February 2018
Fans of HCCHS and MNHHS wear orange in support of Marshall County High School.

#TeamHopkins supports #MarshallStrong

Our hearts go out to the Marshall County community after the recent tragedy. Please continue to keep the students, faculty and staff in your thoughts and prayers. Central Office staff wear blue and orange on Feb. 2.

#TeamHopkins has been reaching out to Marshall County High School. Three of our counselors - Shannon Bowles of Pride Elementary; Jeannie Morris of Madisonville North Hopkins and John Tichenor of Jesse Stuart - volunteered their services to Marshall County through a state-wide effort to support the district.

At the Jan. 26 rivalry basketball game, the Madisonville Maroons and Hopkins County Central Storm teamed up in support of Marshall County High School. "Marshall Strong" T-shirts were sold by the dance teams from both schools. Thanks to board member J.W. Durst for taking the initiative on this project. The T-shirt sales raised $4,000, which was donated to Marshall County Schools.


7 additional Hopkins County teachers earn 
National Board Certifications

Seven Hopkins County Schools' teachers just gained their National Board Certifications.  Across the country, there are 5,470 new NBCTs and another 3,957 who successfully renewed their certification.

Each of these accomplished educators earned the profession's highest mark of achievement through a rigorous, performance-based, peer-review process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement, according to the National Board website.
The newly certified local teachers include the following:
  • Lee Allen, resource teacher at Hopkins County Schools Academy - Exceptional Needs Specialist / Early Childhood through Young Adulthood;
  • Micki Clark, English/language arts teacher at Madisonville North Hopkins - English Language Arts / Adolescence and Young Adulthood;
  • Amy Crabtree, English/language arts teacher at Madisonville North Hopkins - English Language Arts / Adolescence and Young Adulthood;
  • Rachel Flener, resource teacher at Hanson Elementary - Exceptional Needs Specialist / Early Childhood through Young Adulthood;
  • Kimberly Gentry, resource teacher at Hanson Elementary - Exceptional Needs Specialist / Early Childhood through Young Adulthood;
  • Brooke Stuart, kindergarten teacher at Earlington Elementary - Generalist / Early Childhood;
  • Sarah Tyson, English/language arts teacher at Hopkins County Central - English Language Arts / Adolescence and Young Adulthood.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards now lists 26 board-certified teachers for the Hopkins County district. Nationally, there are more than 118,000 Board-certified teachers.



'Star-Spangled Banner' video goes viral

KMEA's All-State Choir has made an annual tradition of singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" off Five students at KMEA All-State Choir their balconies in the atrium of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Louisville. This year's rendition became a viral video that was featured nationally on Fox News. Participants included five Madisonville North Hopkins Chamber Choir members: Will Curtis, Staley Clark, Lauren Goodman, Brooks Holley and Jaevion Croney.

KMEA All-State 'Star-Spangled Banner'
KMEA All-State 'Star-Spangled Banner'

Parent Satisfaction Survey
Feedback opportunity available through Feb. 28

Hopkins County Schools is on a continuous journey to make our schools the best places for students to learn, staff to work, and parents to send their children for a good education. In this effort, we appreciate your support. It is important to gather feedback from you to celebrate successes and identify areas for growth. Please take a few minutes and complete this Parent Satisfaction Survey to help provide this feedback.

Once the survey is complete, the results will be analyzed by an outside organization. The data from the survey will be sent to each school and the Superintendent. Then, the results of the survey will be shared with parents and the community.

The survey can be accessed online at HCS Parent Satisfaction Survey . Thank you for interest in and support of your child's education with us. Please contact your school principal if you have any questions concerning the survey.

Sources of Strength
Tools promote mental health

Middle school students throughout Hopkins County Schools are learning to be "Sources of Strength" for their KDE trainer leads group activity at South Hopkins MIddle School peers.

A select group of students, staff and community members have taken part in training for the Sources of Strength program at all of our middle schools. Organizers plan to continue the program in future years.

Sources of Strength is a mental wellness program for youth and young adults that uses the power of peer-led social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying and substance abuse. The Kentucky Department of Behavioral Health paid for the training, which was led by KDE.

Community partners include Hopkins County Health Department, the Extension Office, Pennyroyal Mental Health, and youth ministers. Interested community members are volunteering to be adult advisors, as well.

The program is peer led.

"While the message is the same, each school gets to personalize it," said Wendy Watts district PBIS coach and KSI coordinator. "This is an 'upstream' program because instead of talking about suicide prevention, it covers wellness factors. It gives them the tools of what it takes to be mentally healthy."


Scientific Method
Education Commissioner visits classrooms across district
Education Commissioner Pruitt and another KDE administrator observe science class at Earlington Elementary.
Click image to view a photo gallery from the visit.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt visited Hopkins County Schools on Nov. 30.During the visit, he observed science instruction at the Career & Technology Center, Earlington Elementary, Hopkins County Central High School and South Hopkins Middle School. He said in a tweet that the CTC health sciences program is "an incredible example" of how quality, highly needed jobs can be filled through partnership with K-12 and industry, with the help of a federal research grant.


