News

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of March 17 to March 23.

The CCHS Future Business Leaders of America chapter received various awards and recognitions at the FBLA State Conference on March 22.

CCHS students and staff in the chorus program have worked to create a positive environment despite the relatively small number of students in the program.

CCHS and Cedar Shoals High School were both named Advanced Placement Honor Schools by the Georgia Department of Education on Feb. 27.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of March 10 to March 16.

Sports Staffer Liya Taylor talked with Classic City Roller Girl, Angie “Violet Conduct” Cleland about the sport of roller derby and its impact on her.

The 21st Century Community Learning Center is an after-school program at all CCSD middle schools providing students with tutoring and extracurricular opportunities.

Study-abroad opportunities are offered to Clarke Central High School students to further the study of foreign languages.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of March 3 through March 9.

Clarke Central High School students Molly Harwell and Wyatt Meyer were named top of their classes in the state of Georgia as scholatic journalists.

The 2023 iliad Literary-Art Magazine was recognized as one of 17 Pacemaker finalists from across the country.

ODYSSEY Media Group students participated in the 2024 Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference in Columbia, South Carolina from March 1-3.

The CCHS Math Team will compete in the 49th Augusta University Math Contest in Augusta, Georgia, against other high schools from across the state.

The Black History Program Bake-Off on Feb. 28 will retell the story of African Americans through a historical baking competition.

The ODYSSEY Media Group achieved 7th place in the National Scholastic Press Association’s annual Clicks and Clips contest for student journalism.

The drama club is preparing for their upcoming spring production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Associate Principal Tamika Henson seeks to form connections and fine-tune administrative processes within the CCSD.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of Feb. 18 to…

Two SkillsUSA members are competing at the state level for the chance to go to national competitions.

Social studies department teacher Lloyd Carrington has been hired to fill the position left by former social studies department teacher Karena LaRosa.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of Feb. 4 to…

Several Clarke County School District high schools and middle schools will be performing together in the E.B Mell Auditorium on Feb. 10 at 3 p.m.

The Clarke Central High School Mock Trial team will compete in the Athens Region 8 Competition on Feb. 10 at the University of Georgia’s School of Law campus.

The CCSD announced its STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Students for the 2023-24 school year, with CCHS senior Patrick Allen named as the STAR Student for both CCHS and the overall CCSD.

English department teacher Grace Crumpton and her Contemporary Literature-Poetry class have created multiple poetry displays around CCHS.

CCHS will host a college application workshop for Athens Technical College on Feb. 6 from 12 to 2 p.m in Room 242.

Clarke Central High School Future Farmers of America Chapter Secretary Max Burnham holds a…

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of Jan. 21 to Jan. 27.

CCHS Assistant Principal Everett “Barten” Nealy came to CCHS in 2017 with the goal of helping students and has spread his influence through his various positions.

CCHS will host The Big Event on Jan. 24 as a reward for students who displayed exemplary attendance in the first semester.

The Winter Sports Pep Rally was held on Jan. 19 in the Competition Gym ahead of the upcoming varsity basketball Classic City Championship.

After being recognized as Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown finalists, the ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art Magazine will seek Gold Crown awards at the CSPA conference in March.

Freshman Jade Scott qualified for the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band, which will perform on March 2 at the Classic Center in Athens.

The CCHS Robotics Team is gearing up for their final meet on Jan. 9 before their Qualifying Tournament on Jan. 27.

Since the 2019-20 school year, the guitar course offerings have provided students with opportunities to perform in front of large crowds and collaborate with other musicians.

The iliad’s 2023 edition was named a Crown Award finalist by the Colombia Scholastic Press Association on Dec. 13.

Mike Bradshaw, owner of The Grill, reflects on how The Grill has lasted so long in the Athens Community.

United States History is one of the four courses scheduled to take an End of Course exam in December.

Biology I students will take an End of Course (EOC) assessment on Dec. 13, which is worth 20% of their final grade in the class.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement was created as a means to elevate minority voices in 2015 and has since then become a staple in the Athens community.

The 2023-24 Gladius Yearbook team is made up of students with a mix of grade levels and experience.

Associate Principal of Operations and Freshman Academy Administrator Dr. Cindi Lowe will retire from her role at CCHS at the end of the semester on Dec. 8, ending her 30-plus year career in education and leaving a legacy of family and motherhood behind it.

