(This link only works for teachers and staff. Please see the "For Parents" link at left on this page.)

This page updated March 16; other pages updated March 18, 2010.

Upcoming events

Public invited to Bombers' 'fast-break' football scrimmage here on March 19

Everyone is invited to watch the final day of spring football practice on Friday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at Bomber Field. The team will participate in a “fast-break football” scrimmage – a different kind of game with no pads.

For more information, please contact Coach Chris Cooper at 665-8400, ext. 2341, or email chris.cooper@ballard.kyschools.us.

Family Focus to host Camp Invention again this summer

Ballard County Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center will hold the popular Camp Invention program again this summer. Sessions will be held June 1-4 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ballard County Middle School.

Field trips will be Monday, June 7, to the Challenger Center in Paducah; Tuesday, June 8, to the City Museum of St. Louis, Mo.; and Wednesday, June 9, to Venture River Water Park in Eddyville. 

Registration is limited to 40 students who will be in third to sixth grade next year. Cost is $175 per student, and scholarships are available.

For more an enrollment form or more information, please contact Family Focus director Kelly Wray at 665-8412, ext. 226, or email kelly.wray@ballard.kyschools.us.

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Preschool/Head Start registration set for March 22-26 and April 19-23

Ballard County Preschool/Head Start will hold its spring registration for new students on March 22-26 and April 19-23 for children who are or will be 3 or 4 years old by Oct. 1, 2010.

This registration is for new students only. Parents/Guardians are asked to please call Mary Miller at 665-8400, ext. 2100, for an appointment call-back on either set of dates. Students do not need to attend; they will be screened on a different date: April 22-23 for March registrations and May 17-21 for April registrations.

Parents should please bring the following information with when registering a child:

- Certified birth certificate of the child

- Proof of income for the family (income tax return or W-2 form, child support order/proof of amount/SSI income/SSDI income/proof of public assistance, KTAP, food stamps, etc.)  Income verification is required on the date of the application.

- Social Security cards of child and SSNs for everyone in the household

- Medical card or insurance information

All of the following are required for school entry. If they already have been completed, please bring them also:

- Kentucky Immunization Certificate

- Kentucky eye exam form from an eye doctor (required for school entry, to be done after child is 3)

- Physical completed since Aug. 10, 2008, by child’s doctor

The school also has an Early Head Start program here. It is a home-based, full-year, comprehensive program serving pregnant mothers and children up to age 3. Applications will be taken during preschool registration. To be eligible, applicants must meet federal poverty guidelines. To apply, please bring proof of income, child’s birth certificate and Social Security numbers of all family members.

For more information concerning registration, please contact Susie Nutt at the number above, or email susie.nutt@ballard.kyschools.us.

BCMS, BMHS list remaining SBDM dates

Ballard County Middle and Ballard Memorial High schools have set meeting dates for their respective Site-Based Decision-Making councils for the 2009-10 school year.

At BCMS, meetings are the second Monday of every month at 3:30 p.m. in the office conference room. Dates are as follows: April 12; May 10; and June 14.

At BMHS meetings also will be held on the second Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m., in that school’s office conference room. Other dates are as follows: April 12; May 10 and June 14.

Parents invited to view their BCMS, BMHS students' ILPs

Parents are invited to access their students’ personal Individual Learning Plans via the Internet. The ILP is a complete career guidance program for students in grades 6-12 that is Internet-based. Students can explore career and college options and develop their career paths.

Many parents already have a personal username and password for this service. However, if you do not have or have lost your username and password, please contact the following staff members: For Ballard County Middle School students, please call guidance counselor Kim Grogan at 665-8400, ext. 2303, or email kim.grogan@ballard.kyschools.us; for Ballard Memorial High School students, please contact business teacher Renee’ McDermott at 665-8400, ext. 2402, or email renee.mcdermott@ballard.kyschools.us.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students and we want them and you to take full advantage of this free tool,” McDermott said. “We are inviting you to look at your student’s progress and see what great things he or she is accomplishing. Many universities are beginning to look at the ILP as a reference in selecting students for scholarships and many other resources.”

The ILP is very easy to view. Parents are asked to review their student’s information and add any comments to the ILP that they would like. The student will be able to see the comments made when they access their account. Parents are not able to change any information that students’ have entered, but you are allowed comment, McDermott explained.

Simply use the link from the right side of the Ballard County Schools’ home page at www.ballard.kyschools.us or type www.careercruising.com/ilp/ into your browser.

