Memorable Year for 2020 Graduates

Photo by Jordan Blackwell

By Valerie Sliker, Courtesy Wagener Monthly

This photo of WSHS Senior Gaige Starnes taken by Jordan Blackwell with a subtitle by Jennifer Starnes “The Lost Season of 2020” is a compelling reminder that COVID-19 denied our graduates many rites of passage typical of one’s senior year.

The final season for a high school Senior athlete is usually exciting, challenging and quite memorable. Sadly, this year, only one of those three applies and it applies to the whole senior class, not just the athletes: it is a memorable year.

The COVID-19 quarantine shut the schools down suddenly in March. While students found it a difficult adjustment, so much more did their parents who suddenly took on the role of teacher or at least teacher’s assistant. The teachers had a difficult adjustment as they learned to teach via Zoom and other apps. They had to be creative and diligent with students who had no internet access or personal cell phone. Admirably, they remained in steady contact with their students, finding creative ways to reach them individually. Then the final link in the chain of difficulty in education during a pandemic lies with the administrators, the principals and the district offices.

Rasheem Neloms named new principal at WSHS

Rasheem Neloms, Sr., has been an award-winning teacher, an assistant principal and instructional leader during his educational career. He brings all those experiences and a collaborative mindset with him as the next principal at Wagener-Salley High School. Neloms currently serves as the Instructional Coordinator for Birmingham City Schools in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

Aiken County Board of Education members approved Neloms’ appointment as the new principal at Wagener-Salley High School for the 2020-21 school year during the school board’s May 12 regularly scheduled meeting, held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Chris Earl, the school’s current leader, previously accepted a new position as the principal at Airport High School in Columbia, his alma mater.

 

Aiken County Primary Elections June 9

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA    Aiken

The Republican and Democratic parties will hold primaries on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. There will be no Democratic Party Primary in Aiken County as there is no opposition for the Democratic Party nomination for offices in the county. Any necessary runoffs will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Any person wishing to vote in the primaries and runoffs must register no later than Sunday, May 10, 2020. Voter registration by mail forms will be accepted if postmarked by Monday, May 11, 2020. Beginning Monday, May 11, the county voter registration and elections office will be open for in-person absentee voting during regular business hours and on Saturday, June 6, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Voters will be asked to provide one of the following Photo IDs at their polling place:

  • S.C. Driver's License

  • ID Card issued by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles

  • S.C. Voter Registration Card with Photo

  • Federal Military ID

  • U.S. Passport

ACPSD to have 2020 graduations on football fields

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT KING LAURENCE REGARDING 2020 HIGH SCHOOL 

Aiken County Public School Families, in considering alternative ways to celebrate the Class of 2020 during this pandemic, we surveyed our graduating seniors, their families, and friends for their input and ideas. We are certainly grateful that more than 2,000 individuals provided feedback and we appreciate the innovative and very thoughtful ideas shared.

Many of you suggested an option of each high school hosting ceremonies in their own football stadiums with strict social distancing protocols in place, limited guests, and virtual streaming. In discussion with our high school principals, we believe that suggestion to be the best option to celebrate this year’s graduates while protecting their safety.

Additional details on each high school’s individual ceremony are forthcoming, but we can share that all high schools will host their graduation in their own football stadiums on the previously designated dates of June 4th and 5th. All ceremonies will be held at 10:00 a.m.

Please note that due to COVID-19, additional precautions will be implemented and strictly enforced. In an effort to ensure social distancing and meet the state department’s recommended guidelines, each graduate will receive two tickets and tickets will be required for admittance into the stadiums.

All ceremonies will also be live-streamed and recorded. We look forward to honoring our seniors through these official ceremonies as we continue to explore additional opportunities to celebrate the Class of 2020 during these unprecedented times.

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