Better Together
4/19/24 • News from the Clarke County School District
Scenes around CCSD
Fired Up for Milestones
Students in grades 3-8 across all CCSD elementary and middle schools have spent this week preparing for the upcoming Georgia Milestones testing, which begins Monday, April 22, and have had some great fun to go along with the studying. Above: University of Georgia football player Trevor Etienne pumps up students at Whit Davis Elementary during a Milestones pep rally. Whit Davis also had students in grades K-2 line the halls leading into the gym for the pep rally and cheer their older school mates on. Meanwhile, Coile Middle School had themed dress-up days throughout the week, including Twin Day. Good luck to all of our students who will be testing next week!
Making Early Connections
Clarke Middle School counselors and connections teachers (fine arts, health/PE, CTAE, and foreign language) visited fifth-graders at Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary this week to talk with them about the course offerings they'll get to take advantage of in sixth grade outside of the core subjects.
Day at the Farm
Second-graders at Howard B. Stroud Elementary visited Washington Farms in Oconee County, where they had with many activities, including the petting zoo!
Lessons in Poetry
Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary Dual Language Immersion program fifth-graders celebrated National Poetry Month by hosting University of Georgia professor and Howard Foundation Fellow Andrew Zawacki. Professor Zawacki led the students through a lesson on Japanese tankas (31-syllable, five-line poems) and challenged them to write and share their own poetry. He then challenged them to translate the poems while maintaining the structure and the content of them.
Cheer Camp
Winterville Elementary hosted its inaugural Cheer Camp for students in grades PK-5. Ms. Teri McGarity, Ms. Jemet Perry, and current cheerleaders led participants through learning chants, jumps, and stunts.
District News and Events
CCSD, PBGA Team Up to Offer Full Vision Exams, Provide Free Glasses to Referred Students
This spring, the school nursing team at CCSD has joined with Prevent Blindness Georgia to provide free comprehensive, fully-dilated eye exams and two free pairs of eyeglasses to more than 150 students and counting who are referred for a full exam and are potentially in need of corrective lenses beyond their initial vision screening.
This unique collaboration, with the clinics held at our schools and campuses and bus transportation provided as needed, has already allowed many CCSD students to have access to high-quality vision care and optometrist exam that may not have otherwise been possible for them due to barriers such as cost, lack of insurance, or transportation availability.
Read more here about how this tremendous partnership is highlighting CCSD's strategic focus area of "Thriving Students!"
Georgia Football Presents $40K in Combined Donations to Schools, Select Teachers
This week, members of the University of Georgia football team and the UGA Athletic Association presented check donations to four CCSD schools on behalf of the College Football Playoff Foundation DonorsChoose program that provides schools and teachers money for classroom projects and other school materials!
Donations included:
- $9,000 to Whit Davis Elementary School and $1,000 to teacher Kayla Jones
- $9,000 to Barnett Shoals Elementary School and $1,000 to teacher Lara Alexander
- $9,000 to Hilsman Middle School and $1,000 to teacher Reva Barnes
- $6,000 to Gaines Elementary School and $1,000 each to Darby Rogers, Jennifer Westlake, Tara Flanigan, and Jerika Cooper.
UGA players Jaylon Walker, Arian Smith, Malaki Starks, and Trevor Etienne also spent time with students at each school, giving them words of encouragement to always do their best in school and putting lots of smiles on young faces!
Superintendent Receives 2024 GSSA President's Award
Last week, CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker was awarded the 2024 Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) President’s Award for the Northeast Georgia RESA region at the GSSA spring Bootstrap Conference in Savannah!
This prestigious honor is awarded to superintendents for outstanding leadership in their school system and community. Dr. Hooker was presented the award by GSSA President and Oconee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Branch.
Read more here!
Get an Overview of CCSD's Proposed FY25 Budget
During a called meeting this week, the Clarke County Board of Education received a presentation from CCSD Chief Financial Officer Chris Griner on the district's initial proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1.
The board will receive an updated presentation at its regularly-scheduled meeting on May 9, when it is expected to give tentative approval of a budget. The board will then set the required public hearings on the budget and millage rate with the goal of approving a final budget at its June 13 meeting.
Click here to see the initial proposed budget overview document and here to watch the called meeting from this week.
Check out the new episode of 'Studio 595'
In the newest episode of the "Studio 595" podcast — now on the CCSD YouTube channel, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Audible — Producer Alex, Owen, and Jules spotlight important cultural events happening between now and the next solar eclipse to hit the Athens area so you don't have to fear on missing out on these events!
Also, in recognition of World Amateur Radio Day, enjoy special interviews featuring former college radio hosts from WUOG 90.5 FM – including digital marketer Marquis Chester and current healthcare policy reporter at Axios, Victoria Knight! Also, catch a special interview with Alichia Cruz, afternoon radio host at 95-9, "The Best of Athens!" All of this and your regular pop culture and district updates in this episode of Studio 595.
