Time to start getting your bowling team together! The 2nd annual Bowl for FRYSC Sake fundraiser will be held Saturday, October 24, at Melody Lanes Bowling Center in Madisonville.
There will be five bowlers per team with a minimum registration fee of $100 per team. Funds raised will be used by Hopkins County Schools’ Family Resource Youth Services Centers for student and family needs, including Christmas assistance. Teams are encouraged to raise additional donations!
Awards will be presented for Best Costume, Best Team Theme, Highest Team Score, and Most Money Raised. Register online before 3 p.m. October 14.
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We want to stay better connected with families when it comes to attendance.
Through ParentSquare Attendance Plus, our attendance team can now reach out earlier and more consistently. All messages come through ParentSquare by app notification, text, or email in your preferred language. During this school year, parents can expect more communication about your student's attendance.
October Attendance Theme: Classroom lessons build on each other every day, so being present helps students keep up and stay confident.
Calendar Highlights:
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October 5-9 - No School / Fall Break
Together, we can make every day count!
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Families who plan to request Thanksgiving and/or Christmas assistance through Hopkins County Schools Family Resource and Youth Services Centers must complete a workshop requirement.
- Families must attend one workshop for each holiday assistance program requested.
- If you are requesting Thanksgiving assistance only, you must attend one workshop.
- If you are requesting Christmas assistance only, you must attend one workshop.
- If you are requesting both Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance, you must attend two workshops.
Before completing the Google Form, please contact the Family Resource or Youth Services Center Coordinator at each school your student(s) attend.
Several workshop dates are available through November, with both morning and evening options offered on select dates. Please review the workshop graphic for available dates, times, and locations.
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Good attendance starts with good habits.
Families can help by establishing consistent:
- Bedtime routines
- Morning routines
- Transportation plans
- Homework routines
- School-night schedules
If your child is struggling to get to school consistently, please reach out to the school. You don't have to wait until attendance becomes a serious concern to ask for help.
Every day is another opportunity to build a strong attendance habit.
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Research and experience continue to show us how important relationships are to children.
One caring adult can make a tremendous difference. That person might be a teacher, counselor, coach, bus driver, family member, mentor or community member.
At Hopkins County Schools, we want every student to have someone who knows their name, notices when they're having a difficult day and reminds them that they matter.
Connection is not an extra. Connection is part of helping children succeed.
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The Hopkins County Board of Education has voted to lower the real property tax rate for next year.
The general fund tax levy on real property will decrease by 0.2 cents to 68 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The rate had remained the same same for the past seven years. The personal property rate will remain at 68.2 cents.
To learn more:
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It has been exciting to see our schools come together around the message Every Day Counts! Congratulations to the schools that earned this year’s High Attendance Day awards:
🏆 Elementary School Winner: Hanson Elementary School — 97.30%
🏆 Middle School Winner AND OVERALL District Winner: South Hopkins Middle School — 97.69%
🏆 High School Winner: Hopkins County Central High School — 93.15%
🌟 Most Improved Award: Southside Elementary School — 2.74% growth
Schools that improved their attendance from last year on Kentucky High Attendance Day include Grapevine Elementary School, Hanson Elementary School, Hopkins County Day Treatment, James Madison Middle School, Jesse Stuart Elementary School, Pride Elementary School, South Hopkins Middle School, Southside Elementary School, and West Hopkins School.
As a district, we improved 0.50%! This improvement is worth celebrating because attendance is not simply a number – it represents students being present, connected, learning, and moving closer to achieving their goals.
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HCS has announced that Dr. Whitney Peay will be the new Director of School Counseling and Mental Health Programs. She is expected to join HCS after fall break.
Her comprehensive background in clinical mental health, school counseling, crisis intervention, and counselor education will be an asset in this district leadership role. She most recently has served as a school counselor at Greenville Elementary School. She has served as a mental health consultant and mental health counselor for Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, an outpatient clinical counselor at Owensboro Health, and a foster care program counselor at Sunrise Children's Services.
Please welcome Dr. Peay to HCS!
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Rolling into the new school year with fresh, hot rolls!
The amazing cafeteria bakers across Hopkins County Schools recently gathered at Browning Springs Middle School for the "Hot Roll Express" workshop! They spent the day honing their baking skills, sharing plenty of laughs, and mastering the art of scratch-made hot rolls.
A massive THANK YOU to our incredible trainer, Kiwania Dunlap! With 30 years of food service expertise, Kiwania passed down her time-tested secrets to ensure our students get the absolute best.
Get those tray lines ready—our school cafeterias will now be serving these delicious, freshly baked hot rolls twice a month!
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The competition was fierce at Hopkins County Schools Roll Rumble 2026! All 12 of our school kitchens put their baking skills to the test, competing on color, smell, texture, and taste.
