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PURPLE UP WITH AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | FRIDAY, APRIL 25 Aiken County Public Schools is proud to be a Purple Star School District in support of military-connected students and their families. April is the Month of the Military Child, and we invite you to join us on Friday, April 25, in wearing PURPLE, a symbolic color that combines Air Force blue, Army green, Coast Guard blue, Marine red, and Navy blue, as we demonstrate our collective support for military children. PURPLE UP with us on April 25, and celebrate the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of military children. In our Purple Star School District, we salute the children of those who serve and thank them for being an important part of our ACPSD family! #PurpleUp #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #ACPSDcelebrates

CELEBRATING ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY | APRIL 23 Today we celebrate the amazing administrative professionals who play such an important role within Aiken County Public Schools! From the friendly voices who answer the phones to the experts who keep our schools and offices organized and on track, these dedicated team members are the heart of our operations. They handle countless tasks behind the scenes with professionalism, patience, and precision, supporting our students, staff, and families every step of the way. Thank you for your hard work, your attention to detail, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. ACPSD is able to thrive and serve its mission because of the essential role you play each day. #ACPSDcelebrates #AdministrativeProfessionalsDay

Aiken County Public School District, April 22 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Please visit https://www.acpsd.net/page/board-meeting-livestream to view the meeting agenda and access the livestream when the meeting begins. Board Meetings are open to the public, although seating is limited. Our School Board Representatives may be contacted for any questions from our community stakeholders. Their contact information is available from that link as well.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY | TUESDAY, APRIL 22 Today, we recognize and celebrate the dedicated bus drivers and transportation staff of Aiken County Public Schools who help keep our students moving—safely, reliably, and with care. From early morning routes to afternoon drop-offs, field trips, and after-school activities, our bus drivers go above and beyond to ensure students arrive ready to learn and return home safely. Their friendly greetings, watchful eyes, and calm presence make a meaningful impact in the daily lives of our students and families. To all of our bus drivers, monitors, and transportation team members—thank you for the vital role you play in supporting our schools and students. You help make every school day possible. #ACPSDcelebrates #SchoolBusDriverAppreciationDay

CELEBRATING PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUNTEER WEEK April is National Volunteer Month, and this week, April 21-25, we celebrate Public School Volunteer Week! Aiken County Public Schools would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many parent and community volunteers who give their time, talents, and hearts to support our students, staff, and schools. Whether reading with students, helping in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, assisting with school events, or simply offering a helping hand when it’s needed most, your presence makes a difference. Our volunteers are role models, encouragers, and vital partners in education. We are truly grateful for the positive impact you make across our district. Interested in serving as a volunteer? Connect with your school’s volunteer coordinator to learn how you can make a difference! #ACPSDcelebrates #PublicSchoolVolunteerWeek #NationalVolunteerMonth

All Aiken County Public Schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday, April 18, for the Good Friday Holiday. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back on Monday, April 21, 2025.

Congratulations to Aiken County Public School District's March Employee of the Month, Ms. Beth Kelley! Beth Kelley has worked for ACPSD for 30 years and currently serves as a Secretary for the Department of Special Programs. Beth has been an amazing addition to the Department of Special Programs team. As the department’s secretary, she takes on various tasks requiring accuracy, timeliness, and attention to detail. Each task is managed with amazing care and always ahead of schedule. She is also a wonderful team player. Beth is willing to take on any additional task asked of her. She never comments that something is not her job. In fact, you will frequently find her offering to help colleagues and other department staff members when possible. She is always willing to cover for a friend who is out, and she comes to work each day with a joyful spirit and thankful heart. Beth is truly the heartbeat of the Special Programs Department! Thank you to our March Employee of the Month Ms. Beth Kelley for demonstrating excellence as an employee of ACPSD! We appreciate all you do! #ACPSDcelebrates #EmployeeOfTheMonth

