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🌟 A Day or Two Late, But Never Undervalued! 🌟 Friday was National Employee Appreciation Day, but let’s be real—one day isn’t enough to recognize the dedication, passion, and hard work of our incredible employees! To every team member who shows up, steps up, and makes a difference—THANK YOU. Your commitment doesn’t go unnoticed, and we appreciate you today and every day. #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, there is a threat of severe weather with wind gusts in the morning forecasted to exceed 40 mph. This wind speed exceeds the threshold allowed for school buses to be on roadways. This wind event will result in a need to shift to e-learning tomorrow. Employees should plan to report to their work location on a two-hour delayed start, with no building or office opening before 10 a.m. Afterschool extracurricular practices, games, and events will continue tomorrow as scheduled. There will be no QuestZone tomorrow. We apologize for the challenges that this will cause our families and appreciate your continued cooperation and support!

During Spring Intersession, the week of March 31-April 3, a limited number of spots are available for this year’s Fine Arts Camp, Lego Wars, for students in grades 6-8. Fine Arts Camp will be held at Highland Springs Middle School Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Students will be immersed in creativity, the engineering design process, and project design while developing architectural skills to build a strong Lego structure. Registration opens Monday, March 3, at 6 p.m. for ACPSD middle school students and is offered on a first come-first served basis. Please note that due to space limitations, only the first 30 students to apply will be accepted. Once the application window opens, parents/guardians can apply by scanning the QR Code or visiting https://forms.office.com/r/zJ7pj8gvYh. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day of camp, Monday-Thursday, March 31-April 3, however students’ families will be responsible for their own transportation to Highland Springs Middle. Please contact Dr. Kimberly Fontanez, District Fine Arts Coordinator, at kfontanez@acpsd.net with any questions.

🌟 Celebrating Our Classified Employees! 🌟 This Classified Employee Week, we honor the incredible staff who keep our schools running smoothly every day! From office professionals to custodians, bus drivers, food service workers, and more—you are the heart of our schools! Shout out to our hardworking classified employees for their dedication, support, and commitment to student success! #SHINEACPSD #ACPSDcelebrates

Aiken County Public School District, February 25 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 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.

ACPSD fifth graders are invited to submit an application for the Aiken County Career and Technology Center’s CTE Techno Camp being held on Saturday, March 15, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Interested students must submit an application by next Wednesday, February 26, at 5 p.m. to be considered. As part of the application, students will select their choice of two CTE programs to explore such as Under the Hood, Team Fashion Design, Photo Pea: Introduction to Photoshop, Code-A-Bot: Robotics, Digital Art and Media: Photography, Cosmetology 101, Barber Shop 101, Aiken Culinary Chefs, Nail Tech 101, An EMT to the Rescue!, The Life of a Biomedical Scientist, and Hair Braiding 101. For more information, please visit the Aiken County Career and Technology Center’s website. Techno Camp Information is available under “Resources,” or call (803) 593-7300. Application Link: tinyurl.com/CTEtechnoCamp

Our school district administration, in collaboration with local emergency management officials, are monitoring the winter weather system that is forecasted for areas northeast of our county later this evening and into tomorrow morning. While no changes are anticipated to our regular operations, please be aware that we are continuing to monitor that system for any possible impact and will share updates as needed.

Aiken County Public School District, February 18 SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING - BUDGET WORKSHOP - The Board of Education will hold a special called budget workshop meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 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.

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, for Presidents Day. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, February 18.

It may be the shortest month of the year, but there’s no shortage of SHINE Shout Outs being submitted to celebrate and share the love for our teachers, therapists, coaches, bus drivers, and other staff this February! ✨Big hearts for this week’s featured employees! ❤️ #ACPSDcelebrates #SHINEACPSD

On National School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day, we recognize the invaluable service of our SROs, who work tirelessly to create a safe and secure environment in our schools. As a link between our schools, law enforcement, and the community, SROs are instrumental in fostering positive relationships and promoting social responsibility. We salute our SROs for their remarkable service and the lasting impact they have on our schools and communities. #ACPSDcelebrates #SROAppreciationDay

❤️ CELEBRATING LOVE THE BUS MONTH 💛 February is designated as “Love the Bus Month” by the American School Bus Council. Bus drivers, whether transporting children to and from school, taking a team to a game, or driving a school group to an activity or field trip, are a vital part of the success of the students of Aiken County Public School District. In addition to promoting safety, "Love the Bus" also emphasizes the positive impact that school transportation has on education. By recognizing and appreciating the efforts of these professionals, we can inspire more people to consider careers in school transportation and help to ensure that students continue to receive safe and reliable transportation services for years to come. Thank you to our dedicated team of Bus Drivers, Bus Monitors, and Transportation Department staff for all you do to drive student success in Aiken County! #ACPSDcelebrates #LoveTheBusACPSD #BusDriverAppreciation

