Good News

East Aiken School of the Arts has been awarded a $6,751 grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission. These funds will be used to further enhance our arts infusion initiative.

South Aiken H.S. Family and Consumer Sciences Work Base Program students Ivory Kennion and Melissa Smith, Senior Family and Consumer Sciences Program Completers, won Silver medals (top award given for their category) acting as team competitors in the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America National Leadership Conference and Star Events Competition held in Anaheim, CA, July 10-14, 2011. Their event entry was a restaurant concept and proposal entitled "Southern With Soul" in the Hospitality and Tourism Star Event. (more)

2011 Aiken County National Merit Scholars

-Graham W. Gordon, Aiken: Attended South Aiken High School, won National Merit Auburn University Scholarship, probable career field: Physics.

-Haley E. Hunt, Aiken: Attended Aiken High School, won National Merit Clemson University Scholarship, probable career field: biomedical Engineering. |

-Daniel J. Sanito, Aiken: Attended South Aiken High School, won National Merit College of Charleston Scholarship, probable career field: Science

-Wil Austin Moorhead, Beech Island: Attended Silver Bluff High School, won National Merit Auburn University Scholarship, probable career field: Veterinary Medicine.

The North August High School Beta Club traveled to Nashville, TN June 21-24, 2011 to compete at the National Beta Club Convention. While there, the NAHS Beta Club provided the only voting delegates from Aiken County and participated in the general sessions on the convention. The group competed in the Quiz Bowl and the Banner competitions. Kristen Barbour, a junior at NAHS, competed in the spelling competition. Kristen previously placed first in the state at the South Carolina State Beta Club Convention in February. At the National Convention, Kristen brought home North Augusta's first national win ever by placing 5th in the nation in the spelling competition.

The NAHS Beta Club is dedicated to scholarship and service and, as such, looked at the trip to Nashville not only as an academic and arts competition, but also as a service opportunity. Beta Club students collected items for tornado relief efforts in Alabama during the last few weeks of school. On the way to Nashville, the group of students dropped off the items collected in Alabama for immediate use by victims of the tornados. The students had a great time meeting disaster relief volunteers and helping in the relief efforts.

Thomas Vine, a 5th grader at Millbrook Elementary, was awarded a Citizenship Award from Savannah River Banking Company. He received a very nice engraved plaque and a $150.00 gift card to Books-A-Million. (picture)

The Midland Valley High FFA Association took top state FFA honors this past week as part of the South Carolina FFA State Convention held at Clemson University. The association was named as the top FFA chapter in South Carolina in the area of students development for the third consecutive year. (more)

North Aiken, Busbee Elementary, and East Aiken School of the Arts are recipients of the USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program for 2011-12. Karen Johnson, of School Food Service, wrote the grant, which will provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables for their snacks during the day.

East Aiken School of the Arts won an award to support a one year scholarship for a child who wants to learn to play the violin. The funding is from the May Project of the Month sponsored by Public Education Partners.

The Silver Bluff Bulldogs are no stranger to State Championships...to include football, softball, band, ROTC, and more. Included in that list are many Track Championships. (more)

Spring Awards and Recognitions (more)

The American Legion Auxiliary essay written by Jalen Hallums, a 4th grade student at North Augusta Elementary, won first place in Class I (grades 3 and 4) at the state level. He was invited to read his essay before the ALA assembly at the Department convention on June 4, 2011 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Kendall Driscoll, a Junior at Aiken High School, is now a published poet. Her poem, Speech of the Masquerade, is published in a new book, Poetry Matters Anthology. Kendall was the First Place High School winner of the Poetry Matters Celebration in 2010.

The Ladies and Gentlemen club of Leavelle McCampbell enjoyed an evening of fine dining at the University of South Carolina-Aiken on May 24, 2011. They were joined by Dr. Elizabeth Everitt and Dr. Tim Yarborough. (picture)

The Living Museum project at Jefferson Elementary was an awesome learning experience that the students and Mrs. Walden put a lot of effort into. It involved making a time line, drawing a portrait and writing a paper on the life of a famous person. Then the students practiced many times at home and school to present who they were in the Living Museum. They presented to their parents, grandparents and other adults and then to three classes all in one day. Kylee and the rest of the students were so excited and well informed of many famous people. Mrs. Walden and her class should be so proud. (picture)

South Aiken High and Aiken Middle earned the top spot during the Aiken County Academic Meet. Both teams were recently honored by the Board of Education. (Aiken Middle) (South Aiken)

Hannah Reese, at student at North Augusta High School, was named the South Carolina representative for the D.A.R.E. America Youth Advisory Board.

