"Starting a new school year can bring BIG feelings, especially for kiddos who struggle with separation anxiety. 🏫🩷
🤗 Here are 6 tips to make the transition back to school easier for everyone:
▫️ Keep goodbyes short & positive. Use a quick, confident goodbye routine. Long goodbyes can make separation harder.
▫️ Create a predictable routine. Knowing what happens each morning helps kids feel safe and prepared.
▫️ Use a comforting reminder of home. A small family photo, note, bracelet, or other approved comfort item can provide reassurance during the transition.
▫️ Validate their feelings. Let children know it’s okay to miss home while reminding them they are safe and cared for at school.
▫️ Give them a job to do. Ask them to unpack, choose a morning activity, deliver something, or help with a classroom task to redirect their attention.
▫️ Celebrate small successes. Notice progress such as walking into class independently, calming down more quickly, or completing a full morning. Positive reinforcement builds confidence!"
-by Music City Counselor
🤗 Here are 6 tips to make the transition back to school easier for everyone:
▫️ Keep goodbyes short & positive. Use a quick, confident goodbye routine. Long goodbyes can make separation harder.
▫️ Create a predictable routine. Knowing what happens each morning helps kids feel safe and prepared.
▫️ Use a comforting reminder of home. A small family photo, note, bracelet, or other approved comfort item can provide reassurance during the transition.
▫️ Validate their feelings. Let children know it’s okay to miss home while reminding them they are safe and cared for at school.
▫️ Give them a job to do. Ask them to unpack, choose a morning activity, deliver something, or help with a classroom task to redirect their attention.
▫️ Celebrate small successes. Notice progress such as walking into class independently, calming down more quickly, or completing a full morning. Positive reinforcement builds confidence!"
-by Music City Counselor
Character Word of the Month:
Respect
Respect
The Colleton County School District convocation production team would like to say thank you again for the many participants who aided with the convocation to kick off the 2026-2027 school year. Mr. Carlos Hamlin with Ace Basin Photography captured so many wonderful images from the event. Please enjoy these fantastic photos of some of the best teachers, staff and students in Colleton County. We cannot have a successful year without each of you.
https://acebphotography.pixieset.com/colletoncountyschooldistrictconvocation/
https://acebphotography.pixieset.com/colletoncountyschooldistrictconvocation/
Parent & Family Engagement Workshop. Join us for an evening of creativity, conversation and connection!! Families will enjoy painting together while learning about school resources, sharing ideas, and building meaningful relationships with our schools.
Youth Baseball & Softball Sign Up's
Until August 15, 2026
Access through QR Code or this link:
https://colleton.recdesk.com/Community/Program
Until August 15, 2026
Access through QR Code or this link:
https://colleton.recdesk.com/Community/Program
Parent Engagement Workshop: Color & Connect
August 19, 2026
5 pm to 6:30pm
CCSD District Office Boardroom
RSVP today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCNb9UiVoGXKLhVBzOSDawTmiUVLEj9k_IKqbrgYY58WRINQ/viewform or scan QR Code
Did you miss the sheriff’s office Back to School Bash? It's okay! Here is another opportunity for some free school supplies! Mark your calendar and head to Elizabeth Church on August 9th.
SCHOOL WILL DISMISS AT 2PM TODAY AND TOMORROW
Please join us for our back to school open house on July 30, 2026. The schedule for each location is posted on the flyer below. We are very excited to welcome all of our Colleton County students back to school!
To assist our 4K and 5K students in their transition to school, students in 4K and 5K will attend the first 5 days of school according to the first letter of their last name. Please refer to the attached schedule.
July 22, 2026
Dear HES Family,
I hope you had a restful summer break and are looking forward to an exciting and productive school year. The first day for students is August 3, 2026. This year’s theme is “Advancing towards Excellence”. We firmly believe that teamwork and ongoing collaboration will move our students significantly in the direction of excellence, especially when paired with strong support and commitment from parents.
As we move students towards excellence, your support in reinforcing the following expectations will make a meaningful difference during the school year. Take a moment to review these guidelines, which are designed to foster a safe, inclusive, and highly engaging learning environment for all our honeybees::
-Dress code: Please make sure your child comes to school dressed according to the district’s dress code policy (JICDA). The overall goal of this policy is to reduce distractions.
-Attendance: Consistent daily attendance is essential for providing students with the vital instruction they need to achieve success. Please make sure your child is present every day, unless they are sick or have an excused absence. For this school year, our specific objectives are to increase the overall attendance rate from 91% (2025-2026) to 97% (2026-2027) and to lower the chronic absenteeism rate from 29.4% (2025-2026) down to 2.5% or below (2026-2027). Ultimately, students cannot advance toward excellence if they are not in the classroom to learn.
