What a fantastic turnout at today’s All Pro Dads meeting! Thank you to all of our dads, father figures, and mentors who took time out of their busy schedules to show up for our Dolphins. Your presence matters more than you know, and our students feel that support in a BIG way. 👏
🧠 This month’s topic: OPTIMISM
What is optimism?
Optimism is the habit of looking for the good, believing things can improve, and choosing to see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
✨ Why optimism matters for kids:
Optimistic children are more likely to
• Keep trying when things feel hard
• Believe in themselves
• Handle mistakes in healthy ways
• Build positive friendships
• Stay hopeful and motivated
This mindset helps students both in the classroom and in life!
💡 Tips to help grow optimism at home & at school:
• Model positive self-talk – Let kids hear you say, “This is tough, but I can figure it out.”
• Focus on effort, not just results – Praise trying, persistence, and growth.
• Reframe setbacks – Ask, “What can we learn from this?”
• Celebrate small wins – Progress builds confidence!
• Practice gratitude – Share one good thing about the day.
When adults model optimism, kids learn to do the same. 💛
📅 Next All Pro Dads Meeting:
February 26, 2026
Topic: RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility means being dependable, making good choices, and doing what you are supposed to do — even when it’s not easy.
We can’t wait to see everyone again next month! Thank you for helping our NAUES Dolphins grow into confident, capable leaders. 🐬💙 #NAUESDolphins #AllProDads #LeaderInMe #GrowingLeaders
Our Dolphins are proud to celebrate Black History Month with a special school program!
🎭 Theme: Know the Past. Shape the Future.
📅 Friday, February 27
⏰ 9:00 AM
📍 School Stage Area
This meaningful program will honor the achievements, contributions, and history that continue to inspire future generations. We are excited for our students to share their learning and talents as we reflect on the past and look ahead to the future.
💛💙 Join us as we celebrate history, culture, and the voices that help shape tomorrow! 🐬✨
Our NAUES Dolphins are invited to honor Black History Month through writing and research! 🖤✨
📝 Contest Divisions:
• Grades 2–3
• Grades 4–5
Students have TWO WEEKS to write, type, and print their essay.
📅 Submission Deadline: February 17, 2026
➡️ Turn essays in to your homeroom teacher
🚫 Late submissions will NOT be accepted
📄 Essay Requirements:
✔ Must be 1–3 pages
✔ Must choose ONE topic
✔ Student’s own work (AI-generated essays will be disqualified)
🏆 Judging Categories:
⭐ Age-Appropriateness
⭐ Content (on topic & meaningful details)
⭐ Conventions (grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation)
🖊️ Essay Topic Choices:
🖤 My Hero
Choose a Black American who inspires you (inventor, artist, athlete, scholar, leader) and explain why their achievements still matter today.
🌟 Beyond the Famous Few
Research a Black person you may not know about (like George Crum or Sarah Boone) and share their story and accomplishments.
💪 Overcoming Obstacles
Write about a Black individual who faced challenges but kept going — such as an athlete, leader, or changemaker.
We can’t wait to read the thoughtful writing from our Dolphins as they learn about inspiring individuals who helped shape history and continue to make a difference today! 🐬💛💙
Good luck, writers — let your words make an impact! ✨✍🏾
North Augusta Elementary students are invited to celebrate Black History Month through ART! 🖌️🖤
This year’s theme is: “My Hero”
Students will create a portrait of a significant Black figure — past or present — who inspires them.
👩🏾🎨 Contest Divisions:
• Pre-K & Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
🗓️ Timeline:
Students have TWO WEEKS to design their artwork.
📌 All entries are due by February 17, 2026
➡️ Turn artwork in to your homeroom teacher
🚫 Late submissions cannot be accepted
🖼️ Artwork Requirements:
✔ Portrait must be 8 x 10 size
✔ Must be created in the style of:
• Alma Thomas – Abstract, colorful, layered shapes using short brushstrokes
• Jean-Michel Basquiat – Bold lines, expressive symbols, and text
✔ Student name & homeroom teacher name on the back
🏆 Judging Categories:
⭐ Style – Does the art reflect the artist’s style?
