Today, Berea Community welcomed a wonderful group of students from Denmark, who spent the day shadowing our students and experiencing our daily school life firsthand.
This marks our 13th annual visit through our valued partnership with Han Herred Efterskole. Each year, this exchange also gives our students the incredible opportunity to travel abroad and experience life and learning in Denmark.
We are so proud to be part of such a meaningful and unique program, and we look forward to welcoming a new group of students each year.
Thank you to Ms. Caldwell and all the staff and administrators who help make this special experience possible!

The curtain rises TONIGHT on the Berea Community Thespians’ production of Sweeney Todd! Step into the dark and thrilling streets of 19th-century London for a performance filled with drama, romance, and edge-of-your-seat moments from start to finish.
Don't miss your chance to come see these talented Pirates in the performance of a lifetime.
Performances will be held in Kennedy Theatre:
Thursday (tonight), Friday & Saturday at 7 PM
Sunday at 3 PM
🎟️ General admission: $10 | Students: $5 (cash only)
We'll see you there!










This week, Ms. May's classroom was visited by Berea College Student Craft Outreach Director Steve Davis-Rosenbaum for a lesson on weaving!
3rd graders were guided through the creative process of yarn weaving on a bowl loom, designing their own unique pieces while experimenting with colors, patterns, and techniques, and learning about weaving as an important tradition in Appalachian craft.
We are so thankful for this wonderful partnership with our neighbors right up the hill at Berea College. We couldn't be more excited to offer our students this hands-on experience, learning from experts, and applying their skills to make one-of-a-kind works of art. Thanks to their generous support, all instruction and materials are offered at no cost to students.
We can’t wait to see these beautiful projects come to life! ✨









Elementary KSA Awards! 🥇
Yesterday, Conkin Gym was filled with proud parents, families, and friends as we came together to celebrate our annual KSA Awards ceremony.
Annual KSA testing is one of Kentucky’s measures of student proficiency and progress on the state content standards. These results highlight not only achievement, but the incredible growth happening across our school.
We are so proud to recognize our bright and hardworking students for their outstanding performance on last year’s assessments. Our Pirates continue to go above and beyond, showcasing the strength of our school community.
A huge thank-you to our dedicated teachers and staff who make these accomplishments possible!
Let’s go, Pirates! 🏴☠️










The front lawn was full of action this morning as students in Mr. Bingham’s PE classes worked on their golf swings (8th grade pictured)!
Taking turns driving balls across the field, students learned about proper stance, technique, and control, while enjoying some fresh air and sunshine in the process.
It’s always exciting to see students explore new sports, challenge themselves, and discover new interests. We might have some future golfers here in the making!










The curtain is about to rise! This week, our talented Berea Community Thespians present their thrilling production of Sweeney Todd, and it’s a show you won’t want to miss.
Performances will take place in Kennedy Theatre on April 16th, 17th, and 18th at 7 PM, and April 19th at 3 PM. General admission will be $10 and $5 for students, cash only. 🎟️
Mark your calendars, and get ready to be transported to the dark and dramatic streets of 19th-century London for an unforgettable show. Come out and support our incredible performers!

Before heading off for Spring Break, Ms. Parker’s 4th graders got their hands dirty planting in their raised beds outside the school!
So far, these green thumbs have planted onions, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, sugar snap peas, beets, and strawberries. We can’t wait to see the beds begin to sprout and come to life!
It’s amazing to see our students engaging with real soil and learning how fruits and vegetables grow through firsthand experience. There’s nothing like feeling the dirt in their hands and watching the fruits of their labor begin to grow, literally!
A big thank you to Ms. Erlena Parker for giving our students this fun, hands-on learning experience outside the classroom! 🌼


We hope everyone had a relaxing and refreshing Spring Break! Our halls are full again, and we're thrilled to see students and staff back, energized and ready to finish the year strong.
With just 27 days of instruction left, this time of the year can feel both exciting and overwhelming, summer is on the horizon, and our seniors are getting ready for their big moment on stage. 🎓
As we head into this final stretch, let’s take it one day at a time, make the most of every moment, and appreciate the time we have together with classmates, teachers, and friends. Let’s finish this year with pride!
It's a great day to be a Pirate!







Looking for a fun and creative way to spend part of your summer? This summer, the Kentucky Writing Project is hosting a week long summer camp at the Madison County Public Library in Richmond for grades 4-12. Several Madison County teachers will be leading sessions for the camp, including creative arts, writing, and design activities! 🎨✍️
Register today by scanning the QR code on the flyer! Or reach out to KWP director Stephanie Smith at stephanie.smith@kedc.org, or camp director Shauna Murrey at shauna.murrey@madison.kyschools.us for more information!

