
Lots of great action home and away. Good luck to all our teams and coaches. Go Pirates!!
- Our HS Girls Soccer team will take on LCA at 8:00 p.m. on Monday in Frankfort in the Semifinals of the All A Regional Soccer Tournament.
- HS Volleyball picked up a big Varsity and JV wins on the road vs Harlan on Saturday.
- The 8th Grade MS Girls Basketball team is now 10-0 on the season.


The source of the music was talented and accomplished musician John Skelton, who visited our school to give a special presentation as part of last week’s local Celtic festival.
Born in London, England, and raised in Somerset, John has deep roots in traditional Irish music. He is known as an accomplished and distinctive flute player, has recorded several albums, and has toured the world performing.
Throughout the presentation John demonstrated various instruments from penny whistles and Irish flutes, and of course, the unmistakable bagpipes. He shared stories about learning to play from his grandfather, as well as the rich history and traditions behind these iconic instruments.
Students loved the opportunity to see a professional musician perform up close and to hear the stories behind the instruments and music. It was a wonderful way to bring the traditions of Celtic music into our school. Thank you John for visiting our school and telling your story!






Archery Open Gym Next Week!
Attention Berea Archers! Next week, on August 27th, Coach Benton is hosting an Archery Open Gym in Singleton Gym from 5:30-7:30 for grades 6 through 12.
Considering joining the team this season? This is the perfect opportunity to check things out and get involved!
All participants must have a current sports physical. Contact Coach Benton at marilyn.benton@berea.kyschools.us if you have any questions!

- HS Volleyball open regular season on the road at Lynn Camp on Monday 8/17.
- HS Boys Soccer on Tuesday is a 1st round matchup in the All A Regional Tournament.
- Girls and Boys soccer have a District rival double header on Thursday at home.
- MS Boys and Girls Soccer teams play host to Foley on Friday night.
- Our HS Football team kick off their season on the road Friday night vs Jackson County in the Battle of Big Hill Bowl.
- The 8th Grade MS Girls Basketball team looks to keep their unbeaten streak alive this week. 7-0 on the season now.


Dear Middle and High School Families,
We are excited to welcome our students back tomorrow Thursday, August 13th.
We want to remind everyone that the first few days of school are a time for acclimation. Students are getting familiar with their classes, teachers, and expectations.
Students are learning how to navigate their schedules and working through their individual needs.
We strongly encourage regular attendance as students begin settling into their routines.
As you settle back into school routines, a few simple things can make mornings easier:
• Put away electronics at an appropriate time in the evening.
• Establish a consistent bedtime so students get enough rest.
• Lay out clothes, backpacks, and other needed items the night before.
• Review the next day's schedule and make a plan for the morning. (Our Pirates will be receiving a planner for FREE from our awesome ACCESS team!!)
Thank you for helping us start the year with grace, patience, and positivity.
First bell rings at 8:15 AM Students will be released at 3:10 PM.
Warmly,
Berea Middle and High school
Ms. Kelly Caldwell and Staff
-Our MS Girls Basketball 8th Grade team went 4-0 last week with wins over West Jessamine twice, Clark Moores and LCA.
- The MS Boys Soccer team defeated cross town rival Farristown 3-2 on Saturday in the Foley Cup. 8th grader Graham Ramsay score 3 goals for the Pirates.


We're excited to introduce Mr. Cates and Ms. Cunningham, who are joining the BCMS team for the 2026–2027 school year!
Mr. Cates will be teaching 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts. A lifelong Berea native, he has previously taught in both Madison County and Garrard County and is excited to return to Berea, where he began his career.
Ms. Cunningham will be teaching middle school Math and Science. Originally from Michigan, she moved to Kentucky to pursue further education and is excited to become part of the Berea family this year.
Please join us in giving Mr. Cates and Ms. Cunningham a warm Berea welcome! Be on the lookout for more new staff spotlights as we get ready to kick off the 2026–2027 school year.


