Better Together
8/28/26 • News from the Clarke County School District
This week, CCSD officially launched year 2 of our partnership with Gifted Savings, as nearly 800 seniors at Cedar Shoals High School, Clarke Central High School, Classic City High School, and the Athens Community Career Academy learned more about the $1,000 real-money investment portfolios they will receive along with financial education - all thanks to the more than $400,000 raised by community members and the matching $400,000 from an anonymous donor! We're excited to see the members of the Class of 2027 grow in this program and become real investors after graduation!
Read the official press release for more information, and learn more about Gifted Savings in CCSD at www.clarke.k12.ga.us/giftedsavings.
Note to Senior Parents: Parental Consent Required
If you are the parent or guardian of a senior, please be reminded that you must complete the consent form at bit.ly/clarkegsconsent by Friday, September 4, for your student to be eligible to participate in Gifted Savings and receive their portfolio! For questions, email communications@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Support Gifted Savings and Local Restaurants: Round 2 of Dining 4 Dividends Is Coming!
If you own, manage, or work for a local restaurant or know someone who does, you can help support the Gifted Savings program at CCSD while bringing in more dollars for your establishment!
CCSD is excited to announce Round 2 of "Dining 4 Dividends" will be held on Thursday, September 17, throughout Athens. Participating locations will direct a portion of their sales toward funding for future CCSD senior classes. During our first Dining 4 Dividends event in April, more than a dozen restaurants joined to help fully fund $1,000 investment portfolios for the Class of 2027! To keep the momentum going for the Class of 2028, we'd like even more restaurants to join us in this effort!
If your restaurant would like to participate, email Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, CCSD Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, at moorecy@clarke.k12.ga.us.
And stay tuned for more details on participating locations, and make plans to eat local on September 17!
Leadership Program Seeks to Create Informed, Passionate Public School Advocates in Community
Applications are now open for CCSD's 2026-27 Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy (VILLA), and will be accepted through Monday, August 31, at 5 p.m. Created by the Georgia School Boards Association and tailored to individual public school districts across the state, VILLA seeks to educate communities about their district’s operations and goals and empowers them to become more engaged with their schools.
The CCSD VILLA program is open to all Clarke County residents who have not previously participated in the program and will include seven monthly sessions beginning in September. Selected participants will learn about the different areas of school district operations and the role of school board members, visit schools and district offices, participate in question-and-answer sessions with school board members, the Superintendent, and senior staff, and attend a school board meeting.
Apply at bit.ly/CCSDVILLA.
Thank you to everyone who attended this week's "Progress and Plans" sessions with Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott, as she provided an overview of her 90-day entry plan and how CCSD will continue Raising the Bar this school year and also answered questions from the community!
As a reminder, we have one more of these sessions scheduled - Monday, August 31, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Rhema Christian Fellowship, 1850 Danielsville Road, Athens. You may submit your questions in advance by either emailing feedback@clarke.k12.ga.us or completing the short form at bit.ly/AskDrScott.
Elementary Volleyball League Play Starts Next Week!
A new and exciting season of the CCSD Elementary School Volleyball League gets underway next week with a slate of matches in the gymnasium at the CCSD District Office, 595 Prince Avenue! Make plans to come out and support our students throughout the season, and good luck to all of our teams! Follow the CCSD and Athens Youth Development Initiative Facebook pages for updates!
WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
Monday, August 31
4 p.m. - Cleveland Road vs. Barrow
5 p.m. - Winterville vs. Barnett Shoals
6 p.m. - Oglethorpe Avenue vs. Holston
Wednesday, September 2
4 p.m. - Gaines vs. J.J. Harris
5 p.m. - Timothy Road vs. Barrow
6 p.m. - Burks vs. Whitehead Road
CCSD to Hold Public Surplus Sale of Furniture, Equipment Next Month
CCSD invites the community to an upcoming public surplus sale of district furniture, equipment, and other items. The sale will be open to the general public on Thursday, September 17, from 4-6 p.m. at CCSD’s Early Learning Center East location, 280 Gaines School Road, Athens, and is the first in a planned monthly series of sales this school year.
The event is ideal for local businesses, churches, daycare centers, and other organizations, as well as private residents looking to stock their offices, meeting spaces, or homes with furniture and equipment. Items for sale include office and classroom desks, tables, chairs, bookshelves and books, filing cabinets, laptop charging stations, cosmetology chairs, and various other items and materials.
