Ready to start planning for a great school year? Here are the upcoming back-to-school events for BCHS students.
High school schedules will be handed out at dedicated class meetings on August 4th and 5th. Middle school students will receive schedules at Back to School Night on August 7th.
We can't wait to kick off the '26-'27 school year and see everyone back in the building soon. Mark those calendars and let's start planning for success!
High school schedules will be handed out at dedicated class meetings on August 4th and 5th. Middle school students will receive schedules at Back to School Night on August 7th.
We can't wait to kick off the '26-'27 school year and see everyone back in the building soon. Mark those calendars and let's start planning for success!
This summer, White House Clinics is bringing mobile healthcare services to Berea Community Schools!
Medical services are available for any child ages 4-18, children do not have to attend Berea Community Schools or participate in Berea Kids Eat to receive care.
This is a great opportunity for families who need to catch up on well-child visits, obtain an updated school or sports physical, or access other routine healthcare services before the new school year.
They will be set up in the parent pick up loop 2:00-5:00pm on all Fridays in July for medical services, and on Tuesday, July 21 for dental. No appointment or pre-registration is required, just stop by!
This morning, Dr. Neaves and district leaders met with Travis Marcum of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, a Kentucky nonprofit dedicated to strengthening public education and improving opportunities for students across the Commonwealth.
They discussed partnering with BCS to strengthen family engagement, support students and teachers, and grow our relationships with community partners. Through conversations like these, Berea continues to seek meaningful partnerships and identify resources that support student success and continued improvement.
We appreciate the Prichard Committee's commitment to Kentucky schools and look forward to exploring how this partnership can benefit our district moving forward.
Here is our 26-27 School Calendar passed by the Board of Education in February.
Middle School Boys Soccer practice for incoming students in grades 6-8 will begin on Wednesday July 15 from 6:00-8:00 PM on the front lawn of Berea Community Schools.
In order to begin participating student-athletes must have an up to date sports physical and parental permission form. Forms can be found on the school website under Athletics.
Families can reach out to Athletics Director Jerry Bingham at jerry.bingham@berea.kyschools.us for any further information. We look forward to seeing you next week! Go Pirates!
In order to begin participating student-athletes must have an up to date sports physical and parental permission form. Forms can be found on the school website under Athletics.
Families can reach out to Athletics Director Jerry Bingham at jerry.bingham@berea.kyschools.us for any further information. We look forward to seeing you next week! Go Pirates!
Back to School Bash!
The start of the 2026-2027 school year is just around the corner, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back! On August 7th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM we'll be hosting a back to school bash for all Berea Independent Schools students. Come meet your teachers, explore your school, learn about clubs and extracurricular activities, and reconnect with friends. Whether you're a returning student or joining the Berea family for the first time, we can't wait to reopen the doors and welcome you for a successful year ahead at BCS.
We hope everyone's having a wonderful summer break, and don't worry, there's still plenty of summer left! But now's the time to mark your calendars and start getting ready for the 26'-27' school year. We can't wait to see you then!
Incoming Kindergarten Families! We can't wait to welcome you to the Berea Community family this August!
Before the school year begins, please make sure all kindergarten enrollment paperwork is completed and returned to the front office between July 13 and July 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Feel free to drop by to pick up your paperwork and ask any questions you may have. Our lovely front office staff is always happy to help support you and your family!
Before the school year begins, please make sure all kindergarten enrollment paperwork is completed and returned to the front office between July 13 and July 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Feel free to drop by to pick up your paperwork and ask any questions you may have. Our lovely front office staff is always happy to help support you and your family!
BCES Families, Our 2026-2027 Elementary School Supply Lists are here!
Please contact our FRYSC Director, Ms. Natasha Johnson, at natasha.johnson@berea.kyschools.us for any assistance needed with school supplies.
We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer break! ☀️
Please contact our FRYSC Director, Ms. Natasha Johnson, at natasha.johnson@berea.kyschools.us for any assistance needed with school supplies.
We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer break! ☀️
BCES Kindergarten Camp is right around the corner!
