At HCMS, leadership isn’t just a goal—it’s the standard we strive for every day. As we move through the final month of the school year, it is inspiring to see how our students have truly internalized our mission and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.
We are proud to recognize our latest group of students who were "Caught Being a Leader." These individuals aren't just following a path; they are blazing one for others to follow!
Character is what defines us, and these students are defining excellence at HCMS. Keep up the amazing work!
🏀 4th Nine Weeks & KSA Reward Day Recap! 🏀
What an incredible day of energy, school spirit, and healthy competition! Here are the highlights from today’s festivities:
🏆 The Team Challenge Champions
A massive shout-out to 7 Maroon for taking home the overall Team Challenge trophy! They dominated the leaderboard by securing the top spots in:
Attendance
Cafeteria behavior and cleanliness
GPA
Fewest Discipline Referrals
Way to lead by example, 7 Maroon!
🏀 Knockout King
The competition was fierce on the court, but only one could be crowned. Congratulations to Jackson Aubrey for outlasting the field and winning our school-wide knockout competition!
🤺 Faculty vs. Students Basketball
The game we’ve all been waiting for! The students played with heart and hustle, but the faculty managed to pull out the win!
Today, we are taking a moment to celebrate the heart of our school’s health and wellness. Middle school can be a whirlwind of growth spurts, high energy, and the occasional "I don't feel so good," but through it all, Mrs. Argo is our steady anchor.
She is so much more than someone who hands out ice packs and bandages. Mrs. Argo is a listener, a comforter, and a vital part of our school family who ensures every student feels safe and cared for from the first bell to the last.
🌟 Why Mrs. Argo is our MVP:
Expert Care: She handles everything from minor scrapes to complex health needs with total professionalism.
A Gentle Touch: She knows exactly when a student needs a quick check-up or just a few minutes of quiet and kindness.
Community Support: She works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our entire campus healthy and informed.
Thank you, Mrs. Argo, for your dedication, patience, and the amazing care you provide to our students every single day. 💙
Our 8th-grade scientists celebrated Earth Day last week! 🌎
Here’s a look at what our students accomplished:
Learning the Legacy: Students dove into the history of Earth Day, discovering how a global movement started and why our efforts today matter more than ever.
Campus Care: To show some love to our school home, the classes teamed up for a campus-wide clean-up. Our grounds are looking better than ever!
Pollinator Power: Students planted a variety of seeds specifically chosen to attract bees and butterflies while helping to offset our carbon footprint. 🐝🦋
Coming Soon to a Garden Near You! 🏡 The hard work doesn't stop here. In just a few weeks, these sprouts will be ready to head home! Students will be bringing their plants home to transplant into their own gardens, spreading the "green" across our entire neighborhood.
Way to go, 8th grade! Thank you for leading the way in sustainability and stewardship. 💚
Our Student Lighthouse Team has been busy on a mission! 👣 Members of the team have been visiting every classroom to share our school-wide goals for the upcoming KSA (Kentucky Summative Assessment) testing.
It’s one thing to hear about goals from teachers, but it’s even more powerful when it comes from our peers. The Lighthouse Team did an amazing job explaining:
Our Big "Why": Why putting in our best effort matters.
Target Growth: The specific milestones we’re aiming for.
Motivation: Encouraging every student to take their time and show off what they’ve learned this year!
We are so proud of these student leaders for taking ownership of our school’s success and lifting their classmates.
Let’s go, HCMS! Let’s show the KSA what we’re made of! 💪📚
🤖 Building the Future, One Brick at a Time! 🧱
Some of our 6th and 7th graders had an incredible hands-on experience last week! Our Gear Up team led our students through an exciting dive into the world of Lego Robotics.
It wasn’t just about playing with blocks—it was about engineering and teamwork! Our students stepped up to the challenge by:
Building: Constructing robotic models from the ground up.
Coding: Writing programs to bring their creations to life and navigate challenges.
Problem-Solving: Working through challenges with persistence and grit.
Watching these students work collaboratively to find creative solutions was the highlight of our week. These young innovators are proving that the future of tech is in great hands!