Check it out in the video below!
High School Theatre Productions at Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central
Support the theatre programs at Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools by attending their spring productions!
Cedar Shoals' premiere of "Clue on Stage" was Thursday, April 18, and additional shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 19, and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The play is based on the favorite Parker Brothers murder-mystery board game. All shows will be in the CSHS auditorium (1300 Cedar Shoals Dr., Athens). Tickets for each show are $8 general admission and $4 for students. Tickets can be purchased in advance through a cast member, through GoFan, or at the door starting 30 minutes before the show. For more information, email Rosemary Milsap at milsapr@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Also, Clarke Central's Glad Players will perform their spring musical, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" in Mell Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. May 2-4 and 2:30 p.m. May 5. Tickets and more information are available through GoFan. Check out the trailer below, which was shot and edited by Gladiator senior Eleanor Robinson.
Student and Staff Spotlights
CCSD Students Win Awards, Honors at State Science Fair
CCSD was well represented last weekend at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in Athens and brought home several honors and awards.
Elan Norris of Hilsman Middle won Best in Category for Material Sciences and received the Inspiring Excellence Award for his project, "Don't Let the Big One Get Away! Choose the Right Fishing Line!" He was joined by Clarke Middle students Arrow Callahan and Gray Whicker in receiving First Honors, meaning their projects ranked at or above the 90th percentile of all projects submitted and that they will be invited to enter their project into the national fair. Callahan and Whicker also were recognized as a Thermo Fisher Junior Innovator for their project, "Waterway Trash Collector."
Additionally, Lauren Neace of Hilsman earned Second Honors, and Sebastian Marotta of Hilsman and Traye Bernt, Wright Cook, and Henry Morgan of Clarke Middle all received Fourth Honors, meaning their projects were ranked in the upper half of those submitted.
Elan Norris
Arrow Callahan (left) and Gray Whicker
Lauren Neace
Traye Bernt, Wright Cook, and Henry Morgan
Sebastian Marotta
iliad Wins Prestigious 'Pacemaker' Award
The National Scholastic Press Association recognized Clarke Central High School's iliad Literary-Art Magazine as one of six 2023 Pacemakers at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention on April 6 in Kansas City, Missouri. Read more here!
Barrow Elementary Student Takes 2nd in Statewide Poster Contest
Congratulations to Barrow Elementary School third-grader Emma Wasley, whose entry in this year's "Give Wildlife a Chance" Poster Contest held by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia placed second among all third- and fourth-graders in the state!
Nearly 3,500 students in grades K-5 from 24 public and private schools and homeschool groups around the state took part in the organizations' 34th annual conservation art competition.
Barrow Students Hold their Own in UGA Math Competition for Middle Schoolers
Last week, 23 students in grades 4-5 from Barrow Elementary competed in the University of Georgia MathCounts competition. Barrow was the only elementary school to take part in the competition, which is primarily for middle school students, and the group excelled as fifth-grader Josie Crim and fourth-grader Adri Suiza both won first-place awards!
UGA MathCounts Outreach is a student-run organization sponsored by the UGA Honors Program that provides a unique opportunity for UGA students to give back to the Athens-area community by helping students strengthen their math skills and by serving as role models for children. Volunteers spend approximately one hour a week tutoring students by teaching them new math concepts, practicing competition-style problems, and strengthening students' problem areas.
Sports Updates
Whitehead Road Girls, Winterville Boys Capture Elementary Soccer Titles
Congratulations to the Whitehead Road Elementary girls and Winterville Elementary boys for winning the 2024 CCSD Elementary Soccer League championships! The Koalas defeated Gaines in the girls' final, while the Winnerbees topped Johnnie Lay Burks Elementery in penalty kicks to claim the crown. A fantastic job by all sides and all of the schools who had teams in this year's league! Look here for more photos from the championship matches!
High School Sports Results
Track and Field
- Cedar Shoals competed in the GHSA Region 8-AAAA championships at North Oconee High School and qualified six athletes for the state sectionals, which will also be at North Oconee on May 4. Freshman Anisa Willis won the region championship in the girls' triple, while junior Tybias Lay won the boys' 300-meter hurdles. Devin Hester placed second in the boys' 400-meter dash and long jump to qualify in both events and joined Lay, Jeremiah Barnett, and Devin Hubbard on the 4x400-meter relay team, which finished third.
- As a reminder, the Clarke Central girls and boys will compete in the 8-AAAAA championship meet at Loganville High School on Saturday, April 20. Field events will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the running events at 2:30 p.m. You can find the full schedule here.
