GLAD NEWS

Clarke Central High School will host two events this week to provide students and families with important information regarding the school's courses and academic programs. These events will help prepare you and your student as you prepare to register for next year's courses.

CTAE Night will be held on Tuesday, October 27th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the school's cafeteria. Learn firsthand about Career, Technical, Agricultural Education classes at CCHS before your student registers for high school courses. Courses to be featured at CTAE Night:

• Business Innovations (Business & Technology, Entrepreneurship, Legal Environment of Business)

• JROTC (Leadership, Raiders, Drill Team)

• Computer Science & Software Technology

• Agriculture (Horticulture, Plants & Landscape, Floral Design, Veterinary Science)

• Engineering & Robotics

• Graphic Design & Digital Animation

AP/Dual Enrollment Night will be held on Thursday, October 29th at 6:00 pm in Mell Auditorium. Join CCHS faculty and students along with representatives from the University of Georgia, the University of North Georgia, Athens Technical College, Piedmont University, and the Athens Community Career Academy for an informational session regarding Advanced Placement Courses and Dual Enrollment opportunities. Spanish language interpreters will be available.

If you have any questions about these events or need additional assistance, contact Mr. Christian Barner at barnerc@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Gladiator Parents! Listed below are some ways you can support CCHS!

- Clarke Central's Student Government Association and College & Career Adviser Ms Garrett will host a College Workshop on November 4th from 11am to 1pm. Juniors and seniors will receive help with college applications and college essays. SGA and Ms. Garrett are looking for parents with knowledge of essay writing and college applications to provide individualized support to students. If you have experience in these areas and are available to volunteer, please email Ms. Garrett at garrettc2@clarke.k12.ga.us.

- If you don't have time or a flexible workday schedule, CCHS's PTSO can always use your monetary donations. Please donateat https://bit.ly/CCHSSquareDonation or https://bit.ly/CCHSPayPalDonation. $10-$20 goes a long way to helping PTSO support CCHS students, faculty, and staff.

- CCHS students need your help in the resource room at CCHS. They are in need of a number of items. Please check out the list of current needs at https://bit.ly/gladresourceneeds. All items can be left at the front office.

Congratulations to the Clarke Central esports Gold Team who sweeped the JCHS varsity team in Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament

Marlon Mitchell and Jair Zamudio won their respective matches, and Marquis Henson won his first match in competitive play! Go Glads!!!

Ms. Dorkey’s Introduction to Women’s Literature class kicked off its Guest Speaker Series by welcoming a familiar face back to Clarke Central. Ms. CT (soon-to-be Dr. Coleman-Taylor) returned to her former classroom to share insights from her doctoral research at the UGA. During the visit, students engaged in candid conversations breaking down the taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation.

Clarke Central's Marching GLADs finished their season with enormous accolades! These student musicians and instructors left the 47th Annual Greater Atlanta Marching Festival (GAMF) with Class 3A 1st place percussion, color guard, and drum majors; 1st place, Superior rating in class 3A; and Silver Class Division Grand Champions. A huge shoutout to Mr. Chris Simpson and Mr. Jordan Raysor their continued leadership and dedication to this amazing program. Go Glads!!!

Congratulations to the CCHS JROTC Raider teams who took home top finishes from last weekend's Empower Raider competition. The CCHS Male Raider Team placed 2nd in the Run, 2nd in the Raider Challenge Event, 2nd in Rope Bridge, 3rd in Obstacle Course, 4th in Tire Flip and 2nd Overall. The Male Team placed 2nd in the Region!!!

Their finish earns them a spot to compete in the State Raider competition to be held at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA on Saturday, November 14th.

CCHS FFA President Kaydon Jones is representing Georgia FFA as one of just 475 official delegates at the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana!

These 475 student leaders represent more than 1 million FFA members nationwide and play an important role in shaping the future of the organization. Throughout the convention, delegates participate in discussions, recommend changes to the organization, vote on official business, and elect the next National FFA Officer Team.

We are incredibly proud of Kaydon for earning this opportunity to represent Georgia FFA, demonstrate her leadership, and have a voice in the future of an organization that impacts students across the country! Go Glads!!!

CCHS Teacher of the Year Sophia Campbell and Support Professional of the Year Ryan Johnson were recognized at last week's Clarke County School District Awards Banquet last week. Ms. Campbell and Mr. Johnson are highly respected educational leaders who dedicate themselves everyday to our schol and community. We are immensely grateful for and proud of them. Go Glads!!!

