Horse Creek Academy

🚨 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

🏴‍☠️ 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...😂

🎉 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!

🎃👻 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!

🎓 Seniors, it’s time to get excited! 🎓 HCA’s College App Day is happening on Wednesday, September 18th during the school day, and you won’t want to miss it! 🙌 This is your chance to eat, drink, and apply to colleges all in one go! Plus, we’ll have 7 college reps on-site from schools across South Carolina and beyond to answer your questions and help with applications. 👉 Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA4A72EA6F4C34-44923343-hcacollege#/ 🤩 BONUS: If you sign up today you'll get a free t-shirt! ❓ Questions? Reach out to Mrs. Watson or Mrs. Reese. Let's get those college applications in! 🎉

🇺🇸 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

🌍 Join Us for HCA’s FIRST Multicultural Night! ✨🌍 📅 When: September 18th ⏰ Time: Drop in from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 📍 Where: HCA Gym ✈️ Take a tour of 23 Spanish-speaking countries with engaging presentations from our talented middle and high school students! 🍲🍧 Plus, don’t miss out on delicious bites from Vic’s Puerto Rican Grill and cool treats from Kona Ice. ❤️ It’s a night to celebrate diversity, learn, and have fun with our amazing HCA community! 🌍 We can’t wait to see you there as we immerse ourselves in different cultures and experiences!

🎉 Our Raise Craze Fundraiser kicks off today! HOORAY! 💙 We can’t wait to see how our school spreads kindness as a way of thanking our donors! Let’s get this party started! 🛝 Get your kiddos signed-up to start completing those Acts of Kindness while raising money for our Back Playground Renovation! 👋 Get started https://my.raisecraze.com/app2/join/AXQ7MA9

⛳ Calling all 5K-5th graders, ready to swing into the fall? Join HCA's new elementary club...Golf Squad! 🏌️‍♂️Golf Squad provides an amazing opportunity for your child to learn essential golf skills like putting, chipping, and full swings, while also mastering the etiquette, rules, and history of the sport. 🏌️‍♀️ Led by a local golf pro, your child will develop both technical swing mechanics and the social skills needed to enjoy the game of golf! ⛳ Whether your child is a beginner or a seasoned competitor, this weekly program is perfect for all skill levels! ✨ Boys and girls welcome! Convenient weekly lessons right here at school. 🔗 Click here to learn more, check out the rates, and sign up! ⛳ https://golfsquad.com/school/horse-creek-academy

🚨 Schoolwide Fundraiser Alert! 🙌 We’re happy to announce the launch of our Raise Craze Fundraiser on Monday, September 9th! 💙 This is a new fun and meaningful way for students to raise money while making a positive impact in our community. Instead of selling items, students will be collecting donations online and completing Random Acts of Kindness (AOKs) to show their appreciation. Talk about #service! Learn more about it here: https://raisecraze.com/how-it-works-video 🗓️ Mark your calendars: Raise Craze will run from 9/9 to 9/27! 👀 Be on the lookout for more info coming in our Weekly Update on Monday and get ready to spread kindness while helping our school. 😁 Want to get a head start? Go ahead and get your child signed up at https://my.raisecraze.com/app2/join/AXQ7MA9! 🛝 Proceeds from this fundraiser go toward our Back Playground Renovation Project 💛

🎉 We are delighted to introduce the nominees for our upcoming Board Election on September 10th! Click through our quick profile sheets at https://5il.co/2vtfp 💙 A huge thank you to all of our nominees for their commitment to our school community! 📅 Important Reminder: If you registered to vote in this election, be on the lookout for an email on September 10th with your voting link. Voting will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM.

🎗️ September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month! 🎗️ To show our support, HCA's canteen will be selling Ring Pops all month long, with 100% of proceeds going to the Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta. 💛 We want to give a BIG thank you to Anastasia Fulghum, a recent HCA graduate and pediatric cancer survivor, and her family for creating this annual fundraiser last year. Anastasia continues to embody our pillar of #service, showing that the impact of HCA goes beyond graduation! 🎗️ Grab a Ring Pop at lunch, support a great cause, and help make a difference!

📣 We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 2nd Annual HCA Mini-Grant Program, a testament to our commitment to enriching the communities we serve. 🤝 We look forward to collaborating with three exceptional non-profit organizations that mirror our core values of flexibility, service, and connection. 💙 Non-profits can apply directly or be nominated by community members. We will award one $1,000 grant and two $500 grants! ⏰ Nominations are due by September 13th, and winners will be invited to our September Board Meeting on September 23rd. 📲 Make your nomination now at https://forms.office.com/r/stnshSt7f4

🇺🇸🛠️ Wishing our HCA families a restful and joyful Labor Day—thank you to all the hardworking members of our community who make our Village so special!

🎉 Join the HCA Buddy Club! 🎉 🌟 We are excited to announce that we are currently recruiting 3rd-5th grade students (with and without disabilities) to participate in this year’s HCA Buddy Club! 🌟 All you need is a desire to make friends and have fun—everyone is welcome! The Buddy Club is an inclusive, school-based club where students of all abilities come together to build character, increase acceptance, and enjoy social and recreational activities in a supportive setting. 💙 Who Can Join? 3rd-5th Grade Students (with and without disabilities) 🤝 What Will You Do? Participate in fun, engaging activities with your peers Enjoy social and recreational events that promote friendship and inclusion 💙 We’re thrilled to have our HCA PTO President, Courtney Newland, join us in leading the club this year! With her support, we’re planning some exciting activities through various community outreach programs. 🥳 Don’t miss out on being a part of our winning team! Let’s make this year’s Buddy Club the best one yet! 👉 How to Join: Contact Mary Vigneri (mvigneri@hcacs.net) and fill out the permission form linked below if you are interested in your 3rd-5th grade student participating. 📲 Link to Form: https://5il.co/2v568

🌟 Elementary Grandparents Week 🌟 🧺 We’re thrilled to announce that from September 9-13, HCA will be celebrating all of our amazing elementary grandparents with a special Grandparents Picnic! ⬇️ Check out the attached photos to see which date you should plan for based on your grandchild's grade. 🍉 Get ready to bring a blanket, some yummy grub, and enjoy a delightful picnic lunch with your grandchild. Weather permitting, we’ll be outdoors soaking up the sunshine and making memories that will last a lifetime! 💛 We can’t wait to see all the smiles, laughter, and love during this exciting week. Mark your calendars and get ready for some quality family time at HCA! Important Things to Note: 1️⃣ We are unable to pull siblings from other grade levels out of class due to the importance of maintaining instructional time and designated locations. 2️⃣ If grandparents plan on signing out their child after the picnic, there will be a sign-out table on site. However, grandparents must be listed in PowerSchool as someone able to sign out the child.

💙 How about a little #service to start your Friday morning off right? 👏 Big thanks to our Varsity Volleyball Team for helping out at Morning Car Line today!