·        Enter your username and password.

·        Under the Quick Links section, go to Parent/Guardian Review of ILP

·        Click the link

·        Click “Yes” that you have reviewed your student’s ILP

·        Make any comments

·        Click Save

Also, parents are able to see who their student has invited to view their ILP under the Guest Views of the child’s ILP link under the Quick Links menu.

“We encourage you to look and sign off that you have viewed this wonderful information and help your student to make this a positive and good reflection on themselves,” McDermott continued. “This also will benefit your student by helping him or her understand that others are viewing the ILP, and will encourage the student to put forth a best effort.”

21st Century program hosting weekly Thursday parent computer sessions

Ballard County’s 21^st Century Community Learning Center program will host weekly Thursday computer nights for parents of students in the program. The sessions will be held from 4-5 p.m. in the library at Ballard Memorial High School, 3561 Paducah Road, Barlow.

“Many of our parents would like to access their student’s grades, the school’s website, or other information regarding their children, but may not have the equipment they need at home,” said program director Dustin Roberts. “We’re excited to be able to offer this opportunity to you while your students are at school, participating in the 21^st Century program.”

In order to participate in the computer nights, parents must have a student enrolled in the 21^st Century program at the elementary, middle or high-school level. Roberts said that although there currently were no openings at the elementary level, there were slots available for students at the middle and high schools. The program combines homework help, remediation and enrichment for students of all ability levels from 3-5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at no cost. Bus transportation is available to community drop-off points at the end of the day; $1 per day is requested from students who use the service.

Roberts said he would be available during the sessions to assist parents as needed; however, to access the district’s Infinite Campus data system for student grades, etc., parents should have their log-in codes in hand when they come to the session. He asked that parent who did not have this information contact him before 2 p.m. on the first day they planned to come to the library. 

For more information on the computer nights or the 21^st Century program, please contact Roberts at 665-8400, ext. 2539, or email dustin.roberts@ballard.kyschools.us.

Fall, spring break dates set for 2010-11

Dates for fall and spring breaks for 2010-11 have been approved by the Ballard County Board of Education. Fall break will be Oct. 4-8, 2010; spring break will be April 4-8, 2011.

KSP drivers' license manual now online

The Kentucky State Police have made the state’s official drivers’ license manual available online to anyone, free of charge. It may be downloaded from the KSP website here.

Latest edition of KDE's ParentInfo

The February edition of the Kentucky Department of Education's online parent newsletter, ParentInfo, may be found here. Stories in this issue include a comic website that helps with literacy, the KHEAA's and Student Loan People's annual reports, and information about taking the ACT.

News from around the district

Notice: Because of increased site traffic, the page has become increasingly slow to load. Stories on this section of the page will be posted for no more than one month. If you would like emailed or hard copies of the stories, please email julie.thomas@ballard.kyschools.us with your request. Thank you!

Ballard schools to begin using locally-grown hydroponic lettuce

Kathy Kendrick, director of Ballard County Schools’ food services, recently toured Kentucky Hydro Farms, in Benton. The operation, owned by Matt and Jerry Wyatt, specializes in growing hydroponic lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Currently, Kentucky Hydro Farms produces various types of lettuce that easily can be used in the school foodservice program. One benefit in which Kendrick was especially interested is that their lettuce mix is healthier than the traditional iceberg lettuce currently being used in the school lunch program. As a rule, the darker green the leaves, the more nutritious they are, Kendrick explained.

KHF’s varietal mix offers more vitamins and minerals, is lower in calories and higher in nutritional value, she said. The lettuce is grown without chemicals or pesticides and is delivered within one day of harvest. Roots are still intact to preserve quality and shelf life, and 100 percent of the leaves are usable.

Kendrick said she planned to start serving the lettuce beginning in the high and middle schools this spring. Approximately 120 small salads are served there per day, along with several large chef salads. “Students want the benefits of salad and now will be able to benefit even more,” she said.

Hydroponics (from the Greek words hydro, water, and ponos, labor) is a method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in water. Plants may be grown with their roots in the solution only, or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or mineral wool. The greenhouses recycle their water, and are environmentally friendly. Vegetables can be produced all year.

Ballard County Schools and Kentucky Hydro Farms both are part of the “Kentucky Proud” program, which encourages using locally-grown produce as much as possible.

