#TeamHopkins
Community Connections
January 2020
2020-2021 School Calendar Set
The first day of school for students in the 2020-2021 school year will be Thursday, Aug. 6 under the calendar set by Hopkins County Board of Education. Staff will start earlier that week, with #TeamHopkins Day on Aug. 3, Opening Day on Aug. 4, and Professional Development on Aug. 5.

Other highlights include fall break, Oct. 5-9; Professional Development, Nov. 2; Election Day, Nov. 3; Thanksgiving Break, Nov. 25-27; Winter Break, Dec. 21-Jan. 1; Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18; Presidents Day, Feb. 15; Professional Development, March 15; Good Friday, April 2; Spring Break, April 5-9. Last day for students is currently set for May 19 with closing day for staff on May 20.

School closings because of inclement weather will result in adjustments to the calendar.
School Board Recognition Month
As Kentucky observes School Board Recognition Month in January, Hopkins County Schools is joining in the celebration. Dr. J.W. Durst, Steve Faulk, Bobby Fox, John Osborne, and Susanne Wolford are among the more than 850 school board members in the state’s 173 local school districts being recognized for their service.

This is the perfect time to thank school board members for serving in a role that has become increasingly complex,” said David Webster, president of the Kentucky School Boards Association and chairman of the Simpson County school board.

“Members of the Hopkins County Board of Education are responsible for making decisions aimed at ensuring that every child in their district has a chance to be successful both in school and in life,” Webster said. “To do that, members oversee the budget, keep up with changing education laws and policies, and spend hours on professional learning and state-mandated training.”
Thanks to our
Board members!
Wolford Elected Board Chairman
Susanne Wolford was elected as chairman of the Board of Education during the Jan. 13 meeting. She succeeds J.W. Durst in that role. John Osborne will be vice-chairman.

Art of the Teacher
The Anne P. Baker Gallery at Glema Mahr Center for the Arts features an exhibit of works created by several teachers in Hopkins County Schools.

The exhibit, entitled "Art of the Teacher," will be displayed from Jan. 12-Feb. 21, 2020. Participants include art teachers Melanie Hofmann, Jordan Harper, Katie Riggs, Julie Cabiness Oakley, and Amanda Gamblin, and school counselor David Gilkey, a former art teacher.

Admission is free, and everyone is invited.
A Timely Reminder
Ensign-Bickford Donation Supports STEM
Representatives of Ensign-Bickford Foundation Inc. presented a donation to James Madison Middle School at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. The donation is $10,000 per year for the next three years. The school plans to use the money for STEM and technology. Thanks to Ensign-Bickford Foundation for supporting #TeamHopkins!
#LionChaser / #GiantSlayer Awards
A group of eight Grapevine Elementary School staff members stepped up to help deliver Backpack Blessings to 42 students when the district was out of school Oct. 24-25 because of a water main break. Backpack Blessings is a Family Resource Youth Service Center project that supplies easy-to-fix food for students who might otherwise do without food while out of school over a weekend. Those honored with the #LionChaser / #GiantSlayer Award are Patricia Matheny, Kaitlyn Young, Barbara Stoltz, Kristen Maxberry, Amanda Sarles, Nicole Pace, Tonja Simms, and Billy Ward. These staff members made sure students’ needs were filled, and are definitely #LionChasers!
Browning Springs Middle School students Melody Kincaid and Mya Latimer were honored with the #LionChaser / #GiantSlayer Award at the Jan. 13 Board of Education meeting. The pair responded enthusiastically when 6 th -grade writing teacher Erin Shaw asked her Leadership students to take on a “passion project.” They collected baskets such as quilts, blankets, lotion, fuzzy socks, puzzles, and card games for residents of a local nursing home. They collected more than 100 donated items and also visited with the residents. What a great project!
Big Smiles Program
Dental care is being offered to Hopkins County students through the Big Smiles program. Visits to the schools are scheduled for January and February. Please contact your school or visit bigsmilesdental.org for more information.
2020 Census Letter
Households will receive a letter this spring regarding completing the 2020 Census. The letter will look very similar to the sample letter at right. (The image is linked to a pdf of the letter.)

Please respond with your information to help our area be counted!