Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle-High

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., one of four African-American Fraternities, adopted manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift as its Four Cardinal Principles. The local chapter of Sigma Pi held its Annual Achievement Week Program on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The honorees are African-American males, 10th-12th grades, with a minimum 3.50 GPA on the 4.00 system. Congratulations to our Honorees: Seniors Jarvis Bush, Briston Matthews, Braylon Smith, and Junior-Dylan Harris. We are so proud of you!

Dear parent, if your students are in one or both courses, please look at the EOC letter and infographic to help prepare them for this important test.

***One Day Flash Sale*** https://stores.inksoft.com/WS105687

Join us for our local holiday festival on December 14th from 5-8 PM! We're seeking vendors, food trucks, and local craftsmen. Enjoy a Santa photo op, kids' activities, and a coffee/hot cocoa bar. Vendor spots are $25. Contact R. Burger at 803.221.4968 to reserve your spot!

Ridge Spring-Monetta Cross Country: 2024 State Championship Prospects Monetta, SC - As the Ridge Spring-Monetta cross-country team prepares for the 2024 Class A state championship, their season-long efforts have earned them a commendable position in the state rankings. Boys' Team Ranking The boys' team has consistently demonstrated their prowess throughout the season, securing a spot among the top teams in the state. According to the final rankings by the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (SCTCCCA), Ridge Spring-Monetta is currently ranked 5th in the Class A boys' division. This ranking is a testament to their hard work, strategic training, and the impressive performances of critical athletes. Key Performers Levi Diaz and Alexander Andrade lead the boys' team, whose exceptional performances have been crucial in maintaining the team's high ranking. Alongside them, Joshua Arzola, Matthew Cockrell, Cedric Gantt, Romeo Ruiz, and Jonathan Gonzalez have been significant contributors, consistently delivering solid finishes in their races. Girls' Team Ranking The girls are going into the Class A State Championship ranked 15 overall; the team led by Lydia Palmatier, Rosa Lopez, And Trinity Burdett has made great collective efforts and individual improvements. The team's spirit and determination have been evident in every meet, contributing to their overall success and readiness for the state championship. Looking Ahead The Ridge Spring-Monetta team is focused and motivated as the state championship approaches. Their journey to this point has been marked by dedication, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The experience and confidence gained from their performances this season will be crucial as they compete against the best in the state. The community and supporters of Ridge Spring-Monetta eagerly anticipate the state championship meet, confident that their team will make them proud. Best of luck to all the athletes as they strive for success at the state level!

Ridge Spring-Monetta Shines at Class A State Qualifier Fort Jackson, SC - On November 16, 2024, the Ridge Spring-Monetta cross country team competed in the Class A State Qualifier at Hilton Field, Fort Jackson. The event was a significant milestone for the athletes, showcasing their hard work and dedication throughout the season. Boys' Team Highlights The boys' team delivered impressive performances, with several athletes achieving personal bests. Levi Diaz led the team, finishing 4th in the 5000-meter run at 19:02.03, breaking his school record-setting time during the Region 3-2A meet 2 weeks before the state qualifier. Close behind was Alexander Andrade, who secured 5th place at 19:07.231. Other notable performances included Joshua Arzola, who finished 22nd with a time of 20:23.96, and Matthew Cockrell, who came in 32nd at 21:18.101. Girls' Team Highlights The girls' team has also put forth a strong effort, with standout performances that contributed to the team's overall success. The girls did not participate in this meeting, given that they had already qualified for the state championship race. Team Spirit and Future Prospects The Ridge Spring-Monetta team demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship and team spirit, supporting each other through every race. Their performance at the state qualifier is a testament to their dedication and the effective coaching they have received. As they look forward to The Class A State Championship, the experience gained at this meet will serve them well. Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches for their hard work and achievements at the Class A State Qualifier!

We're so proud of our incredible students, Lacey Rodgers and Shamira Gibson, who were selected to participate in the prestigious STEM Like a Girl event hosted by SRS! Their hard work, curiosity, and passion for science, technology, engineering, and math have earned them this amazing opportunity. These young innovators lead the next generation, showing that determination and creativity can change the world. Congratulations to all of you—we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next! Keep shining! ✨👩‍🔬👩‍💻🔬

The application for the 2025 acGATEWAY Summer Arts program is now live on the Gateway webpage of the district website. Please visit https://www.acpsd.net/o/district/page/summer-acagateway-program to learn more about this free visual and performing arts opportunity for students in our District in grades 3-12. All students must submit an application to be considered, and an audition is required for all new student applicants.

Congratulations to RSM Middle High Teachers, Faculty, and Admin of the Year! Teacher of the Year- Mrs. Emma Mayo First-Year Teacher of the Year- Ms. Rhonda Carey Giving Even More (GEM of the Year)- Ms. Tonya Merritt Nominee for ACPSD Assistant Principal of the Year- Dr. Miranda Fulmer

Due to extensive rainfall that’s flooded, washed out, and led to road closures across our county, Aiken County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule tomorrow, Thursday, November 7. All schools and offices will open on a two-hour delay. Due to the delayed start, only lunch will be served tomorrow in our cafeterias. Students on half-day schedules, including Early Learning Special Education students and others, will not come to school tomorrow as buses will be unable to make mid-day routes. The Aiken County Career Center will not have morning classes. Students will report to their high school on a two-hour delay. Rainfall is expected throughout the night and into tomorrow. Please use extreme caution when traveling to school and work. If you encounter flooded roadways, please turn around. The safety of our students, staff, and families is most important.

