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Better Together
2/16/24 • News from the Clarke County School District
![Better Together 2/16/24 • News from the Clarke County School District](https://cdn.smore.com/u/7dd5/39e22b311efd38d4022d103928dea4b7.jpg)
In Loving Memory
Clarke Central High School and CCSD are mourning the loss of beloved Gladiator custodian, Ms. Maria Reyes. Please keep her family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts during this difficult time. A visitation and memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, 4355 Lexington Rd., Athens. A burial service will follow at 12:15 p.m.
Memorial Service for Stephen Castile Set for Saturday
A memorial service for Cedar Shoals High School teacher Stephen Castile will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Cedar Shoals in the McLure Fine Arts Building, 1300 Cedar Shoals Dr. All who knew and loved Mr. Castile are welcome.
Mr. Castile's family has also created the Stephen Castile Memorial Scholarship in his honor. through the Athens Area Community Foundation. For more information and to donate, visit this link.
A full obituary for Mr. Castile can be found here.
Scenes around CCSD
CCSD Sustainability Committee Gets to Work
This week marked the second meeting of the CCSD Sustainability Committee, an ad hoc committee formed by the Board of Education last fall to develop a district plan to minimize our risk and maximize opportunities for our students related to climate resilience. In addition to three BOE members, committee members include teachers, district staff, students, and community stakeholders. The committee meets once a month at the District Office, and all meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12, at 4:30 p.m. Go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/sustainability for more information.
Hands-On Learning
Seventh-graders at Clarke Middle have been learning about the human nervous system in science class and participated in a lab activity this week.
LSGT Funds Help Build School Pride at Howard B. Stroud Elementary
Howard B. Stroud Elementary has found an innovative way to celebrate students for their hard work and commitment to a strong school culture. Using funding from a local school governance team (LSGT) grant, the school recently purchased lightweight jackets for all fourth- and fifth-grade students. Students have a Stroud star on the front and their names on the backs of the jackets and earn a pin to put on the jacket for every academic accomplishment/goal met and any program, team, etc. that they participate in. To learn more about LSGTs in CCSD, click here! Each school also has their LSGT's information posted to their website.
Student Spotlights
Clarke Central Vet Science Team Wins State Title
Congratulations to the Clarke Central High School FFA chapter’s “senior” veterinary science team for winning the state championship on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the state-level FFA vet science career development event (CDE) and competition in Perry!
This is the first team from the Clarke Central FFA chapter to ever win a state-level CDE, according to faculty advisor Levi Carr Brooks. In addition, team members Max Burnham and Quinn Pendley (both 10th-graders) finished first and second, respectively, in the competition as individuals. Other team members include 10th-graders Juliana Hardman and Clarice Buril.
In the vet science CDE, students demonstrate professional ethics, decision-making, communication, and problem-solving skills. They also demonstrate technical competency with small and large animals in the areas of anatomy and physiology, clinical procedures, identification, health and safety, and medical terminology.
In addition to the “senior” team’s state championship, Clarke Central’s “junior” team finished fifth overall in the competition. Members of that team include ninth-graders Colin Boyle, Kyndal Hunter, Kate Hinger, and Eudora Dawson.
Cedar Shoals' Koch Wins State Swimming Title
Congratulations to Cedar Shoals High School sophomore swimmer Christopher Koch, who won the boys' 500-yard freestyle title for classes 4A-5A in the GHSA State Championships at Georgia Tech last week!
Several other swimmers from Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central competed in the state championships with Clarke Central junior Charlotte Foggin finishing fifth in both the girls' 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races.
CCSD Students Dominate Awards in National History Day Regional Contest
Forty-one CCSD middle school students combined to win 22 medals and awards in the Northeast Georgia regional National History Day Contest at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 10, and qualified to advance to the state competition in April.
