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Tonight, Oct. 4, at 6PM, Public Sheltering for Aiken County will open at Paul Knox Middle (PKMS) and Aiken High (AHS). PKMS: 1804 Wells Road, North Augusta; (enter Wells Rd. and Pisgah Ave.); AHS: 449 Rutland Dr., Aiken (enter Taylor Gym).

To help ensure that the information available through websites and social media posts from local Emergency Management Operations officials, Chambers of Commerce, public safety and media outlets are able to be seen by families with limited access to the internet, we are resharing through our school system-managed platforms. We hope that this is helpful to those needing access to water, ice, food, information, and other resources. The availability of resources included below is not guaranteed, please verify that the resources are still available. Much of this information is being shared from posts made on social media platforms from media stories, as well as the following sites: Aiken Chamber of Commerce https://www.facebook.com/AikenChamber/ CSRA United Way https://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayoftheCSRA/ United Way of Aiken County Phone lines and internet are down at the office. Message this Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/uwaiken/ North Augusta Chamber of Commerce https://www.facebook.com/GNACOC/ FOOD/WATER Salvation Army Feeding Sites: • Salvation Army Soup Kitchen-604 Park Ave., Aiken • YMCA- 621 Trolley Line Rd., Graniteville • KJs in Edgefield- 155 Carolina Sq., Edgefield The North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave, will be opening for handing out water and food until 5pm or while supplies last. Golden Harvest Food/Ice Distribution Site (Oct 2): National Wild Turkey Federation, 770 Augusta Rd., Edgefield @ 2pm Hub for Community Innovation Augusta 631 Chafee Ave from 4:00-5:00PM (Oct 2) The Salvation Army Kroc Center of Augusta 1833 Broad St at 4:00PM (Oct 2) Center of Hope 1384 Greene St at 5:30PM (Oct 2) Ridge Spring-Monetta schools will serve hot food and bottled water will be available at no charge starting Wednesday, around 4 p.m. at Monetta Volunteer Fire Department. Water Via the New Holland Volunteer Fire Department: If you need water for flushing toilets, washing we have non-potable well water at our HQ station at 2243 Old Ninty Six Indian trail. The hose is on left side of bay building. Please do not block driveway to trucks. - Chief Dennis Jackson South Carolina Rural Water For small water districts needing assistance, call Nick Rubin 864-617-3169. SHELTER True Testament Church • 1031 Reynolds Pond RD, Aiken SC 29801 • 803-295-9800 Jet Middle School • 1095 Columbia HWY, Johnston, SC 29832 POWER While power companies attempt to restore power, having main power shut off at the house, with lines connected to a house, which were taken down by a tree, would help with tree removal and power line issues. Once power is restored, please leave your front porch lights on which shows utility workers that power has been restored. Candles - Place candles in safe holders away from anything that could catch fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Wednesday Morning (October 2) Update from Aiken Electric Co-Op & Dominion Energy provided by our local legislative delegation: AEC’s outage management system is up and running. There currently have 22,757 meters without power. There are 140 AEC employees and 50 fiber contractors reconnecting members. Additionally, 340 contractors are working on the Co-Op system and another 100 arrive tomorrow. This weekend, the total number of contractors working to restore power should be 600. Dominion reports that in Aiken County they have restored service to 26,000 customers with 34,000 still without power. Dominion says there should be a lot more connections made today. Dominion Energy o Power Outage: 888-333-4465 o Downed Lines: 888-333-4465 o Gas Leaks: 800-815-0083 Aiken Electric Co-Op: 877-264-5368 DRIVING With many traffic signals remaining with no power, please treat those intersections same as a four way STOP intersection. CHARGING STATIONS/SHOWERS (please bring your own toiletries/towels) YMCA – Aiken & North Augusta • 621 Trolley Line RD, Graniteville, SC 29829 • 401 W Martintown RD Suite 111, North Augusta, SC 29841 CHARGING STATIONS/ICE SRP Park will have charging stations set up by our main gate. At 3pm we will begin distributing ice, 1 10lb bag per person, until we once again run out. COMMUNITY EVENT This Thursday, October 3rd, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m., Cedar Creek Church is hosting a Family Hangout at the Banks Mill Campus of Cedar Creek Church. This will be a time for all families to connect, play games, enjoy each other’s company. Snacks, drinks, and charging stations will be available, and the worship center will be open for anyone seeking quiet time for prayer or meditation

