Due to the winter storm and out of an abundance of caution, all Aiken County public schools and offices will begin the day tomorrow, Monday, January 26, 2026, on a two-hour delayed start. While some areas of Aiken County experienced greater impacts from this storm than others, district leaders continue to consider conditions across the entire county. Temperatures are expected to rise today, which should improve conditions; however, some roadways—particularly bridges and secondary roads—may remain slick during the morning commute.
Important Details for Tomorrow:
• Students and Staff: The two-hour delayed start applies to all students, teachers, and staff.
• Student Meals: With the delayed start schedule, only lunch will be served in school cafeterias.
• Half-Day & Partial-Day Programs: Students on half-day and partial-day schedules, including Early Learning Special Education students, are encouraged to attend school if possible; however, school bus transportation will not be available, as buses will be unable to run mid-day routes.
• No Before-School Activities: No activities will be permitted before school begins on the two-hour delay.
• After-School Activities: After-school activities, including Quest Zone and extracurricular activities such as athletic practices, will continue as scheduled.
• Aiken County Career and Technology Center: Morning session students should report to their home high schools. The afternoon session will continue as planned.
What's Next: ACPSD continues to collaborate closely with local Emergency Management officials and monitor conditions across the county. An update regarding any changes to Tuesday’s schedule will be shared no later than 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.
We look forward to welcoming students and staff to school tomorrow and appreciate our families’ continued patience and flexibility as we prioritize safety.
Confidence in the weekend storm’s possible impact to Aiken County has decreased. However, in an abundance of caution, our District and school’s weekend activities scheduled to extend beyond noon this Saturday, January 24, will be rescheduled.
This includes numerous activities, such as Saturday’s acGATEWAY auditions, as well as the MLK Jr. Community Event previously scheduled for Sunday. Individual schools and programs will share details on these and other cancellations along with rescheduled dates and times.
Our emergency management team will continue to work closely with local officials in monitoring the storm over the coming days. As we prepare for the possibility of e-learning on Monday, students will be sent home from school tomorrow with their laptop and remote assignments.
A decision regarding the safety of operations for next week will be made as soon as possible. We recognize that school closure decisions have a tremendous impact on our community, especially parents and guardians. Please know that the safety of our students, families, teachers and staff is always our highest priority, and that every effort will be made to utilize our five designated e-learning days carefully so as to not extend the school year to meet mandated requirements. An update regarding operations for Monday, January 26, will be shared no later than 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 25.
Congratulations to our First-Year Teachers of the Year Honor Court!
Aleesha Ashe, 4K Teacher at North Augusta Elementary
Disaiah Whack, ELA Teacher at Kennedy Middle
Hayden Beck, 1st Grade Teacher at Belvedere Elementary
Regina Androl, 1st Grade Teacher at East Aiken School of the Arts
Ryann Kramer, Math Teacher at Highland Springs Middle
Stay tuned as we continue to highlight additional STARS Honor Court categories over the coming days and celebrate employees who shine brightly.
#ACPSD #AikenCountyPublicSchools #StarsHonorCourt #ACPSDcelebrates
District Leadership made surprise visits at schools and offices across the District today to celebrate this year’s Stars of Public Education Honor Court. The recognition program and event honoring ACPSD’s brightest stars first began as our annual Teacher of the Year celebration, and has grown to incorporate recognition of our very best New Teachers, Principals, Assistant Principals, Classified Staff, Professionals, and District-Level Administrators. With its origin in mind, we’ll begin our first Stars of Public Education Honor Court announcements with Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to our Teachers of the Year Honor Court!
Arrington Weston, Social Studies Teacher at Schofield Middle
Jerry Brannon, Science Teacher at RSM Middle/High
Madison Spires, Science Teacher at Silver Bluff High
Megan Maxwell, Speech Pathologist with Special Programs
Sonya Lee, Special Education Teacher at Leavelle McCampbell Middle
#ACPSD #AikenCountyPublicSchools #StarsHonorCourt #ACPSDcelebrates
We are excited to welcome our students, staff, and families back to school as we kick off a new year and a new semester. January is a fresh start and full of opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve together. As we return to our classrooms, we look forward to continued collaboration, renewed focus, and celebrating the success ahead. Let's make this semester a strong one!
#ACPSD #AikenCountyPublicSchools #BackToSchool
Welcome to 2026! We hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating winter break. We are so excited to see our students’ smiling faces back in the hallways as we kick off a brand-new year of learning and growth.
