Better Together
5/17/24 • News from the Clarke County School District
Scenes around CCSD
Back to the Start
Elementary schools throughout the district have been holding Senior Walks and similar events in the days leading up to this year's graduation ceremonies, allowing our soon-to-be graduates a chance to return to their old elementary schools and reunite with their teachers at school one last time. Be sure to check out the CCSD Facebook page over the next week as we feature each elementary school's event!
Look into the Future!
Bettye H. Holston Elementary held a Career Fair this week where students dressed up like their future dream job and had a chance to meet adults from many different professions in the community to learn more about them.
World Travelers
As part of the last Wit and Wisdom module of the year dealing with geography, kindergarten students at Winterville Elementary took a trip around the world to visit the seven continents. They had their passports stamped and had a blast visiting each continent! See more photos here.
Excellence in School Safety
Congratulations to Howard B. Stroud Elementary for receiving our second annual Excellence in School Safety Award! Pictured, from left, are CCSD Police Chief Terry Reid, principal Dr. Stacie Carson, assistant principal Donyell Harris, and CCSD Director of Safety and Energy Patrick Dyer. Ms. Harris serves as the school safety officer at Stroud and has truly shown excellence in her approach to training staff, conducting drills, and implementing new safety protocols.
Continuing His Dream
We are beyond proud of our dozens and dozens of student-athletes from Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools who have earned the opportunity to further their playing careers while also receiving a college education. Cedar Shoals boys' soccer senior Jose Lopez-Hernandez became the latest this week, signing with Emmanuel University. Congratulations, Jose!
A Graduation Guide for Guests
It’s time to celebrate the Class of 2024! As we get set for next week's high school graduation ceremonies, click HERE for a rundown of the schedule and other information for graduates’ families and guests.
This Graduation Guide includes the graduation schedule, inclement weather plans, parking and seating information, and much more. Have a question that's not covered here? Email feedback@clarke.k12.ga.us and we'll help you with the answer!
Cedar Shoals Receives GRASP Grant
Cedar Shoals High School has been awarded and approved for the Graduates Ready to Attain Success in Post-Secondary Success (GRASP) Grant from the Georgia Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year. GRASP aims to support selected Georgia high schools as they work with students to "own" their learning, increase their academic success, complete postsecondary programs, and productively participate in the workforce.
This is the second year that the school has been awarded this grant. GRASP provides funding for one additional school counselor to support a caseload of at-risk students, removing life and educational barriers to achieve academic success, personal/social growth, and career development.
Read more here.
Student and Staff Spotlights
Cedar Shoals Senior Named USDA National Scholar
Congratulations to Aaliyah Allen, senior at Cedar Shoals High, who has been named a USDA 1890 National Scholar!
Aaliyah was one of five students chosen nationally out of 700 applicants for this prestigious program, which provides educational and career opportunities for students seeking bachelor’s degrees from 1890 land-grant universities. This scholarship provides full tuition, fees, books, and room and board to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who are pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, or natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. Scholars are also eligible for summer internships that may convert to full-time employment with USDA after graduation.
Aaliyah will travel to Washington, D.C. this summer for program orientation and will be attending Florida A&M University in the fall where she will be studying food science. Way to go, Aaliyah!
CCSD Celebrates 2023-24 retirees
This week, we honored and celebrated 34 CCSD educators and support staff members who are either retiring at the end of this school year or have retired over the past calendar year. Congratulations and thank you to all of these amazing individuals for the hundreds of combined years of service they have given to our county, children, and families.
Pictured is Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary front desk receptionist Rosa Ghosheh with Dr. Selena Blankenship, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. See more photos from the retirement dinner and a full list of names here!
Winterville Cheerleaders Succeed in Orlando
Congratulations to the Winterville Elementary Cheerleading Team, which placed fourth in the Elementary Novice Division at the One Finals Cheer and Dance Southeast Region Competition in Orlando, Florida, last week! The competition was comprised of teams that received a first-place spot in their local competition, which the Winnerbees received in January at the Worldwide Spirit Association Competition in Athens. And of course, they visited Disney World while on their trip!
