WEATHER UPDATE: All schools and offices closed Friday, January 10.
Congratulations to David Darden, automotive tech teacher at Cedar Shoals High School, who was named a winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence this morning! Mr. Darden, who is in his 15th year at Cedar after retiring from a 35-year career in the automotive industry, won $50,000 for the school's automotive program. A previous finalist for this award, he was one of 25 public high school skilled trades teachers across the U.S. and the only one in Georgia to receive it this year!
Mr. Darden was surprised this morning with a special presentation and joined by his family. Special thanks to Jessica Hayes from Congressman Mike Collins' office, state Rep. Houston Gaines, and Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz for also being in attendance!
More photos on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
It's time once again to nominate a CCSD Employee of the Month! The Employee of the Month program recognizes and rewards staff members for their service and dedication to the students and families of the Clarke County School District. Each month (September through May), a CCSD employee is chosen for the award, surprised at their school or building, and invited to the monthly Board of Education meeting for recognition.
Any member of the CCSD community (student, parent/guardian, staff member, community member) may nominate any full-time district employee with at least one full year of service. Nominations for September Employee of the Month are now open! Go to bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward to get started!
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Meet with Dr. Hooker throughout the year and make your voice heard! All 11th- and 12th-grade students interested in serving on this year’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council are invited to complete the online application by Friday, August 30. Through participation in the council, students will learn about CCSD initiatives and share their perspective on being a CCSD student with Dr. Hooker. All students will also have a chance to develop their leadership and advocacy skills. The council will meet five times over the course of the year; students are asked to commit to attend all meetings.
Apply here: https://clarkesd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MHYfLuCZXms2IS
It's time for year two of CCSD's regional AdaptED Sports Program! The Classic City Dawgs will start adapted handball on Aug. 11. Participation is completely free for any public or private school students in grades 1-12 in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, Madison, Barrow, and Oglethorpe counties who have a qualifying disability.
Wheelchair handball is a GHSA-sanctioned co-ed sport. All athletes compete in wheelchairs regardless of whether they use a wheelchair in everyday life. Wheelchairs are provided by CCSD at no cost to students and families.
If your student is interested in participating, please complete this form: https://bit.ly/clarkeadapted
For more information and to sign up, please contact CCSD area AdaptED Sports coordinator Chris Aiken at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Parents and students can ask questions, gather more information and sign up by contacting CCSD Area Coordinator Chris Aiken: aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us
Check out this week's "Better Together" newsletter featuring highlights from the past week and more news and information from CCSD!
For English: https://secure.smore.com/n/2pfue/preview
Para Español: https://secure.smore.com/n/gcubf/preview
If you are a community member who is not already receiving the newsletter through our parent/guardian mass notification system, and you would like to receive the newsletter in your email each week, please email communications@clarke.k12.ga.us.
CCSD is requesting that families provide updated health information for every student — new and returning — for the 2024-25 school year. Please go to https://bit.ly/healthform24 or scan the QR code to access and complete the required form (available in English and Spanish). Please complete one form per student.
For more information, contact your school nurse. You can find contact information at www.clarke.k12.ga.us/nursing.
Check out the CCSD 2024-25 Back to School Guide! In this special edition of the "Better Together" newsletter, you will find information on student registration, open-house dates for each school, uniform/dress code requirements, school supplies, bus routes, school nutrition, school dates and times, and more topics.
For English: bit.ly/BTSGuide24
Para Español: bit.ly/BTSGuide24ESP
COMING NEXT WEEK: Be on the lookout for our Back to School Guide for 2024-25 — featuring information on school supplies, uniforms, dress codes, open house dates, transportation, nutrition, and everything else you need to know for the start of a new school year! The guide will be published on our website (www.clarke.k12.ga.us) and each individual school website, sent to families via email and text through our mass notification system, and shared across our social media platforms (@ClarkeCoSchools).
Families: The new school year is fast approaching and our Transportation Department is getting ready! Is your student new to CCSD and in need of bus transportation this year? Have you moved to a different address? Or did your student not ride the bus last year but needs to this year? If so, please complete this short form at bit.ly/ccsdbusform as soon as possible.
Please complete one form per student. If your student is a returning bus rider and you have not moved, you do not have to complete the form.
As a reminder, you can go to www.clarke.k12.ga.us/busroutes and download the Edulog app for more information on your child's bus. For more information from CCSD Transportation, please call 706-548-6971.
We're thrilled to announce the new Clarke County School District mobile app! It's everything CCSD, in your pocket.
Download for Android https://aptg.co/xQ_qX1
Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/zCh8gX
MORE NEWS: And also at its meeting last night, the Clarke County Board of Education approved four other school administrative appointments:
•At Cedar Shoals High School, assistant principal Mr. James Price has been promoted to Associate Principal of Instruction and Mr. Nathan Reincheld has been appointed Associate Principal of Operations. Mr. Reincheld has spent the past year at the District Office as the World Languages Curriculum Coordinator.
•At Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, Dr. Magen Watkins has been appointed Assistant Principal, a position she has held on an interim basis since January.
•And at Gaines Elementary School, Shante Thompson has been appointed Assistant Principal. Ms. Thompson is moving to Gaines from Whitehead Road Elementary where she spent the past four years and was most recently an instructional coach.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming these leaders into their new roles and read more about them here: https://bit.ly/3Vnd8RA
Happy Easter from CCSD!
Happy Spring Break from CCSD! Students, we'll see you back in the classroom on April 8!
Middle School Soccer Championships today at @clarkecentral! $5 admission on GoFan (bit.ly/ccsdmssoccer) or at the gate! Students & CCSD employees with badges enter for free! Clear bag policies in place. Spectators will use the home side bleachers. Concessions available!
Middle School Soccer Championships today at @clarkecentral! $5 admission on GoFan (bit.ly/ccsdmssoccer) or at the gate! Students & CCSD employees with badges enter for free! Clear bag policies in place. Spectators will use the home side bleachers. Concessions available!
Earlier today, another CPR class took place with members of CCSD staff across many departments having the opportunity to become certified in Adult & Child CPR, AED, First Aid, and Choking. Over the course of the last 18 months, over 250 CCSD staff members have become certified!