-Tardies : Students should arrive at school on time and be ready to begin learning at the start of the school day. Chronic tardies result in loss of instructional time.
School hours: 7:00 a.m. 2:15 pm. Tardy: arrival after 7:30 a.m.
-Behavior Expectations: We expect all students to “ be kind”, “be engaged”, and “be safe” throughout the school year. When students follow these expectations, distractions decrease and active engagement increases, leading to greater academic success.
-Academic Standards: Achieving excellence requires students to give their best effort, which includes turning in assignments on time, staying focused on tasks, and fostering a strong collaboration between parents and teachers to guide student progress. Under the new South Carolina grading policy, the 50-point minimum grade floor has been eliminated. Teachers will now assign grades that truly reflect actual student performance, meaning zeros will be given when earned.
As a result, the HES team is thrilled about our ongoing collaboration with parents and our shared commitment to these expectations as we guide students toward achieving excellence.
Upcoming events:
-July 30, 2026: Open House (4 pm- 6 pm)
-August 1, 2026: Back to School Bash (9 am-12 pm)
Location: Colleton County High School
-September 2, 2026:1st quarter interim report
-September 7, 2026: Labor Day- no school
Sincerely,
Florrie Edwards
Principal
Dear HES Family,
I hope you had a restful summer break and are looking forward to an exciting and productive school year. The first day for students is August 3, 2026. This year’s theme is “Advancing towards Excellence”. We firmly believe that teamwork and ongoing collaboration will move our students significantly in the direction of excellence, especially when paired with strong support and commitment from parents.
As we move students towards excellence, your support in reinforcing the following expectations will make a meaningful difference during the school year. Take a moment to review these guidelines, which are designed to foster a safe, inclusive, and highly engaging learning environment for all our honeybees::
-Dress code: Please make sure your child comes to school dressed according to the district’s dress code policy (JICDA). The overall goal of this policy is to reduce distractions.
-Attendance: Consistent daily attendance is essential for providing students with the vital instruction they need to achieve success. Please make sure your child is present every day, unless they are sick or have an excused absence. For this school year, our specific objectives are to increase the overall attendance rate from 91% (2025-2026) to 97% (2026-2027) and to lower the chronic absenteeism rate from 29.4% (2025-2026) down to 2.5% or below (2026-2027). Ultimately, students cannot advance toward excellence if they are not in the classroom to learn.
-Tardies : Students should arrive at school on time and be ready to begin learning at the start of the school day. Chronic tardies result in loss of instructional time.
School hours: 7:00 a.m. 2:15 pm. Tardy: arrival after 7:30 a.m.
-Behavior Expectations: We expect all students to “ be kind”, “be engaged”, and “be safe” throughout the school year. When students follow these expectations, distractions decrease and active engagement increases, leading to greater academic success.
-Academic Standards: Achieving excellence requires students to give their best effort, which includes turning in assignments on time, staying focused on tasks, and fostering a strong collaboration between parents and teachers to guide student progress. Under the new South Carolina grading policy, the 50-point minimum grade floor has been eliminated. Teachers will now assign grades that truly reflect actual student performance, meaning zeros will be given when earned.
As a result, the HES team is thrilled about our ongoing collaboration with parents and our shared commitment to these expectations as we guide students toward achieving excellence.
Upcoming events:
-July 30, 2026: Open House (4 pm- 6 pm)
-August 1, 2026: Back to School Bash (9 am-12 pm)
Location: Colleton County High School
-September 2, 2026:1st quarter interim report
-September 7, 2026: Labor Day- no school
Sincerely,
Florrie Edwards
Principal
4k/5K Staggered Start Schedule
Day 4: Superintendent Breakfast
The final day of new employee induction began with the Superintendent Breakfast. New employees heard remarks from several speakers, including Colleton County School District Board of Trustees Chairperson Glenn Nixon, Walterboro Mayor James Broderick, Walterboro County Council Chairman Scott Biering, and Superintendent Tripp Aldredge. The Forest Hills Elementary Honors Choir, led by Miss Taylor Fussell, performed several musical selections before breakfast, which was prepared by the Colleton County School District Office of Student Nutrition. After breakfast, new employees visited their home schools with their principals for classroom tours.
The final day of new employee induction began with the Superintendent Breakfast. New employees heard remarks from several speakers, including Colleton County School District Board of Trustees Chairperson Glenn Nixon, Walterboro Mayor James Broderick, Walterboro County Council Chairman Scott Biering, and Superintendent Tripp Aldredge. The Forest Hills Elementary Honors Choir, led by Miss Taylor Fussell, performed several musical selections before breakfast, which was prepared by the Colleton County School District Office of Student Nutrition. After breakfast, new employees visited their home schools with their principals for classroom tours.
