🌟 Honoring Service, Supporting Students. 🇺🇸
In 2021—on Pearl Harbor Day—the West Virginia Department of Education and Common Ground Partners proudly recognized the first class of Purple Star Schools and Districts across the Mountain State. What began with 130 schools and 3 districts has now grown to 315 schools and 17 districts dedicated to supporting military-connected students and families. 💜
Kanawha County Schools is honored to be among them as a Purple Star District, continuing our commitment to helping students thrive—no matter where their family’s service takes them.
The Purple Star Award is one of many ways the Common Ground Partnership helps make West Virginia one of the best places in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. 🌄
In 2021—on Pearl Harbor Day—the West Virginia Department of Education and Common Ground Partners proudly recognized the first class of Purple Star Schools and Districts across the Mountain State. What began with 130 schools and 3 districts has now grown to 315 schools and 17 districts dedicated to supporting military-connected students and families. 💜
Kanawha County Schools is honored to be among them as a Purple Star District, continuing our commitment to helping students thrive—no matter where their family’s service takes them.
The Purple Star Award is one of many ways the Common Ground Partnership helps make West Virginia one of the best places in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. 🌄
🎉🎂 Panther Pride = 400 Birthday Cake Kits! 🐾💙
DuPont Middle students made sure birthdays will be extra sweet this year. Thanks to DuPont's Student Council, Beta Club, and the entire Panther community, they packed up 400 cake kits and hand-delivered them to their eight elementary feeder schools — Belle, Cedar Grove, Chesapeake, Malden, Mary Ingles, Midland Trail, Pratt, and Sharon Dawes. AND they also made a stop at 1 Warrior Way to drop off cake kits to RHS. 🏫🎁
Way to spread joy, Panthers! 🥳👏
DuPont Middle students made sure birthdays will be extra sweet this year. Thanks to DuPont's Student Council, Beta Club, and the entire Panther community, they packed up 400 cake kits and hand-delivered them to their eight elementary feeder schools — Belle, Cedar Grove, Chesapeake, Malden, Mary Ingles, Midland Trail, Pratt, and Sharon Dawes. AND they also made a stop at 1 Warrior Way to drop off cake kits to RHS. 🏫🎁
Way to spread joy, Panthers! 🥳👏
The September edition of the KCS Monthly Newsletter is now available 👇
🔗: https://5il.co/3qi3h
Content includes:
🚗 A trip to Safety City
📅 Important October events and reminders
🛠️ Two Roofing Project Updates
... and more!
🔗: https://5il.co/3qi3h
Content includes:
🚗 A trip to Safety City
📅 Important October events and reminders
🛠️ Two Roofing Project Updates
... and more!
🎃👻 Trunk or Treat with KCS! 👻🎃
The KCS Office of Exceptional Students is excited to host a Trunk or Treat for all students with disabilities and their families! 🧡
📅 Date: Thursday, October 16th
📍 Location: Capital High School
🕔 Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Come out for an evening of fun, candy, and community! 🍬✨ We can’t wait to see your costumes and celebrate together.
The KCS Office of Exceptional Students is excited to host a Trunk or Treat for all students with disabilities and their families! 🧡
📅 Date: Thursday, October 16th
📍 Location: Capital High School
🕔 Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Come out for an evening of fun, candy, and community! 🍬✨ We can’t wait to see your costumes and celebrate together.
💡📘 Students out — teachers in.
At Herbert Hoover High School, teacher leaders and administrators from every school launched the brand-new KCS Instructional Playbook. This playbook has six “plays” (lessons) designed to boost student confidence, spark engagement, and get everyone involved in learning. These leaders will share the plays back at their schools on the next PL Day so all teachers can put them into action. 🙌 As the year goes on, more "plays" will be added to the playbook!
Meanwhile, our Student Support Services team met at South Charleston High School to collaborate on best practices and strategies that help ensure every KCS student has a healthy, safe, and successful education.
👩🏫👨🏫 PL Days are all about sharpening skills, sharing ideas, and building stronger schools — When our teachers grow, our students win. 💙💚❤️
📸 Check out today’s collaboration in action:
At Herbert Hoover High School, teacher leaders and administrators from every school launched the brand-new KCS Instructional Playbook. This playbook has six “plays” (lessons) designed to boost student confidence, spark engagement, and get everyone involved in learning. These leaders will share the plays back at their schools on the next PL Day so all teachers can put them into action. 🙌 As the year goes on, more "plays" will be added to the playbook!
Meanwhile, our Student Support Services team met at South Charleston High School to collaborate on best practices and strategies that help ensure every KCS student has a healthy, safe, and successful education.
👩🏫👨🏫 PL Days are all about sharpening skills, sharing ideas, and building stronger schools — When our teachers grow, our students win. 💙💚❤️
📸 Check out today’s collaboration in action:
📚💡Calendar Reminder — PL Day
No school for students tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th.
No school for students tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th.
