Jag News

Upcoming Events at CSHS:

• 2/4: ASVAB Testing
• 2/4: FAFSA Completion Event
• 2/9: Cap & Gown Orders
• 2/10: Financial Planning Workshop
• 2/11: Letter Jacket Orders
• 2/11: Rising 9th Grade Family Night
• 2/26: Black History Month Program
• 2/28: Jag Fest: Teen Summit (Register here)
• 2/28: 11th Grade Family Meeting

Clarke County School District Updates:

• Link to the CCSD Academic Calendar
• Link to the High School Lunch Menu

We are again closely monitoring the forecast for inclement weather in our area this weekend, with the increasing likelihood of snow from overnight Friday through the day on Saturday. We will be tracking the weather and its impacts and will share an update on the status of school for Monday as soon as a decision is made.

And as always, all official updates regarding any changes to our school schedule and operations, as well as weekend and after-school activities, will be shared with our families via text and email through our mass notification system, posted and timestamped to our website (www.clarke.k12.ga.us) and social media channels (@ClarkeCoSchools), and shared with local media organizations and the Atlanta television news stations.

Families: Please be sure your contact information (phone and email) is up to date in Parent Portal. For more on how to update this information, go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/portalhelp.

It is time to begin preparing for graduation. On February 9th, a representative from Herff Jones will be at Cedar Shoals during all four lunches to take cap and gown orders. Payment can be made by cash, check, card, or money order. The required cap and gown package is $86.40. Families may also place orders online at www.herffjones.com. All cap and gown orders will be delivered to the school in person in April.

We are sharing important information regarding Junior Dues for the Class of 2027 and Senior Dues for the Class of 2026. Prom will be held on April 24, 2026 at The Classic Center. Please review the details below carefully, as dues support prom and several end-of-year activities.

Junior Dues: $150: Junior dues cover: Junior prom ticket, Senior prom ticket, End-of-year junior celebration, All senior year gifts and activities (senior breakfast, picnic, t-shirt, legacy gift, and more). Paying junior dues now helps reduce additional costs during senior year!

Senior Dues: $155: Senior dues cover: Senior prom ticket, All senior year gifts and activities (senior breakfast, picnic, t-shirt, legacy gift, and more)

Important Notes:

• Prom date tickets must be purchased separately.

• A form must be completed to bring a guest from another school.

• Dues may be paid in multiple payments.

• All dues must be paid by March 31, 2026.

• Refunds are not available, as dues are used for prom deposits and senior activities.

How to Pay: Dues can be paid online through the Cedar Shoals website under Online Payments (Linked Here), or in person to Ms. Thornton with cash, check, or money order made out to Cedar Shoals High School. If you have questions or are unsure about your payment status, please contact Ms. Thornton at thorntonv@clarke.k12.ga.us

Due to inclement weather, Saturday School has been cancelled. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Please stay safe and continue to monitor school communications for updates!

Cedar Library's Maker Monday is back! And, we’re kicking off Black History Month with BUTTON MAKING. We are collaborating with graphic design to bring you a hands-on Maker Monday where words take center stage. We’ll be creating Sharpie Poems and then we will turn those poems into custom buttons you can wear or share.

When: February 2nd - Before School

Where: The Library

What: Sharpie Poetry + Button Making

Why: We are celebrating Black Ink, Bold Stories by showing off our voice and creativity!

No experience needed. Just show up, grab a marker, and create!

Cedar Shoals families of current 11th graders are invited to attend our 11th Grade Family Meeting on Saturday, February 28th at 10:00 a.m. in the CSHS Auditorium. The Counseling Team will share important information to help juniors prepare for senior year, including graduation requirements, SAT/ACT dates, GA Futures and the HOPE Scholarship, and Dual Enrollment opportunities. Families are strongly encouraged to attend as students plan next steps toward graduation and life after high school.

