🔔 ATTENDANCE POLICY UPDATE: Berea Independent Schools is standardizing its attendance and progressive tardy policy to maximize class time and student success. The new tiered tardy system starts at 3 infractions (Lunch Detention). Make sure to review the official policy guide, here or in our main live feed! #WeAreBerea #AttendanceMatters
📚 It’s Read Across America Week! 🎉
All week long, we’re celebrating our favorite books, discovering new ones, and reminding ourselves of the power of reading. To mark the occasion, we’re spotlighting staff picks from educators across Berea Community Schools!
Our first feature of the day comes from Mr. Matt Jenkins, who chose Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
Mr. Jenkins explains:
"I have always been a reader. My dad introduced me to fantasy novels back in childhood with The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, Shannara Series, Dragonriders of Pern, etc. As I got older, I moved away from fantasy reading, thinking that I should move into more "adult" books. That was foolish of me. I read Mistborn a few years ago. This novel reminded me how much I loved fantasy and science fiction reading. So much so that I devoted my entire year last year to nothing but those genres. I don't only read fantasy, but it will always be a comforting genre for me to retreat into."
Our next spotlight comes from Ms. Cinda Holland, who chose Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
"I chose the Goblet of Fire because it is my favorite book in the Harry Potter series. It was an escape for me growing up. It addresses hard topics in a way that really formed how I see the world today. Between the fun competition of the Triwizard Tournament and the advocating for people (elves) that can’t advocate for themselves were a group of kids trying to figure out where they fit in the world. Not to mention Hufflepuff finally was recognized as the worthy house it is."
And our final selection comes from Ms. Pamela Cveticanin, who picked Stephen King's The Stand. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, The Stand follows groups of survivors navigating a struggle between good and evil while rebuilding society after a devastating pandemic.
A huge thank you to these outstanding educators for sharing their recommendations! Have you read any of these books? Which one was your favorite? Give it up for all of our amazing staff picks throughout Read Across America Week! 📖
The event provided a great opportunity to connect with future educators who are preparing to enter the profession. Dr. Neaves also had the chance to conduct mock interviews with several students, helping them practice their interview skills and gain confidence as they prepare for the next phase of their career search.
We are always proud to build relationships with aspiring teachers and share the opportunities available at Berea Independent Schools.
A big thank you to Eastern Kentucky University for hosting such a great event and for continuing to prepare the next generation of educators.
Congratulations to Our Read Across America Door Decorating Contest Winners! 📚🎉
🏆 Elementary: Ms. Fraley – Hello Lighthouse
🏆 Middle School: Ms. Rader – The Wizard of Oz
🏆 High School: Ms. Samarin – Fancy Nancy
Our winners will receive some special prizes on Monday! Thank you to all the amazing students and staff who participated and made our hallways come alive with their favorite books this week.
And thank YOU to everyone who liked and shared the photos, your support helps highlight the wonderful things happening in our schools.
📖 Every door was incredible. We’re so proud of our readers and creators!
All week long, we’re celebrating our favorite books, discovering new ones, and reminding ourselves of the power of reading. To mark the occasion, we’re spotlighting staff picks from educators across Berea Community Schools!
Today's first pick comes from 4th Grade Teacher Ms. Courtney Parrish, who chose the classic Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.
Ms. Parrish explains:
"It’s one of the books that got me into poetry and creative writing when I was a kid. It showed me the fun of writing and how it can be an excellent tool to tell a story and express what’s on my mind. Where the Sidewalk Ends taught me that writing doesn’t always have to be serious. You can be wacky, silly, and just let your emotions run free!"
Our second pick of the day comes from Mr. Asher in the high school, who chose a timeless classic: the dictionary, for its endless applications and priceless wisdom. He explained: "Words. Words are beautiful!" A powerful literary toolkit indeed. Great selection from Mr. Asher.
A huge thank you to these outstanding educators for sharing their recommendations! Have you read the dictionary? Stay tuned for more staff picks throughout Read Across America Week! 📖
All week long, we’re celebrating our favorite books, discovering new ones, and reminding ourselves of the power of reading. To mark the occasion, we’re spotlighting staff picks from educators across Berea Community Schools!