FBLA Vice President of Competition Adrian Rangel, a junior, won FBLA’s American Enterprise Day Essay Contest for the second year in a row.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of Nov. 26 to Dec. 2.

English Department co-chair Meghan McNeeley’s Holocaust and Genocide Studies class hosted guest speakers from the University of Georgia on Nov. 28.

JROTC offers formal and informal opportunities for students to take on leadership roles within the program. JROTC hopes to continue to grow student leaders using mentorship from peers.

The CCHS math department has had to adapt to Georgia’s new K-12 math curriculum.

CCHS fine arts department teacher Shelynn Scott plans to build the Chorus, Piano and Guitar program for students.

CCHS’ Fine Arts Night was held on Nov. 16 in the E.B. Mell Lobby and Auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Five students from the piano program will perform at CCHS’ Fall Fine Arts Night on Nov. 16 in the E.B. Mell Lobby and Auditorium.

CCHS will host a School Climate Committee Meeting at 3:45 p.m. in Room 242 on Nov. 16.

FFA Vice President Quinn Pendley, a sophomore, is participating in the Wildlife Management Career Development Event at Franklin County High School on Nov. 14.

Members of the CCHS orchestra will participate in Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School’s Solo/Ensemble festival on Nov. 11.

ODYSSEY Media Group editors attended the 2023 National High School Journalism Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, from Nov. 2-5.

CCHS’ swimming and diving team will have their first meet of the 2023-2024 season at the University of Georgia Ramsey Student Center on Nov. 10.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred within the week of Nov. 5 to…

The Governor’s Honor Program, a selective summer program offered to sophomores and juniors, began the interviewing process for 2024 on Nov. 2.

Construction of Clarke Middle School’s new building has been underway while the students have been phased into trailer classrooms.

VThe CCHS FFA took home a win at the National Agriscience Fair on April 29 and is looking forward to the National FFA Convention and Expo in November.

The Aeronautics Club begins its first season, with over a dozen students attending club meetings to prepare for the American Rocketry Challenge.

On October 24, 40 Clarke Central High School students attended the annual Georgia Scholastic Press Association fall conference.

FFA president Kathleen Dykes, a senior, will be attending the Georgia National Fair Annual Livestock Legislative Showdown on Oct. 14 in Perry, Georgia.

A slideshow shows Dr. Robbie Hooker’s administrative team.

The Drama Club rehearses for their latest play, “Elephant’s Graveyard”.

Classic City High School will host their first Fall Harvest Festival to bring the Athens community closer to the students and teachers on Oct. 11.

The Mock Trial Team commences its 36th season with the release of this year’s criminal case on Oct. 11.

The College Board’s AP Precalculus course was introduced to CCHS in the Fall of the 2023-2024 school year.

Administrators at Classic City High School look forward to the 2023-24 school year with new plans to build community.

Members of local dance group Tonalli perform on Oct. 4 in the CCHS bus…

On Sept. 21, an event was held to commemorate the naming of Linnentown Lane.

On Oct. 3 and 4, the Clarke County School District will hold the third and fourth “Community Conversations on School Safety” events with the hope of increasing in-person community engagement.

The CCSD released Class of 2024 graduation dates for Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central High Schools on Sept. 26.

Students from CCHS and other Georgia high schools will compete to create floral arrangements in the Floral Design Career Development Event on Sept. 26.

At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, Family Engagement and Academic Support Specialist Christian Barner founded the Student School Climate Committee for students to provide feedback about the school environment.

Freshman Academy teachers are planning and hosting a tailgate before the Homecoming game on Sept. 29.

A slideshow displays various events that occurred in the week of Sept. 10 to…

The CCHS Local School Governance Team will discuss how to allocate recent Innovation Grant funding at their next meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

The 2022-2023 staff of the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine was recognized by the National Scholastic Press Association as a 2023 Pacemaker finalist.

CCHS hosted the second of the Clarke County School District’s Community Conversations panel discussions on Sept. 6, covering school safety at schools around the district.

CCHS Assistant Principal Tamika Henson’s childhood challenges have impacted her mindset when it comes to helping the CCHS community.

