Better Together

Don't forget that next week (Oct. 6-9) is Conference Week for grades K-12, and there will be some changes to the school schedule! Be sure that you have scheduled your child's parent-teacher conference and take note of the following dates and information.

• Schools will operate on a normal schedule Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 6-7.
• Schools will dismiss early on Wednesday, Oct. 8, with elementary school dismissal at 12:20 p.m. and middle and high school dismissal at 1:30 p.m.
• Students will be out of school Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9-10, and on Monday, Oct. 13. Most school-based staff will also be out on Friday and the following Monday.
• All schools and district offices will be closed on Friday, Oct. 10.
• ASP will be available at all 14 elementary schools during regular hours on Monday and Tuesday and starting at 12:20 on Wednesday. The rate will be the normal rate on Monday and Tuesday, and there will be a $2 increase on Wednesday for the conference day rate. Families will be pay $10 for the first child and $8 for each additional child on that day.
• There will be no 21st Century after-school programming at the four middle schools and Fowler Drive, Gaines, and J.J. Harris elementary schools all of next week. Programming will resume Tuesday, Oct. 14.

According to data released this week by the Georgia Department of Education, CCSD boosted its overall graduation rate 2.5 points to 83% for 2024-25 after improving by 3.5 points in 2023-24. This included a 6-point jump in the five-year rate to 85% and an increase in the four-year rate to 81.9%, 0.8 points higher than a year ago.

Since recording the lowest four-year graduation rate and the second-lowest five-year graduation rate in the state in 2023, CCSD has made significant strides in implementing a consistent approach in all classrooms across the district to prepare students and empower them to graduate on time.

“Our district is firmly focused on raising the bar for students and staff,” said CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott. “The improvements in our graduation rates demonstrate that focus and what is possible when we all work together towards a common goal.”

CCSD also received good news on the SAT front, as the Class of 2025 outperformed their state and national public-school counterparts on the SAT, marking the second consecutive year that CCSD has topped the state and national averages for the evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) and math portions of the test.

Congratulations to the Clarke Middle School volleyball team on winning the 2025 CCSD Championship! The Owls won their match over Coile Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 2, to take home the crown. Congratulations also to the Cougars on their runner-up finish and a great season!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and CCSD remains committed to working with students, staff, and families to prevent bullying and promote kindness and inclusion throughout our school communities. We believe that learning occurs best in cultures where staff and students feel a sense of belonging, safety, and support.

CCSD encourages families to maintain open communication with their child about school. If you have a concern about bullying, we encourage you to speak first to your child's teacher, then the school principal, and then the district's Student and Family Support subdivision. You can learn more about points of contact for bullying and other issues by checking out our matrix for how to address questions and concerns in English and Spanish.

We encourage all students and families to also report any instances of bullying or suspected bullying they witness through the CCSD Tip Line, where you may choose to remain anonymous. If you See Something, Say Something.

One of the most common forms of bullying — especially in today's age — is cyberbullying. If your child is active online or through texting on phones or communicating on other digital devices, they may be dealing with drama. Even many simple games allow kids to send messages to each other. Group chats and text chains can also escalate quickly, and even just one rude message can have a harmful impact.

CCSD encourages all families to sign up for a *FREE* Parent ProTech account and get tips through videos, articles, and more on how to spot and stop cyberbullying, have conversations with your child (whether they are being cyberbullied or are caught cyberbullying), and talk to them about the importance of online kindness.

The monthly Parent Institute newsletter, available in English and Spanish with early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school versions, is intended to:

• help families effectively support their children's education at home
• provide practical, proven information families can act on right away
• offer guidance on a comprehensive array of school success topics
• reinforce the importance of the school-home partnership.

Click the buttons below to access each version!

CCSD's SET (Supported Employment and Transition) Program is focused on assisting students in developing skills that will help them gain independence for life after high school.

Students who have been served in CCSD's adapted curriculum, have completed their high school graduation requirements, and have the goal of working in competitive integrated employment after high school will receive individualized instruction at the Athens Community Career Academy during their final year of high school in the three core areas of transition:

• Employment
• Education/training
• Independent living.

Students will also have the opportunity to build their job skills directly in the workplace thanks to our many community partners provide inclusive and welcoming environments for them to grow and thrive.

If you are interested in your student applying for the SET program, becoming a community partner, or learning more about the program, please reach out to Liza Burnsed, CCSD Transition Specialist, at burnsedl@clarke.k12.ga.us or 706-546-7721, Ext. 79566. You can also find additional transition resources for preparing your adapted curriculum student for life after high school by visiting this link.

If you are interested in supporting this program financially, you can also make a donation through the Athens Area Community Foundation's Clarke County School District Fund. Click HERE to donate and be sure to put "SET scholarship" in the donation description box. Donate today and help our students get SET!

