😊 Good news!
📸 We know a lot has happened since we sent home fall picture proofs, so we’ve extended the picture order deadline! You now have until Friday, 10/25 to place your orders.
🍓 Simply go to strawbridge.net to order!
🏐 Our Varsity Volleyball Team is UNDEFEATED and making HCA history! This is a HUGE first for our school and our athletic department!
🙌 We're so proud of our incredible players, dedicated coaches, and the amazing families and fans who have been cheering us on every step of the way!
🚙 They’re playing Calhoun County RIGHT NOW, and we know they are bringing that famous HCA energy and heart to the game!
🔥 These girls are on fire 🔥
🤩Also, how amazing is this video? It was made by our very own HCA Media students; be sure to follow their channel on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRbS7Akv0RQ
👋 HCA Village, we have some great news!
💡 Power has been restored, and we’re ready to welcome our students back to campus on Monday, October 7th! Thanks to Aiken Electric Co-op and all the linemen working hard across our county!
💙 We know this past week has been challenging, so we’re excited to bring back a sense of normalcy just before Fall Break.
Here are a few important details to help make our return smooth:
👕 Uniforms: If you can wear your uniform, awesome! If you can’t due to any power-related issues, this will be a free dress week. Just be sure to follow our general dress code, check it out at https://www.hcacs.net/page/high-school-dress-code
💻 Chromebooks: Middle & High School students, no worries if your Chromebook is out of battery! We’ve set up Chromebook charging stations throughout the Middle/High School to help you get back on track.
🍴 Lunch: We’re stocked with extra meals for the week! If you’re unable to pack a lunch, the Canteen is ready with meals for purchase. Plus, the food truck will be available for Middle/High School lunches!
💛 We know this has been an unusual time, but as we settle back in, let’s show each other grace, kindness, and embrace the spirit of our Village.
❗️ If your family is facing challenges or transportation issues, please reach out to Dr. Taylor directly at ataylor@hcacs.net.
🎉 We can’t wait to see everyone on Monday!
Note: We have a few robos scheduled today and tomorrow to share this info. We know cell service is still wonky in some areas, so we are just trying to make everyone aware!
🍎 In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our incredible HCA staff is coming together to support the community with a special service project: Lunches of Love!
💙 Stop by the Aiken County YMCA this Friday, 10/4 from 11 AM - 1 PM (or until we run out!) to pick up a free bag lunch, courtesy of our dedicated staff. This is just one way we’re living out our commitment to #service and showing love to those in need.
💛 Come by, grab a meal, and know that we’re all in this together!
#AikenStrong #WeAreTheVillage
❗️HCA Village- we wanted to go ahead and give you an update regarding the remainder of the week at Horse Creek Academy. HCA will remain closed for the rest of the week, and we anticipate welcoming students and staff back to campus on Monday, October 7th. All events scheduled for this week have been canceled.
💡 We are in close communication with local emergency management officials to stay informed of power outages and damage across the area that could affect the safety of our students and staff traveling to campus. Once power is restored at HCA—hopefully before the weekend—we will assess our infrastructure, security, and campus to ensure everything is fully prepared for our students and staff to return.
💙 While we do not foresee additional delays at this time, we will provide a final update to all families over the weekend.
💛 In challenging times, it becomes even more apparent that we really are the Village. Thank you for your continued patience and support. Stay safe, HCA!
❗️Due to a lack of power at our school, which is expected to continue for the next few days, Horse Creek Academy will be closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All games and activities are also canceled during this time. This decision also considers the widespread outages and damage impacting many of our HCA families.
💙 Students, there is no need to worry about additional e-learning work during this time. If you can complete what was originally assigned, that's great, but if not, we will regroup and catch up when we are back at school. The safety and well-being of you and your family come first.
💛 In times like these, it is clear that it truly takes a Village, and we are thinking of our entire HCA community as we navigate this together. We will provide an update on the remainder of the week on Wednesday, October 2nd. Please stay safe HCA Village; we love you!
Note: We have set a few robo calls to go out this evening and throughout the day tomorrow to try and reach all families about this cancellation. So you may receive multiple calls.
🚫 Due to the expected conditions and impacts as Hurricane Helene continues to approach the CSRA, all afterschool activities have been cancelled for today, September 26th.
⏰ School will still dismiss at the normal times, but all club meetings, practices, and events scheduled for this afternoon and evening have been cancelled. After Care has also been cancelled.
💙 We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but want to ensure the safety of all our families. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe, HCA Village!
❗️Important Message for After Care Families:
-Due to the increasing severe weather conditions, we have made the difficult decision to cancel After Care today. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we believe this is the best course of action.
-We understand that this may cause inconvenience, and we appreciate your understanding in this matter. Please make arrangements to pick up your child as close to 4pm as you can.
-If After Care families have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out Sharon Birchmore at sbirchmore@hcacs.net.
💪 Calling all Dads, Stepdads, Grandads, Uncles, and other male mentors!
🦸♂️ Are you interested in becoming an HCA Hero?
💙 This is a program at HCA that aims to increase the presence of males on campus in a variety of roles; talk about a wonderful way to #connect and #serve our Village!
👀 Ready to sign up and learn more?
👉 Click here: https://tinyurl.com/hcaheroes
🌧️ Weather Update: Hurricane Helene
🌀 Due to the forecasted impact of Hurricane Helene in our area, HCA will have an e-learning day on Friday, September 27th. Our campus will be closed for all students and staff, and everyone will work remotely.
❗️Important Reminders:
👋 Elementary families: Students will bring home their work, so please check their folders.
