Mark your calendars for December 9th, our Middle and High School Choir and Band students are ready to deliver the performance of a lifetime!
MS/HS Choir – 6:00 PM | High School Theatre
Middle School Band – 7:00 PM | Singleton Gym
High School Band – 7:45 PM | Singleton Gym
Come out and enjoy an evening filled with music, talent, and holiday spirit as we celebrate our amazing student musicians!
All week long, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and schools across the United States will celebrate the 2025 National School Psychology Week (NSPW). This week celebrates the contributions of school psychologists and the important role they play in schools and communities.
NSPW is an annual opportunity to recognize school psychologists' work to help children thrive in school, at home, and in life. This year’s theme, “Finding Your Path,” recognizes the ways that school psychologists take an active role in helping everyone in their communities determine paths to learning, growth, and overall well-being that meet their unique needs. Through their deep expertise and training in consultation, collaboration, and evidence-based practices, school psychologists empower others to set their destination and find a route that fits their needs, all while sharing tools to help them thrive along the way.
Throughout the week, we’ll host activities focused on mental health and well-being, including:
🧠 Mindfulness Minutes
💬 “Be Gentle to Your Mental” reminders
💛 Fun and informative activities promoting social-emotional health
📣 Spotlights on our amazing BCS School Psychologists and mental health supports
We appreciate our school psychologists and all they do for our community, they are an incredible resource for us all, and we couldn't ask for a better team of people to support our students. Let’s give a big round of applause to these amazing professionals who help our students find their path and flourish!
Berea Community Thespians Present: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie! 🎭
This week kicks off our first theater production of the school year, a thrilling mystery that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
📅 Showtimes:
Nov 6, 7, & 8 at 7 PM
Nov 9 at 2 PM
$10 General admission
$5 Students
Join us for an unforgettable night of suspense in the Kennedy Theater and support our talented Thespian Pirates!
We’ve received several questions about ways to support during the gap in SNAP benefits. To make things easier, FRYSC has created a simple infographic outlining how you can help.
1. Donate to the FRYSC Latchkey Account
This account goes directly to funds that help students and their families. You can make checks out to the Berea Community LATCHKEY Fund. If the donation is $250 or up, you need to request the School Activity Fund Donation Acknowledgement Form from the Front Office.
2. Donate Gift Cards
You can donate gift cards to Berea Independent Schools FRYSC to be used to purchase needed food.
3. Donate Nonperishable Food Items
You can donate nonperishable food items to the small Berea Independent Schools FRYSC pantry. All donated food items will stock the pantry to be distributed to families in need.
4. Donate to BUURR
They can buy a lot more food for a lower price than FRYSC. They serve 1 person for a week for $10. BURR is a huge supporter of our FRYSC office and our families.
Community Resources & Ways to Get Involved🍎
The second flier includes a list of verified local food pantries and free meal sites in Berea. Anyone in the area who finds it useful can distribute it through their networks. Anyone is welcome to share, print, and distribute it through their workplaces, community groups, neighborhoods, churches, etc. All info on the flier is current and verified.
If you’re able, consider donating to or volunteering with these local partners:
-The Berea Food Bank asks that we give as generously as we can during their Annual Fund Drive now through November 22. Donations are gratefully accepted at https://bereaoutreach.org/support.html and by check mailed to 108 Parkway, Berea KY 40403.
-Donate to or volunteer with the UP Initiative of Madison County—a meal site and drop-in center for a range of services including to-go bags of shelf stable food. Go to https://www.up-initiative.org/donate to donate or call (859)986-0087 to volunteer or contribute items.
For more information: 859-986-8446 ext. 1276 or 1319
natasha.johnson@berea.kyschools.us
marilyn.benton@berea.kyschools.us
This week's Senior Spotlight is for the one and only Jesse Benton!
Jesse has been a student here at Berea for 7 years, and his favorite memories have been playing soccer and basketball. One of Jesse's favorite teachers is Ms. Lilly Rader.
Everyone show some love for Jesse Benton, we can't wait to see everything you go on to accomplish! 🎓
We’re thrilled to celebrate the amazing Ms. Nikki McHenry for receiving the JAG National Peak Performance Award last week!
The JAG National Peak Performance Award is presented annually at the JAG National Training Seminar to recognize specialists who demonstrate outstanding performance and dedication to student success. This year, McHenry received the award for achieving the highest average contact hours nationally in the middle school division.
This award is given to a specialist who demonstrates a commitment to fostering strong relationships with students and providing consistent, meaningful support throughout the school year. Contact hours include leading JAG classroom lessons and workshops, mentoring and academic coaching, offering career counseling, coordinating community engagement projects, organizing guest speaker events, and advising student leadership teams. Ms. McHenry also continues to support students for 12 months after they leave the middle school program, helping them transition successfully into high school. We are so proud of Ms. McHenry and deeply grateful for the dedication, compassion, and leadership she brings to our school community every day.
Thank you, Ms. McHenry, for empowering our students to reach their full potential. This recognition is so well deserved!
We’re so grateful for our first responders and all they do to keep our community safe. Thank you for your service and dedication, BCS appreciates you!
The evening kicked off with the crowning of our Homecoming King and Queen, Jonah Hill and Samone Burgess. Congratulations to both! We had an incredible lineup of Pirate candidates this year, and we’re so thankful to all the families and fans who came out to cheer them on.