Madison Casdorph, 7th grader at North Augusta Middle School, has been accepted into the Alcorn State University program and will attend June 19-July 1, 2011. We were informed that there were 900 applicants to the program this year. Congratulations Madison! (picture)

Gabriel Rueda, a first grade student at RSM Elem. /Middle School is a winner in an art contest sponsored by The Clemson University Reading Recovery Site. (more)

Aiken Elementary was the recipient of the Kroger Going Green Earning Plus Learning for Elementary and Middle Schools, a $2500.00 cash award that was awarded May 10 at a luncheon at the Outback Restaurant in Augusta. (more)

On Friday, April 29th Leavelle McCampbell Middle School’s PTO hosts its first “Let’s Move” Social. The PTO sponsored this social in response to First Lady Michelle Obama’s "Let's Move" anti-childhood obesity campaign.(more)

Christi McWaters, 1st grade teacher at East Aiken School of the Arts is a winner of the SRR STAR Grant. The $1000 grant will be used to enhance our programs in science and math. Ms. McWaters will be honored at a reception on May 18, 2011.

Rebecah McManus, a South Aiken HS student, is the second place winner in the Armed Services YMCA 2011 Essay Contest. Rebecah will receive a $200 savings bond. Also,Rebecah and her family have been invited to attend the Armed Services YMCA 24th Annual Recognition Dinner to be held at the Embassy Suites Old Town Alexandria,Virginia on Thursday,12 May.

Rolanda Staley, P.A.L.S. teacher at East Aiken School of the Arts, received the CSRA Social Scene People's Choice Award for the 2011 Best Female Educator! She was honored at a banquet on May 7, 2011.

Both South Aiken NJ teams made it to the Final Four at the Two State Academic Championship at Carolina Forest HS in Myrtle Beach. South Aiken Won the Championship and placed third !!! The Championship Team consisted of Team Captain Zachary Coleman, Joshua Huffines, Welby Griffith, Matt Bauerlin, and Alex Hightower. The Third Place Team included Fernando Rodriguez, Connor Revell, Daniel Faison, Jacob Przywara, and Joshua Livingston. The Two State consists of 67 units from North and South Carolina.

Nine units fielding 14 teams started the day at Carolina Forest. At the end of five rounds of heated competition the following Teams took honors:

Third Place South Aiken Team II

Second Place Silver Bluff

First Place and Area 6 Champion South Aiken Team I

The Wagener-Salley High JROTC Drill Team has competed in the National High School Drill Team Championship for the last two years. The Drill Team’s performance this year was absolutely remarkable. (more)

The 2011 Technology Champion for the Lower Savannah Region is Todd Reboul, a graduating senior who attends South Aiken High School and the Aiken County Career & Technology Center. Mr. Reboul will be honored for his achievements at the Education and Business Summit in Greenville on June 26, 2011.

East Aiken School of the Arts has been named a Schools Fight Hunger National School of Distinction by the Schools Fight Hunger Organization. This recognition is for outstanding service to local hunger relief efforts. This year, we have collected food for the Salvation Army and for Golden Harvest Food Bank. Currently, we are collecting food for the Leadership Aiken County "Stuff the Bus" Festival.

Numerous Aiken County Public Schools received a perfect score of "100" on their 2011 Department of Health and Environmental Control inspections. All of our schools received a grade of "A" which supports our efforts in operating clean cafeterias and providing safe and healthy food. DHEC inspections help protect public health and ensure a safe work environment for employees. Aiken County is fortunate to have experienced food professionals providing safe, nutritious meals to students and staff. Great Job SFS! For more information on the School Food Service inspections, please contact Glenda Wafford, SFS director, at 803 641 2406. (scores)

Millbrook Elementary celebrates Earth Day and their Palmetto Pride grant. (wmv)

Midland Valley FFA program was named for the third straight year as a South Carolina Gold Emblem FFA Chapter (Highest level of achievement given to an agriculture program at the state level). There are only 9 of these chapters across the state of South Carolina. This once again puts the Midland Valley program in the top 10% of all agriculture education programs across the state of South Carolina. They are now in the judging for either a 1 star, 2 star, or 3 star National classification.

Aiken County Career and Technology Center, for the second time in three years, won the skills USA state championship for crime scene investigation. They will be headed to Kansas City, Mo. June 20-25 to try and win a second NATIONAL championship in three years. The students are Amanda Johnson, age 18, a senior from South Aiken High School. Justin Williams, age 17, a Junior from Midland Valley High school and Rusty Scott, age 16 a Sophomore from Midland Valley High School. Pictured from left to right is: Captain Ray Scott, from Aiken Department of Public Safety, his son Rusty Scott, Amanda Johnson, Justin Williams and Bradford D. Wilson.