Yesterday morning our new class of 6th Graders met up in Conkin Gym for their 6th Grade Transition Camp. Students toured the middle school, met some of their new teachers, and spent time playing games and getting prepared for their first day of 6th Grade.
Before heading home, students gathered at the school's entrance with handfuls of chalk to write encouraging messages to their classmates along the walkway. All our students will get to read them as they walk in on their first day of school this year.
Any Pirate will tell you, the 6th Grade Transition Camp is a memorable moment for students taking the leap over to middle school. Between learning to navigate their class schedule, to making friends and taking on more responsibilities, we're excited to help students every step of the way and make sure they have a great experience starting at BCMS.
We can't wait to welcome this new class of 6th graders to school this year!










As we approach the new school year, we'd love your help in stocking our teachers' lounge! Your donations help ensure our incredible faculty and staff have the snacks, drinks, and supplies they need to stay energized and supported throughout the day.
Donations may be dropped off at the school front office August 6th-13th, or at Back-to School Night on August 7th, at the school front office.
Helpful items include snacks and drinks, paper towels and napkins, coffee and k-cups, plastic utensils and cups, and office supplies.
Our team is beyond grateful for any and all support from the community. Thank you for making the difference for our crew!

The students spent last week learning about Broadway musicals, constitutional amendments, biology, number theory and more with the top teachers and students from all over the state. Addyson Farthing won 3rd place in the pop culture tournament and Graham Ramsay won 3rd place in the social studies tournament!
Coaches of our elementary, middle, and high school teams can’t wait for the 26-27 season to start. Let's give it up for this outstanding team of Pirates!

In order to begin participating student-athletes must have an up to date sports physical and parental permission form. Forms can be found on the school website under Athletics.
Families can reach out to Athletics Director Jerry Bingham at jerry.bingham@berea.kyschools.us for any further information. We look forward to seeing you next week! Go Pirates!

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.


Elementary and high school supply lists will be posted later this summer. We hope you're having a wonderful summer break! ☀️

Rising 6th Graders, who's ready to meet your teachers and start your BCMS journey?
Save the date! On July 30, 10AM-12PM we'll be hosting our 6th Grade Transition Camp to help incoming 6th graders become familiar with middle school expectations and routines, prepare for their first day in August, and welcome them into the BCMS community. Parents will sign-in students in the front atrium of the school.
Our faculty and staff are excited to support students as they make the transition across the hall, we're looking forward to helping them start the school year with confidence.
Parents can email our middle school counselor, Mary Lewis, at mary.lewis@berea.kyschools.us if they have any questions or concerns.
Mark your calendars, we can't wait to meet our newest class of 6th graders!

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.










Earlier this week, we held our 8th Grade Completion Ceremony in Singleton Gym, where families and friends gathered to celebrate this special class of Pirates, not only for everything they’ve accomplished this year, but throughout their entire BCMS journey.
These students deserve all the praise we can give. They consistently amaze us with their hard work, creativity, and dedication to their school, and we can’t wait to welcome them to high school next year.
We’d also like to give a huge shoutout to our incredible middle school staff for their commitment to these students over the years. We couldn’t be more proud of our BCMS team.
Congratulations 8th graders!










Congratulations to our 6th & 7th grade award winners!
Yesterday afternoon, we held our 6th and 7th grade completion ceremony in Singleton Gym to celebrate another successful year of hard work and achievement in our middle school.
We’d like to give a huge shoutout to our ever-dedicated middle school staff for their commitment to our students and our school throughout the 2025–2026 school year. We couldn’t be more proud of our BCMS team.
Congratulations, middle school!










- 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.

Each student chose a pathway based on their interests and skill sets, which will guide their high school coursework toward their future careers and prepare them for life after graduation. Whether it was engineering, culinary arts, media arts, fire science, or another field, every student was excited to announce their pathway and begin working toward their goals.
Congratulations to these exceptional students for completing our middle school JAG program. And let’s not forget Ms. McHenry, whose continued investment in these students has strengthened their confidence, capability, and character immeasurably.










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
