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Editor’s note: The Aiken Standard is counting down its top 10 local stories for 2023 from Dec. 19-30.

The Aiken County Public School District’s 2023-24 modified academic calendar went into effect in July with the beginning of the school year.

One of the most significant changes to this new calendar was the implementation of two-week long fall, winter and spring break periods.

The new calendar shortened the summer break, but added more breaks throughout the school year. This shift to “year-round school” was meant to aid in learning retention and to provide more significant mental rest periods for students and teachers, school officials said.

The Aiken Standard asked parents, students and educators for their opinions on these changes through a public social media post, and received mixed responses.

One frequent issue raised was that parents may struggle to find childcare during the extra breaks. “I like the concept for the kids but it’s going to be a challenge for the parents,” said one commenter. “I think it puts working parents in a huge bind having to figure out childcare for multiple breaks,” said another.

One commenter pointed out the difficulties that this could pose for teachers: “Growing up, I remember teachers always being frustrated after winter break. We had two weeks off and it took about a week to get back into the swing of things.”

Others said that the change would likely be positive.

“Children regress so much over the long break I also think it will be helpful. With change there will always be push back and adjustment,” said one commenter.

Another said: “Back in the day, I was an exchange student in Germany and fell in love with the year-round school. It truly helps students in my opinion. I have been clamoring for it since and that was in the 1970s!”

A large Aiken High School fight on Aug. 3 — just eight days after classes began — led some parents to wonder about the modified calendar and if students were really benefiting. The incident led to several arrests and statewide scrutiny of school security.

Aiken High parent Mary Pettigrew said during an Aug. 8 school board meeting: “We were assured at the end of last year that the modified calendar is going to help student behavior,” she said. “Not so far.”

However, the extended breaks seem to be having a positive effect on many students.

Following this year’s fall break, the district collected feedback from students, parents, staff members and advisory groups with a survey that provided some insights on the benefits of the breaks.

Some of these, according to students, were the chance to catch up on homework, visiting family and friends, getting more sleep and “time to reset from school pressures.”

Parents generally seemed to agree, with 64 percent of those surveyed reporting that the break improved their child’s readiness to return to school.

The effects of new calendar will continue to be observed as district schools approach the beginning of the spring semester.

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The 32nd annual Christmas in Hopelands event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 9-22 in Hopelands Gardens. The walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays. Concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage. The Unity Dance Company will perform today. There is no cost to enter the event or to utilize the shuttle service. All guests should use the shuttle service; shuttles run continuously from Citizens Park, located at 1060 Banks Mill Road, from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Handicap parking is available at 135 Dupree Place. No animals are allowed on shuttle vehicles.

4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.

Brain and Body Fitness will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. The fitness program uses a chair and addresses primary aging skills that include cognitive function, fall prevention, breathing, mobility and more. The cost is $8 per class. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 0 or visit aikensenior.org.

Molina Healthcare of South Carolina and Rural Health Services will hold a Winter Bash event from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. The event will feature a children’s coat giveaway, food, pictures with Santa, prize raffles and information on how individuals can renew their Medicaid eligibility. For more information, call 839-224-0874.

Elvis tribute artist Chuck Ayers will perform Friday during the ACT Coffee House at the Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. N.W. Doors open at 6 p.m. and performances begin with open mic time at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit aikencommunitytheatre.org.

Luke Fundak, author of “Flame Stone: Age of Scattered Morals Volume I” will hold a book signing and author talk starting at 11 a.m. Friday at the Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens St. N.W. For more information, visit aikencenterforthearts.org.

The 32nd annual Christmas in Hopelands event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 9-22 in Hopelands Gardens. The walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays. Concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage. Josh Martin will perform on Dec. 22. There is no cost to enter the event or to utilize the shuttle service. All guests should use the shuttle service; shuttles run continuously from Citizens Park, located at 1060 Banks Mill Road, from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Handicap parking is available at 135 Dupree Place. No animals are allowed on shuttle vehicles.

The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.

Christmas Eve services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Millbrook Baptist Church, 223 South Aiken Blvd. The family worship will feature candlelight, Christmas carols, a children’s Christmas message and the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20 and Isaiah 9:6-7. For more information, visit millbrook.cc.

Christmas Eve services will be held at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday at Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road S.E. For more information, visit cedarcreekchurch.net/christmas.

The following Christmas Eve services will be offered at St. John’s United Methodist Church on Sunday: Regular morning services will be at 8:30 a.m., 9:02 a.m. and 11 a.m.; family services will be at 5 p.m.; a candlelight service will be at 7 p.m.; and a candlelight service with communion will be at 11 p.m. The 5 and 7 p.m. services will be livestreamed on Facebook and online. For more information, visit stjaiken.org. The church is located at 104 Newberry St. N.W.