North Augusta Middle School is proud to announce the winners for the Hound of the Baskervilles competition. They are: Brielle Smith, Katie Cohen, Erin Spivey, Elizabeth Parler, Emily Wilson and Trib Reece. These 8th grade students, along with their parents and siblings, are invited to attend an awards luncheon in their honor on Saturday, May 7th, at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Congratulations to these students for their unique interpretations of The Hound of the Baskervilles.Pictured from left to right: Front row: Erin Spivey, Brielle Smith and Elizabeth Parler Back Row: Emily Wilson, Katie Cohen and Trib Reece

Congratulations to the WSHS FFA Tractor Operations Team and Tool Identification Team in their Competition Saturday in Columbia. Hunter Buff, Preston Hall, Trent Rushton and D.J. Smith placed third in the State Tractor Operations Contest and Michael Bolton, Hunter Buff, Shania Key, and Helen Rumsey placed First in the State Tool Identification Contest. Special congratulations go to Michael and Hunter for posting perfect scores in the contest.Each team placed first in our region to become eligible to participate against the best Tractor Operations and Tool Identification teams in the state. Congratulations to these FFA members.

New Ellenton Middle School had the 1st place winners out of 88 teams statewide in the Fall Stock Market Game - Alanna Kinikin, Matthew Coverson-Springs, Fiheem Graham, and Michael Burton. They also had 1st place in the Spring Competition out of 76 teams- Edy Zambrano, Patrick Boatwright, and Tristan Watson. I also had the 3rd place team- Caroline Terry, Ashleigh Yaun, Ryan Bing and Keeana Walker. The students will attend a banquet in Columbia on May 20th.

East Aiken School of the Arts Special Olympics Team won the Spirit Award at the games! In addition, our students won 18 individual awards. We are extremely proud of our special education children!

On April 10, 2011 the Wagener-Salley High Color Guard presented the colors at the Clemson vs. Maryland Baseball Game. The members of the team were Cadets Brown, El-Hammami, Corley, S and Coleman. (picture)

The Wagener-Salley High FCCLA (Family, Career,Community, Leaders of America) president, April Stratton, received a Gold Medal for her outstanding presentation in the Illustrated Talk STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Event. April’s topic stressed the importance of making healthy choices. April will compete at the National FCCLA Conference in Anaheim, California, July 10-14. (picture)

War Eagle JROTC Rife Team Members Alexi Henry and Amber Williams Finished Top Ten in the Nation...Two War Eagles rank amongst the top ten best JROTC shooters in the nation. Traveling to Anniston, Alabama to compete in a national shooting competition, Cadets Alexi Henry and Amber Williams of the Wagener-Salley High School JROTC Rifle Team excelled in the marksmanship competition. Henry and Williams finished third and seventh respectively in the individual ranking in the sporter class for the National JROTC Air Rifle Championship. The Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsored the two day shooting event held in Anniston from March 25-26, 2011. However, the War Eagles took home more than third and seventh place. In addition to the overall third place finished by Henry, she won a second and third place medal in the daily finals for the top eight shooters. The Wagener-Salley High JROTC Rifle team made an impressive showing against their national counterparts. The Rifle Team finished 11th overall out of the 22 teams that participated in the national event. These talented team members include Henry, Williams, Michael Frost, and Cody Miller.

WSHS Rifle Team Finished Fourth in National Competition...Wagener-Salley can proudly say it is home to a nationally ranked JROTC Rifle Team. The Wagener-Salley High School JROTC Rifle Team finished fourth in the nation in the 2011 US Army Junior Open Air Rifle Championship held at Fort Benning, GA March 29th-30th. The US Army Marksmanship Unit hosted this national event. WSHS was one of only ten sporter teams nationwide selected to compete for the championship. The team members were Alexi Henry, Amber Williams, Michael Frost, and Cody Miller. Both Cadet Williams and Henry were in the top ten in the individual competition by finishing fourth and seventh respectively. Congratulations, cadets!

On March 15th, the LMMS Festival Band competed in the USC Aiken Music Festival. The band played three pieces for the judges and the audience. They received a score of an overall Excellent Rating. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, the band was one point away from the highest rating of Superior. The band celebrated with a ceremony on Friday where they were presented with their Festival Medals by band director, Kimberly Woods and Assistant Principal, Brad Watson. Congratulations LMMS Band! (pictures)

South Aiken H.S. Work Base Program students Ivory Kennion and Melissa Smith, Senior Family and Consumer Sciences Program Completers, won gold medals acting as team competitors in the South Carolina Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America State Meeting and State Star Events Competition held in Columbia, SC over the weekend. Their event entry was a restaurant concept and proposal entitled "Southern With Soul" in the Hospitality and Tourism event. This will make these students eligible to take their entry to the FCCLA National Star Event competition held in Anaheim, California July 10-14, 2011.

In March, eighteen Aiken Elementary School fifth graders competed with over 300 schools nationwide and in several countries in the Elementary Knowledge Masters Spring Open. It is an academic competition in which students work as a team using a computer to rapidly answer 100 challenging questions that require higher-level thinking skills and cover thirteen curriculum areas. The Aiken Elementary School Team placed FIRST in the STATE. The team is coached by Marianne Swearingen .

