Byrd Elementary

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, is a scheduled Early Dismissal Day for students.

On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.

Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.

These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, is a scheduled Early Dismissal Day for students.

On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.

Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.

These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.

🚗 Important Dismissal Update for Byrd Families🚗

Starting Monday, August 4, Byrd Elementary will begin enforcing our mandatory car tag policy during afternoon pickup.

✅ What You Need to Know:
All vehicles must display an official Byrd Elementary car tag on the dashboard or rearview mirror.
Students will NOT be loaded into cars without a visible tag.
If you do not have a car tag, please contact your child’s teacher this week to get one.

❗️No Tag? Here's What Happens:
Parents/guardians without a tag will be redirected to the front office. You’ll need to show ID, and your child will be released after car line has ended.

Help us keep dismissal safe and efficient, get your car tag this week and be ready for Monday! 🦅

This summer, Aiken County’s most talented young artists immersed themselves in the acGATEWAY experience, which is an intensive, high-level arts program designed to challenge and inspire! From vibrant visual art displays to moving theatrical performances, students demonstrated what passion, focus, and creativity can achieve in just a few short weeks! Want to see what makes acGATEWAY so special? Watch our behind-the-scenes student videos and discover why this program has been a beloved part of Aiken County since 1992 and keep an eye out for 2026 acGATEWAY audition information for our summer 2026 opportunity. #acGATEWAY #AikenArts #GiftedAndTalented #ArtsEducation #StudentShowcase #VisualAndPerformingArts #ACPSD https://www.acpsd.net/page/gateway

Parents and Guardians now is the time to schedule a well-visit or vaccine appointment with your child’s healthcare provider to avoid the back-to-school rush before the 2025-26 school year begins on July 21! The SC Department of Public Health is also offering a vaccine clinic for students in grades 5K–12 on July 8 from 9–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. at the Aiken County Health Department (222 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken). Call (803) 642-7543 to make an appointment and bring vaccination and insurance records; a parent or guardian must accompany children under 16. No-cost vaccines may be available, though administration fees may apply. Don’t forget to submit your child’s updated SC Immunization Certificate to their school and note that all rising 7th graders must have a Tdap booster given at age 10 or older. Contact your child’s healthcare provider or school nurse with any questions and visit acpsd.net/page/nursing-services for more information.

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.

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!

The 2024-2025 Byrd Elementary yearbooks have arrived. There are a very limited number of extra yearbooks still available. Students can still purchase by sending $25 cash or check to school on a first come, first serve basis as long as supplies last. Ordering online will continue to be available and any orders made online will now be shipped directly to student's home.

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

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.

📅 Registration Event – Don’t Wait! Ready to lock in your student’s spot at Byrd Elementary for the upcoming school year? Beat the rush and join us for our Registration Event on May 28 and 29 from 11am to 3pm. Our friendly office staff will be on hand to guide you through the process and answer any questions. ✅ What to Bring: Two different proofs of residence Photo ID 🗓️ When: May 28 and 29, 11am – 3pm 📍 Where: Byrd Elementary We can’t wait to see you there!

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

🥪💪🍎 Happy National School Lunch Hero Day! 🍎💪🥪 Today, we’re giving a HUGE shoutout to the incredible food service team at Byrd Elementary — the true heroes behind the scenes who keep our students fueled, smiling, and ready to learn every single day! 💚 Whether they’re serving up hot meals, offering a kind word, or going the extra mile to make our cafeteria feel like a second home, their impact is felt in every tray they serve. Thank you for your hard work, your heart, and your dedication to our school family. You are appreciated more than you know! 💫 Let’s hear it for our Lunch Heroes — drop a ❤️ in the comments to show your love! #LunchHeroDay #ByrdElementary #ThankYou #FuelingFutureLeaders #SchoolLunchHeroes

🎉 Happy National Principal Day to the one and only Mrs. Enlow, the heart of Byrd Elementary! 🦅💙 From greeting students with a smile each morning to leading with vision, grace, and grit—Mrs. Enlow does it all. Her dedication to our school, our staff, and most importantly, our students, is unmatched. She makes Byrd a place where everyone feels seen, supported, and inspired to soar. Help us give a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Enlow today for everything she does to make Byrd the best place to learn and grow! Drop your love and appreciation in the comments below 👇💬💐 #NationalPrincipalDay #ByrdPride