The following Christmas services will be offered at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church: Advent IV service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 10 a.m. and a Christmas Eve service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday; a Christmas service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 10 a.m. Monday; and a First Sunday in Christmas service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31. The church is located at 1630 Silver Bluff Road. For more information, visit staaiken.org.

Let’s Go Bingo will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. There is a $5 cover charge. Game cards are $1 each or $15 to $25. For more information, visit facebook.com/letsgobingoaiken.

The Awesome Aiken Al-Anon group meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Christian Church, 900 Kerr Drive.

Nar-Anon Aiken For Comfort Family Group will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in person in the conference room near the main sanctuary at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. S.W. and via Zoom. For more information, email aikennaranon@outlook.com.

Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step group for men and women, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road.

The Depression Anxiety Bipolar Support Group of Aiken and Surrounding States will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays online via the GoToMeeting App. For more information contact Mindy Harmon at 803-507-2214 or email manicgh@yahoo.com.

An ACBL Sectional Bridge Game is held at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. A free bridge lesson will be held at 11:30 a.m. For more information, email AikenBridgeClub@gmail.com.

The Savannah River Site Museum, 224 Laurens St. S.W., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The museum features exhibits and resources related to the Savannah River Site and the Cold War. Admission is free. For more information, call 803-648-1437 or visit srsheritagemuseum.org.

Amp The Alley will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in The Alley in downtown Aiken. XX will perform. Concerts will be held every Thursday through Oct. 26. For more information, visit ampthealley.com.

4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.

Brain and Body Fitness will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. The fitness program uses a chair and addresses primary aging skills that include cognitive function, fall prevention, breathing, mobility and more. The cost is $8 per class. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 0 or visit aikensenior.org.

The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.

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Get the important headlines that matter to Aiken and surrounding areas. Sign up for our newsletter today!

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By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: The Post and Courier, 148 Williman Street, Charleston, SC, 29403, US, https://www.postandcourier.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Highway 421 (Augusta Road) through Warrenville is the Midland Valley Area’s Restaurant Row, a treasure-trove of colorful eateries. I have already reviewed Bruce’s Bar and Jamrock Caribana, each a gem in its own way. Midway Grill, Lovo’s Mexican, Ming-Ming Chinese and Southern Gal in the Valley all await reconnaissance.

Just North of the junction with Dixie Clay Road in the building that once was Vicky’s Mexican Grill, look for a new place named for the nation whose food it serves: El Salvador.

If, like me, your Spanish is as bad as the staff’s English, selecting what to eat can be an adventure. When I inquire about atol de elote, for which a hand-made sign is posted above the cash register, the earnest woman behind the counter does not even try to describe it. Instead, she pours a sample cup to taste. As she hands it over, I remark that it vaguely looks like the Mexican rice beverage called horchata. She gleans my meaning and scowls, saying, “No rice. Corn, corn!”

Atol de elote is served hot in a tall Styrofoam cup. To my knowledge, it has no cognates in ordinary U.S. cuisine. Based on pulverized corn, it is thick and creamy, laced with cinnamon and sweeter than the sweetest ear of corn you ever ate. Too plush to be a thirst quencher, it is more like liquid pudding.

South Aiken’s football coaches knew they had a special talent on their hands when Terrence Smith started coming over from Kennedy Middle School to practice.

Five years later, head coach Chris Hamilton said he wasn’t sure they even knew exactly how special Smith would be. From being a can’t-miss eighth-grader, to the T-Breds’ future star wide receiver, to becoming their starting quarterback out of necessity and re-writing the program record book along the way, Smith has exceeded even the lofty expectations placed upon him.

His next challenge is Division 1 football, a step on his journey he made official Wednesday morning. Smith has signed with the University of Connecticut, where he will play wide receiver.

“It feels good,” Smith said. “I’ve been waiting on this moment all my life. I always wanted to play D1 football, and now that the time’s finally come I just can’t wait to make it happen.”

Smith leaves South Aiken as a North-South All-Star with multiple All-State and Region 4-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year selections, plus loads of single-game, single-season and career program records.

For his career, he ranks first in all-purpose yards (6,396), touchdowns (67) and yards per carry (9.9), third in rushing touchdowns (47), fourth in passing yards (2,616) and completions (181), fifth in rushing yards (3,678) and tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (20).