All in a Day's Work
Superintendent stays busy with school visits, strategic meetings,
long-range planning and more

Hopkins County Schools Superintendent Deanna Ashby starts her work day early. Well before
Elementary students work together at desks_ with Superintendent Ashby and other administrators observing.
Hopkins County Schools Superintendent Deanna Ashby observes in a classroom at Earlington Elementary School during a hands-on science lesson. This was during a visit by Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt.
the sun rises, she is emailing assignments to employees and responding to others who have asked for direction.

"You lay out your plans," she said. "You try to start planning for what you're doing during the day."
Events of the day often intervene, however, causing changes to her daily plans. However, the overall mission and responsibilities remain the same.

"We want to make sure that our teachers are prepared with the resources that they need," Ashby said. "The supports that we give them are going to impact every child's desk. We want to make sure that from a district standpoint we're providing the supports that they need."

The day-to-day responsibilities of a superintendent include developing long-range plans consistent with population trends and community needs; providing for the optimum use of staff; following appropriate budgetary procedures; safeguarding all district assets; and maintaining a liaison with community groups, other school districts and the state and federal departments of education.

"For me, education truly is a mission field," Ashby said. "One Team, One Mission, One Community truly is what I stand for. It's what I went into education for. It is about servant leadership. It is our responsibility to love, protect and educate our kids. That may mean helping a single mom or dad, it may be taking the time to walk the parents through some of the paperwork that we have to do, it may be trying to help faculty and staff see things from a parent standpoint."

Link to full story from the Chamber of Commerce Magazine

Suzanne Duncan
Duncan elected board chairwoman

Suzanne Duncan has been elected chairwoman of the Hopkins County Board of Education for 2018. She succeeds board member Steve Faulk, who served in the role last year. J.W. Durst was elected vice chairman.

Madisonville North Hopkins cheer team with trophy
MNHHS Cheer
places 10th 
in the Nation

Madisonville North Hopkins' cheer team placed 10th at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship Feb. 11 at Orlando. The team competed in Small Varsity Division II. The head coach is Jamie Kerperien, assistant coaches are Jayde Johnson and Valerie Epperson, and tumbling and stunt assistant is Galwyn Harris.


Parental Notice of Preschool Screening and Registration Requirements
Click image for a printable copy.
Parental Notice of Kindergarten Registration Requirements
Click image for a printable copy.

Book It! 5K, 1-Mile Fun Walk set for March 10
School with most participants will get award

The annual Book It! 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Walk will be held Saturday, March 10. The race starts at 9 a.m. at Baptist Health Fitness Formula in Madisonville. On-site registration begins that morning at 8. Pre-register by Tuesday, March 6, for a guaranteed T-shirt.

An award will go to the school with the most participants. Also, 1st-place awards will be given in each age group, and 1st-place overall awards will be given in the men's and women's divisions.

Each participant will receive a free book. This annual event was moved to March this year to correspond with Literacy Celebration Month. It is part of the Hopkins County Literacy Celebration. Please go to the following links to register online (payment must be mailed) or access the printable form


State Immunization Requirements Changing

Hopkins County Schools wants to make parents aware of changes in immunization requirements for the 2018-2019 school year.

"Parents need to know about these changes now so that they can check their child's immunization record and start making appointments with their doctor or the Health Department to stay up-to-date on vaccinations," said Hopkins County Schools Director of Pupil Personnel Laura James. The district is working closely on this issue with Hopkins County Health Department, which operates a clinic in each school.

An amendment to Kentucky law (902 KAR 2:060 - Immunization Schedules for Attending School) added new immunization requirements for the school year beginning on or after July 1, 2018. Changes involve the following:
  • All students in kindergarten through 12th grade must show proof of having received two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine to attend school (doses are administered 6 months or more apart), and
  • Students ages 16 years or older must show proof of having received two doses of Meningococcal ACWY vaccine (MenACWY) to attend school. However, if the first dose of MenACWY was received at age 16 or older, the second dose is not required for school entry.
Also, all vaccines administered should now be printed on the Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status form.

Parents are encouraged to see their child's medical provider or local health department as soon as possible.  All students should have an updated and current certificate on file at school before the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Diabetes Fundraiser
$454 donated to JDRF from Hopkins County Central event Two students sing National Anthem at basketball game

Hopkins County Central held a "Blues for Green" on Jan. 23 to benefit the Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation. The school also donated $1 for every ticket sold to that night's basketball game, and donations were collected at the game. A total of $454 was donated to JDRF from the Hopkins County Central event. Also, at that night's game, HCCHS senior Becky Brooks and Southside Elementary 4th-grader Mary Grace Starks, who both have Type 1 diabetes, sang the National Anthem.