The district report card for Aiken County Public Schools delivered some exciting and encouraging news. The school district earned a 2010 Absolute Rating of Average and a Growth Rating of Excellent. That is a vast improvement over the 2009 Absolute Rating of Below Average and an At-Risk Growth Rating. Aiken County is now in the top 10% of school districts in the state in terms of improvement. http://dev.ed.sc.gov/topics/researchandstats/schoolreportcard/2010/District

Brandy Baird, member of the Aiken County Career Center FFA Floriculture team, ranked as the top individual in the State Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE) held at Spartanburg Community College on March 19, 2011. The team was trained by FFA Advisor Kevin Sox, Agriculture Education Instructor at the Aiken County Career Center. The event is sponsored by the SCFFA Foundation was planned and coordinated by Jason Bagwell, professor of Horticulture at Spartanburg Community College. The contest challenges students in the areas of plant and equipment identification, how to properly take and propagate plant cuttings, and the identification of plant disorders. (picture)

The Aiken County Career Center FFA Nursery and Landscape team took third place honors in the State Nursery and Landscape Career Development Event (CDE) held at Spartanburg Community College on March 19, 2011. The team consisted of Shawn Graham, Christian Stokes, and Brandy Baird. The FFA members were trained by FFA Advisor Kevin Sox, Agricultural Education instructor at the Aiken County Center. The event was planned and coordinated by Jason Bagwell, professor of Horticulture at Spartanburg Community College. The contest challenges students in the areas of plant and equipment identification, the measuring of nursery stock, and landscape drawing estimation. Other areas that the contest could cover include the safe use of pesticides, fertilizer application, and equipment operation and maintenance. The event is sponsored by the SCFFA Foundation and the winner of the event advances to the National Nursery and Landscape Career Development Event held at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. (picture)

The National FFA Organization recently selected from a national pool of more than 7,200 National FFA Chapters the Midland Valley High School FFA Chapter of Graniteville, S.C., as a Gold Emblem winner in the National FFA Chapter Award program. Not only did Midland Valley place as a National Gold Emblem Chapter but the association was also ranked as a 3-Star Gold Emblem Chapter, the highest ranking that an FFA chapter can receive on the national level. Midland Valley was selected as one of only two hundred and sixty two chapters nationwide to receive this honor placing them in the top 3% of FFA chapters across the nation. (more)

Congratulations to the North Augusta High School Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble for winning the South Carolina Band Directors Scholastic Marching A State Championships on March 19, 2011. The show theme was Universal Duality. Congratulations to directors Chuck Deen, Jaime Powell, and percussion staff Jackson Bellamy and Christopher Church. (more)

New Ellenton Middle School is the South Carolina State Quiz Bowl Middle School State Champions. They competed in the competition on March 12 at Dormin High School. They will be competing in the national championship May 6 - May 8 in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to winning, Cameron Stephenson was the top scorer against all students competing.

Aiken County Public Schools earned several Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for academic achievement and closing the achievement gap. This awards program was created by the South Carolina General Assembly to recognize schools that attained high levels of absolute performance, high rates of growth and substantial progress in closing achievement gaps between groups of students. (more)

Macie Whatley is the South Carolina DAR Essay Contest winner. She will now move into the national competition. This is our 2nd year in a row to have the SC DAR Essay winner. Frederick Grimm, who graduated in 2010, was the SC and National DAR Essay Contest winner in 2010.

Gloverville Elementary students will be doing the "Daily Pledge" each morning between 7:10 and 7:20. Steve Smith, from KICKS 99, came and recorded classes today. So, tune your radio to KICKS 99 to hear our Gloverville students saying the Pledge each morning next week.

The National Junior Beta Club at Langley Bath Clearwater Middle School sponsored a fund-raiser to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In only eight days students, teachers, and the PTO donated $4,000 for research and patient services of blood cancer victims in South Carolina. Twelve classes raised over $100 for the bronze award, two classes raised over $200 for the silver award, and four classes raised over $300 for the gold award. One class raised over $500.

