Pirates sure do know how to make the most of a snow day! ❄️🛷
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! 🏴☠️
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! 🏴☠️
🏆 District Champions! 🏆
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! 🏴☠️📚
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! 🏴☠️📚
This month's Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, February 16 2026, at 7 PM, in Kennedy Theater.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Tait, Vincent Pickle, and Jonah Hill for performing in the Kentucky Music Education Association Conference!!!
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!
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! 🏴☠️
Congratulations to all our amazing archers who have advanced to All A State! 🎯
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! 🏴☠️🎯
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! 🏴☠️🎯
Berea Athletics schedule for the week of Feb. 9 - 14. Good luck to ALL of our teams and coaches this week. Go 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.
- 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.
Today, we’re proud to introduce the newest member of the Berea Community School Board: Ms. Jenny Hobson.
Ms. Hobson is a highly accomplished social worker, educator, and leader who began her career in family engagement right here at Berea Community Elementary School. Since then, she has designed the Family Village curriculum for rural emerging family leaders and led the training of more than 200 facilitators, expanding access to leadership development, financial stability education, and community engagement support for young families in rural communities.
Her work has been wide-reaching and transformative for communities across Kentucky and beyond, and it all started here, in the halls of BCS.
“I'm really grateful to this district for sort of launching my career in family engagement because now I get to go all over the country and all over the state doing what I learned how to do here at Berea.”
As a parent of two Pirates herself, Jenny understands firsthand what it means to keep a school like Berea thriving. We see it everyday, from our teachers and administrators to our custodians and bus drivers, to parents and community leaders, every corner of the community is consistently putting in the work for our students. And it wouldn’t be possible without them.
“I think it's really important that a school like this continues to stay open. It is the hub of the community and the community doesn't happen unless we make it happen. It requires people to be teachers and it requires people to be volunteers and it requires some people to be willing to serve on the board. And so I'm happy to give back. And help keep making this community happen.”
That spirit of collaboration and service leadership runs deep at Berea. From the beginning of its history, BCS has been built on the back of our communities working together to make the impossible happen. As with many of us, that meaningful history is something Ms. Hobson holds very dear.
“I really think that what makes Berea special is the history. And the way that different groups in our community came together to make the school happen. It took the city school, it took the foundation school, it took the college all working together to create this wild and wonderful place. I mean, when you talk to people who are older and they talk about going from door to door and getting signatures to make this school happen, and then the unique architecture, I just think it is a place not quite like any other.”
Jenny Hobson was sworn in on January 23, 2026, and will officially join us at this month’s Board Meeting on Monday, February 16. We are so proud to welcome her to the Board and excited to work together to continue building an ever-better Berea Community for our students.
Ms. Hobson is a highly accomplished social worker, educator, and leader who began her career in family engagement right here at Berea Community Elementary School. Since then, she has designed the Family Village curriculum for rural emerging family leaders and led the training of more than 200 facilitators, expanding access to leadership development, financial stability education, and community engagement support for young families in rural communities.
Her work has been wide-reaching and transformative for communities across Kentucky and beyond, and it all started here, in the halls of BCS.
“I'm really grateful to this district for sort of launching my career in family engagement because now I get to go all over the country and all over the state doing what I learned how to do here at Berea.”
As a parent of two Pirates herself, Jenny understands firsthand what it means to keep a school like Berea thriving. We see it everyday, from our teachers and administrators to our custodians and bus drivers, to parents and community leaders, every corner of the community is consistently putting in the work for our students. And it wouldn’t be possible without them.
“I think it's really important that a school like this continues to stay open. It is the hub of the community and the community doesn't happen unless we make it happen. It requires people to be teachers and it requires people to be volunteers and it requires some people to be willing to serve on the board. And so I'm happy to give back. And help keep making this community happen.”
That spirit of collaboration and service leadership runs deep at Berea. From the beginning of its history, BCS has been built on the back of our communities working together to make the impossible happen. As with many of us, that meaningful history is something Ms. Hobson holds very dear.
“I really think that what makes Berea special is the history. And the way that different groups in our community came together to make the school happen. It took the city school, it took the foundation school, it took the college all working together to create this wild and wonderful place. I mean, when you talk to people who are older and they talk about going from door to door and getting signatures to make this school happen, and then the unique architecture, I just think it is a place not quite like any other.”
Jenny Hobson was sworn in on January 23, 2026, and will officially join us at this month’s Board Meeting on Monday, February 16. We are so proud to welcome her to the Board and excited to work together to continue building an ever-better Berea Community for our students.
We love our school counselors!
Today, during lunch, our elementary students couldn’t wait to surround their counselor, Mr. Dollins, to show their appreciation on the final day of School Counselors Week.
Throughout the day, students and staff proudly wore their “I love my school counselor” stickers and shared their gratitude for the incredible counselors who support and care for our school all year long.
It's hard to miss how much our students love their counselors, we couldn't be more grateful or all the amazing work they do here. Thank you Mr. Dollins and Ms. Lewis! 🏴☠️✨
Today, in celebration of School Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our amazing BCMS counselor, Mary Lewis.
