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ACPSD alumni Chloe Lauren made it to the top 30 and competed on American Idol this past Monday, March 9, 2026! We are so excited to follow her on her journey. We had the chance to sit down with her for a special interview to talk about her time in ACPSD, her love for music, and what it has been like performing on the American Idol stage. Check it out below, we are so proud of our ACPSD alumni!

youtu.be/XJeYOmeq6Sk

#ACPSD #AlumniAchievement #AikenCountyPublicSchools

AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, MARCH 10 BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 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.

Make the most of Spring Intersession!

Looking for fun and engaging activities for your student during the week of March 30 – April 2?

From soccer and dance to coding, Lego Wars, and stained-glass art, there is something for every grade level!

Registration is now open for some, and all will be opened on Monday, March 9. Space is limited!

Visit Intersession | District for full details and registration links!

Join Coach Tice and the Aiken High Girls Soccer Team for our upcoming Soccer Training Camp! This is a great opportunity for young athletes to sharpen their skills and make new friends over Spring Break.

• Who: Boys & Girls in Grades 1-5

• When: March 30th - April 1st | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Where: Aiken High Stadium (Teague St.)

• Cost: $75 (includes a t-shirt)

• How to Register: Scan the QR code on the flyer or head over to GoFan to sign up. See you on the field!

Aiken County Public Schools Mourns the Loss of Assistant Superintendent Julie Revelle

Aiken County Public Schools is deeply saddened to share news of the passing of Julie Revelle, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools.

Julie dedicated her life to education and to the students, families, and educators of Aiken County. Throughout a decades-long career with our district, she has served as an English Language Arts teacher at Kennedy Middle School, Assistant Principal at North Aiken Elementary School, and Principal of Redcliffe Elementary School. In 2018, she joined the district’s Executive Leadership Team as an Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, supporting principals and overseeing the instructional and operational work of many of the district’s elementary schools.

Throughout her career, Julie was known as a thoughtful leader and passionate advocate for students. She worked closely with school leaders and teachers across the district, offering guidance, encouragement, and support for the important work taking place in classrooms each day.

Those who worked alongside Julie will remember her not only for her dedication to education, but also for her kind and gentle spirit. She cared deeply about the people she served and supported throughout her career and took great pride in her family, including her husband, David, their daughter Beth, and grandchildren.

The loss of such a respected leader and colleague is deeply felt across the Aiken County Public Schools community. Support services are being made available for staff and school leaders as they process this loss.

Out of respect for Julie’s family, we ask that the community honor their request for privacy during this difficult time.

Aiken County Public Schools extends heartfelt condolences to Julie’s family, friends, and colleagues. Her dedication to students and educators will leave a lasting impact on our schools and the many lives she touched throughout her career.

Attention All Aiken County Public School District Seniors! The future is now!

We are thrilled to host Hire Summit, an exclusive event bringing you face-to-face with employers actively hiring for new talent. Show them you are their next Great Hire with on-the-spot interviews!

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

• Where: Aiken High School Gym

• Sign up and take advantage of this incredible opportunity please contact your school counselor.

This is your chance to turn your potential into a position. Come prepared to impress with your resume, professional attire, and elevator pitch.

Surrounded by family, friends and many teammates inside North Augusta High School's (NAHS) weight room, six student athletes took the next step in their baseball careers with signing NCAA Letters of Intent Thursday, February 19.

These seniors committed to four different schools across the Southeast. Please join us in congratulating the following student athletes who will continue their athletic dreams at the next level: 

• Bren Ivy, Spartanburg Methodist College

• Brady Jenkins, Spartanburg Methodist College

• Landen Jones, Coastal Carolina University

• Wyatt Longe, Emmanuel University

• Sim Lorier, Spartanburg Methodist College

• Dylan Morrison, USC Beaufort

North Augusta head baseball coach Kevin Lynn is proud of these six athletes and the work ethic that got them to the next level.

“I’ve been fortunate to coach these boys for four to five years,” Coach Lynn shared. “To see these kids realize one of their goals that they have had since they were younger, that they’ve worked so hard for has been great. I’ve watched them grow over the last several years and have seen a transformation. To see them earn this opportunity has been a blessing and I am proud of them.”

Earlier in the month, North Augusta cut the ribbon to a state-of-the-art baseball and softball complex. This is a program and school first, with this year’s seniors being the first student athletes to play on the field.

Senior Landen Jones is excited to take in his last high school season with his team, with eyes set on a state championship run.

“We have 14 seniors, so I feel like this year is a big year for us,” Jones, who made a College World Series appearance in 2025, shared. “I think we have a really good shot at winning a state championship and that’s what I plan to do. All of these guys on the team I have played with my whole life and it’s a really big deal to go out my senior year with them.”

“It’s a coach’s dream to see their kids play at the next level and to see them succeed at what they’ve been trying to accomplish,” Coach Lynn continued. “I’m speechless, proud of them, and fortunate to coach these young men.”