Congratulations to Amelie Conn on an incredible performance at last week’s meet at Estill County! She took 1st place with a throw of 88’4”, breaking the previous women’s school record of 87’3”, and marking a remarkable personal best.
Let's give it up for this amazing student athlete!

During Tuesday's Berea City Council Meeting, Lieutenant Brent Billings highlighted the incredible progress our community is making in Fire Science education across Berea Community Schools and the surrounding region.
At the meeting, Billings introduced and recognized William Madden and Jeffrey Gilbert, who are among our fire science programs first graduates. Thanks to the certifications and real-world experience they earned at BCHS, both have stepped directly into service with the Berea Volunteer Fire Department and Madison County Fire Department right after graduation.
"They're coming out with real world certificates," he said, putting them ahead and preparing them for their careers.
These Berea graduates are shining examples of the promise of Lieutenant Billings' Fire Science programs. This is what Berea is all about. Hands-on learning, real opportunities, and a direct path to the workforce.
Let's give it up for Lieutenant Billings and these two exceptional graduates!



Come out and support our Pirates over Spring Break! There’s nothing better than an evening at the ballpark cheering on these student-athletes.
These students are knocking it out of the park as always with their hard work and dedication, we couldn't be more proud of them.
Let’s pack the stands and show them the support they deserve.
Go Pirates!










For the past several weeks, our friends from the Berea College Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service have been visiting Ms. Wilson’s classroom after school, leading lessons and working with students on a variety of creative projects. Yesterday afternoon they concluded the program with a pizza and cookie decorating party! Without a doubt, our Pirates enjoyed every bite!
CELTS is a program at Berea College focused on service, mentorship, and civic engagement. As an umbrella organization, CELTS hosts a variety of programs that serve different groups in our community. Throughout the school year, many CELTS students partner with our FRYSC director, Natasha Johnson, to support after-school programs for elementary and middle school students.
Their reach extends to all sorts of programs at Berea Community. CELTS students often assist with classroom support, help with family and literacy events, and provide translation and outreach through their Hispanic Outreach Program.
This is a partnership that has been strong for decades, and it continues to be an important part of how we support and uplift our students throughout the whole school district every day. We couldn't be more appreciative for the time, care, and energy these college mentors bring to our schools.
👏 Thank you to the CELTS team for investing in our Pirates and helping them learn, grow, and create together!










Seventh grade Gifted & Talented students launched their own rockets today! While theirs aren't orbiting the moon they definitely reached some impressive heights.
Hands-on experiences like this spark curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning that goes far beyond the classroom.
A big thank-you to Ms. McCay for leading our Gifted & Talented program and creating such exciting, memorable projects for our students!



We’re proud to recognize these hardworking students for their outstanding performance on last year’s Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA).
Our amazing test results were made possible by our students' hard work and by our teachers' and staff's unwavering dedication to standards-based instruction, holding all students accountable while providing the support they need, mentoring, and encouraging every student to reach their fullest potential.
Congratulations to every student we recognized during yesterday's award ceremony, your achievements truly shine. Every medal and certificate is well deserved!
Amazing work, Berea!







A huge thank-you to all BCES students and families who participated in this year’s Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser!
Because of your generosity, we raised an incredible $3,000 to support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association, who advocates for healthier communities, improves patient care and works for equitable health for all people. Although we were 37 students short of receiving the $500 PE equipment incentive, we did reach our fundraising goal and will receive a $300 PE equipment incentive from US Games, which will go towards strengthening our students’ physical education program!
Thank you to everyone who participated and made a difference. We are so proud of all of our BCES Heart Heroes!

Today we're celebrating National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day by shining a spotlight on our incredible paraprofessional staff, like Ms. Jessica Yeary, who provide daily support, care, and encouragement to students all throughout our school.
Paraprofessionals are often the unsung heroes of our classrooms. Their dedication helps ensure that every student receives the attention, guidance, and support they need not just to get through the day, but to truly succeed.
Join us in giving a special shoutout and heartfelt thank you to these amazing members of our Berea team!

Berea KSA Scores Soar!
Bright and early this morning, Kennedy Theater was filled with an outstanding group of juniors and seniors recognized for their exceptional performance on last year’s Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA).
Annual KSA testing is one of Kentucky’s measures of student proficiency and progress on the state content standards. These results reflect not only achievement, but fantastic growth.
Based on last year's test results, BCHS scored in the Blue Tier for the first time ever! The highest performance level! This accomplishment has been an extraordinary achievement made possible by our students' hard work and by our teachers' and staff's unwavering dedication to standards-based instruction, holding all students accountable while providing the support they need, mentoring, and encouraging every student to reach their fullest potential.
Congratulations to all the juniors and seniors we recognized this morning, your achievements truly shine. Every medal and certificate is well deserved!
Amazing work, Berea!










