Better Together
11/21/25 • News from the Clarke County School District
Dear CCSD families,
As we prepare for a much needed week off for Thanksgiving Break, I wanted to take a moment to extend my thanks to all of you for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership as we work together to make a difference in the lives of our children.
This season is the perfect time to remind us of the importance of a community that works together, and I am so thankful for the many ways in which our students, families, schools, and community members are finding ways to do so. As I’ve walked through our schools over the last few months, talked with our advisory board members, planned with district leaders, and visited with stakeholders in our community, I’ve heard words of commitment and encouragement for the work taking place. I’ve seen evidence that we’re raising the bar, and I’ve felt great hope and anticipation for the future we are building together where every student can and will thrive.
I hope this break provides you with opportunities to rest and enjoy time with those people and things that bring you joy. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on December 1 with a renewed energy and commitment to creating educational journeys that empower all students to fulfill their potential, and we thank you for continuing to join us on that journey.
Gratefully,
Dr. Jennifer Scott
Interim Superintendent
Support CCSD Schools This Giving Tuesday!
Recognized annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, "Giving Tuesday" is a global effort to spread generosity throughout communities. This year, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, please consider donating to CCSD to help further our mission of creating educational journeys that empower all students to fulfill their potential through special projects and scholarships that fall outside the annual budget.
We encourage you to support our students, teachers and support staff, schools, and programs in the following ways:
- Donate to the Clarke County School District Fund through the Athens Area Community Foundation with either a general or program-specific contribution at bit.ly/CCSDDonate. You will be given the option to make a one-time or recurring donation. If you would like to contribute to a specific school or program, please provide instructions in the donation description box.
- Individual taxpayers and businesses can also receive the PEACH Education Tax Credit by making a contribution to support our Culture of Literacy campaign, buildout of a dental clinic at the Clarke Middle Health Center, or programming at the Athens Community Career Academy. Read more here!
We appreciate your support of the Clarke County School District and our children!
Support Holiday Markets at CCSD Schools!
Several schools around CCSD are once again holding holiday gift markets this year for students to “shop” at for items for loved ones. Donations of new and gently used items are currently being accepted. Click here for details on each school's market and information on how to donate.
McKinney-Vento Program Provides Assistance to CCSD Families Facing Food, Housing Insecurity
This week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Did you know these startling statistics?
- According to the Athens-Clarke County 2024 Point in Time and housing inventory count from the Department of Housing and Community Development, on a typical night, 386 Athens-Clarke County residents, including children, are classified as homeless – a 12% increase from the previous year.
- According to FeedingAmerica.org, the most recent data shows that an estimated 4,960 children in Clarke County will face food insecurity this year alone.
Common barriers faced by students in transition include a lack of reliable and consistent transportation, limited access to healthcare, lack of educational continuity, lack of dedicated personal space after school, and food insecurity.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law established to help support the
enrollment and success of students experiencing homelessness. The CCSD McKinney-Vento Program aims to minimize barriers and improve educational opportunities for children in transition. This school year alone, the program has served 324 students from 159 families in need across the district, providing clothing and uniforms, internet hotspots and supplemental school supplies, referrals for food and emergency housing assistance, and reduced or waived fees for after-school activities or programs.
If you believe you may be eligible for the McKinney-Vento Program, please contact one of our district
liaisons:
- Dr. Angela Pope, 706-546-7721, Ext. 79410
- Chrystal Gillis, 706-614-3745
'Instant Decision Days', Application Workshops Highlight 'Apply to College Month' Efforts at High Schools
November is Apply to College Month around the nation and is a pivotal time for high school seniors with postsecondary education plans and goals to focus on the college application process. Our teams of high school counselors have been providing tremendous support to seniors recently through hosting college application workshops, "Instant Decision Days" with representatives from colleges and universities in Georgia in attendance to provide them with preliminary acceptance letters.
As a reminder, numerous colleges and universities throughout the state are waiving their application fee for the entire month through an ongoing initiative with the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Click here for a list of participating colleges and universities!
Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central Announce 2026 Governor's Honors Program Nominees
Thirty CCSD students — 15 each from Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools — have been nominated for the 2026 Governor's Honors Program. GHP is a month-long residential summer program for high school sophomores and juniors held on the campus of Georgia Southern University, where students attend classes in the mornings and afternoons in specific areas of study and participate in a wide variety of social and instructional opportunities every evening.
The students listed below were nominated for the program by their teachers and will now go through an extensive online application process for acceptance into the GHP program. Semifinalists will be announced in February, and finalists (those selected to attend GHP) and alternates will be announced in March.
Congratulations and good luck to these students!
