ACPSD E-Learning/Remote Workday Thursday, January 23
We hope you’ve had an opportunity to enjoy the snow and that the assignments for e-learning today have been worthwhile practice. In collaboration with local Emergency Management officials, district administration is monitoring the impact of Winter Storm Enzo. Based on current conditions of significant snowfall accumulation in many areas and predicted freezing temperatures overnight, Aiken County Public Schools will continue in an e-learning format tomorrow, Thursday, January 23.
With travel concerns for students and families, as well as teachers and staff, tomorrow will also be a remote workday for employees. Just like today, teachers will be available for student questions and support with e-learning assignments.
We apologize for the disruption that continued e-learning tomorrow may cause, and appreciate your support and understanding.
The safety of travel conditions will be reevaluated mid-day tomorrow with the hopes that conditions will allow for a safe return to in-person learning for Friday. An update on our district’s operations for Friday, January 24, will be announced no later than 4 p.m. tomorrow.
Thank you again for your flexibility.
With snow expected across our county today and into tomorrow morning, all Aiken County Public Schools will transition to e-learning and a remote workday tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22.
Student e-learning will be available online, and our teachers are available for support. Should your student have any questions, difficulty, or need assistance with their e-learning assignments, please reach out.
While snowfall is not expected to continue beyond tomorrow morning, temperatures are predicted to remain well below freezing. Accumulating snowfall may impact our district’s operations for Thursday. A decision on operations for Thursday will be announced by 4 p.m. tomorrow, and will be made with the safety of all students, families, and employees at heart.
As always, we are grateful for the flexibility of our school community. Please be safe, and stay warm and tuned in to any further updates that Winter Storm Enzo may cause for our operations this week.
Our school district administrators are continuing to monitor Winter Storm Enzo alongside Emergency Management Officials. With the possibility of snow forecasted late tomorrow afternoon and into the evening hours, Aiken County Public Schools will operate on an Early Dismissal Schedule Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Just as on Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served prior to dismissal.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy, as well as our schools in the Wagener and Ridge-Spring areas. Ridge Spring-Monetta and Busbee Elementary dismissal is at 11:55 a.m., A.L. Corbett Middle, Wagener-Salley High, and Aiken Scholars Academy dismiss at noon, and Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle and High dismissal is at 12:15 and 12:20 p.m., respectively. The Center for Innovative Learning (CIL) will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.
Students on half-day schedules who require bus transportation, including Early Learning Special Education students and others, will not come to school tomorrow as buses will be unable to make mid-day routes.
Afternoon classes at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center will not be held. Students enrolled in an afternoon class at the Career Center will remain at their high school.
There will be no after-school care tomorrow through QuestZone and no events to include athletics, arts, clubs, etc. will be held tomorrow afternoon or evening.
All schools and offices will also close early tomorrow. The district’s offices will close no later than 2 p.m. with the Operations Center closing at 1:00 p.m.
While snowfall is not expected to continue into the day on Wednesday, temperatures are predicted to remain well below freezing during the morning and evening hours. Any accumulating snowfall may impact our district’s operations for Wednesday. A decision regarding Wednesday will be announced by Tuesday evening.
Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation as we adjust our operations when weather conditions require as part of our efforts to ensure safety.
Please be safe, bundle up, and tune in for any further changes to our regular operations that Winter Storm Enzo may cause. We look forward to seeing our students and staff tomorrow morning.
As we approach the MLK Jr. Holiday Weekend, please note that district administration alongside local Emergency Management officials is monitoring the winter weather system that may impact our county next week. On Monday, January 20, all schools and offices will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Due to a threat of potential inclement weather next week, students will come home from school with their laptop and charger tomorrow.
South Carolina school districts are limited to five e-learning days each school year. We used the first of those e-learning days last Monday (January 6), making up for the closure September 27 due to Hurricane Helene. Friday, January 10’s school closure will be made up on the March 14 Weather Makeup Day as designated on our district’s 2024-25 school year calendar. Notice will be shared at a later date regarding the format of March 14’s Weather Makeup Day. The format of the March 14 Weather Makeup Day, more specifically, if the day will be made up in person or through e-learning, is contingent upon the number of e-learning days that remain available for our district to use as we near the end of this very cold winter.
A final decision regarding school operations for Tuesday, January 21, will be announced by 3 p.m. on Monday, January 20. As always, we appreciate your continued support. We look forward to seeing students at school tomorrow and wish your family a wonderful long weekend.
All 8th graders are heading to the Power Up Your Future College and Career Event February 27 at the fairgrounds! Permission slips were handed out during advisory and must be returned to the Counseling Department by February 5. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore your future!
HSMS Art Club is gearing up! Want to unleash your creativity? Applications are now available in the office and are due by Jan. 28. Limited spots, so don’t wait! Let’s make art together, Riverhawks!
8th Graders: Get ready for a unique opportunity to explore the working world! On Jan. 31, you can shadow a family member at work and get a behind-the-scenes look at their job. Permission slips are available in the main office and must be turned in for your absence to be excused. Don’t miss this chance to learn and experience a day in the life of a professional!
Let’s crush our Semester Two Beanstack goal of 185,000 reading minutes, Riverhawks! Reach the goal = DOUBLE BREAK for all grade levels on Friday, April 25! Use the Beanstack app on ClassLink to log your minutes (timer available). Complete challenges to earn prizes and points for the Semester Two Celebration! Deadline: April 23. Let’s read, log, and WIN!