He holds the team’s single-season record with 28 rushing touchdowns and is second in rushing yards with 2,086, shares the single-game record with six touchdowns, is second with 416 rushing yards, and is fifth in passing yards with 294 and completions with 19.

Needless to say, Smith’s signing ceremony was a bittersweet moment for Hamilton and the T-Breds.

“Obviously, I’m super excited for T and the opportunity that he’s got to go continue his education at a great school like UConn, and he’s allowed football to be that avenue to do that,” Hamilton said. “It is kind of sad for me, because he has been a big part of our offense and our football team for the past four years. Three at quarterback. When you have a special kid like that that’s been that special for so many years for us, it is sad to see him sign but I’m really excited for him and I’m excited to see what he’s going to do at the next level and then beyond that.”

At UConn, Smith found a family-like environment to the point that he was made to feel as if he had known the coaches and players there for years. The coaching staff showed how much they coveted him by coming down to Aiken to watch him practice and even attended one of his basketball games - he laughed and said that Dan Hurley’s Huskies, the reigning national champions, won’t need his help on the hardwood.

He’ll go back to his old position on the football field, where he was poised to be a breakout star at wide receiver before he became South Aiken’s QB1 out of necessity hours before the season opener his sophom*ore year. He took the move in stride - Hamilton on Wednesday said he was a “hesitant superstar” that season - and relied on his athleticism to will the team down the field, and then with a full offseason under his belt showed he could also be a threat to beat teams through the air while combining with Jevon Edwards to form the state’s most dangerous backfield.

“I’m going to definitely miss my QB days. It was real fun,” Smith said. “But I’m ready to focus on playing wide receiver, because I feel like that was my best position. I don’t want to say I was forced to go play quarterback, but I kind of was, but it was fun and I’m glad that it happened that way. It was a great opportunity for me to play quarterback for South Aiken High School.”

He’s still got time to figure out what he wants to study, and he may look into sports management or business. He’ll finish out his senior year at South Aiken and has one last basketball season to complete, and then he’s ready to get up to Connecticut and start learning the playbook as quickly as possible with hopes of making it onto the field as a freshman.

Hamilton said that, unbelievable numbers aside, the best part of watching Smith grow has been seeing him mature as a leader and become the player his teammates turn to for guidance. No one at South Aiken will be surprised if he does the same at Connecticut.

“It’s never been about him,” Hamilton said. “It’s always been about the T-Breds, about this school and about our team. It’s always been about that, to the point where I’d have to pull him back because he wanted to play defense so badly just to help us. He’s just one of those guys. He’s a competitor, but better than that he’s a real teammate.”

Editor’s note: The Aiken Standard is counting down its top 10 local stories for 2023 from Dec. 19-30.

This past year was another one filled with championships for both local sports teams and individuals alike.

The first one of the year came in March as North Augusta restored what had become an all-too-familiar refrain in high school girls’ basketball. The Jackets had gone two years without a ring, and their seniors made sure the streak wouldn’t reach three. They overcame a slow start in the Class AAAA state championship game against Westwood and closed out a 42-29 victory at the USC Aiken Convocation Center that was the program’s fifth title in the last seven years.

The Jackets had to settle for a runner-up finish last year, a feeling shared by the boys’ golf team after finishing second to A.C. Flora in back-to-back state title tournaments. Not this year. The Jackets set a state 36-hole scoring record, and senior Davis Neal did the same for individual scoring on his way to a medalist finish, as North Augusta romped to a 22-stroke victory over Flora for the team’s first state title in 40 years.

North Augusta’s boys weren’t the only ones to make their championship dreams come true. Mead Hall, also a runner-up a year ago, spent every practice, every match and every tournament preparing for the title that got away. The Panthers knew they were the team to beat this time around, and they proved it with a 13-shot victory in the SCISCA Class AA championship tournament at the General James Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina.

Those golf titles weren’t all for local schools this May. USC Aiken’s eventing team brought home the USEA Intercollegiate Championship despite facing some competitors from much larger schools, like SEC members Auburn, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee.

For South Aiken’s volleyball team, the new school year began with a target placed squarely on the T-Breds’ backs. MaxPreps named South Aiken the state’s No. 1 team regardless of classification after bringing back everyone from last year’s state semifinalists. They went to work to justify that lofty ranking, going 44-5-1 against one of the state’s toughest schedules led by Class AAAA Player of the Year Annie Dziczkowski and her fellow seniors. The last win was revenge against North Myrtle Beach, one of the few teams to have beaten the T-Breds during the regular season, and it cemented their legacy as state champions for the first time in program history.

