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.
Mr. Matthews won the Superintendent's Excellence Award for Creating the Village. Mr. Matthews was recognized for creating a strong culture where staff feel valued and connected and there is an emphasis on community relations and building systems of support within and outside of the school. Way to go Mr. Matthews!
Our Busbee Bulldogs with Perfect Attendance for the Year received their plaques on the last day of school! They had breakfast with their family and enjoyed a little time together before heading off for summer. These students--Bryson, Noah, and Solana--had no tardies, absences, or early dismissals all year!
Aiken County Public School District’s full-time virtual program, Aiken iNNOVATE, is now accepting applications for the 2025–2026 school year. If you or your student are currently in 5th grade or higher and interested in a flexible, innovative learning environment, now is the time to apply. Aiken iNNOVATE offers a 100% virtual experience with certified ACPSD teachers and curriculum, providing students in grades 6–12 the opportunity to learn from anywhere while staying connected to their school community. To apply, visit www.acpsd.net/ai. If you have any questions, feel free to email Ai@acpsd.net. Don’t miss this opportunity to take charge of your education through Aiken iNNOVATE. Spots are limited.
Busbee students, faculty, and staff were so thankful to have a pizza lunch today provided by the generosity of Wagener's own musical artist, Mr. 803 Fresh! Carline may be a little delayed, but we should be ready to go by 11:35. Thanks for your patience!
Good evening Bulldogs! Just a reminder that tomorrow and Thursday are half-days. We will dismiss at 11:30 each day. Carline might start a little before 11:30. Have a great night!
Good afternoon! We hope you are enjoying the long weekend. Just a reminder that attendance is taken May 27-29, 2025. If you are planning to keep your student at home, please be sure to send in a parent note, medical excuse, or other excuse to csmith6@acpsd.net. Thank you!
Last day of SC Ready testing tomorrow (Thursday, May 22) with our 4th graders taking SC Ready Science! Please be on-time and well-rested.
The Seamless Summer Meal Program returns for Summer 2025! The ACPSD Child Nutrition Program will be offering nutritious meals at no cost for children aged 18 and under, as well as for individuals with disabilities up to age 21. Meals will be served Monday through Thursday from June 2 to June 26, 2025.
See flyer for more details!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us at Tailgate Tavern for Children’s Place’s 30th Annual Celebrity Waiter Night. Your generous tips—and incredible spirit—helped support a meaningful cause and made the evening one to remember. 🎉💛
We’re especially proud of The Brainy Bunch—our STARS of Public Education—who traded classrooms and offices for aprons to serve as this year’s Celebrity Waiters:
🍽️ Christie Palladino, District Teacher of the Year (Aiken County Career and Technology Center)
🍽️ Theresa Reeves, First Year Teacher of the Year (Byrd Elementary)
🍽️ Rashad Roland, Professional Staff Member of the Year (Transportation)
🍽️ Ni’Jae Jerry, GEM of the Year (Busbee Elementary)
🍽️ Micki Dove, District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court Member (Instruction)
Thanks for showing up and tipping big for a great cause! All tips and raffle ticket sales go directly to supporting the vital work of Children’s Place. #CelebrityWaiterNight #STARSofPublicEducation #STARSACPSD #TeamACPSD #ACPSDgivesback
Busbee 3rd-5th grade students take Math SC Ready tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20! Please make sure students get plenty of rest tonight and are on-time tomorrow!
Join The Brainy Bunch, comprised of our District’s STARS of Public Education, for dinner tonight at Tailgate Tavern during Children’s Place’s 30th Annual Celebrity Waiter Night. Serving as Celebrity Waiters are our District’s Teacher of the Year Christie Palladino (Aiken County Career and Technology Center), First Year Teacher of the Year Theresa Reeves (Byrd Elementary), Professional Staff Member of the Year Rashad Roland (Transportation), GEM (Classified Staff Member) of the Year Ni’Jae Jerry (Busbee Elementary), and District Level Administrator of the Year Honor Court Member Micki Dove (Instruction). Reservations and generous tips (with 100% of tips going to Children’s Place) are encouraged: (803) 226-0909.
If you have a student who will be 4 by September 1, 2025, they may qualify for Busbee's 4k Child Development program. Please stop by the office or register online for a screening time. https://www.acpsd.net/page/4k-application
The last full week of school is here! Please remember to check the list of end of year events. We have 2 SC Ready tests this week: Math on Tues. May 21 for 3rd-5th grades and Science on Thursday for 4th grade 🧪 We also have End-of-Year ceremonies on Wednesday and Friday! Please continue to check Rooms, Facebook, and your text messages/emails 💬✅📞
SC Ready testing for grades 3-5 testing THIS Tuesday, May 13! Please make sure your students are well-rested and on-time for school! ⏰✏️🐾
Tuesday, May 13: Writing
Thursday, May 15: Reading Part One
Friday, May 16: Reading Part Two
Tuesday, May 20: Math
Thursday, May 22: Science (4th grade only)
Registration is now open for both new and returning ACPSD students! Please take a few minutes today and this weekend to get your students registered. 🐾💙
It's Busbee again for message #2 of the day! Spring retake pictures were sent home yesterday, and money is due May 18. Thank you!!
Aiken High School’s Educators Rising would like to invite you and your children to enjoy “A Royal Family Ball” in the Aiken High School cafeteria. This event is for families with young children to experience a “prom-like” event, where they get to dress up in fancy clothes, dance to fun music, eat delicious snacks, make crowns, decorate “chalices,” enjoy other activities, and take pictures of the memories!
Tickets are available on GoFan.com see the link below and QR Code in the picture. Costs are $5.00 for each child ages 3-years-old to 12-years-old (children 2 + under are free). All children must be accompanied by an adult family member (18-years-old and up). Costs for adult tickets are $10.00.
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Christa Franklin (cfranklin2@acpsd.net), the Educators Rising adviser and Early Childhood Education Instructor.
bit.ly/royal-family-ball
Important Picture Update: Strawbridge just informed us that they will NOT be here for Spring picture retakes that were having to be taken due to their error. If you received a call saying your child needed to retake pictures, that will now be on Monday, May 5. We apologize on behalf of Strawbridge.
And here's our Busbee Faculty and Staff Members of the Month for March! Ms. Amber Payne, our 5k teacher, and Ms. Marie Burgess, our SPED paraprofessional! We are so thankful they are here with us at Busbee!