🎉🍎 **Teacher Appreciation Week is Here!** 🍎🎉 Let’s celebrate the amazing teachers at Byrd Elementary School who go above and beyond every day! 🐦❤️ Each day next week (May 5–9), we invite students to join in the fun and show their love with these sweet and simple themed activities: 📅 **Monday, May 5 – “Sip, Sip Hooray!”** Kick off the week by bringing your teacher their *favorite drink* to keep them energized and smiling all day! ✉️ **Tuesday – “Thanks a Lot!”** Write your teacher a thoughtful *thank you note* to let them know just how much they mean to you! 🌸 **Wednesday – “Bloom and Grow”** Brighten their day with a beautiful *flower*—fresh, handmade, or drawn with love! 🍫 **Thursday – “Snack Attack!”** Bring your teacher a yummy *snack or treat* they can enjoy during their busy day. 🎁 **Friday – “Weekend Vibes!”** Surprise your teacher with a little something to help them *relax and recharge* over the weekend! 🧡 Participation is completely optional, but even the smallest gesture goes a long way in making our teachers feel appreciated. Let’s shower them with the love they deserve! #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ByrdElementary #WeLoveOurTeachers #ThankATeacher

🎉 Principal & Assistant Principal for the Day! 🎉 Byrd Elementary had some very special leaders in charge last week! 👏 Meet Alania and Karter, our Principal and Assistant Principal of the day! 🏫✨ These two outstanding students were the top fundraisers in our playground fundraiser, and we couldn’t be more proud! Alania raised the most and spent the day working alongside Mrs. Enlow, getting a firsthand look at what it takes to run a school. Karter, our second-highest fundraiser, job-shadowed Mr. Davis and took on the role of Assistant Principal like a pro! The admin team loved having the extra help, and Alania and Karter did an amazing job navigating a busy day at Byrd! Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraiser and helped make this a fun and memorable experience for our student leaders. 💙🦅 #LeadershipInTheMaking #ByrdPride #StudentSuccess #PlaygroundFundraiser #PrincipalForADay #WeAreByrd

As we approach the end of the school year, it's remarkable how quickly time has flown by. With just a month remaining, our students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be undertaking their SC READY assessments. These assessments play a vital role in evaluating our students' progress and are significant for both their academic journey and our school's performance. It's imperative that students are punctual and present on each testing day. To encourage attendance, students will receive a reward for being on time and present for testing. As testing will occur in the morning and early afternoon, we kindly ask you to reschedule any appointments to ensure students are present and ready to do their best. We urge you to ensure your child gets adequate rest and a nutritious breakfast before coming to school. Breakfast will be available each morning in the cafeteria. We recognize the dedication of both our students and teachers in preparing for these assessments, and we are eagerly anticipating their performance.

📚✨ We Need Book Fair Volunteers! ✨📚 Our Scholastic BOGO Book Fair is coming up from May 5th to May 8th, and we need your help to make it a magical experience for our students! This is a Buy One, Get One Free event—perfect for stocking up on books for summer reading! Even an hour of your time makes a big difference! 💛 If you're available to help out, please contact Ms. Goldman at egoldman@acpsd.net, or scan the QR code below. Thank you for supporting our readers—we couldn't do it without you!

We are thrilled to welcome back a familiar face in an exciting new role! Please join us in celebrating the return of Christen Sikes as the new Assistant Principal at Byrd Elementary School. Mrs. Sikes is no stranger to Byrd—her passion for students, deep understanding of classroom instruction, and unwavering commitment to excellence have always made her a standout educator in our school community. With 17 years of classroom experience and the past 4 years serving in the Human Resources department, she brings a well-rounded perspective to leadership. In her most recent role, Mrs. Sikes supported induction teachers and led district work around ADEPT evaluations and SC Lead, further strengthening her impact on education across Aiken County. Christen’s extensive experience at both the school and district levels makes her a valuable asset as we continue to grow together in our mission. Her return marks not only a continuation of her strong connection to Byrd but also a new chapter of collaborative leadership. She is known for her ability to build strong relationships and foster a positive, student-focused culture that uplifts both staff and families. A proud Graniteville resident, wife to an Aiken County native, and dedicated mother of three, Mrs. Sikes is deeply rooted in our community. Her heart for service and her drive to support students and educators make her an incredible addition to our administrative team. Mrs. Sikes will officially join Mrs. Enlow and Mr. Davis in early July for the start of the 2025 -2026 school year, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her back—this time as a key member of our leadership team who knows our school, our students, and our vision inside and out.

📚✨ BOGO Book Fair is Here! ✨📚 Get ready for double the reading fun! Our Scholastic BOGO Book Fair is coming to Byrd Elementary on May 5th-May 8th, and it’s the perfect time to stock up for summer reading! For every book you buy, you get one FREE—yes, FREE! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to grow your home library and keep the reading adventure going all year long. See you at the book fair!