Is your child starting kindergarten this school year? Press START to begin an epic kindergarten adventure by joining us on July 29-30! 🎮
Sign-Up: 9:00 AM in the Conkin Gym
Pick-Up: 12:00 PM in the Conkin Gym
Your little learner will:
Meet their kindergarten teacher
Explore our school
Complete fun, hands-on activities
Make new friends
Build confidence before the first day of school
Snacks will be provided, and there is no cost to attend!
Haven't registered your child for kindergarten yet? No worries! This is the perfect opportunity to get them registered while you're here.
Let’s get ready to Level Up Our Learning and begin an epic kindergarten adventure! We can't wait to welcome our newest players to the team! 🏴☠️
Berea Pirates Football Families!
Coach Atkins will be holding a Parent Meeting this afternoon at 6:00 PM in the school cafeteria. The meeting will include information about summer camps, expectations & standards, practice schedules, player eligibility, and more.
We hope to see you there as we begin to plan for a successful season with Berea Pirates Football! 🏈
Coach Atkins will be holding a Parent Meeting this afternoon at 6:00 PM in the school cafeteria. The meeting will include information about summer camps, expectations & standards, practice schedules, player eligibility, and more.
We hope to see you there as we begin to plan for a successful season with Berea Pirates Football! 🏈
High School Volleyball Tryouts are coming up soon!
July 10, 4:00–6:00 PM and July 11, 8:00–10:00 AM in Singleton Gym, Coach Holland will be holding tryouts for our Berea Pirates Volleyball team. Tryouts are open to all 7th-12th graders.
As we look ahead to the season, we're also celebrating a strong summer tournament last week in Bell County. They played a total of 5 matches, 12 sets, and only lost 3 sets all day! The Pirates brought home second place in a very competitive tournament. This is looking like a great season coming up!
Interested in joining the Pirates? Mark your calendars, we hope to see you at tryouts!
Contact Coach Holland at cinda.holland@berea.kyschools.us with any questions.
July 10, 4:00–6:00 PM and July 11, 8:00–10:00 AM in Singleton Gym, Coach Holland will be holding tryouts for our Berea Pirates Volleyball team. Tryouts are open to all 7th-12th graders.
As we look ahead to the season, we're also celebrating a strong summer tournament last week in Bell County. They played a total of 5 matches, 12 sets, and only lost 3 sets all day! The Pirates brought home second place in a very competitive tournament. This is looking like a great season coming up!
Interested in joining the Pirates? Mark your calendars, we hope to see you at tryouts!
Contact Coach Holland at cinda.holland@berea.kyschools.us with any questions.
Kindergarten Families! Our 2026-2027 School Supply List is here!
We can't wait to start preparing for a great year ahead. We hope everyone is enjoying the summer, and we're looking forward to seeing you all in August!
We can't wait to start preparing for a great year ahead. We hope everyone is enjoying the summer, and we're looking forward to seeing you all in August!
All Berea Independent Schools offices are closed today in observance of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.
We wish our students, staff, families, and community a meaningful Juneteenth.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.
We wish our students, staff, families, and community a meaningful Juneteenth.
Middle School Pirate Families! Our 2026-2027 School Supply List is here!
Elementary and high school supply lists will be posted later this summer. We hope you're having a wonderful summer break! ☀️
Elementary and high school supply lists will be posted later this summer. We hope you're having a wonderful summer break! ☀️
Rising 6th Graders, who's ready to meet your teachers and start your BCMS journey?
Save the date! On July 30, 10AM-12PM we'll be hosting our 6th Grade Transition Camp to help incoming 6th graders become familiar with middle school expectations and routines, prepare for their first day in August, and welcome them into the BCMS community. Parents will sign-in students in the front atrium of the school.
Our faculty and staff are excited to support students as they make the transition across the hall, we're looking forward to helping them start the school year with confidence.
Parents can email our middle school counselor, Mary Lewis, at mary.lewis@berea.kyschools.us if they have any questions or concerns.
Mark your calendars, we can't wait to meet our newest class of 6th graders!
This month's Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7 PM, in Kennedy Theater.
The meeting will be livestreamed on our district YouTube channel.
The meeting will be livestreamed on our district YouTube channel.
Berea Community Schools is excited to announce TW Sears as the new Head Coach of the Boys Basketball Program.