Ms. Lewis was raised in Eastern Kentucky, where the values instilled by her parents and grandparents continue to guide her purpose each day—"Especially the importance of helping others". She is deeply dedicated to supporting students, families, and school communities with compassion, care, and authenticity.
Throughout her career, Ms. Lewis has had the privilege of working with students and schools across the Commonwealth in a variety of roles. Her service on community boards such as Kentucky Youth Advocates and Leadership Madison County has strengthened her ability to connect families with meaningful resources. She has also greatly valued her experiences as a CASA volunteer and as a Teen Outreach Program trainer.
"My two beautiful children are my greatest accomplishment, along with our cat, Porsche. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my kids and friends, reading biographies, dancing, and exploring my new love for meditation."
A trusted source of strength and guidance, Ms. Lewis supports students throughout BCMS and beyond as they learn to better understand themselves and navigate the ups and downs of the school year. It’s clear how much her work means to her, and how much of a difference it makes in the lives of our Pirates.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve students—this work is not just my job, but my passion. I feel truly fortunate to collaborate with such wonderful staff, families, and community partners."
We are incredibly grateful to have dedicated educators like Ms. Lewis supporting our students and making a difference every day at Berea Community Schools!
Ms. Lewis was raised in Eastern Kentucky, where the values instilled by her parents and grandparents continue to guide her purpose each day—"Especially the importance of helping others". She is deeply dedicated to supporting students, families, and school communities with compassion, care, and authenticity.
Throughout her career, Ms. Lewis has had the privilege of working with students and schools across the Commonwealth in a variety of roles. Her service on community boards such as Kentucky Youth Advocates and Leadership Madison County has strengthened her ability to connect families with meaningful resources. She has also greatly valued her experiences as a CASA volunteer and as a Teen Outreach Program trainer.
"My two beautiful children are my greatest accomplishment, along with our cat, Porsche. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my kids and friends, reading biographies, dancing, and exploring my new love for meditation."
A trusted source of strength and guidance, Ms. Lewis supports students throughout BCMS and beyond as they learn to better understand themselves and navigate the ups and downs of the school year. It’s clear how much her work means to her, and how much of a difference it makes in the lives of our Pirates.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve students—this work is not just my job, but my passion. I feel truly fortunate to collaborate with such wonderful staff, families, and community partners."
We are incredibly grateful to have dedicated educators like Ms. Lewis supporting our students and making a difference every day at Berea Community Schools!
Due to potential weather, our Middle School Valentine Dance has been postponed to Thursday, February 12th from 3:30-5:30.
🎟️ Admission is $5, pizza and water will be provided.
We apologize for the late schedule change, but we want to ensure the safety and accessibility of our campus for all students.
Get ready to show off your best dance moves, hang out with friends, and enjoy a fun night filled with music and memories. It'll be a night to remember! ✨
🎟️ Admission is $5, pizza and water will be provided.
We apologize for the late schedule change, but we want to ensure the safety and accessibility of our campus for all students.
Get ready to show off your best dance moves, hang out with friends, and enjoy a fun night filled with music and memories. It'll be a night to remember! ✨
We will be on a one hour delay again this morning, Friday, February 6th. Please use this extra time to travel safely.
Today, in celebration of School Appreciation Week, we’re shining a spotlight on our amazing BCES counselor, Craig Dollins!
Craig is a proud third-generation Pirate, born and raised in Berea. With a niece currently attending Berea Community Middle School and a two-year-old daughter who will one day also be a Pirate, his roots in our community run deep.
"From an early age, I knew I wanted to work at Berea Community Schools and give back to the community that helped shape who I am. I was raised with the values of respecting others, lending a helping hand, and being a friend to everyone—principles that naturally led me to the field of school counseling."
Craig’s own experiences as a Berea student guide his work as a trusted source of support and encouragement for the next generation of Pirates. He understands our school’s values inside and out and is proud to help carry on that legacy.
"For those new to the area, Berea Community Schools is truly a special place. Our schools are filled with encouragement, acceptance, and a commitment to laying a strong foundation so students can achieve their dreams. As the Elementary School Counselor at BCES, my goal is to play a small but meaningful role in helping students grow into positive contributors to society. At the heart of that goal is ensuring students come to a building every day where they feel supported, valued, and genuinely cared for. That was my experience as a student at BCS, and it is my hope to continue that tradition for the next generation."
Outside of school, Mr. Dollins enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, coaching basketball at BCHS, watching sports, collecting comic books, and—most importantly—playing with dinosaur puppets.
We are incredibly grateful to have dedicated educators like Mr. Dollins supporting our students and making a difference every day at Berea Community Schools!
Craig is a proud third-generation Pirate, born and raised in Berea. With a niece currently attending Berea Community Middle School and a two-year-old daughter who will one day also be a Pirate, his roots in our community run deep.
"From an early age, I knew I wanted to work at Berea Community Schools and give back to the community that helped shape who I am. I was raised with the values of respecting others, lending a helping hand, and being a friend to everyone—principles that naturally led me to the field of school counseling."
