During Tuesday night’s Homecoming basketball game, Finley was honored for becoming Berea Community’s all-time assist leader, recording an incredible 480 assists and counting, surpassing the previous record of 433.
In a special moment, former record holder Jeff Johnson, a 1980 graduate, stepped onto the court to surprise Finley by presenting him with the award. Jeff was a 4 year starter and was inducted into the Berea Community Athletics Hall of Fame this past Fall.
Finley has played 5 years on the Varsity Team and is a 4 year starter, he is also the 13th member of the 1,000 point club. On January 3rd 2026 vs. Bourbon Co. he scored his 1,000th point. He currently places #5 on the all time scorers list.
This award represents more than a number of assists, it represents Finley's unwavering dedication, hard work, and commitment to his teammates. We are proud to celebrate not only this milestone, but also the tradition of excellence carried on by the many Pirate athletes who have worn the black, white, and gold.
Now that's the Pirate way! 🏴☠️
Six talented BCES students earned recognition in the 2025 Kentucky State Poetry Society Student Poetry Contest this week! ✍️📚
Lily Glennon won FIRST PLACE in the 3-5th Grade Division, and her work will be published in Pegasus, KSPS's Literary Journal. She will also receive a $75 gift certificate and a chance to recite her poem at the Annual KSPS Conference in October. At this month's board meeting, Lily excitedly performed her poem for our School Board.
We’re proud to celebrate all of our student finalists: Claire Abney, Matthew Taylor, Maisie Zimmerman, Oakley Royse, and Hazel Muncie (formerly enrolled).
The KSPS Student Poetry Contest is a statewide contest with hundreds of submissions every year, and these Pirates stood out through their creativity, persistence, and commitment to learning.
A special thank you to their fourth grade teacher, Ms. Courtney Parrish, for inspiring her students to reach for the stars and showing them what’s possible with courage, dedication, and creativity.
Way to go, Pirates! Keep writing, keep learning, and keep showing us why it’s always a great day to be a Pirate.
STATE BOUND!! 🏆📚
Congratulations to our Middle School Academic Team for their performance at the Regional Tournament. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the following students will be advancing to STATE!
Adyson Farthing – 5th Place, Science
Bridget Ramsay – 4th Place, Language Arts
Graham Ramsay – 4th Place, Social Studies
Elizabeth Tait – 6th Place, Language Arts
What an amazing accomplishment! Please congratulate these outstanding students when you see them. We're so proud to have this team representing our school, and taking Berea all the way to state competition!
Goal Setting in Action! 🎯
Today, during Pajama Day, our juniors took time to focus on their futures by meeting one-on-one with Berea staff to discuss their goal setting and future planning! The pairs discussed topics like college and career plans, attendance habits, social/emotional wellbeing, and KSA (Kentucky Summative Assessment) scores, all with an eye toward growth and long-term success.
Opportunities for one-on-one mentorship like this are classic examples of Berea's focus on community and personalized support. From K-12, our faculty and staff walk alongside students every step of the way, helping them discover who they are, identify the support they need to thrive, and set meaningful goals for the future.
Congratulations to our "Anchor of Excellence" Recipients! ⚓
During last night’s board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Neaves presented our very first Anchor of Excellence awards. Each month, this recognition will honor one Certified Employee and one Classified Employee, highlighting the outstanding work happening across our district and celebrating staff members who consistently go above and beyond for students, colleagues, and our school community.
This month, we proudly recognize Ms. Naomi New, the steady force behind the credit recovery and APEX program at BCHS. She works tirelessly to monitor student progress, conference with students, and ensure they stay motivated and on track for success. Deeply committed to Berea Community Schools, Ms. New also takes on additional responsibilities including tardy management, lunchroom supervision, and Chromebook distribution. We are proud to celebrate her as an exceptional member of our Berea family.
We are also excited to recognize Aaron Brown and Charlie Owens, leaders of our transportation and maintenance departments, for their extraordinary efforts during the recent ice storm. In extreme temperatures and challenging conditions, they worked long hours clearing thick ice, parking lots, and sidewalks to ensure our campus could safely reopen. Though their work often happens behind the scenes, its impact is felt by every student, staff member, and family who enters our campus. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and service.
Our final recognition was presented to Taylor Fuit. Taylor consistently goes above and beyond to treat every child with dignity and respect, ensuring they feel included, valued, and capable. She supports not only their academic growth but also invests deeply in their social and emotional development. With a special gift for connecting with students of diverse needs, she meets them where they are, celebrates their progress, and creates an environment where they feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed. She is also an exceptional colleague who makes teamwork both productive and encouraging. We are truly grateful for the impact she makes each day.