Congratulations to Senior Carnisha Washington! The MVHS Art Department was asked to create a design for a new monument to go into the Midland Valley Horse Creek Veterans Park. Carnisha designed a beautiful piece that was selected by the committee. She was awarded $50 and her sculpture sketch will become an actual monument to be placed in the park. The following students were runners up:
Tyler Gardner - 2nd place
April Wynn - 3rd place

The Wagener-Salley High School JROTC Battalion earned their gold star during the Cadet Formal Inspection Evaluation on February 28, 2011. John Sovine and Buck Jenkins, from the Fourth JROTC Brigade located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina conducted the evaluation. (more)

Wagener-Salley High School celebrated Black History Month with a variety of activities designed to bring awareness of the contributions of significant African-Americans. The WSHS Student Council sponsored this month’s events. The entire student body was involved. The national theme for Black History Month for this year was 'African-Americans and the Civil War’. Entries for both the poetry contest and poster contest were based on this theme. There were many outstanding entries in both of these competitions. First prize for both competitions was a Wal-Mart gift card. Ms. Amber Fulmer won the poetry contest and Ms. Lee Ellen Fulmer won the poster contest, both judged by a panel of teachers. Additionally, all students were involved in a Black History Month trivia contest. Each day, pullout classes answered questions on the subject of African-American contributions to American history. This is a highly competitive event in the school, and as such strongly promotes participation from each pullout class. This year’s winner was Sgt. Major Fowler’s pullout class. The month’s activities culminated on Friday, February 25 with our annual Black History Month assembly. The guest speaker for this year was local minister and 1992 WSHS graduate Rev. Marlon Hudson. Musical selections were performed by Mrs. Shantay Evans and the JROTC Chorus. Local and state dignitaries attended and enjoyed refreshments after the program.

Three East Aiken School of the Arts teachers won the Number One in Area One Award! Carrie Power, visual arts, Megan Jensen, music, and Kathy Linton, physical education and creative movement, were honored for their tireless efforts in leading our arts initiative. These three teachers are credited with creating and maintaining our School of the Arts.

Calliope, South Aiken High School's Literary and Multi-Media Magazine, has received the "Highest Award rank in the 2010 NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines." According to NCTE, magazines were received from 413 schools, 104 were recommended for highest award, and 29 were chosen to receive the Highest Award.

Silver Bluff Drill, Academic, Athletic team attended the NJROTC Area 6 Meet this past weekend, Comprising of North Carolina and South Carolina, NJROTC units of 63 units only 9 qualified. 6 from NC and 3 from SC. The two top winners 1st and 2nd Overall winners are names the State Champions for their state. Cape Fear came in 1st Overall for North Carolina and Silver Bluff Came in 1st for South Carolina beating out Richland North East HS (Columbia SC) and Strom Thurmond HS (Edegefield, SC). We were also Selected to attend Navy Nationals at Pensacola, FL on the 7th and 8th of April 2011. The cadets have worked hard this year and will continue to hard to better themselves and the teams for Navy Nationals.

North Augusta Elementary School is one of five South Carolina public schools to be recognized as a statewide award finalist for their School Improvement Council’s work to engage parents, community members and educators in strengthening their schools. (more)

North Augusta High School has a National Merit Finalist- Kelly Cercy
A National Achievement Finalist- Toni Stevenson
A South Carolina Association of Title 1 Administrators' 2011 Scholarship recipient- Toni Stevenson
Finalist Coca Cola Scholars Competition- Macie Whatley

East Aiken School of the Arts was notified of funding for two DonorsChoose projects today. Robin Bouye, 5th grade teacher, earned "Stickers for Stellar Students"; and Kim Entzminger, Reading Interventionist, received "Ink and Other Essentials". Congratulations to both teachers!

Congratulations to the North Augusta High School Beta Club for their awesome showing at the State Beta Convention held Feb 11-12 in Myrtle Beach, SC! Kelly Cercy finished 3rd in Colored Pencil the Quiz Bowl team, Will Harris, Jennifer Grimm, Steven Copeland, and Jonathan Mills, place second. Kristen Barbour placed 1st in Spelling and the club placed 1st in the banner competition with Rebecca Rudisill as the coordinator. All of these students will advance to National Convention which will be held in Nashville, TN June 21-24.

Julie Gartman, a Special Ed teacher at Corbett, won software for creating communication boards and teacher materials using picture symbols. She uses the picture symbols to create reading materials for her moderate students. The software will cut her time in half in looking for the right icons to use as symbols.

East Aiken School of the Arts earned a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in the Help Line Kid's Art Contest and Auction. In the kindergarten-second grade division, Kelse Deas won 1st place and Tyler Patrick won second place. Chris Parker won 3rd place in the third-fifth grade division. Carrie Power, art teacher, was presented a check for $250 and a gift card to use for our arts program. (AS article)

Congratulations to the North Augusta High School Beta Club for their awesome showing at the State Beta Convention! Kelly Cercy finished 3rd in Colored Pencil. The Quiz Bowl team, Will Harris, Jennifer Grimm, Steven Copland, and Jonathan Mills, place second. Kristen Barbour placed 1st in Spelling. and the club placed 1st in the banner competition with Rebecca Rudisill as the coordinator. All of these studnts will advance to National Convention!

