Check out this week's edition of the "Better Together" newsletter!
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Check out our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools) for scenes from last night's volleyball match between Barrow Elementary School and Whitehead Road Elementary School! Check out CCSD Elementary Volleyball League action at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday this fall!
Scenes from last night's Northeast Georgia Marching Band Exhibition at Cedar Shoals High School, where Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central High School were among 12 marching bands in the area that took the field and were evaluated by a panel of six judges on all aspects of their performances. What a great job by all these students who poured hours and hours of hard work into preparing for last night! And a big thank you to the band directors who have been working with the students and promoting a lifelong love of music. More photos on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
More CCSD Elementary Volleyball League action last night as Gaines Elementary School took on Judia Jackson Harris Elementary School and Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School faced off against Timothy Road Elementary School! See more photos on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)! And be sure to check out and support our teams this season with matches at the District Office Gym every Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.!
Pre-K students at CCSD Early Learning Center - West and across the district enthusiastically celebrated International Dot Day today, an annual event that encourages creativity, courage, and self-expression. The global celebration originates from the inspiring book, "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds, in which a teacher reassures a student who doesn't believe she can draw by encouraging her to start with a single dot as a way to open doors to a world of creativity.
At ELC West today, Mr. Stephen Nobles from CCSD's Department of Innovation, Strategy, and Governance, along with Board of Education member Ms. Linda Davis, joined students to read "The Dot." Students also sang, danced, and showcased their creativity by designing their own dot. This activity symbolized how every child can "make their mark" on the world, and today's event highlighted our ongoing commitment to fostering imagination and innovation in early learning to grow Creative Students and Thriving Students.
At ELC West today, Mr. Stephen Nobles from CCSD's Department of Innovation, Strategy, and Governance, along with Board of Education member Ms. Linda Davis, joined students to read "The Dot." Students also sang, danced, and showcased their creativity by designing their own dot. This activity symbolized how every child can "make their mark" on the world, and today's event highlighted our ongoing commitment to fostering imagination and innovation in early learning to grow Creative Students and Thriving Students.
An exciting time today at Winterville Elementary School, as UGA football players Jordan Hall and C.J. Allen presented STEAM teacher Mr. Rick Carlson with a $1,000 check from the College Football Playoff Foundation DonorsChoose program, which provides schools and teachers money for classroom projects and other school materials. Winterville Elementary was also presented with a $2,000 check for the entire school!
At last night's Board of Education meeting, where we recognized:
•Our September Employee of the Month, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary custodian Sallie Smith
•Winners of the 2025 Foundation for Excellence in Public EducationTeaching and Staff Awards from CCSD.
Congratulations to all! More photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
•Our September Employee of the Month, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary custodian Sallie Smith
•Winners of the 2025 Foundation for Excellence in Public EducationTeaching and Staff Awards from CCSD.
Congratulations to all! More photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
A big congratulations to Sallie Smith, custodian at Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, on being named CCSD's Employee of the Month for September! Ms. Smith was nominated by a Burks staff member who praised her for not only providing a welcoming school environment by helping to keep it clean and orderly, but also through the care and behind-the-scenes, emotional support she provides to students and staff.
Ms. Smith was surprised with the award at school today by Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott and Burks principal Matt Snow and will be recognized at tomorrow night's Board of Education meeting.
A big thank you to all who submitted nominations over the past month – many of which are still under consideration! As a reminder, anyone in the community may nominate any full-time CCSD employee with at least one full year of service for this award at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward.
Ms. Smith was surprised with the award at school today by Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott and Burks principal Matt Snow and will be recognized at tomorrow night's Board of Education meeting.
A big thank you to all who submitted nominations over the past month – many of which are still under consideration! As a reminder, anyone in the community may nominate any full-time CCSD employee with at least one full year of service for this award at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward.