Craig’s own experiences as a Berea student guide his work as a trusted source of support and encouragement for the next generation of Pirates. He understands our school’s values inside and out and is proud to help carry on that legacy.
"For those new to the area, Berea Community Schools is truly a special place. Our schools are filled with encouragement, acceptance, and a commitment to laying a strong foundation so students can achieve their dreams. As the Elementary School Counselor at BCES, my goal is to play a small but meaningful role in helping students grow into positive contributors to society. At the heart of that goal is ensuring students come to a building every day where they feel supported, valued, and genuinely cared for. That was my experience as a student at BCS, and it is my hope to continue that tradition for the next generation."
Outside of school, Mr. Dollins enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, coaching basketball at BCHS, watching sports, collecting comic books, and—most importantly—playing with dinosaur puppets.
We are incredibly grateful to have dedicated educators like Mr. Dollins supporting our students and making a difference every day at Berea Community Schools!
Berea Recognizes FRYSC Staff at City Council Meeting
At Tuesday night’s Berea City Council meeting, Mayor Bruce Fraley and the City of Berea honored our incredible FRYSC staff by proclaiming February 9–13 as Family Resource and Youth Services Coordinators Week.
Representatives from Berea Community and Madison Southern, along with city council members, spoke about the meaningful impact FRYSC staff have on local families. Councilman Steve Caudill noted, “The work that they do is immeasurable.”
Our own Natasha Johnson also spoke about the overwhelming support FRYSC has received from the city and the community, sharing, “We have never had a need that has gone unmet. We have wonderful resources in this town, led by a wonderful mayor.”
We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the City of Berea for recognizing these dedicated members of our community. Our FRYSC staff work every day to support the needs of our students and families, and we couldn't be more grateful for all they do.
At Tuesday night’s Berea City Council meeting, Mayor Bruce Fraley and the City of Berea honored our incredible FRYSC staff by proclaiming February 9–13 as Family Resource and Youth Services Coordinators Week.
Representatives from Berea Community and Madison Southern, along with city council members, spoke about the meaningful impact FRYSC staff have on local families. Councilman Steve Caudill noted, “The work that they do is immeasurable.”
Our own Natasha Johnson also spoke about the overwhelming support FRYSC has received from the city and the community, sharing, “We have never had a need that has gone unmet. We have wonderful resources in this town, led by a wonderful mayor.”
We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the City of Berea for recognizing these dedicated members of our community. Our FRYSC staff work every day to support the needs of our students and families, and we couldn't be more grateful for all they do.
Save the Date!
The Berea Community ACCESS team invites parents and guardians to join us for a special Parent Night on March 17th from 5:30–8:00 PM.
This event will feature timely, hot-topic informational sessions and a variety of helpful community vendors focused on supporting families and helping our community strive for "More Good Days Together".
We hope to see you there!
The Berea Community ACCESS team invites parents and guardians to join us for a special Parent Night on March 17th from 5:30–8:00 PM.
This event will feature timely, hot-topic informational sessions and a variety of helpful community vendors focused on supporting families and helping our community strive for "More Good Days Together".
We hope to see you there!
Reminder: We will be on a one hour delay this morning. Please use the extra time to travel safely. See you soon!
To ensure our students stay on track with their learning goals, we have scheduled the makeup day for today’s closure.
School will be in session this coming Monday, February 9th.
Monday night, our Berea Pirates and Lady Pirates took on Madison Southern and Madison Central in an exciting night of basketball.
After a long week of snow, students and faculty were eager to get back in the stands and kick off the week cheering on our Pirates. It was great to see everyone back in the building, reconnecting, supporting our teams, and enjoying our community.
We can’t wait for more nights like this. Let’s go, Pirates! 🏴☠️
After a long week of snow, students and faculty were eager to get back in the stands and kick off the week cheering on our Pirates. It was great to see everyone back in the building, reconnecting, supporting our teams, and enjoying our community.
We can’t wait for more nights like this. Let’s go, Pirates! 🏴☠️
School Closed – Wednesday, February 4th ❄️
Due to ice accumulations and cold temperatures, Berea Community Schools will be closed on February 4th, 2026.
Today will be a Traditional Snow Day. No NTI Work required.
Stay warm and safe, Pirates! ☃️
Due to ice accumulations and cold temperatures, Berea Community Schools will be closed on February 4th, 2026.
Today will be a Traditional Snow Day. No NTI Work required.
Stay warm and safe, Pirates! ☃️
Kindergarten Registration!
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.
Mark your calendars and get ready to set sail!
Additional Kindergarten Registration Dates include April 18th, May 16th, June 11, and July 25.
More details coming soon. We can’t wait to meet our future Pirates! ⚓🏴☠️
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.
Mark your calendars and get ready to set sail!
Additional Kindergarten Registration Dates include April 18th, May 16th, June 11, and July 25.
More details coming soon. We can’t wait to meet our future Pirates! ⚓🏴☠️