Resources 2/2: MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACPSD employees and families: Please be reminded of the services available through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering services for counseling, legal advice, etc. For more information, please visit: https://www.acpsd.net/page/employee-assistance-program The information below is from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) https://www.nctsn.org After a hurricane, most families will recover over time, particularly with the support of family, friends, and organizations. The length of recovery depends, in part, on how frightened people were and the extent of the damage and loss in the community. Some families will be able to return to their normal routines rather quickly, while others will have to contend with repairing damage to their homes and grieving the loss of a pet or loved ones. Children will react differently to hurricanes depending on their age, developmental level, and prior experiences. Some typical reactions children may exhibit after a hurricane include the following: Concerns about safety: Children may worry about another hurricane or fear that regular summer storms will create significant devastation. They may also be anxious about being separated from their loved ones. Changes in behavior: Children can become clingy towards their parents or caregivers, have an increased activity level, experience difficulty concentrating or paying attention and become frustrated when they can’t remember something, and/or withdraw from others or stop participating in activities they previously enjoyed doing. Expression of physical ailments: Children may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or general pain. They also may show changes in sleep, exercise, and their diet (e.g., what they eat and how much they eat). Children’s functioning and recovery will be influenced by how parents and caregivers cope after the hurricane. Children often turn to adults for information, comfort, and help. These are some tips for parents and caregivers to help children recover: Model how to handle stressful situations in front of children. Provide accurate information about what happened during the storm as well as what changes the family is facing. Answer questions honestly but with the amount of detail appropriate to their developmental level. Give yourself time to process what is happening. Keep family routines as regular as possible, even in the early recovery phase. Monitor the media and social media information children are viewing and set limits if children are overly focused on viewing this content. Seek additional help for yourself or your children if behavioral changes or reactions worsen or if they persist over six weeks after the hurricane. Mental Health Resources: Aiken Barnwell Mental Health is open at their North Augusta location. If anyone needs services, please call 803-278-0880. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: • 988 National Disaster Distress Hotline: • 1-800-985-5990 • Text: “TalkWithUs” to 66746 (Video and ASL available) SC Mobile Crisis: Mobile Crisis is for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. Local Mobile Crisis Teams assess the crisis and can respond on-site, with law enforcement, if appropriate. SC Mobile Crisis is available 24/7/365, toll-free, statewide, at (833) 364-2274. Deaf Services Hotline: This line is dedicated to folks who are deaf or hard of hearing and in crisis or in need of resources. It is also available to contact for hospital consultation, telepsychiatry interpreter requests, and mental health center referrals. The Deaf Services Hotline is available 24/7, statewide, at (803) 339-3339 (VP) or deafhotline@scdmh.org. Crisis Text Line: The Crisis Text Line is a nationwide resource for anyone in need of crisis assistance but is not able or ready to call into a resource line. South Carolinians can reach the Crisis Text Line 24/7/365, toll-free, by texting HOPE4SC to 741741 - Español: AYUDA to 741741. Texts to this line do not show up on phone bills and users are not charged for data. CRISIS CLEANUP • 844-965-1386 Disaster Relief SC 334-613-2237 Faith-based volunteer organization; chainsaw team for private property HELPFUL NUMBERS 911: Emergency calls only 211: Non-emergency calls Non-Emergency Law Enforcement Dispatch: - ACSO: 803-642-1761 opt.1/opt.2 - ADPS: 803-642-7620 - NAPS: 803-279-2121 TRASH/DEBRIS Aiken County Drop Off Centers are currently running on normal hours at all locations. -Aiken County has updated locations for yard debris collection and is now also taking household trash. Visit their website for more information at https://aikencountysc.gov Wagener Landfill will be open regular business hours as well, Wednesdays 7:30am-5pm.