“Lego Wars” Fine Arts Camp was an acceleration opportunity available for middle school students during Spring Intersession which brought creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving to life for middle school students participating. Throughout the four-day camp held at Highland Springs Middle, students became teams of architects, challenged to design a community center or venue for teenagers to help address the lack of recreational activities available for them. Using STEAM principles and the Engineering Design Process, students worked in teams as they brainstormed, built, and refined their designs before presenting their final projects to a panel of judges, including David Broaden, President of the CSRA National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Chapter, as well as our Federal Programs Director Brian Gibbons, and Highland Springs Principal Paige Day. 🏆 Congratulations to our winners! 🥇 1st Place: Dorothea Viner, Ayden Miner, Ivey Laube, & Liam Aiken 🥈 2nd Place: Grayson Williams, Elizabeth Glahn, & Ashanti Head 🥉 3rd Place: Victoria Arteaga, Elouise Chronister, Jonas Cato, & Nicholas Carty “We are extremely proud of these students for demonstrating outstanding teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving as they stepped into the role of architects and took on a real-world design challenge,” shared Dr. Kimberly Fontanez, District Fine Arts Coordinator. Catch a glimpse of the creativity and teamwork behind “Lego Wars” in these photos!

US 78 CORRIDOR STUDY PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Join Aiken County Planning & Development on April 22, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Montmorenci Fellowship Hall, located at 44 Old Barnwell Rd, Aiken, SC 29803. Aiken County is conducting a Corridor Study to evaluate potential improvements along the US 78 (Charleston Highway) corridor, extending from Airco Boulevard to Old Troy Lane, including Woodward Drive and intersecting roads. This public meeting is your opportunity to learn about the proposed plans to enhance safety, traffic flow, and accessibility along the corridor. Your input is valuable and will help guide the future of transportation in our community. If you're unable to attend in person, you can still participate by submitting feedback online through May 6, 2025, at https://bit.ly/aiken-transpo. For questions or more information, please contact Saralyn Yarborough, Transportation Planner, at 803-642-1520 or Tplanning@aikencountysc.gov.

Aiken County Public School District, APRIL 15 SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING - BUDGET WORKSHOP - The Board of Education will hold a special called budget workshop meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Please visit https://www.acpsd.net/page/board-meeting-livestream to view the meeting agenda and access the livestream when the meeting begins. Board Meetings are open to the public, although seating is limited. Our School Board Representatives may be contacted for any questions from our community stakeholders. Their contact information is available from that link as well.

ACPSD schools and offices will reopen Monday, April 14. We hope you had a wonderful Spring Break and look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

APRIL IS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH Each April, Aiken County Public Schools joins communities around the world in recognizing World Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding, promoting acceptance, and supporting individuals with autism. Throughout the month, we shine a light on the voices, experiences, and strengths of people with autism, while working to build school communities where every student is respected, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed. We’d like to take a moment to recognize and thank our incredible Autism Services Aides and related service providers who work each day to support students with autism across Aiken County. Your compassion, dedication, and care make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and families. By listening, learning, and embracing differences, we help create environments where all students can thrive. #ACPSDcelebrates #WorldAutismAwarenessMonth

CELEBRATING NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK This week, we celebrate the dedication and leadership of our incredible Assistant Principals (APs) across Aiken County Public Schools and the meaningful impact they make each day. APs play a vital role in the success of our schools – supporting teachers, guiding students, building positive school culture, and helping lead through both daily operations and unexpected challenges. Their presence is felt in every classroom and hallway as they help create safe, supportive, and thriving learning environments. Join us this week as we shine a spotlight on these outstanding leaders and the essential role they play in our school communities. We hope our APs are enjoying a well-deserved, fun, and restful Spring Break! #ACPSDcelebrates #NationalAssistantPrincipalsWeek #APWeek