Day 3 - Strengthening Classroom Success
The Office of Curriculum and Instruction continued New Staff Induction with a day focused on preparing teachers for a successful school year. Sessions emphasized effective classroom management, establishing classroom routines and procedures, building positive relationships with students, and creating engaging learning environments. The Office of Exceptional Learning provided a brief overview of its programs, services, and support available to teachers and schools. New educators left with practical strategies and resources to help them begin the school year with confidence.
The Office of Curriculum and Instruction continued New Staff Induction with a day focused on preparing teachers for a successful school year. Sessions emphasized effective classroom management, establishing classroom routines and procedures, building positive relationships with students, and creating engaging learning environments. The Office of Exceptional Learning provided a brief overview of its programs, services, and support available to teachers and schools. New educators left with practical strategies and resources to help them begin the school year with confidence.
Day 2 – Building a Strong Foundation
The Office of Teaching and Learning welcomed our newest educators with a day focused on building a strong instructional foundation for the school year. Teachers explored effective teaching and learning practices, classroom management strategies, engaging instructional activities, and beginning-of-the-year procedures designed to create positive learning environments from day one. The Office of Student Support Services also provided an overview of its roles, responsibilities, and the comprehensive support available to schools, students, and families. Throughout the day, participants collaborated with district staff and colleagues while gaining practical tools and resources to support student success.
The Office of Teaching and Learning welcomed our newest educators with a day focused on building a strong instructional foundation for the school year. Teachers explored effective teaching and learning practices, classroom management strategies, engaging instructional activities, and beginning-of-the-year procedures designed to create positive learning environments from day one. The Office of Student Support Services also provided an overview of its roles, responsibilities, and the comprehensive support available to schools, students, and families. Throughout the day, participants collaborated with district staff and colleagues while gaining practical tools and resources to support student success.
New Staff Induction: Day 1
District staff welcomed new employees for the 2026–2027 school year with a celebratory welcome tunnel. The Band of Blue drumline and staff cheers created a memorable display of district pride. Superintendent Aldredge shared a welcome message and the district’s vision. Throughout the day, new employees rotated through sessions on district culture and success, benefits, and payroll.
District staff welcomed new employees for the 2026–2027 school year with a celebratory welcome tunnel. The Band of Blue drumline and staff cheers created a memorable display of district pride. Superintendent Aldredge shared a welcome message and the district’s vision. Throughout the day, new employees rotated through sessions on district culture and success, benefits, and payroll.
Community Event.
Several Colleton County School District teachers participated in a 3-day professional development on July 7-9, 2026, facilitated by a Savvas SIOP® Certified Consultant. SIOP® (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) training is a research-based professional development program designed to help educators teach grade-level content effectively to English learners and multilingual students. It pairs rigorous academic instruction with targeted language development.
Last week, CCSD Math, English, and Special Education teachers and coaches joined forces to build an enriching learning experience for all CCSD 6th-8th-grade students!
Inclusive Learning Plans: CCSD teachers, along with Dr. Tiffany Arnold from Math Nation, developed sample lessons, practiced co-teaching strategies, and created a structured communication bridge between resource and core classrooms to ensure targeted, daily support for all students.
Deep Dive into Data: Math teachers dove into the SCDE Regional PLO course, Dipping Into DPSR, focusing specifically on mastering the Data, Probability, and Statistical Reasoning strands for middle schoolers.
Our educators are committed and ready to deliver high-quality instruction and support that empowers every student to succeed.
Inclusive Learning Plans: CCSD teachers, along with Dr. Tiffany Arnold from Math Nation, developed sample lessons, practiced co-teaching strategies, and created a structured communication bridge between resource and core classrooms to ensure targeted, daily support for all students.
Deep Dive into Data: Math teachers dove into the SCDE Regional PLO course, Dipping Into DPSR, focusing specifically on mastering the Data, Probability, and Statistical Reasoning strands for middle schoolers.
Our educators are committed and ready to deliver high-quality instruction and support that empowers every student to succeed.
Colleton County School District has a back to school resource page on our district website. This page serves as your central hub for all Back-to-School 2026–2027 information. You’ll find essential details—from school supply lists and enrollment guidance to important events and key dates—as we approach the final stretch before welcoming students back for the new school year. We trust this resource will be helpful and encourage you to check back often for updates as we prepare to start the 2026–2027 academic year. Click the link below to access the resource page:
https://www.colleton.k12.sc.us/o/ccsd/page/back-to-school-resources
Once you are on main page, Click the “+” icon next to any topic to expand and view more details.
https://www.colleton.k12.sc.us/o/ccsd/page/back-to-school-resources
Once you are on main page, Click the “+” icon next to any topic to expand and view more details.