ACPSD is extending our celebration of our school board beyond January’s School Board Appreciation Month! In a new video series launching today, we invite you to watch and “Get To Know Your School Board” through student interviews with each trustee. In the first episode of this fun new feature, School Board Member Mr. Brian Silas returns to his alma mater Midland Valley High School for an interview with student body president Adalisia Velasquez-Puentes. Tonight, you’ll get to know Mr. Silas. Stay tuned over the coming months to learn more, including which emoji each trustee uses most, their favorite musical artist, and much more! #ACPSDcelebrates https://youtu.be/cKOzuUh4M18

Aiken County Public School District is excited to host a Hiring Event for Special Education Aides on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, offering a unique opportunity to join a dynamic team dedicated to making a positive impact on students' lives. The event will take place at the District Office, located at 1000 Brookhaven Drive, Aiken, SC 29803, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. District administrators will be conducting interviews and extending job offers to qualified candidates. Please come prepared for an interview, bring your resume, and be ready to take the first step towards a rewarding career. Pre-registration is highly encouraged, and walk-ins are also welcome. Please note that 60 hours of basic college credit OR a passing Para Pro exam is required to interview at the hiring event. Pre-register now at the following link: https://acpsd.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4973131. For more information and to discover additional employment opportunities, visit www.acpsd.net/join-our-team.

Aiken County Public School District, February 11 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on February 11, 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.

4K Applications for the 2025-26 school year are now being accepted! The spring application window opens Monday, February 10th, and closes on Friday, March 14, 2025. If your child will be 4 on or before September 1, 2025, we encourage you to scan the QR Code or visit www.acpsd.net/4K to complete an application online. Before you begin your application, please be sure to have the following documents on hand: your child's Official Birth Certificate, SC Certificate of Immunization, Proof of Income or Medicaid Card, and two (2) current Proofs of Residency. Following the submission of your 4K application, a representative from your child's zoned school will contact you to schedule a screening. For more information about our 4K Child Early Reading and Development Education Program (CERDEP), please visit our website at www.acpsd.net/4K or contact your child’s zoned school.

Congratulations to Aiken County Public School District's January Employee of the Month, Ms. Trina Smith! Ms. Smith has worked with ACPSD for seven months and serves as the Assistant Principal at Wagener-Salley High School (WSHS). Since her arrival at WSHS, Ms. Smith has been a dynamic force of positivity and motivation, significantly impacting both faculty and students. Her commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative environment has brought about notable improvements in the school climate and strengthened relationships within the community. Ms. Smith has embraced change as an opportunity for growth, consistently encouraging innovation and best practices among staff. Her effective enforcement of school rules and discipline has established her as a formidable leader, ensuring a safe and structured learning environment. Her dedication and energetic approach have not only uplifted morale, but also inspired a collective drive towards excellence in all areas of school life. Thank you to our January Employee of the Month, Ms. Trina Smith, for demonstrating excellence as an employee of ACPSD! We appreciate all you do!

In celebration of National School Counseling Week, Aiken County Public Schools would like to recognize the outstanding work that our school counselors do for students each and every day. School counselors provide social, emotional, academic, and career support for all students. They also provide personalized support including classroom lessons, small group activities, and one-on-one meetings tailored to each student's needs. School counselors collaborate with key stakeholders such as parents, teachers, administrators, and community organizations to offer a range of resources for student success. We deeply appreciate the dedication our school counseling team has to the well-being and success of all students in ACPSD. #ACPSDCelebrates #NationalSchoolCounselingWeek

❤️ Hello, February! ❤️ This month, we're celebrating the incredible heart our teachers and staff bring to Aiken County Public Schools every day. From the dedication in the classroom to the kindness in the hallways, our team makes a difference in the lives of students and the entire community. Thank you for all you do—you are the heart of our district! 💕 Know a staff member who deserves some love? Give them a shout out at 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

Join us today, Saturday, February 1, from now until 12 PM at Aiken High School for our school district's Hiring Event! Take the first step towards a fulfilling career with Aiken County Public Schools and chat with representatives from all schools and locations. We're excited to meet you and explore opportunities together! Walk-ins are welcome.