PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY - Thank you to all guest principals who spent Friday, November 15, leading an Aiken County Public School! 

YOUTH HOMELESS AWARENESS -  November is Youth Homeless Awareness Month. Nationwide, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness annually. Here in Aiken County, 120 students have been identified as homeless so far this year. Homeless youth are those who are without a regular nighttime residence. Families can experience homelessness from a house fire, economic challanges such as a loss of income, eviction or foreclosure, or a change in the family dynamic. 

We are thankful for our Student Service Workers who support our homeless students and families! Please consider helping our homeless youth doing the following:

• Be understanding. There are a number of reasons for homelessness.
• Learn about services available through the McKinney Vento Homeless Act. 
• Provide donations. The Aiken County Public School District will be collecting baby wipes and hygiene products throughout the month of November, and can be dropped off at 1000 Brookhaven Drive in Aiken.

Please contact Sherida Stroman, Lead Student Service Worker/McKinney Liaison, at (803) 335-7051 or SStroman@acpsd.net for more information.

acGATEWAY -  the application for the 2020 acGATEWAY program is available now. This program is a summer arts opportunity for students currently in grades 3-12.  Students may apply and audition for visual art, creative writing, theater, dance, or music. Please find more information by clicking on Departments > Gifted & Talented > acGATEWAY. Each school has a school-based coordinator to assist your child in the application process.  Please contact your coordinator or program director, Mabry MacGregor, at mmacgregor@acpsd.net or (803) 641-2500 with questions. Applications are due back by December 6. 

GOLDEN CIRCLE CLUB - Aiken County residents age 60 years and older are invited to join a complimentary membership club offering free admission into all school-sponsored events district-wide, including games, plays, concerts, musical programs and more. Eligible residents may bring in a picture id to Aiken County Public Schools’ District Office, 1000 Brookhaven Drive, Aiken. Jamborees, State Championship Playoffs and Tournaments are excluded; Golden Circle Club members will not be admitted free to those events. For additional information, please visit acpsd.net, call (803) 641-2428 or simply stop by 1000 Brookhaven Drive, Aiken.

#WhyITeachACPSD CONTINUES - The #WhyITeachACPSD social media challenge, hosted by Affect the Culture, was such a great success and fun way to wrap up the 2018-19 school year that many educators are continuing the trend! We love seeing your reasons for teaching on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and encourage all Aiken County Public School Distirct employees to continue to post about what sparked their interest in teaching, using each school's unique hashtag.