Girls With Pearls presents Financial Planning for College and Life After High School! All Cedar Shoals students and parents are invited to join us on February 10th from 4-5 pm in the CSHS Media Center. Refreshments will be provided. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeV3wnzunEZcZ.../viewform

This workshop will focus on helping students build real-world financial skills, including saving for college, budgeting, understanding needs vs. wants, investing, and learning about scholarships and loans. We are excited to welcome special guest speakers Kimberly Thomas, Vanessa Smith, and Steven Miller to share their knowledge and experiences. With any questions, reach out to Ms. Gay at gaya@clarke.k12.ga.us or Mrs. Bolton at boltonsh@clarke.k12.ga.us

Shaun Helmey with AMG Brands will be here on Wednesday, February 11 to take letter Jacket orders from 4-6 in the gym. Payment is due at the time of ordering. Please see the attached order form if you plan on ordering a letter jacket in February: Letter Jacket Order Form

Letter Jacket purchases are to be purchased by student athletes. If you have not lettered in a sport, your jacket will not come with a letter on it. Once you have lettered in a sport, you can add the letter to your jacket. The Athletic Department will not supply letters to anyone that has not lettered in a sport, no exceptions.

Cedar STUDENTS AND FAMILIES! Mark your calendars for JAG FEST! Jag Fest is a Teen Summit designed to bring students and parents together for a day of connection, learning, and fun! This event will take place on Saturday, February 28th from 10:30 am to 2 pm. Lunch for any students and families in attendance will be provided and there will be childcare for school-aged students (Kindergarten-5th grade). Please Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfno5kxYazdJZVXAHB9UkeAGJHa9uxaZT2LUTMQsSFWmFlUtA/viewform

During Jag Fest, teens and families will explore real-world topics including: career and workforce readiness, healthy habits and stress, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, male empowerment, and identifying school supports while parents gain valuable insight into parenting Generation Alpha.

There will be food, door prizes, a selfie station, games, music and more! Have your whole family join us for an impactful experience that strengthens students, supports families, and celebrates our community. Students who attend will receive admission to a Cedar Fun Day, spotlight points, and a limited edition Jag Fest T-shirt.

We have a Valentine's themed fundraiser approaching- Chick-fil-A cookie Gram! All proceeds will be donated to our Jag for Cure team in assisting Cedar Shoals reach this year's donation gal. All cookie grams are going to be $3.00- Cash only! Sales will begin on February 2nd and run through February 6, 2026. Cookies will be delivered to teachers throughout the day and to students during 4th period ONLY on Feb 13th, 2026.

Our relay for life team "Jags for Cure" is so close to reaching our Relay for Life fundraising goal of $1,500. Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to supporting this incredible cause and making a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer.

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Test will be administered on Wednesday, February 4th at 9 a.m. at Cedar Shoals High School. The test is computer based. You will need to arrive by 8:45 a.m. with a charged device. More information will be shared about the testing location closer to the test date. Any students in grades 10-12 interested in taking the ASVAB test on Wednesday, February 4th should register here: ASVAB Registration Link

The ACT and SAT are standardized tests that many colleges use to help determine college readiness. All 11th and 12th grade students are eligible to take the National ACT and SAT. All juniors will take the ACT during the school day in April for free.

If you are interested in taking either test, please schedule an appointment with Cedar Shoals’ College Advisor, Ms. Medina, in the counseling office. She can help with registration, questions, and fee waivers if you qualify. Her email is medinak@clarke.k12.ga.us

Seniors: Even if the college you plan to attend does not require the ACT or SAT, it is strongly recommended that you take at least one test, especially if you plan to apply for the Zell Miller Scholarship. Ms. Medina can also assist with scholarship and college planning questions.

