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A Message from Superintendent Amy Smith
The start of a new school year is a time to set new goals, to dream big, to take action, and to embrace the journey ahead of us. With our new theme, Embrace the Journey, here are some tips for focusing on the journey, not the destination:
- Set meaningful goals. When your goals are meaningful to you, you are more likely to be motivated to achieve them. And when you achieve your goals, you will feel a sense of satisfaction that is not just about reaching the destination, but also about the journey you took to get there.
- Celebrate your progress. This will help you stay motivated and see how far you have come.
- Be open to new experiences. The journey is a time for growth and learning, so be open to new experiences. Meet new people, try new things, or observe the world from a different perspective.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes. MIstakes are opportunities to help us learn and grow.
- Enjoy the process. The journey is the reward, so make sure to enjoy the process of getting to your destination. Savoring the small moments, Appreciate the challenges, and learn from others and your experiences.
I know that we can achieve anything we set our minds to. We have the talent, the determination, and the support of each other. So let's make this year the best year yet! Let's work hard, learn from our mistakes, and never give up on our dreams.Let’s embrace the journey!
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Welcome Back for Team Hopkins Day '23! | |
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The annual Team Hopkins Day event at Madisonville North Hopkins provided an awesome kick-off to the upcoming school year! The focus was on the theme “Embrace the Journey.” After a lip sync concert featuring a musical journey through recent decades, staff members received an introduction to the new Strategic Plan and Future Ready Graduates initiative.
As part of the event, we donated food items for the Christian Food Bank. Thanks to participating community organizations, the JROTCs from Hopkins County Central and Madisonville North Hopkins for Presenting the Colors, and the Maroon Band for playing the National Anthem.
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Celebrating our Employees of the Year! | |
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Hopkins County Schools honored its 2022-2023 Employees of the Year during the district’s Team Hopkins Day event on Wednesday. Recipients include, front row from left, Food Service Employee of the Year - Jamie Cook, James Madison Middle School; Transportation Employee of the Year - Delores Yates; Classified Support Service Employee of the Year - Leigh Hogart, Browning Springs Middle School; middle row from left, High School Teacher of the Year - Vickie Fox, Hopkins County Central High School; Middle School Teacher of the Year - Michael Powers, James Madison Middle School; Elementary School Teacher of the Year - Jenny Haw, Southside Elementary School; Administrator of the Year - Jan Richey, South Hopkins Middle School; Central Office Employee of the Year - Crystal Carlton; back row from left, Facilities Management Employee of the Year - Keith Jarvis, Grapevine Elementary School and Secretary of the Year - Holly Irvin, Grapevine Elementary School.
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We celebrated the opening of the new Hanson Elementary School on September 25 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house. We loved welcoming the community to the new building! In addition to the building providing expanded instructional spaces that will offer new opportunities and new technology, the school gym is also a certified community storm shelter, the first in Hopkins County. Click here to see Photo Slide Show. | |
Want to learn more about the new Strategic Plan? It's posted on the district website at www.hopkins.kyschools.us/StrategicPlan. The plan was developed in partnership with West Kentucky Educational Cooperative and with input from district teachers, staff, parents, students, and the community. Part of the implementation involves highlighting the characteristics of Hopkins County Future Ready Graduates in our classrooms. We will continue these collaborations moving forward so this plan continues to respond to student needs. | |
Benefit Fair Set for Oct. 2 at CTC
The Department of Employee Insurance and the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan will host a benefit fair on Monday, Oct. 2, from 2-6 p.m. at Hopkins County Career & Technology Center.
Representatives will be available from the following vendors:
- Anthem – medical, dental and vision insurance
- CVS – prescription benefits
- Deferred Comp – financial well-being
- HealthEquity – FSA & HRA
- Castlight - NEW well-being vendor
- Hinge Health – joint and back pain
- Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA)
- KYSaves 529
- Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
- LivingWell Health Clinic - Premise Health will be providing flu shots at the Frankfort Fair.
Enrollment kiosks will be set up during the benefit fair.
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Yard Signs Still Available
Please let family and friends know that anyone who would like an Embrace the Journey/Mental Health Matters yard sign is welcome to pick one up at the Central Office, 320 S. Seminary St., Madisonville. Please go to the front desk. The signs help spread the word about Hopkins County Schools’ expansion of mental health services and resources for students while sharing our theme for the year, “Embrace the Journey.”
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Tax Rate Unchanged
Hopkins County Board of Education approved a tax rate that remains the same as the previous year. The 2023-2024 property tax rate is 68.2 cents per $100 assessed valuation on real estate, 68.2 cents per $100 assessed valuation on personal property, and 54.7 cents per $100 valuation on motor vehicles.