Cutlines (please click thumbnails for larger images):

Kathy Kendrick, food service director for Ballard County Schools, is shown here inside one of the hydroponic greenhouses at Kentucky Hydro Farms in Benton.

Young hydroponic Bibb lettuce plants.

Mixed varieties of lettuce grown hydroponically at Kentucky Hydro Farms.

(K. Kendrick photos)

CTC names March Students of the Month

Lain                            Hunt                           Bledsoe 

        Hogancamp                     Milgate                        Curtis

Instructors at the Ballard County Career and Technical Center have started a program to recognize individual students in each of the six programs offered at the school. Each month, teachers will nominate one student from each area who is performing well in class, shows improvement, and/or dedication to and leadership in his or her program. The honor is meant to be a reward for stand-out students. Awardees for March are Michelle Lain for agriculture; Emily Hunt for allied health; Nathan Bledsoe for auto body; Hannah Hogancamp for business; Aaron Milgate for carpentry; and Rodney Curtis for welding.

 (BCCTC photos)

Foundation grant expands mental health services in Ballard County

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has awarded a Local Data for Local Action implementation grant in the amount of $87,145 to Four Rivers Behavioral Health to expand mental health services in Ballard County.

Four Rivers will provide clinical services for mental health and substance abuse, as well as substance abuse prevention service, in the county. In collaboration with community partners, the grant will provide expanded services in the schools, the community and at primary care clinics, and will increase prevention programming and activities, youth wellness and recreational activities.

“The aim is to increase behavioral health services beyond what currently is being offered to address the need,” said Bob Wilson, Ballard County Schools’ director of pupil personnel. “We want it to be financially sustainable far beyond the grant period, and showing sustainability was a requirement for this grant by the FDHKY.”

Children’s appointments are available at Ballard County Middle and Ballard Memorial High schools on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at Ballard County Elementary School on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult appointments are available at the Ballard County Community Resource Center, 158 Third St., LaCenter, on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Four Rivers is in the process of obtaining a local phone number. However, until then, to make an appointment, please call 1-866-442-7121 toll-free. The direct line for children’s appointments is 270-442-9767, and for adult appointments is 270-442-7121.

The grant was submitted by the Ballard County COMPASS coalition, with FRBH serving as the fiscal agent. The COMPASS coalition reviewed health indicator data and conducted a community health survey of over 700 residents to assess the health of the county. Town hall meetings held last spring allowed community members to hear the results of the survey, review other health information and give input on what type of health services were most needed here.

Melody Nall, outreach coordinator for the Purchase Area Health Education Center, served as the Ballard COMPASS grant coordinator. “After discussing many options, the group believed that expanded mental health services for students, families and community members was a priority. Four Rivers is willing to work with us to make it happen, using some innovative approaches.”

For more information, please contact Bob Wilson, Ballard’s director of pupil personnel, at 665-8400, ext. 2014, or email bob.wilson@ballard.kyschools.us. 

Ballard chapter nets three first-place awards at MSU's FFA Day

Three Ballard memorial FFA members earned first-place honors in regional competition at FFA Day at Murray State University. Katelin Wilmoth won the AIC contest, Nathan Myers took first place in extemporaneous speaking, and Jane Thomson placed first in turf and lawn impromptu speaking.

These three will compete at the state level on June. 9, along with Collin Cooper, who got second in dairy impromptu speaking, and Ryan Buchanan, who placed second in horse impromptu for the second year in a row. Dakota Walters earned second in ag mechanics impromptu, but sine it was only a regional contest, he will not have the opportunity to compete at the state level.

Receiving superior ratings in speaking contests were Kevyn Cunningham for the FFA Creed, Jay Middleton for beef impromptu, Drew Myers for crop impromptu, Ashley Brunson for goat impromptu, and Mallie Myers for small animal impromptu. Teams that earned superior ratings were the talent group of Brittany Grider, Katie Wallace, Sara Hargrove, Stephanie Pearson, Lauren Kendall and Michelle Lain, and the junior chapter meeting team of Lain, Kendall, Cunningham, Allie Wildharber, Peyton Cooper, Becca Smith and Clay Arnel.

Getting excellent ratings in their contests were Arnel in the FFA quiz, Cooper in prepared public speaking, Audrie Blakney in sheep impromptu, Logan Leigh in the Beef Bowl, and the senior chapter meeting team of Thomson, Middleton, Buchanan, Brunson, Blakney, Grider, Myers, Patrick Bugg, Andrew Dortch, Jessica Thomason and Chris Bodell.