Learn more about the Zell Miller Scholarship here: Zell Miller Scholarship | Georgia Student Finance Commission

Eleventh-grade students at Cedar Shoals will have the opportunity to take the ACT in April 2026 during the school day. If your student has an IEP (Individualized Education Program) and plans to take the ACT, you may be eligible to receive testing accommodations. In order for us to submit an accommodations request to the ACT, we must have your signed Consent Form for Accommodations on file. Please complete and return the Parent Consent Form for Accommodations by February 6, 2026. Click here to access the form. If you have any questions about the accommodations process or need assistance completing the form, feel free to contact Ms. Fambro at fambrom2@clarke.k12.ga.us or Mr. Price at priceja@clarke.k12.ga.us

Seniors- it is not too late to sign up for the Senior 2026 trip and take advantage of the payment plan. Here is the trip information: https://traveljoy.com/bookings/9jSbPyEVEeTPG1PGrYTBtk8z

2026 Senior Trip/April 17-19, 2026

· Universal Studios Orlando, Florida

· Aquatica Water Park

· Beach Day @ Cocoa Beach Florida

Payment plans for single, double, and quad rooms are available! Seniors, check your email for all trip details, or pick up a trip package from Ms. Thornton.

1. InspirASIAN- InspirASIAN, a non-profit employee group led by AT&T employees, is seeking qualified applicants for its scholarship awards. The scholarship opportunity is open to college-bound high school seniors with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. The student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident residing within the eligible states listed on our website, Georgia being one of them. Although InspirASIAN promotes community within the Asian-Pacific Islander & Asian Indian communities - our scholarship opportunities are open to all students regardless of race.

Information about our scholarship program, eligibility requirements, the link to download the scholarship application, and the process to submit the scholarship application can be found on our website at https://inspirasian.us/scholarships. All scholarship applications must be submitted online by January 31, 2026, 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time.

2. Shirley Daniel Legacy Scholarship for Future Leaders (ATTACHED to CCSD email)

3. Cavalier's Club of Athens (ATTACHED to CCSD email)

4. Bon Bons Scholarship (ATTACHED to CCSD email)

5. Think Before You Move (ATTACHED to CCSD email)

6. Athens Step Up (https://athensstepup.com/)

7. Athens Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Athens Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Scholarship Application

If you are a high school senior or an adult member of Peach State Federal Credit Union seeking career advancement, you are invited to apply for the credit union's 2026 scholarship program by Feb. 27.

The Peach State FCU Scholarship Program was established more than 20 years ago as a way to honor the educators who founded the credit union, and scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. The student scholarships are open to high school seniors planning to pursue higher education, while the career advancement scholarships are for adult members of the credit union whose accounts are in good standing.

Click here for more information about the scholarships and qualifications and to apply.

Do you want a senior ad in the yearbook? You haven’t missed your chance to celebrate your senior year with a yearbook recognition ad! Honor their achievements, milestones, or special memories before it’s too late! Order your recognition ad now here: https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/yearbook-ads

We are excited to announce the dates and times for the Cedar Shoals High School Class of 2026 graduation ceremony! Cedar Shoals High School ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 23, at Akins Ford Arena, 300 North Thomas St., Athens, GA at 10 a.m.

Admission is free and open to all, and there is no limit on the number of guests for each graduate. We will communicate directly with seniors and families regarding additional information on the ceremony, including rehearsal dates and times and other details at a future date.

We are proud to celebrate former Jaguar football coach, Mike Macdonald, whose coaching journey started right here on the East Side and has led him to coaching on football’s biggest stage with the Seattle Seahawks. Once a Jaguar, always a Jaguar. Good luck, Coach Macdonald! Go Jags!!!

Sophomore Lauren Neace has set the Cedar Shoals High School swim team record of qualifying all 8 individual swimming events for the Georgia High School Association State Swimming Championship.

Lauren has state qualifying times in each of these events: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, and the 200 individual medley.

Congratulations, Lauren!

After recently being named to the 2026 Youth LEAD Georgia cohort, Cedar Shoals High School sophomore Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez can now add another prestigious, nationwide accolade to her list of accomplishments!

Kenia has been announced as one of 100 students in the 2026 Disney Dreamers Academy cohort after being selected from among thousands of applicants across the U.S.! This spring, Kenia will travel to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to participate in career workshops and develop professional, career-focused skills. She will also receive complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations, and theme park tickets for herself and a family member.

Read more about the academy program here. Congratulations, Kenia!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for the Cedar Shoals MLK Food Distribution last week. Over 90 families were served at our 2nd annual MLK Food Distribution. Go Jags!