CELEBRATING SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH Throughout the month of April, we take time to celebrate the incredible school librarians and library staff across Aiken County Public Schools who go above and beyond to inspire, support, and serve our students, staff, and school communities. From helping students discover a lifelong love of reading to curating resources that support academic success, you play an essential role in transforming learning. Your passion, creativity, and dedication make our libraries welcoming spaces for curiosity, exploration, and growth. Thank you for all you do to empower readers, guide learners, and make our schools stronger through the power of books and knowledge. Happy School Library Month! #ACPSDcelebrates #SchoolLibraryMonth

We’re excited to launch today the second video in our new series featuring student interviews with Board Members. Take a brief intermission from Intersession or five minutes away from somewhere fabulous during your extended Spring Break and spend it with us as you "Get To Know Your School Board." Mrs. Patrice Rhinehart-Jackson's interview with Schofield's Kaelea Burton is one you don't want to miss! https://youtu.be/5C1dtEe3q7M #ACPSDcelebrates

CELEBRATING PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY Please join us in celebrating the incredible paraprofessionals who serve our schools and students across Aiken County Public Schools. Also known as instructional aides, special education aides, and more, these dedicated professionals play a vital role in the classroom and beyond. Whether supporting teachers, working one-on-one or in small groups with students, assisting those with special needs, or helping with daily routines and learning activities, our paras are always there, lending a helping hand and making a lasting impact. Their compassion, patience, and dedication help create a supportive learning environment for all students. From guiding early readers to assisting with enrichment activities, their work truly touches every corner of our schools. Today and every day, we are thankful for all they do to lift up our students and support our educators. Happy Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! We hope you’re all enjoying a well-deserved and restful Spring Break! #ACPSDcelebrates #ParaprofessionalAppreciationDay

SPECIAL OLYMPICS | A JOYFUL DAY OF CELEBRATION & INSPIRATION On Friday, March 28, Aiken County Public Schools proudly participated in the Area 15 Spring Games Special Olympics at Citizens Park in Aiken, SC. The event, coordinated and led by Amy Ingram and her incredible team from Area 15 Special Olympics, featured an exciting track and field competition that brought together school and community-based programs from Aiken and Edgefield Counties. Our Special Programs department and amazing students truly shined. We extend our heartfelt thanks to local law enforcement for volunteering their time to support and encourage athletes throughout the event. We also recognize with appreciation Patrice Rhinehart-Jackson, Aiken County Board of Education member, who opened the event with an inspiring message to the athletes. As she shared: “Please know that all of you are special, you are inspiring, you are resilient, and you are true examples of angels walking on earth. Thank you for being examples of strength, determination, and fortitude. Thank you for always allowing others to learn from you.” It was a joyful and memorable day filled with celebration, connection, and community spirit. #ACPSDcelebrates #SpecialOlympics

🌸 Spring Break Send-Off: A Huge THANK YOU! 🌸 As we wrap up March and head into a well-deserved Spring Break, we want to take a moment to celebrate YOU—our incredible employees! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to our students and community do not go unnoticed. We hope you will take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the break—you’ve earned it! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Next Week, March 31-April 3, is Spring Intersession Week. Students participating in Intersession Week will be engaged in extensive support or an acceleration program Monday through Thursday. For employees regularly scheduled to work next week, the workday schedule is four 10’s, with Friday off. All schools and offices will be closed Friday, April 4, and the week of Spring Break, April 7-11. We hope you have a restful and enjoyable break!

PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY | HIGH-FIVES ALL AROUND Local business owners, community leaders, and elected officials recently stepped into the shoes of ACPSD school administrators during our annual Principal For a Day event—and what an unforgettable experience it was! From greeting students at carline and observing classrooms to making morning announcements and joining lunch duty, our honorary principals got a behind-the-scenes look at the dedication, heart, and hustle it takes to lead a school. They asked thoughtful questions, connected meaningfully with students and staff, and left with a deeper appreciation for the vital role principals and educators play in public education. This tradition continues to strengthen the bond between our schools and the community, thanks to the support of local leaders who are committed to empowering students and educators every day. A heartfelt thank you to all of our Principals For a Day for accepting the challenge and making this year’s experience a memorable one for all!