Adviser Mark Williams said the FFA members had fun competing in their contests and already are looking forward to next year’s contests.

Cutline:

Ballard Memorial chapter members competed in a variety of contests at FFA Day at Murray State University. Shown from left are (front row) Katie Wallace, Stephanie Pearson, Kevyn Cunningham, Jessica Thomason, Michelle Lain, Becca Smith, (second row) Katelin Wilmoth, Jane Thomson, Dakota Walters, Logan Leigh, Ashley Brunson, Allie Wildharber, Lauren Kendall, Mallie Myers, (back row) Clay Arnel, Patrick Bugg, Audrie Blakney, Nathan Myers, Sara Hargrove, Andrew Dortch, Collin Cooper, Chris Bodell, Jay Middleton, Ryan Buchanan, Peyton Cooper and Drew Myers.

(BMHS FFA photo)

BCES, BCMS perfect attendance winners announced

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Ballard County Elementary School second-grader Jaydon Garcia was the winner of the bicycle for perfect attendance during the third nine weeks. He is shown here with BCES Principal Phillip Harned. Student names are drawn from the pool of perfect attendees at the end of each grading period; there were 102 eligible at BCES this quarter. Ballard County Middle School sixth-grader Madison Cooper won the iPod Shuffle for perfect attendance there for the third nine weeks. She is shown with Family Focus director Kelly Wray. The gifts are provided by the Ballard County Board of Education; Family Focus also provides rewards for classrooms with the highest attendance every month.

 (BCS photo)

BCES celebrates Read Across America Day with 'celebrity' guests

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Ballard Memorial High School varsity basketball players came to Ballard County Elementary School on March 2 to mark “Read Across America Day” by reading to the next generation of Bombers. The day is held every year to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss (beloved children’s author Theodor Seuss Giesel, 1904-1991). In the first photo, player Alex Hill reads to a group of kindergarten students. In the second, player Chris Davis adapts his style to “The Cat in the Hat” to read do first-graders. First-grade teacher Trecy Chaykowsky said, “We will try to make this a tradition every year on Read Across America Day, since the boys did such a great job and the kids loved it.”

(BCES photo)

BCES science fair draws nearly 100 participants

(Photo by Bobby Mayberry; used by permission)

Students at Ballard County Elementary School participated in a school-wide science fair on March 2. Judges were Advance-Yeoman editor Bobby Mayberry, LaCenter Rural Fire Chief Mark Claxton and players from the Ballard Memorial High School basketball team. In the photo, students Domarea and Dantoria Crice stand in front of their model of the solar system. Complete results are as follows

The following students received first-place ribbons on their projects: Jared Turner, Meghan Walker, Mason LeFevre, Leah Shelley, Mackenzie Blackford, Lindsey Miller, Rhiana Fields, Jesse Hedrick, Hannah Gilbert, Annie Cooper, Lake Wildharber, Eli Mitchell, Shelby Hawes, Erin Langan, Josh Byerley, Brian Harvell, Marena Summers, Jarett Oldham, Peyton McDaniel, Evan Dulworth,

Phillip McKee, Dustin Draper, Bryce O’Neill, Emilee Jones, Madison Williams, Lydia Bowles, Peyton Hurt, Wes McDowell, Emily Kearney, Parker Feezor, Brady Parrott, Brady Cox, Joey McGuirk, Peyton Wray, Drew Sullivan, Katie Garner, Weston Robinson, Matt Mallory, Joseph Pegram, Laken Cain, Darell Williams, Ethan McDowell, Khalil Griffin, Austin Higgins, Tristen Lampkin,

Kirsten Jones, Sarah Carlyle, Tyler Farver, Will Allcock, Cayce Chaykowsky, Jordan Pickett, Olivia Mayberry, Lauren Wheeler, Anna Henderson, Morgan Hunt, Destiny Benson, Bethany Fadely, Dustin Draper, Haley Allen, Logan Crabtree, Kialeigh Dahl, Ali Seabourne, Mason Purcell, Drew Cox, Preston Reno, Emma LeFevre, Dalton Hawes, Ross Jones,

Connor Buchanan, Jared Pace, Landon Wicker, Jenna Thomas, Emma Kimbro, Randy Harper, Tiffany Harper, Chloe Irvin, Maddie Kimbro, Shelby Taylor.