👶 Preschool Pick
Our Preschool Lead Teacher, Ms. Karen Galloway, chose Fox in Sox by Dr. Seuss.
Ms. Galloway shares:
"This was a real tongue twister of a book. Kids enjoyed it, but had a hard time understanding all the rhyming words. They loved it best when they heard it rapped to music."
📖 High School Pick
Now, something a little darker for our older students, we have a classic pick from Mr. Roger Trussell, who chose Erik Larson's Devil in the White City.
Mr. Trussel says:
"It is an important book about the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. The book is a fascinating exploration of how a city is built. I read this for a class in college. We were all excited to learn about H.H. Holmes, but I became fascinated by how politics shapes architecture and how groups of people in cities are almost like living organisms. It is a great story about corruption, politics and how modern America came to be shaped by the decisions of people from over a century ago."
A huge thank you to these outstanding educators for sharing their recommendations! Have you read either of these books? Stay tuned for more staff picks throughout Read Across America Week! 📖
KUNA (KY United Nations Assembly) is a student-driven conference sponsored by the YMCA of Kentucky. The two-day event simulates the United Nations General Assembly, where schools will select a country to represent during the event. This year, Berea Community has selected Brazil as it's country and submitted a resolution regarding efforts to combat deforestation.
Their resolution passed out of voting committee, received the endorsement of the Secretary General, and was awarded an Outstanding Resolution award, the first for the program. Resolution sponsors were Lucas Marshall, Luke Campbell, and Jackson Schill.
For the first time, we put forward an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) to provide expert testimony for resolutions. Mary Francisco represented Doctors Without Borders.
Opal Bailey and Yarely Ramos portrayed lawyers for Israel and Palestine in the International Court of Justice.
In the Security Council, Travis Harris, Colin Derringer, and Nick Short represented China. These three debated concerns about artificial intelligence and pandemic preparedness. China's proposed response to a crisis scenario received the award for Best Crisis Response.
In addition, Travis Harris received Outstand Delegate for the Berea chapter.
On the whole, Berea received a Premier Delegation Award for exhibiting the values and standards of the YMCA of Kentucky.
We are incredibly proud of these students for their leadership, diplomacy, and dedication. The leaders of tomorrow, right here at Berea Community Schools! 🌟
On February 19th, Pirates packed into Singleton Gym to recognize all of our amazing senior athletes on their Berea Pirate Boys Basketball Senior Night. It was a night to remember!
Let’s hear it for our outstanding senior athletes, Liam Brewer, Jake Mills, Finley Blevins, Wiley Reed, Travis Harris, Brayden Eversole, and Michael Winkler, along with our senior cheerleaders, Jasmine Abrams and Morgan Davis. These Pirates have been cornerstones of the program and role models for their teammates, setting the standard through their hard work, dedication, and Pirate pride.
We're so proud of these student athletes for everything they've accomplished throughout their BCHS careers.
Don’t forget to come out and support our Lady Pirates TONIGHT at the Regional Tournament at EKU! They’ll take on Franklin County at 9:15 PM in the first round.
Let's go, Pirates! 🏴☠️🔥
📚 It’s Read Across America Week! 🎉
All week long, we’re celebrating our favorite books, discovering new ones, and reminding ourselves of the power of reading. To mark the occasion, we’re spotlighting staff picks from educators across Berea Community Schools!
Our first feature comes from Mr. Christopher Preece, who chose the first volume of Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz's 2011 Change is Constant comic run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This initial 4-issue story arc reestablishes the Turtle's origin and kicks off IDW Publishing's acclaimed run of the series (the longest-running TMNT comic series in history).
Mr. Preece shares:
"Reading the TMNT by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz published by IDW is a long standing series for the turtles that rejuvenated their comic run with reference to the original 1984 run with bring a modern day sense of storytelling that elevates the turtles to a whole new level. This series comes at you piping hot and delivered on time."