Aiken Ghost Tours will hold a Holiday Haunted History Tour at 6:30 p.m. today. The tour will depart from the entrance to the St. Thaddeus graveyard. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids. For more information or to make a reservation, call Kent Cubbage at 803-270-0773 or email kentcubbage@yahoo.com.

The 32nd annual Christmas in Hopelands event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 9-22 in Hopelands Gardens. The walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays. Concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage. Brooke Lundy and John Vaughn will perform to. There is no cost to enter the event or to utilize the shuttle service. All guests should use the shuttle service; shuttles run continuously from Citizens Park, located at 1060 Banks Mill Road, from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Handicap parking is available at 135 Dupree Place. No animals are allowed on shuttle vehicles.

An ACBL Sectional Bridge Game is held at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. A free bridge lesson will be held at 11:30 a.m. For more information, email AikenBridgeClub@gmail.com.

The Savannah River Site Museum, 224 Laurens St. S.W., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The museum features exhibits and resources related to the Savannah River Site and the Cold War. Admission is free. For more information, call 803-648-1437 or visit srsheritagemuseum.org.

The 32nd annual Christmas in Hopelands event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 9-22 in Hopelands Gardens. The walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays. Concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage. The Unity Dance Company will perform on Dec. 21. There is no cost to enter the event or to utilize the shuttle service. All guests should use the shuttle service; shuttles run continuously from Citizens Park, located at 1060 Banks Mill Road, from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Handicap parking is available at 135 Dupree Place. No animals are allowed on shuttle vehicles.

4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.

Brain and Body Fitness will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. The fitness program uses a chair and addresses primary aging skills that include cognitive function, fall prevention, breathing, mobility and more. The cost is $8 per class. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 0 or visit aikensenior.org.

Elvis tribute artist Chuck Ayers will perform Friday during the ACT Coffee House at the Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. N.W. Doors open at 6 p.m. and performances begin with open mic time at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit aikencommunitytheatre.org.

Luke Fundak, author of “Flame Stone: Age of Scattered Morals Volume I” will hold a book signing and author talk starting at 11 a.m. Friday at the Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens St. N.W. For more information, visit aikencenterforthearts.org.

The 32nd annual Christmas in Hopelands event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 9-22 in Hopelands Gardens. The walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays. Concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on the Roland H. Windham Performing Arts Stage. Josh Martin will perform on Dec. 22. There is no cost to enter the event or to utilize the shuttle service. All guests should use the shuttle service; shuttles run continuously from Citizens Park, located at 1060 Banks Mill Road, from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Handicap parking is available at 135 Dupree Place. No animals are allowed on shuttle vehicles.

The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.

The following Christmas services will be offered at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church: Advent IV service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 10 a.m. and a Christmas Eve service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday; a Christmas service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 10 a.m. Monday; and a First Sunday in Christmas service with Holy Communion and music will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31. The church is located at 1630 Silver Bluff Road. For more information, visit staaiken.org.

Let’s Go Bingo will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. There is a $5 cover charge. Game cards are $1 each or $15 to $25. For more information, visit facebook.com/letsgobingoaiken.

The Awesome Aiken Al-Anon group meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Christian Church, 900 Kerr Drive.

Nar-Anon Aiken For Comfort Family Group will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in person in the conference room near the main sanctuary at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. S.W. and via Zoom. For more information, email aikennaranon@outlook.com.

Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step group for men and women, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road.

The Depression Anxiety Bipolar Support Group of Aiken and Surrounding States will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays online via the GoToMeeting App. For more information contact Mindy Harmon at 803-507-2214 or email manicgh@yahoo.com.

An ACBL Sectional Bridge Game is held at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. A free bridge lesson will be held at 11:30 a.m. For more information, email AikenBridgeClub@gmail.com.

The Savannah River Site Museum, 224 Laurens St. S.W., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The museum features exhibits and resources related to the Savannah River Site and the Cold War. Admission is free. For more information, call 803-648-1437 or visit srsheritagemuseum.org.

Amp The Alley will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in The Alley in downtown Aiken. XX will perform. Concerts will be held every Thursday through Oct. 26. For more information, visit ampthealley.com.

4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.

Brain and Body Fitness will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. The fitness program uses a chair and addresses primary aging skills that include cognitive function, fall prevention, breathing, mobility and more. The cost is $8 per class. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 0 or visit aikensenior.org.

The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.

Never miss important news!

Get the important headlines that matter to Aiken and surrounding areas. Sign up for our newsletter today!

Email

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: The Post and Courier, 148 Williman Street, Charleston, SC, 29403, US, https://www.postandcourier.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.