Please take a moment to review these important updates and reminders as we transition back to our school routine:
🗓️ Important Dates & Schedule
Monday, January 5: No school for students (Teacher Workday).
Tuesday, January 6: Students return to school.
Friday, January 9: Pickle Sales Day!
🚗 Carline Etiquette Reminders
As we return on Tuesday morning, please check our newsletter for full carline details. Our top priority is student safety. Please remember:
Stay Focused: No cell phone use while in the carline.
Watch for Signals: Keep a close eye on staff members for signs on when to stop, go, or when it is time for students to "hop out" of the vehicle.
🌟 Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Belvedere Talent Show: We are gauging interest in a school-wide talent show! If your student might be interested in performing, please complete the interest survey anytime during the month of January. (link)
Aiken County Strategic Plan: The district is developing a "map" for success over the coming years. Your voice matters! Please complete the district survey and plan to attend the Input Session at Belvedere Elementary on January 15th at 6:30 PM. (link)
2025-2026 Yearbooks: Now is the perfect time to order! The draft is looking incredible, and you won’t want to miss out on these memories.
🥒 Support Our Students
Pickle Sales: This Friday, send in $1 for a pickle! All proceeds go toward supporting our Second Grade Field Trip, helping to lower the cost for every student.
Easy Fundraising: Please keep scanning your grocery receipts for Box Tops and ensure Belvedere Elementary is selected as your charity of choice in the Kroger app. These small actions directly fund our House Program and prizes for our students!
Cold Weather Reminder: With the colder temperatures setting in, please ensure your student dresses warmly each day, especially for recess and outdoor activities. This includes coats, hats, and gloves/mittens. Please Label Everything! To prevent lost items, please make sure all winter gear (coats, hats, gloves, scarves, etc.) is clearly labeled with your student's name and homeroom teacher!
Fun & Important Details for This Week
Santa Shop is happening this week! Please make sure to check the schedule that was sent home to confirm the specific day and time your student's class is scheduled to visit. It's a great opportunity for students to pick out thoughtful gifts for family and friends.
Friday, December 19th:
Pajama Day
PTO Carline Parade! Get into the festive spirit with our annual PTO Carline Parade!
Time: The parade will begin promptly at 8:15 AM on Friday, December 19th.
Participation: If you are interested in decorating your car and participating, please meet in the bus loop with your decorated vehicle at 8:05 AM.
Early Dismissal: This Friday, December 19th, will be a cozy and fun day!
Fundraising & Support Opportunities
Your support helps us fund so many wonderful things at Belvedere, and this week is a great time to give an extra push!
Box Tops for Education: Don't forget to keep scanning those Box Tops! It's an easy way to earn money for our school.
Kroger Community Rewards: Please take a moment to add Belvedere Elementary to your Kroger app's Community Rewards program.
Spread the Word: Box Tops and Kroger rewards are not limited to our local area! Please share this information with friends and relatives who live out of town—they can support Belvedere no matter where they are!
Yearbook Orders Are Open!
Looking for a perfect gift or a way to preserve memories?
Order Your Yearbook: Don't forget the gift that lasts a lifetime—a Belvedere Yearbook! Go ahead and order your copy for the 2025-2026 school year now.
Purchase an Ad: We encourage you to consider purchasing an ad in the yearbook. It is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate your student with a personal message or to share information about your small business with the entire school community.
Bears, get ready for an exciting week! 🐻
🎁 Santa Shop! Check your student's schedule for their shopping time the week of December 15th through 18th. Late money is welcome—we'll get them shopping!
📸 Pre-Order the 2025 Yearbook! Customize pages and don't miss the ad/shoutout opportunity!
🚫 Friendly Reminder: While fun at home, please do not send toys or Elf on the Shelf to school. They create distractions!
💰 Support: Keep collecting Box Tops & link Belvedere Elementary on the Kroger app!
Have a great week!
🔔 Key Events This Week
We have two important events scheduled for the first week back:
Wednesday - Winter Picture Day: Please remember that Winter Pictures will be taken this Wednesday. Flyers with package information are coming home with students today/tomorrow. These photos are a great option for holiday cards and gifts!
Friday - Pickle Sales Fundraiser: Our popular Pickle Sales are this Friday! Pickles are $1 each, and all proceeds go directly to supporting the 2nd Grade Field Trip, helping to keep costs low for our families.