Our second spotlight shines on Ms. Susie Harris, who recommends The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey. Ms. Harris was also just named March Educator of the Month by WBON TV! Her nomination stated, "When the JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program faced elimination last year, Susie stepped up. She organized fundraisers and secured community sponsors to ensure the program could continue serving students. Through JAG, she teaches essential life skills such as interviewing, resume writing, and communication—preparing students for success beyond the classroom." We'd like to send her a huge congratulations for this amazing accomplishment.
Ms. Harris explains:
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens has been an important resource in my classroom because it gives students practical, real-world strategies they can immediately apply to their lives. I recommend it because it encourages personal responsibility, goal setting, and positive relationships, all of which are essential for success in school and beyond. Reading in general helps students build critical thinking skills, expand their perspective, and grow both personally and professionally."
A huge thank you to these outstanding educators for sharing their recommendations! Have you read either of these books? Stay tuned for more staff picks throughout Read Across America Week! 📖
Dr. Neaves Meets with Berea Kiwanis Club!
Superintendent Dr. Neaves attended last night's Berea Kiwanis Club meeting to to learn more about the club's initiatives and explore ways Berea Independent Schools can strengthen our partnership with Kiwanis and continue investing in the many community partners that support our students beyond the classroom.
Kiwanis is a global volunteer organization dedicated to serving children through local projects and events, from hosting Berea’s annual Easter Egg Hunt to supporting school extracurricular programs and promoting children’s health, education, and nutrition.
As a former member of the Williamstown Kiwanis Club, Dr. Neaves understands the often-overlooked but profound impact that Kiwanis, the Berea Rotary Club, and other local organizations have on the community and on our students. He's excited to build meaningful connections here in Berea and become actively involved in supporting the work of Berea Kiwanis.
Strengthening longstanding relationships between Berea Community Schools and the broader Berea community has been a top priority this year. From partnering with the food bank on food drives, to attending city council meetings, to building connections with Berea College and Dr. Cheryl Nixon, Dr. Neaves and our administrative team remain committed to keeping Berea’s strong network of support at the forefront of their minds.
Thank you to all the amazing folks from Berea's Kiwanis Club for inviting us to attend last night's meeting, and all the work they do every day to support and prove opportunities from the children of Berea.
On Thursday, music students from across BCS gathered in Kennedy Theater for an unforgettable live performance by a string quartet from the Louisville Orchestra as part of their In Harmony tour across Kentucky.
The musicians performed various works by baroque and classical composers as well as some contemporary pieces, all while explaining and demonstrating different musical concepts to the students.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to host such talented professional musicians right here in our building. There’s truly nothing like experiencing live music up close.
Thank you to the incredible performers and to everyone who helped make this special day possible! 🎶
Due to last week's school closures, our Track & Field Parent Meeting has been rescheduled to today at 5 PM in the front atrium!
If you have a 7th-12th grade student interested in participating in High School Track and Field this season, we hope you'll join us fro our parent meeting this evening at 5:00 PM in the front atrium.
Track and field is a great way to build community, improve physical, mental and emotional well-being, and stay conditioned for Fall Sports.
We hope to see you there!
We'd like to give a huge congratulations to our BCES Academic Team, who are REGION 22 CHAMPIONS for the third consecutive year! 🎉 These Pirates have blown everyone away time and time again with their incredible persistence, hard work, and teamwork. It was a true team effort, with students placing in every subject area.
🏅 Team awards:
Quick Recall 2nd place
🏅 Individual awards:
Math
1st place Bodhi Hammond
Science
1st place Matthew Taylor (highest score in the state!)
4th place Levi Perry
Social Studies
3rd place Oakley Royse
Language Arts
1st place Maisie Zimmerman
2nd place Matthew Taylor
Arts & Humanities
2nd place Aylish Garcia
In addition, Matthew Taylor placed in the top ten statewide on the region general knowledge exam. He will be receiving an award at the KAAC State Finals Awards Ceremony in March.
