CCSD is observing Oct. 20-24 as National School Bus Safety Week, and members of our district transportation team have been on it with their always fun and entertaining bus safety skit! Click here for more scenes from yesterday as our transportation heroes took the show to Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School! And remember that every one of us can play a part in school bus safety: from students being safe and responsible riders and always following the drivers' and monitors' directions; to drivers obeying all traffic laws, slowing down in school zones or near bus stops, and avoiding distracted driving; to parents and guardians reinforcing bus safety rules with their children; to community members spreading the word about school bus safety.
A great start to the CCSD Elementary Basketball League season yesterday with Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary and Bettye H. Holston Elementary facing off. See more photos from the games here! The action continues today with Howard B. Stroud Elementary taking on Winterville Elementary at the District Office gym and Gaines Elementary facing Barnett Shoals Elementary at Hilsman Middle School! Girls' games tip off at 4 p.m., followed by the boys at 5 p.m.!
Congratulations to Timothy Road Elementary on winning the 2025 CCSD Elementary Volleyball League championship and Whitehead Road Elementary on finishing as runners-up. Full photo gallery here!
While Jordan was getting off his afternoon bus, a small child with autism ran out of the reach of his mother into the street. Without hesitation, Jordan got to the child and restrained them until the driver was able to get off the bus and help get them off the street safely.
Jordan's actions were the perfect demonstration of Leader in Me Habit No. 1 — Be Proactive — which includes being responsible, having a positive attitude, and doing the right thing, even if and when no one is watching. Jordan has been a leader in following BHL’s R.O.A.R. expectations for students: Respectful, Open-Minded, Accountable, and Responsible.
Great job, Jordan!
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!
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!
For English: https://secure.smore.com/n/4jxt52/preview
Para español: https://secure.smore.com/n/n1auw/preview
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.
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.
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Para español: https://secure.smore.com/n/4c3wnt/preview
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.
•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)!