🎉 Time to shine! 🌟 We're excited to spotlight our amazing team members who go the extra mile every day. Join us in celebrating their hard work, dedication, and all-around excellence! 👏🙌 Stay tuned every Sunday as we let the light SHINE on the incredible employees making a difference and serving with greatness! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

ACPSD Changes Due to Hurricane Helene - Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Helene, which is forecasted to make landfall in the Gulf of Mexico today and arrive in Aiken County late tomorrow afternoon, Aiken County Public Schools has several changes to the remainder of this school week to announce. All after school activities tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, are cancelled. This includes athletics, arts, meetings planned for after school, and Quest Zone. Friday, September 27, will be an e-learning day for all students. Teachers and staff will work remotely on Friday. We recognize that several high schools have athletic events this week, including some with Homecoming. Some of those schools have moved their football games to this evening. Others are planning to host their games Friday night after the storm passes through. Should the weather necessitate a change to those plans, additional information will be shared by our high schools directly. We apologize for the disruption that this change will cause to our students and families and, as always, appreciate the flexibility and cooperation of our school community. Please stay tuned to local weather precautions and follow recommendations to keep your family safe.

SEPTEMBER 24 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 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.

🌟 Shining a light on greatness! 🌟 We believe in celebrating the unsung heroes who go above and beyond every day. We LOVE how easy and quick it is to submit a SHINE shout out! Just follow this link to the SHINE Shout Out Form at www.acpsd.net/o/district/page/shine-staff-shout-outs and enter a few details about the ACPSD teacher or employee and why they SHINE.🌟 Stay tuned as we highlight the incredible employees making a difference and leading with passion! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Aiken iNNOVATE is now accepting applications! Our program offers a full-time virtual learning experience for students in grades 6-12 within the Aiken County Public School District. We welcome students who are self-motivated, disciplined, and ready to succeed in a flexible, home-based environment. To apply or learn more, visit our website at www.acpsd.net/o/dai/page/ai-applications-and-registration. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at Ai@acpsd.net.

An Elementary Coding Camp for Aiken County Public Schools students in Grades 3-5 is being offered during Fall Intersession. Students interested in attending this camp, Monday, September 30 to Thursday, October 3, are encouraged to register right away. Camp will be held at Aiken Elementary School from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. each day. There is no cost to attend. Registration is now open and available on a first come-first served basis. Please visit www.acpsd.net/page/coding-camp to register and for additional details.

Parents, Guardians, Students and Staff: District Superintendent Dr. Corey was joined by local law enforcement leaders this morning to film a short video addressing the recent social media threats and rumors of school violence. A link to the video has been shared to your email, text, and also appears on our District website, and middle and high school websites in the Live Feed section. We urge all parents to take a few minutes to watch this video and discuss it with their students. To access the video, please visit https://youtu.be/3aHXzWLfOH4. Please know that we appreciate your support and partnership in ensuring the safety of all Aiken County Public Schools, as well as the wellbeing of our students, their parents/guardians, teachers, staff and families. Thank you!

ONE CENT SALES TAX COMMUNITY MEETING This evening, Tuesday, September 17, please join us at South Aiken High School at 6 p.m. for an informational meeting on the One Cent Sales Tax. Voters will have the opportunity to consider a renewal of the One Cent Sales Tax in November. If approved, the 2024 One Cent Sales Tax will benefit upgrades and renovations to South Aiken High, Silver Bluff High, Midland Valley High, North Augusta Middle, and construction of a new elementary school in Area Three, as well as contingency projects as funding is available.

