The Dolphin Connection
Volume 1 August 27, 2025
North Augusta Elementary
400 East Spring Grove Ave. Office: 803-442-6280 Fax: 803-442-6282
School Website: https://www.acpsd.net/o/naues
A Note from the Principal
Great Start to 2025-2026 School Year!
Hello North Augusta Elementary School learning community! What an incredible start to the 2025–2026 school year! In just our first month, we’ve already accomplished so much together:
Hosted a successful Open House/Title I event and connected with our families.
Launched both Quest Zone and the Good News Club, giving students meaningful ways to grow and connect beyond the school day.
Welcomed U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson to our school, showcasing the amazing work happening in our classrooms.
Kicked off our Leader in Me Covey Clubs, empowering students with leadership opportunities.
And most importantly, we’ve dived headfirst into learning across all core subjects!
It is truly an exciting time to be a Dolphin! We look forward to even more growth, continued learning, and expanding our community partnerships in the months ahead.
Be on the lookout for details about our upcoming All Pro Dads events and community work day events—we can’t wait to welcome families to join in the fun and strengthen our school community even more.
Go Dolphins!
Mr. Badillo
Congressman Joe Wilson Visits North Augusta Elementary!
North Augusta Elementary School was honored to host United States Congressman Joe Wilson, Representative of the Second Congressional District of South Carolina, along with several Aiken County representatives for a special visit on Tuesday morning.
The visit gave students a unique opportunity to meet their elected officials, ask questions, and share the exciting learning taking place in classrooms.
Principal Eli Badillo shared, “Our students and staff were excited to highlight the incredible learning and creativity happening each day. It was an honor to share our school community with such distinguished guests.”
To mark the occasion, art teacher Mrs. Kristina Todd presented Congressman Wilson with a hand-painted picture of the school’s Dolphin logo with the American and South Carolina flags — a symbol of both school pride and appreciation for his service.
Congressman Wilson praised the dedication of NAUES educators and the enthusiasm of its students, emphasizing education as the foundation of future leadership and community success.
North Augusta Elementary is grateful to Congressman Wilson and Aiken County representatives for celebrating student learning and supporting the mission of preparing lifelong learners.
🔹 Office News
🔹 Need-to-Know from the Office!
Stay up to date on important reminders like attendance, school communication, birthday celebrations, traffic procedures and more. 🐬 Click below for the full details!
Upcoming Events at North Augusta Elementary School
🗓️ Upcoming Events at North Augusta Elementary
It’s been a fantastic beginning at North Augusta Elementary, and the best is yet to come! 🌟🐬 Be sure to mark your calendars with the important dates listed below.
- Habit Hero Breakfast Friday, August 29 | 8:00 AM
- Labor Day – No School Monday, September 1
- Fall Scholastic Book Fair: September 4 – September 12
- Dot Day The Dot - September 15
- Early Dismissal Wednesday, September 17 @11:30
- End of Quarter 1: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025
- Fall Break: Sept. 29 – Oct. 10, 2025 (No School)
- Fall Intersession (Intervention & Enrichment): Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, 2025
Fall Book Fair September 4th - 12th
2025 Scholastic Fall Book Fair! North Augusta Elementary September 4th – 12th
We are excited to announce that the NAUE Fall Scholastic Book Fair will take place in the Library Media Center from September 4th – 12th, open daily from 7:20 AM – 2:00 PM. Students will visit the book fair during their scheduled activity time in the Media Center.
- Book Fair Volunteer Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4DAFA72BA0F85-57692510-2025
- Volunteer Training Link: For Volunteer Training Click Here or visit our school website for link https://www.acpsd.net/o/naues/page/volunteering
Lunch With Someone You Love Schedule
Thursday, September 4th – Fifth Grade
Friday, September 5th - Kindergarten
Monday, September 8th - First Grade
Tuesday, September 9th - Second Grade
Wednesday, September 10th - Third Grade
Thursday, September 11th – Fourth Grade
Student Life & Beyond!
A Big Welcome to Our New Student Ambassadors!
We are thrilled to announce our new group of Student Ambassadors has been selected and they are ready to step into their leadership roles!
They are so excited to begin their responsibilities, which include:
Greeting new students with a warm welcome and guiding them on a fun scavenger hunt.
Keeping our campus beautiful by changing our garden flags.
Managing and running our school-wide store, Dolphin Treasures!
Buddy Clubs Kick Off the Year at NAUES 🐬💛💙
On Wednesday, August 20th, North Augusta Elementary students participated in our first Buddy Club meeting of the school year! This special tradition is one of the many ways we bring our Leader in Me philosophy to life.
Buddy Clubs pair together classes from different grade levels, giving our younger Dolphins the chance to learn from their older peers while also giving our older students the opportunity to serve as role models and leaders. These gatherings focus on leadership skills, teamwork, responsibility, and kindness, while also creating meaningful friendships across grade levels.
