The LivingWell Promise is now open for all full-time employees who are enrolled in insurance through Anthem. It is open now through June 30, 2024. If you do not complete it by that date, your insurance premium will increase $40 per month beginning January 1, 2025. If you waived your insurance, you do not need to complete a LivingWell Promise.



In previous years, biometric screenings were offered through Hopkins County Health Department at schools as one way to fulfill the LivingWell Promise. This will not be an option this year. All LivingWell Promises must be completed online through Castlight. Go to mycastlight.com/mybenefits. After you have created an account, log in and complete the LivingWell Promise. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the series of questions.

January is open enrollment for Delta Dental and VSP for full-time employees.  The changes become effective Jan. 1, 2024. Reminder that the completed forms must be sent to Mechelle Earl in HR by Jan. 31 Open enrollment for 5 Star life insurance also ends Jan. 31.

Operation Christmas Project, sponsored by Hopkins County Happy Feet, successfully raised funds to provide Christmas gifts to several of our students! In combination with other community donations, Christmas needs were filled for 180 middle and high school students. We appreciate the generosity of our community partners!

The January focus for the Hopkins County Future Ready initiative is being a Lifelong Learner. This involves persisting through difficulties, becoming self-regulating, and initiating learning.

We invite businesses and community members to partner with us to develop the Lifelong Learner characteristic in our graduates.



Hopkins County Future Ready Graduates is one of the major initiatives that is part of the district’s new Strategic Plan. This is our version of Portrait of a Graduate. This initiative will significantly transform our schools and ensure that our students gain the characteristics needed to be successful after graduation.

Having fun learning to cook is one way to develop the Hopkins County Future Ready characteristic of being a Lifelong Learner! Fourth graders at Pride Elementary had the chance to sign up to take part in an after-school cooking club, which met for the first time on Tuesday. Hopkins County Extension and Pride Elementary Family Resource Center coordinator Debrina Duvall collaborated to create the Junior Foodie Fun cooking club, which meets monthly.



Students placed food items into the proper food group on the USDA MyPlate. Then, they had a wonderful time preparing – and eating – turkey wraps!

January is Kentucky School Board Recognition Month! Please join us in thanking board members Shannon Embry, Steve Faulk, Nick Foster, John Osborne, and Kerri Scisney for their dedicated service. 

Special appreciation baskets were presented to each Hopkins County Board of Education member during the Jan. 8 meeting. The baskets from school and district administrators were presented in honor of Kentucky School Board Recognition Month. They put forth a tremendous amount of time and effort to support our students, staff, and community! Thank you, Hopkins County Board of Education!

The board has elected John Osborne as chairman for 2024 and Kerri Scisney as vice chairman. Outgoing chairman Shannon Embry was presented with a ceremonial gavel.

Blaine Luckett

Madisonville North Hopkins High School student Blaine Luckett was presented with the Remember Your Why Award at the Jan. 29 Board of Education meeting. Blaine has demonstrated amazing leadership skills throughout his time at the school, setting an example of hard work and kindness to others. As a member of the MNHHS JROTC, he encourages and builds up other cadets in the program. He recently took the initiative to help a man who had fallen when leaving the school. While there were other students around, Blaine dropped all his belongings to check on this man. He helped him to his feet and into a vehicle that was picking him up. Blaine always puts others first! 

Blaine explained his “why,” by saying, “I choose to put others first and show kindness because you never know what they are going through in their life.” Congratulations!!

The new playground has been installed at Hanson Elementary. The school recently celebrated the first day of using the amazing equipment with Fun Friday and extra recess for EVERYONE!  Comments like “This is great!” and “I love this!” could be heard all around, as well as squeals of delight!  The school thanked Hopkins County Board of Education, Hopkins County Schools, Hanson Elementary School PTA, and all the private contributors in the community during our fundraisers that helped make this possible for their students.

Madisonville North Hopkins seniors got a look at possible future occupations today by taking part in Focus on the Future shadow day at different area employers on Jan. 26. The event, sponsored by Hopkins County Young Professionals, is intended to give students a better understanding of their field of interest and the skills they will need to be successful in that field. HCYP plans a similar day for Hopkins County Central seniors. What a great opportunity for all these students! We appreciate our community partners!

Delegations from James Madison and South Hopkins Middle schools received multiple honors at the Kentucky Youth Assembly in December! This event is an educational opportunity in which students serve as part of a model state government.

Both schools received the KYA Premier Delegation Award.

JMMS teacher Amanda Bearden was inducted into the KYA Advisors Hall of Fame. This is her 12th year working with James Madison students in this program.

Other individual recognitions for JMMS students include Alex Richards – Outstanding Delegate. Avery O’Brien served as chairperson for part of the Commonwealth House of Representatives. Individual awards for SHMS students include Tori Cunningham – Outstanding Delegate; Ainsleigh Hackney – Outstanding Speaker; and Luke Allen – Outstanding Speaker.



Two of James Madison’s bills passed the mock legislature, and the KYA governor signed the bills. One of the bills ranked highest of all the bills presented that weekend. It proposed providing funding for mental health services for Kentucky veterans. Bill authors were Alex Richards, Ellis Green, and Gauge Clark. The other bill signed by the KYA governor was a proposal to increase funding for Family Resource Centers in Kentucky. Bill authors were Greta Duncan and Aleigha Hughes.

PE students at Grapevine Elementary have got the beat!



Cardio drumming is a high-intensity activity in physical education class that invites lots of smiles and laughter. Kids move while drumming on buckets or balls to the beat of the music. The activity also involves running, jumping jacks, and squats. Teacher Brittney Wells said the kids have loved it because it’s a fun way to exercise! All of our schools received cardio drumming sets through funding from the Hopkins County Long-Term Recovery Committee to promote mental health and stress relief.

Several of our dance teams gave outstanding performances at the recent KDCO Regional Competition and qualified to advance to the KDCO State Championships.

• Hopkins County Central High Voltage placed 1st in both Large High School Pom and Hip Hop, received the Best Choreography Award, and was named Grand Champions.
• Madisonville North Hopkins Maroon Magic placed 1st in both Small High School Pom and Game Day.
• South Hopkins Middle School placed 1st in both Small Middle School Pom and Hip Hop, received the Most Entertaining Award, and was named Best of the Best.
• James Madison Middle School placed 1st in both Medium Middle School Pom and Hip Hop and received the Best Choreography Award.

Glema Center Offers Spring Shows for Students

Feb. 19 - No School / Presidents Day

Feb. 20 - Board of Education Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Central Office