🧥 Winter Weather & Lost Items
As the weather has turned colder, please ensure your student comes to school each day with a warm winter coat.
Please Note: We strongly encourage all families to LABEL your student's coat (and other belongings) with their name and homeroom teacher. This simple step drastically helps us reduce the number of items in our lost and found.
📢 Looking Ahead
Don't forget to check the monthly bulletin for details on upcoming PTO events, including the fun Carline Parade and the Santa Shop. We will need volunteers for these festive activities—your support is greatly appreciated!
We look forward to a successful and festive December!
Please note that there will be no school for students, teachers, and most staff the week of November 24–28.
Additionally, all schools and offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28. We look forward to welcoming everyone back when we reopen on Monday, December 1.
A huge thank you to all our amazing families who joined us for the Fall Carnival! And a special shoutout to our incredible PTO for organizing such a fun and memorable event! 🎉
Get ready for an action-packed week before Thanksgiving Break (Nov 17-21):
🏗️ Tuesday, 4:30 PM: Groundbreaking Ceremony!
We're inviting everyone to celebrate the official groundbreaking for our new cafeteria and gym addition! This is a huge milestone for the school! (Anticipated opening: Fall 2026.)
🚚 Wednesday: Game Truck Reward Day!
Students who earned the reward during our fall fundraiser get to enjoy the Game Truck!
🌟 Friday: Celebration Day!
We’ll be celebrating the fantastic learning gains our students made on recent testing!
🛑 HOLIDAY BREAK REMINDER 🛑
There is NO SCHOOL from Monday, November 24th, through Friday, November 28th.
We are so thankful for our partnership with all of our families and hope you have a restful and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Don't forget to keep scanning those receipts for Boxtops!
The next update will be sent on Monday, November 30th.
Celebrating School-Wide Excellence
What an incredible start to our month! Belvedere Elementary is bursting with Belvedere Bear Pride after receiving the official announcement that our school has been rated "Excellent" for the second consecutive time! This monumental achievement is a shared success, belonging to our exceptional students, dedicated staff, and supportive families.
The celebration continues as we honor several outstanding members of our team for their dedication and commitment:
Meg Robinson: Teacher of the Year
Anna Beth Harbeson: District Nominee for Assistant Principal of the Year
Hayden Beck: First Year Teacher of the Year
Jan Narciso: Giving Even More Award Winner
We are profoundly proud to have these deserving individuals representing Belvedere Elementary.
Key Focus: Winter Testing and Operation: Spread Kindness!
We have a crucial and exciting week ahead focused on both academics and character development.
Winter Testing Schedule
Our first through fifth graders will be demonstrating their growth during winter assessments. Please help us prepare them for success by ensuring they get a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast on testing mornings.
iReady Reading: Tuesday
iReady Math: Thursday
Operation: Spread Kindness!
Throughout the week, we are launching "Operation: Spread Kindness!" Based on feedback from our school leadership, counselors, and families, we are shifting our primary focus to promoting proactive kindness in our daily words and actions. We will also be defining bullying—a behavior involving an imbalance of power that is repeated and has the intent to harm—to ensure all students understand the difference. We encourage families to join this conversation at home!
PTO Carnival and Community Events
Our fantastic PTO has planned an amazing event!
The Annual Carnival is this Saturday! Get ready for fun and games.
Wednesday, after school: PTO and SIC meeting followed by a clean-up effort to prepare the campus for the Carnival. Volunteers are welcome!
Wednesday evening: Support our school community at Spirit Night at the Back Porch!
Carnival Challenge: Don't forget to pre-order your carnival tickets! If we reach 2000 pre-ordered tickets, Mrs. Harbeson and Ms. Long have agreed to kiss a farm animal at the event! Help us hit the goal!
Final Reminders
Yearbooks: Yearbooks are still on sale! Don't miss out on securing this year's memories. Check out the advertisement options for family shout-outs or small business promotion.
Box Tops Goal: Keep scanning those Box Tops! Our goal is to reach $500 in November!
Thank you for your continued partnership. Go Bears!
PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY FAMILIES | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
ACPSD encourages all students, staff, and families to wear PURPLE on Friday, November 14 as we celebrate the Month of the Military Family!
This special day is our way of showing appreciation and support for the incredible military families who sacrifice and serve alongside their loved ones.
THANK YOU to our military families for your dedication, resilience, and service to our nation.
Join us in honoring our heroes—both at home and abroad—by wearing purple with pride!