⭐ Portrait – Is it clearly a portrait?
⭐ Creativity – Is it an original student creation?
We can’t wait to see our Dolphins’ creativity shine while honoring important Black leaders and artists! 🎨🌟
Good luck, young artists — let your inspiration lead the way!
Celebrating the Heart of Our Dolphin Family
At North Augusta Elementary, we are blessed with educators and staff who go above and beyond every single day for our students. This month, we are proud to shine the spotlight on two incredible individuals who truly live out what it means to be part of our Dolphin family.
🍎 You Rock Teacher of the Month: Ms. Jamie Pope (5th Grade)
Our January You Rock Teacher is the fabulous and fun-loving Ms. Jamie Pope!
Ms. Pope brings joy, creativity, and energy into her classroom each day, creating an environment where students feel seen, understood, and excited to learn. She has a special gift for building personal connections — not only with her students, but also with colleagues across grade levels. Her classroom is a place where learning is engaging, meaningful, and filled with encouragement.
Ms. Pope is always willing to lend a helping hand and consistently gives her very best to ensure students understand the content being taught. Her dedication to collaboration and school culture does not go unnoticed. She plays an active role in helping plan and carry out major school events, supporting both students and staff behind the scenes.
One shining example of her initiative and passion for literacy is the schoolwide March Madness Read Aloud Tournament — an exciting event Ms. Pope sponsored and developed on her own to promote a love of reading across our school. Her creativity and leadership continue to make NAUES a fun and inspiring place to learn.
We are so thankful for Ms. Pope’s positive spirit, caring heart, and commitment to our Dolphins!
💛 You Rock Staff Member of the Month: Mrs. Aimee Reichling (Kindergarten Instructional Aide)
Our January You Rock Staff Member is the wonderful Mrs. Aimee Reichling, Kindergarten Instructional Aide.
Working with our energetic kindergarten students requires patience, kindness, structure, understanding, and lots of love — and Mrs. Reichling brings all of that and more every single day. She creates a supportive environment where our youngest learners feel safe, encouraged, and ready to grow.
Her students adore her, and it shows in the way they work hard, make positive choices, and take pride in their learning. Mrs. Reichling’s calm presence and caring nature help shape strong foundations not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.
Beyond the classroom, her dedication to NAUES is felt throughout the school. She is always willing to help wherever needed, stepping in with a smile and a servant’s heart. Her kindness and teamwork make a lasting impact on both students and staff.
🐬 We Are Grateful
Ms. Pope and Mrs. Reichling are shining examples of the heart, commitment, and love that make North Augusta Elementary such a special place. Their hard work, compassion, and dedication truly make a difference in the lives of our students.
Thank you both for being a blessing to our school. You truly ROCK! 🌟💙💛
We invite all dads, father figures, and the amazing students they support to join us for this month’s All Pro Dads meeting!
🌟 January Topic: Optimism
Optimism means choosing to look for the good, even when things feel difficult. It’s about believing that challenges can be overcome and that brighter days are ahead. Teaching children to be optimistic helps them:
✅ Build confidence
✅ Stay motivated
✅ Handle challenges in positive ways
✅ Develop resilience and a healthy mindset
This month’s discussion will help families talk about what optimism looks like at school, at home, and in everyday life — and how we can model it for our children.
🕗 Date & Time:
📅 Thursday, January 29, 2026
⏰ 7:45 AM
We hope you’ll start your morning with us as we connect, learn together, and continue building strong relationships with our students. We look forward to seeing you there! 💛💙🐬
January 27, 2026: Regular Operations
Aiken County Public Schools will return to a regular schedule tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with no change to arrival times.
