GLAD NEWS

hanks to all the Gladiator families who attended Clarke Central's recent parent conferences! Be sure to contact your student's adviser if you did not hold a conference in order to view next year's course requests, review grades and attendance, discuss progress towards graduation, and receive our school's School-Family Compact and Family Engagement Plan. If you need to speak with an advisor, teacher, or school counselor, you can find faculty contact information at bit.ly/CCHSFaculty2425.

Find answers to common questions about CCHS by going to bit.ly/CCHSFAQ (English) or bit.ly/CCHSFAQespanol (Spanish).

If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns regarding parent conferences, please complete this form.

Congratulations to Gladiator seniors Adrian Rangel and Kevin Capcha who are both recipients of the QuestBridge Scholarship, a four-year scholarship which covers tuition, books, housing, and food. Adrian will attend Princeton University, and Kevin will attend Stanford University.

Clarke Central is immensely proud of these seniors and the entire Class of 2025. Go Glads!!!!

Clarke Central's CriTiCal Elite Step Team placed 3rd in the coed division at the “Bring The Heat” step show competition in Orlando Florida! This event was the team's first ever competition. Congratulations to Gladiator students Rikiyah Edwards, Jordyn Harris, Emari Johnson, Nylia Johnson, Camdyn Lumpkin, Eniyah Maddox,, and Leslie Pruett.

The CriTiCal Elite Step Team has 3 more competitions planned for the school year and is accepting donations on their Scoreboard Fundraising page to help pay for travel expenses.

The CCHS JROTC Drill Team was selected to receive an award from Mayor Kelly Girtz after their participation in last week's Downtown Parade of Lights. SFC Kenneth Washington noted cadets "hard work, dedication, and remarkable peformance" as a "proud moment" and "shining example of the incredible talent and spirit in our school community." Cadets will receive their award at the 2024 Downtown Parade of Lights Awards Presentation and Reception on December 18th at the Lyndon House Arts Center.

Last week, CCHS senior quarterback Hezekiah Millender signed a letter of intent to play football for the University of Georgia. Hezekiah was joined in the ceremony by fellow students, teammates, coaches, and family. Congratulations to Hezekiah! Go Glads and Go Dawgs!!!!

On November 25 and 26, CCSD Fine Arts Teachers and their students hosted the first Youth Development Initiative's Fine Arts Camp. Organized by Dr. Amanda Price (Visual Art) and Kayla Griffin (Theatre), the following CCHS fine arts students volunteered as student counselors to host CCSD elementary students in Visual Art and Drama camps held at Clarke Middle School.

Visual Arts

Teachers: Dr. Price, Mrs. Newby, and Mrs. Garland

Students: Mattie Pittard, Finn Sleppy, Mariel Sanford, Maurlena Thomas, Bre'Nee Beauvais, Sanjaya Elam, and Kendria Sturdivant

Drama

Teacher: Ms. Griffin

Students: Wayne Spencer, Alex Emiliano, and Madison Hampton-Eliis

Clarke Central's Agriculture program had a holly jolly time at their Community Wreath Workshop last week. Everyone had a great time building wreaths for their homes. Thanks to Agriculture teachers Mr. Anthony Brooks and Mr. Levi Carr-Brooks for continuing to host these educational workshops and build partnerships with our school community.

The Classic City Dawgs, an adaptive sports program hosted by Clarke Central, was featured in a recent report by UGA's Grady Newsource. Coach and CCHS teacher John David Walker is interviewed in the video regarding his insights into one of the team's star players. You can watch the report on the Grady Newsource site here.

The Classic City Dawgs offers free wheelchair handball, basketball, and football to any 1-12 student in Northeast Georgia (Barrow, Clarke, Commerce City, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson City, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Social Circle City, and Walton). More information about the program can be found here.

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 2/10.

If you are working on your college applications and have any deadlines later in December or early January, please ensure you have started your Common App and have listed your assigned counselor on the "Recommenders and FERPA" page. Instructions can be found HERE. Please also "enable application preview" so that your counselor is able to monitor your application progress.

If you need a recommendation letter for your application(s) and you have not already done so, also complete the COUNSELING ACTIVITY WORKSHEET so that your counselor can provide a detailed, individualized recommendation letter. Please save a copy to your Google Drive, complete it, and share it with your assigned counselor. THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THIS IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13TH.

Please note that counselors will NOT be working on Common Apps or letters of recommendation during winter break. If you have an upcoming application deadline, take care of your student section of the application and complete the Counseling Activity Worksheet ASAP so that your transcript, school report, and letter or recommendation can be submitted on time. You, the student, are ultimately responsible for ensuring your college applications are complete and submitted by the deadline.

Your assigned counselors are:

Ms. Barnett-Jewell - barnettka@clarke.k12.ga.us - last names A-De

Ms. Edwards - edwardse@clarke.k12.ga.us - last names Di-H

Ms. Melton - meltonc@clarke.k12.ga.us - last names I-Ma

Ms. Nibbelink - nibbelinkh@clarke.k12.ga.us - last names Mc-R

Ms. Coleman - colemand@clarke.k12.ga.us - last names S-Z

Please email your assigned counselor or Mr. Zayas (zayasa@clarke.k12.ga.us), our College and Career Adviser, if you have any additional questions. Ms. Savage, the Counseling Secretary, can help you schedule an appointment if needed.

