13-18 and is a studio-based workshop led by local artists and educators. Look at art, then create your own objects inspired by what you saw. This program is free and includes a pizza dinner. Seats are limited; email gmoa-tours@uga.edu to sign up or register on the museum's website.

Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services is rewarding CCSD students who earn high grades with a free summer pool pass! In order to be eligible, any student in grades K-12 who resides in Athens-Clarke County must take a copy of their final report card or equivalent to the Leisure Services Department’s park office where a swimming pool is located.

A report card with all A's or all E's guarantees a free summer pool pass. A report card with all A's and B's, or all 3's and 4's, is good for 10 free trips. The passes may be used at all of the department’s five pool and both splash pads located throughout the county this summer.

For more information and a list of pool and splash pad locations, visit www.accgov.com/aquatics.

The Athens YWCO and Step Into Swim are offering youth swim lessons for children ages 4-9 this spring and offering scholarships to students who cannot otherwise afford private lessons. There will be eight 30-minute sessions offered from 5:30-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, either from March 4-27 or April 1 through May 1. See the flyer above or click here for additional information. For questions, call 706-354-7880, Ext. 3.

Looking for an after-school program to help your child get more physically active through running? Check out Atlanta Track Club’s Kilometer Kids program being offered this spring in Athens. The free, 10-week, game-based running program for children grades K-5 is designed to teach them about goal setting, healthy habits, respect, and community building, all through exposing them to the sport of running. There is no fee to participate, and the program is for all students regardless of running ability or experience.

The Athens spring program will begin Feb. 27 and be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Thursday for 10 weeks at Bishop Park on softball field #2.

To learn more and to register, please visit atlantatrackclub.org/kilometerkids.