Better Together
News from the Clarke County School District • 9/30/22
A Look around CCSD...
It was another busy week at CCSD with plenty of fun and educational opportunities for students.
Among those, Wednesday, Sept. 28, was Service Learning Day at the Athens Community Career Academy, where students participated in several volunteer opportunities aimed at making the community a better place. Read more here.
And, in keeping with the service theme, the first Fowler's Fresh Farmers Market at Fowler Drive Elementary was a success. The event, in partnership with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, allowed many Athens-Clarke County families the opportunity to receive free food, drinks, house and school supplies, and toys.
The market will be held monthly at Fowler Drive Elementary for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year. The remaining eight markets are scheduled for:
- Oct. 26
- Nov. 16
- Dec. 14
- Jan. 25
- Feb. 22
- March 22
- April 26
- May 17.
New Report Card Format for Grades K-5
This fall, families will notice the implementation of a new report card format for students grades kindergarten through fifth grade.
Based on feedback CCSD received from teachers and parents that the previous report card did not adequately reflect student performance in an easy-to-understand format, we convened a report card committee composed of teachers, parents, and administrators to address that issue and create a new report card that is easier to understand.
Check out the video below to learn more.
CCSD Communications Interns Launch ‘Studio 595’ Podcast
Check out (below) the debut of our new “Studio 595” student podcast with CCSD Communications Department interns Kalli Samaltanos and Dillon Ross!
In the pilot episode, Kalli, a senior at Clarke Central High School, and Dillon, a senior at Cedar Shoals High School, introduce themselves, talk about college applications and post-secondary plans, issues like academic burnout and sleep deprivation, and then hit on the truly big topics — including Dillon’s distaste for cars and Kalli’s frustration with Taylor Swift’s never-ending hints on her social media. Plus, news updates from "Producer Alex" Marchante, CCSD's Digital Communications Specialist.
Kalli and Dillon are interning with the Communications Department through the Athens Community Career Academy’s Work-Based Learning Program and will be working throughout the school year to assist the department in improving, expanding, and innovating its coverage and promotion of all things CCSD.
Check back on Oct. 14 for the next episode.
Student Art Exhibition to be on Display at Lyndon House
CCSD, in conjunction with the Lyndon House Arts Center, is pleased to announce the opening of the Biennial CCSD Student Art Exhibition, titled “RE-,” which will be on display from Oct. 11 through Jan. 14. An opening reception will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the center.
The exhibit will include works by students from grades K-12 and will include all mediums — weaving, sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, and collage. Also included are a number of large collaborative artworks by classrooms and grades. The opening reception on Oct. 18 will also feature performances by many talented young musicians, including Dr. Eunice Kang's Clarke Central High School Orchestra, Leslie Sokal-Berg's Clarke Central Guitar Ensemble, Rebecca Floyd's Cedar Shoals High School Orchestra, and Aaron Price's Music Technology students from Cedar Shoals.
Click here for the full press release.
Georgia-Auburn Ticket Raffle to Benefit Pair of Memorial Athletic Scholarships at Clarke Central
Win two tickets to the Oct. 8 football game between Georgia and Auburn, and support two Clarke Central High School athletic scholarships in the process!
The Clarke Central men’s soccer program is running a ticket raffle for two free tickets to the game in section 123 of Sanford Stadium — donated by Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. The winner of the tickets will be selected in a live drawing at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Raising Cane’s. Raffle tickets are $2 and will only be sold online here.
All raffle sales will benefit:
- the creation of an annual memorial scholarship in the name of the late Luis Vazquez, a former Clarke Central soccer who passed away last summer just before his senior year. The scholarship will award $1,000 to any graduating Clarke Central soccer player who plans to attend college and has demonstrated the characteristics and traits of being a good teammate.
- support for the Micah Hurst Memorial Scholarship in memory of the late former standout Gladiator athlete. The scholarship will award $1,000 to a graduating Clarke Central senior who has a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher and has completed at least one season in two or more different sports while also having demonstrated the ability to overcome personal, academic, and/or athletic obstacles to reach levels of achievement while exhibiting Gladiator pride.
A random number generator will select the raffle winner. Every raffle ticket purchased is an additional entry into the drawing. The UGA tickets cannot and should not be resold on a third-party ticket site. For more information, email Chris Aiken, associate athletic director and head varsity men’s soccer coach at Clarke Central, at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Georgia Department of Education Invites Juniors, Seniors to Participate in Upcoming Scholar Opportunities
The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) is encouraging high school juniors and seniors to participate in three upcoming opportunities — including the 2022-23 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), the United States Presidential Scholar Program, and the Georgia Scholar Program.
- The 2022-2023 USSYP application is available here and is due Oct. 7. GaDOE no longer limits USSYP nominations to one per school district. Instead, any high school junior or senior may apply, provided they secure signatures from their principal and school counselor. Learn more here.
- The 2022-23 U.S. Presidential Scholar nomination form is available here and is due Nov. 15. Any Georgia high school student scheduled to graduate between January 2023 and August 2023 may complete the application, provided they obtain signatures from their principal and school counselor. Please note that submitting a nomination form does not guarantee the student will be nominated for national recognition; Georgia is only permitted to select 20 students for the U.S. Department of Education. This nomination form is for the general Presidential Scholar recognition; the CTE and Arts recognitions are handled separately and are by invitation only. Learn more here.