8th grade students participated in the DAR essay writing contest. North Augusta Middle School is proud to announce that Emily Wilson’s essay on Paul Revere was selected as the Martintown Road DAR Chapter winner. (photo)

East Aiken School of the Arts music teacher, Megan Jensen, received a $525 donation from the Public Education Partners Project of the Month! The funds are to support our No Boundaries Boys' Choir. Special thanks to the funding partners, Keith Wood of URS and Mary and Stephen White.

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the NAMS Geography Bee that was held on Tuesday, January 18th.
1st placed: Geoffrey Powell
2nd place: Tyler Wilson
3rd place: Brenna Ashe

Pictured from left to right: Geoffrey, Tyler and Brenna (photo)

Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Spelling Bee Participants & Winners (more)

Schofield Middle School's Author Lunch and Learn program with Author, Christine Deriso, was featured in January's Department of Education Career Specialist newsletter. (Newsletter)

South Aiken High School Navy JRTOC team will be competing in February in the semifinals for the nation’s largest high school cyber defense competition. (more)

North Augusta Middle School spelling bee was held on January 7 and all participants were class winners. (more)

North Augusta Middle School has 24 eighth grade students who qualify as Junior Scholars for the 2010-2011 school year. (more)

Chukker Creek student donates birthday gifts. (more)

Officials representing the USDA Farm Service Agency, the SC Rural Rehabilitation Corporation and the SC FFA Office of Public Affairs participated in a ceremony recognizing the Midland Valley FFA Chapter at the high school on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. (more)

Aiken County high schools garner academic performance awards. (more)

The Aiken County Public School District is proud to announce four new National Board Certified teachers, which brings the district total to 109. South Carolina’s total rises to 7,784. (more)

The Wagener-Salley High School JROTC Rifle Team won the Aiken County Rifle Championship on Saturday, December 11th at North Augusta High School. (more)

South Aiken High School’s (Navy JROTC) CyberPatriot team is advancing to the All Service Division semi-final competition in Orlando, Florida in February 2011.

Wagener Salley High School has been accepted into the 2011 National High School Drill Team Championships to be held from April 28th - May 2nd, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

South Aiken NJROTC competed in the Area Six Orienteering Championships at Kings Mt. State Park in Kings Mt. N.C. (more)

Zaria Daniels, a second grader at Busbee Elementary School, was a runner-up in the SUBWAY FRESH FIT Video and Poster Competetition. She submitted a video on how her family stays fit and healthy. She received a 100$ subway gift card. There were 6,214 students who submitted entries.

The North Augusta Elementary PTO received a $2,500 Home Depot 2010 Building Healthy Communities Grant. The grant will go towards building a covered outdoor classroom on the back playground.

The Wagener-Salley High School Army JROTC Color Guard performed at the Clemson University and University of Michigan men’s basketball game on Tuesday, November 30th held at Little John Coliseum. (more)

East Aiken School of the Arts received a $1000 donation from the Kimberly-Clark Community Partners program. Cynthia and Craig Hale each volunteered at our school for 30 hours to qualify for this donation to the school. They are parents of 5th grader, Donovan Hale and 2nd grader Sami Hale. We love our parent volunteers!

Nine students from Leavelle McCampbell Middle School participated in the South Carolina Mock Trial competition on Saturday, November 13 in Columbia, SC. The team tried a civil case against other middle schools from the Midlands region. (more)

Fifty Leavelle McCampbell Middle School students were inducted into the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Club. The club will provide these students with support and encouragement for academic achievement, cultural experiences, and self-empowerment. (more)

The students and staff of Leavelle McCampbell Middle School assembled in the gymnasium to pay homage to the veterans in the community and world-wide. (more)

Drake Yon, a member of the Ridge Spring-Monetta FFA Chapter, was awarded a $2500 college scholarship by the SC Farm Bureau Federation at the conclusion of the Junior Beef Cattle Show held in conjunction with the 2010 SC State Fair, reports John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization. (more)

Ridge Spring-Monetta High School FFA members Corbin Yon and Victor Quintero joined Mrs. Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington, DC, and former State Superintendent of Education in South Carolina, on a tour of the Agricultural-related segments of the South Carolina State Fair on Friday, October 15. (more)

East Aiken School of the Arts received a $750 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program. UKwania Burr, mother of fifth grader, NaQuan Chandler, submitted the grant application for our school. The funds will be used to enhance our math and science programs.

North Augusta Middle School is proud to announce the 2010 Nancy Carson Ghost Story winners.
The following winners were announced:
Brielle Smith - 1st
Julie Brunson - 2nd place
Kayla Cooper - 3rd place.
Congratulations girls.