Smile, Riverhawks! Basketball team pictures are happening on January 23. Be ready to shine and represent your team with pride!
A partir del 21 de enero y hasta el 28 de febrero de 2025, todos los estudiantes multilingües participarán en la evaluación ACCESS para estudiantes de inglés como segunda lengua. ACCESS es una evaluación de competencia en el idioma inglés que se administra anualmente a todos los estudiantes identificados como estudiantes multilingües (ML) en los grados K-12. Esta prueba mide el progreso de un estudiante en la adquisición del inglés académico. Solicitamos su apoyo para garantizar que su estudiante haya descansado bien, haya tomado un desayuno nutritivo y llegue a la escuela a tiempo y listo para el examen.
AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HIRING EVENT | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Our District's Spring Hiring Event for teachers and certified staff is just a few weeks away!
Applicants will have the opportunity for onsite interviews and on the spot job offers! The event will take place at Aiken High School located at 449 Rutland Drive in Aiken, SC from 8 a.m. until noon.
All schools and locations will be represented, and we will be hiring for certified positions to include immediate vacancies and future 2025-26 positions.
Visit www.acpsd.net and select "Join our Team" or scan the QR code. Select "Job Postings" for External Applicants and search "Hiring Event" to apply for your area of certification. Register now to secure an interview at the event!
Pre-registration is highly encouraged! Walk-ins are also welcome.
Please reach out to our Human Resources Team at (803) 641-2428 for more information. We look forward to welcoming many new teachers and certified staff members to Aiken County in February!
Shoutout to our awesome Riverhawks who completed the Beanstack Holiday Reading Wrap-Up! Each earned a festive treat bag AND a bonus point for the Dec. 20 Semester One Celebration! Want to join the fun? Download the Beanstack app on ClassLink and log your reading minutes today!
HSMS PTO is celebrating our Semester 1 A/B Honor Roll students with Cookies & Cocoa on January 17 during Advisory! Great job, Riverhawks—keep soaring!
The biscuits are calling your name! They want YOU to support the Bojangles breakfast fundraiser sponsored by the HSMS PTO! Sausage Biscuits for $3 and Cajun Chicken Biscuits for $5. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, from 7:30-8 a.m. during morning car line drop-off, while supplies last. CASH ONLY - exact amount preferred. Sales to parents only! All proceeds benefit HSMS PTO’s student programs.
Attention Riverhawks! Multilanguage Learners (MLLs) at HSMS will complete ACCESS testing during the school day from Jan. 21 to Feb. 28. Questions? Contact Ms. Mayberry at mmayberry@acpsd.net.
Families: thank you all for your understanding this morning when changes in the Winter Weather system required a shift in our in-person and early dismissal plans. Our school bus drivers safely transported all students home who had already been picked up for school when the announcement this morning was made.
The timing of the announcement was not ideal, but the decision to close was made because conditions changed and we are committed to responding as necessary when safety concerns arise.
Our transportation team ensured each student made their way safely inside their home or that they were released off the bus to a trusted adult. Our bus drivers did an incredible job in a difficult circumstance and we applaud their care and dedication to our community’s children.
Snow and ice are impacting our county much more heavily than was forecasted. Please stay tuned to weather and safety precautions, and stay warm at home and off the roads if possible.
All ACPSD Schools to Dismiss Two-Hours Early on Friday, January 10 , due to Possible Wintry Conditions:
Based on the latest update from the National Weather Service in Columbia, ice and sleet accumulation is possible in Aiken County tomorrow in the late afternoon hours. To ensure that all students, families, teachers, staff and employees have an opportunity to return home before wintry conditions may make travel difficult, all Aiken County Public Schools will dismiss two hours early tomorrow, Friday, January 10. Breakfast and lunch will be served prior to dismissal.
Students receiving transportation services on half-day schedules, including Early Learning Special Education students and others, will not come to school tomorrow as buses will be unable to make mid-day routes.
Afternoon classes at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center will not be held. Students enrolled in an afternoon class at the Career Center will remain at their high school.
All schools and offices will also close early tomorrow. The district’s schools and offices will close no later than 3 p.m. As we shared last night, there will be no afterschool care tomorrow through QuestZone and no events will be held in the afternoon tomorrow through noon on Saturday.
As always, we thank you for your flexibility and understanding with the change to tomorrow’s dismissal times. Please be safe and exercise additional caution while travelling over the coming days.
Introducing Uber Reads! "Take Out" a Book on the Go! Whether it’s before school, between classes, during lunch, or at dismissal—zip into the HSMS Media Center and grab a great read! Complete the review sheet inside and return it for a treat! Perfect for the reader always on the move!
January 2025 in the HSMS Media Center: It’s a Gnome Scavenger Hunt! Gnomes are hiding in the library! Stop by to grab a book, find the gnomes, and solve the puzzle for treats and chances to win BIG CANDY! Don’t miss out on the fun!
Winter Reading Machine Challenge is here! Read and log your minutes in Beanstack from Dec. 21, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025, to earn treats and a keychain! Plus, you'll score a point for the Semester 2 Celebration! Remember, reading is the key to success—unlock your potential this winter!
