
This evening will feature:
✨ Student recognition
🏅 Athletic awards
🎤 Special keynote speaker Dr. Curtrell Rhodan of the SCHSL
🍽️ A seated dinner catered by the renowned Juniper in Ridge Spring
🎟️ Athletes attend free, children 5 & under are free, and parent/guest tickets are just $10; be sure to reserve your seat via the links below by Friday, May 22!
-RSVP: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/P1EBz3zgEb
-Payment: https://tinyurl.com/HCA2026athleticbanquet
💙 And don’t worry, middle school athletes—we wouldn’t forget about you! You’ll be celebrated during your grade level End of Year programs. 👏
Let’s come together as a Village to celebrate an amazing year of HCA athletics!

🔗 BIDDING LINK: https://www.32auctions.com/HCAcarlinevip2627
The moment has arrived, Village! Our highly anticipated 2026–2027 Car Line VIP Auction is officially LIVE! 🙌
This year, we’re offering:
⭐ 4 Elementary VIP Spots (Front Parking Lot)
⭐ 2 Middle/High VIP Spots (Back Parking Lot)
Winners get to skip the standard car line EVERY DAY—morning and afternoon—for the entire 2026–2027 school year.
💙 As a public charter school and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, proceeds from this fundraiser directly support Horse Creek Academy and help us continue investing in meaningful opportunities and experiences for our students and staff. Horse Creek Academy is happy to provide donation receipts upon request.
🚨 IMPORTANT:
Each VIP spot is listed as its own item.
👉 Please read carefully and make sure you are bidding on the correct spot (Elementary or Middle/High) before placing your bid.
⏰ Bidding closes May 22 at 11:59 PM
Ready to upgrade your daily routine and support the Village at the same time? Start bidding now! 💙💛

☀️ Thank you for the countless ways you support, encourage, cheer on, and love our students each and every day. From early mornings and carline runs to homework help, packed lunches, and everything in between—we see you, and we appreciate you more than words can say.
The heart of our Village is made stronger because of amazing women like you. 💛

This week we celebrated our incredible teachers and staff at Horse Creek Academy with a fun movie-themed Staff Appreciation Week! From Star Wars breakfast treats to Marvel snacks, popcorn bars, shark-cuterie, and a Jurassic-sized lunch…our team felt the love all week long. 🎬🦖
At HCA, we believe every person on campus helps teach, lead, support, and shape our students. That’s why we celebrate our whole staff…because in our Village, we’re all educators in some way. ❤️
A HUGE thank you to our amazing PTO for making this week possible! Your creativity, generosity, and love for our staff never go unnoticed.
Honestly…after this week, we may need to start planning a PTO Appreciation Week next year. 👏✨

From awards programs and celebrations to special traditions and end-of-year events, there is so much ahead as we wrap up another incredible school year together. 💙
Be sure to take a look at the overview below and start marking your calendars! 👀
✨ As always, the most up-to-date event information can be found on our website and in the HCA App.
Let’s finish the year strong, Stallions! 💛

👏 We are proud to officially announce our DECA Officer Team for the 2026–2027 school year!
After a competitive and thoughtful selection process, these students rose to the top through their leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence:
✨ Anslee Zielinski – DECA President
✨ Tristan Strother – Executive Vice President
✨ Lulu Martinez – Vice President of Marketing
✨ Micaiah Slater – Vice President of Chapter Development
✨ Lily Cameron – Vice President of Chapter Development
These students represent the very best of HCA—demonstrating strong character, initiative, and a true passion for growing our DECA chapter.
👏 We are confident this team will lead with integrity, creativity, and purpose as they take our program to the next level.
HCA Village, help us congratulate this outstanding group of leaders! 💙





🎉 End of Year Sale is HERE!
Grab your HCA shirts for just $10 now through June 5 (or until they’re gone)!
These are perfect for summer, spirit days, or repping the Village wherever you go 💙
👉 Quantities are limited—once they’re out, they’re out!
👉 Hoodies are marked down too, just $15!
👉 New and improved gear for the 26–27 school year is on the way, and you’re going to love it.
Come snag your favorites while you can… and get ready for what’s next.
We are the Village.

