In this episode:

• The hosts reflect on the start of a new year and how to adjust and plan for 2023.
• Kalli, Dillon, and "Producer Alex" Marchante, CCSD's Digital Communications Specialist, talk about what it means to have reliable friends and mentors and how to make new friends for the new year.
• The hosts give the latest details on what's going on in the district as well as in the entertainment world.
• A discussion of the best mentors in television and film history.

Also, congratulations to Coile Middle for winning the Girls' City Championship with their victory over Clarke Middle. It was a job well done by all of our student-athletes!

CCSD encourages and challenges members of our community to join us in bettering our physical, mental, and emotional well-being in 2023 together!

In a challenge to himself to become more physically fit, Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker has committed to running one 5K every month. Will you join him in this challenge?

Below are some opportunities within our district to get you started! If you take part in a running event, take a picture, post it on social media, and tag us (@ClarkeCoSchools) with the hashtag #CCSDNewYearNewYou!

Come out to Chase Street Elementary, 757 North Chase St., Athens, on Saturday, March 4, for a day of running and family fun!

The "Race for Chase" 5K will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the "Tree Frog Trot" 1K at 10 a.m. and the "Tiny Tree Frog Trot" at 10:30 a.m.

Early-bird registration ends Wednesday, Feb. 1. Click here for additional race information and registration.

If you’re not racing through the neighborhood, you can still come enjoy the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Pop Up Park, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, or a complimentary coffee or hot chocolate from Java Joy. And, of course, the school playground will be open!

Cedar Shoals High, 1300 Cedar Shoals Dr., Athens, will host the inaugural Joshua Sampson Memorial 5K on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 8 a.m. to honor the memory of the late Cedar Shoals teacher.

Come out to run or walk with the Cedar Shoals community, and participate in one of Mr. Sampson's life passions. Registration is $25.

CCSD's pre-K and kindergarten early registration period for the 2023-24 school year will be held Monday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 25, in the district gymnasium, located at 595 Prince Ave., Athens.

Click here or download the PDF document below for more information.

Families of CCSD students may be eligible to receive free or discounted internet service under the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), provided by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. The benefit also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.

All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program within the last 12 months, including children who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), are eligible for ACP benefits.

CCSD is a CEP district; therefore, all families with children enrolled in the current school year are eligible.

Click here for more information on eligibility and steps for applying for discounted Internet service.

Casa de Amistad, an Athens-based nonprofit that works to identify and address the needs of the local Hispanic community, and CCSD are partnering to host a family literacy event on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at Whit Davis Elementary, 1450 Whit Davis Rd., Athens.

Colombian children’s author Yolanda Puente will be speaking and providing parents with tips to help them incorporate reading into their everyday routines with their children.

The Department of Family and Community Engagement will host its inaugural "FESCON" from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, at the Classic Center, 300 North Thomas St., Athens. The event is the first-ever CCSD conference that celebrates and honors the work behind family and community engagement. It will bring together educators, administrators, and other professionals to share best practices and strategies for engaging families in their children's education.

The conference will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities with experts in the field of family and community engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest research and trends in family engagement and gain practical insights for implementing effective family engagement programs in their own schools and communities.

The conference is open to all educators and professionals who are interested in improving family engagement in their work. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP at this link.

Those interested in presenting at the conference should click on the PDF link below for more information on submitting a proposal. The department expects to make a final determination on presentations by Feb. 28.

CCSD is now hiring bus drivers. Hourly pay ranges from $18-$26, and we offer part-time and full-time schedules, a $1,500 signing bonus (for full-time employment), and full benefits. It's a rewarding and flexible career move.

Click here to see what's waiting for you behind the wheel!

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.”