Summer break won’t last for much longer. Richmond and Columbia county students have three weeks left, while Aiken County students start in five weeks. However, students in Richmond and Columbia counties will see several more days off, and the next summer vacation will start two weeks earlier for them than in Aiken County. Here are more details on the upcoming 2022-2023 school year and the important dates to know:
When does school start in Richmond County?
Richmond County students will see a staggered start of the year, with elementary students' first day on Thursday, Aug. 4, and the rest of students starting on Monday, Aug. 8.
Associate Superintendent Malinda Cobb said in December that the staggered approach will givethe school districta much smoother start, allowingthem more time to get the elementary school students settledand handle middle and high schoolers’ master schedules.
As part of the district's new grading procedure, the nine-week grading blocks are out and semester grading blocks are in.Therefore, students will receive progress reports on the sixth and 12th week followed by report cards at the end of the semester, which is the 18th week.Cobb explained in December, when the calendar was approved,that the semester block gives learning more flexibility and students a greater opportunity to reassess and re-learn as needed.
Richmond County students will also have new start times this year, with the new bell schedule approved at the board's May meeting.
Richmond County schools are divided into four tiers: first, second, third and magnet. First-tierschools will start five minutes earlier andsecond-tier schools will beginfive minutes later. The approved bell schedule for the 2022-2023 school year will be:
- First-tier schools, like Deer Chase Elementary and Butler High School, will start at 7:25 a.m. and conclude at 2:10 p.m.
- Second-tier schools, such as Barton Chapel and Reynolds Elementary and Augusta Richmond Academy, will begin at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m.
- Magnet schools' bells will ring the start of the day at 8:30 a.m. and at 3:20 p.m.
- Third-tier schools, like Belair K-8 and Spirit Creek Middle School, will begin their days at 9:20 a.m. and conclude at 4:05 p.m.
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Remote learning days
The Richmond County school calendar features four asynchronous learning days where students will learn from home, similar to what they experienced in 2020 and 2021.They are:
- Tuesday, Sept. 6
- Friday, Oct. 7
- Tuesday, Feb. 21
- Tuesday, March 14
Richmond County school holidays
There are also five single days off for students, several of which precede the asynchronous days:
- Monday, Sept. 5– Labor Day
- Thursday, Oct. 6– Student holiday/professional learning day
- Friday, Nov. 11– Veterans Day
- Monday, Jan. 16– Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
- Monday, March 13– Student holiday/professional learning day
Two four-day weekends are scheduled:Saturday, Oct. 8-Tuesday, Oct. 11, as well as Friday, Feb. 17-Monday, Feb. 20.
Fall break is Monday-Friday, Nov. 21-25, which will include Thanksgiving Day.Students will start theirwinter holiday with an early release on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and their first day back is Thursday, Jan. 5.Spring Break startsMonday, April 3, and students return Tuesday, April 11.
The last day for all students is an early release day on Wednesday, May 24, with graduations set for May 24-26.
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When is Columbia County's first day of school?
All Columbia County students will start school on Thursday, Aug. 4.
Remote learning days
The academic calendar includes twodigital learning/parent conference days: Friday, Sept. 2,andFriday, March 10.
Columbia County school holidays
Four single days off for students include:
- Monday, Sept. 5– Labor Day
- Friday, Nov. 11– Veterans Day
- Monday, Jan. 16– Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
- Monday, March 13– Student/teacher holiday
In addition, there are twofour-day weekends: Saturday, Oct. 8-Tuesday, Oct. 11 (a professional learning day), and Friday, Feb. 17 (a professional learning day)-Monday, Feb. 20.
Fall break is Monday, Nov. 21, to Friday, Nov. 25, which includes Thanksgiving Day. Winter break starts with an early dismissal day on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and students will return on Thursday, Jan. 5. Spring break starts Monday, April 3, and students come back Tuesday, April 11.
School will end with an early release day on Wednesday, May 24. Graduation dates have not yet been posted.
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When do Aiken County schools start?
All Aiken County students return to school on Monday, Aug.15.
Aiken County school holidays
The district calendar includes six single-day holidays on:
- Monday, Sept. 5– Labor Day
- Friday, Oct. 28– Teacher workday/parent-teacher conferences
- Monday, Jan. 16– Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
- Friday, Feb. 3– Professional development/weather make-up day
- Monday, Feb. 20– Presidents Day
- Monday, May 29– Memorial Day
Students will also have a four-day weekend: Saturday, Nov. 5-Tuesday, Nov. 8, which includes a professional development day and Election Day.
The Thanksgiving holiday features a break from Wednesday, Nov. 23, to Friday, Nov. 25. Winter Break startsMonday, Dec. 19, and students return Wednesday, Jan. 4.
Spring Break is Monday, April 3-Friday, April 7, which includes Good Friday.
Students wrap up the year with half days Tuesday, June 6, through Thursday, June 8; with the 8th being the last day for students. Graduations are scheduled from June 7-9.