A huge thank you to the Gear Up team for empowering our students with these essential STEAM skills. 🚀
Just a friendly reminder that Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) testing begins this Thursday, May 6th. Our students and teachers have worked incredibly hard this year, and now it’s time for our scholars to show off everything they’ve learned!
To help our students feel confident and ready to tackle the day, we recommend:
Catch some Z’s: Aim for a full night’s sleep so brains are rested and alert. 😴
Power up: A healthy breakfast is the best fuel for focus! 🍳🍎
Positive vibes: Remind your student to take their time, read carefully, and simply try their best. We are already so proud of them!
📅 Testing Schedule
Please check the graphic below for the full breakdown of testing dates and subjects for each grade level.
Let’s finish strong, HCMS! 🌟
Big rounds of applause for our talented Harrison County Middle School singers!
This past Thursday, April 30th, 14 of our incredible HCMS students traveled to Lexington to participate in the KMEA District 7 Honor Choir. After a day of rigorous rehearsals with some of the best young vocalists in the region, they delivered a truly stunning performance.
We are so proud of the hard work, discipline, and passion these students showed in representing our school. It’s no small feat to be selected for this ensemble, and they hit every note!
Students who participated include: Aubree Bowser, Camille Clay, Riley Collins, Asa Faulkner, London Fox, Caroline King, Delilah Massey, Korbin Mullins, Audrey Ryan, Emaree Skipper, Falynn Smith, Lyric Strong, Reese Trimble, and Elora Watkins-Schultz.
Today is Principal Appreciation Day, and we want to take a moment to recognize the man who keeps our gears turning: Mr. Valentine!
Mr. Valentine works diligently to ensure our students have the best tools, our teachers have the best support, and our school stays a safe, innovative place to learn. Whether he’s engaging with students in the hallways, solving problems in the office, or supporting our team, his dedication to our middle school family is unmatched. He leads with heart, solves problems with a smile, and works tirelessly to make sure every student and staff member has what they need to thrive.
We are so lucky to have a principal who cares this deeply about our school community!
Today is School Lunch Hero Day, and we are shouting it from the rooftops (and the hallways!): We have the best cafeteria team in the business! From the early morning prep to the final cleanup, these amazing ladies do so much more than just serve meals. They greet our students with smiles, make sure everyone is fueled up for a day of learning, and keep our school running like a well-oiled machine.
Why they are our Heroes:
Energy Experts: They provide the "brain fuel" our students need to ace their work.
Smile Specialists: They often provide the first friendly face a student sees at school during a busy day.
The Heart of the School: Our cafeteria is a place of community, all thanks to their hard work.
We are bursting with pride today! Please join us in a massive round of applause for our very own Mrs. Sammie Sowder, the latest recipient of the Golden Horseshoe Award! 🐎✨
This honor is given to those who truly embody the spirit of excellence, and Mrs. Sowder is the perfect example. Whether she’s staying late to ensure a student hits their "aha!" moment or collaborating with her colleagues to make our school the best it can be, she does it all with a smile.
Why Mrs. Sowder is our MVP:
Above & Beyond: She doesn't just teach; she champions her students to ensure every single one has the tools to succeed. 📈
Dedicated: Her commitment to her classroom and her craft is second to none.
Ultimate Team Player: She’s always the first to lend a hand and support her fellow staff members. 🤝
Mrs. Sowder, thank you for your heart, your hard work, and for making such a positive impact on our middle school family. We are so lucky to have you!
📊 Midterm Grades Are Heading Home!
Hi families! Midterm progress reports were sent home with students tomorrow.
Check those backpacks to see how your student is progressing so far this nine weeks. These reports are a great opportunity to celebrate successes and identify areas that might need a little extra focus before the end of the nine weeks.
We are so proud of the hard work our students are putting in!
They say that leadership is a choice, not a title—and our students are proving that every single day! At HCMS, we don’t just teach the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens; we watch our students turn them into action to make our school a better place.
We’re thrilled to highlight this week’s "Caught Being a Leader" award winners. These students were spotted going above and beyond to live out our mission!