This weekend, we'll be wrapping up our daily 2025-26 school-level Teacher/Support Professional of the Year spotlights on our CCSD Facebook and Instagram! All 46 winners are being featured individually in the lead-up to the announcement of the three district Teacher of the Year finalists, so be sure to follow us (@ClarkeCoSchools) and check for the hash tag #CCSDTOTYSPOTY.

CCSD, in partnership with Voices for Georgia's Children, will hold the second annual "Free Your Feels" Youth Mental Health Summit for students ages 12-18 on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Athens Community Career Academy, 440-1 Dearing Ext., Athens.

This *FREE* event will include peer-to-peer interaction opportunities to students, information about mental health resources available to them in their school and in the community, food, yoga, and more fun activities.

Please register at this link or by scanning the code in the flyer above.

CCSD's Family Advisory Board has several openings and invites interested parents and guardians to join. The board is made up of representatives from every elementary, middle, and high school in CCSD. Its purpose is to advise the administration on issues related to the overall success of the district.

Schools that currently don't have a representative include Barnett Shoals, Bettye H. Holston, Fowler Drive, Gaines, and J.J. Harris elementary schools, Coile Middle, and Classic City High. Schools that could use one more representative include Barrow, Cleveland Road, Howard B. Stroud, Johnnie Lay Burks, and Whit Davis elementary schools, Burney-Harris-Lyons, Clarke, and Hilsman middle schools, and Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools.

The board meets quarterly, and its next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 19. Those interested in serving should email ccsd.parentab@gmail.com.

Registration is now open the the Glads Run ATH 5K, set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Clarke Central High School. Find more information and register here! If you are interested in volunteering or supporting the race in any way, please contact race director Chris Aiken at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Did you know that all Georgia taxpayers are eligible to receive a dollar-for-dollar state income tax credit in exchange for a contribution to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education? The 2025 PEACH Tax Credit application is now open. This tax credit offers individuals and businesses an opportunity to advance public education by directing their tax dollars directly to projects and initiatives in their communities – at no additional cost to you or your corporation.

Approved contribution funds in Clarke County will go toward supporting programming at the Athens Community Career Academy, a future dental clinic at the Clarke Middle Health Center, and CCSD's Culture of Literacy campaign.

The PEACH Education tax credit is capped at $15 million and is approved on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't hesitate to apply for yourself or your corporation before the cap is met! Click here for more information or on the button below to go directly to the application!

If you own or work for a company or organization that is interested in becoming a vendor or bidding on contracts with CCSD, mark your calendars and make plans to attend a pair of informative events coming up in October!

• CCSD will be joining the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and the University of Georgia for a three-part series about how to do business with those agencies. CCSD's session will be Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St., Athens. Find more information and register at accgov.com/doingbusiness. Space is limited. For more information, call 762-772-8090.
• CCSD's Business Services Division will also host its second annual Prime Time with Purchasing Event on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the District Office, 595 Prince Ave., Athens! Join us to explore ways in which you can do business with CCSD. The event will feature representatives from multiple departments who will be on hand to provide information about vendor opportunities. Attendees will also be able to receive assistance in completing the district vendor packet forms. For more information, call Veronica Jackson, CCSD Purchasing Supervisor, at 706-546-7721, Ext. 79711 or email 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.
• 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, October 9, 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.

Fill out the short Google form below or here, and a CCSD Human Resources representative will follow up with you.

Celebrate International Archaeology Day at the Georgia Museum during the museum's monthly Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 11! The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum, 90 Carlton St. Participate in a mini-archaeological dig and make your own fantastical clay beast inspired by the museum's Chinese mingqi collection. For more information, go to georgiamuseum.org.

The University of Georgia baseball program has a couple of upcoming youth camp opportunities.

• The UGA Dawg Hitting Camp will be held Oct. 7, Oct. 14, and Oct. 21 at Foley Field, 1 East Rutherford St. The camps are split into 12-and-under and and 13-and-older age groups. You may register for one or multiple sessions. Register and find more information HERE.
• The single-day Lil Dawgs Baseball Camp will be held Monday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Foley Field and is open to ages 5-12. Find more information and register HERE.

The University of Georgia volleyball team will have its 10K Day promotional match against Alabama at Stegeman Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. Admission is free! The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive a free 10K Day T-shirt. There will also be a Kids' Zone with a photo booth, face-painting, balloon artist, and more! For more information, go to georgiadogs.com.

Registration will open Oct. 6 for the Athens YMCA's winter youth programs, which run November through mid-February, and special holiday camps.

Winter youth programming options will include:

• basketball (grades K-10)
• basketball cheerleading (grades K-5)
• swim lessons (ages 6-12)
• ballet and tap dancing (ages 5-7)
• indoor soccer (grades 2-9)
• Y-Quest (grades K-8).

Holiday activity camps will also be held Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 22-23 and 29-30.

For more information, click here and see the attached flyers below!

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.