We were also proud to welcome our newest Board of Education member, Ms. Jenny Hobson, who participated in her first board meeting last night. We welcome her with open arms and look forward to working together to strengthen our schools, invest in our students and staff, and continue building strong systems of leadership.
Congratulations to all of our Anchor of Excellence recipients, we couldn't be more grateful for everything you invest in our schools and communities.
Congratulations to the talented Dahlia Legear-Delozier for earning a Regional Honorable Mention in the 2026 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! 🎨✨
Dahlia's work was recognized by a panel of creative professionals for its originality, skill, and emergence of personal voice and vision, an outstanding achievement in one of the nation’s most prestigious student art competitions. The National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are largely considered the most prestigious, and longest-running national recognition program for students grades 7-12.
What a perfect example of the outstanding talent and creativity on display in our classrooms. Berea has long been known for excellence in the arts, and it’s students like Dahlia who carry on that tradition through their hard work, dedication, and creative thinking.
Congratulations, Dahlia! 🎉
- This week is Homecoming week and the last week of the regular season for our HS Girls and Boys Basketball teams. The Homecoming double header will be on Tuesday Feb. 17 in the Old Gym. Boys 6:00 vs Franklin County and Girls 7:30 vs Paris.
- Our HS Boys Basketball team will have their Senior Night on Thursday Feb. 19 against Bluegrass United. Congratulations to Finley Blevins, Liam Brewer, Brayden Eversole, Jake Mills, Wiley Reed, Michael Winkler and Travis Harris.
- Good luck to our Berea Archery members who will travel to Madisonville KY on Saturday Feb. 21 to participate in the All A State Tournament. Austin King, Claire Garrett, Elaina Kirby, Tyson Baker and Aislin Falusckai Ford will represent our team.
- Archery Results from Saturdays EJ Hayes Tournament - Austin King placed 3rd for the HS Boys with a score of 282. Story Lockwood placed 4th for the MS Girls with a score of 257. The HS team placed 3rd out of 6 teams with a score of 3070.
- A special congratulations to HS Girls Basketball coach Dammian Stepp who picked up his 150 career coaching victory with a hard fought win at Wolfe County on Feb. 11. Thanks for all your hard work Coach!
High School Division:
Austin King – 3rd Place, HS Boys
High School Team – 3rd Place Overall
Middle School Division:
Story Lockwood – 4th Place, MS Girls
These archers continue to excel at every tournament, and we’re so proud to have them representing Berea Community Schools.
Way to represent, Pirates! 🏴☠️🎯
During 7th period today, Principal Caldwell and Middle School Counselor Ms. Lewis made their way through our middle and high school classrooms, surprising teachers with sweet Valentine’s Day treats!
We love every opportunity to show our appreciation for our incredible faculty and staff. They are the heart of Berea Community Schools, and we can't thank them enough for the work they do here every day. We are so grateful!
Thank you to all of our amazing teachers! And Happy Valentines Day from Berea Independent Schools!
Spring Homecoming is almost here!
Join us next Friday, February 20th, for our Spring Homecoming Dance from 9:30 PM to Midnight. Admission is just $5, so grab your friends, plan your outfits, and get ready for a night to remember.
Let's pack that dance floor, Pirates! 🏴☠️🎶✨
Monday night, our Middle School Boys Basketball team celebrated their 8th Grade Night with well-deserved applause and fanfare. Each 8th grade player took the court alongside family members and received a special gift from their teammates to commemorate the night. In a meaningful show of sportsmanship, our team also presented gifts to the 8th grade players from the opposing team.
Congratulations to all of our 8th grade athletes. Throughout the season, they’ve shown leadership, dedication, and cooperation. They’ve set the tone as role models in the classroom and on the court, representing what it means to be a Pirate in every way. We couldn't ask for a better batch of students.
Let's go, Pirates! 🏴☠️
This week, we’re celebrating one of the most important parts of our BCS ecosystem, our Family Resource and Youth Services Center.
Every day in our FRYSC office, Natasha Johnson and Marilyn Benton work to provide accessible, family-centered support, resources, and education that strengthen families and protect the well-being of our students.
Step into their office and you’ll likely find boxes of food, racks of clothing, and shelves filled with donations. They may apologize for the “mess,” but what you’re really seeing is something far more meaningful. Those boxes represent countless food drives, clothing collections, and community partnerships. They represent long hours, compassionate conversations, and a deep commitment to making sure every student’s needs are met.
The boots and toys they're holding up mean more than meets the eye, they mean support, kindness and care. They are reminders that behind every student is a team working tirelessly to help families access the resources they need to thrive.