Meanwhile, the BCHS Class of ’95 reunited for a tailgate celebration! It was great to see some familiar faces back on campus to spend an evening catching up and enjoying the game.
To keep spirits high (and everyone warm!), our Chili Cook-Off served up hot bowls of homemade chili, while the Pep Band and Majorettes took the spotlight for their Taylor Swift-themed halftime show. And to top it all off, our Pirates took home a sweeping victory! 🏆
We’re so proud of our Pirate athletes and grateful for the community spirit that made this such a memorable end to Homecoming Week 2025. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success!
They enjoyed a fun game about Art History, created art in the drawing/painting and clay studios, and toured the Giles Art Gallery with Melissa Vandenberg, where they viewed the exhibit “Dividends: Kentucky Arts Council Grantee Retrospective.”
This is always a wonderful learning and creative experience for the students. They love participating.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this experience possible:
Ilona Szekely, Melissa Vandenberg, Isaac Powell, Ian Mabry, Amanda Strasik,
the Art Education Student Association, EKU Art and Design, Giles Gallery, and the Kentucky Arts Council.
Good vibes all around at this year's Homecoming Bonfire! 🔥
After Thursday's Homecoming Parade, students gathered on the front lawn to enjoy the warmth of an impressive bonfire, made possible by Mr. Billings and the Berea Fire Department. Everyone enjoyed s’mores and hot dogs served by our wonderful FRYSC staff, and spent the evening laughing and chatting with friends as Homecoming Week came to a close.
For many alumni, this classic Berea tradition is among their fondest memories at Berea Community Schools. It was so special to bring it back for a new generation of Pirates to enjoy. We're already looking forward to next year!
We'd like to give a huge thanks to all our community partners and volunteers who helped make this year's Homecoming activities such a success. Thank you to the City of Berea, Berea Fire Department, Berea Police Department, Big Hill Jeep Club, Walmart, Domino's, Raising Cane's, Lori McCay, and all the parade float drivers, builders, and candidate drivers, for their time, donations and support.
Stand Up. Speak Out. Be Kind.
This month we raise awareness for Bullying Prevention Month. Being kind helps everyone to feel included, valued, and safe.
All evening the school's atrium was packed with creative costumes, great music, and smiling faces. We loved seeing our Middle School Pirates show off their best dance moves and enjoy a fun night with friends.
Such a great way to wrap up a busy and spirited Homecoming Week!
We’re starting the week by saying “Boo to Drugs!”
From October 27th-31st, get ready for a week full of themed dress-up days, so start planning those unforgettable outfits to go with each day’s theme!
Show off your Halloween creativity and Pirate Pride, and join us as we take a stand and say NO to drugs!
All throughout town, Bereans lined the sidewalks to cheer on our students and staff as they tossed candy, waved to friends and family, and proudly showcased their creative class floats.
What a great display of Pirate Pride, we're very grateful to the community for coming out to support our Pirates.
But the fun’s not over yet! Join us tonight as we crown this year’s Homecoming King and Queen during the football game. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM—come out, enjoy the game, and cheer on your candidates. We can’t wait to see you there!
🔥 Homecoming Bonfire Prep!
This morning, Mr. Billings’ Fire Science class was hard at work on the front lawn, getting everything ready for tonight’s Homecoming Bonfire!
We're so excited to reintroduce this tradition to a new generation of Pirates, it'll be a night to remember!
The bonfire will light up the front lawn right after the Homecoming Parade, all high school students are welcome to attend. Don’t forget to bring a jacket, it might be chilly!
All week long students have been gathering after school to work together on their parade floats for tonight's Homecoming Parade! Despite some windy challenges, our Pirates pulled through and put together some amazing floats for us all to enjoy tonight.
Join us tonight at 6 PM to celebrate their hard work and cheer them on in the Homecoming Parade! We can’t wait to see you there!
🎯 Become a BCS Archery Target Sponsor!
We're looking for target sponsors for upcoming tournaments. Sponsors' information will be displayed on signs behind the sponsored target during the tournaments, and on a banner which will hang in Singleton Gym for the 25-26 school year.
Support our student archers and get great local visibility!
Contact marilyn.benton@berea.kyschools.us with any questions.
🔥 Chili Cook-Off This Friday Night! 🔥
Join us during the Homecoming Football Game for a legendary Chili Cook-Off starting at 7 PM!
Bowls will be $5, and all proceeds go to the senior class trip!
- Our HS Volleyball team wrapped up their regular season with a 13 - 9 record.
- Our Cross Country team will compete in the Regional Meet at Shelby County on Saturday October 25.
- HS Football HOMECOMING Game will be Friday Oct. 24 at 7:30 against Frankfort HS.
- October 25 is the Berea Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet in Conkin Gym at 6:00 p.m. Inductees include; Jeff Johnson, Elizabeth Horn, Jay Boggs, Mike Bingham, Suzy Edmister, Evan Smith and our 1973 HS Football team.
They discussed education priorities and the upcoming budget talks in Frankfort, focusing on how the state can continue supporting our students, staff, and families.
Relationships like these are so important as we work together to strengthen our schools and our community. We appreciate Representative Bray’s time, perspective, and continued partnership with Berea Independent Schools.