☺️ Nothing beats the joy of learning and playing together! 💙💚
Belle Elementary students had a blast during the filming of an upcoming Communities In Schools West Virginia video with the West Virginia Department of Education. 🎥✨
The theme is “Keep the Ball Rolling,” and these smiles say it all—when students’ needs are met, they’re ready to grow, succeed, and enjoy every moment at school. 🌟
Check out these #BehindTheScenes photos of our awesome students in action! 📸😁
👉 https://bit.ly/4851ClJ
Belle Elementary students had a blast during the filming of an upcoming Communities In Schools West Virginia video with the West Virginia Department of Education. 🎥✨
The theme is “Keep the Ball Rolling,” and these smiles say it all—when students’ needs are met, they’re ready to grow, succeed, and enjoy every moment at school. 🌟
Check out these #BehindTheScenes photos of our awesome students in action! 📸😁
👉 https://bit.ly/4851ClJ
🚍 New Way to Find KCS Bus Changes 🚍
We’ve added a “Bus Changes” quick link at the top of the KCS website!
✅ This link will take you to a page with all AM and PM bus changes, organized by terminal.
✅ Beginning Tuesday(9/2), district-wide bus changes will ONLY be posted on this page by the KCS Transportation Department.
✅ Some schools may still share their own school-specific bus changes on Schoology, but district-wide updates will not appear on Schoology anymore.
👉 Be sure to check the “Bus Changes” link daily for the most up-to-date information.
We hope this makes it easier for families to quickly find the information you need!
We’ve added a “Bus Changes” quick link at the top of the KCS website!
✅ This link will take you to a page with all AM and PM bus changes, organized by terminal.
✅ Beginning Tuesday(9/2), district-wide bus changes will ONLY be posted on this page by the KCS Transportation Department.
✅ Some schools may still share their own school-specific bus changes on Schoology, but district-wide updates will not appear on Schoology anymore.
👉 Be sure to check the “Bus Changes” link daily for the most up-to-date information.
We hope this makes it easier for families to quickly find the information you need!
📣 KCS Community Town Hall with Dr. Paula Potter
Kanawha County Schools invites parents, students, and community members to join us for a Town Hall Meeting with our new superintendent, Dr. Paula Potter.
🗓 Tomorrow, August 18
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
📍 Riverside High School
This is your opportunity to:
✅ Meet Dr. Potter
✅ Ask questions
✅ Share your ideas to help improve KCS
We hope to see families and community members from all schools in the Riverside High School feeder area at this important event!
Kanawha County Schools invites parents, students, and community members to join us for a Town Hall Meeting with our new superintendent, Dr. Paula Potter.
🗓 Tomorrow, August 18
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
📍 Riverside High School
This is your opportunity to:
✅ Meet Dr. Potter
✅ Ask questions
✅ Share your ideas to help improve KCS
We hope to see families and community members from all schools in the Riverside High School feeder area at this important event!
📱 New KCS App: Tips for Parents!
Our new KCS app makes staying connected with your child’s school easier than ever! Here are a few quick tips to get the most out of it:
1️⃣ Favorite Your Student’s School – Make sure your child’s school is marked as a favorite so you can access it quickly. You can favorite multiple schools so you can easily flip back and forth between multiple schools.
2️⃣ Set the Default School – Change your default school so when you open the app, your child’s school appears first instead of the district page.
3️⃣ Explore the Menu – Find important info like documents, lunch menus, the school calendar, and the online attendance excuse form—all in one place!
Check out the images below for step-by-step instructions. 👇
Our new KCS app makes staying connected with your child’s school easier than ever! Here are a few quick tips to get the most out of it:
1️⃣ Favorite Your Student’s School – Make sure your child’s school is marked as a favorite so you can access it quickly. You can favorite multiple schools so you can easily flip back and forth between multiple schools.
2️⃣ Set the Default School – Change your default school so when you open the app, your child’s school appears first instead of the district page.
3️⃣ Explore the Menu – Find important info like documents, lunch menus, the school calendar, and the online attendance excuse form—all in one place!
Check out the images below for step-by-step instructions. 👇
⏳⏩ The days are long but the years are fast — or so it seems during graduation season 🎓
Amanda Mays always knew she wanted to be an elementary principal — in 2011, she did just that when she took the head job at Belle Elementary School.
👩🏫 Mrs. Mays' first year as principal was also the first year the students pictured below started school — as preschoolers at Belle Elementary. In just a few hours, those same students are graduating from Riverside High School! 🧑🎓
👏 Before accepting their diplomas, those students stoped by the KCS Board Office, where Mrs. Mays is now the Asst. Superintendent of Elementary Schools, for a few pictures and lots of laughs with their former principal. The bonds made and memories shared in education will last a lifetime!
🐝 Sweet Learning at Belle Elementary! 🍯
Students at Belle Elementary had a buzz-worthy day learning all about bee pollination thanks to a special visit from a local beekeeper! 🐝🌼
Students got an up-close look at how bees work hard to make honey, explored real honeycombs, and even got to taste the delicious, fresh honey made right here in our community. It was a hands-on experience that was both educational and tasty!
We're so thankful for opportunities like this that bring learning to life! 💛🍯