Clarke Central High School Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel William “David” McMickle stands outside…

Author and retired Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Sally Bethea will be visiting the Athens Public Library on Sept. 5 to share her journey as a conservationist as well as one of the first female Riverkeepers in the United States.

The CCHS FFA chapter has had an increase in participants during the 2022-23 school year, and the advisers and members hope to continue this trend in order to inspire others’ agricultural passions.

English for Speakers of Other Languages program prepares students or life in and outside of the classroom, overcoming organizational constraints and keeping up with rapidly increasing U.S. immigration.

The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education recognized two CCHS teachers for their outstanding performance.

Several CCHS and ODYSSEY Media Group alumni returned to the school on July 26 to speak to new ODYSSEY staffers about how the publication affected their lives.

On May 21, ODYSSEY Media Group staff, family and friends came together at Trump’s Catering to celebrate a year’s worth of student achievement.

The Clarke County School District released the valedictorian and salutatorian for CCHS on May 23.

CCHS community members recognized JROTC Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle at a celebration of his time at the school on May 10.

Senior Michael Campbell was announced as the recipient of the Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award on May 8.

After deliberation, Clarke County School District leaders opt not to modify school start and end times for the 2023-2024 school year.

Former CCHS teacher Charlie Wooten, a positive influence on many students, died on April 30.

Current and former members of the CCHS band program gathered to honor the late Dr. Robert Lawrence, former Director of Bands, with a song written in his honor.

Thirteen members of the ODYSSEY Media Group were nationally recognized for their leadership excellence.

The CCSD is considering a pair of proposals that would shift CCHS’ start time back until 7:30 a.m. or 8:00 a.m.

Italian foreign exchange student and CCHS senior Clarissa De Santis has been taking CCHS by storm during her senior year, despite it being her first time living in the United States.

Three Clarke Central High School finalists were named to a summer residential program.

Science Instructional Coach Dr. Katie Green speaks on her experience with archaeology, her time at CCHS and the future of science education.

CCHS will be kicking off a pilot year in which students will be able to keep their CCSD-distributed learning devices over the summer.

Members of ODYSSEY Media Group, iliad Literary-Art Magazine and Journalism I class attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Spring Workshop and Awards on March 27.

CCHS has received just less than $2,000 from the Georgia Department of Education to help fund equipment purchases in physical education classes at CCHS.

The ODYSSEY Media Group celebrated its 20th anniversary with alumni, friends and family on March 18.

Clarke Central High School students traveled to the Southern Interscholastic Scholastic Press Association convention in Columbia, S.C. from March 3-5.

The National Scholastic Press Association announced its winners for the Clips & Clicks contest for the fall 2022 semester.  Additionally, student media outlets were recognized for their placement in the Clips & Clicks Sweepstakes. 

Multiple CCHS fine arts programs will come together on Feb. 28 to present a program about Black History for the CCHS community.

CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie P. Hooker has worn many hats throughout his career, including stints as BHL Principal (2003-2008), CCHS Principal (2008-2016) and Superintendent positions outside the county (2016-2022). But now, Hooker has come back to the CCSD on Oct. 6, 2022 with an eye for supporting students and staff.

CCSD Board of Education President LaKeisha Gantt speaks on her time on the Board of Education, what has been accomplished, and goals for the future.

As the annual JROTC ball approaches on Feb. 24, preparations are being made and excitement is rising among JROTC cadets and students.

The Clarke Central High School Media Center hosted Athens photographer Jason Thrasher for an artist visit on Feb. 21.

In collaboration with the fine arts department, the CCHS media specialists have started an artist visitation series in an effort to expose students to more fine arts careers.

CCSD seniors Carolina Turner from CCHS and James Xiao from CSHS were recognized as STAR students on Feb. 13 at the Classic City Rotary Club’s weekly luncheon.

The 2023 Young Georgia Authors writing competition opened for entries on Jan. 30 and submissions are due Feb. 12.

The Athens Community Career Academy hosted its biannual Future Student Fair for prospective students and their families from on Feb. 2.

The iliad Literary-Art Magazine won the highest honors for the Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest on Jan. 24.

For the first time since the 2019-2020 academic year, the CCHS Student Government Association held a pep rally in the Competition Gym to celebrate student-athletes.

