📚 It’s Read Across America Week! 🎉

All week long, we’re celebrating our favorite books, discovering new ones, and reminding ourselves of the power of reading. To mark the occasion, we’re spotlighting staff picks from educators across Berea Community Schools!

Our first feature comes from Mr. Christopher Preece, who chose the first volume of Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz's 2011 Change is Constant comic run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This initial 4-issue story arc reestablishes the Turtle's origin and kicks off IDW Publishing's acclaimed run of the series (the longest-running TMNT comic series in history).

Mr. Preece shares:
"Reading the TMNT by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz published by IDW is a long standing series for the turtles that rejuvenated their comic run with reference to the original 1984 run with bring a modern day sense of storytelling that elevates the turtles to a whole new level. This series comes at you piping hot and delivered on time."

Our second spotlight shines on Ms. Susie Harris, who recommends The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey. Ms. Harris was also just named March Educator of the Month by WBON TV! Her nomination stated, "When the JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program faced elimination last year, Susie stepped up. She organized fundraisers and secured community sponsors to ensure the program could continue serving students. Through JAG, she teaches essential life skills such as interviewing, resume writing, and communication—preparing students for success beyond the classroom." We'd like to send her a huge congratulations for this amazing accomplishment.

Ms. Harris explains:

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens has been an important resource in my classroom because it gives students practical, real-world strategies they can immediately apply to their lives. I recommend it because it encourages personal responsibility, goal setting, and positive relationships, all of which are essential for success in school and beyond. Reading in general helps students build critical thinking skills, expand their perspective, and grow both personally and professionally."

A huge thank you to these outstanding educators for sharing their recommendations! Have you read either of these books? Stay tuned for more staff picks throughout Read Across America Week! 📖

Due to last week's school closures, our Track & Field Parent Meeting has been rescheduled to today at 5 PM in the front atrium!

If you have a 7th-12th grade student interested in participating in High School Track and Field this season, we hope you'll join us fro our parent meeting this evening at 5:00 PM in the front atrium.

Track and field is a great way to build community, improve physical, mental and emotional well-being, and stay conditioned for Fall Sports.

We hope to see you there!

A new Computer Science Program is coming to BCHS!

If you're interested in technology, software development, or cybersecurity, this program might just be for you!

This free, year-long virtual course is available to students who successfully complete the interview and acceptance process, giving you access to high-quality instruction, real-world skills, and valuable experience at no cost.

Join us for our Student & Parent Informational Meeting to learn how you can get involved:
-Wednesday, March 4
-11:00 AM
-Kennedy Theater

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this exciting new program. We look forward to seeing you there!

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! 🎉