Coach Sears brings years of coaching experience to Berea, having served as an assistant coach at Somerset High School and Taylor County High School, as well as spending the last six seasons at Somerset Christian School. During his time at Somerset Christian, he helped lead the program to its first-ever regional tournament appearance, highlighted by an upset victory over top-seeded Wayne County in the opening round of the 48th District Tournament. Coach Sears also served two seasons as the head coach at Southern Middle School in Somerset, Kentucky.
A graduate of Southwestern High School (Class of 2007), Coach Sears was a member of back-to-back 48th District Championship teams and was part of the 2006 regional runner-up squad. He continued his playing career at Lindsey Wilson College, where he competed for one and a half seasons.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to coach at Berea Community,” said Coach Sears. “I believe we have a good group of kids who are hardworking and eager to get better. We will build a program based on accountability, communication, and relentless effort. Our goal is to develop young men who succeed in life through basketball while creating a culture that our players, families, and community can be proud of. I am honored to lead this program and look forward to building relationships as we pursue excellence together.”
Please join us in welcoming Coach TW Sears to the Berea Community family. Go Pirates!
Coach Sears brings years of coaching experience to Berea, having served as an assistant coach at Somerset High School and Taylor County High School, as well as spending the last six seasons at Somerset Christian School. During his time at Somerset Christian, he helped lead the program to its first-ever regional tournament appearance, highlighted by an upset victory over top-seeded Wayne County in the opening round of the 48th District Tournament. Coach Sears also served two seasons as the head coach at Southern Middle School in Somerset, Kentucky.
A graduate of Southwestern High School (Class of 2007), Coach Sears was a member of back-to-back 48th District Championship teams and was part of the 2006 regional runner-up squad. He continued his playing career at Lindsey Wilson College, where he competed for one and a half seasons.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to coach at Berea Community,” said Coach Sears. “I believe we have a good group of kids who are hardworking and eager to get better. We will build a program based on accountability, communication, and relentless effort. Our goal is to develop young men who succeed in life through basketball while creating a culture that our players, families, and community can be proud of. I am honored to lead this program and look forward to building relationships as we pursue excellence together.”
Please join us in welcoming Coach TW Sears to the Berea Community family. Go Pirates!
Kindergarten Registration Dates!
Join us today or June 30 for Kindergarten Registration! We can't wait to meet our newest Pirates and welcome your family to Berea Community Schools.
Join us today or June 30 for Kindergarten Registration! We can't wait to meet our newest Pirates and welcome your family to Berea Community Schools.
Our Berea Community High School and Middle School Band Programs visited the Acclaim Music Festival before the end of the school year for their performances to be evaluated by judges. As always, they knocked it out of the park.
Our high school band earned an Excellent rating from the judges, who praised the ensemble's centered tone, accurate intonation, and strong rhythmic precision. Judges also highlighted the group's mature sound and expressive musicianship, noting the energy and professionalism displayed on stage.
In its newsletter, Acclaim wrote, "Their performance reflected both the hard work and resilience of these students and highlighted the bright future of the Berea band program."
Our middle school 7th and 8th Grade Band also earned an Excellent rating with what judges described as an "exciting and expressive" performance. They praised the ensemble's clear melodic lines, beautiful phrasing, and effective dynamic contrast.
In their newsletter, Acclaim wrote, "Their strong rhythmic accuracy and engaging stage presence reflected careful preparation and a genuine love for music-making. This performance was a wonderful reflection of the perseverance and heart of this ensemble, and an encouraging sign of continued growth ahead." The judges also highlighted how the band reflected our school community with "pride and enthusiasm."
The Berea Community Band and Choir Programs continue to be among our most outstanding opportunities for students to engage in the arts, build community, and develop their voices as performers. Year after year, our bands go above and beyond, impressing judges and entertaining students, families, and community members at sports events and concerts.
We could not be more proud of this band of Pirates, everyone involved in our music department, and, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Barnhill for their dedication to these programs and for providing such an outstanding experience for our students in class every day.
A huge thank-you to the Acclaim Music Festival for providing a wonderful experience and an opportunity for our students to showcase their hard work, skill, and talent on the festival stage. We're already looking forward to next year!
Photos by Kristen Ellis.