Students at Jackson Middle School recently held several events to raise awareness and funding for ovarian cancer research. (more)

Jackson Middle School student, Jaycie Ward, inspired community members and united Way supporters with her version of "Let It Be" by the Beatles during the United Way Victory Luncheon recently. (more)

Wal-mart has sponsored J.D Lever Elementary this school year. Two Wal-mart representatives came to J.D Lever, Liz Boyd and Gayle Herring, and presented 10 teachers with 100 dollar gift certificates. The whole staff also received gift bags and Wal-mart brought a cake to share with everyone. They have offered to help with any special activities the school plans and provide treats and goodies for class parties etc. We are so grateful to Wal-mart for thinking about our school, our students, and especially our teachers! It certainly takes a village to raise children, thank-you Wal-Mart for being part of "our" village!! (pict)

Carmen Holley was awarded a $3500 Special Projects Grant from the South Carolina Department of Education. The grant will pay for Photo Shop Software for four computers in an effort of providing learning experiences and preparation for post graduate studies and opportunities. It will also subsidize professional training for Mrs. Holley to be able to learn and teach the technology. Students will be acclimated to Graphic Art as a career pathway. Being proficient in Photo Shop and will give them the choice to become an Art Director, Camera Operator for television, video, or motion pictures. Commercial and Industrial Designers are well equipped with a knowledge of Photo Shop, as are Stage Directors, Fashion Designers, Interior Designers, Theatrical and Performance Makeup Artists. Set and Exhibit Designers use Photo Shop as a tool in their careers, as do Fine Artists; painters, sculptors, and illustrators. Students will have more options to consider when contemplating careers to pursue.

Aiken Middle School 6th grader Kira Bacon, was awarded the South Carolina Commission for the Blind "Children Services Consumer of the Year" award on October 19, 2010.

Martha Brunson, the music teacher from North Augusta Elementary, was awarded a grant under the 2010-11 Arts Curricular Innovation Grants Program in the amount of $14,105 for her grant entitled "ARTS - Artists Reaching Talented Students Today." $8,105 will be used to purchase needed equipment and materials for the NAE art programs, and $6,000 will be used for our music and art teachers to attend the South Carolina Department of Education summer arts institutes.

East Aiken School of the Arts has been approved to receive full funding under the 2010-11 Arts Curricular Innovation Grants Program. These funds will be used to continue the implementation of our School of the Arts initiative.

Aiken County Public Schools Department of Special Programs was awarded the Exceptional Children Grant from the SC Office of Exceptional Children, to encourage parents participation. (more)

North Aiken Elementary won the Exxon Mobile Grant in the amount of $750.00

East Aiken School of the Arts' Boys' Choir is the recipient of the Public Education Partners October Project of the Month. Megan Jensen, Music Teacher, and Tom Calhoun, of South Boundary Singers, direct the newly formed choir, named "No Boundaries." For more information on how to support this group, please visit http://www.publicedpartners.org/

End- Of-Course exams scores show improvement for district, for state. (press release)

The Aiken County School Board recognizes Mr. Robert Giancroce, owner of Mr. Central Air Conditioning, after he presents the fifty $50 WalMart gift cards to Dr. Elizabeth Everitt in an effort to support Aiken County school system employees through the year. (photos)

Wal-Mart has sponsored J D Lever and is going to help support any special activities the school, teachers, and grade levels may organize. They have donated resources to the school and also selected 10 teachers that will receive a $100 gift certificate from Wal-Mart. (photo)

On week 1 at the Irmo Contest, the Jacket Regiment received an excellent rating in a loaded 4A class. On week 2, this past Saturday, at the Midland Valley Contest, the Jacket Regiment received a superior rating, best colorguard, and best hornline, 1st place in 4A, 1st place in the blue division (3A/4A) and they won the Grand Champion trophy scoring higher than all of the bands that participated throughout the day. This weekend the Jacket Regiment will travel to Commerce, GA for competition. Good luck Jacket Regiment!
NAMS participants are: Seth Rozsnyai, Adam Snyder, Jason Hayes, Candace Channell, Alex Sims, Emily Wilson, and Drew Barclay.Congrats to these students for all of your hard work! (photo)

Kevin Piner, teacher at North Augusta High School, has been selected as a guest choreographer for the pre-game and halftime performance at the 2011 Cotton Bowl. Over 300 high school students from across the country have been chosen to participate in the event. Mr. Piner will be flown to Texas this Friday, October 1st to create, teach, and record choreography for flag, rifle and sabre. The event is sponsored by Marching Auxiliaries based out of Texas. The Cotton Bowl performance will be on January 7th 2011 at 7 PM in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Forty-eight Black American seniors in 32 South Carolina public schools have been named 2011 semifinalists in the 47th annual National Achievement Scholarship competition. They are among more than 1,600 students to achieve this honor nationwide. (more)

East Aiken School of the Arts received a plaque to commemorate the school's collection of one million can tabs! The tabs are recycled and the proceeds are donated to the Ronald McDonald House. This is the second time our students have been awarded with the one million tabs plaque.