All items will be sold as-is on a first-come, first-served basis, and no items will be held. Purchasers are responsible for the loading and removal of items at the time of purchase. No refunds or exchanges will be granted. Payments can be made with cash or with a credit card through the CCSD online payments portal at bit.ly/ccsdpayments.
2026-27 AAHRC Scholarships Now Available for High School Seniors
The 2026-2027 scholarship season for the Athens Area Human Relations Council, Inc. (AAHRC) is now open to all CCSD high school seniors, and applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 25.
This year the AAHRC has established a scholarship portal, and all documents and supporting material must be uploaded into the portal. Students may create a username and password in the portal and complete the application online at their leisure. No documents or supporting information will be accepted by postal mail or email.
The scholarship portal will open on Tuesday, September 1, and will be available at this link.
A completed application will still consist of the following items:
- A completed scholarship application
- Essay
- 2 Recommendations
- Transcript.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the scholarship application, please email scholarships@humanrelationscouncil.org or call 404-556-4138.
Employee of the Month Nominations Open!
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!
Calling Juniors and Seniors! Serve on Dr. Scott's Student Advisory Council!
All 11th- and 12th-grade students interested in serving this year on the CCSD Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council are invited to complete the brief online application by Friday, September 4.
By participating on the council, students will learn about CCSD initiatives and share their perspectives as CCSD students with Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott. This year, all council members will continue work on ideas and issues identified by last year’s council, including student well-being, restroom safety, and unity across high schools. Students will also have a chance to develop their leadership and advocacy skills.
The council will meet four times over the course of the year during the third block of the high school day. Transportation on a CCSD bus from the home high school to the district office will be provided. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.
Apply to be Part of State Superintendent's Student Advisory Council!
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 2026-27 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.
Students must apply by Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.
Juniors, Seniors Invited to Apply to U.S. Senate Youth Program
Do you know a student with a passion for leadership and public service? The 2027 U.S. Senate Youth Program offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from our nation’s leaders in Washington, D.C.
The 2027 U.S. Senate Youth Program application window is now open and runs through September. High school juniors or seniors may apply, provided they meet all program qualifications outlined. Visit this link for the application, program criteria, and an informational brochure. Applications are due by Wednesday, September 30, at 5 p.m.
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2026-27 Academic Calendar.
Important dates:
- 9/7: Labor Day (schools and district offices closed)
Update or Create Your Parent Portal Account
Having a Parent Portal account allows parents and guardians to access attendance records, class schedules, grades, and assignment information for their students. Making sure all of your contact information is up to date in the Parent Portal will help ensure that CCSD and our schools send out communication notices to the correct home addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Learn more!
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 EZArrival App for Bus Info
Parents/guardians of students who ride a bus to and/or from school can use the EZArrival page on the district website or download the EZArrival 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
As part of our continued commitment to ensuring that our schools remain welcoming and safe environments for all, we are pleased to introduce the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) to CCSD students, staff, and families.
Students, staff, and the general public can submit a tip 24/7 about concerning or threatening behaviors in one of three ways:
- Directly through the website at saysomething.net. The direct reporting link for the general public can be found here. Students and staff will use a private link that they can access from their CCSD Clever account.
- Download the Say Something app on your smartphone - Google Play / Apple Store.
- Call 1-844-572-9669. You can also text “TIP” to 79775.
Every submission goes directly to a trained crisis counselor who gathers details and shares the information and next steps with the school safety response team and law enforcement (as needed). Every CCSD school has in place a trained “Say Something” response team, including counselors, administrators, and other support staff.
How to Address Questions, Concerns
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, September 10, 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 to access board meeting agendas.
- Board Briefs: 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 GED Classes Available in Spanish!
Athens-based nonprofit Casa de Amistad has openings for free GED classes taught virtually in Spanish! The GED is a U.S. high school equivalency credential that can help with jobs, career training, and further education. The program is designed to help people who are looking for new opportunities, continuing their education, or working toward a personal goal. Space is limited so register today! Register using this form.
Build Essential Job Skills, Advance Your Career, or Grow Your Business
The Georgia Public Library Service is pleased to announce no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and the Google AI Professional Certificate to Georgia public library cardholders. These courses will help Georgians build essential job skills in high-growth fields, including flexible, online training to support career advancement and business growth.
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.