Need help adding counselors, advisers, and recommendations to Common App? Find detailed instructions from Mr. Zayas here. If you have any questions or need help with applying to college, contact Mr. Zayas at zayasa@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Class of 2025! It is time to order your cap and gown! Go to www.3rdascent.com to place your order. Select Clarke Central High School then Cap & Gown Packages. The cost is currently $92 but the price will go up as we approach the end of the school year.

Gladiator seniors and families, be aware that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on December 1st. CCSD will hold a FAFSA Completion Event at 595 Prince Avenue on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:00 pm. See the flyer in the Upcoming Events section above for more information.

If you need help completing the FAFSA, contact CCHS's College & Career Adviser Mr. Zayas at zayasa@clarke.k12.ga.us or make an appointment in the counseling office.

Juniors and seniors, if you have not yet paid your Junior/Senior Dues, do it TODAY. The current cost is $75 but that price will go up. Pay for them on GoFan here.

Junior/Senior Dues pay for your:

• prom ticket for junior and senior years

• admission to Senior Brunch

• admission to Senior Picnic

• Senior t-shirt

• Senior yard sign

You will not be admitted to these events nor receive these items if you have not paid your Junior/Senior Dues.

Note: Seniors, if you paid your Junior/Senior Dues last year, you do not have to pay them again. Pay your dues once, and you are done.

“You can't be afraid to fail. It's the only way you succeed - you're not gonna succeed all the time.” - LeBron James

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Dec 9 - Freshmen Boys Basketball vs. Oconee County (A)

• Dec 10 - JV Boys Basketball vs. Alcovy (H)

• Dec 10 - Varsity Basketball vs. Alcovy (H)

• Dec 10 - Wrestling at Classic City Championships (Cedar Shoals HS)

• Dec 11 - Wrestling vs Oglethorpe County (A)

• Dec 12 - Freshman and JV Boys Basketball vs. Winder-Barrow (H)

• Dec 12 - JV Basketball vs. Jackson County (H)

• Dec 12 - Varsity Basketball vs. Jackson County (H)

• Dec 13 - Swimming at Eastside Invitational

• Dec 13 - Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Cherokee Bluff (A)

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Congratulations to the Flag Football team for their win over the Starrs Mill in the State AAAAA Playoffs.

• Congratulations to the Varsity Girls basketball team for their win over Greene County.

• Congratulations to the Freshmen Boys Basketball for their wins over Hart County and Loganville.

• Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals basketball teams will play the inaugural athletic event in the new Akins Ford Arena on Friday, December 20. The JV girls will play at 1 followed by the JV boys at 3. The Varsity girls will play at 5 followed by the Variety boys at 7. Purchase tickets at AkinsFordArena.com.

• Gladiator Youth Sports Camps will host a Select Soccer Skills Camp on December 30 and 31 for ages 8-14. The registration fee is $60. Drop off is between 8:00-8:30 am and pick-up is at 12:00 pm at the Clarke Central Weight Room. Click the link to register today: Select Soccer Skills Camp Registration.

• Purchase Gladiator Spirit Wear online. Click HERE to purchase today.

• Purchase Digital Tickets and Digital Season Passes through GoFan. Digital Season Passes are $70.

• 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.

STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

• Kendarius Butts (Basketball)

A GOOD READ

• Career Opportunities in Sports

• All Gladiator parents/guardians are asked to complete this form to ensure the school has students' current medical information.
• Parents of students with a chronic condition (asthma, diabetes, seizures, allergies) must complete a medical release form which is available from the school nurse.
• Additional forms:
• Consent for Prescription Medicine
• Consent to Carry OTC Medicine
• Consent to Carry Prescription Medicine

• Students' immunizations must be updated in order to attend school per Georgia State Law.
• ALL students need the MCV4 (Meningitis) within 30 days of their 16th birthday.
• If you’d like to know if your student is up to date, reach out to your medical physician.
• Questions can be directed to Nurse Jackie Coyle at coylej@clarke.k12.ga.us or 706-357-5200, ext. 17253.

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.

The Gladiator Resource 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 2nd block.

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

Gladiator students can find this year's SAT and ACT testing schedules here.

Students in need of a fee waiver should complete the form at bit.ly/testingfeewaiver.

• Students can not be checked out of school after 2:55 pm.

• Students can not enter the school until 8:00 am.

• Students must leave the building after the 3:35 pm dismissal bell unless they are attending a school event and under the supervision of a CCHS faculty member.

• Absence excuse notes should be submitted through the online form here.

If you park in the lots of fraternity/sorority houses or those of nearby businesses, you are at risk of being towed.

You can park on campus in the Baxter Street lot with a CCHS Student Parking Permit. In order to acquire a parking pass, you must:

1. Pay a $40 fee on Gofan. You can also pay with cash to Ms. Savage in the counseling office (see step 4).

2. Complete and have your parent/guardian sign a parking pass application. Printed copies are available in the front office.

3. Bring your completed application to Officer Pecos Williams to verify payment as well as present your driver's license and proof of insurance. He will sign your parking pass application. Officer Williams is available in room 211 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 am and 11:00 am as well as in Mell Lobby during lunch on Wednesdays.

4. Take your signed application to Ms. Savage in the counseling suite, who will issue the permit.

5. Students who park on the CCHS campus without a displayed permit after September 30th, 2024 may have their vehicles towed.

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 on GoFan for $32 plus service fee. We can’t wait to keep you informed!