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HCS Connections Newsletter - September 2024

Posted Date: 9/27/24 (4:00 PM)

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Connections
#TeamHopkins Parent and Community Newsletter
September 2024
 
Future Ready Fridays!
5 students display worksheets
Responsible and Accountable
Hopkins County Schools launched Future Ready Fridays last week! This initiative is designed to align with the Kentucky Department of Education's portrait of a learner. District-wide, students will participate in activities aimed at developing the six competencies outlined in our Future Ready Graduate model.

Future Ready Fridays are designed to empower students to embrace the characteristics of a Future Ready Graduate. Our first Future Ready Friday kicked off district-wide with students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities that challenged them to think critically about being responsible and accountable.   

One of the highlights of the day was for students to create their first learning defense slide. Each student crafted a design showing key elements of what they have learned about being responsible and accountable. This slide is the first of six slides that will serve as the foundation for their ongoing learning defense, a reflective process where they showcase their growth and achievements as they progress through their educational path.


About 8 students work on laptops
3 students and school resource officer with dog
 
HCS Remember Your Why logo on blue background
Nominations Open for 'Remember Your Why' Award
Hopkins County Schools wants to recognize employees and students for good deeds and kindness shown to others. Remember Your Why Award winners may be nominated by any district stakeholder, including staff, students, parents, and community members.

Through the theme "Remember Your Why," faculty and staff are encouraged to focus on what’s most important – the reason they went into education or chose to work in the schools. This initiative was initially designed to motivate staff. We always want to be there for our students! It has since been expanded to include students. Raising motivation levels will have positive impacts on students, parents, co-workers, and the community.

 
America's Healthiest Schools
Awarded by Alliance for a Healthier Generation; Proud to be one of America's Healthiest Schools; 2024 Awardee
Several of our schools are included on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s annual list of America’s Healthiest Schools for the 2023-2024 school year. A total of 879 schools across 30 states have been recognized for their achievements in advancing the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of students, staff, and families.

Here is the list of local schools that were recognized: Browning Springs Middle, Grapevine Elementary, Hanson Elementary, Hopkins County Central High, Jesse Stuart Elementary, Madisonville North Hopkins High, Pride Elementary, South Hopkins Middle, Southside Elementary, West Broadway Elementary, and West Hopkins..
 
High Five Friday!
2 football players give high 5s to elementary student
Members of the high school athletic teams greeted students arriving at our elementary schools the morning of Sept. 13 for “High Five Friday.” The goal of the event is to bring smiles and encouragement to students and staff at each school. Looks like that was accomplished! 
2 people give high fives
Young student gives high five to another student
 
HCS Implements Sources of Strength
The Sources of Strength program will be utilized in each Hopkins County Schools middle school this school year. Sources of Strength is an evidence-based program aimed at promoting youth mental health and preventing suicide.

The goal of Sources of Strength is to enhance well-being, encourage help-seeking, build resilience, promote healthy coping strategies, and foster a sense of belonging, ultimately preventing negative outcomes like suicide, violence, bullying, and substance misuse. Rather than focusing solely on risk factors, Sources of Strength adopts an upstream approach to youth suicide prevention, strengthening various sources of support — protective factors — so young people have reliable strengths to draw upon during challenging times.  

All middle school counselors, mental health counselors, and several students received training in partnership with the Hopkins County Health Department. We appreciate this continued partnership as it allows our district to provide beneficial services and programs for our students and families.
 
Local Food for Schools Grant
6 bowls of salad with trays of cut-up watermelon in the background
Our students enjoyed fresh produce acquired through the Local Food for Students grant! Each kitchen in Hopkins County Schools recently featured a variety of watermelons, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Student feedback was outstanding, with reports of students asking for more! We appreciate our partnership with Windy Hill Farms providing our students with local homegrown fruits and vegetables!
 
Tate Elected KASBO President
Portrait of person in navy jacket, white shirt
Eydie Tate, chief financial officer for Hopkins County Schools, has been elected president of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Association of School Business Officials for the 2024-2025 term.

She brings more than 14 years of dedicated experience in school finance to this role. As a Certified Public Accountant, Tate combines her passion for numbers with her commitment to enhancing educational outcomes. She takes pride in knowing that her daily work in accounting directly contributes to the well-being and success of students. 

“I am excited for Eydie’s leadership and innovative vision which will undoubtedly steer us to new heights,” said Pam Goins, executive director of KASBO. ”Her optimism and guidance support KASBO’s mission to enhance the quality of education in Kentucky. I look forward to working closely with her to achieve our goals.” To learn more, see the news release.
 
Down Home Cookin' Meal Gets Rave Reviews
7 kids sit at cafeteria table and eat lunch
1 person gets corn from cafeteria tray
Hopkins County students enjoyed a wonderful “Down Home” meal on Thursday, September 5. Hopkins County Central High School FFA grew and provided their corn to seven of our schools for the meal. The remaining schools received fresh corn from our farmer in Henderson, Windy Hill Farm. 

