School District of Pickens County

Behind every clean hallway, shining floor, and well-kept campus is a team of hardworking heroes. Our custodian teams and grounds crews have worked all summer to prepare our schools for a strong start - and it shows! Join us in thanking them for the pride and care they pour into every corner of our buildings as we prepare to welcome students back on Friday! #ProductiveServiceOrientedOperations #EngagingToday #EmpoweringTomorrow

🥞 FREE Meals for All Students This Year! 🍎

We’ve got great news for SDPC families!

Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all students will receive FREE breakfast and lunch every day during the 2025–2026 school year—no forms, no fees, no hassle! 🙌

✅ No need to submit a meal application
✅ Every student is automatically eligible
✅ Healthy meals = focused minds + strong bodies

This program ensures that every child has access to nutritious meals to fuel learning and success. It’s one more way we’re supporting our students—together!

Find out more here: https://5il.co/3me9w

Questions? Visit www.sdpcnutrition.com or contact Jenaffer Stevenson, Director of Student Nutrition Services:
📧 jenafferstevenson@pickens.k12.sc.us | 📞 864-397-1166

#SDPCNutrition #EngagingToday #EmpoweringTomorrow

📅 Mark your calendars — the first day of school is August 1, 2025!

📅 View the full 2025–2026 SDPC calendar and learn more about our Modified Year-Round Approach here:
🔗 https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars

We can't wait to welcome our students back for an exciting new year!

🚌 SDPC Families – Does your child need bus transportation this school year?

If your student will be riding the bus to or from school, please take a moment to complete the 📝 SDPC Transportation Form to ensure they are scheduled for 🚌 pickup and drop-off before August 1.

🔗 Find the form linked here: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/transportation

Parent Event: Helping Your Family Bridge the Tech Gap SDPC families — you're invited to a special event with Joshua Adams from Parent ProTech, focused on how technology is shaping the lives of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Learn about: ✔️ Screen time trends & the science behind them ✔️ Practical strategies for healthy tech habits ✔️ How to stay connected as a family in today's digital world April 1 | 5:00–6:30 PM ALIVE Wesleyan Church - 136 Chastain Rd, Central, SC 29630 ✅ FREE and open to all SDPC parents ✅ Click here to register: https://forms.gle/GCcGHW91wGktUZmPA Let’s work together to help our kids thrive in a tech-saturated world!

📢 Leadership Announcement! 📢 We are excited to announce that Mr. Nate Roper has been named the next principal of Gettys Middle School, effective July 1, 2025! 🎉 Mr. Roper currently serves as the principal of Dacusville Middle School and has an extensive leadership background in SDPC, including previous roles as an assistant principal and associate principal at Gettys Middle and also as an assistant principal at Easley High. Please join us in congratulating Mr. Roper as he prepares to return to the GMS family! Please see the link below for more information: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/2034485

Today, we celebrate the incredible men and women who ensure our students travel safely to and from school each day. It's SC Bus Driver Appreciation Day, and we want to say THANK YOU to our SDPC bus drivers and assistants! To truly capture the impact of our drivers, we spent time riding along on routes and speaking with two of our dedicated drivers—experiencing firsthand the joy, care, and commitment they bring to their work. 🎥 Watch our special tribute video here: https://youtu.be/omM_SDLXcM0

📚 We Need Your Input for MATH Materials! The School District of Pickens County invites the public to review proposed K-12 Math instructional materials and textbooks before final approval. 📍 Review materials in person: Central Services, Easley (Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM) 💻 Review materials online & submit feedback: [https://bit.ly/3WVZ56W] 🗓 Deadline to submit feedback: March 4, 2025 To learn more and provide feedback, visit: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/2021110

🎉 4K Applications & 5K Registration Now Open! 🎉 The time has come! 4K applications and 5K enrollment for the 2025-26 school year are officially open. 📌 Learn more & register today: www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/pre-k-information-page ✨ New for 2025-26! We're excited to enhance our preschool programs across the district. Read about these important updates here: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/1937097

📢Coming soon: 2025 Pre-K & 5K Registration! 📢 Do you have a rising 4K or 5K student ready to start their learning journey? Mark your calendars, registration opens TOMORROW, January 17, 2025! ✅4K Applications - Learn about eligibility and how to apply ✅5K Enrollment - get ready for kindergarten at SDPC 📌Learn more & Register here: www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/pre-k-information-page NOTE: If you have completed any form prior to January 17., 2025, it will need to be resubmitted once registration opens. 🎉New for 2025-26! Our Preschool programs are evolving to better serve young learners. Read about these exciting updates: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/1937097 Tag a friend who needs this info! 🎒📚 #engagingtoday #empoweringtomorrow