Buddy Club! Ms. Brown and Ms. Girardeau's Classes
Buddy Club - Mrs. Maikranz and Mrs. Lewis's Classes
Buddy Club! Ms. Brown and Ms. Girardeau's Classes
Buddy Club- Avila & Ryan Classes
Buddy Club- Avila & Ryan Classes
Buddy Club- Avila & Ryan Classes
NAUES Special Interest Clubs: Learning, Leading, and Having Fun! 🐬💛💙
At North Augusta Elementary, leadership and community go hand in hand—and our Special Interest Clubs are a perfect example of that! On August 20th, following Buddy Club activities, students had the exciting opportunity to dive into clubs designed to match their unique interests and talents.
These clubs give students a chance to explore new skills, collaborate with peers, and shine as leaders in different ways.
Our current club offerings include:
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🌱 Earth Stewards – Caring for our environment and learning how to protect our planet.
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🎨 Arts & Crafts – Exploring creativity through hands-on projects.
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🔬 STEM & Science – Investigating, building, and discovering through experiments.
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💃 Dance & Fitness – Promoting healthy habits while moving to the beat.
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⚽ Sports – Teamwork, skill-building, and friendly competition.
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🎲 Board Games – Strategy, collaboration, and fun!
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🧩 Puzzles & Legos – Building problem-solving skills one piece at a time.
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🎭 Play-Doh Creations – Imagination and creativity at work.
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💛 Kindness & Art – Spreading positivity through artful acts of kindness.
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🎹 Keyboards – Learning music and rhythm through hands-on practice.
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🌟 Student Ambassadors – Leading with service and school spirit.
Leader in Me! Habit Highlights
Reflecting on a Proactive August! 🐬
As we wrap up an incredible first full month of school, we want to celebrate all our North Augusta
This August, our students have been learning to:
Make good choices instead of just reacting to what happens.
Take initiative and get things done without being told.
Think before they act and consider the consequences of their decisions.
We are so proud to see our young leaders stepping up and taking ownership of their learning and their actions. This foundation of proactivity will serve them well throughout the school year and beyond!
📢 Setting Our Sights High for September! 🚀
This month at North Augusta Elementary, a Leader in Me School, we're diving deep into Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind!
This habit helps our Dolphins:
Set goals: Big or small, knowing what you want to accomplish helps you get there.
Make better decisions: When you know your "end," you can choose actions that will lead you in the right direction.
Understand the importance of planning: Whether it's finishing a school project, practicing a new skill, or even just organizing your backpack, having a plan makes all the difference.
🍽️ Breakfast & Lunch: Menus - https://acpsd.nutrislice.com/menu/north-augusta-elementary/breakfast
North Augusta Elementary proudly offers free breakfast and lunch to all students every day!
🥣 Breakfast is served daily in the cafeteria.
• Students must arrive before 7:20 AM to eat.
• They must report to the cafeteria before going to their classrooms.
📸🎉 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – 2025–2026 NAES Yearbook! 🎉📸
Don't miss your chance to lock in the lowest price of the year! The Early Bird price for the 2025–2026 North Augusta Elementary Yearbook is just $25 — but hurry, this price won’t last forever! ⏳💰
✅ Order your yearbook here:
👉 https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09882745
📝 Purchase a 5th Grade Ad here:
👉 https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1143741
Cool Opportunities!
Coding Camp for 3rd - 5th Graders!
Campers will dive into exciting STEM activities
- Who: Grades 3–5
- Where: Mossy Creek Elementary
- When: 8/29 - 10/2 from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Parents are responsible for transportation
- Registration opens September 10 at 4:00 PM — scan the QR code on the flyer to secure your spot!
Calling All NAUE Parents & Guardians! 🌟
We need YOU to help make the 2025–2026 school year the best one yet! 💛🖤
✅ To get started, be sure to complete the required annual volunteer training online today:
👉 https://www.acpsd.net/o/naues/page/volunteering
Once you're trained and ready, you’ll be eligible to join in on all kinds of fun, rewarding opportunities like:
🎒 Chaperoning field trips
📚 Assisting with classroom and school-wide activities
🎉 Supporting PTO events
👟 Encouraging our young athletes in the Running Club
…and so much more!
💰🐬 $uper $avings Wednesdays at NAUES! 🐬💰
We’re excited to remind our NAUES families that the Security Federal Bank $uper $avings Club (formerly the Looney Tunes Saving Club) will be visiting every Wednesday during the school year!
The $uper $avings Club is a fun and exciting way to help children 11 and under build smart saving habits. Representatives from Security Federal Bank will be on campus weekly to collect deposits and encourage our young savers.
✅ How to Join:
• Open an account at any Security Federal Bank branch or online (click here)
• Or open one during in-school banking days
• Applications are also available in the NAUES front office