Aiken Innovate -

Hello Parents and Guardians! We would greatly appreciate your support! It's that time again—time to tackle our School Climate Surveys! You can complete them through your Parent Portal in Powerschool. Just look for the Forms section on the left side of the page. Don’t forget to check your email for all the important details! Thank you for your involvement! Access Powerschool here: https://aiken.powerschool.com/public/

Interested in virtual learning? Join us for an Aiken iNNOVATE informational meeting on March 27 at 12 PM or 6 PM! 💻 Learn how our virtual program for middle & high school students offers: ✅ Daily, live interaction with teachers ✅ Flexible learning with personalized support ✅ The ability to stay connected to your home school & activities Don’t miss out—discover if Aiken iNNOVATE is right for you! Sign up for the virtual informational session at: https://forms.office.com/r/58Zu8w25HS Or, scan the QR code above.

Dear Students and Parents/Learning Coaches, While it is difficult to believe, we have now reached the end of Quarter 3, and the end of the school year is in sight. Please take a moment to review your students’ Quarter 3 grades and decide if the option below is one you qualify to take advantage of to help improve Semester 2 grades. Aiken iNNOVATE will be offering Content Recovery from April 14th to May 2nd. If your child fails for the quarter, they will be able to work on coursework made available to them by teachers to achieve a passing grade of 60 for each class failed. Please consider registering them for Content Recovery by using the link below. We must have your application by March 26th for your child to be considered for Content Recovery. Please click the link below, or scan the code, to complete the application. We strongly encourage you to have conversations today with your student to find out what can be put in place at home to help them earn passing grades for Quarter 4. https://forms.office.com/r/Byy3Hesbn9

💻 Hey Students – It’s Fix-It Day! 💻 Is your computer slower than a snail? Freezing up like it’s stuck in winter? Shutting down for no reason? We’ve got you covered! TODAY (March 12), bring your glitchy device to the high school closest to your home between 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM. Head to the front office, and they’ll guide you from there. Let’s get those computers back in action!

Hey Students! We've noticed that a lot of our computers have been acting up—running slower than a Monday morning, freezing like an ice cube, or just giving up on life. But don’t worry, we’re here to fix it! Bring your device to the high school closest to your home on Wednesday, March 12, between 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM. Just swing by the front office, and they’ll point you in the right direction. Let’s get those computers back in action!

Do you know someone who takes pride in creating clean, safe, and welcoming spaces? Aiken iNNOVATE is looking for a custodian. For more information or to apply, go to https://acpsd.schoolspring.com/

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.

Learn virtually, stay connected! Aiken iNNOVATE offers middle & high school students live classes with teachers while remaining part of their home school. Apply now! 👉 www.acpsd.net/Ai

Aiken iNNOVATE is celebrating Black History Month: Ketanji Brown Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., on September 14, 1970. She married Patrick Jackson in 1996, and they have two daughters. She received an A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard-Radcliffe College in 1992 and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard University. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. appointed her to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2021 and then nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2022. She took her seat on June 30, 2022.

Congratulations Zoe for being selected as an ACPSD Mathematician of the Month! Zoe has consistently earned “A” Honor Roll this year, so all of her subjects are important to her. However, mathematics is her strength, and she demonstrates this each week by always meeting her goals in her virtual math class, Dreambox, and Khan Academy. Mrs. Griffin says that Zoe studies hard and is a math rock star at ACPSD’s virtual program, Aiken Innovate!

Aiken iNNOVATE gives middle & high school students live virtual classes with teachers—flexible learning while staying part of their home school! Apply today: www.acpsd.net/Ai

Looking for a flexible virtual learning option? Aiken iNNOVATE offers middle and high school students daily, live interaction with teachers while keeping them connected to their home school! ✔️ Personalized academic support ✔️ Stay enrolled at your home school ✔️ Participate in events & extracurricular activities with the home school Learn more or apply today! www.acpsd.net/Ai

Join us for the Youth Resource Fair on February 20 from 4-7 at the Second Baptist Teen Center at 1151 York Street, Aiken. This is your chance to discover awesome resources available in our state and local community. We’ll have 21 vendors, including nonprofits, community groups, and state agencies, ready to share valuable info. (Just a heads-up: This is NOT a job fair!) All ACPSD students ages 16-24 and their families are invited—including those in CIL, Adult Ed, and more. Don’t miss out!

School Counselor, Erika Smith, knows some days are harder than others. When things feel a little overwhelming here are 101 ways to Cope with Stress In Ten Days. Check back daily for more tips! Buy yourself a flower Take stock of your achievements Find support from others Ask someone to be your “vent partner” Do it today Work at being cheerful and optimistic Put safety first Do everything in moderation Pay attention to your appearance Strive for excellence NOT perfection

School Counselor, Erika Smith, knows some days are harder than others. When things feel a little overwhelming here are 101 ways to Cope with Stress In Ten Days. Check back daily for more tips! Ask a friend for a hug Look up at the stars Practice breathing slowly Learn to whistle a tune Read a poem Listen to a symphony Watch a ballet Read a story curled up in bed Do a brand new thing Stop a bad habit

School Counselor, Erika Smith, knows some days are harder than others. When things feel a little overwhelming here are 101 ways to Cope with Stress In Ten Days. Check back daily for more tips! Take a bubble bath Be aware of the decisions you make Believe in yourself Stop saying negative things to yourself Visualize yourself winning Develop your sense of humor Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better day Have goals for yourself Dance a jig Say hello to a stranger

School Counselor, Erika Smith, knows some days are harder than others. When things feel a little overwhelming here are 101 ways to Cope with Stress In Ten Days. Check back daily for more tips! Smile Be prepared for rain Tickle a baby Pet a friendly dog/cat Don’t know all the answers Look for the silver lining Say something nice to someone Teach a kid to fly a kite Walk in the rain Schedule play time into every day

Don't we all LOVE to hear a little praise? Here is another installment of 101 Ways to say how awesome your children are today! You’re Catching On Now You’ve Got It You’re Incredible Bravo You’re Fantastic Hooray For You You’re On Target You’re On Your Way How Nice How Smart

This week is National School Counselor Week! Our Aiken iNNOVATE School Counselor, Mrs. Erika Smith is sharing the following message to all our students and families: The theme of this year’s week is “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive.” I want to talk about what it means to truly thrive. Thriving means growing, succeeding and feeling fulfilled in all areas of your life, and as a school counselor, I want to help you achieve that. There are several areas where I can help you thrive, including your academic growth, your emotional well-being and your career exploration. * For example, thriving academically means setting goals, staying motivated and finding joy in learning. I can help you develop strategies to be successful academically. *Thriving emotionally means feeling balanced, resilient and supported. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, I’m here to listen and help you navigate your feelings. *Thriving in your future means understanding your strengths and passions. I can help you explore different careers and plan for a future that excites you. Helping you thrive is my goal. I hope you’ll reach out when you need support or just want to chat. Let’s work together to THRIVE the rest of this school year. You can reach me at erikas@acpsd.net or 803-306-1036