SDPC will operate on a two-hour delay on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, due to the danger of ice on secondary roads. No buses will travel on icy roads. High school students should check Schoology for adjusted schedules. Details:: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/196018

📱 Revised Personal Electronic Device Policy: Beginning January 2025 📱 Under a new South Carolina policy, schools are required to limit students' access to cell phones and other personal devices during the school day. The School District of Pickens County has adopted a revised Personal Electronic Device Policy to comply with state law (Budget Proviso 1.103). ✔️Devices must be silenced and stored in lockers, backpacks, or other designated areas throughout the instructional time. ✔️Devices include but are not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and gaming devices. We encourage parents to discuss this policy with their children and support its implementation when we return in January. Thank you for partnering with us as we implement this required policy. Please visit this site for detailed information [www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/sdpc-cell-phone-policy].

Reminder - No School November 25-29, 2024 As we look ahead to next week, this is a reminder that there will be no school Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29, 2024. We hope you have a restful Fall Break! 🍂🍁 This is a planned break on the 2024-2025 calendar. As always, you can view the entire calendar as well as future draft calendars here - https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars

Reminder: There will be no school for students on Monday and Tuesday of next week, as we have an extended holiday. No School: - Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 - Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 (Teacher Professional Development day) These days are planned breaks on the 2024-2025 calendar. You can view the current calendar and future calendar drafts here: [www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars]

🚨Reminder: There will be no school for students on Monday & Tuesday of next week, as we have an extended Labor Day Holiday. No School: ▪️Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 ▪️Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 These days are planned breaks on the 2024-2025 calendar. You can view the current calendar and future calendar drafts here - www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars

Attention Parents/Guardians of Pickens County students! Click Here (https://bit.ly/3WWUkul) for info about EmpowerUP; a program to support adults in Pickens County! You can earn certifications in the fields of Commercial Truck Driver Training (CDL), Digital Literacy, Electrical Wiring, Medical Billing & Coding, and Certified Nurse Aide. Classes for the Fall begin soon! For more information, visit - www.tctc.edu/EmpowerUp

#EmpowerUp update | The School District of Pickens County has partnered with Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) to bring Adult Workforce Development offerings to our residents! 📚🛠️ You are invited to an OPEN HOUSE to learn more! - EmpowerUp OPEN HOUSE (https://5il.co/2fzn2) - Wed., March 6 from 9-11 a.m. - Pickens County Career & Technology Center (990 Chastain Road, Liberty, SC) Visit tctc.edu/empowerup or click here (https://5il.co/2fzn2) for more info!

#EmpowerUp update | In December, SDPC announced our partnership with Tri-County Technical College to bring EmpowerUp - Adult Workforce Development offerings right to our community! 📚🛠️ The EmpowerUp partnership is a unique opportunity that offers a variety of fast, flexible, and locally-relevant training programs at the Pickens County Career and Technology Center. Check out the exciting TCTC courses down below and visit tctc.edu/empowerup or click here (https://5il.co/2fa5b) for more info! Courses Offered soon: 📚 Workzone Flagger Training + OSHA 10-Hour Construction Standards: March 4 - 8 📚 Consultative Selling: Certified Sales Professional: March 4 - April 10 📚 Certified Logistics Technician Associate: March 4 - April 10 📚 Pre-Highway Construction Inspector/Testing Technician - Asphalt Roadway1: March 18 -2 8 📚 Certified Production Technician2: April 8 -19 📚 Commercial Truck Driver Training (CDL): April 10 Don't miss this chance to empower yourself with new skills and opportunities. For more information, contact TCTC at 865-646-1700 or conted@tctc.edu. #tctcedu #EngagingToday #EmpoweringTomorrow

Support the Red Kettle Ring Off in Pickens County - https://bit.ly/417A8qc On December 9, 2023, The Salvation Army will partner with the School District of Pickens County to host a Red Kettle Ring Off between 23 participating schools from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at retail locations across the area. The school that raises the most money from its Red Kettle location that day will be named “Red Kettle Ring Off Champion!” All donations raised throughout the Red Kettle campaign benefit individuals and families in need in Pickens County. If you'd like to help your school win the title of Red Kettle Ring Off Champion visit their kettle location or donate on their online kettle at: https://bit.ly/417A8qc

Attention Parents/Guardians of Pickens County students! Click Here (https://bit.ly/47IbEpT) for info about an exciting new program for adults in Pickens County! You can earn certifications in the fields of Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Commercial Truck Driver Training (CDL), Computer Numerical Control (CNC), and Electrical Wiring. Classes begin in January! For more information, visit - www.tctc.edu/EmpowerUp