Kindergartners take on the first day of class at South Aiken Baptist Christian School.
- ERIN WEEKS/Staff
Left to right: Jacob Hutto, Jacob Price and Connor Price hitting the books on the first day back to class at South Aiken Baptist Christian School.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School elementary students enjoy their first recess of the 2024-25 school year. Pictured: Solomon Lucas, left, and Wyatt Martin.
- ERIN WEEKS/Staff
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School teacher, Hannah McMullen, on the first day of school during her seventh grade English Language Arts class.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School student Axel Barcenas-Sarabia on the first day of school.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
South Aiken Baptist Christian School Preschoolers Levi McGee, left, and Emmersyn Boyer on the first day of school.
- ERIN WEEKS/STAFF
Fourth grader Savannah Flores, left, and fifth grader Gray Shirer on their first day back to class at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School.
- ERIN WEEKS/Staff
Students from the St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School's class of 2025 are all smiles on the first day of school.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
South Aiken Baptist Christian School third grade teacher Amy Tucker on the first day of school.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
Students walk to class on the first day of classes at South Aiken Baptist Christian School.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
Lagree Tucker, left, and Perry Shirer on their first day of seventh grade at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
Top Story
Aiken Standard Reporter Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County. Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription.See our current offers »
Erin Weeks
Kindergartners take on the first day of class at South Aiken Baptist Christian School.
- ERIN WEEKS/Staff
Left to right: Jacob Hutto, Jacob Price and Connor Price hitting the books on the first day back to class at South Aiken Baptist Christian School.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School elementary students enjoy their first recess of the 2024-25 school year. Pictured: Solomon Lucas, left, and Wyatt Martin.
- ERIN WEEKS/Staff
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School teacher, Hannah McMullen, on the first day of school during her seventh grade English Language Arts class.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School student Axel Barcenas-Sarabia on the first day of school.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
South Aiken Baptist Christian School Preschoolers Levi McGee, left, and Emmersyn Boyer on the first day of school.
- ERIN WEEKS/STAFF
Fourth grader Savannah Flores, left, and fifth grader Gray Shirer on their first day back to class at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School.
- ERIN WEEKS/Staff
Students from the St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School's class of 2025 are all smiles on the first day of school.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
South Aiken Baptist Christian School third grade teacher Amy Tucker on the first day of school.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
Students walk to class on the first day of classes at South Aiken Baptist Christian School.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
Lagree Tucker, left, and Perry Shirer on their first day of seventh grade at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School.
- BY ERIN WEEKSeweeks@aikenstandard.com
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School opened its doors for the new school year Aug. 12.
The school has seen an increase in enrollment this year, now housing around 240 students.
“It’s always exciting to see the students, the smiles on their faces," interim Principal Matthew Kuhn said. "It'salways smiling faces and [students] happy to meet their new teachers and see their classrooms for the first time. The first day is always a lot of fun."
Kuhn said that students in science, technology, engineering and math classes can expect to make a transition into the school’s nearly completed STEM Center in October.
Initially, the $7.3 million dollar building’s timetable for completion was set for August.
Kuhn said the project is wrapping up as the building receives its finishing touches.
“In about a month and a half, we’ll be in there,” he said. “We’re very excited.”
The highly anticipated two-story STEM Center will include hands-on learning spaces such as an Aquatics Technology Area, a Virtual Reality Lab and a Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Classroom.
Students are already enrolled in STEM courses and are using space on the main campus for those classes until the new building is ready.
“We already have the courses. They're already meeting with those teachers in those classes that are going to go in the building," Kuhn said. "We're just using our existing campus. It's a bit of a tight squeeze, there’s a few things we can’t do yet, but we’re making do until that building is open.”
South Aiken Baptist school
South Aiken Baptist Christian School also welcomed students for the new year Aug. 12. Head of School Tonya Bryant said she's enjoying "the freshness, the excitement, the newness" of the first day.
South Aiken Baptistis also expecting some changes this year; Bryant said that the school is working toward "moving away" from the daycare program housed on the campus in favor of developing an Early Learning Center for 3K and 4K students.
Bryant said thatSouth Aiken Baptist has introduced a new Early Learning Center director, Deanna Brogden, to help advance this program. Brogden has over 24 years of experience in the field.
South Aiken Baptisthas also retained all of its teachers from last year and gaining three more.
"That probably excites me the most," Bryant said.
Next August, South Aiken Baptist will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
"We just want to thank all of our families and our partners out in the community who helped make this school what it is," Bryant said.
More information
- The Aiken County Farmers Market area is getting upgraded. Here's what we know.
Erin Weeks
Aiken Standard Reporter
Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County.
Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022.
To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription.See our current offers »
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