Byrd Elementary

As we approach the end of the school year, it's remarkable how quickly time has flown by. With just a month remaining, our students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be undertaking their SC READY assessments. These assessments play a vital role in evaluating our students' progress and are significant for both their academic journey and our school's performance. It's imperative that students are punctual and present on each testing day. To encourage attendance, students will receive a reward for being on time and present for testing. As testing will occur in the morning and early afternoon, we kindly ask you to reschedule any appointments to ensure students are present and ready to do their best. We urge you to ensure your child gets adequate rest and a nutritious breakfast before coming to school. Breakfast will be available each morning in the cafeteria. We recognize the dedication of both our students and teachers in preparing for these assessments, and we are eagerly anticipating their performance.

🎉 Principal & Assistant Principal for the Day! 🎉 Byrd Elementary had some very special leaders in charge last week! 👏 Meet Alania and Karter, our Principal and Assistant Principal of the day! 🏫✨ These two outstanding students were the top fundraisers in our playground fundraiser, and we couldn’t be more proud! Alania raised the most and spent the day working alongside Mrs. Enlow, getting a firsthand look at what it takes to run a school. Karter, our second-highest fundraiser, job-shadowed Mr. Davis and took on the role of Assistant Principal like a pro! The admin team loved having the extra help, and Alania and Karter did an amazing job navigating a busy day at Byrd! Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraiser and helped make this a fun and memorable experience for our student leaders. 💙🦅 #LeadershipInTheMaking #ByrdPride #StudentSuccess #PlaygroundFundraiser #PrincipalForADay #WeAreByrd

📚✨ We Need Book Fair Volunteers! ✨📚 Our Scholastic BOGO Book Fair is coming up from May 5th to May 8th, and we need your help to make it a magical experience for our students! This is a Buy One, Get One Free event—perfect for stocking up on books for summer reading! Even an hour of your time makes a big difference! 💛 If you're available to help out, please contact Ms. Goldman at egoldman@acpsd.net, or scan the QR code below. Thank you for supporting our readers—we couldn't do it without you!

We are thrilled to welcome back a familiar face in an exciting new role! Please join us in celebrating the return of Christen Sikes as the new Assistant Principal at Byrd Elementary School. Mrs. Sikes is no stranger to Byrd—her passion for students, deep understanding of classroom instruction, and unwavering commitment to excellence have always made her a standout educator in our school community. With 17 years of classroom experience and the past 4 years serving in the Human Resources department, she brings a well-rounded perspective to leadership. In her most recent role, Mrs. Sikes supported induction teachers and led district work around ADEPT evaluations and SC Lead, further strengthening her impact on education across Aiken County. Christen’s extensive experience at both the school and district levels makes her a valuable asset as we continue to grow together in our mission. Her return marks not only a continuation of her strong connection to Byrd but also a new chapter of collaborative leadership. She is known for her ability to build strong relationships and foster a positive, student-focused culture that uplifts both staff and families. A proud Graniteville resident, wife to an Aiken County native, and dedicated mother of three, Mrs. Sikes is deeply rooted in our community. Her heart for service and her drive to support students and educators make her an incredible addition to our administrative team. Mrs. Sikes will officially join Mrs. Enlow and Mr. Davis in early July for the start of the 2025 -2026 school year, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her back—this time as a key member of our leadership team who knows our school, our students, and our vision inside and out.

📚✨ BOGO Book Fair is Here! ✨📚 Get ready for double the reading fun! Our Scholastic BOGO Book Fair is coming to Byrd Elementary on May 5th-May 8th, and it’s the perfect time to stock up for summer reading! For every book you buy, you get one FREE—yes, FREE! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to grow your home library and keep the reading adventure going all year long. See you at the book fair!

We are thrilled to announce the dates and times for our 2025 End of the Year Awards Celebrations for each grade at Byrd Elementary. We will recognize all of the hard work and accomplishments of our students this year. Join us as we celebrate our future leaders.

💜 Celebrating The Month of the Military Child 💜 April is "The Month of the Military Child," a time to honor and recognize the unique challenges and strengths of children in military families. Did you know that there are approximately 40,000 elementary students in South Carolina with military parents? These brave kids often face the difficulties of moving from school to school, making new friends, and adapting to different environments. Let's take a moment to celebrate their resilience, courage, and the friendships they build along the way! We encourage everyone in our community to reach out and show support for our military families this month. Thank you for your service and dedication! 💖 #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild #MilitaryFamilies #SupportOurTroops

🎣 Graniteville Fishing Rodeo – April 26, 2025! 🐟 Get ready for a day full of family fun, fresh air, and fishing! Join us at the Graniteville Canal for the annual Graniteville Fishing Rodeo! 📅 Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 📍 Location: Graniteville Canal 🎣 Fishing Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 🎉 Full Event: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Whether you're casting your first line or you're a seasoned pro, this event is perfect for all ages. There will be food, prizes, and lots of outdoor fun! 🔗 Pre-registration is required! Scan the QR code in the flyer to sign up. 🛑 Registration closes on April 4th, 2025 – don’t wait! Tag your fishing buddies and make plans to join us for a day by the water! 🌞🐠 #GranitevilleFishingRodeo #FamilyFun #FishingEvent #GetOutside #CommunityEvent

