Online Registration/Annual Update through Infinite Campus Parent Portal is now open for the 2026-2027 school year.
Online Registration will be available on the portal for annual updates through the start of the school year. We encourage you to complete this soon for your students. Parents may also register new students, including incoming kindergarten students, by utilizing the links found on the district website. This is required for ALL students who will attend Hopkins County Schools next year.
This online process allows you to verify and submit required information to your child’s school. It also eliminates the forms and paperwork that used to be required for annual registration. Your child’s school will have other site-specific forms that you will be asked to complete later.
Only the legal guardian listed for the student in the primary household can complete online registration. The assigned school is based on the primary household address. If your child has a secondary household, please update the information for that additional household while completing the online update. Look for more information on the district's registration website.
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Celebrate Literacy Hopkins County will host its annual Book Giveaway for kids throughout our community from May 4-7. Children from preschool through 8th grade may choose a free book at the following sites:
Monday, May 4
- Hopkins Co Family YMCA Snack Shack, 3-5 p.m.
- First United Event Plaza, 3-5 p.m. (Literacy Legend Sponsor: Madisonville Noon Kiwanis Club)
- Pioneer Family Medicine, Nortonville, 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5
- Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library, 3-5:30 p.m.
- Hopkins County Board of Education, 2135 N. Main St., 3-5 p.m. (Literacy Legend Sponsor Location)
- Dr. Festus Claybon Park, 2:45-5 p.m.
- Dawson Springs Public Library, 3-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6
- Madisonville City Park Playground, 3-5 p.m.
- West Hopkins School, 2:45-4 p.m.
- First United Bank, Main Branch in Madisonville, 3-5 p.m. (Chapter Champion Sponsor Location)
- Earlington Shelter/Basketball Court, 105 W Main, Earlington, 3-5 p.m.
Thursday, May 1
- Mahr Park Arboretum at the Nature Play Area, 3-5 p.m.
- Market Place, 3-5 p.m.
- Hanson Gazebo, 2:45-5 p.m.
Thanks go out to our Literacy Legend Sponsors, Hopkins County Board of Education and Madisonville Noon Kiwanis Club, and our Chapter Champion Sponsor First United Bank. Their generous donations help spread the love of reading with kids in our community!
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The district's Future Ready Showcase will be held May 7 from 6-7 p.m. at Madisonville North Hopkins High School. This event is a celebration of student learning from schools throughout HCS! |
HCS Central Office staff have moved into the new building at 2135 N. Main St., Madisonville.
The move took place over spring break.
Hopkins County Board of Education was gaveled into session April 20 for the first board meeting at the new Central Office. Look for a community invitation to a ribbon cutting ceremony later this spring.
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Wendy Gamblin has been selected as Director of Pupil Personnel for Hopkins County Schools. She has been serving in the position on an interim basis since last fall.
"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Director of Pupil Personnel for Hopkins County Schools,” Gamblin said. “Having served this district in multiple roles, I remain deeply committed to collaborating with our schools, families and community partners to ensure every student is supported, engaged and positioned for success."
This is her 15th year with the district. She started her education career as a teacher at West Broadway Elementary. She later served as principal and assistant principal at Browning Springs Middle School and district Director of Community Schools.
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This May, we're celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month by focusing on the "Why behind the What." When children face stress or big emotions, their behavior is often a way of communicating that they don't feel safe or heard.
By practicing Trauma-Informed Care at home, we shift our perspective from "Why are you acting this way?" to "What do you need right now?" This month, try building "Emotional Safety" by:
- Focusing on Connection: Spend 10 minutes of "special time" with your child where they lead the play or conversation.
- Offering Small Choices: Let them choose between two healthy snacks or two different chores to build a sense of agency.
- Routine as Comfort: Keeping a predictable evening schedule helps a child's nervous system relax after a long day.
Remember: You don't have to have all the answers; just being a "safe harbor" for your child is the best mental health support you can provide.