Character is what happens when you think no one is watching... but we’re glad we caught these moments! Keep being the leaders we know you are! 🌟
🌟 Starry Night Success! 🌟
What an incredible evening of talent and creativity! We are so proud of our HCMS students for their outstanding performances at this year’s Starry Night. You truly represented our school with excellence and passion!
Here are a few of the highlights from the middle school portion of the show:
The HCMS Band started the night on a high note, setting a powerful tone with a strong performance of "Mighty Towers." 🎺🥁
Sam Gross wowed the audience with a live art demonstration alongside Mrs. Slade, creating a beautiful piece to the energetic beat of "Don't Stop Me Now" to close out Act One! 🎨✨
Alice Cain, Isabelle Gribble, and Emaree Skipper gave a moving and professional conclusion to our segment with a dramatic reading of a poem they wrote themselves. 🎤📖
Thank you to all the students, staff, and parents who made this night possible. We are already looking forward to next year!
🎉 STATE CHAMPIONS ALERT! 🎉
Please join us in celebrating Karsyn Richardson, Kraglynn Fryman, and Marie Hobbs, three of our incredible STLP (Student Technology Leadership Program) stars, who took home 1st Place at the state tournament! 🏆
They competed in the Attendance Matters category (6th-8th Grade Division) and blew the judges away with their innovation, technical skills, and dedication to improving our school community.
It takes a lot of hard work and creative problem-solving to reach this level. These students proved that when technology meets a great cause, amazing things happen.
Mark your calendars for an incredible evening celebrating the arts! Join us this Saturday, April 25th, at HCHS for our annual Starry Night showcase. This district-wide event features the amazing talents of our students in grades K-12.
Here is the lineup for the evening:
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM | Ice Cream Fundraiser 🍦 Kick things off with a sweet treat! Enjoy homemade ice cream crafted by our talented culinary arts students in handmade bowls by HCHS art students.
5:00 PM | Visual Art Exhibit 🎨 Walk through a gallery of stunning works created by our student artists. (Free admission!)
6:00 PM | Performing Arts Show 🎭 Find your seat for a spectacular showcase of music, drama, and dance. (Free admission!)
Where: Harrison County High School (HCHS) When: Saturday, April 25th Cost: The exhibits and performances are FREE and open to the community!
Come out and support our hardworking students for a night of creativity and community. We can’t wait to see you under the stars! 🌟
Today, we are taking a moment to celebrate three incredible women who truly keep our school running smoothly: Mrs. Hamm, Mrs. Jenkins, and Mrs. Barry!
From the very first bell to the final checkout, these ladies are the heart and soul of our front office. Whether they are greeting students with a smile, helping parents, or managing the thousand-and-one details that make our school a great place to be, they handle it all with grace and kindness.
Middle school life can be fast-paced and chaotic, but they make it look easy. We are so incredibly lucky to have them on our team!
What a season it has been for our soccer programs! As we close out the regular season, we want to take a moment to celebrate the hard work, grit, and sportsmanship our athletes have shown on the pitch.
🏆 Regular Season Records:
Girls Soccer: An incredible 9-1-3 season!
Boys Soccer: A hard-fought and impressive 8-5 finish!
Both teams have shown what it means to play with heart, and we couldn't be prouder of their growth and dedication.
🚀 Next Stop: Bluegrass Conference Tournament!
The "second season" starts now. We want to wish both teams the best of luck as they head into the Bluegrass Conference Tournament. We know you’ll represent our school with pride and give it your all!
Go teams! Let's bring home that hardware! 🥇💪
We are bursting with pride today! A huge shoutout to our incredible middle school archers who "played up" this week to support our high school teams at the KHSAA State Tournament.
It takes incredible focus and nerves of steel to compete on the big stage, and our middle schoolers proved they have exactly what it takes to help lead the pack!
🏆 The Results are In:
Girls Archery Team: KHSAA STATE CHAMPIONS! 🥇
Boys Archery Team: KHSAA STATE RUNNER-UP! 🥈
Seeing our younger athletes step up and contribute to such a massive victory at the high school level is a testament to their hard work and the strength of our archery program.
