That original tree, which had stood tall since 1895, was removed last February after it fell. But this week marks a new beginning as four beautiful trees now take root in the very same spot.
On Wednesday afternoon, students learned about the vital role trees play in our environment and community. Then, with the guidance of the incredible team from Berea College Forestry, they each got to help plant the saplings.
To commemorate the event, each class signed a stone to be placed at the base of their tree
Dr. Neaves joked that these students will have to reunite in 20 years to see how tall their trees have grown. We're marking our calendars!
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing folks from Berea College Forestry for making this day so memorable! Thanks to Kayla Zagray, Autumn Reid, Michael Mecham, Michael Barnes, and everyone else involved. Your work meant so much to our students!
Mrs. Rose is originally from Stanton, KY, with an Elementary Education and Reading/Writing Specialist degree from EKU, and a Library Science and Technology degree from WKU. She’s well-equipped to support our students and manage library services across our Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.
Sarah has spent the past several years as the Library Media Specialist at Estill Springs Elementary, following 10 years of experience in the classroom as a 5th grade teacher.
"My family and I are happy to be new residents of Madison County and I am thrilled to be the new Library Media Specialist at Berea!"
Mrs. Rose encourages students to choose books and media that reflect their individual interests:
"We don't all like to eat the same foods so it is natural that we don't all like to read the same books. It is ok to choose a different book than your friends."
She also emphasizes the value of sharing the books we love with others:
"All of these things make reading a more enjoyable habit."
We're thrilled to have her joining the team here at Berea Community Schools! 🎉
If you’re interested in helping make this event unforgettable, please reach out to Mr. Joseph Caudill at joseph.caudill@berea.kyschools.us.
Yesterday, FRYSC trained with Berea College broom making to learn how to teach Berea Community 4th and 5th graders how to make a broom. We look forward to bringing this 100 year Berea College tradition to our students. Students will learn the history of the broom and make a broom of their own to take home.
Check class dojo to sign up your 4th or 5th graders. Limited space available for the fall session. Spring sessions will be available at a later time.
For more information contact Bernie Harris at bcyouthbasketballleague@gmail.com
Entry Fee: $40
2 Children: $60
3+: $80
-Boys & Girls
-1st - 3rd Freshman DIV
-3rd - 5th JV DIV
-6th - 8th V DIV
-Practice: Once a week
-Games on Saturday
Welcome back, Pirates! 🏴☠️
We hope you had a restful and refreshing fall break, but we missed you! It was so good to see all the smiling faces back in the building this morning! Here's to an amazing rest of the fall semester! 🍂📚
Back in August, Dr. Neaves tasked our ACCESS Mental Health team with answering an important question: How do we support our staff and their mental health so they can effectively manage the day-to-day stresses of the education profession?
He introduced the team to the concept of compassion resilience, and they took the idea and ran with it, building an entire professional development day around the topic. They immediately began casting a wide net to collaborate with community partners to provide a wide array of authentic self-care sessions. From yoga and skin care, to nature walks and therapy dogs, to a friendly chili cook-off competition, today was all about recharging, connecting, and taking care of those who take care of our students.
This professional development day gave teachers and staff the opportunity to build relationships, practice self-care, and reflect on the importance of mental well-being as we prepare to welcome students back from fall break.
A heartfelt thank-you to the ACCESS Mental Health team, and all of our community partners/volunteers who made this day such a success. Your collaboration and care made a lasting impact.
We’re returning tomorrow feeling refreshed, reconnected, and ready for an amazing second quarter! 🍂✨
#BereaCommunity #CompassionResilience #WeAreBerea #BetterTogether #BereaProud
- Our HS Volleyball team will wrap up their regular season this week. We will recognize our Senior Volleyball players on Wednesday Oct. 15 in between the JV and Varsity games.
- Congratulations to Kayden Lawson, Rose Ramsay, James Lunsford and Daniel Stefan for making the 44th District All Tournament Soccer team.
- Our MS Girls Basketball 8th Grade team finished up their season last week with a final record of 15-4 on the season. Congratulations!
Cloe has been at Berea for 2 years, and one of her favorite memories is meeting her best friend on the very first day of class. She also gives a special shoutout to one of her favorite teachers, Mrs. Jones, for making a lasting impact.
We can't wait to see all the amazing things Cloe's future holds!🎓
🎉 Introducing our Official 2025 Homecoming Court Candidates! 🏴☠️👑
Join us in congratulating these outstanding Pirates who represent the spirit and pride of our school! 🖤💛
During our Homecoming Parade on Oct. 23rd you'll get to cheer them on from the sidewalk, before the announcement of the King & Queen at the Football game on the 24th.
Get ready for a Homecoming Week packed with tradition pride, and unforgettable memories. This one’s shaping up to be legendary!
Who's ready for Homecoming Spirit Week?! 🏴☠️🎉
From October 20–25, we’ll be celebrating our Pirate Pride with a full week of themed dress-up days, from Twin Day to Generations Day and everything in between!
With the parade, dance, and big football game all on the horizon, there's no better time to bring the energy, show your school spirit, and start planning those unforgettable outfits. Let’s make this Homecoming one to remember!
Enjoy the rest of your Fall Break, and we can't wait to see everyone back in the building on Tuesday!
After a fast-paced start to the school year, it's time to pause, rest, and recharge. The past two months have been filled with hard work, big moments, and plenty of hustle, so don’t forget to take care of yourself during the break.
We’ll see everyone back on October 14th, refreshed and ready to finish the semester strong!
Our students participated in team-building exercises focused on respect, sportsmanship, leadership, and even responsible social media use. They explored a range of important topics and gained valuable insights to bring back and share with their teams and the broader student body.
Huge thanks to the incredible team at the KHSAA Student-Athlete Group for hosting such a meaningful event and taking great care of our students. We’re grateful for the opportunity to grow, lead, and represent BCS on such an impactful platform!
Armed with paint rollers and brushes, the Class of 2026 set to work transforming their assigned parking spots into colorful, personalized works of art. A big thank you to Natasha Johnson and Marilyn Benton from FRYSC for facilitating this opportunity, not just a fun creative outlet, but also a meaningful chance for our seniors to collaborate and connect outside of class.
Students plan to continue refining their designs over Fall Break, ensuring that by the time they return on Oct. 14, this vibrant tapestry of artwork will be ready to shine in all its glory. We can’t wait to see how the project comes together!
Thank you to Connie and Andrea McCracken, Aaron Brown, Christin Hardesty, Bobby Combs, Aaron Stepp, all our student workers, and everyone who keeps our school running smoothly every day.
You keep Berea Community in great shape, and we couldn't be more grateful!
Yesterday morning, BCHS students from a variety of grades and backgrounds came together for the first Superintendent Student Advisory Council meeting of the year with Dr. Neaves!
The group discussed their experience at Berea Community from the student perspective, sharing their views on this year's school culture, curriculum, and trajectory, and discussing ways to continue strengthening the student experience at Berea for years to come.
Initiatives like this create a powerful bridge between students and leadership. By listening directly to those walking our halls every day, Dr. Neaves, our principals, and staff stay grounded in what truly matters: the voices of our Pirates.
The group will continue to meet with Dr. Neaves and other school staff regularly throughout the year to workshop our academic, and extracurricular infrastructure, and continue their mission to make our school the best version of itself it can be.
This is what student-centered leadership looks like. Now that’s the Berea way!
