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ACPSD COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT'S MERRY GLENNE PICCOLINO NAMED TO 2025-26 DISTRICT LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Director of Communications and Community Partnerships Merry Glenne Piccolino on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top three winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Merry Glenne! You are a star!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION'S JULIE REVELLE NAMED TO 2025-26 DISTRICT LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Julie Revelle on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top three winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Mrs. Revelle! We are so thankful for you!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION'S MICKI DOVE NAMED TO 2025-26 DISTRICT LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Director of Curriculum Support Micki Dove on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top three winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Micki! We appreciate all you do!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS' BRITTANY ZAREMBA NAMED TO 2025-26 PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Department of Special Programs School Psychologist Brittany Zaremba on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Brittany! We are so thankful for you! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S RASHAD ROLAND NAMED TO 2025-26 PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Transportation Supervisor Rashad Roland on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Rashad! You are a star!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

Aiken County Public Schools will return to in-person learning and work tomorrow, Friday, January 24; in an abundance of caution, all schools and offices will begin the day on a two-hour delayed start. In preparation for a decision on tomorrow’s operations, our leaders have driven hundreds of miles across the county. Daytime temperatures are beginning to increase, melting snow and drying most roadways. However, it would not be possible to investigate each and every road that families and employees may travel tomorrow, and there are possibly secondary roads and well-shaded dirt roads that may remain unsuitable for travel. Please use additional caution when traveling to school and work tomorrow, avoiding less-travelled secondary routes, where possible. The safety of our students, staff, and families is of most importance; please reach out to school leadership with any concerns. Families in our more rural areas, please stay tuned for possible school bus pickup location changes that may be necessary. Important Details for tomorrow: • Student Meals: With the delayed start schedule, only lunch will be served tomorrow in our cafeterias. • Half-Day & Partial-Day Programs: Students on half-day and partial-day schedules, including Early Learning Special Education students, are encouraged to attend school if possible, however school bus transportation will not be available as buses will be unable to run mid-day routes. • No Before-School Activities: No activities will be permitted before school starts on the two-hour delay. • After-School Activities: Afterschool care through QuestZone will be held tomorrow, as well as other activities planned for after school hours if scheduled by event organizers, club sponsors, coaches, etc. • Aiken County Career and Technology Center: Morning session students should report to their high schools. The afternoon session will continue as planned. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in-person tomorrow. Thank you for your patience and flexibility!

ACPSD ATTENDANCE OFFICE'S JULIE WAUGH NAMED TO 2025-26 PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Attendance Office Lead Attendance Supervisor Julie Waugh on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Julie! Thank you for all you do!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT'S SCOTT HUNTER NAMED TO 2025-26 PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Maintenance Systems Program Manager Scott Hunter on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Scott! We appreciate you!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD BUSINESS SERVICES' TINA GREGORY NAMED TO 2025-26 PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR HONOR COURT Congratulations to Business Services Special Revenue Accountant Tina Gregory on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court! District leaders surprised Professional Staff Member of the Year Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their locations last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Tina! We are so proud of you! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we continue to celebrate our Honor Court Members for Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD HUMAN RESOURCES' LOU WAKEFIELD NAMED TO 2025-26 GEM (GIVING EVEN MORE) HONOR COURT Congratulations to HR Evaluation & Certification Associate Lou Wakefield on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education GEM Honor Court! District leaders surprised GEM Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their schools last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Lou! We appreciate you!! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we celebrate our Honor Court Members for GEM of the Year, Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week!✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

BUSBEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S NI'JAE JERRY NAMED TO 2025-26 GEM (GIVING EVEN MORE) HONOR COURT Congratulations to Busbee Elementary Special Education Aide Ni'Jae Jerry on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education GEM Honor Court! District leaders surprised GEM Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their schools last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Mr. Jerry! Thank you for all you do! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we celebrate our Honor Court Members for GEM of the Year, Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week! ✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD E-Learning/Remote Workday Thursday, January 23 We hope you’ve had an opportunity to enjoy the snow and that the assignments for e-learning today have been worthwhile practice. In collaboration with local Emergency Management officials, district administration is monitoring the impact of Winter Storm Enzo. Based on current conditions of significant snowfall accumulation in many areas and predicted freezing temperatures overnight, Aiken County Public Schools will continue in an e-learning format tomorrow, Thursday, January 23. With travel concerns for students and families, as well as teachers and staff, tomorrow will also be a remote workday for employees. Just like today, teachers will be available for student questions and support with e-learning assignments. We apologize for the disruption that continued e-learning tomorrow may cause, and appreciate your support and understanding. The safety of travel conditions will be reevaluated mid-day tomorrow with the hopes that conditions will allow for a safe return to in-person learning for Friday. An update on our district’s operations for Friday, January 24, will be announced no later than 4 p.m. tomorrow. Thank you again for your flexibility.

MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S BROOKE KIRKLAND NAMED TO 2025-26 GEM (GIVING EVEN MORE) HONOR COURT Congratulations to Millbrook Elementary Secretary Brooke Kirkland on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education GEM Honor Court! District leaders surprised GEM Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their schools last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Mrs. Kirkland! We are so thankful for you! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we celebrate our Honor Court Members for GEM of the Year, Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week! ✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

ACPSD CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM'S EILEEN DRUM NAMED TO 2025-26 GEM (GIVING EVEN MORE) HONOR COURT Congratulations to Child Nutrition Program Field Supervisor Eileen Drum on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education GEM Honor Court! District leaders surprised GEM Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their schools last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Eileen! You are a STAR! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we celebrate our Honor Court Members for GEM of the Year, Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week! ✨ #ACPSDcelebrates #STARSOfPublicEducation

WARRENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S AUDREY THURMOND NAMED TO 2025-26 GEM (GIVING EVEN MORE) HONOR COURT Congratulations to Warrenville Elementary Head Custodian Audrey Thurmond on being named to the 2025-26 STARS of Public Education GEM Honor Court! District leaders surprised GEM Honor Court members, who are the top five winners in the school district, at their schools last week. The District will host all school winners, recognize top nominees, and announce District winners during the STARS of Public Education Banquet at Aiken High School on March 20, 2025. Congratulations, Ms. Thurmond! We are so proud of you! Stay tuned to our district website and social media as we celebrate our Honor Court Members for GEM of the Year, Professional Staff Member of the Year, District Level Administrator of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, First Year Teacher of the Year, and Teacher of the Year over the coming week! ✨ #STARSofpubliceducation #ACPSDcelebrates

With snow expected across our county today and into tomorrow morning, all Aiken County Public Schools will transition to e-learning and a remote workday tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22. Student e-learning will be available online, and our teachers are available for support. Should your student have any questions, difficulty, or need assistance with their e-learning assignments, please reach out. While snowfall is not expected to continue beyond tomorrow morning, temperatures are predicted to remain well below freezing. Accumulating snowfall may impact our district’s operations for Thursday. A decision on operations for Thursday will be announced by 4 p.m. tomorrow, and will be made with the safety of all students, families, and employees at heart. As always, we are grateful for the flexibility of our school community. Please be safe, and stay warm and tuned in to any further updates that Winter Storm Enzo may cause for our operations this week.

Our school district administrators are continuing to monitor Winter Storm Enzo alongside Emergency Management Officials. With the possibility of snow forecasted late tomorrow afternoon and into the evening hours, Aiken County Public Schools will operate on an Early Dismissal Schedule Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Just as on Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served prior to dismissal. Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy, as well as our schools in the Wagener and Ridge-Spring areas. Ridge Spring-Monetta and Busbee Elementary dismissal is at 11:55 a.m., A.L. Corbett Middle, Wagener-Salley High, and Aiken Scholars Academy dismiss at noon, and Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle and High dismissal is at 12:15 and 12:20 p.m., respectively. The Center for Innovative Learning (CIL) will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. Students on half-day schedules who require bus transportation, including Early Learning Special Education students and others, will not come to school tomorrow as buses will be unable to make mid-day routes. Afternoon classes at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center will not be held. Students enrolled in an afternoon class at the Career Center will remain at their high school. There will be no after-school care tomorrow through QuestZone and no events to include athletics, arts, clubs, etc. will be held tomorrow afternoon or evening. All schools and offices will also close early tomorrow. The district’s offices will close no later than 2 p.m. with the Operations Center closing at 1:00 p.m. While snowfall is not expected to continue into the day on Wednesday, temperatures are predicted to remain well below freezing during the morning and evening hours. Any accumulating snowfall may impact our district’s operations for Wednesday. A decision regarding Wednesday will be announced by Tuesday evening. Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation as we adjust our operations when weather conditions require as part of our efforts to ensure safety. Please be safe, bundle up, and tune in for any further changes to our regular operations that Winter Storm Enzo may cause. We look forward to seeing our students and staff tomorrow morning.

🌟 Honoring Excellence this MLK Jr. Weekend 🌟 This Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we celebrate the incredible staff members of Aiken County Public Schools who inspire us with their dedication, compassion, and commitment to shaping the future. Dr. King once said, "Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve.." Our employees live out this message every day through their hard work and selfless service to our students and community. Let’s take a moment to recognize and thank the shining stars among us for their unwavering impact and leadership. Together, we are building a legacy of greatness! 📚💼 Here’s to our amazing team and the students who inspire us daily! 💬 Join us in sharing a shout out at www.acpsd.net/shine for a staff member who is ready to make this semester amazing! Together, we’re unstoppable. #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

We were so thrilled to begin 2025 with the opening of the new Wagener-Salley High School last Monday for a celebratory Ribbon Cutting and tours of the beautiful new school. The original school, built in the late 1930s, was well-loved and cared for by current students and employees, as well as generations before them. Opening Day was filled with excitement as elected officials, business and community leaders, current and former students, teachers, staff, and administrators came together for the long-awaited opening of a new 21st century high school serving Wagener, Salley, Perry and surrounding communities. #NewNestSameSoar #ACPSDcelebrates

Parents, Guardians and Students: As we approach the MLK Jr. Holiday Weekend, please note that district administration alongside local Emergency Management officials is monitoring the winter weather system that may impact our county next week. On Monday, January 20, all schools and offices will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Due to a threat of potential inclement weather next week, students will come home from school with their laptop and charger tomorrow. South Carolina school districts are limited to five e-learning days each school year. We used the first of those e-learning days last Monday, making up for the closure September 27 due to Hurricane Helene. Friday, January 10’s school closure will be made up on the March 14 Weather Makeup Day as designated on our district’s 2024-25 school year calendar. Notice will be shared at a later date regarding the format of March 14’s Weather Makeup Day. The format of the March 14 Weather Makeup Day, more specifically, if the day will be made up in person or through e-learning, is contingent upon the number of e-learning days that remain available for our district to use as we near the end of this very cold winter. A final decision regarding school operations for Tuesday, January 21, will be announced by 3 p.m. on Monday, January 20. As always, we appreciate your continued support. We look forward to seeing students at school tomorrow and wish your family a wonderful long weekend.