Thank you for your flexibility this morning as we operated on a two-hour delay due to the weekend’s winter storm.
Please anticipate continued cool temperatures throughout the week. District leaders will continue monitoring weather conditions alongside local Emergency Management officials, including the potential for a weather system this weekend, and will communicate any updates if changes to operations become necessary.
We are excited to share the upcoming Aiken County Career and Technology Center CTE Techno Camp for fifth grade students!
This camp will take place Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All Aiken County Public School fifth grade students are invited to participate in the CTE Techno Camp to engage in hands-on activities lead by ACCTC instructors to show students the advantages of Career and Technical Education! Students will select up to three courses to participate in throughout the day where they will learn about robotics, diesel technology, cosmetology, nail technology, welding, culinary arts, media technology , fashion design, biomedical science, cybersecurity, graphic design and health science.
The deadline to submit the application is Wednesday. February 25th by 5:00 p.m. Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact Alvina Jackson at ahead@acpsd.net.
#AikenCountyPublicSchools #ACCTC #ACPSD
We’re excited to share our NAUES Apparel Store with all of our Dolphin families! This is your chance to gear up and show your Dolphin pride all around town!
🛍️ Shop here:
https://communigraphics-inc.printavo.com/merch/naelem26store/
✨ When you click on an item, you’ll be able to view all available color options to find your favorite look!
👕 Available this year:
• Short-sleeve cotton tees
• Long-sleeve cotton tees
• Crew fleece
• Lightweight fleece ¼-zip pullover
• Women’s colorblock hooded raglan jacket — wind-resistant and water-repellent
• Microfleece vests
🧢 NEW this year — Trucker Caps!
📦 Delivery Info:
All orders will be processed together, then sorted and bagged. Once completed, items can be:
✔️ Sent home with students OR
✔️ Picked up at school
🗓️ Store closes February 8, 2026 — don’t miss out!
We can’t wait to see our halls filled with Dolphin spirit everywhere you go! 💛🐬💙
#NAUESDolphins #DolphinPride
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.
With all the excitement about this weekend’s possible winter weather, Mrs. K’s kindergarten friends were extra curious about snow—what it looks like and how it feels! ⛄🐬
Today, these little Dolphins had a BLAST exploring some cold, soft “snow” in the classroom! Their smiles (and giggles!) said it all as they touched, squeezed, and played while learning about winter weather. ✨❄️🖐️
Now we’re all wondering… will we get just a little of the real stuff this weekend? 🤞🌨️
Everyone stay warm and stay safe! 💛💙🐬
#NAUESDolphins #KindergartenFun #SnowDayMagic #HandsOnLearning #WinterWeather #StaySafe
We are so proud to celebrate our First Grade Dolphins who earned Leader Loot this week! 🐬🎉 These students have been working hard to show leadership, make good choices, and follow our school expectations every day!
🎸⭐ And a BIG shoutout to our First Grade “You Rock” Winner… JESSIAH! ⭐🎸
Jessiah is an amazing example of what it means to be a strong leader at NAUES! 💪🐬
✅ He consistently does the right thing
✅ He plays kindly with everyone on the playground
✅ He always cleans up after himself
✅ He listens carefully and follows directions
✅ He tries his best in everything he does
Jessiah, we are so proud of you! Keep shining and leading the way! 💛💙🌟
#NAUESDolphins #LeaderLoot #YouRock #FirstGradePride #DolphinStrong #StudentLeaders 🐬✨
Huge shoutout to Raymond in Mrs. Girardeau’s Kindergarten class for mastering ALL 80 sight words! 📚✨
Raymond, you are working SO hard and it shows — we are so proud of you! Keep shining, Superstar! 🌟🐬
Way to go, Raymond… you’re one SMART cookie! 🍪💙💛
#NAUESDolphins #SmartCookie #SightWordStar #KindergartenPride #ReadingRocks #DolphinStrong 🐬📖✨
❄️ Fourth Grade Snow Lab Fun at NAUES! ❄️
Today our 4th grade Dolphins turned the classroom into a winter wonderland by making their very own snow! 🌨️🐬
Students in all of our 4th grade classes worked hard mixing ingredients to create fluffy, moldable “snow” using baking soda + hair conditioner—and let’s just say… some batches were more successful than others! 😂👏
Why? Because just like real scientists (and chefs!), success depended on one important skill…
✅ MATH ACCURACY!