The first ever Cedar Shoals Girls Wrestling Team made history on Friday, January 9, 2026! They competed in their first Area Duals Team Championship, winning their first team dual by beating Winder-Barrow High School 31-30! Maria Umana Acevedo and Sarah Harrelson went 3-0.

The Lady Jags will now prepare for individual competition at the Traditional Area Tournament at North Forsyth and work to compete for a spot in the State Finals that will be held in Clayton County on February 11-14, 2026. Coach Lattimore, Coach Miller, Coach Glinski, and Coach Nguyen are extremely proud of the wrestlers’ accomplishments this season. Go Jags!!!

For the 2025-26 school year, CSHS Athletics will be using, Rank One, to store all pre participation forms. All prospective students must complete the required forms on Rank One before being cleared to participate in any CSHS Athletic program. LINK: Pre Participation Forms 2025-26 School Year

All student-athletes must also have a valid physical on file to participate in any CSHS Athletic program. The link to upload it to the Rank One platform is below. A blank copy of the GHSA Physical form is located below also.Students or parents upload a completed physical directly to Rank One here. Here is a copy of a GHSA Blank Physical. Please reach out to your coach for more information!

Cedar Shoals Athletics is going cashless! For the 2025-2026 athletic season, all ticket purchases will be available exclusively through GoFan- no cash accepted. Stay prepared and download the GoFan app today!

Support the Jaguars! Students can purchase an all-sport pass here for $49.25 and adults can purchase an all-sport pass here for $80.75. This pass will admit one person to every regular season home athletic event - Freshman/Junior Varsity/Varsity.

Please see recurring and NEW programs offered between Spring 2026 – Fall 2026:

• Program: UGA Vet School for a Day 2.0
• Date: Saturday, February 21st from 11:30 – 5pm
• Brief description: Half-day exposure program with short, rotating interactive workshops
• Population: Undergrads, graduate students, professional students and/or college alumni from any accredited college or university
• Location: Athens, Georgia
• Deadline: Tuesday, January 20th
• Website: https://vet.uga.edu/education/k-12-programs/vet-school-for-a-day/
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/2lx4TPrgqMU
• Program: UGA VetCAMP 2026
• Date: Sunday, May 31 – Saturday, June 6
• Brief description: 7-Day summer residency program with veterinarians, vet students, and staff to do deep dives in the profession and field
• Population: 10th – 12th AND must be the age of 16 by the program start date
• Location: Athens, Georgia
• Deadline: Tuesday, January 20th

• Website: https://vet.uga.edu/education/k-12-programs/vetcamp/

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/zG5JE60DQWg
• YouTube Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/hbZqTf2Ub04?feature=share
• Program: UGA Vet School for a Day 1.5
• Date: Saturday, September 12th from 11:30 – 5pm
• Brief description: Half-day exposure program with short, rotating interactive workshops and site visits
• Population: HS 10th – 12th Grade; College students with pre-vet interests
• Location: Tifton, Georgia
• Deadline: Thursday, August 27th
• Website: https://vet.uga.edu/education/k-12-programs/vet-school-for-a-day/
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/lzwjoeQpvx8
• Program: UGA Vet School for a Day 1.0
• Date: Saturday, September 19th from 11:30 – 5pm
• Brief description: Half-day exposure program with short, rotating interactive workshops
• Population: HS 10th – 12th Grade
• Location: Athens, Georgia
• Deadline: Thursday, August 27th
• Website: https://vet.uga.edu/education/k-12-programs/vet-school-for-a-day/
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/UxJFIi8uczw
• Program: UGA Youth Pre-vet BootCAMP
• Date: Saturday, November 7th from 11:30 – 5pm
• Brief description: Half-day exposure program for younger and less experienced students; Focus on fundamentals and short, rotating interactive workshops
• Population: MS-HS 8th – 10th Grade
• Location: Athens, Georgia
• Deadline: Friday, September 25th
• Website: https://vet.uga.edu/education/k-12-programs/vetcamp/
• YouTube: The first program that exists will be held this Fall – there is no video on the experience yet