Our high school band earned an Excellent rating from the judges, who praised the ensemble's centered tone, accurate intonation, and strong rhythmic precision. Judges also highlighted the group's mature sound and expressive musicianship, noting the energy and professionalism displayed on stage.
In its newsletter, Acclaim wrote, "Their performance reflected both the hard work and resilience of these students and highlighted the bright future of the Berea band program."
Our middle school 7th and 8th Grade Band also earned an Excellent rating with what judges described as an "exciting and expressive" performance. They praised the ensemble's clear melodic lines, beautiful phrasing, and effective dynamic contrast.
In their newsletter, Acclaim wrote, "Their strong rhythmic accuracy and engaging stage presence reflected careful preparation and a genuine love for music-making. This performance was a wonderful reflection of the perseverance and heart of this ensemble, and an encouraging sign of continued growth ahead." The judges also highlighted how the band reflected our school community with "pride and enthusiasm."
The Berea Community Band and Choir Programs continue to be among our most outstanding opportunities for students to engage in the arts, build community, and develop their voices as performers. Year after year, our bands go above and beyond, impressing judges and entertaining students, families, and community members at sports events and concerts.
We could not be more proud of this band of Pirates, everyone involved in our music department, and, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Barnhill for their dedication to these programs and for providing such an outstanding experience for our students in class every day.
A huge thank-you to the Acclaim Music Festival for providing a wonderful experience and an opportunity for our students to showcase their hard work, skill, and talent on the festival stage. We're already looking forward to next year!
Photos by Kristen Ellis.
Congratulations to our Anchor of Excellence recipients for the month of May! ⚓
First, we'd like to recognize our three amazing retiring teachers as they close out their careers at Berea Community Schools.
Ms. Wendy Satterthwaite has been teaching for 40 years. She has taught preschool, and served as a substitute teacher and more before being hired as a classroom teacher at Berea. She has worked here for 22 years.
Ms. Linda Williams has taught for a total of 37 years. She has taught high school math and science for 29 years, with the last 20 spent here at Berea Community High School. In addition, she taught at Berea College for six years and at EKU for two years.
Ms. Julie Guthrie has taught for 18 years, all of them here at Berea Community.
These three teachers have left a deep and lasting impact on our school and community. They have each supported several generations of Pirates who have grown up in their classrooms, and we can't overstate the strength of their leadership, camaraderie, and hard work over the years. We wish them all the best as they step into retirement.
Our next recognition goes to Christine Knight. Christine is one of those people who brings positivity wherever she goes. She has an incredible way of lifting others up, and her dedication to our staff and students never goes unnoticed. A great recent example was her work organizing community donations for Teacher Appreciation Week. She put a tremendous amount of effort in behind the scenes to make sure staff members felt appreciated and supported. Christine leads with kindness, optimism, and a genuine heart for people, and we're thankful for all she does.
Next, we'd like to recognize Marilyn Benton. Marilyn is someone who always goes the extra mile when it comes to doing what's best for kids. If something needs to get done, especially if it benefits students, she's all in. Her recent work helping coordinate the senior trip and prom is a perfect example of that commitment. Those events take a tremendous amount of planning and attention to detail, and Marilyn helped ensure our students had experiences they'll remember for years to come. Her willingness to jump in and serve our student body makes a real difference in our district.
Though he could not be present at the Board Meeting, we also want to recognize Aaron Stepp for being the kind of team member every district hopes to have. Aaron is dependable, adaptable, and always willing to step in wherever he's needed. Most recently, he took on the role of interim elementary principal during a time of transition and provided exactly what that school community needed: stability, consistency, and calm leadership. Stepping into a role like that is no small task, but Aaron handled it with professionalism and care. We're grateful for his leadership and steady commitment to our district.
Finally, we're proud to recognize Lori McCay. Lori is one of those people who always manages to accomplish an incredible amount of work at a very high level, often without much fanfare. Her recent work helping seniors navigate scholarships, FAFSA completion, and post-secondary planning has been incredibly important for our students and families. She has also been heavily involved in KSA administration and countless other responsibilities across the district. Lori consistently goes above and beyond, and her impact on students and staff is tremendous. We're incredibly fortunate to have her on our team.