Take a 60-Second Micro-Break
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As we head into the final weeks of school, it's tempting to start summer vacation early. However, May is one of the most important months for your child's emotional and academic "bridge" to next year.
- Testing is a "Check-In," Not a "Check-Out": We remind students that state assessments are simply a way to show what they've learned. To lower "test anxiety," we focus on the effort rather than the score. You can help by ensuring they get a good night's sleep and a protein-rich breakfast!
- The Reward of Resilience: We view our end-of-year activities not just as "parties," but as a celebration of the hard work students put into their assessments. It's a chance for them to "exhale" and bond with their school family.
- Maintaining the "Safe Routine": For many children, the structure of school provides a vital sense of safety and predictability. Keeping a consistent attendance record in May helps prevent anxiety that often comes with big transitions.
Regular attendance helps students:
- Stay on track academically
- Build strong relationships
- Feel connected and improve mental health
Students with good attendance are:
- More confident and engaged
- More likely to read and write on grade level
- More likely to graduate high school
- 3 or more unexcused absences = TRUANT
- 6 or more unexcused absences = HABITUALLY TRUANT
- At 6 unexcused absences you will receive a FINAL NOTICE and notification for a mandatory Truancy Diversion Meeting with school and district staff.
- 15 or more unexcused absences = COURT REFERRAL
No Pass/No Drive Law - Your student is ineligible to obtain his/her permit or driver's license if your student is failing 2 or more classes or has 9 or more unexcused absences.
*** Your student's permit or driver's license can be revoked if they meet any of the above mentioned criteria
Attendance Requirements for Prom
- Less than 6 unexcused absences
- No more than 10 tardies to school
Questions or concerns regarding attendance? Contact your school's attendance clerk, counselor, FRYSC or the Department of Pupil Personnel!
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A video created by Browning Springs Middle School students earned 2nd place in the statewide “You Belong! Attendance Matters” contest! The contest, sponsored by Kentucky STLP in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, challenged students to create authentic messages that reinforce the importance of being in school every day.
Missing just 10 percent of the school year can impact a student’s learning and relationships, so these students used their STLP skills to show their peers why every day counts. The award-winning video may even be featured in future statewide attendance campaigns.
The students who created the video are 8th graders in Detra Eichhorn’s Library Media class. The students include Dominick Cherrie, Will Burden, Brantley Galvan, Ayden Miller, Jayden Manfredi, and Tobias Kerby. Those not pictured are Cylynn Price, Ashton Chi, and Xavier Brantley.
“We were excited to accept this award for the first KDE video contest at the recent STLP competition,” Eichhorn said. “The students created, filmed, and edited this video after discussing the importance of good attendance with our Director of Pupil Personnel Wendy Gamblin. We were honored to have our principal Mr. Michael Griffin and our district Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming at the awards ceremony to celebrate with us.”
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Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming gave his Capstone Presentation to the Board of Education during a special called meeting on April 27. In the Capstone, Fleming detailed the his accomplishments during 2025-2026. The project is a requirement for first-year superintendents in Kentucky. |
New and prospective parents gained valuable resources earlier this week at the World’s Greatest Baby Shower sponsored by HCS Family Resource and Youth Services Centers! Thirty vendors representing community and area organizations shared information about their services. Winnie the Pooh and friends were also there to help!
“We want to start early to make sure every parent is prepared well before their children enter the school system,” said Grapevine Elementary Family Resource Center coordinator Tonja Simms, who led the planning effort. “We are providing information about nutrition, medical care, health care, and more so that parents have resources to build on. We’re trying to break barriers to help each child succeed.”
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Smiles lit up kids’ faces during the annual Olympic Field Days! Younger students spent the day playing mini-golf, basketball, and soccer, getting their faces painted, and much more! This year’s events were held at Kentucky Sports Factory in Madisonville because of the ongoing football field and track improvement project at both high schools. Thanks to the City of Madisonville for working with us on a location for these events!