A few scenes from yesterday's volleyball matches between Judia Jackson Harris Elementary School and Whit Davis Elementary School and between Fowler Drive Elementary School and Winterville Elementary School! Congratulations to J.J. Harris and Winterville on their victories and to all teams on well-played matches. See more photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)! Be sure to come out to the District Office gymnasium on Monday and Wednesday afternoons this fall to support our CCSD Elementary Volleyball League teams! On deck for tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 10):
• 4:30 p.m. - Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School vs. Whitehead Road Elementary School
• 5:30 p.m. - Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School vs. Timothy Road Elementary School
• 4:30 p.m. - Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School vs. Whitehead Road Elementary School
• 5:30 p.m. - Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School vs. Timothy Road Elementary School
Yesterday, the more than 40 CCSD teachers who make up our Teacher Advisory Board met for two hours with district leaders for the first of four quarterly meetings this school year to be a voice for their colleagues in expressing ideas and to offer input so that teachers may have a clear voice in district and school-level decisions regarding policies, practices, and other decisions. After an introductory session, members broke out into small groups to have deeper conversations about topics related to professional learning, human resources, and student success. A big THANK YOU to our TAB members for their dedication in being a representative for their schools and for helping us lead the way in Raising the Bar in Pursuit of Excellence! More photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
Major excitement yesterday at Howard B. Stroud Elementary School as fourth- and fifth-grade students celebrated their house sorting ceremony into the houses of Delphinus, Aquila, Draconis, and Phoenix! These Superstars also celebrated September as Attendance Awareness Month by honoring both students and staff members who maintained perfect attendance during August. See more photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
It was a truly special afternoon at Cedar Shoals High School yesterday as University of Georgia students who are part of the Dream On 3 national network surprised Cedar senior Donovan Collins with a customized VIP Georgia Football package, which not only included field access to stand on the sidelines of Sanford Stadium at today's game but ALSO a limo ride to a hotel and dinner last night with the Bulldog team!
Dream on 3 is a national nonprofit that works to make sports-themed "dreams" come true for children and young adults living with a life-altering condition, including those with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities. The initiative is sponsored at the national level by Volvo Construction Equipment.
Despite living with the many challenges brought on by a stroke, Donovan continues to be a Thriving CCSD Student and shows up to school every day with determination and a smile. He celebrated yesterday's surprise with his family, classmates, the Cedar Shoals band and cheerleaders, and last but not least, the many CCSD teachers and support staff who have helped him overcome his obstacles and remain on his educational journey to success.
See more photos on our Facebook gallery (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott spoke last night at the annual kickoff celebration for the Get Comfortable Storytellers program in partnership with Books for Keeps and Creature Comforts! We are looking forward to expanding this terrific literacy initiative this year and continuing to grow it into the future!
Check out our Facebook gallery (@ClarkeCoSchools) for scenes from the Clarke Central-Cedar Shoals softball JV and Varsity games earlier this week!
Scenes from last night at the District Office, where more than 100 teachers, principals, parents, guardians, and community members who make up our 21 local school governance teams came together for LSGTU – an annual training session that gives new members a look at and returning members a refresher on how LSGTs function and the best and required operating practices that the district has in place for these bodies.
LSGTs are a major component of CCSD's work as one of Georgia's largest public charter systems and maximize school-level governance by empowering families and school faculty members to have real input in data-driven decisions made by school leaders.
At last night's session, attendees heard from Interim Superintendent Jennifer Scott, James Barlament and Stephen Nobles from our Department of Innovation, Strategy, and Governance, and other district leaders about the focus of the fourth year in the district's current five-year charter system contract with the state. LSGTs then spread throughout the building for individual breakout meetings where they elected officers and voted to approve their school's School Improvement Plan for 2025-26.
To learn more about LSGTs, go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/lsgt. You can also access information about each school's LSGT — including member lists and meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes — by going to the school's website and navigating to the "School Governance" tab in the main menu.