The University of Georgia Bulldogs won the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship for the second consecutive year and commemorated their achievement with a parade and celebration in Athens.

The National Endowment for the Arts approved a grant of $10,000 for Canopy Studio, which will allow the company to make itself more accessible to the Athens community.

The SAT, a standardized test used by post-secondary institutions as a factor in the admissions process, will fully transition to paper to digital by 2024.

Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art Magazine editorial boards attended the National Scholastic Press Association 2022 National Fall High School Journalism Convention in St. Louis, Missouri from Nov. 10-12.

Fine Arts Night, which was held for the first time on Nov. 10, allowed students to showcase their talents to audience members.

New safety measures were enacted at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year in order to protect those in the building.

Former CCSD Superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas, who retired on Oct. 8, reflects on her time as an educator and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Governor Brian Kemp will be competing for a Senate position during the general election on Nov. 8.

Brian Kemp is a conservative Republican and incumbent candidate for governor in the 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election.

Stacey Abrams is a progressive Democrat running for governor in the 2022 Georgia gubernatorial election on Nov. 8.

A new academic elective is being offered to the CCHS student body for the 2022-23 school year with a focus on leadership, peer support and problem solving.

CCHS hosted the first community town hall meeting of the year featuring CCSD superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker who shared his plans for the school district and answered questions.

Senatorial Candidate Herschel Walker, R-Ga, and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga, will be competing for a Senate position during the general election on Nov. 8.

Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis summarizes U.S. Senatorial Candidate Herschel Walker, (R-Ga.)’s stances on the economy, gun violence and abortion.

Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis summarizes U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.)’s stances on the economy, gun violence and abortion.

The Clarke Central High School TriM Honor Society club hosted the Trunk or Treat event for the Athens community on Oct. 26.

CCHS’s student-led news magazine, the ODYSSEY, has been selected alongside 38 other publications as a NSPA Pacemaker finalist.

The AthHalf Half Marathon, an annual event produced by AthFest Educates, experienced its largest turnout in its 13-year history on Oct. 23.

The public was invited to the Lyndon House Art Center’s Student Art Exhibition Opening Reception on Oct. 18, where 217 works of art from K-12 artists across the Clarke County School District were showcased.

CCSD students and teachers came together with HEART Music faculty to perform music at HEART Music’s Hispanic Heritage Month event, which took place on Oct. 16 at Hendershot’s.

Members of the CCHS Engineering III class are raising money for a robotics competition by selling Rocktopi.

The general public was invited to the CCSD administrative offices building from 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 11 for CCSD’s second Family University event of the year.

The CCHS Drama Club started working on their production of “Our Place” in August and will perform it during the One Act Play competition as well as at CCHS.

The radio show “Education Matters” is hosted and produced by teenagers and strives to show the Athens-Clarke County community the importance of education.

The 2022 Homecoming Court will be honored on the Billy Henderson Stadium field during this year’s annual Homecoming football game on Sept. 16.

On Sept. 6, seniors and their families were invited to College Night in E.B. Mell Auditorium to receive information meant to make the college admissions process easier.

Dr. Robbie Hooker, sole finalist for the Clarke County School District Superintendent, participated in a meet-and-greet on Aug. 28.

The efficacy of student learning and faculty performance is being hindered by high teacher turnover rates in the CCSD.

On Aug. 16, three CCSD schools were placed on administrative hold due to the discovery of a gun at CCHS.

CCHS welcomed students and families into the building on Aug. 16 between 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. for the 2022-2023 school year Open House.

The Linnentown Documentary and Panel event was held at Ciné on Aug. 15 by Athens Reparations Action and featured a showing of the documentary “Linnentown: urban renewal, white supremacy and the University of Georgia” as well as a panel discussion.

The CCSD Board of Education announced Dr. Robbie Hooker as the finalist for the position of Superintendent of the CCSD in a press release on Aug. 8. If approved by the BOE in the coming weeks, he will assume the position effective Oct. 10.

On July 28, National Education Consultant and author Robert Jackson spoke to CCSD staff and faculty on the education of young Black and Latino men.

As the number of school shootings and lockdowns spike across the nation, demand for better security protocols rises at CCHS community.

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz speaks about the local Juneteenth celebration being planned for this national holiday and the impact it will have on Athens.