Soccer
- The Clarke Central girls went on the road and defeated Villa Rica 2-1 in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs to improve to 10-5-2 on the season. Farrell Hyde scored both goals for the Gladiators, and Bella Yelton recorded both assists. Clarke Central will travel to Cambridge for their second-round matchup at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23.
- The Clarke Central boys remained unbeaten at 15-0-2 with a 5-0 shutout of Lithia Springs in the first round. Lucas Stewart and Henry Payne scored two goals apiece, while Owen Barnett added a goal. Thadd Pruitt, Wilkes Field, Paolo Calabria, and Raul Navarro all recorded assists. The Glads will host Dalton in the second round at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24.
- As a reminder, the Cedar Shoals boys were scheduled to take on Pace Academy in Atlanta at 6 p.m. Friday, April 19, in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Tennis
- The Clarke Central boys shut out Chapel Hill 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Cormac Allen won at No. 2 singles, Miles Lawrence won at No. 3 singles, and Cash Meyer and Noah Stewart won at No. 1 doubles. Patrick Allen was also up a set at No. 1 singles and Alex Cho and Connor Miller were closing in on a win when the overall match was clinched. The Gladiators will host Calhoun in the second round next week. The Clarke Central girls dropped their first-round match at Midtown High School, but still had a very successful season.
Esports
- The Clarke Central eSports Gold team defeated Westlake High School Smash B 3-0 in the second round of the playoffs and advanced to play North Gwinnett High School Smash A in third round, scheduled for Friday, April 19, at 4 p.m. Follow the team on Twitch (@CCHS_Gladiators) to tune in live!
Jaguar, Gladiator Youth Football, Cheerleading Fall Registration Open
Registration for the fall season of Jaguar and Gladiator Youth Football and Cheerleading through the North Georgia Youth Football Association is now open and runs through May 17.
The league is open to CCSD students ages 6-12. The registration fee is $50 for football and $30 for cheerleading. Click here for registration and more information on Jaguar Youth Football and Cheerleading and here for registration and more information on Gladiator Youth Football and Cheerleading.
Registration Open for Gladiator Youth Summer Sports Camps
Registration for the 2024 Gladiator Youth Summer Sports Camps at Clarke Central High School is now open! Camps offered include soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football, cheerleading, football, and track and field. Camps are four days each and are half-day in the mornings. The cost is $120 per camp.
Click here for additional information and here to start registering.
Family and Community Reminders
Write a Letter to a Graduating Senior
High school graduations are fast approaching, and Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools invite the community and friends and families of the Class of 2024 to write congratulatory notes and letters of encouragement to graduating seniors that will be given to them prior to the ceremonies. You can submit letters electronically or hand-deliver them to the schools.
Cedar Shoals will accept letters through May 1. Click here to submit your letter.
Clarke Central will accept letters through May 10. Click here to submit your letter.
Local Employers: Participate in Our 'Better Together' Job Fair
CCSD, in partnership with the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and YouthForce (a program of the Boys & Girls Club of Athens), will host the "Better Together" Hiring Fair on Wednesday, May 1, and invites all local companies looking to hire recently-graduated or current high school students to participate.
The goal of the event is to help meet the workforce needs of Athens-area employers and provide opportunities for CCSD students. Some students will be graduating next month and are seeking potential full-time employment opportunities, while non-graduates will be looking for opportunities that can be used for traditional part-time work or for school credit through CCSD's Work-Based Learning Program.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Athens Community Career Academy, 440-1 Dearing Extension, and will give employers and hundreds of students from our high schools opportunities to connect. Interested employers should sign up at bit.ly/accacareerfair.
CCSD Accepting Bids for Sale, Relocation of Ellard Hall
CCSD is currently accepting sealed bids for the purchase and relocation of Ellard Hall, a century-old residential structure on the campus of the district administrative offices building located at 595 Prince Ave. The two-story, 4,585 square foot house with 819 additional square feet of porch space, is being sold “as is," and the successful bidder will be required to remove the house from the property.
Click here for more details.
School Choice Application Window Now Open
CCSD's School Choice application period for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Now through April 30, parents/guardians of current CCSD students can apply for a transfer to a school outside their attendance zone, provided that space is available.
Schools Choice transfers are only available at schools where the district has determined there is available classroom space after all assigned students have been enrolled. This is based on a maximum class size formula provided by the Georgia Department of Education. Once a school’s maximum class size is reached, the school will be closed for School Choice enrollments.
Click here for more information.
Spots Still Available for CCSD 21st Century Middle School Summer Camps
Registration for CCSD's 21st Century elementary summer camps is full, but there are still spots available for our middle school summer camps! The camps are open to all CCSD students who will be entering grades 6-8 and will be held from June 3-18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Monday through Thursday of each week. They will include an introduction to middle school for incoming sixth-graders, music education, field trips, and other activities.
