School District of Pickens County

📱 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

Pickens County Parents, You are invited to an information night to hear from experts regarding “Social Media and Your Child’s Mental Health” on Nov. 9 at 6:00pm at Pickens Middle School. - WHAT: Social Media and Your Child’s Mental Health - INFORMATION NIGHT - WHERE: Pickens Middle School - WHEN: Thur. 11/9 at 6:00pm - Submit this form to attend - https://bit.ly/3Sr0jFT

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. 9, 2023 ▪️Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 (Teacher Professional Development day) These days are planned breaks on the 2023-2024 calendar. You can view the current calendar and future calendar drafts here - [www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars]

SDPC ONLINE REGISTRATION CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE THROUGH JULY 10, 2023 - The School District of Pickens County is making a transition to a new online registration system called FinalForms during the summer of 2023. The registration sites (linked below) will be unavailable until July 10, 2023. This includes the New Student, Back to School, and Express Update sites. https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/online-registration

McKissick Academy of Science & Technology (MAST) has been named a 2023 Magnet School of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. MAST is one of only five elementary schools in South Carolina to receive a Merit award in 2023. [https://mast.pickens.k12.sc.us/o/mast/article/1106490 ]

SDPC is celebrating Youth Arts Month with art exhibitions at each of the four high schools. Select artworks from each school will be on display at their local high school. All exhibitions are free of entry. In addition, the SDPC All-County Art Exhibition will take place at the Pickens County Museum of Art and History during the month of April. Dates and times of exhibitions: Daniel Region - March 21st 6:00 - 7:00 pm Easley Region - March 23rd 5:30 - 7:00 pm Liberty Region - March 21st 5:30 - 6:30 pm Pickens Region - March 21st 5:30 - 7:30pm

This summer, the School District of Pickens County is excited to be able to host a three-week summer camp from June 5-23, 2023, called ArtsVenture for current 4th - 8th grade students. The camp will focus on the areas of Dance, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music (Strings), Instrumental Music (Band), Theater/Drama, Visual Arts. For more information, click here - https://bit.ly/3YUDDhe

Reminder There will be no school for students on: Monday, February 13, 2023 Tuesday, February 14, 2023 These days are planned school breaks on the 2022-2023 calendar. You can view the entire school calendar and future drafts here - https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/spdc-calendars

The School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees approved three leadership positions at the January 23, 2023, regular meeting. These positions include: 📚Dr. Paula Alexander - Executive Director of Elementary Education ✏️Michelle Craddock - Executive Director of Human Resources 🎒Wanda Tharpe - Executive Director of Secondary Education These leaders will begin their new positions at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year. To learn more, please visit the link below: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/971775

As we are now in the 3rd nine weeks of school in Pickens County, there are a few important updates and reminders that you should know about: CLICK HERE for a pdf of the January 13, 2023 PARENT UPDATE - https://5il.co/1n9g4

5K Registration and Pre-K applications are now OPEN for the 2023-2024 School Year! 🎒For more information about 5K registration, please visit: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/registration 📚For more information about the 3K & 4K Application Process, please visit here: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/pre-k-information-page

3K and 4K Application Process is Open for the 2023-24 School Year! SDPC is now accepting applications for our 3K and 4K programs for the 2023-24 school year! For more information, please visit our Pre-K website at www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/pre-k-information-page. Note: 5K Registration will begin on January 11.