👋 Middle/High School families: Make sure your child has their Chromebook and checks Google Classroom for assignments.
As of now, all after-school activities at HCA for Thursday, September 26th, will proceed as normal, with the exception of Elementary Golf Squad. If any additional changes occur, we will notify families immediately. If you choose not to participate in after-school activities tomorrow, that’s perfectly fine—just do what feels right for your family 💙
☔️ While we never want to interrupt our school schedule, the safety of our HCA families, staff, and students is always our top priority, especially since many in our Village travel long distances to get to school. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate this weather event together.
💻 If you have any specific questions about e-learning, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to your child’s teacher. Stay safe, HCA Village, and thank you, as always, for your support and flexibility!
🤠 Howdy HCA Village, it's weekly update time! Check it all out at https://5il.co/2x8u3
❗️We want to provide you with an important update regarding the alleged threat against Horse Creek Academy that was reported yesterday. After a thorough investigation, the Aiken County Sheriff's Department determined that the threat, which originated from students at another local middle school, was not credible. Read more at https://5il.co/2x8sl
HCA is currently working with the Aiken County Sheriff's Department regarding an alleged threat. Read full information here: https://5il.co/2x8o3
🚨 Board Meeting Date Change
🗓️ Update your calendar! The September Board Meeting has been rescheduled from September 23rd to Monday, September 30th.
👀 Remember, you can now live-stream our Board Meetings at https://www.youtube.com/@HorseCreekAcademyBoard?app=desktop
💙 Also, get excited! We will be announcing the winners of our HCA Mini Grant Program next week, and inviting winners to our October Board Meeting! We had to push out the date a bit due to conflicting calendars, thanks for your understanding!
🗓️ Mark your calendars for our next PTO Meeting this Thursday, September 19th, at 2 PM in the High School Commons!
🎉 Elementary parents, we’ve got a special perk for you — attend the meeting and you get to skip the car line! We’ll bring your child to you at 2:30 when the meeting wraps up!
👋 Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to stay involved; see you there!
🎉 Seniors' Night Out! 🎉
🎓 HCA Seniors, it’s time for a night of fun and fellowship!
🎮 Join us at Radioactive Pinball in downtown Aiken on Friday, October 4th at 6 PM for an unforgettable evening!
✨ We’ve got your playtime covered, so bring your A-game and enjoy the night with friends! 👋👋 HCA staff will be onsite from 6-7 PM, but seniors can feel free to stick around as long as they'd like (seniors are responsible for letting their parents know their plans!)
❗️ RSVP here by September 20th to secure your spot: https://forms.office.com/r/W3QQDbEnTc
🎉 We’re celebrating 1 year of Horse Creek FFA!
Over the past year, our FFA has achieved so much! Join us as we mark this incredible milestone and celebrate all the achievements and growth we’ve experienced over the past year. Thank you to our staff, families and students for all of your support! Some big wins this year include:
-100%+ Membership
-Superior Chapter Award
-Mr. FFA Scholarship Program: 5 boys competed
-Hunter Campbell: Top 10 at Mr. FFA
-Gage Cagle: Runner-up for Mr. Greenhand
-CDEs/LDEs: Competed in 4 CDEs and 3 LDEs
-Riley Gunter: 1st at regional, 2nd at state for Creed Speaking
👏 Way to go y'all, and a big thanks to Mrs. Fanning and Mrs. Greenhill for starting the FFA and making sure we had a great first year!
🏴☠️ Ahoy, me hearties of HCA!
🏴☠️ In honor of National Talk Like a Pirate Day, we be celebratin' Pirate Day on Thursday, September 19th!
🏴☠️ All ye scallywags and crew be welcome to dress as pirates as we set sail for a day full o' fun and adventure on the high seas o' learnin'!
⚓️ Don’t ye miss out on this swashbucklin’ good time!
👀 Important note: The use of pirate grammar almost caused our social media manager (a former ELA teacher) to walk the plank...😂
🎃👻 Get ready for some fall fun at Horse Creek Academy's 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat!
🗓️ Date: October 26th
⏰ Time: 5 PM - 8 PM
🎟️ Admission: FREE to come trick-or-treat at our 40+ decorated trunks!
Bring the family out for a safe, fun-filled evening of candy, costumes, and creativity! Plus, enjoy delicious eats from food trucks, perfect for a night of family fun. 🍬🍫🍭
🌟 Want to host a trunk? It's only $10 to join the fun! Email PTO Vice President Katie Massotti at kmassotti@4@gmail.com to reserve your space before they're gone!
📍 Want to have a full day of Halloween fun? Start your day at the City of Aiken Trunk or Treat at Citizen's Park from 3-6 PM, then zip over to HCA for more Halloween excitement!
🎃 Don't miss out on this spooktacular event! See you there!
🇺🇸 We Remember. We Honor. We Stand United.
🇺🇸 On this day, we pause to remember the lives lost, the bravery shown, and the resilience of our nation on September 11, 2001. We honor the heroes who risked everything to save others and the families who carry the weight of that day.
💙 As a Village, let us reflect on the values that unite us — courage, compassion, and strength. May we never forget the impact of this day and continue to live in a way that fosters unity and kindness.
🎉 Congratulations to the newly elected members of our HCA Board of Directors!
👋 We are thrilled to welcome back Dana Cook, Samuel Grimes, and Ashley Pitts to the Board, along with our newly appointed member Carolyn Rischbieter.
💙 A huge thank you to all of our incredible nominees for their dedication to our HCA Village and for being part of this important process! #WeAreTheVillage
