Thank you to the many local organizations that came by Cedar Shoals High School for yesterday's Employment Resource Fair, hosted by Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens!
Adrienne White of Barrow Elementary School danced in her pajamas while her students were at recess. Timothy Pritchett of Barnett Shoals Elementary School immediately called his wife and fellow CCSD educator and reminded us that it's all about the students. And Stephanie Lewis of Cedar Shoals High School celebrated with her students "One Cedar" style. Enjoy these scenes and more from today's surprises of the three district Teacher of the Year finalists on our Facebook photo gallery!
The CCSD Elementary Volleyball League regular season drew to a close yesterday. The postseason tournament begins next week so stay tuned for the finalized playoff brackets!
Congratulations to Felicia Barrett, behavior interventionist and After-school Program coordinator at Timothy Road Elementary School, on being named CCSD's October Employee of the Month!
Ms. Barrett was nominated by a parent who praised her not only for always having the children's best interests at heart and going above and beyond to support them, but also for the life-saving measures she took recently at the school when a student began choking on their food in the cafeteria.
Ms. Barrett was surprised at school this morning with the award by Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott and will be recognized Thursday night at the monthly Board of Education meeting!
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. Go to bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward to get started!
Check out our Facebook (@ClarkeCoSchools) for more scenes from last week's pop-up lunch at the Athens Community Career Academy's Yellow Jacket Bistro, where our culinary arts pathway students welcomed members of the public for gourmet burgers, fries, milkshakes, and more! For each pop-up lunch, our students and Chef Amee Williams collaborate with local chefs on tasty meals. Thanks to Baddies Burger House for working with our students on this one! Stay tuned for more information on the next pop-up lunch opportunity!
Check out this week's edition of the Better Together newsletter!
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Students at Classic City High School received some great information yesterday morning on how to drive safely and responsibly. We were pleased to be joined by representatives from the Southeastern Chapter of the National Safety Council, who brought their Distracted Driving Simulator. Students had a chance to put on VR goggles and simulate driving while texting, driving while impaired, and driving with poor road conditions.
Students also tried their luck at navigating a golf cart with goggles simulating an impaired driver with the help of area State Farm representatives, who spoke to students about how good driving habits can save you lots of money on car insurance in the long run. Meanwhile, students (and Classic City Director Jessie Draper) attempted field sobriety tests with goggles simulating various levels of impairment. Students also had a chance to talk with officers from the CCSD Police Department and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, who walked them through how to respond if they are ever stopped due to a traffic violation.
Thank you to all who spent time with our students at Classic City, as well as the CCSD Learning Center yesterday and Athens Community Career Academy today, as we work together to encourage our students to always make smart decisions so they can continue to be Safe and Thriving.
Students also tried their luck at navigating a golf cart with goggles simulating an impaired driver with the help of area State Farm representatives, who spoke to students about how good driving habits can save you lots of money on car insurance in the long run. Meanwhile, students (and Classic City Director Jessie Draper) attempted field sobriety tests with goggles simulating various levels of impairment. Students also had a chance to talk with officers from the CCSD Police Department and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, who walked them through how to respond if they are ever stopped due to a traffic violation.
Thank you to all who spent time with our students at Classic City, as well as the CCSD Learning Center yesterday and Athens Community Career Academy today, as we work together to encourage our students to always make smart decisions so they can continue to be Safe and Thriving.
The more than 20 CCSD high school juniors and seniors who make up the 2025-26 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council held their first meeting of the school year at the District Office yesterday! Service on the council educates students on the relevant issues in CCSD and allows them an opportunity to interact with the Superintendent, hone their leadership skills, and become an ambassador for their schools and a voice for their peers.
Yesterday, council members heard from Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott, got to know each other, and got started on the groundwork for a group project they will work on throughout the year.
Yesterday, council members heard from Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott, got to know each other, and got started on the groundwork for a group project they will work on throughout the year.
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)!