The Clarke Central football team had the incredible opportunity to attend a Hall of Fame ceremony last week and be part of a special moment in Gladiator history! Gladiator legends Chuck Smith and Jim Bob Harris were inducted into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame while being supported by current coaches and players. Once a Gladiator, always a Gladiator!

The purpose of the Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition is to encourage students to develop an enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing, to provide a context to celebrate their writing successes, and to recognize student achievement in arts and academics. Contest information can be found by joining the CCHS YGA Google Classroom by clicking this link. The deadline for CCHS submission is 3:35 PM on 2/4/2027.

Start the Halloween festivities with Community Wellness Club’s Halloween Grams! Visit the CWC table in Mell Lobby during any lunch period from October 26th–30th to purchase a gram for $2 cash! CWC members will hand deliver your Halloween grams to the student of your choice; just provide their name and 4th block teacher. Each gram will include Halloween candy and a spooky note! Please note: cash only!

It’s time for the Clarke Central Baseball Team’s Annual Christmas Greenery Sale! We are looking forward to the upcoming season with head coach, David Perno. All proceeds go to support the CCHS baseball program.

We will continue our much-loved tradition of door-to-door free DELIVERY in the Athens area. Our local partner will once again be able to provide Premium Fraser Fir Trees, the same quality that our team has delivered to homes each year. We also have beautiful wreaths, garlands, and Clarke Central Athletics ornaments by artist Heidi Hensley.

Place your order on our website at https://givebutter.com/cchsbaseball2026

Final orders are due Tuesday, October 27th. Delivery is included in the price and is set for Sunday, November 29th.

Thank you for your support of the Clarke Central High School baseball team. Go Glads!!

Class of 2027! Seniors are responsible for 2 expenses. If you have any concerns paying for these, please contact your counselor.

1) Junior/Senior Dues

• These dues pay for prom tickets, senior t-shirts, senior yard signs, and admission to senior events.
• If you paid these dues your junior year, you do not have to pay them again.
• Pay for your Junior/Senior Dues at https://gofan.co/event/6796431?schoolId=GA4910.

2) Cap & Gown

• Students must have the appropriate cap, gown, Class of 2027 tassel, and gold stole with "C" logo in order to participate in the graduation ceremony.
• Cap & gown packages are now on sale at www.3rdascent.com. Order yours today!

“I have no magic formula. The only way I know to win is through hard work.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Oct 26 - Varsity Flag Football at Jackson County w/ Mountain View

• Oct 30 - Varsity Football vs. Jackson County (H), Senior Night

• Oct 31 - Cross Country at State Sectionals (Foxhall Resort, Douglasville)

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Congratulations to the Varsity Football team for their win over Loganville.

• Congratulations to the Varsity Flag Football team for their wins over Loganville and Apalachee.

• The Clarke Central Athletic Department will recognize senior participants in football, cheerleading, softball, volleyball, cross country, flag football, marching band, and JROTC color guard prior to the Clarke Central vs. Jackson County football game on Friday, October 30. Seniors participants need to complete the online Fall Sport Senior Night 2026 form. There will be a Senior Reception for senior participants and their parents in the Gym Gallery at 6:00 pm. Parents of seniors will be admitted free to the game. Senior participants and their escorts need to be on the field at 6:45 pm on Friday.

• Clarke Central will host the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Fields of Faith on Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 pm in Billy Henderson Stadium. All are invited.

• The annual Clarke Central Baseball Team Christmas Tree and Greenery Sale is here. Items available for purchase include Premium Fraser Fir Trees, beautiful wreaths, and garlands. Click HERE to place your order. Final orders are due October 27.

• Clarke Central Athletics is selling “Athens’ Home Team” short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts with the Gladiator C representing Athens on the Georgia map. Click HERE to order your shirt today. Shirt can be shipped directly to your home or picked up at Satisfactory (1347 W Broad St, Athens). The sale ends Sunday, November 8.

• Clarke Central Athletics is partnering with the Athens YMCA to offer a Holiday Soccer Camp on Nov 23-25. The camp will be run by Clarke Central soccer coaches and players and be held at the Athens YMCA. Click HERE to register today.

• Purchase Gladiator Spirit Wear at Clarke Central Online Spirit Wear Store. Items ordered can be mailed to you or picked up at Satisfactory Screen Printing and Design (1347 W Broad St, Athens).

• Purchase Digital Tickets and Digital Season Passes through GoFan (https://gofan.co/app/school/GA4910). Digital Season Passes are $90.