The “Down Home” meal consisted of chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, our featured corn, rolls, and fresh fruit (also provided by Windy Hill).Participation rate that day was 68.9%, which is higher than average.
person cooks corn
4 students eat lunch in cafeteria
 
Chalk the Walk Promotes Mental Wellness
About 14 people line both sides of sidewalk with chalk messages on it
3 people draw on sidewalk with chalk
Fifth-graders in West Broadway Elementary’s WorkForce program got creative on Sept. 6 while taking part in “Chalk the Walk” in front of Hopkins County Board of Education! They wrote encouraging messages to promote suicide prevention and mental wellness. The project is sponsored by Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville.
 
PressPoint Standouts Honored
6 people pose for photo, with 3 holding certificates
Students who received “Best In” category awards for the district’s PressPoint Journal of Creativity were honored at the Board of Education meeting on September 9. Students submitted 187 pieces for consideration in all areas. Out of that number, 90 pieces were selected for publication in the 2023-2024 edition. This includes works by 46 students. PressPoint was published with 68 art pieces and 22 writing pieces. PressPoint is produced by HCS Gifted & Talented Services.

Students recognized include the following:
  • Best in Color Cover Art and Back Cover honors - Aden Price, Madisonville North Hopkins High School
  • Best in Black and White Art - Macey Browning, MNHHS
  • Best in Poetry - Ally Kong, James Madison Middle School
  • Best in Short Stories - Zoe Long, Hopkins County Central High School
  • Best in Black and White Photography - Westyn Miles, MNHHS
 
Hidden Hero Contest
CrimeStoppers of Hopkins County Hidden Hero Contest poster contest  Create a poster to raise awareness for crime stoppers of hopkins county. Top winners from elementary, middle & high will receive $100 each and have posters displayed throughout the community! PSA Contest Create a 60 second video, Reel or Tiktok to raise awareness for crime stoppers of hopkins county. the overall winner will receive $500 All entries must be submitted to your school by October 15th See contest rules for more information
 
Hopkins County FRYSC Making an impact in our schools,  families and community; Header: World’s Greatest Baby Shower; The FRYSC Coordinators have collaborated with Baptist Health Deaconess-Madisonville to host the World’s Greatest Baby Shower to new and expecting mothers on Thursday, September 19th from 4-6 p.m. in the Miller Auditorium of the hospital. Mothers will receive information and resources to support a healthy pregnancy and baby and will have the opportunity to win door prizes! Header: School Smiles; HCS FRYSCs will be partnering with School Smiles to provide dental services to students of Hopkins County during the 24-25 school year. If you would like to register your child for services, please contact your school’s FRYSC Coordinator Header: Back-to-School Community Resource Bash; FRYSCs partnered with Victory Church and dozens of community organizations to host the HCS Back-to-School Community Resource Bash on August 1st. We had over 1,500 guests in attendance and were able to supply almost 600 students with school supply packs! We appreciate the support of our community who made this a successful event! Header: Backpack Blessings; Through the generosity of dozens of churches in our community, our FRYSCs are able to provide weekend food bags or “backpack blessings” to those in need. Contact your schools FRYSC Coordinator for details on how you can qualify for this assistance. Even if you don’t qualify, your school’s FRYSC Coordinator can provide you with a list of community resources and assistance to support you and your family! Header: Happy Feet; YSC Coordinators partnered with Hopkins County Happy Feet to provide students with a brand new pair of shoes to “kick” off a successful school year! Thanks to community donations and volunteers, students were sized and had the opportunity to pick out a pair of shoes. Happy Feet will host “Sweet Feet” on Thursday, September 26th to raise funds for Happy Feet, Happy Cleats, Happy Seats and Chance to Dance! Contact Cheri McNary at Independence Bank for more information!  Want to get involved in supporting our FRYSC and making a positive impact in the lives of our students? Contact the Director for Community Schools by emailing wendy.gamblin@hopkins.kyschools.us
 
World's Greatest Baby Shower
Collage of 6 photos from the baby shower with the words "World's Greatest Baby Shower" on top
HCS Family Resource Youth Services Centers collaborated with Baptist Health Deaconess-Madisonville, as well as several other community partners to throw the World's Greatest Baby Shower earlier this month! Seventy-five new and expecting mothers attended.
 
Schools Host Heroes Walks
4 people hold banner that says "GES thanks you"
Class of about 20 people pose by fire truck
In remembrance of 9/11, our schools honored First Responders, veterans, and active-duty military during annual Heroes Walks. These walks are held as a way to commemorate 9/11 and honor those who have served our nation. It ties in with the 9/11 Heroes Run that is part of our community. These events mean so much to our students, staff, and community!
4 people sit in row, with 1 holding U.S. flag
Group of about 16 people, with 4 carrying U.S. flags, walk up drive with construction in background
 
WKU HS Leadership Conference
About 22 people stand on small staircase and pose for photo
Students from Madisonville North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central High schools attended the WKU High School Leadership Conference on Sept. 13! These students are sophomores and juniors who participate in GT Leadership.
 
KCSA Fall Conference
7 people pose in front of circus backdrop
Hopkins County Schools had great representation at the Kentucky School Counselor Association Fall Conference earlier in September!
 
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Hopkins County Schools
320 S. Seminary St.
Madisonville, KY 42431