August 2024 Connections Newsletter

Hopkins County Schools' theme for this year is Reach for the Stars - No Limits! We're encouraging everyone to dream bigger, aim higher, and push through challenges.

Schools are inviting veterans and first responders to Heroes Walks on their campuses. Please contact your school in advance for details. Here is the schedule:

Hopkins County Central ag students started harvesting sweet corn on Monday that was grown in a plot in front of the school. Thanks to this pilot project, corn on the cob will be served at HCCHS and South Hopkins Middle School next week. This “farm to fork” project was a joint effort with district Food Service. The ag program hopes to expand this effort in the future. The project helps students see the process from start to finish! 

Nearly 500 Madisonville North Hopkins students have taken part in a school-wide effort to convert a 40-foot shipping container into a medical clinic.

Multiple classes from throughout the school helped with the project, which has been led by agriculture teacher Brian Welch. Ag students and FFA members partnered with classes from other disciplines to teach those students to do what was needed on the build last spring. The shipping container will be transported to Liberia, where it will open as a clinic.

The project is funded through a Harbor Freight Tools for Schools grant. SOS International, a Louisville-based nonprofit organization, partnered with the school to obtain medical supplies for the clinic. Other partners include UPS and Trembo National Association of the Americas.

On Tuesday, students helped load the container with medical supplies. SOS reported that this clinic will help improve health in rural communities that don’t currently have access to medical services. It will impact thousands of people and improve the health of residents!

All Hopkins County students in kindergarten through 12th grade will be admitted free to every regular season middle school and high school home athletic event in the district. This does not include special events, such as tournaments. Students below 9th grade must be accompanied by an adult.

Children under 5 are also admitted free.

Thanks to all of the community donors who made this possible! 

Adult admission will be $7 this year. Please contact your school’s athletic administrator with any questions.

Each middle and high school has a new Athletics website through Eventlink. There is a link on each school website and below.

Parents have been sent the updated Hopkins County Schools attendance and truancy policies and procedures and the new Kentucky House Bill 611 regarding unexcused absences.  You may also refer to the Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline for more detailed information.

Parents have been sent information about the Hopkins County Schools updated policy prohibiting the student use of tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, and vapor products. The links below also include resources for discussing the harmful effects of these products with your students.

Hopkins County Schools is 100% Complimentary Eligibility Provision. Full CEP gives every student in Hopkins County Schools the availability of a breakfast and  lunch at no charge. Any questions may be directed to Director of Child Nutrition Scott Moore.

The annual Team Hopkins Day event emphasized the theme “Reach for the Stars - No Limits.” 

Hopkins County Future Ready was the main focus of the program, which included guests and staff members discussing each of the six characteristics. A combined high school chorus sang  “This Wish,” accompanied by a lyrical dance performed by district students while elementary students held lights. Future Ready Stars were recognized along with the winners of the Future Ready art contest.

The event also included a fun HCS version of “Dancing with the Stars.” We donated food items for Family Resource Youth Services Centers’ backpack blessings program. Thanks to participating community organizations, the JROTC from Hopkins County Central for Presenting the Colors, and the Maroon Band for playing the National Anthem.

Please join us in celebrating our 2023-2024 Employees of the Year! Recipients were announced during the annual Team Hopkins Day event. Those honored include the following:

• Food Service Employee of the Year - Shannon Stone, Southside Elementary School

• Facilities Management Employee of the Year - Renea Crabtree, Jesse Stuart Elementary School

• Transportation Employee of the Year - Megan Rice

• Secretary of the Year - Jana Hodge, South Hopkins MIddle School

• Central Office Employee of the Year - Jerry Russ

• Classified Support Service Employee of the Year - Randall Campbell, Madisonville North Hopkins High School

• Elementary School Teacher of the Year - Ashley Brewer, Pride Elementary School

• Middle School Teacher of the Year - Brittany Dillingham, Browning Springs Middle School

• High School Teacher of the Year - Adam O’Rear, Hopkins County Career & Technology Center

• Administrator of the Year - Toni Martin, Southside Elementary School

With school starting back, we would like to take time to remind you of tips to use to keep your students healthy and in school.  These strategies from Attendance Works may help keep your student healthy and avoid unnecessary absences:

 Nutrition, Sleep, and Exercise

 Hygiene: Reinforce the importance of…

Wellness: Visit your health care provider or school nurse…

If your student does become sick, the health department school clinic has provided the following guidance:

o   Symptoms are better overall and fever has ended (without using fever-reducing medication)

o   Take precautions for 5 additional days, including wearing a well-fitting mask when around others, and keeping a distance from others. For COVID-19, consider taking an antigen test. A positive test means it is more likely you can still spread the virus.

Prior to the start of school, the #TeamHopkinsTeachTogether event offered HCS teachers a wide variety of learning opportunities! Professional development sessions at Madisonville North Hopkins covered advanced deeper learning, technology, instruction, special education, classroom management, reading, and much more. They are taking what they learned back to their own classrooms.

Congratulations to the outstanding students who participated in the 2024 Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program! They were honored at the Board of Education meeting on August 19. Students recognized were Abigail Cavanaugh, Natalie Oates, Johanna Oakley, and Lily Payne of Hopkins County Central and Alexis Arp, Hope Calhoun, and Albany Ray of Madisonville North Hopkins. 

Innovative students who were chosen to participate in the 2024 Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs were recognized at the Board of Education meeting on August 19. Students honored were Emma Gordon, Avery Rudd, and Audrey Tate of Madisonville North Hopkins and Sydney McLemore of Hopkins County Central. 

Peyton Adams of Madisonville North Hopkins was honored on August 19 at the Board of Education meeting. He was selected to participate in the Governor’s School for the Arts this past summer. 

Four HCS students who were selected for the Commonwealth Honors Academy at Murray State University were honored at the Board of Education meeting on August 19. Students recognized are Matthew Crabtree, Maggy Weldon, and Brayden Zimmer of Madisonville North Hopkins and Addison Jerome of Hopkins County Central. 

320 S. Seminary St.

Madisonville, KY 42431