August 30, 2018
Message from the Superintendent

The school year is off to a great start because of YOU!!!! Thank you for being #GiantSlayers and
Superintendent Ashby with a Pride student
First Day of School
#LionChasers for our kids. As we begin this year, let's remember to "face our fears, chase our dreams, grab opportunity by the mane, and create the future for our kids and community." It's an exciting time for Hopkins County Schools.

Our new vision and mission states the following:

Vision - Preparing today's students to succeed in tomorrow's world.
Mission - Unite as one team to learn and inspire.

Together, let's embrace #TeamHopkins and enjoy the journey!
Strategic Plan approved

Hopkins County Board of Education has adopted new Vision and Mission Statements as part of the planning process the district has undergone using the Studer process. The board also adopted a five-year Strategic Plan for the district.



Thanks to our bus drivers for their extra effort!

Several bus drivers have put in extra effort this year to make sure all of our students have gotten Very top of the front of the school bus to school and back home safely.

"We have some drivers and monitors that are giving a 1,000% effort," said Karen Franklin. "This involves sharing their knowledge as well as helping in any way possible." There were six vacant routes at the start of the school year. We have five sub/back-up drivers, but one of them has been unavailable because of a seasonal job.

Nearly every day since school started, a MINIMUM of eight drivers have combined their own route with all or a portion of another route.

Our bus drivers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the students get home in a safe and timely manner.  They have worked tirelessly with other drivers and transportation staff to create solutions where no resolution seemed possible. Thanks to everyone for their help!
HC Education Foundation grants awarded

Several #TeamHopkins educators are sharing in $12,576.81 in mini grants awarded by the HCEF Logo Hopkins County Education Foundation. Each of them will receive additional information from the foundation.

Grants were awarded for the following projects:
  • Data Collection Tech, Maria Bailey, Madisonville North Hopkins, $952;
  • Robots & Google, Dana Martin, Hanson Elementary, $1,000;
  • Flexible Seating, Jenny Long, West Hopkins, $976;
  • First Place for Jazz, Alan Emerson, James Madison/MNHHS, $500;
  • Operation Tech Center, Mary Chandler, Career and Technology Center, $410;
  • STEM Guitar Initiative, Eric Anderson, CTC, $1,000;
  • Fall Musical, Beulah Mosley, Pride, $300;
  • Alternative Seating, Melanie Payne, JMMS, $825.96;
  • Bouncing Toward Success, Amanda Sarles, Grapevine, $1,000;
  • Real World Reading, 3rd-Grade Team, Grapevine, $500;
  • 21st Century Classroom, Heather Starks Wagoner, JMMS, $999.89;
  • Kinder Literacy Fun, Kindergarten Team, Grapevine, $717.96;
  • Wake Up Wildcats, Elizabeth Austin / Libby Groves, South Hopkins, $995;
  • Building a Firm Foundation, Kindergarten Team, Hanson, $1,000;
  • Fall 2018 Preschool Kickoff, Preschool Program, $1,000;
  • STEAM TEAM, Kristin Duff, West Broadway, $600.
Congratulations to the recipients!
District honored by KASA
for cost savings Superintendent Ashby_ holding the award_ poses with seven Central Office directors.

Hopkins County Schools is honored to have received a Process Improvement and Performance Excellence Award from the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. The district is among six from the state that were recognized.

We saved $90,000 through a staff reorganization and procurement projects that were part of the PIPE Grant process.

#LionChaser / #GiantSlayer
 
Superintendent Deanna Ashby_ Board Chairman J.W. Durst_ HCCHS custodian Carol Huddleston_ and HCCHS Principal Jon Wells at board meeting

Hopkins County Central High School custodian Carol Huddleston was making her usual rounds in the cafeteria during lunch on Aug. 17, chatting with the kids. Then, a student started choking. Another student tried to help, but the girl continued choking, so Huddleston jumped in. She performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving the student.

In honor of her actions, Huddleston received the district's first  #LionChaser  /  #GiantSlayer  Award of the school year during the Aug. 20 Board of Education meeting. Board President J.W. Durst presented Huddleston with the certificate and a #LionChaser T-shirt. Thanks to Carol Huddleston for her quick response!

"That could have been really tragic, " HCCHS Principal Jon Wells said. "We're very thankful that Carol was there and knew what to do."


How are YOU being a Giant Slayer?

All Youth Matter sponsors Teen Summit
Group photo of Teen Summit participants

A group of students from Hopkins County Central and Madisonville North Hopkins high schools took part in the All Youth Matter Teen Summit today at the Career and Technology Center on Aug. 17. The event included a panel discussion on making good decisions and a multicultural activity.

WBES Donuts with Dads draws huge crowd
Dads and kids sit at tables on gym floor and in the bleachers

Kids entering West Broadway Elementary School the morning of Aug. 23 were greeted by dads, granddads and other male role models holding signs with encouraging messages. The occasion was the school's first Donuts with Dads event, sponsored by the Family Resource Center. FRC coordinator Julie Faulk had expected 25 RSVPs, but said about 200 men took part. The purpose of the event was to encourage the men to be active in their child's school and seek volunteers for the new Boys to Gentlemen program.

Finance Department Notes
  • The first payroll for 2018-2019 was issued Aug. 30. Please verify your payroll is correct and deductions are set up correctly.
  • Hopkins County Board of Education will approve tax rates at the Sept. 4 board meeting.
  • Long-term subs receive a higher daily rate on the 21st day of consecutive service in the same assignment. Starting in 2018-2019, the higher rate will not be paid retroactively for the first 20 days.
Glema Center offers ticket discount for staff glema logo

Glema Mahr Center for the Arts at Madisonville Community College is again offering Hopkins County Schools' employees 25 percent off up to 4 tickets for shows the Glema Center presents. Employees will be unable to receive this discount when purchasing online, but will need to call the Ticket Office at 270-821-2787. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. 
School Days Matinees Front page of School Days Matinee program
information available
Glema Mahr Center for the Arts has released the information for the 2018-2019 School DaysMatinees. These performances are underwritten with financial support from Hopkins County Schools. For more information, please see the program information and ticket order form.


Community Partner - Patrick Rudd Project

Hopkins County Schools' Community Partner for the start of the school year is the Patrick Rudd
Patrick Rudd project logo
Project, which
encourages local citizens to embrace veterans and First Responders in honor of Sgt. William Patrick Rudd. Schools will be taking part in the flag fund-raiser and some will be hosting Heroes Walks. Character Does Matter presentations will be given at six of our schools.
The Patrick Rudd Project sponsors the annual 9-11 Heroes Run in Madisonville, which was developed by the Travis Manion Foundation. Madisonville is among the top 10 sites in participation, with more than 1,000 participants and an average of $25,000 being raised locally.

Census resources available for teachers

Multiple resources are available for teachers to share regarding the upcoming 2020 Census. Below are links to resources for all grade levels and multiple content areas that could be used in classroom instruction as part of the effort to get families and children prepared to be counted.

Kentucky Youth Advocates has partnered with the Census Bureau on a statewide educational initiative to incorporate census in the classroom on Constitution Day, Sept. 17.

A public Facebook Event has been created to help direct teachers to the free resources provided through the Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools program.

Census Links:
Event Calendar

Sept. 3 - No School / Central Office Closed / Labor Day
Sept. 4  - Board of Education Meeting, Central Office, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 - Board of Education Meeting, Central Office, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 - Kentucky High Attendance Day

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

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