Region 22 includes all of the elementary schools in Madison, Estill, and Garrard Counties. Congratulations to the entire team, as well as coaches Michelle Ramsay and Jessica Yeary.
It's a great day to be a Pirate!
- The 44th District Runner-Up Berea Lady Pirates move on to the Regional Tournament this week at EKU. They will take on Franklin County on Tuesday March 3 at 9:15 in the first round. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online with Hudl. I will send a separate email with LINK. I have attached the full bracket for everyone. Good luck Lady Pirates!
- Congratulations to Avery Plessinger, Cora Reed, Kadee Stepp, Wiley Reed and Jake Mills for being named to the 44th District All Tournament team.
- Congratulations to Avery Plessinger and Kadee Stepp for making All 11th Region Honorable Mention for their hard work throughout the season.
- Senior Football player Treyshaun Davis will sign his letter of intent to play college football with Midway University on Thursday March 5th. The signing will take place at 11:30 in the Singleton Gym. Congratulations Trey!
- Berea Archery performed exceptionally well in their first 3D Tournament on Saturday. Despite the tough competition of Madison Central and Frederick Douglas, the HS team placed 3rd out of 4 teams with a score of 1576. Austin King placed second for the HS boys with a score of 279. Tyson Baker placed 6th for the HS boys with a score of 274, missing 5th place by one 10. Claire Garrett placed 6th for the HS girls.
We’re kicking off March with a week full of competition, creativity, and community spirit. Students will be celebrating Read Across America Week with exciting activities all week long , including our Door Decoration Contest and themed Spirit Week dress-up days. Get ready to show off your creativity and school pride!
We’re also launching our Attendance March Madness Tournament this week! 🏀📚
Elementary homerooms and MS/HS 1st period classes will go head-to-head in a bracket-style attendance challenge. Our mission? To boost school-wide attendance and hit our 95% goal! Classes with the best attendance will advance through each round, leading up to the championship showdown on April 3rd.
Every day counts, so make sure you’re here and on time so your class can stay in the game. Let’s make this a winning week at Berea! 🏴☠️
A new Computer Science Program is coming to BCHS!
If you're interested in technology, software development, or cybersecurity, this program might just be for you!
This free, year-long virtual course is available to students who successfully complete the interview and acceptance process, giving you access to high-quality instruction, real-world skills, and valuable experience at no cost.
Join us for our Student & Parent Informational Meeting to learn how you can get involved:
-Wednesday, March 4
-11:00 AM
-Kennedy Theater
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this exciting new program. We look forward to seeing you there!
Due to high rates of illness among both students and staff, Berea Community Schools will be closed on 2/26/26 and 2/27/26.
These will not be NTI days, but rather traditional school closures.
Stay safe and healthy, Pirates! We'll see you back on Monday!
This morning, our Fire Science students took turns behind the wheel of a first responder vehicle driving simulator, experiencing what it’s like to navigate real emergency situations.
This state-of-the-art mobile driving trainer from the Kentucky Fire Commission simulates the experience of operating different types of ambulances and fire trucks while driving through a virtual city and responding to live emergency scenarios. Their instructor, Lieutenant Billings, controls the simulation, adjusting weather conditions, vehicle type, traffic patterns, and obstacles to challenge each student driver.
There’s only one of these simulators in the entire state, and this week, it’s parked at Berea Community Schools, giving our students unmatched, real-world training experience.
We’re proud to offer a premier Fire Science program that puts students in authentic, hands-on learning environments led by experienced professionals.
A huge thank you to Mr. Billings and everyone who makes this incredible program possible!
Berea Community Elementary School (BCES) Site-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council will hold a Special Called Meeting as follows:
Date : March 2nd 2026
Time : 3:00 PM
Location : Berea Elementary Conference Room
The meeting will be limited to the items listed on the posted agenda.
Join us for our Little Pirates Kindergarten Bash on March 5, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 PM! This pirate-themed evening is a fun way to prepare for and celebrate welcoming our newest little Pirates aboard.
Meet our staff, see our kindergarten classrooms, and get all your questions answered!
We can't wait to meet our future Pirates and their families!