Students learned that when you measure and multiply correctly, you get the perfect sensory snow for:
⛄ building mini snowmen
🎨 winter crafts
🖐️ sensory exploration
…and lots of laughs along the way!
Snow Recipe:
📌 2.5 cups baking soda + ½ cup conditioner (ratios may vary!)
To connect learning even further, our students also explored natural disasters and snow-related weather events, discussing how winter storms and blizzards can impact communities. 🌬️❄️
Learning is always more exciting when it’s hands-on! 💛💙
✨ Way to go, 4th Grade! You made learning “SNOW” much fun! ❄️😄💛💙🐬
#NAUESDolphins #HandsOnLearning #FourthGradeFun #MathInAction #ScienceIsCool #WinterWonderland #DigitalDolphins
💛💙🐬 Fifth Grade History Comes to Life at NAUES! 🐬💙💛
Our fifth graders are working hard building shacks to create a “Hooverville” as part of their study of the Great Depression! 🛠️🏚️📚
The students pictured are from Mrs. Benson, Mrs. Null, Mrs. Pope, and Mrs. Whisnant’s classes, and they are doing an incredible job using teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking to bring history to life!
🕰️ A Peek into History:
During the Great Depression (1929–1939), many Americans lost their jobs, homes, and savings. As families struggled to survive, some built makeshift shelters out of cardboard, scrap wood, tin, and other materials. These communities were called “Hoovervilles,” named after President Herbert Hoover, who many people blamed for the economic crisis.
⭐ Why this project matters:
Hands-on projects like this help students:
✅ understand history in a meaningful way
✅ develop empathy and perspective
✅ apply learning through building and problem-solving
✅ practice collaboration and communication
✅ connect reading, research, and social studies together
This learning experience supports student understanding of:
Economic hardship and recovery during the Great Depression
How historical events impacted daily life for families
Using evidence to explain historical causes and effects
Analyzing how people adapted during difficult times
👏 We are so proud of our fifth graders for their effort, creativity, and thoughtful learning during this powerful unit!
#NAUESDolphins #5thGradeLearning #GreatDepression #HoovervilleProject #HandsOnLearning #HistoryInAction 💛💙🐬
On Thursday, our 4th grade students participated in an important Digital Safety Lesson thanks to Ms. Kimberly Brown, NAUES Guidance Counselor, who arranged this meaningful learning opportunity with Savannah Williams from the Cumbee Center.
Students learned how to:
✅ Stay safe online
✅ Make smart digital choices
✅ Speak up and get help if something doesn’t feel right
We are so proud of our Dolphins for learning how to be safe, respectful, and responsible online. 🌟
A big thank you to Ms. Brown and Savannah Williams for helping support our students in becoming strong, confident digital citizens! 👏💻✨
#NAUES #DolphinStrong #DigitalSafety #DigitalCitizenship #GuidanceMatters #SafeOnlineSmartOnline 💛💙🐬
We are so proud of our Dolphin Reading Stars who have been working hard to reach their grade-level reading goals — and they did it! Their dedication, perseverance, and love of reading truly deserves to be celebrated. 💛💙🐬
Please join us in congratulating the following students:
🌟 100 Book Club Members
📖 Zy’King Doggett
📖 Landon Kennedy-Dale
📖 Parker Bledsoe
📖 Charlotte Ralphs
🌟 200 Book Club Member
📘 Logan Meares
🌟 300 Book Club Member
📗 Journee Holt
📚🐬 Special Shout-Out!