CCHS junior Aiyanna Bhuiyan discusses her connection to her art and family with Variety staffer Anna Tenner.

Nonprofit organization U-Lead Athens provides services to aid underdocumented students, but has faced challenges due to the ongoing pandemic.

Interim College Adviser Brionna Johnson is helping to plan “‘22 and Through,” an event celebrating seniors’ graduation and plans after high school.

Art from students at CCHS will be featured in the Lyndon House starting Oct. 9 through Jan. 14, 2023.

The CCHS FFA chapter adopted chickens in March, which will benefit the FFA program by educating students and raising money.

Senior Lamar Haynes is the 2022 recipient of the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship because of his personal and academic turnaround from freshman to senior year.

Advanced Placement teachers are providing students with resources that they can use to study for the AP exams, which will be administered in early May.

Twelve CCHS track and field team members will participate in the State Sectionals meet on May 7.

The CCHS chapter of the National Honor Society hosted Honors Night on April 28 in order to recognize student achievements across all grade levels.

Photographer and Journalism I Facilitator Lucas Donnelly talks with Athens Juvenile Public Defender Latasha Prempeh about student rights, the criminal justice system and the school-to-prison pipeline.

Senior Zaili Gantt is the 2022 recipient of the Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award because of her personality and interactions with peers.

In the Intro to Women’s Literature class, female and nonbinary guest speakers have been invited to speak in discussions about their experiences as minorities in Athens.

Students in the fine arts department performed their Spring showcase, “A Miscellaneous Musical,” on April 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. in the Mell Auditorium.

Army Instructors First Sergeant Antione Clark and Sergeant First Class Donald Hollman received Quilts of Valor awards on April 19.

The CCHS guitar classes and CCHS chorus performed on Thursday, April 21 in a combined concert entitled A Night of Song.

Fourteen Clarke Central High School student journalists were recognized for academic excellence.

Professor and award-winning poet Natasha Trethewey visited CCHS on April 21 to answer questions about her experiences in literature.

The CCHS JROTC program is hosting an awards ceremony to celebrate cadets’ achievements in the JROTC building on April 19.

CCHS administrators have begun offering incentives for perfect attendance in order to motivate students.

Variety staffer Isabella Westrich talks with award-winning cartoonist and illustrator Eleanor Davis, an Athens native who currently lives in Arizona, to discuss her accomplishments, inspiration and the meaning of her art.

Clarke Central High School journalists attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Spring Workshop and Awards Banquet for the first time since 2019.

CCHS JROTC cadets will participate in the two-person Best Raiders competition on April 23.

In the 2022-2023 school year, English department co-chair Meghan McNeeley’s Contemporary Literature elective will be switched to a Holocaust and Genocide Studies elective.

During the 2021-2022 school year, art department teachers at CCHS added new electives to provide students with a place to learn and grow, regardless of their artistic ability.

University of Georgia student Skyla Chon is interning with CCHS to gain real-world experience in counseling.

Interim College Advisers Brionna Johnson and Shellby Branch are working together to help CCHS students plan their futures.

The CCHS Media Center has increased its circulation rate from previous years by taking book suggestions from students and teachers.

Social Media Coordinator Janie Ripps talks with District Attorney for Georgia’s Western Judicial Circuit Deborah Gonzalez about being a woman in politics.

To celebrate Youth Art Month in March, the 2022 CCSD Youth Art Month virtual exhibit presents work from students all over the CCSD, including CCHS.

The CCHS Prom Dress Drive took place on March 29 in Room 236, giving students an opportunity to find affordable dresses.

Members of the Gifted Minorities Achieving organization hosted a celebration of Black culture in the CCHS Media Center on March 23.

CCSD educators were recognized at the Foundation For Excellence banquet at the Cotton Press on March 29.

Dr. Garrick Askew, the new CCSD Chief of Operations, will start work with CCSD on March 28.

With the change in CCSD mask and visitor policies, CCHS is able to hold more in-person events for parents and guardians, increasing their involvement at the school.

The CCHS FFA chapter will host a plant sale between March 30 and April 2 to raise money for the FFA program and bring joy to the community.

In a March 17 author visit, children’s author Alex Gino discussed queer representation, queer literature and their own writing and experiences with students at CCHS.

