Better Together
News from the Clarke County School District • 5/26/23
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear CCSD families,
We have come to the end of a great school year! Thank you for all of your investment in our students this year. When we work together to enhance the educational experience for all students, our families and community benefit greatly.
As we close out this school year, let’s take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff and congratulate the nearly 600 students from Cedar Shoals, Classic City, and Clarke Central high schools who graduated this week and are set to embark on their next adventure – whether that be continuing their education, entering the workforce, or enlisting in the military.
We also want to thank you for your readership of this newsletter, produced by our Department of Public Relations and Communications, throughout the school year. This will be the last weekly issue of the newsletter until the start of next school year. Be on the lookout in July for a special back-to-school edition, and, in the meantime, bookmark our website — www.clarke.k12.ga.us — and follow our Facebook page to stay up to date with the latest news and information from CCSD.
We wish all of our students a fun, safe, and relaxing summer break, and we look forward to seeing you for the 2023-24 school year!
Best,
Dr. Robbie P. Hooker
View Graduation Photo Galleries!
Be sure to check out the CCSD Facebook page for photos galleries from the Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central, and Classic City ceremonies.
Recognizing Our 2023 Valedictorians, Salutatorians
Read more about each of these distinguished students here.
Cedar Shoals Valedictorian - Coriander McGreevy
Clarke Central Valedictorian - Solomon Nackashi
Classic City Valedictorian - Jonathan Gaona
Cedar Shoals Salutatorian - Ella Johnson
Clarke Central Salutatorian - Natalie Soper
Classic City Salutatorian - Jalayla Rose
CCSD Students Win State Awards in DNR Poster Contest
Congratulations to Mia Sims of Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary for winning first place in the kindergarten division and Lyla Maldonado Wells of OAES, who won first place in the grades 3-4 division. Meanwhile, George Wheeler of OAES placed second in the grades 1-2 division, Katherine Caldwell from Timothy Road Elementary took second place in the grades 3-4 division, and Juli Eickholt of TRES placed third among fifth-graders.
Read more from the Athens Banner-Herald here. Pictured is Lyla Maldonado Wells' winning submission.
CCSD Announces Modified Summer Hours for District Office
- Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day)
- Friday, June 9
- Friday, June 16
- Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
- Friday, June 30
- Tuesday, July 4 (Independence Day)
- Friday, July 14
Please note: Hours for the Student Registration Center in the District Office will vary from these times. Click here for more information.
The District Office's regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.) will resume on Monday, July 17.
Don't Delay! Register Today for the 2023-24 School Year!
Click here for information on summer hours for the CCSD Student Registration Center as well as the process for registering your child!
Summer Meal Information for Families
- Students who attend summer school will be provided free breakfast and lunch at their school site.
- through partnerships with local organizations and churches at their summer camps
- to the community at six "open" summer school sites — Barrow Elementary, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle, Gaines Elementary, Hilsman Middle, Howard B. Stroud Elementary, and Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary — starting on Monday, June 5. Children up to age 18 will be allowed to visit the sites and have a free lunch, while adults can also join at a cost of $4.25 per meal.
Click here for more information.
The district is also finalizing plans to prepare meals at school kitchens and distribute them to various sites around the community. Click here for more information and updates.
District to Again Provide School Supplies for All PK-8 Students in 2023-24
Each school will communicate with their families the process for picking up supplies. Several of our schools also have supply closets for families needing additional support.
As a reminder, for schools requiring uniforms next school year, uniforms will need to be purchased. Schools will provide additional guidance and details about uniforms in the coming weeks.
Summer College Connect Advisers for Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central
Registration Open for Fall Season of Gladiator, Jaguar Youth Football, Cheerleading
Registration is now open for the fall season of Gladiator and Jaguar Youth Football!
Gladiator and Jaguar Youth Football will offer a positive, exciting tackle football and cheerleading experience for the youth of Clarke County. There will be teams at the 6U, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, and seventh-grade (ages 12 and 13) levels, coached by skilled and knowledgeable individuals.
The teams will compete in the North Georgia Youth Football Association (NGYFA) and play
home games in their high school stadiums. Students who attend school or live in the Clarke
Central or Cedar Shoals attendance zones are eligible to play and cheer for their respective teams. Per NGYFA rules, you must satisfy at least one of those requirements to register.
The registration fee is $80 for football players and $50 for cheerleaders. Click on these links (Clarke Central or Cedar Shoals), or scan the QR codes below for more information. You will be directed to sign in or create an account with SportsEngine to proceed with secure registration and payment.
Phase 1 registration ends June 15.
For questions, email gladiatoryouthfootball@gmail.com or athensjaguarsfootball@gmail.com.
21st Century 6th Grade Transition Camp Set for June
The camps will be held from June 5-29 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday each week) and will include several activities for students — hands-on scientific activities, robotics, broadcast journalism lessons, therapeutic drumming, yoga and meditation, weekly field trips, and more!
The camps will also provide middle school introductory resources to parents along with information on other school and community resources.
Click here to register. For more information, email grantg@clarke.k12.ga.us (BHL site) or atkinsont@clarke.k12.ga.us (Hilsman site).
College Factory to Host Youth Development Institute
The free six-week program aims to help students prepare for their future by exposing them to postsecondary options such as college, careers, the military, or starting their own business as an entrepreneur. The program is open to rising 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade students and will be held each week Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA), 440 Dearing Ext., Athens.
Students will be provided with breakfast and lunch each day. There will also be weekly incentives for students who participate in the program.
Click here to register. For questions, email program coordinator Dy’Amond McGhee at dyamond@collegefactory.org.
Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central to Hold Freshmen Transition Camps in July
The Cedar Shoals camps will be July 24 and July 25 from 1-4 p.m. Register for one of the days here. For questions, contact Courtni Reese, Cedar Shoals family engagement specialist, at reesec@clarke.k12.ga.us.
The Clarke Central camps will be July 24 and July 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register for one of the days here. For questions, contact Christian Barner, Clarke Central family engagement specialist, at barnerc@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Clarke Central Youth Sports Camps Scheduled
The camps are available for children ages 6-14. All camps will be held at the school from 9 a.m. to noon with drop-off starting at 8:30 a.m.
Click here for a list of camps and dates and registration information. For additional information, email gladiatoryouthsportscamps@gmail.com.
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2022-23 Academic Calendar. Important dates:
- 8/2: First day of school
How to Address Questions, Concerns
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 at CCSD. Daily pay increases and monthly bonuses! Click here to learn more or call ESS at 877-983-2244.
Interested in a Career at CCSD?
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: Next regular meeting is Thursday, June 1, at 6 p.m. (in-person and broadcast on the CCSD YouTube channel). This will be a combined work session and regular meeting. Starting in July, the board will meet only once a month through at least the remainder of 2023, with a work session beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.
- 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.
ACC Residents Invited to Provide Input on Solutions to Affordable Housing Challenges
The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) is seeking resident input on tools and solutions that could help meet Athens residents' increasing housing affordability challenges.
Residents may provide feedback online via www.accgov.com/arpa through May 31. Click here for more information.
UGA Special Collections Library summer events
Free Summer Membership for Teens at Planet Fitness
Click here for more details.
211 – Get Connected. Get Help.
Community Food Resources
Search for Jobs in Athens-Clarke County
Teen Newsletter from ACC Library
Library PLAY Card
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