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Aiken County Public School District, July 15 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 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.

THANK YOU to The United Way of Aiken County and everyone who came out to "Stuff the Bus" and donate school supplies at yesterday's School Tools drive. Your generosity will help ensure all students have the supplies needed for a successful start to the new school year! For more information on how you can help, visit https://www.uwaiken.org/school-tools

IGNITE 2025 | NEW TO DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENT

On Tuesday morning, Aiken County Public Schools welcomed more than 210 new educators to our district! With the vibrant energy of high school cheerleaders from across ACPSD and the powerful beats of the North Augusta High School Drumline, we kicked off Ignite — our signature orientation event designed to spark success as we prepare to welcome students for the 2025–26 school year.

First-year teachers and veteran educators new to Aiken County had the opportunity to connect with their teams, enjoy breakfast with their principals, and engage in a variety of meaningful professional learning sessions and training designed to support their growth throughout this year and beyond.

An event highlight – the “Fashion Show!” Our school and district leaders brought the style and the standards as they walked the runway during Ignite Orientation to model dress code-appropriate attire for our newest educators! From business casual to classroom-ready, they showed how to dress for success while keeping it professional and approachable. Big thanks to our leadership team for stepping up—and stepping out in style.

A huge thank you to our speakers, session leaders, generous sponsors, and community vendors for helping make this event such a success!

We’re thrilled to welcome these passionate educators to the ACPSD family and can’t wait to see the difference they’ll make in classrooms across the district!

#ACPSDcelebrates #BackToSchool #Ignite25

Aiken County Public Schools will be closed Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. School district offices will reopen on Monday, July 7. Wishing you and your family a safe and joyful Fourth of July! #ACPSDcelebrates #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay

Parents and Guardians now is the time to schedule a well-visit or vaccine appointment with your child’s healthcare provider to avoid the back-to-school rush before the 2025-26 school year begins on July 21! The SC Department of Public Health is also offering a vaccine clinic for students in grades 5K–12 on July 8 from 9–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. at the Aiken County Health Department (222 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken). Call (803) 642-7543 to make an appointment and bring vaccination and insurance records; a parent or guardian must accompany children under 16. No-cost vaccines may be available, though administration fees may apply. Don’t forget to submit your child’s updated SC Immunization Certificate to their school and note that all rising 7th graders must have a Tdap booster given at age 10 or older. Contact your child’s healthcare provider or school nurse with any questions and visit acpsd.net/page/nursing-services for more information.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH Please join your community at Roy Warner Park in Wagener on Friday, July 19, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This community event will feature a back-to-school giveaway including free backpacks, gift cards, clothing, and more. In addition to these great giveaways, there will be free music, haircuts, hair braiding, a bounce house, and a variety of fun activities for the whole family. Don’t miss this opportunity to get ready for the school year and enjoy a day of community celebration. Please see the flyer for more details.

Join us at the Aiken High School Auditorium for the acGateway Showcases! -Elementary Showcase: Tonight at 7:00 PM -Middle/High School Showcase: Thursday at 7:00 PM Come celebrate our talented students as they present their hard work in visual art, creative writing, theater, music, and dance! acGATEWAY stands for “Aiken County’s Gifted and Talented Education with Artistic Youth”. The program was established in 1992 and aims to provide visual and performing arts students with an experience beyond what is possible in a regular classroom setting. Small class sizes, individual instruction, access to specialized materials, and highly knowledgeable instructors are only some of the ways students benefit from being part of this collaborative arts community. The winning t-shirt design was created by rising 11th grade student at Aiken High School, Alexandra Bennett.

We’re proud to share some exciting news from the national stage! 🎉 Aiken County Public School District was one of only eight districts chosen to present as an Innovative District at the Model Schools Conference in Washington, D.C. this week! Kathy Langston, Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning, and Erica Millwood, Coordinator of Elementary Teaching and Learning, had the incredible opportunity to represent ACPSD with excellence on the national platform, inspiring educators from across the country! ✨ #LeadersInACPSD #ACPSDproud #InnovativeLearning #MODELschools2025 #StudentSuccess #ProjectBasedLearning #EducationLeadership

Aiken County Public School District, June 24 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a Special called meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 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.

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH | JUNE 19 Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” is a special day that honors the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, news of freedom finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Texas—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate freedom, reflect on our shared history, and continue learning together. To explore more about the meaning and history of Juneteenth, families and students can visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture:: 🔗 https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/juneteenth #ACPSDcelebrates #Juneteenth

Aiken iNNOVATE is a virtual learning option offered by Aiken County Public School District for students entering grades 6 through 12. Seats are available now for your child to begin their virtual learning journey this July! To apply, simply search “Aiken iNNOVATE application” online or contact us at ai@acpsd.net. If virtual learning is the right fit for your family, don’t wait—apply today and take control of your education! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8uv00kBT3Q

Aiken County Public School District, June 10 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 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.

Congratulations to Ashley Watson, this year’s AMP THE APPRECIATION door prize winner! Ashley shared a photo from our district’s annual employee celebration event in The Alley, capturing the spirit of AMP THE APPRECIATION with the hashtag #acpsdAMP25. Thank you to High Country Olive Oil, Inc. for generously donating the door prize and supporting our efforts to recognize the amazing work of ACPSD employees. Wishing everyone a relaxing and refreshing summer break!