Two Silver Bluff student athletes are making their way to collegiate athletics in football.

Gage Kirkbride and Jessie Shelley signed their NCAA Letters of Intent to play football at Newberry College and Union Commonwealth University, respectively, starting in fall 2026.

“These two young men kind of jumped out at me their junior year...their work ethic, their mindset," Silver Bluff head football coach Matt Hayes shared. "Their senior year, you saw a jump in their talents, their work ethic, and what they did in the classroom. They're signing this letter of intent because of not just their talent, but their mindset.”

Gage Kirkbride will be attending Newberry College in the fall and is thankful for the role models he had in previous teammates to help pave the way.

“I think that's what prepared me to be such a great senior is the amount of discipline that they had," Gage shared. "I looked up to the seniors as I was a freshman and sophomore. They helped me out and pushed me to be better."

Jessie Shelley, who will attend Union Commonwealth University, also credits his coaches and teammates for helping push him to the next level.

“Some coaches, they really work, they see a lot,” Shelley said. “My teammates, they really helped push. We push each other every day. They challenge each other every day to make the job the best we can.”

Kirkbride and Shelley join Adrian Gray who recently signed his NCAA Letter of Intent to play football at Brevard College (February 2026).

“I cannot talk about how much work goes in, not just from these young men, but their community, their surroundings, their support staff,” Coach Hayes continued.

One book, two books, red books, and blue books!

Today, Monday, March 2, kicks off Read Across America Week! Read Across America is presented by the National Education Association and plans literacy festivities alongside Dr. Suess's birthday.

We challenge all students across Aiken County Public Schools to pick up a book this week and start reading, and we thank the community leaders who are serving as guest readers bringing literacy to life throughout our classrooms.

During National School Social Work Week, we are proud to recognize and thank our school social workers and student service workers for the incredible support they provide to our school community.

They play a vital role in supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being through compassionate guidance, collaboration with families and staff, and a strong commitment to helping every student succeed.

The 2026 theme, “Unite to Ignite: Celebrating Our Impact,” reflects the positive difference they make by bringing students, families, and educators together to create a caring and inclusive school environment across all Aiken County Public Schools.

#ACPSDCelebrates #ACPSD #AikenCountyPublicSchools

Help us congratulate Mrs. Christine Witt, a kindergarten teacher at Hammond Hill Elementary School, on being named a Golden Apple Award Teacher by WJBF News Channel 6.

She was surprised by WJBF News Channel 6 and sponsors Kroger, Universal Plumbing, and Great Deals on Furniture on Friday, February 13, in her classroom as a recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Her segment will air on Tuesday, March 3 during the 5:30 PM broadcast on WJBF.

“I love kindergarten," she shared. I see these children come in as a blank slate basically and see them grow and learn. Those lightbulbs that come on... they are the joy every day to get to school."

Mrs. Witt started her career at Curtis Baptist, where she started teaching Spanish and Computer Science. She has experience teaching a variety of grade levels and made the switch to kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I had a blank slate,” Witt said. “I had to write a program to keep 20 kids engaged on a computer. I had to get the mommas, daddies and grandparents to be their learning coaches. I wanted them to not be behind... to have the same standards and the same type of teaching at home as in the classroom.”

Mrs. Witt says she enjoys giving her students life lessons for success.

“Sometimes you make mistakes but you try it again and pick it up and that’s what I teach my little ones that you will do hard things, you will make mistakes, but we are going to try it over again.”

“Mrs. Witt embodies a great example of a Golden Apple recipient," Hammond Hill Elementary's Principal Dede Scott shared. "She creates a warm, welcoming classroom where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn in kindergarten. Through her patience, creativity, and high expectations, she helps young learners build strong academic skills and the confidence to believe in themselves. She goes above and beyond each day for her students and families, laying the foundation for a lifetime love of learning. Her heart, dedication, and excellence make a lasting difference in every child she teaches.”

“I cannot wait to get to it in the morning and I don’t want to leave in the afternoon," Witt shared.

We are thrilled to share a formal agreement with the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) with Aiken County Public School District to provide cybersecurity services including network monitoring, incident investigation and response, and remediation and recovery assistance, through the university's student-run Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC).

The student-operated RSOC, staffed by cybersecurity professionals and highly trained cyber and information technology students, will augment the district’s cybersecurity and infrastructure protection procedures, giving the school system’s technology department a third-party team, constantly looking for indications of threats. RSOC clients, like the school district, receive real-time system monitoring, alerts, incident response and recovery assistance.

“With this agreement, the district gains frequent monitoring of its network, allowing for the early detection and mitigation of cyber threats. This external monitoring is key to improving the district's security posture, allowing it to better defend against threat actors and ensure that its data and network remain safe, secure, and reliable,” said Nic Carroll, Executive Director of Technology for Aiken County Public Schools. “The overall improved security posture provides assurance to stakeholders that the district's sensitive data and critical network services are protected.”