CCHS’s math department focuses on implementing more technology and electronic-based sources for students during the 2021-22 school year.

Children’s author Alex Gino will speak about their books and LGBTQ representation in literature at CCHS and CMS on March 17.

Efforts to help struggling seniors and freshmen pass the 2021-22 school year are underway.

The HoPe club works to create a safe, welcoming environment for students to explore Hispanic culture and learn about resources for their future.

Media Specialist Angie Pendley talks to ODYSSEY Media Group Variety staffer Audrey St. Onge about Pendley’s January 2022 book recommendations.

Student ambassadors from the ODYSSEY Media Group, Journalism I class and iliad literary-art magazine returned to the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention in Columbia, S.C. after a two-year hiatus.

Menu Editor Kalli Samaltanos, a junior, advocates for hands-on learning and digital literacy in her SIPA presidency speech.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s recent documentary film aims to mobilize the community to join the organization’s long term investment in their wide variety of social justice efforts.

The CCHS FFA program is holding activities between Feb. 27 and March 5 to celebrate National FFA week and their program.

Math department teachers have used the transition to in-person learning as a way to motivate and encourage students in classrooms.

The CCHS band program held their Pre-Large Group Performance Evaluation on Feb. 22 in Mell Auditorium.

The CCHS JROTC program celebrated their annual Military Ball on Feb. 11.

CCHS students have begun planning their class schedules for the upcoming 2022-23 school year in Advisement.

Senior Hannah Barnett, a CCHS varsity girls soccer player, spoke at a Board of Education meeting on Feb. 10 to address inequities between the facilities given to male and female athletes.

CCHS JROTC cadets are preparing for their annual Military Ball, which will be held on Feb. 11 for the first time since the 2019-20 school year.

Entomology, a class focusing on the study of insects, will be offered for the first time at CCHS starting in the 2022-23 school year.

UGA research assistant Damaris Dunn spoke with CCHS senior Multicultural Literature classes about fostering Black joy as a part of students’ research on homeplaces.

Digital Managing Editor Natalie Schliekelman talks with English department teacher Grace Crumpton about her new Contemporary Literature class, which will focus on modern poetry.

Students of Color Achieving and Pursuing Excellence (SCAPE) was founded at CCHS in 2019 with a mission to academically and socially support students of color in high-level classes.

College Adviser Tavaria Smith is currently focused on getting college applications submitted for seniors.

Members of the CMS community met over a public Zoom meeting with representatives from CCSD on Jan. 18.

CCHS will switch to a virtual model from Jan. 20 through at least Jan. 21 due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19.

FFA Vice President and sophomore Kathleen Dykes will attend her second national pig show with her pig Big Red from Jan. 18 to 23 in Perry, Georgia.

Following their win against the University of Alabama on Jan. 10 to gain the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship title, the University of Georgia held a parade and celebration in Athens on Jan. 15.

The CCHS band program’s efforts to recruit potential members implement good relationships and bonds amongst new and existing members.

College Adviser Tavaria Smith has met with students during the first semester, helping students figure out post-high school plans and decisions.

CCHS students are preparing for their final exams and projects which will take place before the start of winter break.

The Student Government Association at CCHS is working with Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marine Corps to donate toys to children in Athens.

The ODYSSEY Media Group virtually attended the Fall Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association National High School Journalism Convention, in which they received recognition for their work and participated in journalism workshop video sessions.

CCHS began offering Epidemiology, a class about the science of disease and transmission, for the 2021-22 school year, allowing students to apply what they have learned to the pandemic.

CCSD superintendent Xernona Thomas announced plans to retire in December 2022.

At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, CCHS hired new social worker Ashley Simpson-Haley within the counseling department to give students and families a helping hand with social and financial instability.

The CCHS boys cross country team won the region championships on Oct. 27 for the second year in a row, allowing them to move on to the state championship.

Clarke Middle School students partnered with local artist Broderick Flanigan to represent ideas of brotherhood and community through art.

CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner has been working with families and students who are interested in the second semester virtual option that CCHS is offering for the 2021-22 school year.

To combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCHS varsity cheerleading team has taken initiatives to increase school spirit and team building.

New CCHS Assistant Principal Dr. Angelia Major joined the CCHS administrative team Oct. 25.