Throughout November, schools across the district are recognizing Veterans Day and the Month of the Military Family with special celebrations and activities to honor the veterans and active-duty heroes in our community and across the country.
Let’s turn our schools PURPLE Friday, November 14!
The excitement is through the roof! We are ecstatic to announce that Belvedere Elementary has received an Overall Excellent Rating for the second time!
Last year, we moved to Excellent for Achievement and maintained an Excellent Climate rating. Seeing that Overall rating back at Excellent is a monumental achievement!
Highlights of our Success:
Overall Rating: Excellent (for the second time!)
Achievement: Excellent
Climate: Excellent
Student Progress: Good
We are especially proud to boast the highest Climate Score in all of Aiken County and the 35th highest in the state (out of 1,368 schools)! This incredible success reflects the positive environment we all work hard to create.
Thank you to our amazing students, our tireless team, and our devoted community! Your commitment to excellence is what makes BES shine! 🍎
#BESExcellence #ExcellentClimate #SchoolRatings #EducationMatters #TeamWork
🎉 Huge thanks to the PTO & all families for an amazing Trunk or Treat!
🗓️ THIS FRIDAY:
Veteran's Day: Wear Red/White/Blue! 🇺🇸
2nd Grade Fundraiser: $1 Pickle Sales! 🥒
More Info:
Winter Testing: Check the bulletin for prep tips.
Yearbook: Pre-orders OPEN! All grades can get "Shout Out" pages now (businesses too!).
Fundraising: Please keep scanning receipts as you shop for Thanksgiving! 💰
Thank you for your support!
Get ready for Red Ribbon Week, major events, and a long weekend! We've packed all the need-to-know info below:
🛑 Red Ribbon Week Dress-Up Days! (Next Week)
Show your pledge to be drug-free by participating in our daily themes:
Monday: Wear RED to show your pledge. 🔴
Tuesday: Say "Peace Out" to drugs! Wear tie dye, peace signs, or bright colors. ✌️
Wednesday: Team Up against drugs! Wear team gear or Belvedere spirit wear. Also Wednesday: Character & All A Honor Roll Ceremony (invitation was sent to students being recognized).
Thursday: Drugs are spooky! Wear school-appropriate costumes. 👻 (Reminder: NO masks, weapons, face paint, or scary themes.)
🗓️ Key Dates & Deadlines
THURSDAY NIGHT: PTO Trunk or Treat! 🍬 Join us 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
FRIDAY: NO SCHOOL for students. Enjoy your long weekend!
SILENT AUCTION: Last call! Get your final bids in this week! (32auctions.com/BES2025)
FIBER ARTS CAMP: Applications for our free December camp (Grades 3-5) are due Nov 7. Details available in the office. 🎨
Don't forget! Keep scanning those receipts on the Box Tops App and spread the word to neighbors and friends! Every scan helps Belvedere! 📣
Join us for Community Night at ACCTC
Tuesday, October 28 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Aiken County Career & Technology Center
2455 Jefferson Davis Highway, Warrenville, SC
We’re excited to welcome current students, future students, families, and community members for an evening of connection, fun, and exploration.
Don’t miss our SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT at 5:00 PM.
Highlights include:
Food trucks
Door prizes
Industry partners
Activities for all ages
For more information, visit www.acpsd.net/acctc or call (803) 593-7300.
Mark your calendar and join us!
It's going to be a busy week, Bears! Please see the key dates and ways to get involved:
📅 This Week's Schedule & Key Events
MONDAY, Oct 20: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS! 🍎 Staff will be holding Parent-Teacher Conferences.
TUESDAY, Oct 21: 2nd Grade Testing continues. Plus, the Annual PTO Silent Auction KICKS OFF! Get ready to bid!
WEDNESDAY, Oct 22: 2nd Grade Testing continues + Evening Meetings:
3:00 PM: SIC/Title I Meeting
3:30 PM: PTO Meeting
THURSDAY, Oct 23: 📸 Makeup Picture Day (for retakes or those who missed the original date).
🐻 Support Our School!
We're raising funds and need your help:
CANDY DRIVE: Come "Feed the Bear!" Please send in candy donations this week to support our upcoming school carnival.
BOX TOPS: We've already raised nearly $400! Keep scanning those grocery receipts into the Box Tops for Education app. Every scan counts!
Please make sure your 2nd graders get a great night's sleep Monday and Tuesday! See you soon!
