
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! 🏈

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.


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!

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.










On Friday, this year’s senior class walked the stage and accepted their diplomas at Phelps Stokes, surrounded by their families, classmates, and rows of proud BCS teachers and staff, many of them holding back tears as they watched these students step into the next chapter of their lives.
There’s nothing quite like watching a class grow over the years. As our teachers know, it is incredible to see these students blossom into such capable and inspiring young adults. They are scholars, athletes, friends, advocates, and leaders, but most of all, they are Pirates.
We can’t wait to see all that each and every one of them will accomplish.
Congratulations, graduates! Now go out and do amazing things, and don’t forget to come back and visit. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate!










With spring sports wrapping up, it’s time to get ready for soccer season! Coach Partin will hold a team meeting on May 28th to officially kick off the summer and begin preparations for an exciting season ahead.
We’re looking forward to getting back on the field. Check out the June practice schedules and make plans to be there, let’s get ready for a great season, Pirates! 🏴☠️
Every year, after running through the hallways one last time while being cheered on by students and teachers, the senior class rushes into the student parking lot only to be ambushed by the juniors, armed with water balloons and shaving cream, lots of shaving cream.
Last year, this class of seniors were the ones doing the ambushing, but this year it was their turn to face the class of '27. Safe to say, no one left without a face full of shaving cream!
Our student parking lot has been home to this tradition for more than 20 years, and it’s always one of our favorite highlights of the last day of school. What a great send-off!








These students have grown up in this school. Many have spent the last 13 years walking the same round hallways and eating lunch at the same cafeteria tables. For many, this school has become a second home, and its teachers and staff, a second family. Saying goodbye to a place that holds so many memories can be overwhelming, and not just for the students. Over the years, our teachers and staff have watched these students grow into who they are today, helping guide them through many important stages of life. And we know every teacher would agree that we could not be more proud of the capable young adults these students have become.
These hallways, cafeteria tables, and most of all, the faculty and staff, won’t ever forget the impact this class has made over the years. We’ll always be here to remind you of all the good memories the next time you come back to visit. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.
And to all our other students, we hope you had a fantastic end to the school year! We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished since August, and we look forward to hearing about all your summer adventures in class next year.
Now, let’s get ready for an explosive finale! We can’t wait to see these students walk across the stage Friday evening. Our graduation ceremony will be livestreamed on the official district YouTube channel, and we hope you’ll tune in!










- Berea HS will host the 44th District Softball and Baseball Tournaments this week at Berea College. 1st round games for Baseball will be Monday May 18, 1st round games for Softball will be Tuesday May 19 and the Finals will be Wednesday May 20. Admission will be $7.00 at the gate, children under 5 free, no school/coach/administrator passes will be allowed for Districts.
- Berea Track Team will compete in the KHSAA State Meet this week at the University of Kentucky. The meet will start on Thursday May 21 and run through May 23. The following students will participate; Jordan Bailey, Gio Ball, Lucas Marshall, Justice Pietro, Rose Ramsay and Eli Richardson.

This group has shown exceptional commitment, work ethic, and skill throughout their entire high school careers. Whether on the field or in the classroom, their hard work has paid off, and we'll miss seeing them every day in our hallways.
We can't wait to see what these exceptional students go on to achieve after graduation, and we couldn't be more proud to call them Pirates!
We would also like to congratulate 8th graders Mariah Smith and Camden King, who were recognized at our softball senior night for playing with the high school team this season. Congratulations to them as well!
Let's go, Pirates!









Each day, teams of students were tasked with creating a dish from a limited selection of ingredients under a strict time limit to see who could create the tastiest meal. Judges lined up to sample each dish and deliver the crushing blow to the team that didn’t quite make the cut.
As the teams were whittled down, only two fierce competitors remained this morning on the final day of the tournament. Each team made a delicious dessert, but at the mercy of the judges, “The Bakers” ended up taking home the gold medal.
Give it up for Ms. Caudill for implementing such fun and engaging activities in the classroom. We’re proud to have teachers like her getting students on their feet, applying their skills, and overcoming challenges and obstacles. Throughout the week, students had a blast experimenting with different techniques and approaches and applying those lessons to real dishes with real stakes.
Congratulations to our winning team, and to the entire class for putting your cooking skills to the test.
What a great way to wrap up the year. Good work, chefs!










We’d like to congratulate our many award winners and recognize the incredible talent and excellent character displayed by the Class of 2026. Throughout their time at BCS, these students have consistently shown exceptional care, dedication, and hard work inside and outside the classroom, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate them before they walk across the stage next Friday. They’ve earned it.
Let’s all give a hand for our outstanding seniors!