Jay Braswell of Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle won the Overall Junior Division Award and first place in the Junior Individual Performance category for “Dear Mr. President.” Also, Ragen Watkins and Henry Ramirez of Hilsman Middle won the Southern History Award for the Junior Division for their exhibit, “The History of Black Education in Athens, Georgia.” The duo’s submission also took third place in the Junior Group Exhibit category.
Click here for more information on the contest and a full list of winners from CCSD!
Clarke Central Mock Trial Team Advances to District Competition
The Clarke Central High Mock Trial Team had a successful Athens Regional Competition last weekend at the University of Georgia School of Law and advanced to the upcoming district competition. Wilson Griffeth, Alice Adams, Kori Tatum, and Addisyn Huff won Outstanding Attorney recognitions, while Riley David and Tavarus Smith earned Outstanding Witness accolades.
Other team members include Ella Cleland, Andreas Dillies, Kelli Floyd, Anna Gossett, Ava Gossett, Isabella Gresham, Kate Hinger, Lane Holloway, Liza Larson, Justin Lee, Onyx Mills, Lydia Rowell, Haley Rucker, Finn Sleppy, Molly Suggs, and Steve Tran.
The team is coached by Clarke Central teachers Matthew Regester, Robert Pulliam, and Kathy Erickson and attorneys Ken Mauldin, Phillip Griffeth, and Ross Massey.
Student Opportunities
High School Students Invited to Participate in Georgia Poetry Competition
Georgia Poet Laureate Chelsea Rathburn, in collaboration with Georgia Council for the Arts, has announced the eleventh annual Poet Laureate’s Prize, awarded for an original poem written by a Georgia high school student. A winner and four finalists will be selected by the Poet Laureate and announced this spring, and those students will have the opportunity to meet Gov. Brian Kemp and the Poet Laureate when they are honored at the Georgia State Capitol. The student authors of the winning and finalist poems will have their poems published by Atlanta Magazine at atlantamagazine.com and receive a signed book of poetry by the Poet Laureate.
For the eligibility guidelines and entry form, visit the GCA website. Entries must include the poem, attached as a Word or PDF document, as well as the completed and signed entry form, and be submitted to poetlaureate@gaarts.org no later than Friday, Feb. 23, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Family Reminders
Provide Your Feedback on Proposed 2024-25 Code of Student Conduct
In January, CCSD received feedback from students, staff, families, and other community stakeholders on the district's current Code of Student Conduct and utilized it in the development of a proposed Code of Student Conduct for the 2024-25 school year to take to the Board of Education for a vote.
The district is now inviting the community to review the proposed Code of Student Conduct for 2024-25 (Spanish version begins on page 35) and provide feedback through this form (available in English and Spanish) by Friday, March 1, before the Board of Education holds a final vote on adoption of the code at its meeting on March 21.
For questions or more information about the CCSD Code of Student Conduct, please contact Jabari Cobb, Director of Behavior Support and Discipline, at cobbja@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Sign Up Now for CCSD Adapted Sports League!
CCSD is now ready to start its own adapted sports program for students grades 1-12! The district now has all the new sport wheelchairs, Adidas jerseys, and equipment necessary to begin full participation. The adapted football season will start next month, and practices are only once a week. The whole season is only three games total, and participation is free!
Families interested in signing their student up are asked to complete this short form (available in English and Spanish).
Click here for additional information about the adapted sports programming or contact Chris Aiken, the district’s area coordinator, at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Support the Upcoming Barrow, Burks 5K Events!
Barrow Boogie
Registration for the annual Barrow Boogie 5K & Fun Run at Barrow Elementary School is now open, and early registration at a discounted price ends Monday, Feb. 12!
The race will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at the school, located at 100 Pinecrest Dr., with the one-mile Fun Run beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9 a.m. Click here for registration and more race information or see the PDF attached below.
Ribbit Run
Registration for the Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary Ribbit Run 5K, Tree Frog Trot 1K, and Tiny Tree Frog Trot is open, and early registration for the 5K ends Wednesday, Feb. 14!