CCSD Athletes Place at State Track and Field Championships
Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals high schools were well represented last week in the GHSA Track and Field State Championships and had several athletes make it onto the winners' podium.
Clarke Central was led by sophomore JD Daniel (pictured), who finished third in the Class 5A boys' 800-meter run, while the boys' 4x800-meter relay team of Torin Trotter, Ryan Marshall, Beck Wolf-Hardy, and Waylon Vaughn finished eighth.
Cedar Shoals freshman Anisa Willis placed fourth in the Class 4A girls' triple jump, while sophomore Tybais Lay was seventh in the boys' 300-meter hurdles. Senior Jaylan Ransom also finished 10th in the boys' shot put!
Anisa Willis
Tybais Lay
Clarke Central 4x800-meter Relay Team
From left: Torin Trotter, Beck Wolf-Hardy, Ryan Marshall, and Waylon Vaughn.
Jaylan Ransom
Aspiring Leaders Cohort Announced
Congratulations to the 2024-25 CCSD Aspiring Leaders Cohort! The Aspiring Leaders Program is a year-long professional learning experience designed for CCSD personnel who have demonstrated leadership potential and have a desire to gain skills, insights, and strategies to strengthen their capacity to lead and influence. Participants will learn from educational leaders within the school district as well as partner institutions. The program will focus on the components of the Leading Better Together framework during 10 sessions – including orientation, eight learning modules, and a capstone session. The program runs from August to June.
Cohort members
- Jacob Bartoo
- Keamber Booker
- Sophia Campbell
- Christina Cotsakis Cordon
- Desylin Culliver
- Alexandra Edwards
- Patrick Ennis
- Tammy Gamber
- Donyell Harris
- Conor Naughton
- Anna Slocum
- Cameron Strange
- Corie Tarbet
- Shante Thompson
- Carla Williams
- Chris Woodward.
Events and Reminders
Spots Still Available for YWCO Summer Girls Club
Spots are still available for the annual YWCO Summer Girls Club, which will be held from June 3 through July 12 at Fowler Drive Elementary School, 400 Fowler Dr., Athens. CCSD is pleased to continue our partnership with the YWCO on this outstanding summer program! Activities will include arts and crafts, book reading, music, sports and games, swimming, dance, field trips, career exploration, and special guests.
The program is for girls who will be beginning grades K-7 and will run weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with an extended-stay option available until 6 p.m. There is a one-time non-refundable registration fee of $25 and a $50 weekly fee ($60 per week for extended stay). Lunch will be provided. There will be a parent information meeting on May 30 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Fowler Drive Elementary.
You can sign up at the YWCO, located at 562 Research Dr., Athens. For more information, email girlsclub@ywco.org or click here.
Take an International Trip for Spring Break 2025!
Interested in traveling to three countries on two continents for spring break? Clarke Central High School Spanish teacher Dr. Lynne Sparks will be leading an amazing trip in April 2025 to Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco, which is open to students from all CCSD high schools and middle schools and their parents/guardians.
You can view more information about this trip here and here and contact Dr. Sparks at sparksl@clarke.k12.ga.us if you and/or your student are interested in participating and for additional questions.
Summer Camp for Female Students to Highlight Construction Industry
Athens Area Women in Construction will host a weeklong summer camp next month designed to introduce female high school students to the construction industry and potential careers. The camp will run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 24-28 on the University of Georgia campus, and participation is limited to 12 students who must be rising high school juniors or seniors.
Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, May 30. Click here to apply or scan the QR code in the flyer below. For questions or more information, email mjford@uga.edu or call 706-340-1883.
Incoming Clarke Central Freshmen: Sign up for a Summer Transition Camp Session!