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Members of the Be-You-tiful Leaders group from both high schools gathered recently for the Spring Showcase Luncheon. The students have been focused on community service projects throughout this year, and each group shared details.
These projects included styling kids’ hair as part of the Styles & Stories program, at Southside Elementary, sharing lessons on Kindness to young students, leading activities at the Paragon, collecting donations for Hopkins County Humane Society, and making bags for children served by the CASA program. These students developed their leadership skills so they could use them to make a positive impact!
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5th graders at Hanson Elementary School recently took part in the annual Hansonian living history museum! They stayed in character as they told visitors and other students about the historical figures they were portraying. The students brought history to life! |
We want to celebrate Hopkins County Schools staff members who embody “Great Futures Start Here!” HCS Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming started this recognition program to honor staff members who go above and beyond to create opportunity, inspire greatness, and remove barriers so all students and staff can thrive.
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Angela Shoulders, who teaches in the autism specialized classroom at Hanson Elementary School, was honored with the Great Futures Award during the April 20 Board of Education Meeting. She demonstrates excellence in Student-Centered Impact, Leadership & Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion, and Service & Dedication.
She is an excellent special education teacher who loves her students like her own. She communicates with parents on a daily basis. One parent said that she helped their child develop coping tactics to help him better interact with other students. She continually brainstorms innovative strategies to better help her students.
Mrs. Shoulders is flexible, compassionate, knowledgeable, and kind. Students and staff love her energetic personality. Hopkins County Schools is thankful to have her in this position!
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Three HCS teachers have been honored with the Regional Education Partnership Excellence in Teaching Award! They are among teachers from six area school districts who were honored Thursday evening during the annual event at Glema Mahr Center for the Arts.
The 2026 award recipients include the following:
- Chelsea Washer, Southside Elementary School
- Bryana Dulin, Browning Springs Middle School
- Philip Bader, Hopkins County Day Treatment
Their selection shows their commitment to student achievement and their school communities! Congratulations to these outstanding teachers! We will feature each of them in a spotlight post next week. This award was created by public school partners from Caldwell, Crittenden, Dawson Springs, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Webster County districts along with Madisonville Community College and Murray State University to acknowledge the importance of teachers and the teaching profession.
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Hopkins County Board of Education Chairman Nicholas Foster was honored at the Hopkins County Young Professionals 2026 Hall of Fame Dinner! He was named the 2026 Young Professional of the Year.
Foster is the system administrator for the City of Madisonville. Through his dedication, leadership, and commitment to both public service and community growth, he continues to make a lasting impact across Hopkins County and beyond. He truly represents the very best of our community’s next generation of leaders.
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Kent Akin has been named 2026 Kentucky Athletic Administrators’ Association Middle School Athletic Administrator of the Year! The award was presented during the KAAA Banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville.
He has done an outstanding job throughout his career! The following information was shared during the award presentation:
Kent Akin has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to education-based athletics throughout his career, most recently serving as Athletic Administrator at South Hopkins Middle School. In that role, he successfully hosted the WKAC Cheer and Dance Competitions, the WAC Volleyball Tournament, and the South Hopkins 7th and 8th Grade Girls' Basketball Invitational. A consistent presence at games and events, Kent oversaw concessions and provided hands-on support for student-athletes across multiple sports.
As Commissioner of the WKAC Conference, Kent implemented enhancements to improve student-athlete experience, including the creation of All-Conference teams for football, basketball, and volleyball, the addition of a 6th grade volleyball league, and the expansion of cheer and dance competitions into separate categories. He also served as assistant coach for the girls' basketball program, helping guide the 7th and 8th grade teams to multiple tournament championships and outstanding records during the season.