These students always show their best, on and off the court. Two members of the team, Kairei Santiago and Travis Harris recently celebrated their senior night, and we wish them the best as they take their next steps post-graduation. We're proud to have this team representing Berea.
Give it up for these student athletes!



Berea Athletics schedule for May 12 - 15. Good luck to ALL of our teams and coaches this week as they finish up the regular season.
Go PIRATES!!
- Thursday May 14th will be Senior Night for our HS Softball Team.
- Congratulations to Yarely Ramos who won her first-round tennis match at Regionals before being eliminated by the #1 seed in the second round.
- The Berea Track team competed in the Region 5 Meet on Saturday May 9th in Danville KY. Here are the results:
Congratulations to our Unified athletes!
Gio and Eil are 1A Region 5 Champions in Unified 2x50
Justice and Lucas placed 2nd in the 2x50
Jordan and Rose placed 4th in the 2x50
Jordan and Felix placed 3rd in Shot Put
Justice and Isaiah placed 5th in Shot Put
Gio and Eli placed 7th in Shot Put
Gio/Eli and Justice/Lucas have qualified for State in the 2x50!!!!
Congratulations also to...
Arin for placing 5th in the 3200
Eli for placing 7th in the 3200
Lucas for placing 9th in both the 800 and 1600

This week we'll be celebrating a long year of hard work at BCHS with our underclassmen and senior award ceremonies on Monday & Tuesday respectively. Join us in recognizing the dedication and achievements of our exceptional student body as the year begins to come to a close.
Underclassmen Awards: May 11th, 9:00 AM, in Kennedy Theater
Senior Awards: May 12th, 7:00 PM, in Singleton Gym
We'll see you there!

Cap Decorating Time, Seniors! 🎓
Graduation is right around the corner seniors, and that means it's time to add your personal touch to your graduation outfits, cap decorating!
Whether you’re creating a photo collage, painting a design, adding meaningful quotes, or showing off your favorite colors and memories, we want to see caps that celebrate YOU and your journey.
Join us on Wednesday, May 13th for a Senior Cap Decorating Party! Seniors can spend time crafting, enjoying pizza, and enjoying time together before the school year comes to a close.
Bring some supplies and some ideas, and let's get crafting! We'll see you there!

- Tuesday May 5th will be 8th Grade Night for our MS Softball Team.
- Thursday May 7th will be Senior Night for our HS Baseball Team.
- Our Tennis Team will begin Regional play on Friday May 8th at EKU and continue play on Saturday May 9th.
- The Berea Track team will compete in the Region 5 Meet on Saturday May 9th in Danville KY.


Weaving with Berea College Student Craft! 🧶
Ms. Cveticanin's art students were recently visited for the last time by Berea College Student Craft Outreach Director Steve Davis-Rosenbaum, and a team of Craft Educators for a lesson on weaving!
students were guided through the creative process of yarn weaving on a small wooden 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. It's so meaningful to have the experts right here in our classrooms, working with our students, and teaching them about new mediums and art forms. Thanks to everyone who has made this collaboration possible!










Tuesday morning, our senior class gathered in Singleton Gym in front of their families and friends for their senior signing! This special annual event celebrates our senior class and all of their amazing post-graduation plans. Whether it be attending college, entering the workforce, or pursuing other goals and ambitions, we were so excited to cheer on our seniors and recognize all of the amazing journeys they're planning for after graduation.
More photos of the senior class are available on the district's Facebook page.
Give it up for these amazing seniors!










Amazing performances all around at this year's Spring Concert! 🎶
Kennedy Theater was packed last night as excited families, alumni, and staff gathered to enjoy our Middle & High School Spring Choir performances.
From the Marvelettes to The Lion King and Adele, our singers showcased an impressive range of material, with some stand out duets and solos that absolutely blew us away.
A huge round of applause for Mrs. Barnhill and all of her choir students, who continue to inspire us year after year. The strength and impact of this program is unmistakable to students past and present, who carry their love of choir with them far beyond the halls of our school.
The most meaningful moment of the night came before their last song, when Mrs. Barnhill called all of her senior choir students up front to be recognized before the end of the performance. There were smiles and tears all across the room as Mrs. Barnhill shared the impact these seniors have had on her over the years. We're so proud to see the incredible performers these students have grown into, they will be dearly missed next year.
We'd like to congratulate the entire choir on an excellent last concert of the year. The spring concert is a special tradition, one that brings our community together to celebrate the creativity, hard work, and growth our students have shown throughout the year. We couldn't be more proud of these talented singers!