• Support Clarke Central! Become a Gladiator Athletics Corporate Sponsor. Click HERE for more details.

• Watch Gladiator Athletics on NFHS Digital Network. Subscribe to the NFHS Network and a portion of your subscription purchase will be given back to Clarke Central High School. Watch live sporting events and stats whenever you want, wherever you are. Click HERE to subscribe.

• Visit the Clarke Central Athletic Website for more information.

A GOOD READ

• Memorable Halloween Sports Moments

Clarke Central students can receive up to 10 free mental health therapy sessions through Daybreak Health. Licensed clinicians help with stress, anxiety, attention, motivation, relationships, and everyday challenges.

Appointments are offered through a telehealth format and can be scheduled Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sessions may be conducted from home or the CCHS Counseling Office. If a student needs to schedule an appointment during the school day, they need to speak with their school counselor to make arrangements.

Register with Daybreak at https://care.daybreakhealth.com/patient/create-account.

Questions about this service can be directed to the CCHS Counseling Department at https://bit.ly/cencounselors.

Clarke Central's Attendance Office website can be found at bit.ly/cenattendance. It includes everything students and families need to know about submitting excuse notes, early checkout, the school's tardy policy, and our Every Day Counts initiative. Questions regarding attendance can be directed to the school's front office at 706-357-5200.

Gladiator Families! Need help navigating Campus Parent Portal? Find a detailed guide for accessing your student's grades and attendance in this slideshow.

Instructions for creating a Parent Portal account can be found here.

If you have previously created an account but can no longer access, it send an email with your name, your student's name, their birthdate, and the problem you are having to campus@clarke.k12.ga.us. CCSD technology will reset your log-in to get you back in the system.

The window for requesting virtual school courses is now open, and will close on December 4,, 2026. After this date, no additional requests for Spring 2027 will be accepted. If, after reviewing the information provided here, you feel virtual learning is a good fit for you and your student, please complete this interest form prior to December 4, 2026. After this date, no additional requests will be accepted.

Student parking on campus is currently at capacity.

As a reminder, due to limited available space, student parking is restricted to seniors and juniors who purchased parking passes at the beginning of the school year. Students with parking passes must park only in their assigned spaces. Vehicles parked on campus without a valid parking pass may be subject to towing.

Students currently on the parking waitlist will be notified by school administration as spaces become available. Students who would like to be added to the waitlist should complete the form at https://clarkesd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5yWv0JhzVb8mAVo.

Parking guidelines and additional information can be found at https://bit.ly/gladparking2627.

We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to manage the limited parking available on the Clarke Central campus.

The Say Something-Anonymous Reporting System (ARS) program empowers students to be Upstanders and say something to a Trusted Adult when they recognize warning signs and threats as well as offers ways students can grow a community of Upstanders. The goals of the program are to teach students how to:

• Recognize warning signs and threats of someone who may be at-risk of hurting themselves or others.

• Say something to a Trusted Adult to get help and how to submit a tip to the Anonymous Reporting System.

• Grow a community of Upstanders who look out for one another.

The goals are accomplished using our three-step program framework:

1. Recognize Warning Signs and Threats: Learn what warning signs and threats are and where they are likely to be found.

2. Act Immediately; Take it Seriously: Learn why it’s important to take action immediately when warning signs and threats are observed.

3. Say Something: Learn when to tell a trusted adult when warning signs and threats are observed as well as how to submit a tip using the Say Something- Anonymous Reporting System.

Students can submit anonymous tips using the QR code, text number, mobile app, phone number, or website below.

The ODYSSEY Newsmagazine is an award-winning student-produced magazine with the intent to inform, entertain and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community, as well as to educate student journalists. You might have seen us in the Flagpole.

We print four magazines a year and want to make sure you receive your copy mailed right to your home. Subscriptions are available here for $32 plus a GoFan service fee. We can’t wait to keep you informed!

In order to park in the student parking lot, vehicles must have a current, valid student parking pass. Students with parking passes must park only in their assigned space (the space number is listed on the parking pass) in the Baxter Street parking lot. Vehicles without a current, valid student parking pass are subject to towing. Once again, detailed information regarding student parking passes for the 2026-27 school year can be found at https://bit.ly/gladparking2627.

The Gladiator Resource Room provides student in need with food, clothing, and hygiene products.

Students can register to visit the room by going to bit.ly/gladresourceroom. Visits can occur only once or be scheduled for every Friday during 4th block.

Questions can be directed to Mr. Barner at barnerc@clarke.k12.ga.us.