Mark your calendars for July 27 at 6:00pm in the HCA Gym for a special evening hosted by our amazing 5K teachers! 💙
This parent-focused orientation is designed to help you feel confident, prepared, and ready for your child’s Kindergarten journey at HCA.
💡 And don’t worry—we didn’t forget about our future Stallions! Students will get their chance to explore classrooms and more at Village Fest on August 6. (More details on Village Fest coming very soon! 😉)
🏇🏻 We can’t wait to welcome you and help you kick off an incredible year!

Horse Creek Academy is exploring the possibility of a co-op microschool model designed for students who are currently homeschooling, learning virtually, or interested in a more flexible option—and we’d love your input.
We’re talking about a model that could blend:
✔️ Flexible learning options
✔️ Real-world experiences
✔️ Meaningful connection to a school community
✔️ A dedicated off-campus meet-up space for learning, collaboration, and connection
If your family is currently in a homeschool or virtual setting (or considering it), we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Take a quick interest survey and help us shape what this could become!
📲 Survey Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/1JMYuYKL73
Because at HCA… we are the Village—and we’re always growing. 💙

Join us for a great night of music at our Spring Band Concert on Thursday, May 7 at 6:00 PM in the HCA Gym.
Our student musicians have been working hard all semester, and this is their moment to shine. Come out, show your support, and enjoy an evening of incredible performances.
Let’s fill the gym and celebrate our talented Stallions! 💙🏇

From our 4K Orientation tomorrow night, to community partnerships like the City of Aiken youth sports volunteer opportunity, and exciting upcoming events like Info Night, the Spring Band Concert, and Middle School Formal, there’s something for every family to plug into.
You’ll also find important reminders about senior events, end-of-year programs, testing dates, and summer opportunities as we head into the final stretch of the school year.
👉 Click the link to view the full Weekly Update: https://tinyurl.com/hcaweekly5-4-26
Quick heads up: You may also see this newsletter come through directly from noreply@hcacs.net. This is a new feature we’re testing as part of an improvement to our communication system for next year. Soon, this will allow the newsletter to display fully in your inbox—no extra clicks needed!
Thank you for staying engaged and connected.
We are the Village. 💙🏇
Interested in a future in the beauty industry? Come learn what’s possible at our Nail Tech & Esthetics Info Night!
📅 Thursday, May 7
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Commons B
This is a great opportunity for students and families to explore career pathways, training options, and next steps in nail technology and esthetics—all in one place right here at HCA!
💅🏼 Whether you’re just curious or already passionate about nails, skincare, and more, this night is for you.
We can’t wait to see you there! 💙🏇

🤝 As part of our partnership with the City of Aiken, we’re excited to share a meaningful way for our students (16+) and families to get involved and give back.
👀 The City is currently seeking referees for youth flag football (8U, 10U, 12U). This is a great opportunity to mentor younger athletes, build leadership skills, and support positive youth experiences in our community.
No prior officiating experience is needed—training is provided for anyone with a basic understanding of the game. Officials can work up to 2 games per night (up to 6 per week), and receive $25 per game.
There are also opportunities available for baseball and girls’ softball officiating, with the greatest need right now in flag football. ⚾️🥎
💙If you’re looking for a way to make an impact beyond campus, this is a great place to start!
👉 For more information, email Bret Howell at BHowell@CityofAikenSC.gov

🚗✨ WANT TO SKIP CAR LINE NEXT YEAR? ✨🚗
Get ready, Village… we’re changing things up—and it’s a game changer.
For the FIRST TIME EVER, our Car Line VIP Auction is happening in MAY, so winners can start enjoying their VIP spots on the very first day of school for 2026–2027! 🙌
And it gets even better…
👉 Elementary is expanding from 3 VIP spots to 4!
👉 NEW this year: 2 Car Line VIP spots in our back parking lot for Middle/High families!
🚨 Bidding Opens: May 11
⏰ Closes: May 22 at 11:59 PM
Winners get to skip the car line EVERY DAY—morning and afternoon. Yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds.
Important: Each individual may only win ONE VIP spot—plan your bidding accordingly!
👀 Stay tuned , we will release the bidding links on Monday, May 11!

