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🎉 Even During Winter Break, Our Employees Shine Bright! 🌟 Even while schools are quiet, the impact of our amazing staff echoes loudly! 🙌💙 Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence continue to bring joy and make a difference in the lives of our students and community.💡 This week, we’re spotlighting some outstanding team members who go above and beyond! Stay tuned as we celebrate the heart and soul of what makes Aiken County Public Schools such a special place. 💬 Have a story of an employee who’s inspired you? Share it through a SHINE! ❄️ www.acpsd.net/shine #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Beginning this afternoon, Friday, December 20, schools and offices will be closed for Winter Break. We will reopen after the holidays on Monday, January 6, 2025. Students will participate on January 6 in an e-learning day, and return to school in person on Tuesday, January 7. We thank you for your partnership throughout first semester and wish everyone a wonderful holiday!

REMINDER: We are encouraging parents and guardians to keep our District’s recently revised Personal Electronics Devices policy in mind with any holiday purchases. Beginning in January, Middle and High School students will not be permitted to use their personal electronics and accessories at any time during the school day, this includes lunch and any other non-instructional times. Student cell phones, smart watches, tablets, gaming devices, and accessories such as headphones and earbuds will be required to be powered off, stored in a backpack or bag, out of sight and not in use at any time during the school day. Our Code of Conduct is available online and has been updated with this new state-required policy. Please take some time to review it with your student over the holidays, along with the consequences for violating this new state-requirement.

Friday, December 20, is a half day for students. Due to the half day schedule on Friday, only breakfast will be served in our cafeterias. Please note the following dismissal times for students on our half day schedule. Elementary schools in the Aiken area (Area One), the North Augusta area (Area Two), the Midland Valley area (Area Three), and Jackson/New Ellenton areas (Area Five) will dismiss at 11 a.m.; middle schools at 11:30 a.m.; and high schools at 11:50 a.m. Aiken Intermediate School’s half day dismissal will be at 11:25 a.m. and Aiken Scholars Academy at 11:20. The Center for Innovative Learning dismissal will be at 1:30 p.m. Elementary schools in the Wagener/Salley/Ridge Spring/Monetta area (Area Four) will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., middle schools at 11:40 a.m., and high schools at 11:50 a.m.

In a short video released by the district, Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy provides detailed information on the new state-required Personal Electronic Devices policy that will be implemented as student’s return from Winter Break in January. Aiken County’s policy will allow middle and high school students to bring cell phones and other personal electronic devices , and accessories such as earbuds and AirPods to school, but they must remain powered off, stored in the student’s backpack or bag, and out of sight during the school day. Progressive discipline measures will be enforced for violations of the policy. Parents are encouraged to watch this video with their student and discuss the policy and the consequences for students who are in violation. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support! https://youtu.be/4Jjqsv_vFkk?feature=shared

Join us for Aiken County Public School District’s Spring Hiring Event for Teachers and Certified Staff on Saturday, February 1, 2025! Applicants will have the opportunity for on-site interviews and on the spot job offers! The event will take place at Aiken High School located at 449 Rutland Drive in Aiken, SC from 8 a.m. until noon. All schools and locations will be represented, and we will be hiring for certified positions to include immediate vacancies and future 2025-26 positions. Scan the QR code to apply now for your level of certification to secure an interview at the event. Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome. Direct Link to Register and Apply for the Event: https://acpsd.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx?jcat=Recruitment We will be hiring for certified positions to include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education. Please reach out to our Human Resources Team at (803) 641-2428 for more information. We look forward to welcoming many new teachers and certified staff members to Aiken County in February!

Monday, January 6, 2025 will be an e-Learning Day for students. The e-Learning Day used on September 27 ahead of Hurricane Helene has had to be reclassified as a school closure because many students were unable to access materials and their teachers due to widespread power outages after the storm, What This Means for January 6: • Students will take home their devices over Winter Break and complete assignments on Monday, January 6, using the e-learning platform Schoology. • Teachers will have two hours of office hours to support students. We apologize for any disruption that this may cause our students and families, and appreciate your understanding. For more information, please visit the Latest News on our website.

DECEMBER 10 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 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.

✨ Merry and Bright: Shining a Spotlight on Our Amazing School District Employees! ✨ We’re celebrating the stars who make our schools sparkle all year long! 🌟 Join us as we shine a spotlight on the incredible employees whose dedication, creativity, and passion make a lasting impact. From spreading cheer to making a difference every single day, their work truly makes our district merry and bright. If you know a staff member who deserves special recognition, give them a shout out at the link below! 💬👇 www.acpsd.net/shine #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

