Better Together
News from the Clarke County School District • 5/27/22
Last Newsletter of the School Year
For the latest news and information from the Clarke County School District, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram and visit our website at clarke.k12.ga.us.
CCSD Announces 2022 Valedictorians, Salutatorians
Read the full press release here.
Partnership with UGA Provides Mentorship for Middle School Student-Athletes
A new partnership between CCSD and the University of Georgia Department of Kinesiology and Office of Service-Learning (OSL) is showing early signs of success in helping middle school students boost their academic performance, placing a greater emphasis on their physical health, and meeting their social-emotional needs.
This past semester, UGA kinesiology professor Jason Edwards and kinesiology and OSL students operated an after-school program that provided mentorship for Hilsman Middle School student-athletes. Twice a week from January through April, Edwards and the UGA students met with student-athletes from the Hilsman track and field program after school hours at Cedar Shoals High School for academic tutoring, physical fitness activities, and relationship-building.
While quantitative data is still being gathered, qualitative and anecdotal reporting indicates that this program is helping our students improve their grades as they become more comfortable with the educational material, raising their attendance, giving them more confidence in themselves, and helping them build good study habits and a strong work ethic for the future.
UGA’s OSL, which is geared toward community engagement, plans to continue the program during the 2022-23 school year and will continue working with CCSD’s Office of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships to explore potential expansion to all of our middle schools.
See the video below for a closer look at the program.
Student Registration Center Will be Open Throughout Summer
CCSD's student registration center, located on the second floor of the district administrative offices building at 595 Prince Ave., Athens, will remain open this summer, and families are encouraged to stop by throughout the summer for any services they need. The center will operate under the following summer hours from June 3 through July 14 before resuming normal office business hours on July 18.
Summer Office Hours
Monday through Thursday: 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday: Closed.
*Lunch: noon to 12:45 p.m.
Normal Office Hours
Monday through Thursday: 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday: 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
*Lunch: noon to 12:45 p.m.
***Note: The Student Registration Center will be closed Thursday, June 2, due to professional development.
CCSD Film Instructor Wins Awards for Short Film
Michael Bosby, a film technology instructor at the Athens Community Career Academy and Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools, can now claim the title of award-winning filmmaker.
A short horror film that Mr. Bosby wrote, directed, starred in, and produced in 2017 has garnered 10 awards and nominations across three different film festivals this year. Among those were an award at the 2022 ARFF Berlin International Awards and the Best Male Director award in the Bluez Dolphins Monthly Online International Short Film Fest in April.
Congratulations, Mr. Bosby!
Updates from the Department of Community Schools
On Saturday, May 21, CCSD’s Department of Community Schools hosted the Bridging the Gap community forum for Barnett Shoals Elementary, Whit Davis Elementary, Hilsman Middle, and Cedar Shoals High at Clarke Gardens and the Nellie B. Apartments complex. Those involved in the planning included CCSD community school organizers (CSOs), family engagement specialists, social workers from those schools, and Counselors.
The purpose of the forums is to do community canvassing with parents of school-age children about school/family engagement, inviting them to volunteer for school events, hearing their concerns, providing information about summer employment for high school students, camp opportunities for younger children, and other agency resource information.
We are forever grateful for our partnership with the City of Refuge Athens, as they have provided families with free groceries, toiletries, and more at the forums!
“The forums will be ongoing next school year, as our goal is to reach all CCSD families in the Athens-Clarke County community,” said Soraia Felgenhauer, CCSD’s Director of Community Schools. “This is just a fragment of our journey of being ‘Better Together’ and removing barriers to reach every child and every family in our community.”
Families are highly encouraged to contact the CCSD Translation and Interpretation Department whenever they need to get in contact with a school employee. For families interested in meeting with their child’s teacher, give us a call if you need language assistance.
District translators Ana Camacho and Katie Greenwood will be busy this summer preparing for the 2022-23 school year, developing more bilingual resources for CCSD families and staff and planning language-based enrichment activities that will benefit all students. We welcome your thoughts and comments on making school communications more accessible to everyone.
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:
- 8/3: First day of school
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, June 2, 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 Clinic Information
- June 6-30 (rotating schools)
- View dates/locations and registration link
Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for another order of free at-home tests on USPS.com. Fill in this form with your contact and shipping information to order your tests.
Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Each order now includes #8 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Your order of 8 tests will come in 2 separate packages (4 tests in each package), each with its own tracking number
- Packages will ship free.
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
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
Search for Jobs in Athens-Clarke County
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