The event will be held Saturday, March 2, at the school, 757 North Chase St., with the 5K beginning at 9 a.m., followed by the Tree Frog Trot at 10 a.m. and the Tiny Tree Frog Trot at 10:30 a.m. You also have the option to register as a non-runner for $20 and receive a race T-shirt.
For registration and more race information, click here.
CCSD Transition Fair Set for March 22
CCSD's Special Education Department will host a spring Transition Fair on Friday, March 22, to help connect students with disabilities and their families with community resources and information about post-secondary opportunities.
The fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the District Office, 595 Prince Ave. Click here to RSVP! See the flyer below for more information and direct questions to Liza Burnsed, CCSD Transition Specialist, at burnsedl@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Calendar and Other Reminders
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2023-24 Academic Calendar.
Important dates:
- 3/11 - 3/14: PK-8 conference week
- 3/13: Early dismissal for all CCSD schools (Elementary, 12:20 p.m.; middle/high, 1:30 p.m.)
- 3/14: Student holiday
- 3/15: Student/school staff holiday
- 4/1 - 4/5: Spring break
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? Follow these directions to set one up. 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.
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 at the top of the page, and select “Ask a Question/Submit a Concern.”
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
Check out our monthly breakfast and lunch menus and find more school nutrition information here.
Take Advantage of our School-based Health Centers!
- The Clarke Middle Health Center (CMHC) is a free clinic that serves students and staff and is an extension of the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership’s mobile clinic. Click here for hours, contact information, and more.
- The Hilsman Health Center, the first school-based health clinic to open in northeast Georgia, is a partnership between CCSD and the Athens Neighborhood Health Center and is a comprehensive medical office. It is staffed by a nurse practitioner, dentist, and support staff. Click here for a list of services provided, hours, contact information, and more.
Board of Education News
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.
- Attend a Meeting: The board's next scheduled meeting is Thursday, March 21, 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.
Careers at CCSD
Register for the CCSD Educator Career Fair!
Attention, future teachers! CCSD will host an educator career fair on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clarke Central High School, 350 South Milledge Ave., Athens.
The fair will be the perfect opportunity to speak with many of our current teachers and principals to understand in detail about their school and the positions they are hiring for. At the event, you may be invited to interview with school teams and potentially offered a teaching position on the spot. Representatives from CCSD's Human Resources Division will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
Space is limited, so register today here to secure your spot!
Interested in a Career at CCSD?
Community Information and Resources
Check Out the February Casa de Amistad Newsletter!
Casa de Amistad is an Athens-based organization that works to identify and address the needs of the local Hispanic community.
Click here to read the organization's February newsletter!
Spring Registration Open for Free Kilometer Kids Running Program
Registration is now open for the spring session of Kilometer Kids, a free, 10-week, game-based running program for children grades K-5 designed to teach them about goal setting, healthy habits, respect, and community building, all through exposing them to the sport of running. There is no cost to participate, and all elementary school students are welcome regardless of running ability or experience.
Sessions will be held every Thursday — starting Feb. 29 — from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on softball field #2 at Bishop Park in Athens. Click here to register and for more information. The team name is Athens Kilometer Kids. For further questions, email kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org.
Georgia Fine Arts Academy Free Play Reading on Feb. 17
The Georgia Fine Arts Academy invites the community (ages 16 and older) to a free reading of its new play, "Look Away Dixieland" by Jeff Auerbach, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Athica in the Leathers Building, 675 Pulaski St., Suite 1200, Athens.
The play is part of the academy's "Plays in Progress" series and follows the family of a dying man as they must reckon with his confession to an infamous unsolved racially-influenced murder. Following the reading by the actors, the audience will be invited to provide feedback.
Click here for more information.
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.
211 – Get Connected. Get Help.
Community Food Resources
Search for Jobs in Athens-Clarke County
Website: www.clarke.k12.ga.us
Location: 595 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706-546-7721
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.