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Discounted Ticket Prices
Glema Mahr Center for the Arts is offering a 25% discount on tickets for Hopkins County Schools’ faculty and staff. You must request the discount when placing an order over the phone or in-person. Please be aware the discount is not available for online ordering and cannot be applied retroactively on previous orders.
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Vote for Your Fave in the Hay Bale Trail | |
Celebrate the approaching start of the fall season by casting your vote for your favorite entry in the Hay Bale Trail at Mahr Park Arboretum! Our schools are represented by several entries. Go and check out the entries from Hopkins County Central volleyball, HCCHS cheer, West Hopkins School, South Hopkins Middle School, HCCHS Lady Storm soccer, West Broadway Elementary, Browning Springs Middle School, Jesse Stuart Elementary School, HCCHS FFA, and Southside Elementary. Vote for your favorite before 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_Sk3QuyJiws6Vcg5o8ULokfOuayEOwA_hN8aVL61GpY/viewform?edit_requested=true. | |
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More locally produced food is being served in Hopkins County Schools’ cafeterias.
That is made possible by Hopkins County Schools participation in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Local Food For School Cooperative Agreement Program. HCS has been awarded $46,031.08. The district will receive at least one more payment with the possibility of a third one. This program allows school Food Service directors to establish new relationships with local producers and/or strengthen the relationships already established within our community.
Currently, Hopkins County Schools is partnered with local farmers such as Porter Road Meats in Princeton, Windy Hill Farm in Henderson, and West Kentucky Aquaponics in Benton. Our goal is to use products from these local farmers and showcase these meals in all of our Hopkins County cafeterias. The first “Local Day” was Sept. 19, when an Italian meal was served.
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Keith & Missy Jarvis
The Remember Your Why Award was presented to Keith and Missy Jarvis at the Sept. 18 Board of Education meeting. This husband and wife duo serve as head custodians at Grapevine Elementary and Jesse Stuart Elementary, respectively. They regularly work together to meet the needs of students and staff at both of their schools. When one of their schools is short-handed or has an approaching deadline on a project, they both will collaborate to help. They truly embody Team Hopkins and the “Remember Your Why” initiative!
Keith said his “why” is, “I love working at Grapevine because I like talking and joking with the kids. Occasionally, I learn something new and they do, too. I like working with my Wildcat family. I never mind to help anyone out who needs help.”
Missy said her “why” is, “I love my Eagle family. I enjoy working and getting to know the students every day. I take pride in my work in making sure the students and staff have a clean and safe place to learn and work.”
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AdvanceKentucky Award
Hopkins County Schools Director of Secondary Instruction Alaina Lancaster and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Andy Belcher have been honored by AdvanceKentucky as Access to Algebra Outstanding Administrators.
This award highlights their support in facilitating the Access to Algebra initiative within Hopkins County Schools. Together, they have assisted with scheduling teacher trainings, providing instructional support, ordering exams, and more. Through their leadership, principals and teachers have promoted a culture of high expectations for student learning by strategically focusing on student access, engagement, and success in mathematics. The Access to Algebra program seeks to increase the number of students on track to meet college readiness math benchmarks by the time they enter high school. Districts are selected to participate in the Access to Algebra initiative for a period of 3 years. Hopkins County is in its final year of the cohort and our middle schools have increased student achievement and performance on the PSAT 8/9 each year in the program.
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Howton Honored by KECSAC
Hopkins County Day Treatment Principal Nathan Howton is the recipient of a state-wide award from the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children and the State Agency Children School Administrators Association!
He has been named the 2022-2023 Russell W. Behanan KECSAC Outstanding Administrator of the Year. This award honors distinguished leadership and support for state agency children in Kentucky. He was recognized during a Board of Education meeting in June.
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Harrison Receives NSPRA Awards
Lori Harrison, district communications specialist, was honored at a Board of Education meeting in August for receiving two Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards from the National School Public Relations Association. NSPRA presented Awards of Excellence, the top awards given in each category, to Hopkins County Schools for the 2022-2023 calendar and the parent/community newsletter.