📚🍎 Thankful for Our Amazing Educators and Staff! 🍎📚 Today and every day, we’re incredibly thankful for the dedication, passion, and hard work of our educators and staff members. 💛 You are the heart of our school, inspiring our students, shaping futures, and making a difference in countless lives. Your commitment to excellence and the love you pour into our community does not go unnoticed. 🌟 To our team—thank you for being champions of education and a source of hope for our students. Let’s continue to learn, grow, and thrive together! 💪✨ If you know a staff member who deserves special recognition, give them a shout-out! www.acpsd.net/shine💬👇 Stay tuned every Sunday as we let the light SHINE on the incredible employees making a difference and serving with greatness! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Take a behind-the-scenes look at acGATEWAY in these videos created with last summer's students, get your application in, and get ready to audition for an experience unlike any other. Middle and High School acGATEWAY Student Video: https://youtu.be/qVQxpUwGcCk Elementary acGATEWAY Student Video: https://youtu.be/m1w8D-ScAX8 Applications for new and returning students are due by December 9. https://www.acpsd.net/page/gateway

Aiken County Public Schools' Calendars for next year (2025-2026) and 2026-2027 have been developed and are now board-approved! Planning for the requirements of a 180-day school year is no easy task! Thank you to all who were involved in creating calendars that most closely align with the requests of our families, teachers, and staff!

Shortly after the tax was voter-approved, we spent some time at South Aiken High, Silver Bluff High, Midland Valley High, and North Augusta Middle School with students, teachers, staff and principals, and with our Elementary School Student Superintendent Advisory Council. Please watch the video linked below where they share their appreciation to Aiken County voters. https://youtu.be/IT6PbBF1JY4?si=KuGRtoQg2TxpoWUj

🍂✨ Employee of the Month Spotlight! ✨🍂 Join us in celebrating our incredible Fall Employee of the Month winners! 🏆🎉 They exemplify the qualities that make our district a truly special place. These employees have gone above and beyond. Thank you for your passion and commitment to excellence. Your efforts inspire us all! 🍁👏 Let’s give them some love in the comments below! 💛👇 Please log into PowerSchool Records to nominate the next employee of the month and visit https://www.acpsd.net/o/district/page/employee-relations to check out all of Fall’s winners.

Earlier this month, Aiken County Career & Technology Center senior Phlebotomy students hosted a “Stick Day” for friends, family and community members to come out and have their blood drawn as they worked to meet the necessary requirements to sit for their Phlebotomy certification exam. Each student must completed 30 successful venipunctures (veins) and 10 successful capillary punctures (finger sticks) in order to take the certification exam. Health Science Instructors Jennifer Friar and Shelby Gaskill were on hand for guidance and support as they supervised each appointment. Phlebotomy students were booked and busy with “patients” all day as they welcomed friends, family members, former students, and even Aiken County Board of Education Member Mrs. Patrice Rhinehart-Jackson! Thank you to all who came out to help these students reach their goals on their way to becoming certified Phlebotomists!

NOVEMBER 19 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 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.

📚✨ Shoutout to Our Incredible School Staff and Teachers! ✨📚 Today, we want to recognize the amazing staff members and teachers who make a difference in our students' lives every single day. From early morning prep to those after-school moments, you go above and beyond to create safe, inspiring, and enriching spaces for learning and growth. Your hard work, compassion, and dedication leave a lasting impact on every student who walks through our doors. ❤️ Thank you for your commitment to making our schools a place where students feel valued, supported, and motivated to reach their potential. We appreciate everything you do! 👏🎉 Drop a comment below to share your thanks! If you know a staff member who deserves special recognition, give them a shout-out! www.acpsd.net/shine💬👇 Stay tuned every Sunday as we let the light SHINE on the incredible employees making a difference and serving with greatness! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY FAMILIES | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 ACPSD encourages students and staff to wear PURPLE this Friday, November 15, in celebration of the Month of the Military Family. THANK YOU to our military families for your dedication and service. #PurpleUp Veterans Day celebrations are continuing in our schools this week with walls of honor, tribute concerts, and very special guests. We are incredibly grateful for the veterans and active duty heroes in our community and across the country. Enjoy these photos from some of the Veterans Day programs in our schools, and Purple Up (wear purple) this Friday, November 15, as we show our support for families of those who serve! #ACPSDCelebrates

THANK YOU, VOTERS! Nearly 73% of Aiken County voters said “yes” to a renewal of the Educational Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax. The “yes” vote renews the 1% tax for a period of 10 years, and results in the continuation of the one cent (penny) tax added to every dollar spent on most goods purchased in the county. The 2024 One Cent Sales Tax will fund upgrades, renovations and improvements at South Aiken, Silver Bluff, and Midland Valley high schools, North Augusta Middle School, and construction of a new elementary school serving students in Area Three. Several contingency projects were also listed on the ballot and represent high priority needs. Contingency projects include roofing, construction of security vestibules and door lock upgrades district-wide, additions at Byrd and Gloverville elementary schools, and replacement of Greendale Elementary. Contingency projects will be addressed once the primary projects are funded as tax dollars are available. The tax passed by an overwhelming majority and was supported in each of the county’s 89 voting precincts, with 54,584 (72.59%) voting in favor of the 10-year Sales Tax renewal benefitting our public school facilities. The companion question, which asked voters if the district could bond up to $285 million of the projected Sales Tax revenue to jumpstart the projects (instead of waiting for the pennies to add up before beginning the facility improvements), also passed, with 71.28% of the vote. Thank you, voters! We join you in excitement for the campus improvements ahead, and are most grateful for your vote of confidence that will make them possible!

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.