The week of October 22 is Red Ribbon and Safe Schools Week in Knox County and in school districts across Kentucky.
Below is a listing of events taking place in our schools during this week.
Central Elementary School
- Monday – Put a CAP on Drugs Day and Wear Red Day
Wear red and caps to symbolize putting a cap on drugs and Red Ribbon Week kickoff
- Tuesday – Don’t Let Drugs Mix You Up Day
Students wear clothes backwards, inside out, upside down, etc.
- Wednesday – Do Hugs Not Drugs – Pajama Day
- Thursday – Drugs are Deadly Day
Students wear black; teachers wear pink and jeans
- Friday – Show Your School Spirit Day
Students wear blue and gold
Trick or Treat
Primary students wear costumes
Say Boo to Drugs
Discussion about the dangers of drugs for the upper grades
Dewitt and Flat Lick Elementary School
- Monday – Wear Red Day
Drug Free Pledge
- Tuesday – Keep Your Head in the Game Day
Wear school spirit
- Wednesday – Drugs Can Be Deadly
Wear all black
- Thursday – County wide “Pink Out Day”
Wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness
- Friday – Say Boo to Drugs
Halloween costumes and/or classroom parties
Girdler Elementary School
- Monday – Put A Hat on Drugs Day
Everyone wears wild and crazy hats to symbolize putting a hat on drugs.
- Tuesday – Don’t Let Drugs Mix You Up Day
Students wear clothes backwards, inside out, upside down, etc.
- Wednesday – Drugs Are Deadly Day
Students wear black
- Thursday – School Spirit Day
- Friday – Do Hugs Not Drugs – Pajama Day
School-wide Halloween Dance, 7-9pm, Girdler students only, can wear costumes without face covered. $3 admission, $1 pizza, $1 soft drinks
GR Hampton Elementary School
- Monday – Tie One On Against Drugs
Everyone wear a tie of your choice.
- Tuesday – Don’t Let Drugs Mix You Up Day
Students wear clothes backwards, inside out, upside down, etc.
- Wednesday – Living Drug-free Is No Sweat
Students wear sweat pants and sweat shirts
- Thursday – Do Hugs Not Drugs – Pajama Day
K-3 students wear PINK pajamas to school if you have them
Socking it to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
4-6 students wear pink shirt and roll pants up and wear pink socks if you have them
- Friday – Say Boo to Drugs – Halloween Costumes
Students wear storybook/cartoon character costumes to school
Lay Elementary School
- Monday – “Smarties” Don’t Do Drugs
- Tuesday – Give Drugs the Boot
Students wear boots
- Wednesday – Black Out Drugs
Students dress in black
- Thursday – Team Up Against Drugs
Wear school colors as our 5th/6th grade team will play in the first round of the tournament
- Friday – Crazy Hair Day
Lynn Camp Schools
- Monday – Hats Off to Drugs
Wear a cap or hat
- Tuesday – Think Positive
College t-shirt day
- Wednesday – Black out Drugs and Violence
Wear Black Day
- Thursday – County-wide Pink Out Day
Wear Pink
- Friday – Be a Proud Wildcat
School spirit day
Union College recently presented three Knox County Schools’ professionals with Excellence in Education Awards, a program launched in 2011 that recognizes outstanding careers in Knox County.
Winners this year represent the program’s second class of recipients. They include Rebecca Hubbard of Central Elementary School; Jeff Frost of Jesse D. Lay Elementary School; and Lana Sowders of Knox Central Elementary School. Each recipient was chosen based on a strict set of criteria after finalists were selected from a large pool of nominees. Brandon Simpson of Barbourville High School was Union’s fourth award receipient this year. Winners are active teachers and administrators who have made significant contributions to the teaching profession.
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Final details of the Knox County Public Schools’ performance-based contracting have been released, with the district set to save $290,636 in energy and maintenance costs.
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Efforts to improve customer service, build relationships, and recognize outstanding employees in the Knox County Public Schools have received regional attention and honor.
TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky (TOUR SEKY) presented the “Shining Star Trainer of the Year” award to the school district during its 25th anniversary celebration held at The Center for Rural Development on Wednesday, September 26. Public information director Frank Shelton accepted the award from TOUR SEKY president Jeff Crowe and Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers.
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Regular attendance is essential for student development and success. Schools across the state of Kentucky have chosen to designate Tuesday, September 18, as “High Attendance Day.”
On High Attendance Day elementary, middle, or high schools may compete in small school or large school categories. Awards will be determined state-wide based on each individual school’s performance, regardless of its district’s performance. The school in each category with the highest percentage attendance for that day will be awarded $500.
Locally, Flat Lick Elementary competed in the High Attendance Day competition two years ago, and won. Now it is time for schools across Knox County to compete and show other Kentucky schools that we value regular attendance and public education.
Regular attendance is essential for success in school. By attending class regularly, a student is more likely to keep up with the daily lessons and assignments, and achieve academic performance benchmarks on time. Research reflects that a child’s attendance record is one of the strongest single predictors of their academic success.
Students with irregular attendance may not develop the responsibility, self-discipline & effective work skills that are essential for success in school and life. They tend to fall behind and are continuously struggling to catch up. This diminishes their confidence and attitude toward learning. Students who accumulate unexcused absence events may be petitioned to the court system to address truancy.
Knox County educators are taking steps to ensure that their classrooms are a safe learning environment for students.
The week of September 10-14, 2012 has been designated as “School Safety Week” in the Knox County Public Schools.
The following is a list of drills that will take place during school safety week. School principals and emergency management leaders will work together to determine the time for each drill.
Monday, September 10 – Fire Drill
Tuesday, September 11 – Tornado Drill
Wednesday, September 12 – Earthquake Drill
Thursday, September 13 – Lockdown Drill
Friday, September 14 – Bomb Drill
School safety week is a part of the nationwide observance of preparedness month that coincides with the national Ready.gov campaign. For more information about preparing for emergencies at home and fun learning activities for kids, visit www.ready.gov.
Article by Cameron Bargo, 5th Grade student
Girdler Elementary School
I’m a 5th grader at Girdler Elementary. We have had some changes for the new school year in our building. We no longer go to the gym for morning assembles, we have shorter special classes and at the end of the day we now go to a RTI or enrichment class. I have the opportunity to be in the enrichment class.
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Students at Girdler and G.R. Hampton elementary schools are the first to receive “green” for going “green” from the Knox County Schools’ energy management committee.
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The Knox County Public Schools have joined a unique partnership with the University of Kentucky College of Education to innovate and improve schools in its district.
The Next Generation Leadership (NxGL) Academy, a component of Kentucky P20 Innovative Labs, will be working with Knox County leaders to facilitate the design of new systems of learning that will improve and deepen learning for all students and increase the percentage of graduates ready for college and career.
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One of the most difficult transitions students face during their education is the move from middle school to high school. Rigorous coursework, a new learning environment, class schedules different than those of their close peers, and the “unknown” are typical fears experienced by incoming ninth grade students.
Knox Central High School is looking to aid in the efficient transition of eighth grade students and build student leadership by implementing a student ambassador program this school year.
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