November 2021

Welcome to Connections, Hopkins County Schools' parent/community newsletter!

This time of year, it’s natural to express gratitude. Thanksgiving is approaching, quickly followed by Christmas. Regularly expressing gratitude has been shown to improve our happiness and help us appreciate what we already have. Ways to do this include writing a thank you note, keeping a gratitude journal, and prayer.

As I started my first year as superintendent, our major goal as a school district was to keep students in school in-person five days a week. We are celebrating that we have made it through the first trimester successfully! The district’s theme, “Remember Your Why,” helps us focus on what’s most important, which is always being there for our students. I want to say “thank you” to our teachers, staff members, students, parents, and community for showing dedication to this effort. Pulling together as #TeamHopkins truly made this possible.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Amy Smith

Superintendent, Hopkins County Schools

Earlington Elementary School’s kindergarten students, taught by Brooke Stuart and Danielle Harper, created turkey outfits using brown paper bags donated by Market Place. The classes usually make turkey hats to wear to the school’s Thanksgiving dinner but expanded the project this year. The craft kicked off their Thanksgiving unit! 

Each Pride Elementary School student received a feather to decorate as part of this school-wide turkey that is now displayed in the front lobby! This project, led by kindergarten teacher Kasey Baldwin, was a way for kids to use their creativity and spend time with their family decorating their feathers.

Talking to your child about social and emotional issues is important. Avoiding the subject is not helpful, but helping your child put it in perspective can be. Your child may struggle with specific things, but not everything.

• Ask open-ended, positive questions instead of questions that can be answered with yes or no.
• Ask questions about times when your child socializes with other kids, like lunch and recess.
• Tell your child when you notice that something is bothering or upsetting them.
• Isolate the area of difficulty and name it in order to give your child a sense of control over the situation.
• Emphasize that your child is not the only person who may struggle in this area.
• Balance the negative and positive and reassure your child that you are available to help.
• Be specific about inappropriate behavior.
• Don't be dismissive - it may be a big deal to your child.
• The car is a great place to start a conversation. Your child does not have to make eye contact with you.
• Carve out special one-on-one time at least once a month to share an interest and get some quality time.

Students who participated in Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program and the Commonwealth Honors Academy were honored at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. GSP participants included Micah Brown, Mary Dorris, and Allona Perez from Hopkins County Central and Aidan Brummer, Kendall Duncan, Carson Esquilin, Lucas King, Camryn LaGrange, Gracie Lawrence, and Megan Oakley from Madisonville North Hopkins.

The Governor’s Scholars Program is a summer residential program for outstanding high school students in Kentucky who are rising seniors. The mission of GSP is to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders. The application process is highly competitive and the program has grown to over 1,000 students on three campuses each summer.

MNHHS student Callen Edwards (not pictured) was also honored for participating in the Commonwealth Honors Academy at Murray State University. The Commonwealth Honors Academy is a three-week academic enrichment experience held every June at Murray State University. Students collaborate with other honor students and faculty in a campus living-learning environment. The program provides 6 hours of college credit and offers the chance to take 6 additional hours free during senior year as well as a $2,000 housing scholarship.

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Regional Cheer Champions - All-Girls Small

Madisonville North Hopkins High School Cheer Team won the KHSAA Regional Championship. MNHHS took the title in the All-Girls Small division and will advance to the KHSAA State Championship!

Regional Cheer Champions - Game Day

Hopkins County Central High School Cheer Team won the KHSAA Regional Championship. HCCHS took the title in the Game Day division and will advance to the KHSAA State Championship!

Three of our coaches have received Regional Coach of the Year honors! Tim Davis, golf coach at Madisonville North Hopkins, has been selected as Boys Region 2 Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Golf Coach Association. Tyrone Gregory of Browning Springs Middle School has been recognized as the 7^th Grade Coach of the Year for Region 1 by the Kentucky Middle School Football Association. Sam Westfall, girls golf coach at Madisonville North Hopkins High School, has been selected as Girls Region 2 Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Golf Coach Association. Congratulations to all!

English classes don’t typically gather around campfires. However, students in Erin Shaw’s class at Browning Springs Middle School did so recently to share stories they had written. The school encouraged teachers to focus on storytelling for the Campfire Day activity.

“Writing can be a daunting and dreaded task,” Shaw said, “but using creative challenges helps to make writing fun again. We have been using Edgar Allen Poe’s tips for writing short stories. For our campfire narrative they had to write a scary story focusing on mood and incorporating an unreliable narrator to keep their audience actively participating. I am proud of all their creative ideas and hard work.” 

Food trucks and menus designed by students in Sonya Shockley’s Entrepreneurship class were on display recently at Hopkins County Career and Technology Center. Other CTC students and instructors were given play money to “tip” their favorite trucks. The trucks that generated the most business were declared the winners.