Congratulations to our outstanding 5th grade class for finishing the year strong and taking their final steps before starting middle school!
Yesterday evening, following our Kindergarten Celebration event, Conkin gym was once again filled with proud friends and family members who gathered to cheer on our 5th graders as they crossed the finish line and completed elementary school.
It’s always emotional to see students’ BCES journeys come to a close at the end of the year, but next year they won’t be far away! Our elementary staff will just have to remember to visit them right across the hall as they begin their 6th grade year at BCMS.
We’d like to send a huge thank-you to our entire 5th grade and elementary staff for everything they invest in these students every single day. We couldn’t do it without such an incredible team, and our students feel that support throughout the entire year.
Congratulations, 5th Graders!
It’s always so rewarding to see how far these students have come over the course of the year, and we couldn’t be more proud to see them moving on to 1st grade.
We’d like to thank all of our Kindergarten teachers and staff for looking after our students, encouraging their growth, and teaching them valuable skills and habits that will follow them for the rest of their lives. They’re here for our students every single day, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their hard work. We know the students feel the same way!
Congratulations Kindergarten!
Give your child a strong start with Preschool at Berea Community, where young learners grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a supportive environment.
Preschool at BCS means:
-Early Intervention
-Free Meals
-Bus Transportation for In-District Families
-Social and Emotional Development
-Strong Foundation for Academic Success
-Children must be 3 or 4 to be eligible for screening
Contact us now at kaitlyn.wagovich@berea.kyschools.us to schedule your child's screening for the upcoming school year.
We look forward to welcoming your family to our school community!
Good times all around at today’s BCES Field Day!
Throughout the day, our front lawn was filled with laughter and games as our elementary Pirates enjoyed some fun in the sun. Field Day is always a special tradition, signaling the end of the school year and giving students and teachers an opportunity to enjoy time together before summer break.
We'd like to give a special shoutout to BCHS Alumni Vicki Spivey, owner of 859 Party Rentals, who provided all of the inflatables & yard games for a great price, as well as the BCES Pirate PTO, who covered the cost of everything for field day. We love our community partners!
We had a blast watching our students run around the front lawn today, and we’re excited to carry that energy into our final days of school next week. Let’s finish strong, Pirates!
Give your child a strong start with Preschool at Berea Community, where young learners grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a supportive environment.
Preschool at BCS means:
-Early Intervention
-Free Meals
-Bus Transportation for In-District Families
-Social and Emotional Development
-Strong Foundation for Academic Success
-Children must be 3 or 4 to be eligible for screening
Contact us now at kaitlyn.wagovich@berea.kyschools.us to schedule your child's screening for the upcoming school year.
We look forward to welcoming your family to our school community!
Date: May 12th, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: BCES Library
The meeting will be limited to the items listed on the posted agenda
As testing season begins to wind down, students are getting some well-deserved time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the sunshine. Whether they were playing soccer, hopscotch, or just laying in the grass, students made the most of this gorgeous day outside.
We're so proud of these Pirates for the hard work they've shown throughout the school year, and we're happy to see them (and their teachers) having some fun and getting some rest.
What a great day to be a Pirate!
Who's ready for some sunshine? Get ready for a day of fun in the sun next Friday, May 15th, on our annual BCES field day!
Remember to bring a towel, sunscreen, a water bottle, a change of clothes, and comfortable shoes that can get wet.
It's going to be a day to remember, full of games, laughter, and outdoor fun. We’re counting down the days already!
Learnin’ The Ropes!
Last week, we had some very special guests from Learnin' The Ropes visit our elementary school for a jump rope performance that blew us all away. From jaw-dropping backflips to lightning-fast jump rope tricks, the performance had everyone cheering.
But beyond the excitement, the athletes shared an even more powerful message, that success comes from perseverance, dedication, and lots of practice. They reminded students that improvement doesn’t happen overnight, it takes patience and effort to grow any skill.
At one point, they brought some students and teachers out of the bleachers to practice their own jump roping while being cheered on by the whole school. The athletes reminded us that it's important to remember the power of encouragement, and make sure we're cheering on our friends and family when they're doing a difficult thing.
When asked who the “best” athlete was, their answer said it all, everyone has their own unique strengths. Whether it’s jump rope, academics, or anything else, we all shine in different ways, and with practice, we can all achieve amazing things.
A huge thank-you to Learnin’ The Ropes for inspiring our students and bringing so much energy and encouragement to our school, it's always a blast to see these athletes in action!
Today, we’re excited to recognize Ms. Parrish’s amazing fourth-grade homeroom class for winning this year’s READBowl Elementary Conference!
READBowl is a free global reading competition hosted by Super Bowl champ Malcolm Mitchel in which classes from around the globe compete to log the most minutes of reading in a four-week span. Mitchel started the competition in 2018 with the mission of encouraging literacy skills and reading habits in young people.