• Cedar Shoals Pathways to Success Program (PSP) is free to all students each Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday is Language Arts/Social Studies tutoring and Thursday is Math/Science tutoring until 5:30 pm. Transportation can be provided upon request.
• Saturday School is free from 8-12 on select Saturdays for 9th grade students and students in EOC or credit recovery classes. Transportation can be provided upon request.
• Varsity Tutoring is free to all our students, and students can log on to the virtual tutoring via our Clever page.
• Equal Education for Athens is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free online tutoring for students in Athens-Clarke County. UGA students and recent alumni oversee the program. Learn more and find the registration form here.
• GA Tutor offers free online tutoring sessions through scheduled Zoom meetings with certified Georgia teachers. Tutoring is available in all high school core content areas. Sessions are scheduled through student's Campus Student Portal accounts. You can learn more and sign up by visiting the GA Tutor website here.

We are excited to welcome Ms. Medina as our new College and Career Adviser at Cedar Shoals! She is here to support students with their post-graduation plans—whether that’s college, trade school, the military, or entering the workforce. Seniors are required to meet with her at least once this year to ensure they are on track for success after high school.

Ms. Medina can help with:

• College applications & financial aid

• Scholarships & SAT/ACT registration

• Career advising & more!

Schedule an appointment: calendly.com/cedarshoalsadvising/30min

Athens-based nonprofit Casa de Amistad, with support from CCSD federal funds, will be offering FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) classes this spring for family members of CCSD English Learners. Classes will be available at either of the following locations:

• City of Refuge, 565 Tallassee Rd., Athens, on Mondays, starting Jan. 26, from 6:30-8 p.m.
• Country Corners, 1495 U.S. Hwy. 29, Athens, on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 27, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Click HERE or on the button below for more information and to sign up!

CCSD families: Many children look up to YouTubers, TikTok stars, and other social media influencers and may want to build up their own online presence. However, they may not fully understand the privacy implications of sharing their information on the internet.

CCSD encourages all families to sign up for a *FREE* Parent ProTech account and get tips on how to talk with your child about fame, privacy, peer and societal pressure, and setting healthy boundaries to ensure they maintain a safe online profile.

As a parent, you can monitor your student’s performance by using Campus Parent Portal. Parent Portal provides current information on course and assignment grades as well as attendance. It can be accessed through a computer or your phone. For instructions on how to create an account, click here. Questions? Email campus@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Cedar Shoals High School's PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is easy to join and is a great way to show support to Cedar Shoals High School! Any parents interested in joining PTO should join the GroupMe here for communication. Please contact Brandy Justice with any questions at cedarshoalspto@gmail.com

Donate:

You can support our teachers and staff by donating to the PTO! The mission is to fund events that show our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our educators. Your contributions help us create memorable experiences and provide much-needed support, ensuring our teachers and staff feel valued and motivated. Donate to Cedar Shoals PTO via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JT7YCAS4NYW6L

Do you want Jag Gear? Here is the link to our sideline store where you can get countless Jaguar apparel customized. Check out our Jaguar Sideline Store here!

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/georgia/athens/cedar-shoals-high-school

This is a friendly reminder that The Georgia Department of Public Health requires all students who are 16 years of age be up to date with the State's Meningitis Immunization requirement. Students who are not in compliance with the State of Georgia's immunization requirements are subject to withdrawal from school. Please contact one of our CCSD School Based Health Centers listed below, or your child’s pediatrician, in order to find out if your child needs an additional vaccination.

CCSD SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTERS:

HILSMAN HEALTH CENTER: 706-546-7463

COILE HEALTH CENTER : 706-352-9244 EXT 4800

CLARKE MIDDLE HEALTH CENTER: 706-208-1190

CLASSIC CITY HEALTH CENTER: 706-389-1095 EXT 4700

Keep up with all things Cedar Shoals! Please contact us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Email: reesec@clarke.k12.ga.us
Website: https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/Domain/26
Location: 1300 Cedar Shoals Drive, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706-546-5375
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedarShoalsHS
Twitter: @CedarShoalsHS