By Dr. Ann Marie Taylor
🗓️ It’s officially testing season—but this is your reminder: our students are SO much more than a number.
💙 At Horse Creek Academy, we believe in effort, growth, and the kind of confidence that lasts long after the test is over.
This one is worth the read 👇
https://www.hcacs.net/article/2857881
This week, Mrs. Safford’s elementary health classes partnered with Mr. Wooten’s high school agriculture program for a hands-on day in the greenhouse—and it was everything we love about being a 4K–12 school. 👏
Our younger students explored healthy habits and where their food comes from, while our high school students stepped into leadership roles—teaching, guiding, and sharing their knowledge in a real-world setting. 🌿
Moments like this don’t happen everywhere. At HCA, our structure creates natural opportunities for connection across grade levels, where students learn with and from each other.
💙 This is what it looks like when learning, leadership, and connection come together!







🌟 Ticket sales will close this Friday, May 1 at 5:00pm—don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the most memorable nights of the year! And remember, Prom is this Saturday, May 2nd from 7-11 right here at HCA!
Prom is such a special tradition at HCA, and we’d love to see as many of our students there as possible—dressed up, making memories, and celebrating together. 💃🕺
🎟️ Grab your tickets now at https://gofan.co/event/6553886?schoolId=SC100404
📄 Bringing a guest from outside HCA? Be sure to complete (and turn in) the guest form: https://aptg.co/NvLPdn
Let’s make it a night to remember… We are the Village 💙💛

Get ready for a fun night—our Middle School Formal will be held on:
📅 Saturday, May 9
🕕 6:00–9:00 PM
We can’t wait to see our middle school students dressed up and enjoying a great night together! 🎉
🎟️ Tickets are just $10—grab yours today!
👉 https://tinyurl.com/2026msformal
🙌 Want to help make the night even more special? We’re also collecting donations—check out ways to contribute below:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/26msformaldonate
Let’s make it a night to remember! 💙

👀 Did you smell that?
Yep… we did too 😅
Before we all start side-eyeing the hallways or blaming middle school lockers… here’s your quick HCA science moment:
🌾 Local farmers use chicken manure (sometimes called “chicken litter”) as a natural fertilizer to help crops grow—it's packed with nutrients like nitrogen that plants love!
💡 Did you know?
-That strong smell actually comes from nitrogen breaking down
-And when it’s dry outside, the smell can travel farther and stick around longer
-A good rain helps soak it into the soil and clears the air 🌧️
So yes… it’s a little strong right now—but it’s also a sign that fields are being prepped and crops are growing 🌱
👉 Real-life agriculture. Right outside our classrooms.
💙 Huge shoutout to our local farmers—thank you for feeding our community and doing the hard (and sometimes smelly!) work that keeps everything growing.
Because at HCA… even unexpected moments turn into learning opportunities 🏇🏻🌾🐓

Our Weekly Update is live, and it’s packed with important reminders and exciting events as we head into a busy stretch of the school year!
From Senior celebrations and upcoming events, to our Fishing Tournament fundraiser, summer camp opportunities, and key end-of-year dates, there’s a lot happening across the Village.
👉 Click the link to read the full Weekly Update: https://tinyurl.com/hca427weeklyupdate
Thank you for staying connected and engaged—we love seeing our Village show up in such big ways! 💙🏇