SRNS has donated 1500 to the Wagener Salley High School Robotics Team. The team will use the donation for team registration ($275), competition registration ($275), purchasing parts to build the robot, travel and expenses. The robotics team currently has nine members. This is our fifth year of participating in usfirst.org first tech challenge. (photo)

One hundred seventy-two students in 56 public high schools across South Carolina are among the 16,000 semifinalists announced today in the 56th annual National Merit Scholarship program. They will vie for 8,400 scholarships worth more than $36 million that will be offered next spring. (more)

Aiken County High Schools and the Collegeboard.com are PROUD to offer the Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test (PSAT) to all current Aiken County high school students! (more)

Four board members for Aiken County Public Schools have earned recognition by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) for achievement in the association’s 2009 -2010 Boardmanship Institute. (more)

Well deserved and positive finance news was delivered to Aiken County Public Schools recently. Eight bids were received for the 2010-11 bond sale last week. (more)

Aiken County Public Schools was named the recipient of $42,000 in grant funds aimed at attendance improvement and drop-out prevention among high school students. (more)

ACPS food service employees have much to celebrate as they kick off another year of preparing healthy food for school children. (more)

The Aiken Performing Arts Group received a grant from the Community Foundation for the CSRA (grant- Augusta National Endowment) to bring more music options to our students. (more)

The Back to School Media Blitz was a huge success! Tammie Newman, Public Information Officer, organized several activities to better inform parents, students and new administrators on the facts for starting the 2010-11 school year off. (more)

Loretta Bush, Midland Valley High educator, was recently named the 2010 Teacher of the Year for the SC Association for Career and Technical Education. (more)

East Aiken School of the Arts is scheduled to receive $7,500 in ABC grant funding for this school year. More details are at: http://www.southcarolinaarts.com/awards/aie_abc.shtml

Local businessman, Mr. Robert Giancroce, co-owner of Mr. Central Air Conditioning (Loretta Giancroce, is his wife and business partner), is not only promoting superlative performance among our educators, he is also hoping to inspire others by donating $2500 in gift cards to the Aiken County Public Schools. (more)

Corbin Yon and Victor Quintero, RSMH students, attended the South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner's School of Agriculture. The week long camp exposed each students to the scope, impact and the career choices in agriculture in South Carolina and The United States.

James Cochran and Misty Sturkie, RSMH students, attended the National FFA Washington D.C. Leadership Conference. The two attended with 450 other FFA members from all over the USA. The students networked, attended a week long course on leadership and government, and toured our nation's capital.

Mossy Creek Elementary will be loading the"Turtle Express" (a school bus that the teachers from the school ride each year a few days before school starts) at 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tues. August 10, 2010 with bookbags filled with school supplies, donated by community sponsors, and traveling to selected neighborhoods in their zone to deliver the bookbags to students and their families. They will ride the bus from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and deliver to Chalet North/Groves, N. Augusta Gardens, Mitchell Manor Trailer Park, and H&H St./Celeste Avenue. The sponsors who contributed supplies and/or bookbags for this project are:
1. N. Augusta First Baptist Church
2. Grace Methodist Church
3. Keller Williams Realty
4. Cedar Creek West
5. Dr. Cooper
6. N. Augusta High School's Yellow Jackets Football Team

The State Department of Education announced 102 Robert C. Byrd scholars with seven graduates from Aiken County Public Schools leading the way. The $1,500 scholarships are renewable and may be used at in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities. Over 360 Byrd scholarship applications were filed in South Carolina. (more)

The Midland Valley High School Agricultural Education Department has been recognized as the outstanding program in the Lower State Region for 2010 by the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs for the organization. (more)

The National FFA Organization recently selected from a pool of more than 600 candidates nationwide the Midland Valley High School FFA Chapter of Graniteville, S.C., as a 3-star winner in the National FFA Chapter Award program. (more)

Aiken County was well represented at the 2010 National Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Competition in Chicago, Illinois recently. (more)

Aiken County Public Schools will be taking part in the Business, Innovation & Technology Expo on July 17 between 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center. (more)

South Aiken High was recently named a Green Steps School during the "Take Action Today" recycling workshop in Columbia, SC. Green Steps Schools is an environmental education initiative that encourages South Carolina schools to take sustainable steps towards becoming more environmentally responsible and eco-friendly. (more)

The South Carolina School Boards Insurance Trust (SCSBIT) implemented the Premium and Risk Reduction (PARR) program in an effort to minimize safety hazards in schools and help districts maximize their long-term savings. Districts choosing to participate in the program select at least one school to meet the annual criteria and are eligible to receive a five percent reduction in their workers’ compensation premiums. (more)

GATEWAY is Doorway to Artistic Future. (article and pictures).

Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards 2009-2010 (pdf)

09/10 Archive

08/09 Archive

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