Grant to fund Green Dot Club at HCCHS

A Hopkins County Central sophomore has been awarded a grant to start a Green Dot Club at the school.

Brooklyn Stone wrote the proposal that was awarded a $500 Change Maker Grant by the Brooklyn Stone Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. Sanctuary Inc. has also been involved in this effort. Plans call for starting the club in January.

The goal of the Green Dot Club is to recruit members from all the different groups within the school culture. Through education and participation, they hope to prevent sexual assault, dating violence and bullying.

"I think it helps kids because you get to be involved in something that changes people's lives," said Stone, who was selected to go through Green Dot training as a freshman.

"I was bullied once, and I wanted to change that," she said. "Nobody deserves to get bullied for what they wear, what they drive, where they live, or anything else."

One activity Stone can see the club doing is leaving positive messages in people's lockers.

"A lot of kids talk about how they want to make a difference or how they want to see something done about bullying," said guidance counselor Robyn Richardson, "but Brooklyn is actually doing something. She really is trying to be the change."
Group of people with 12 display checks at Independence Bank sign.
Banking on the Community
Several groups that are part of Hopkins County Schools received donations from Independence Bank in December. Family Resource Youth Services Centers received $2,000 from the Buzz contest. The FFA chapters at Madisonville North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central each received $1,200 from the proceeds of the Farm to Fork Dinner. The 4-H organizations at both high schools also received $1,200 each. Thanks to Independence Bank for its support!


Community Partners

The community organizations that #TeamHopkins have been highlighting in January are the Humane Society (Pride Elementary) and United Way of the Coalfield (Earlington Elementary. The organizations for February are Breaking Bread (Hanson Elementary) and Red Cross (Jesse Stuart Elementary).

Breaking Bread is a free meal program that provides a hot lunch and distributes groceries the
Group photo of Hanson staff and students outside Breaking Bread.
Hanson Elementary School staff & students volunteer at Breaking Bread earlier.
third Saturday of the month. Since it started in 2012, nearly 600,000 meals have been provided to needy residents. Hanson faculty and students helped serve at Breaking Bread in the fall, and plan to help again this spring.
 
United Way of the Coalfield brings together community, business, nonprofit and government leaders to support nine agencies in Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties. Hopkins County Schools' employees contributed $5,955.57 during the fall fund-raising campaign. EES, its partner school, was the 2nd highest contributor of those funds. Earlington teachers and staff also supported United Way's Got Talent in August.

The Western Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross serves 24 counties across the region, including Hopkins. The organization is involved in disaster response, classes that teach life-saving skills, support for U.S. service members, and more. Students at their partner school, JSES, created Christmas cards for veterans that were distributed across our region.

Hopkins County Humane Society works to place adoptable animals into safe, loving homes while promoting spaying and neutering pets. Pride Elementary has supported the organization this year by collecting donations of food, bleach and blankets, and $400 cash. The school also sent home information about the Kroger reward card program and Courtyard of Curiosity Club members volunteered there for an afternoon. Another event is planned in conjunction with a family night.

Heather French Henry with Southside students.

Poppy Project

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Commissioner Heather French Henry visited Southside Elementary School on Dec. 4 to collect Hopkins County Schools' contribution to the Kentucky Poppy Project.

The project is a state initiative to remember local lives lost during World War I. Hopkins County students contributed 1,700 construction paper poppies to the effort.

Henry, Miss America 2000, also spoke to Southside students about the contributions of Kentuckians during World War I. Southside students made more than 400 of the flowers - more than any other school.

The Kentucky Poppy Project will be displayed on a wall at the 2018 Kentucky State Fair.
A STEP Forward
Group photo with display check

Hopkins County STEP (Start Thinking Exer cise Powe r) Coalition has donated $1,600 to Hopkins County Schools' elementary school for the purchase of equipment. Each elementary PE program will receive $200. These are the proceeds from the 2017 BAJA 5K and 1 Mile Fun Walk held on Sept. 30.  The STEP Coalition was formed in 2005 to support, encourage and endorse activities promoting health and wellness. The next BAJA is tentatively set for Sept. 29, 2018.
JROTC Drill Team Honored Group photo of JROTC cadets in uniform
Hopkins County Centrals Air Force JROTC Drill Team placed 3rd in the una rmed knockout portion of the Muhlenberg JROTC Drill Competition Feb. 3, competing against 200 cadets from 11 units. Theresa Poustka placed 7th, and Layla Grimes placed 9th.


Event Calendar

Feb. 19 - No School / Presidents' Day
Feb. 20 - Board of Education meeting, Central Office, 5:30 p.m.

High School Sports Schedules

MNHHS on maroon background HCCHS on blue background



To submit information for upcoming issues, email Communications and Community Engagement Specialist Lori Harrison

Together, 
We are one team,
      one mission,
      one community