🌸 Spring Break Announcement for Byrd Elementary! 🌸 Dear Parents and Guardians, Byrd Elementary will be closed for Spring Break, and we will reopen for school on Monday, April 14. We wish everyone a safe and fun break! Enjoy this time with family and friends, and we look forward to welcoming our students back recharged and ready to learn! #ByrdElementary #SpringBreak #SeeYouSoon

🌟 Spring Intersession Success at Graniteville Elementary! 🌟 We're excited to share that selected students in grades 3, 4, and 5 have been working hard during our Spring Intersession! 🎉 Throughout this special program, students have engaged in hands-on learning experiences in both reading and math. Their dedication and enthusiasm have truly shined, and we couldn't be prouder of their efforts! Keep up the great work, Byrdies! #SpringIntersession #HandsOnLearning

Tomorrow is an early dismissal day for all Aiken County Schools. Byrd Elementary will dismiss at 11:30am tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, there is a threat of severe weather with wind gusts in the morning forecasted to exceed 40 mph. This wind speed exceeds the threshold allowed for school buses to be on roadways. This wind event will result in a need to shift to e-learning tomorrow. Employees should plan to report to their work location on a two-hour delayed start, with no building or office opening before 10 a.m. Afterschool extracurricular practices, games, and events will continue tomorrow as scheduled. There will be no QuestZone tomorrow. We apologize for the challenges that this will cause our families and appreciate your continued cooperation and support!

Celebrate reading this week at Byrd Elementary by joining in our Read Across America Spirit Week-March 3-7

🚨 **Byrd Families, We Need Your Help!** 🚨 We’re kicking off our Spring Fundraiser to raise $40,000 for new playground equipment!🎉 Instead of using an outside company, 100% of the profits will go directly to our school. 📅 **How It Works:** - Ask family & friends to sponsor a calendar day (Day 22 = $22). - Fill the calendar & raise funds for a better playground! - Business sponsorships are available and count toward student totals. 🏆 **Prizes & Incentives:** - **Top 2 fundraisers = Principal & Assistant Principal for the day!** - **Top students & classes earn awesome prizes!** 💰 **All funds due by March 26, 2025. Sponsors can pay with cash or check (payable to Byrd Elementary).** Let’s work together to build a better playground for our kids!🏃‍♂️💙 Help spread the word by sharing this post! 📢 #ByrdPlaygroundFundraiser

ACPSD fifth graders are invited to submit an application for the Aiken County Career and Technology Center’s CTE Techno Camp being held on Saturday, March 15, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Interested students must submit an application by next Wednesday, February 26, at 5 p.m. to be considered. As part of the application, students will select their choice of two CTE programs to explore such as Under the Hood, Team Fashion Design, Photo Pea: Introduction to Photoshop, Code-A-Bot: Robotics, Digital Art and Media: Photography, Cosmetology 101, Barber Shop 101, Aiken Culinary Chefs, Nail Tech 101, An EMT to the Rescue!, The Life of a Biomedical Scientist, and Hair Braiding 101. For more information, please visit the Aiken County Career and Technology Center’s website. Techno Camp Information is available under “Resources,” or call (803) 593-7300. Application Link: tinyurl.com/CTEtechnoCamp

📢 Byrd Elementary Parents! 📢 We need your feedback! 📋✨ Scan the QR code or click the links below to complete our Title 1 Parent Survey by March 14, 2025. Your input helps us improve! 🔗 English Survey: https://tinyurl.com/ByrdSurveyEnglish 🔗 Encuesta en español: https://tinyurl.com/ByrdSurveySpanish Thank you for supporting our school! 💙💛 #ByrdElementary #ParentSurvey #WeValueYourFeedback

Byrd Elementary Books With a Buddy Title 1 event is scheduled as shown in the flyer for each grade level Feb. 25, 27, and 28. You must have a ticket to attend. Tickets will be sent home on Monday, Feb. 24 in the blue home-to-school communication folder. No younger siblings may attend due to space.

Spring Picture Day at Byrd Elementary is Monday, Feb. 24. Al students will be photographed.

📚✨ Today, Byrd Elementary was filled with the magic of storytelling as community members joined us for World Read Aloud Day! 💙📖 Our students were captivated by engaging stories, inspiring voices, and the joy of shared reading. A huge THANK YOU to our amazing guests for taking the time to encourage a love of literacy in our young learners. Moments like these make a lasting impact! #WorldReadAloudDay #ByrdElementary #ReadingMatters #CommunityConnections

Happy School Counselor's Week! 🎉 Today, we’re shining a well-deserved spotlight on two incredible counselors—Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Fields. Their unwavering support, kindness, and dedication inspire our students and staff every single day. From lending a listening ear to offering sage advice, they create a safe space for growth and success. Thank you, Mrs. Fields and Mrs. Cox, for making our school community stronger, brighter, and more caring. Your passion truly makes a difference in the lives of so many. Let’s celebrate these amazing women and all that they do! 💕📚 #SchoolCounselorsWeek #ThankYou #Inspiration Feel free to share your favorite memories or words of thanks in the comments below!