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HCEF Awards Teacher Mini-Grants | |
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We are pleased to announce that Hopkins County Education Foundation has awarded 26 mini-grants to teachers in Hopkins County. Total funding approved is $12,187.46. The list of approved projects follows:
2023 Owen K. Badgett Teacher Awards
- Susan Brown, Grapevine Elementary, “Gifted and Talented Robotics,” $354.70
- Sarah Buchanan, South Hopkins Middle School, “Gamifying Social Studies,” $481
- Christie Depriest, Southside Elementary, “Empower Students through Hands-On Learning,” $500
- Ashley Durbin, Jesse Stuart Elementary, “Building Kindness and Empathy in the Classroom,” $229.96
- Megan Durbin, Jesse Stuart Elementary, “Hands-On Storytelling,” $500
- Emily Eden, Grapevine Elementary, “Curriculum Based Play,” $500
- Katilyn Hamilton, Hopkins County Central High School, “Focus on Academic Writing,” $500
- Melanie Hofmann, Jesse Stuart Elementary School, “Multicultural Art Media for Inclusivity in Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Visual Artworks,” $475
- Jamie Kerperien, Pride Elementary, “Flexible Seating,” $500
- Toni Martin, Southside Elementary, “Social Emotional Learning in Small Groups,” $500
- Amy Neal, Southside Elementary School, “Building Connections with Families Through Early Literacy,” $500
- Donna Potts, Jesse Stuart Elementary, “Using Social and Emotional Learning Strategies to Promote a Positive Classroom Culture,” $500
- Morgan Russell, West Broadway Elementary, “STEAM Cart: Challenging and Motivating Every Student,” $429.27
- Taylor Ruth, Jesse Stuart Elementary, “Implementing the Science of Reading,” $490
- Angela Samek, Grapevine Elementary, “Bucket Drumming,” $500
- Amanda Sarles and Susan Brown, Grapevine Elementary, “Bringing Reading Concepts to Life in 3rd Grade,” $426.70
- Amanda Sarles, Grapevine Elementary, “Morning Beginnings with STEM,” $479.51
- Jamie Scott, Hopkins County Career & Technology Center, “CTSO Skills USA/TSA State Competitions Costs,” $500
- Crystal Skelton, Heather Alexander, Katie Sizemore, Hanson Elementary, “Science of Reading Essentials Toolkit,” $500
- Kelcea Smith, Grapevine Elementary, “Soft-Start STEM for Social/Emotional Growth,” $491.69
- Jaime Vincent, Pride Elementary, “Falcon AirBNB,” $489.42
- Heather Wagoner, James Madison Middle School, “Deeper Learning Classroom – Advancing Thinking Thursday,” $447.25
- Chelsea Washer, Southside Elementary, “Student Archaeological Dig,” $430
- Lisa Watkins, Grapevine Elementary, “Writing and Building Fine Motor Skills,” $488.52
- Ashton Wheatstine, Jesse Stuart Elementary, “Learning Toolkits for Second Grade,” $500
- Ashlee Zimmer, Jesse Stuart Elementary, “Small Groups: It’s All About Flexibility,” $474.44
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Atmos Aims to Enhance Reading Achievement
Atmos Energy has donated $9,000 to Hopkins County Schools to enhance the reading achievement of our elementary students! Hanson Elementary, Jesse Stuart Elementary, Grapevine Elementary, Pride Elementary, Southside Elementary, West Broadway Elementary, and West Hopkins School will each receive $1,285. The funds will be used to enhance the school library or provide a family engagement activity that promotes reading. Thanks go out to Atmos Energy for this contribution!
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Realtors Support
Backpack Blessings Program
Madisonville Hopkins County Board of Realtors delivered monetary and food donations for Hopkins County Schools’ Backpack Blessings program on Tuesday. Our Family Resource Youth Service Centers will distribute these food items to students. Thanks for this generous donation.
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Elks Lodge Presents
Donation to FRYSCs
Madisonville Elks Lodge #738 has presented a $2,400 donation to our Family Resource Youth Service Centers. Christy Lynn and Trish Wyatt, who are teachers for the district, presented the FRYSC coordinators with the check after Team Hopkins Day. The funds will be used by the FRYSCs to help fill student needs.
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Sanctuary Inc. Provides Items for Mental Health Program
Sanctuary Inc. has donated therapy aids and books for the mental health programs in our middle and high schools. Each middle and high school received one of these boxes. Thank you to Sanctuary Inc.!
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Three local students have been recognized as National Merit Semifinalists. Michael Bailey, Chase Brummer, and Thomas Clark are among more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are all seniors at Madisonville North Hopkins High School, and Clark is also enrolled at Gatton Academy at Western Kentucky University.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million. More than 1.3 million juniors entered the program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/46jqJ07.
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The Madisonville North Hopkins girls and boys golf teams both received 2nd place in the KHSAA Region 2 tournaments and qualified to play in the Semi-State. Karra Tucker, who shot a score of 65, is the overall individual winner of the Region 2 girls tournament! She also set the ladies course record for Hopkinsville Country Club. Both Tucker and teammate Sydney Browning advanced as individuals and qualified for the State Tournament next week. | |
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Oct. 9-12 - Fall Break / No School
Oct. 17 - Parent Teacher Conferences (Elementary Schools), 3:30-5:45 p.m.
Oct. 18 - Parent Teacher Conferences (High Schools), 3:30-5:45 p.m.
Oct. 19 - Parent Teacher Conferences (Middle Schools & CTC), 3:30-5:45 p.m.
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