Rising ninth-graders at Clarke Central High School are invited to attend one of two half-day Transition Camp sessions this summer to tour the school campus, receive tips for how to be successful in high school, receive advice from upperclassmen, and discover the many opportunities you will have as a Gladiator.
Sessions will be held July 22 and July 23 from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each day. Go to bit.ly/gladfreshmancamp2024 to sign up!
Jaguar, Gladiator Youth Football, Cheerleading Fall Registration Open
Registration for the fall season of Jaguar and Gladiator Youth Football and Cheerleading through the North Georgia Youth Football Association is now open.
The league is open to CCSD students ages 6-12. The registration fee is $50 for football and $30 for cheerleading. Click here for registration and more information on Jaguar Youth Football and Cheerleading and here for registration and more information on Gladiator Youth Football and Cheerleading.
Register for CCSD Youth Flag Football!
Registration is now open for CCSD youth flag football starting this fall! Participation is FREE for all girls in CCSD who will be in grades 4-7 next school year. Click here to register or scan the QR code in the flyer below. For additional information, contact Coach Cherrelle Pass at passc@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Registration Open for Gladiator Youth Summer Sports Camps
Registration for the 2024 Gladiator Youth Summer Sports Camps at Clarke Central High School is now open! Camps offered include soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football, cheerleading, football, and track and field. Camps are four days each and are half-day in the mornings. The cost is $120 per camp.
Click here for additional information and here to start registering.
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2023-24 Academic Calendar.
Important dates:
- 5/22: Last day of school (High schools will dismiss at 12:45 p.m. on May 21 and 22.
- 5/23: Cedar Shoals High School graduation (9 a.m.) and Classic City High School graduation (5 p.m.)
- 5/24: Clarke Central High School graduation (9 a.m.)
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, June 13, 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
VIDEO: Learn More about Career Opportunities at CCSD
In case you missed the premiere of Studio 595: Superintendent's Cut last week, watch the video below as Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker talks with Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Selena Blankenship, as well as Executive Director of Talent Management, Mr. Dan Swartz, about the employment needs present in CCSD, benefits provided to employees within the district, and how to apply for current CCSD openings!
Coaching Position Openings at Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central
Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools have several coaching positions open for the 2024-25 school year.
Current openings at Cedar Shoals include head volleyball coach, head cross country coach (of boys and girls), head swimming coach (of head boys and girls), head girls' soccer coach, and head track and field coach (of boys and girls). Current openings at Clarke Central include head wrestling coach, head girls' soccer coach, and an assistant baseball coach position.
Candidates will be required to be employed by the Clarke County School District in a certified or classified position in order to be a coach. Starting with the 2024-25 school year, classified employees are allowed to be head coaches. Interested candidates for any of the Cedar Shoals positions should email Athletic Director L'Dreco Thomas at thomasl@clarke.k12.ga.us. Those interested in one of the positions at Clarke Central should email Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward at wardjo@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Interested in a Career at CCSD?
Community Information and Resources
Summer Reading Kickoff at Pinewoods Library
The Pinewoods Library and Learning Center, 1465 Hwy. 29 N, Lot F14, Athens, will hold a kickoff event for its summer reading program Friday, May 24, at 4 p.m. This engaging and fun-filled event will feature various activities, games, book giveaways, storytelling sessions, information shared by community organizations, and much more.
Learn More about Girl Scouts
The Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia will hold a tea party-themed informational session about the scouts for all current pre-K students and kindergarteners on Saturday, June 8, in Athens. See more information in the flyer below!
Farm to Neighborhood Free Summer Camp
UGA Basketball Summer Camp
The University of Georgia men's basketball program and head coach Mike White will hold two summer instructional camps for all boys entering grades 3-12 – one from June 10-13 and the other from June 24-27. The early registration fee is $375. Go to mikewhitebasketballcamps.com to register.
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.
Teen Newsletter from ACC Library
Click to view the latest ACC Library Teen Newsletter.
211 – Get Connected. Get Help.
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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.