According to the judges, this was the toughest year yet—and our kitchen teams showed incredible skill and growth!
AND THE WINNERS ARE …
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Pride Elementary (1st Place Champion!)
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Browning Springs Middle (Close 2nd!)
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Madisonville North Hopkins (3rd Place!)
"Every school represented very well," said Director of Child Nutrition Scott Moore, who commended all our amazing school chefs for their teamwork.
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Students waved U.S. flags and carried signs thanking First Responders, members of the military, and veterans during the annual Heroes Walks held throughout Hopkins County Schools. The walks, which are held in conjunction with the 9/11 Heroes Run event in Madisonville, carried special meaning this year as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. |
Students will again have the opportunity this year to be the “Voice of Hopkins County Schools,” making HCS All-Calls when we have a planned closure in the school calendar!
On Sept. 4, you heard from Mason Gallimore, a senior at Hopkins County Central and Hopkins County Career and Technology Center. He is enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance career pathway. He talked about Labor Day and the opportunity he has through the CTC and a co-op with CR Machines to gain real-world work experience.
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“Campfires” dotted the Southside Elementary gym as students settled in with their families, ready to meet some dinosaurs!
The school’s Family Night featured Dino Explorer - Southside Takes on the Cretaceous. Families enjoyed dinner at their campsite and learned about dinosaurs during a special program by Feller Express of Evansville. Kids got to meet the dinos up close during photo ops and each family took home a Southside camping chair. What an adventure!
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Jesse Stuart Elementary kindergarten students managed to contain their excitement – just barely – as they entered their classrooms.
Their smiles however, were unmistakable as they used the good manners they have spent the week polishing. This, after all, was a tea party!
“We’ve been learning about manners this week,” said Jesse Stuart kindergarten teacher Brooke Stuart. “Table etiquette … so that whenever we eat in the cafeteria or go out to eat, we know good table manners, just being a good responsible member of society.” Stuart started the tea party tradition during her time teaching at Earlington Elementary and brought it with her to Jesse Stuart.
“It’s a yearly tradition,” she said. “They have been looking forward to it all week. They’re all dressed up and ready to have a fun party!”
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Kentucky children’s author. S. Lee Davis shared her meaningful story “The Old Sycamore: A Safe Place” with Pride Elementary School students.
This story helps children understand the importance of having trusted adults, speaking up when something doesn't feel right, and knowing that they never have to face difficult things alone. This visit was organized through the Family Resource Center, school counselor, and mental health therapist.
As part of the program, students did a “grounding” exercise and drew a picture of something – or someone – that makes them feel safe.
“Every student deserves to have a safe adult they can talk to when they are worried, scared, confused, sad, or simply need someone to listen,” said FRYSC coordinator Lauren Oldham. “Our hope is that Ms. Davis' visit will do more than introduce students to a wonderful author and a powerful story. We want it to open the door for meaningful conversations about feelings, safety, friendship, trust, and asking for help.”
School staff said they want every Falcon to know that they are never alone at Pride.
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Grandparents of Jesse Stuart Elementary students showed up and showed out for the school’s Grandparents Day Parade! The event included more than 100 vehicles – many decorated especially for the parade. Grandparents drove through a designated parade route around the school. They were greeted by students and staff who cheered to thank them for everything they do! |
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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Jaime Vincent, the special education building coach at Pride Elementary School, was honored with the Great Futures Award at the Sept. 21 Board of Education meeting. She demonstrates excellence in Student-Centered Impact, Leadership and Collaboration, Equity and Inclusion, and Service and Dedication.
As a special education building coach, she balances a demanding workload with grace and unfailing devotion. She is an active champion on the front lines who never hesitates to roll up her sleeves and jump right in wherever support is needed. She advocates passionately and selflessly for every student, family, and staff member in the building, always grounding her decisions in what is genuinely best for everyone involved.
Pride Elementary said they’re blessed to have such a caring, hard-working building coach in their school and on their Leadership Team.
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MaryAnn Williams, a bus driver for Hopkins County Schools, was honored with the Great Futures Award at the Sept. 8 Board of Education meeting. She demonstrates excellence in Student-Centered Impact, Equity and Inclusion, Service and Dedication, Family and Community Engagement, and having an “Opportunity Creator, Not a Barrier Builder” mindset.
MaryAnn exemplifies what it means to work as one team with one mission for one community. On the first day of school, she noticed that two students on her bus did not have the school supplies they needed to begin the year successfully. She took action, personally going to get backpacks and filling them with the supplies that each needed. This compassion and willingness to step up removed barriers, ensuring the students could start the school year feeling prepared, supported, and valued.
Her kindness and dedication reflects the district’s belief that Great Futures Start Here. She reminds us that sometimes the greatest impact comes from simply seeing a need and choosing to do something about it.