LSGTs are a major component of CCSD's work as one of Georgia's largest public charter systems and maximize school-level governance by empowering families and school faculty members to have real input in data-driven decisions made by school leaders.
At last night's session, attendees heard from Interim Superintendent Jennifer Scott, James Barlament and Stephen Nobles from our Department of Innovation, Strategy, and Governance, and other district leaders about the focus of the fourth year in the district's current five-year charter system contract with the state. LSGTs then spread throughout the building for individual breakout meetings where they elected officers and voted to approve their school's School Improvement Plan for 2025-26.
To learn more about LSGTs, go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/lsgt. You can also access information about each school's LSGT — including member lists and meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes — by going to the school's website and navigating to the "School Governance" tab in the main menu.
Raising the Bar in Pursuit of Excellence! Monthly professional learning community (PLC) sessions for principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, and content coordinators this week have been connected through a shared goal of enhancing our teaching practices so that we can continue the momentum of increasing student achievement in the classroom. In the sessions, these professional learners have been hearing from district leaders and each other about how they can build a greater understanding of instructional practices that drive student learning and put those practices into action to create and promote Optimized Talent and Thriving Students.
A phenomenal Classic City Championship game yesterday with Clarke Central prevailing 13-12 over Cedar Shoals. More photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
An AMAZING third day of school for our 800+ second-grade students across the district who took a field trip to Stegeman Coliseum this morning for the "Let the Big Dawgs Read" event – part of former Georgia Football and New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell's "Read with Malcolm" youth literacy initiative! Each second-grader was given their very own copy of Malcolm's book, "The Magician's Hat," and they were treated to a real magician show before doing a read-aloud of the book with Malcolm. Teachers will also be provided with literacy resources as part of the initiative. More photos on our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
CCSD is thrilled to announce that every graduating senior in the district this school year will receive $1,000 investment portfolios and financial education through a brand-new partnership between the district and non-profit organizations Gifted Savings and TED-Ed - making Athens-Clarke County in effect the first community in the nation where every public high school senior graduates as an investor!
As part of the program, an anonymous donor has directly gifted the portfolios to more than 800 12th-grade students at Cedar Shoals High School, Clarke Central High School, and Classic City High School. In addition to their portfolios, each eligible senior will be given access to a personal account on the Gifted Savings app, complete with weekly lessons on saving, investing, and using their money with purpose. Upon turning 18 and completing the program, students will take ownership and have full control of their investments. Through the district’s partnership with TED-Ed, students will share what they’ve learned at a special TEDx event at the end of the year.
Students at each school were surprised with the news today during assemblies and will get started right away on their lessons. Thank you to the teams at Gifted Savings and TED-Ed for helping CCSD lead the way and reinforce one of our core beliefs – that we must embrace new ideas, techniques, and technologies to be responsive to the evolving needs of our learners and the rapidly changing world. Together we are Raising the Bar on improving financial literacy and laying the groundwork for a brighter future!
As part of the program, an anonymous donor has directly gifted the portfolios to more than 800 12th-grade students at Cedar Shoals High School, Clarke Central High School, and Classic City High School. In addition to their portfolios, each eligible senior will be given access to a personal account on the Gifted Savings app, complete with weekly lessons on saving, investing, and using their money with purpose. Upon turning 18 and completing the program, students will take ownership and have full control of their investments. Through the district’s partnership with TED-Ed, students will share what they’ve learned at a special TEDx event at the end of the year.
Students at each school were surprised with the news today during assemblies and will get started right away on their lessons. Thank you to the teams at Gifted Savings and TED-Ed for helping CCSD lead the way and reinforce one of our core beliefs – that we must embrace new ideas, techniques, and technologies to be responsive to the evolving needs of our learners and the rapidly changing world. Together we are Raising the Bar on improving financial literacy and laying the groundwork for a brighter future!
What a PHENOMENAL first day of the school year! Thank you to all the students, staff, families, and community members who made it great! More photos on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
