The 2021-2022 school year started Monday, Aug. 16 for more than 22,000 students in Aiken County. School buildings filled with students, faculty and staff after much of the previous year was done virtually or using a hybrid model.
Hammond Hill Elementary School Principal Selecia Hardy said she hopes they can get back to normal this school year.
MORE: Aiken County Students Heading Back to School
“Students enjoying coming to school, enjoying interacting with their peers,” said Hardy. “Also, that we’re able to build on the instruction knowledge to increase their capacity in all areas.”
Precautions against COVID-19 are obvious everywhere inside the school. Many of the staff wearing masks, water fountains covered with containers of drinking water available, sanitizing stations in every classroom and supplies to clean and disinfect available in the rooms.
Superintendent King Laurence was on the road, visiting nine schools including Hammond Hill. The superintendent stopped in several classrooms to observe first day activities and speak with students.
Laurence said, “Things look orderly, people are keeping safe. I see more students wearing masks than not wearing masks, which makes me happy. People staying safe, people making sure that students are keeping their distance as they need to, making sure students stay in the cohorts that they should stay in.”
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An executive order from S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster prohibits school districts from mandating masks in school. Laurence is abiding by the order, but he is also urging parents and staff to wear masks and everyone age 12 and older to get vaccinated.
The school in North Augusta is one of many in Aiken County undergoing major renovations. One of the goals at Hammond Hill is to get rid of the nine portable classrooms used for a student body that has outgrown the school.
MORE: Schools Lay Out Plans to Cope With Rising COVID-19 Cases
Laurence said, “It is going to be so wonderful to be able to get those out of the way. All of our students are going to be under one roof. Doing the same thing at Belvedere and Millbrook right now. Just finished at Ridge Spring-Monetta.”
Money for the Hammond Hill expansion is from the $90 million bond referendum approved by voters in May 2018. Additionally, voters approved the Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax in 2014. Money collected from the special, one-cent tax has been used for projects at Aiken and North Augusta high schools, the Ridge Spring-Monetta K-12 campus, Aiken County Career and Technology Center and a new Leavelle McCampbell Middle School.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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