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Jama Cook, cafeteria manager at Browning Springs Middle School, has been honored with the Great Futures Award! She demonstrates excellence in all criteria for the award.
For 21 years, Jama has faithfully served Hopkins County Schools Food Service, including 15 years as a manager. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and a genuine passion for serving others.
Jama played a pivotal role in shaping one of our district's most successful initiatives by leading the pilot implementation of the Second Chance Breakfast program. Through her integrity, organization, and commitment to excellence, she successfully established the program, creating a positive experience for students and staff alike. Her leadership during the pilot laid the foundation for the program's continued success throughout Hopkins County Schools.
Beyond her accomplishments, Jama's greatest strength is the relationships she builds. She creates a welcoming environment by positively engaging with her peers, supporting her staff, and making meaningful connections with students every day. Her commitment to students, her team, and Hopkins County Schools makes her truly deserving of the Great Futures Award.
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Rylan Bowman was honored by the Board of Education on Sept. 8 for her artistic creativity! Her entry in the “I Voted” Sticker Contest sponsored by the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office was selected as a state finalist. This is the second year in a row that Rylan, a 5th grader at Jesse Stuart Elementary, has reached that level of the competition!
Equally impressive, Jesse Stuart students have been selected as state finalists for all three years of the competition!
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Madisonville North Hopkins High School FFA Chapter was selected as a National Finalist for Growing Leaders! This is part of the National FFA’s Premier Chapter contest.
This is the 4th time in recent years that MNHHS has been named a Premier Chapter national finalist. This shows the level of excellence that members have brought to the school, our community, and the field of agriculture. The Growing Leaders section of the competition focuses on personal growth, leadership skills, and team building. The MNHHS FFA Chapter will continue in the competition by presenting this fall at the National FFA Convention.
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The winning ways continue for the Madisonville North Hopkins HS boys golf team! The Maroons won the KHSAA Region 2 Championship with a team score of 301. This comes after recently winning the Kentucky 2A State Championship.
Jake Witherspoon is the Region 2 Individual Champion, with Spencer Munchbach finishing in 4th place. They will now advance to compete at KHSAA Semi-State.
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The Madisonville North Hopkins High School FFA Ag Mechanics Team won the State Championship at the Kentucky State Fair! The team was honored by the Board of Education during the Sept. 8 meeting. Team members are Andree Boggess (overall high individual), Ari Fisk, Parker Keith, and Westyn Miles. They will represent Kentucky at the national competition next month. |
Students honored with “Best In” category awards for their art and writing in PressPoint Journal of Creativity were recognized by the Board of Education during the Sept. 21 meeting.
Students recognized include the following:
Cover Art: Lillian Cunningham, West Hopkins
Black & White Art: Audrey Bunch-MNHHS
Black & White Photography: Cooper Laskowski-MNHHS
Poetry: Peyton Hambric-BSMS
Song Lyrics: Mattie Beck- WHS
Short Stories: Valerie Bernal- MNHHS
Students submitted 218 pieces to PressPoint for consideration in all areas. It was published with 57 artworks and 26 writing submissions.
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Hopkins County Schools employees who completed the district’s Rising Leaders Academy in 2025-2026 were recognized during a special dinner held at Central Office.
Rising Leaders Academy is a leadership development class focused on educating and preparing future leaders to be a successful school administrator. HCS offers this program as an opportunity for certified employees considering a career in administration.
Honorees include Dr. Katilyn Bearden (not pictured), Kathryn Cartwright, Dr. Angela Coulson, Dr. Mandy Evans, Terra Lynch, Sara Palmer, Autumn Robards, Maggie Smith, Tamesha Stone, and Stephen Wood.
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Hopkins County Schools has received a dividend check from KEMI, provider of the district’s workers’ compensation insurance, for more than $32,000. The dividend is a result of HCS’s commitment to improving workplace safety. Skip McGaw, senior vice president with HUB International, presented the check to Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming and Assistant Superintendent Marty Cline. |
Students created colorful messages of hope and resilience on school sidewalks as part of the Chalk the Walk event! Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville sponsored the community event to promote suicide prevention, mental wellness, and stigma reduction. |
High school students learned the dangers of driving while distracted, drunk, or drugged during stops by the Arrive Alive Tour. The event, sponsored by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, uses a high-tech simulator to demonstrate the perils that can be caused by impaired driving.
Madisonville North Hopkins HS and Hopkins County Central HS students also took part in the Quick Click Challenge, a “Rock the Belt” activity sponsored by Students Against Destructive Decisions. It shows how fast and easy it is to buckle a seat belt.
The goal is to help students make safer choices.
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2135 N Main Street
Madisonville, KY 42431
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