As part of our district’s efforts to ensure consistency across all schools and areas, standardized school start and end times for elementary, middle, and high school students have long been a goal. We are pleased to share that Wagener-area schools including Busbee Elementary, Corbett Middle, and Wagener-Salley High School will transition to the standard student arrival and dismissal times already implemented at schools in Aiken, North Augusta, Midland Valley, and the Jackson/New Ellenton areas. Standard arrival and dismissal times in Aiken County Schools are as follows: • Elementary Schools: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. • Middle Schools: 8 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. • High Schools: 8:20 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Student bus riders in the Wagener area should anticipate transportation arriving approximately 15 minutes earlier in the mornings and a drastic improvement in afternoon travel times. Bus transportation will deliver all elementary students home immediately after dismissal at 2:30 p.m., then begin middle and high school student pickup and drop off. While Ridge Spring-Monetta students will remain on their slightly altered arrival/dismissal schedule as we begin the 2025-26 school year, efforts are underway to further review routes for efficiencies and determine if a shift to the county’s standardized student day is possible given the availability of bus drivers and distance of some stops in the rural community which extend near Edgefield and into Saluda County.

CELEBRATING OUR 2025 RETIREES With more than 1,500 years of combined service, our 2025 retirees have made an extraordinary impact on Aiken County Public Schools. We were honored to recognize and congratulate these exceptional individuals during our annual Retirement Banquet, where their legacy of dedication, leadership, and care was celebrated with sincere gratitude. Some began their journey in education knowing it was their calling. Others discovered their path along the way. But every one of them showed up, day after day, with purpose, resilience, and a belief in the power of education to change lives. From classrooms to cafeterias, front offices to facilities, these remarkable retirees have shaped the lives of students, supported colleagues, and strengthened our school communities. Their work has made a lasting difference, and their contributions will be felt for generations. 💚 Congratulations on this incredible milestone. 💛 Thank you for the lives you’ve touched and the love you’ve shared. 💚 You will always be part of the ACPSD family. #ACPSDcelebrates #ThankYouRetirees

🌟 Summer Starts, But the Work Never Stops! 🌟 School’s out and graduation has officially commenced—congrats to all our graduates! As we head into a well-deserved summer break, we want to thank our incredible staff for an amazing year. A special shoutout to the dedicated team members who continue working through the summer—you keep things running and we appreciate you more than you know! If you know a staff member who deserves special recognition, give them a shout-out! www.acpsd.net/shine #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

As North Augusta High School’s Salutatorian Evan Hargrove said, “Words generalize and relate our shared experiences, but they simply cannot articulate the feelings that we have behind them.” At moments like graduation, that rings especially true. Congratulations to the graduates of NAHS, their families, teachers, administrators, and friends. May you embrace this milestone—and one another—as you celebrate! #ACPSDcelebrates #Classof2025

CLASS OF 2025 VALEDICTORIAN/SALUTATORIAN PROFILES North Augusta High School Salutatorian: Evan Michael Hargrove Evan Hargrove, Salutatorian of the North Augusta High School Class of 2025, is a well-rounded student leader with a passion for global business and community involvement. He serves as Director of the Yellow Jacket News Show, Vice President of North Augusta’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter, and a Captain on the Academic Team. He is also a member of both Beta Club and the National Honor Society. In addition to his academic and leadership roles, Evan works at Parks Pharmacy as a cashier and enjoys reading, playing pick-up basketball, and watching Liverpool FC. He played saxophone for seven years as a section leader in the Jacket Regiment Marching Band, reflecting his long-standing dedication to music. Evan plans to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he will join the Honors College and pursue a degree in International Business. He also plans to study abroad in Hong Kong to further explore business in East Asia. His long-term goal is to work in the logistics division of a multinational company, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Congratulations, Evan! #ACPSDcelebrates #ClassOf2025

CLASS OF 2025 VALEDICTORIAN/SALUTATORIAN PROFILES North Augusta High School Valedictorian: Lyles Blalock Cannon Lyles Cannon, Valedictorian of the North Augusta High School Class of 2025, is a dynamic student leader and dedicated scholar. He currently serves as FBLA Chapter President and is a member of the South Carolina FBLA State Officer Team. He also contributes to his school community as Co-Director of the Yellow Jacket News Show and is an active member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society. Outside of the classroom, Lyles is a competitive rock climber, participating in the USA Climbing Youth Circuit. He has volunteered with the North Augusta Stormwater Department and co-founded a mentorship program for middle school students, demonstrating his commitment to service and leadership. This fall, Lyles plans to attend the University of South Carolina’s Honors College, where he will major in Biomedical Engineering. Congratulations, Lyles! #ACPSDcelebrates #ClassOf2025

With graduate Kyleigh Huse playing the National Anthem on the saxophone, a hilarious message delivered by Principal Mr. Higgenbottom using Gen Z slang (with Assistant Principal Mr. Dzickowski translating for everyone born before 1997), twin brothers as Val and Sal, and a standing ovation—led by the Superintendent—from Midland Valley’s Class of 2025 to the supporters who filled nearly every seat of the Convocation Center for this afternoon’s ceremony, Midland Valley High School’s graduation was one to remember. Congratulations to The Valley’s Class of 2025! #ACPSDcelebrates #ClassOf2025