- The 2022-23 Georgia Scholar application will be available soon. Learn more here.
Family and Community Engagement Updates
WATCH: Family University: Student Code of Conduct
Check out (below) the video of the Thursday, Sept. 29 "Family University" lecture on the CCSD Student Code of Conduct by Dr. Utevia Tolbert, assistant principal at Cedar Shoals High.
Upcoming Family University sessions at the CCSD administrative offices building, 595 Prince Ave., Athens include:
- 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 — "Trauma"
- 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 — "Restorative Practices".
The sessions are open to the public but will also be streamed and available for on-demand viewing on the CCSD YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in-person.
How to Address Questions, Concerns
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.”
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2022-23 Academic Calendar. Important dates:
- 10/3 - 10/7: Parent/Teacher conference week
- 10/5: Asynchronous learning day
- 10/6 - 10/7: Student holidays
- Normal school schedule will be followed 10/3 and 10/4.
We Want You On Our Team!
Sign on as a Substitute Teacher or Paraprofessional in Athens! Lend your passion and talents to the students and staff here in CCSD. Daily pay increases and monthly bonuses! Click here to learn more or call ESS at 877-983-2244.
Board of Education News
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: Next regular meeting is Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. (in-person and broadcast on the CCSD YouTube channel).
- 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 regular BOE meeting.
- Review Policies for Review: View and comment on district policies pending public review.
CCSD COVID-19 Testing Clinics
CCSD is providing free COVID-19 testing clinics for students and staff. Clinics will be held in schools across the district. Rapid antigen tests (results in 15 minutes) and PCR tests (results in 24-48 hours) will be available. No appointment is necessary, but registration is required.
Testing will resume shortly, but will not be conducted for the week of Oct. 3-7. An updated schedule with new testing dates will be announced soon. Click here for more information.
As a reminder, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations are available at the Hilsman Health Center. Call 706-546-7463 to make an appointment. The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday.
CCSD COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Vaccine clinics will resume shortly, but will not be conducted for the week of Oct. 3-7. An updated schedule with new clinic dates will be announced soon. Click here for more information.
As a reminder, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations are available at the Hilsman Health Center. Call 706-546-7463 to make an appointment. The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday.
COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination Information
View this message about the importance of receiving the vaccine and testing if symptoms are present.
- COVID vaccine info & appointments
- PCR testing at Hilsman Health Center - 706-546-7463.
- GaDPH COVD-19 FREE Testing Sites
CCSD COVID-19 Reporting Tool
Eastside Public Library Site Selection Public Hearings Set
In the coming weeks, there will be several opportunities to learn about and comment on the future Athens-Clarke County Eastside Public Library, starting Saturday, Oct. 1.
The schedule for the first round of public input sessions is as follows:
- 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 1 — Fire Station #7, 2350 Barnett Shoals Rd.
- 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Oct. 3 — Living Hope Church, 2150 Lexington Rd.
- 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 — East Athens Development Corporation, 410 McKinley Dr.
Online input will also be accepted through an online survey available at www.accgov.com/eastsidelibrary through Oct. 7.
Nominations open for 2022 Good Neighbor Awards
Envision Athens is currently accepting nominations for its third annual Good Neighbor Awards through Oct. 6.
Community members are asked to nominate anyone they think exemplifies a “good neighbor” by excelling in one of four categories:
- Create Athens (arts and culture)
- Abundance Athens (helping curb food insecurity)
- Educate Athens (workforce development)
- Healthy Athens (assisting with mental health and substance use disorder).
Winners will be recognized at the Envision Athens Wellbeing Event at the Classic Center on Oct. 20 from 6-8 p.m.
Submit your nominations here.
CCSD Alums to Take Part in Athens Hip Hop Harmonic Community Show Oct. 20
The Athens Hip Hop Harmonic invites all CCSD students, families, faculty, and staff to its fall show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens. The event is free and family-friendly, and no tickets are required.
Launched in August 2021, the Athens Hip Hop Harmonic is a multi-year collaboration between the local Hip Hop community and the UGA Hodgson School of Music, supported by UGA’s Arts Lab.
This special show will feature several local hip-hop artists, including Clarke Central High School alums Ishues, Cassie Chantel, and Ngeve. The emcee will be Cedar Shoals High School social studies teacher and peer leadership mentor William "Montu" Miller.
Each artist was paired with a UGA composer to co-create new music together. The show features UGA's Jazz Combo, African-American Choral Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Contemporary Chamber Ensemble performing their co-creations.
211 – Get Connected. Get Help.
Community Food Resources
Need Help Paying Rent?
Georgia landlords and renters are encouraged to apply for rental and utility assistance through the State of Georgia Rental Assistance program! Nearly a billion dollars has been allocated to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs by the U.S. Treasury to provide help for renters who have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic.
For assistance, email rentalassistance@dca.ga.gov or call (833) 827-7368.
New Teen Newsletter from ACC Library
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Clarke County School District
Website: www.clarke.k12.ga.us
Location: 595 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706-546-7721
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarkeCoSchools
Twitter: @clarkecoschools