With a career spanning over three decades, Kent Akin has served as teacher, coach, and athletic director across Hopkins County Schools, including at West Hopkins High School and Hopkins County Central High School, where he was Athletic Director from 2016-2021. He has contributed significantly to local and regional athletics, helping establish the elementary basketball league, chairing the HCCHS Hall of Fame Committee, serving on the Second Region Policy Board, and founding the Kentucky 2A Championships. Recognized for his impact on student-athletes and programs, Kent has earned multiple honors, including 2nd Region Athletic Director of the Year and Hopkins County Teacher of the Year, leaving a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and service.
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Jayden Travis, a senior at Madisonville North Hopkins High School, was selected as a member of the Tom Leach All Resilient Team by the Kentucky Athletic Administrators’ Association. The KAAA "All Resilient Team" celebrates high school student-athletes who overcame adversity on their path to success. Jayden earned first-team all-state honors and will continue his football career at Lindsey Wilson College. The awards were presented at the recent KAAA banquet in Louisville. |
The eight finalists in the Middle School Amazing Shake recently took part in the final round of competition. The Interview round included a panel interview featuring community leaders. The judges said all contestants did a great job and said it was a very hard decision! We want to thank all the volunteers who make this annual event possible.
The winners are Tenley Riggle, Browning Springs Middle School, 1st place; Jaxon Vincent, James Madison Middle School, 2nd place; and Ainslee Gamblin, BSMS, 3rd place.
The other finalists are McKinley Audas, JMMS; Ariyah Hopson, BSMS; June Johnson, JMMS; Kaylen Killough, BSMS; and Kelsey Wimberly, BSMS. Congratulations to the winners and all the student participants!
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Tenley Riggle, an 8th-grader at Browning Springs MS and the winner of the Middle School Amazing Shake competition, made the all-call for no school April 3-10. |
Madisonville North Hopkins High School student Madeline Stanley was recognized by the Board of Education on April 20. She was selected as the Murray State Quad-State Soloist of the Year. What an accomplishment! |
Six Hopkins County Career & Technology Center students were honored by the Board of Education on April 20 for their excellent results at the SKILLS USA Regional Championship! Those honored include Adelyn Cook, 1st place Related Technical Math; Molly Spencer, 1st place 30-Second Elevator Story; Westyn Miles, 1st place Job Skill Demo Open; Lucas Demoss, 1st place Customer Service; Andree Boggess, 1st place Job Skill Demo A; and Annie Holmes, 2nd place Job Interview. |
Two Hopkins County Career & Technology Center students won Regional Championships through FBLA! They were honored by Hopkins County Board of Education during the April 20 meeting. The students are Keeley Peyton, 1st place Job Interview, and Annie Holmes, 1st place Advertising. |
The Board of Education honored Hopkins County Central High Voltage Dance Team during the April 20 meeting. The team has had an outstanding season, culminating in UDA National Championships in the intermediate categories in both Pom and Hip Hop at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
This was the first time the HCCHS Dance Team had won a Double National Championship!
In addition to that accomplishment, High Voltage placed 2nd at the KHSAA State Competition in the large hip hop division. That’s their best-ever placement at KHSAA! They finished the year by winning a KDCO State Championship in the Large Pom Division.
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The city of Madisonville will host “Madisonville Salutes,” a full day of patriotic celebration honoring military service members, veterans, and their families, on Saturday, May 16, at Madisonville City Park.
The free, family-friendly event will take place from 3 to 9 p.m., with live music, tournaments, vendor booths, exhibits, and community activities scheduled throughout the day. A car show will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., and military recruiting booths will be on site. The event will culminate in a free concert beginning at 6 p.m., headlined by Colt Ford. Special guest Sarah Beth Brewer will open the show. Organizers said the event is designed to bring the community together to celebrate service, sacrifice, and hometown pride.
Festival activities will include food trucks, a beer garden, vendor booths, tournaments, and interactive exhibits. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit several on-site memorials, including the WWII Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and First Responders Memorial.
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320 S. Seminary St.
Madisonville, KY 42431
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