The camps will be held at each of our four middle schools. Current middle school students should sign up for the camp at the school they already attend, while rising sixth-graders should sign up for the school they will be zoned for. Register here.
For questions, please email phillipsa3@clarke.k12.ga.us or call 706-546-7721, Ext. 79413.
ACCA to Offer Summer Pathway Camps to Rising Ninth-graders
The Athens Community Career Academy will host free summer enrichment camps in six of the pathways it offers to high school students for rising ninth-graders. The weeklong camps will be held daily at the ACCA campus, 440-1 Dearing Extension, Athens, and are intended to introduce incoming to ninth-graders to pathways they'll be able to apply for and start taking classes in starting in 10th grade.
Camps being offered this summer include:
- Advanced Manufacturing, June 3-6
- Cosmetology Basics, June 3-6
- Culinary Arts, June 3-6
- Healthcare, June 3-6
- Teaching, June 3-6
- Film, June 17-20.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost, and transportation will also be available. Space is limited. Sign up by April 22 at bit.ly/accasummer9.
Calendar and Other Reminders
Calendar Reminders
Click to view the 2023-24 Academic Calendar.
Important dates:
- 5/22: Last day of school (High schools will dismiss at 12:45 p.m. on May 21 and 22.
- 5/23: Cedar Shoals High School graduation (9 a.m.) and Classic City High School graduation (5 p.m.)
- 5/24: Clarke Central High School graduation (9 a.m.)
Update or Create Parent Portal Account
Follow these directions for updating the contact information in your Parent Portal account. Don't have an account yet? Follow these directions to set one up. Having a Parent Portal account allows parents and guardians to access attendance records, class schedules, grades, and assignment information for their students. If you already have an account but forgot your password and need a reset, use the links on the login page to reset your password or username or to request help. You may also email campus@clarke.k12.ga.us for additional assistance.
How to Address Questions, Concerns
Have a question or concern that you'd like to address? CCSD has put together a matrix of who to reach out to depending on the situation. 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.”
Download the Edulog App for Bus Info
Parents/guardians of students who ride a bus to and/or from school can use the Edulog page on the district website or download the Edulog Parent Portal mobile app to find information about their student’s bus.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Check out our monthly breakfast and lunch menus and find more school nutrition information here.
Take Advantage of our School-based Health Centers!
- The Clarke Middle Health Center (CMHC) is a free clinic that serves students and staff and is an extension of the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership’s mobile clinic. Click here for hours, contact information, and more.
- The Hilsman Health Center, the first school-based health clinic to open in northeast Georgia, is a partnership between CCSD and the Athens Neighborhood Health Center and is a comprehensive medical office. It is staffed by a nurse practitioner, dentist, and support staff. Click here for a list of services provided, hours, contact information, and more.
Board of Education News
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: The board's next scheduled meeting is Thursday, May 9, with the work session beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. All meetings are held in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the CCSD administrative offices building, located at 595 Prince Ave. in Athens. The public is invited to attend meetings in person. Meetings are also streamed live and are available for on-demand viewing on the CCSD YouTube channel. Click here for the board meeting schedule.
- Agendas: Click here to access board meeting agendas.
- 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 BOE meeting.
- Review Policies for Review: View and comment on district policies pending public review.
Careers at CCSD
Interested in a Career at CCSD?
Community Information and Resources
Museum of Art to Host Family Day Event April 27
The Georgia Museum of Art, 90 Carlton St., Athens, will hold its monthly free Family Day event Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to noon.
April is Earth Month, with Earth Day taking place on April 22. Explore environmental works of art in the galleries, complete art cart activities, and create your own work of art inspired by our green planet.
For those who cannot attend in-person, Family Day to-go kits will be available for pick-up starting at 1 p.m. Saturday through the end of day Sunday, while supplies last.
Georgia Museum of Art Presents Teen Studio: Through Lines
Youth ages 13-18 are invited to this studio-based workshop led by local artist and educator Kristen Bach on Thursday, April 25, from 5:30-8 p.m. Visit the exhibition, “Nancy Baker Cahill: Through Lines” and make your own work of art inspired by the show. This program is free and includes a pizza dinner from DePalma’s Italian Cafe. Seats are limited; email gmoa-tours@uga.edu to register.
Library PLAY Card
As part of a collaboration between CCSD and the Athens Regional Library System, the PLAY Card account provides each CCSD student with free materials (books, magazines, etc.) and online resources from the public library to help your child succeed in school, along with fun resources to support a lifelong love of reading. You and your child can check out materials at the libraries by entering their student ID number.
Teen Newsletter from ACC Library
Click to view the latest ACC Library Teen Newsletter.
211 – Get Connected. Get Help.
Community Food Resources
Search for Jobs in Athens-Clarke County
Website: www.clarke.k12.ga.us
Location: 595 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706-546-7721
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.