Cedar Shoals
- Spencer Broome, 11th grade, Math
- Kitty Dennison, 10th grade, Dance
- John Driscoll, 10th grade, Social Studies
- Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez, 10th grade, Social Studies
- Roman Granados, 11th grade, Social Studies
- Evan Greene, 10th grade, Music
- Braylen Grier, 11th grade, Music
- Jack Justice, 11th grade, Engineering
- Avery Lewis, 10th grade, Communicative Arts
- Sebastian Marotta, 10th grade, Computer Science
- Boone Patterson, 11th grade, Orchestra
- Frannie Plaksin, 10th grade, Math
- Savannah Rawls, 11th grade, Communicative Arts
- Marten Schut, 11th grade, Theatre
- Caitlin Smith, 11th grade, Science
Clarke Central
- Scarlett Alston, 10th grade - Visual Arts
- Katyal Bagayogo-Zeltner, 10th grade - Visual Arts
- Daniel Bray, 11th grade - Computer Science
- Elle Cranston, 10th grade - Agricultural Research, Biotechnology, & Science
- Lea D’Angelo, 11th grade - Communicative Arts
- Caleah Daniels, 11th grade - Visual Arts
- Lucca Fleenor, 10th grade - Communicative Arts
- Jovi Grantham, 11th grade - Dance
- Kate Hinger, 11th grade - Agricultural Research, Biotechnology, & Science
- Liza Larson, 11th grade - Communicative Arts
- Samuel Lorenzini, 11th grade - Science
- Mariel Sanford, 11th grade - French
- Simon Scott, 11th grade - Music
- Tess Van Wagtendonk, 11th grade - Visual Arts
- Miriam Widener, 11th grade - Social Studies
Clarke Central Football Player Wins Piedmont Student-Athlete of the Month Award
Congratulations to Clarke Central High School sophomore football player Zavien Hunter (No. 56 in the photo) for being named Athlete of the Month for November by the Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Clinic!
Zavien's dedication, determination, and discipline to his recovery and his team have been on full display after suffering a meniscus tear earlier this season.
Thank you to Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Clinic for the hard work in helping Zavien recover, and great job by Zavien of working hard on the road to recovery!
CCSD PR, Communications Department Wins 7 State Awards
We are pleased to announce that the CCSD Department of Public Relations and Communications recently received seven awards from the Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA) for its work during the 2024-25 school year (July 2024 through June 2025).
Honors received as part of GSPRA's annual Publication Awards program included:
- a Gold rating for the district's printed wall calendar featuring the artistic works of CCSD students in grades K-12
- a Gold rating for the district's digital Back to School Guide
- a Gold rating for the district kindergarten activity booklet prepared for all incoming kindergarten students and their families this school year
- Gold ratings for production of two special-purpose videos – one promoting the winners of the district's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Art and Writing contest and the other promoting career, technical, and agricultural education programs across CCSD.
- Silver ratings for production of the weekly "Better Together" newsletter and photography.
Since 2023, the department has now won more than 40 awards and recognitions from GSPRA and the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for its work in highlighting district events and initiatives, celebrating student and staff awards and achievements, and telling the story of CCSD.
Nominate an Employee of the Month for December!
Nominations are open for CCSD's Employee of the Month award for December! Anyone in the community may nominate any full-time CCSD employee with at least one full year of service for the award. The winner will be surprised at their school or building, publicly recognized at the Dec. 11 Clarke County Board of Education meeting, and presented with a gift bag from the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce with contributions from several local businesses.
Submit a nomination at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward or fill the form out directly below!
REMINDER: Upcoming Public Sessions to Focus on Future of CCSD's West Broad School Property
CCSD invites the Athens-Clarke County community to join us as we share our vision for the future of the historic West Broad School complex. We will hold two public presentations on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the District Office - located at 595 Prince Avenue, in Athens. Each meeting will cover the same material.
If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the presentations live, or catch the recorded session on the CCSD YouTube channel.
While we will not take questions during the sessions, please email any questions you have in advance (before Dec. 1) to feedback@clarke.k12.ga.us so that we can address them during the presentations.
Give Your Feedback on the Code of Student Conduct!
CCSD is in the process of reviewing the district's Code of Student Conduct for potential edits and changes for the 2026-27 school year and is seeking public feedback.
Please review the 2025-26 code (Spanish begins on page 36), and complete this brief survey by Dec. 19 to share your feedback. The survey is available in English and Spanish and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The proposed 2026-27 Code of Student Conduct will be presented to the Clarke County Board of Education for approval this spring.
For questions, please reach out to Tessa Barbazon, Executive Director of Student and Family Support, at barbazont@clarke.k12.ga.us, or Jabari Cobb, Director of Student Support, at cobbja@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Check Out the Parent ProTech Holiday Gift Guide for Tech Purchases!
Are you getting started on your holiday shopping for your child and planning to purchase something tech-related? Before you click or tap "add to cart" to buy them something you might regret later, be sure to check out Parent ProTech's 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, highlighting safe and screen-balanced picks for every age and stage to help your child thrive.
Check out the full guide at bit.ly/protechgiftguide and remember to sign up for your *FREE* Parent ProTech account at bit.ly/clarkeparentprotech and learn more information about how you can support your child in being safe and responsible online and with devices.
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2025-26 Academic Calendar.
Important dates:
- 11/24 - 11/28: Thanksgiving Break (all schools and district offices closed)
- 12/1 - 12/5: Pre-K Parent-Teacher Conference Week
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? An Activation Key is required. Follow these directions to set up an account if you already have an Activation Key. Follow these directions if you don't have an Activation Key yet. 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.
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
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!
School-based health centers make accessing medical and dental care as easy as walking down the hall. Students and families throughout the district are encouraged to take advantage of one of our four school-based health centers for many of their basic healthcare needs. Click the links for additional information.
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.
Remember: If you See Something, Say Something. If you see something of concern online, Don't Repost. Report.
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 from the menu at the top of the page, and select “Ask a Question/Submit a Concern.”
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.
- 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, December 11, 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.
Free Community Thanksgiving Feast Set for This Weekend
The goal of the event is to provide a warm meal to those in need along with fellowship and hospitality during the holiday season. Guests will also receive essential items such as clothing, hygiene products, and food packs.
Students: Use Your 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.
Stay Informed with ACCGov 'Notify Me' Feature
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.
211 – Get Connected. Get Help.
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.