We would also like to recognize Ms. Emma Fraley and her students for winning 2nd place in the Kentucky Medium Schools category of the Million Cans Recycling Contest. With a group of 78 students, the class recycled more than 45,500 cans. Our entire school contributed more than 3 million aluminum cans during this year's contest.
At the Board Meeting, Ms. Fraley's class was joined by guest speaker Tammy Peyton from the Novelis aluminum recycling plant here in Berea, who shared details about the challenge. Tammy spoke about the importance of recycling and the value of building these habits early in life.
Ms. Fraley's class finished 25th overall out of 54 participating schools nationwide. They won a $400 prize, as well as the additional value of each can from Novelis, ultimately taking home $780 from the challenge. What an incredible way to raise awareness, build positive recycling habits, and bring our school community together!
First, we'd like to recognize our three amazing retiring teachers as they close out their careers at Berea Community Schools.
Ms. Wendy Satterthwaite has been teaching for 40 years. She has taught preschool, and served as a substitute teacher and more before being hired as a classroom teacher at Berea. She has worked here for 22 years.
Ms. Linda Williams has taught for a total of 37 years. She has taught high school math and science for 29 years, with the last 20 spent here at Berea Community High School. In addition, she taught at Berea College for six years and at EKU for two years.
Ms. Julie Guthrie has taught for 18 years, all of them here at Berea Community.
These three teachers have left a deep and lasting impact on our school and community. They have each supported several generations of Pirates who have grown up in their classrooms, and we can't overstate the strength of their leadership, camaraderie, and hard work over the years. We wish them all the best as they step into retirement.
Our next recognition goes to Christine Knight. Christine is one of those people who brings positivity wherever she goes. She has an incredible way of lifting others up, and her dedication to our staff and students never goes unnoticed. A great recent example was her work organizing community donations for Teacher Appreciation Week. She put a tremendous amount of effort in behind the scenes to make sure staff members felt appreciated and supported. Christine leads with kindness, optimism, and a genuine heart for people, and we're thankful for all she does.
Next, we'd like to recognize Marilyn Benton. Marilyn is someone who always goes the extra mile when it comes to doing what's best for kids. If something needs to get done, especially if it benefits students, she's all in. Her recent work helping coordinate the senior trip and prom is a perfect example of that commitment. Those events take a tremendous amount of planning and attention to detail, and Marilyn helped ensure our students had experiences they'll remember for years to come. Her willingness to jump in and serve our student body makes a real difference in our district.
Though he could not be present at the Board Meeting, we also want to recognize Aaron Stepp for being the kind of team member every district hopes to have. Aaron is dependable, adaptable, and always willing to step in wherever he's needed. Most recently, he took on the role of interim elementary principal during a time of transition and provided exactly what that school community needed: stability, consistency, and calm leadership. Stepping into a role like that is no small task, but Aaron handled it with professionalism and care. We're grateful for his leadership and steady commitment to our district.
Finally, we're proud to recognize Lori McCay. Lori is one of those people who always manages to accomplish an incredible amount of work at a very high level, often without much fanfare. Her recent work helping seniors navigate scholarships, FAFSA completion, and post-secondary planning has been incredibly important for our students and families. She has also been heavily involved in KSA administration and countless other responsibilities across the district. Lori consistently goes above and beyond, and her impact on students and staff is tremendous. We're incredibly fortunate to have her on our team.
We would also like to recognize Ms. Emma Fraley and her students for winning 2nd place in the Kentucky Medium Schools category of the Million Cans Recycling Contest. With a group of 78 students, the class recycled more than 45,500 cans. Our entire school contributed more than 3 million aluminum cans during this year's contest.
At the Board Meeting, Ms. Fraley's class was joined by guest speaker Tammy Peyton from the Novelis aluminum recycling plant here in Berea, who shared details about the challenge. Tammy spoke about the importance of recycling and the value of building these habits early in life.
Ms. Fraley's class finished 25th overall out of 54 participating schools nationwide. They won a $400 prize, as well as the additional value of each can from Novelis, ultimately taking home $780 from the challenge. What an incredible way to raise awareness, build positive recycling habits, and bring our school community together!