Rise + SHINE! ACPSD’s Teacher Forum received so many SHINE Teacher + Staff Shout Outs this week! THANK YOU for sharing THE LOVE and shedding light on our amazing employees! Congratulations to our seven featured teachers + staff this week! Every teacher + staff member who receives a SHINE Shout Out will receive a postcard detailing why they SHINE at their school/location. Keep those Shout Outs coming @ www.acpsd.net/shine! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Ensuring the Safety of Our Schools: Addressing Recent Rumors - We are aware of misinformation circulating throughout our schools and communities regarding rumored incidents of school violence at various campuses within our district. Please know that these messages are being reposted and reshared at schools throughout our district and at schools throughout the state. Your children’s safety is our top priority. We take all threats seriously and work in collaboration with law enforcement to fully investigate each and every rumor and/or post that is shared. There is no active threat impacting the safety and security of any of our school campuses. Rumors of this nature cause a great deal of concern, stress and anxiety. When those are shared on social media, the impact is far-reaching, and causes unnecessary concern for other parents, students, and staff, and divert critical resources away from genuine safety and security efforts. If ever there is an actual incident of school violence at your child’s school or if a threat of violence at your child’s school warrants your attention, school and/or district communications will notify you. We are committed to sharing accurate information as quickly as situations allow. We hope to never have to notify you of an actual event of school violence, and we are fully committed to maintaining the safety and security of our schools through a variety of safety measures and close collaboration with local law enforcement. If you or your student ever have a safety concern, or if you hear a rumor of a safety concern, we ask that you immediately notify the appropriate authorities. This includes local law enforcement and the administration at the district office or the school involved. Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our schools, and your children safe.

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost and the heroes who stepped forward on September 11, 2001. As we reflect, let's also foster unity and compassion in the face of adversity. #PatriotDay #WeWillNeverForget #September11

SEPTEMBER 10 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 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.

The District's Teacher Forum is excited to reintroduce weekly SHINE Teacher + Staff Shout Out features across social media this week! SHINE is a teacher and staff shout out program designed to shed light on all of the amazing things our employees do to make a difference in Aiken County. We LOVE how easy and quick it is to submit a SHINE shout out! Just visit www.acpsd.net/shine to fill out the simple form with a few details about the ACPSD teacher or employee and why they SHINE. Each teacher + staff member who receives a SHINE Shout Out will have a postcard delivered to their school/location detailing why they SHINE. AND, starting back this Sunday (and every Sunday), we’re featuring a sampling of the heart-warming spotlights received. Keep those Shout Outs coming @ www.acpsd.net/shine and let’s light up social media! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

ACPSD CELEBRATES WORLD PHYSICAL THERAPY DAY Physical therapy in schools involves providing therapeutic services to students to help them participate fully in their educational environment and daily activities. School-based physical therapists work with students who have physical disabilities, injuries, or developmental delays that affect their ability to engage in school activities, including walking, sitting, climbing stairs, or participating in physical education. We would like to recognize our ACPSD Physical Therapists Sarah Coker and Karen Turner. They work diligently to ensure that our students receive the essential services and equipment needed to fully engage with their school environment. Thank you for all that you do! #ACPSDcelebrates #WorldPhysicalTherapyDay

Golden-Apple Award Winner Katie Tate is a veteran teacher. She served at Chukker Creek Elementary for 14 years. This school year, an opportunity came along for her to take on the role of Librarian at New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School. Mrs. Tate can tell when a child is developing a real love for reading. "I think when they want to talk to you about it, when they’re invested in the book. They just want to keep reading more and more, then you know that you’ve got them. They’re going to keep reading, just because they want to tell you about what they’re reading.” Way to go, Mrs. Tate, and congratulations on your Golden Apple Award!. A teacher turned librarian. Always an educator who continues to reap the rewards of her hard work. Read the full story and view Mrs. Tate's WJBF Golden Apple segment at https://www.wjbf.com/news/golden-apple-katie-tate/. Nominate an outstanding ACPSD teacher for WJBF's Golden Apple Awards by visiting https://www.wjbf.com/golden-apple/wjbf-golden-apple-nomination-form/. #ACPSDcelebrates

All Aiken County Public School District schools, buildings, and offices will be closed for Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. We hope that everyone has an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend and look forward to seeing students back at school on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Visit our website, https://www.acpsd.net/o/district/page/2024-one-cent, for information on the sales tax and the school facility project needs that will be on November’s ballot for voter consideration, and make plans to join us at an informational meeting: • Tuesday, September 3, 6:30 p.m. at Silver Bluff High School (Area Five) • Monday, September 9, 6:30 p.m. at Ridge Spring Monetta Middle High (Area Four) • Tuesday, September 17, 6:00 p.m. at South Aiken High School (Area One) • Tuesday, October 15, 6:00 p.m. at North Augusta Middle School (Area Two) • Monday, October 28, 6:00 p.m. at Midland Valley High School (Area Three)