In January, Ms. Parrish enrolled her three fourth-grade classes in the competition. A few weeks ago, they learned that her homeroom earned first place in the entire Elementary Conference, while her second block placed third. As first-place winners, her homeroom received several prizes, including a live video chat with Malcolm!
On Wednesday morning, the students could barely stay in their seats when Malcolm appeared on the call. They eagerly raised their hands to ask questions, shared their favorite books, and even offered ideas for future READBowl challenges. Everyone had an absolute blast talking with the Super Bowl champion.
During the call, Malcolm shared stories about growing up in a community that valued football more than education. He explained how discovering a love for reading changed the course of his life and helped shape who he is today. He created READBowl to help shift some of the spotlight from sports to reading and education, inspiring a new generation to pick up a book and fall in love with reading.
Ms. Parrish's Homeroom class will also receive a “Read with Malcolm” Book Bundle for their classroom, 1 copy of Malcolm’s book, The Magician's Hat, per student, a personal library of 5 books per student, a Read with Malcolm READBowl Certificate of Achievement, and a feature on Share the Magic Foundation Website's READBowl homepage until the next annual READBowl begins.
We are so proud of this outstanding achievement. Berea is truly home to some amazing readers. Way to go, Pirates!
You helped make the morning of our first day of Teacher Appreciation Week a huge success. What a great way to kick off a week that ROCKS! 💛
Today our 5th Graders took a trip over to BCMS to tour their future classrooms, meet their teachers, and watch a performance from our Band and Choir!
The move from elementary to middle school can feel like a big step, but today’s visit helped make that transition a little more familiar. Our teachers, administration, and student helpers are all here to help students learn how to navigate the new freedoms and expectations that come with being in 6th Grade.
At the beginning of their tour, students heard from current 8th graders, who shared helpful advice about staying organized, getting involved, and making the most of middle school life.
One of the highlights of the day was the performance from our Band and Choir, who showed students all the opportunities they'll have in our music department next year. After the performance, 5th graders got the chance to talk to our Band and Choir students and learn more about each instrument.
We’re so proud of this group and can’t wait to welcome them to the BCMS halls! With the support of our dedicated staff and school leaders, they’re more than ready for this next chapter.
Welcome, rising 6th graders!
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade families, testing is approaching soon. Please be aware of the dates and make sure you're prepared to try your best with a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast!
We know you're going to knock it out of the park Pirates!
Officer Rothermel shared what it’s like to serve as a police officer, and introduced students to Berea PD's resident therapy dog, K9 Buddy!
Therapy dogs are trained, affectionate dogs that play an important role in supporting both officers and the community, offering comfort in a variety of situations. And we made sure everyone got a chance to give him plenty of love and pets!
We’re always grateful to welcome our friends from the Berea Police Department and help students learn more about the people who serve and protect our community every day.
Since October, our school has collected an incredible 18,248 cans, but we’re not done yet. With the contest running through April 30, we’re aiming to push that total even higher!
Throughout the state of Kentucky, more than 500,000 aluminum cans have been recycled this year thanks to the Recycling is Like Magic Million Cans Contest. Such an incredible way to stay mindful of our waste and bring our school communities together.
Let's keep that momentum going until the end of the month! Save your empty aluminum cans and drop them off at the school to help Berea finish strong! 💪
Mrs. Parker's 4th Grade class is getting an up-close look at cow eyes!
On Thursday, Superintendent Dr. Neaves joined students in Mrs. Parker's class to learn all about eye anatomy by taking a look at the inner-workings of a real cow eye!
Working in groups, students carefully dissected the eyes while taking notes and identifying the complex structures that make vision possible. Some were a little squeamish, others completely fascinated, but every student walked away with a deeper understanding of how our eyes (and those of animals) work.
Experiences like this bring learning to life, helping students connect concepts to real-world understanding in a meaningful way. A huge thank-you to Mrs. Parker for creating such engaging, memorable lessons that challenge students to step outside their comfort zones and truly explore science.
Way to go, BCES!
Mrs. Reynolds brings over two decades of experience in elementary education, having served students from kindergarten through fifth grade, along with leadership experience as an assistant principal. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University, completed her Rank One through action research focused on integrating reading and science, and earned her Specialist in Education degree.
Just as important as her experience is her mindset. Mrs. Reynolds is deeply committed to building strong relationships and creating a positive, supportive school environment where students and staff can thrive. As a Berea resident, she brings both professional expertise and a genuine personal investment in our community.
In her own words, she is “thrilled and honored” to join Berea Community Elementary and is eager to partner with staff, students, and families to build a culture centered on success, support, and connection.
Let's extend a warm welcome to Mrs. Stacy Reynolds!
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! 🏴☠️
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! 🌼