RSM Middle/High invites all Veterans to our ceremony on Monday, November 11, @ 9:00 am. Any friends or family that have served or are currently serving and will be in the area are invited to attend our ceremony!

As part of the Every Student Succeeds Act, each school receiving Title I funds reviews and revises its school-parent compact and parent and family engagement policy on an annual basis. Please review the attached information and provide any comments or suggestions in the space provided by November 30. https://forms.office.com/r/X3Rb6UEUQ7 Estimados padres: Como parte de la Ley Cada Estudiante Triunfa, cada escuela que recibe fondos del Título I revisa y revisa su pacto entre la escuela y los padres y la política de participación de los padres y la familia anualmente. Por favor, revise la información adjunta y proporcione cualquier comentario o sugerencia en el espacio proporcionado antes del 30 de noviembre. Una vez que el equipo de planificación del Título I de la escuela se reúna para revisar todos los comentarios de los padres y actualizar el pacto actual entre la escuela y los padres y la política de participación de los padres y la familia, los borradores finales se distribuirán a todos los padres. https://forms.office.com/r/GmP99nVmnb

ONE POINT ABOUT THE ONE % TODAY IS ELECTION DAY! PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE! Polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on election day. To find your voting location, please visit www.scvotes.org. For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.

ONE POINT ABOUT THE ONE % IF THE ONE CENT SALES TAX IS NOT VOTER-APPROVED IN 2024, IT WILL BE TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ONE CENT SALES TAX CAN APPEAR AGAIN ON THE BALLOT. The Sales Tax question may only appear on the ballot in a general election. Should the tax not pass by majority vote in 2024, it will be November 2026 before the One Cent Sales Tax appears again on the ballot. If the tax were renewed, over those two years $75 million in funding would have been dedicated to school facilities. For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.

The 2024 True Blue Band received its first-ever Superior Ratings in marching band (we did it 3 times!)  Also, it is believed that we had never beaten Saluda, Strom Thurmond, Pelion, and a few other schools before this year. LET US SUPPORT OUR BAND PROGRAM BY PARTICIPATING IN THEIR FUNDRAISER THIS TUESDAY, NOV 5. PLEASE SEE THE FLYER FOR MORE INFORMATION!

ONE POINT ABOUT THE ONE % ON ELECTION DAY (TOMORROW, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5), AIKEN COUNTY VOTERS WILL SEE TWO QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT FOR THE EDUCATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SALES AND USE TAX. One asks voters if they are in favor of the renewal of the tax and lists the projects and contingency projects that a renewal would directly benefit. The other is only valid only if the sales tax is approved and asks voters if they are in favor of authorizing the district to bond part of the projected revenue to jump start the projects and begin improvements right away (instead of waiting for one cent sales tax funds to accumulate before beginning improvements). For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.

ONE POINT ABOUT THE ONE % A THIRD OF THE ONE CENT SALES TAX IS ESTIMATED TO BE GENERATED BY NON-RESIDENTS. When individuals visit Aiken County and make purchases, their contribution to overall sales tax revenues is estimated to generate around a third of the total collected. If approved, visitors to the county contribute to Aiken County’s school facility improvements, as well as a property tax reduction for Aiken County homeowners. For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.

ONE POINT ABOUT THE ONE % IF RENEWED, THE ONE CENT IN 2024 IS PROJECTED TO AMASS $398 MILLION OVER ITS 10-YEAR COLLECTION PERIOD. In Aiken County, 90% of sales tax funds are dedicated to school projects and 10% to property tax relief, which totals an estimated $358M to the school facility projects. If approved by voters, up to $285M of the projected revenue could be bonded to advance or “jump start” the projects (instead of waiting for taxes to accumulate before improvements begin). For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.

Parents and Guardians: Please note that there is no school for students Monday, November 4, due to a District Professional Development Day for teachers. Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day and all ACPSD schools and offices will be closed. We hope that everyone eligible to vote will exercise their right on Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. As a reminder, the One Cent Sales Tax benefitting our public school facilities will be on the ballot. For additional information on the Sales Tax and the school facility improvements that a renewal of the tax would directly benefit, please visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent. Don't forget daylight saving time ends this weekend., and we'll "fall back" an hour on Sunday, November 3. Wishing everyone a great long weekend as we look forward to welcoming students back to school on Wednesday, November 6.

ONE POINT ABOUT THE ONE % UNPREPARED FOODS, GAS, AND MOST MEDICATIONS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE ONE CENT SALES TAX. If renewed by voters on November 5, the One Cent Educational Capital Sales and Use Tax would result in a continuation of the One Percent Sales Tax on most purchases (one cent/dollar) in Aiken County. There are numerous exemptions to the tax, which are listed include in South Carolina’s Code of Laws, Section 12-36-2120. Among the exemptions are unprepared foods, gasoline, and most medications. For more Penny Tax Facts, visit www.acpsd.net/OneCent.