Natasha attended Berea as a student from Kindergarten through 12th grade. She says:
"Working in the FRYSC office allows me to serve the community that raised me! Berea Community Schools has always truly been a unique place where everyone is accepted and friendships with students and staff can last a lifetime!"
Marilyn’s journey to Berea began in 2018 when she and her family moved here and enrolled their children in 5th and 8th grade.
"We immediately knew there was something special about this community."
She joined the Pirate family as a Kindergarten instructional Aid in 2019, and when the opportunity arose to join the FRYSC team, she jumped at the chance.
"It is a tremendous honor and a blessing to serve all the students and families across our entire district."
While visiting the FRYSC office, we ran into the Pirate Voyage student camera crew, who sat down for an interview with Natasha and Marilyn about the important work they do. It was a special moment of students celebrating their support systems, and recognizing the faculty and staff that show up of them in so many ways. Their interview will be in this week's episode of The Pirate Voyage Newscast.
Natasha and Marilyn are truly beams of light in our BCS community, and we can't begin to thank them enough for all they do.
Everyone join us in wishing them a Happy FRYSC Appreciation Week!
Who's ready for Spring Homecoming?!
Next week kicks off Spirit Week, and we want to see everyone go all out! From 2016 day to White Lie day, all week long we're going to be showing our school spirit with all sorts of themed dress-up days.
Start planning those outfits now Pirates! It'll be a week to remember! 🏴☠️✨
Now that the snow and ice have mostly melted away, we almost miss all that sledding fun…
…but we’re not complaining about that sunshine making its return. ☀️
Here’s to making memories in every season. Way to go, Pirates! 🏴☠️
A huge congratulations to our Elementary Academic Team for earning 1st Place Overall at the District Governor’s Cup!
What an incredible accomplishment! These Pirates have shown persistence, care, and dedication to their team all year long, and it's paying off big.
🏅 Team Awards:
1st Place Quick Recall
2nd Place Future Problem Solving
🏅 Individual Awards:
Math
1st Bodhi Hammond
2nd Levi Perry
Science
1st Matthew Taylor
2nd Bodhi Hammond
4th Levi Perry
Social Studies
1st Oakley Royse
5th David Pufall
Language Arts
1st Matthew Taylor
2nd Maisie Zimmerman
Arts & Humanities
1st Aylish Garcia
3rd Atticus French
4th Maliyah Key
Composition
4th David Pufall
Each of our Academic Teams here at Berea have been consistently knocking it out of the park this year, and for that we'd like to thank all our incredible coaches who invest in our students and bring out the best in them every single day.
We'd also like to thank Today’s Family Dental for supporting our team and helping sponsor an ice cream party to celebrate all of this hard work. We are so thankful for our amazing community partners!
Way to go, Pirates! 🏴☠️📚
Elizabeth Tait and Vincent Pickle performed in the Kentucky Junior High Treble Choir Thursday, February 5th. Their group world premiered two songs: "Riding in the Derby" & "A Reflection of Light" under the direction of Conductor Sherry Blevins.
Jonah Hill performed in the Kentucky High School All State SATB Choir Friday, February 6th under the direction of Conductor Edryn Coleman. He was one of 2 soloists selected to perform in their final number, "Lovely Day".
We are so proud of these students' hard work and dedication!
We would like to give a HUGE shout out to the sponsor that made this lifetime experience possible: Knight's Pharmacy, Lakes Funeral Home, and the family members of our amazing students who participated in KMEA All State!
Some highlights from the 2nd Annual Bill Smallwood Classic this weekend! 🏀
Berea closed out the night with a thunderous win over Gallatin County. We couldn’t be more proud of all the players who took the court throughout the day and showed exactly what Berea basketball is made of.
A huge thank-you to Matt Wilson and U.S. Bank for sponsoring the Bill Smallwood Classic Scholarship and supporting our student-athletes in such a meaningful way.
The $2,500 scholarship was awarded to outstanding senior Kadence Stepp, we'd like to wish her a big congratulations, and thank you to all of our amazing applicants.
Let's go, Pirates! 🏴☠️
Claire Garrett
Austin King
Elaina Kirby
Tyson Baker
Aislin Falucskai Ford
We would also like to congratulate our entire HS and MS archery teams for their strong performance at the SJE Polar Bear Classic State Qualifier! These students continue to excel week after week.
Way to represent, Pirates! 🏴☠️🎯
- Monday Feb. 9 will be Senior Night for our HS Girls Basketball players as they take on visiting Powell County.
- Our MS Boys Basketball team will celebrate 8th Grade Night on Feb. 9 vs the Richmond Guardians.