Read more about the formal agreement online by visiting our News Section.

AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, FEBRUARY 24 BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 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.

Help us congratulate Mrs. Parliament-Griffith, a math teacher at Paul Knox Middle School, on being named a Golden Apple Award teacher by WJBF News Channel 6.

She was one of three Aiken County teachers surprised by WJBF News Channel 6 and sponsors Kroger, Universal Plumbing, and Great Deals on Furniture on Friday, February 13, in her classroom as a recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Her segment will air on WJBF News Channel 6 on Tuesday, February 24 during the 5:30 PM broadcast.

Parliament aims to create a learning environment where everyone can improve and grow their math skills.

“They know that in here it’s ok to be wrong and that I make mistakes too,” Parliament said “They feel, at least I hope they do, that it’s a safe environment for them to be able to make those mistakes and learn and grow from making those mistakes. They are all comfortable raising their hand and answering the questions whether they are right or wrong.”

She also coaches Paul Knox Middle School's Academic Team, a competitive extracurricular activity with a focus on quizzes to showcases a team’s broad knowledge across all subjects. Her team will be headed to Chicago later this year to compete in the National Championships – a back-to-back feat.

"We don’t win every single one of them," she shared, "but we are doing very well in our season. They have built up confidence. A lot of our team, they don’t play sports so they don’t get that competition anywhere else. In the classroom, that’s where they shine and we give them that opportunity so that they can still be competitive if they are like me and suck at every sport ever.”

“Mrs. Parliament is constantly looking for ways to support and praise students at PKMS,” Paul Knox Principal John Bush said. “She really enjoys seeing students succeed and pushes each student in her class to perform at a high level.”

For Mrs. Parliament, she wouldn’t trade her middle school classroom for anything.

“Seventh grade is the best,” she laughs. “They still laugh at my jokes and they still think I’m funny. Once they get to eighth grade they start to think I’m lame. They know how to blow their own nose, do their own thing, and follow directions for the most part. Middle school is the sweet spot.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8uv00kBT3Q
Looking for a flexible learning option for your family? 🧭 Aiken iNNOVATE is a virtual learning program for grades 6–12. Now accepting applications! ✅ Learn more and apply today at www.acpsd.net/ai

#OnlineSchool #ParentChoice #StudentSuccess #AikenSC #EdTech

Wednesday, February 18, is an Early Dismissal Day for students.

On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.

Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy, as well as our schools in the Ridge-Spring area. Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary dismissal is at 11:55 a.m., Aiken Scholars Academy dismissal is at noon, and Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle and High dismissal is at 12:15 and 12:20 p.m., respectively.

These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support the training and development schedule for state-required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.

Students receiving transportation services on half-day schedules, such as Early Learning Special Education students, will not be provided school bus transportation on Early Dismissal Days as buses will be unable to make mid-day routes.

Afternoon classes at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center are not held on Early Dismissal Days. Students enrolled in an afternoon class at the Career Center will remain at their high school on these designated days.

Help us congratulate Dr. Richard Ball, a math teacher at North Augusta High School, on being named a Golden Apple Award teacher by WJBF News Channel 6.

On Friday, February 13, he was surprised at North Augusta High School alongside several community business partners, Kroger, Universal Plumbing and Great Deals on Furniture.

“I think that the goal at the end of each day is for a kid to walk out with a little bit more joy from math,” Dr. Ball said during an interview with WJBF News Channel 6. “You have to treat them like they are like kids and teaching them a subject in a way that lets them be kids is the way I like to approach each lesson.”

Dr. Ball teaches a variation of math courses at North Augusta High School from Algebra to AP Calculus. The Buffalo, NY native moved to South Carolina and says he has been welcomed with open arms calling it his home away from home.

“Dr. Ball represents exactly what this profession is about. He challenges our AP Calculus students to think deeper, push harder, and reach higher, while at the same time meeting Algebra I students right where they are and refusing to let them give up on themselves. That range is rare. He makes advanced mathematics accessible and struggling students confident. The WJBF Golden Apple Award is well deserved—our school is stronger because of his commitment to every learner who walks into his classroom.”

“I think watching them grow is the pleasure of the job,” Dr. Ball said. “Yes, it would be fantastic if we all got A’s but it’s the person they become in the room. It’s great for all of us to achieve greatness, but it’s the person and the journey that is more important.”

Two other North Augusta teachers were surprised by WJBF News Channel 6: Mrs. Heather Parliament-Griffith, a 7th grade math teacher at Paul Knox Middle School and Mrs. Christine Witt, a kindergarten teacher at Hammond Hills Elementary School.

You can catch a news segment on each of the teachers starting Feb. 17 during the 5:30 PM broadcast. The remaining segments will air on Tuesday's on WJBF News Channel 6.