Third Grade Page Master Jake Florido has read an amazing 5,593 pages! 🤩👏
Way to shine, Dolphins! Keep reading, keep growing, and keep leading! 💛💙📚
#NAUESDolphins #DolphinReadingStars #100BookClub #200BookClub #300BookClub #PageMaster #ReadersAreLeaders
Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Paul Knox Middle School Orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Karen Geigle, to North Augusta Elementary School!
Our 5th grade students enjoyed an incredible performance while also learning about orchestra string instruments. Orchestra members demonstrated how instruments like the violin, viola, cello, and bass sound and work together to create beautiful music.
To help inspire our future middle schoolers, students also went home with information to share with their families if they are interested in learning to play a string instrument next year. 🎶✨
The orchestra did a fabulous job, and our students and teachers truly enjoyed the performance and the opportunity to learn more about music!
Thank you to Mrs. Geigle and the Paul Knox Middle School Orchestra for visiting NAUES and encouraging our Dolphins to explore their talents! 💛🎻💙
#NAUESDolphins #PaulKnoxMiddleSchool #Orchestra #FineArts #FutureFalcons #DolphinPride
SERVE DAY UPDATE: Due to the weather event expected this weekend, our Serve Day, originally scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2026 has been postponed.
✅ New Serve Day Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
North Augusta Elementary School will still be hosting this special Serve Day, and we would LOVE your help!
🧹 Main Focus: Indoor projects
✅ General cleaning
🎨 Painting & beautification projects
This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a Dolphin family and help make our school an even brighter, cleaner, and more welcoming place for our students to learn and grow!
If you’re available for even part of the morning, we would be so grateful for your support. 💛
#NAUESDolphins #ServeDay #DolphinPride #Volunteer #BetterTogether
Drum roll please… 🥁🐬
Dolphin families — we have some very exciting news to share! First, we want to sincerely apologize for the delay in recognizing our fundraiser winners. With all of the holiday celebrations and events, this important post was unfortunately missed. Thank you so much for your patience, understanding, and support as we celebrate our students’ hard work!
Now… it’s time to recognize our World’s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser Top Sellers and Prize Winners! 🌟
🏆 NAUES TOP SELLER! 🏆
A huge congratulations to Avery in Mrs. Girardeau’s class, who sold an incredible 16 boxes!
✅ Avery earned:
🎟️ a Golden Ticket
💵 a $100 gift card
We are extremely proud of Avery for his dedication, leadership, and hard work — way to go! 💛💙🐬
🍫 TOP SELLING CLASS WINNER 🍫
Congratulations to Mrs. Girardeau’s class for being our Top Class in Chocolate Sales!
🎉 The class earned a 5 lb. chocolate bar to celebrate their awesome teamwork and effort!
⭐ 5+ BOX SELLERS DRAWING WINNER ⭐
All students who sold 5 or more boxes earned:
🍫 a 1 lb. chocolate bar
AND were entered into a special drawing for a Golden Ticket + gift card!
🎉 Drawing Winner: Harper
✅ Harper earned:
🎟️ a Golden Ticket
💵 a $50 gift card
Congratulations, Harper! 💛🐬
🎮 GAME TRUCK REWARD 🎮🚚
Students who sold:
✅ 3 or more boxes
OR
✅ families with siblings totaling 5 or more boxes
earned:
🕹️ 30 minutes of game time inside the Game Truck!
What an exciting reward for our hard-working Dolphins!
🍦 ICE CREAM CELEBRATION 🍦
All students who sold 2 boxes or more were invited to attend a fun Ice Cream Celebration — a sweet way to celebrate their effort and commitment!
💛💙 Thank you again to all of our families for supporting NAUES through this fundraiser. Your support truly helps our school, and we are so proud of every student who participated!
👏 Congratulations again to all of our winners and hard-working Dolphins! 🐬🎉