The following students received-second place ribbons on their projects: Isabella Myers, Joanna Farver, Cole Gaia, Grant Dunning, Miguel Gonzales, Kalin Skaggs, Charlene Crawford, McKenzie Burnley, Kerrie Pullen, Marissa Gonzales.

The following students received third-place ribbons on their projects: Dantoria Crice, Domarea Crice, Nate Cashan, Autumn O’Hara, Lakyn Burnley, Logan Peppers, Hanna Abernathy, Charly Steinbrink, Madison Watson, Susan Knapp, Makayla Kearney.

Black History Month celebration held on BCES campus

Bernadine Blanks, special education instructional assistant at Ballard County Elementary School, paid tribute to her heritage during Black History Month with a salute to 200 distinguished African-Americans this February.

Students from kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as administrators, faculty, staff and even visitors viewed the biographies and visual display in the school’s lobby. Blanks stated that she was extremely excited about sharing black history with students and co-workers. “Hopefully, it will increase the awareness and understanding of the contributions each of these 200 individuals have made to our society,” she said.

Cutline:

BCES staff member Bernadine Blanks stands in front of her Black History Month display at the school. Among the 200 African-Americans featured were abolitionist author Fredrick Douglass, singer Aretha Franklin, black nationalist publisher and orator Marcus Garvey and tennis Grand Slam winner Althea Gibson.

(BCS photo)

Preschoolers earn 'kindness coins' for good deeds

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Students in Amy Metcalf’s classes at Ballard County Preschool/Head Start have been collecting “kindness coins” for good deeds. In February, they put up a bulletin board that said, “Kindness is Contagious… Pass it On.” For that month in the morning class, Gabrielle Shelton (back row, fourth from left) collected the most coins with 18. In the afternoon class, Molly Harris (back row, also fourth from left) got the most with 24. For March, the board says, “Look Who is Being Good as Gold at Preschool.” Students will collect coins in their “pots of gold” through the whole month of March.

 (BCPS photo)

FBLA takes three first-place, many other awards at Region 1 conference

By Heather Mix

FBLA Reporter

Future Business Leaders of America members from Ballard Memorial High School earned first-place awards in three competition divisions at the Region 1 conference at Murray State University on March 1. A total of 36 BMHS students attended, with the following members competing and placing in these events:

Bulletin board: First place, Kayla Smith, Shannon Tubbs, Jordan Davis, Kaitlin Bailey, Emily Hunt, Phillip Gibbs.

Economics: First place, Ian Wilson.

Local chapter newsletter: First place, Heather Mix.

Digital video production: Second place, Alex Mallory, Will Mallory.

Accounting II: Third place, Cody Armstrong.

Introduction to parliamentary procedure: Third place, Thomas Mix.

Most Talented at talent show: Third place, Allyson Alvey.

Technology concepts: Third place, Dustin Wysong.

Word processing I: Michael Mix.

Also at the conference, Ballard’s FBLA reporter, Heather Mix, was elected the 2010-11 Region 1 reporter. She will attend FBLA summer camp to learn more about her responsibilities and how to carry them out to the fullest. Throughout the year, she also will send out newsletters to the region’s chapters and will help with next year’s Region 1 conference.

All of the winners above will compete at the FBLA state conference on April 15-17.

Cutlines (please click thumbnails for larger images):

Ballard FBLA reporter Heather Mix was elected to that regional post for 2010-11 at the group’s March 1 conference at Murray State University.

Jordan Davis, Emily Hunt, Kaitlin Bailey, Kayla Smith and Shannon Tubbs are shown here with their first-place award-winning bulletin board in regional FBLA competition. Phillip Gibbs also was part of this group.

Shown from left are other winners in regional FBLA competition: (back row) Ian Wilson won first place in economics; Thomas Mix took third in introduction to parliamentary procedure; Alex Mallory and Will Mallory won third in digital video production; Phillip Gibbs was part of the first-place-winning bulletin board team; (front row) Cody Armstrong, took third place in accounting II; Heather Mix, won first place for local  chapter newsletter; Allyson Alvey, took third for most talented at the talent show; Michael Mix won third in word processing; and Dustin Wysong took third in technology concepts.

(BMHS FBLA photos)

BCES fifth-graders start Relay for Life team

Members of the BMHS Class of 2017 (current fifth-graders at Ballard County Elementary School) have started a Relay for Life team. Anyone in the Class of 2017 who is interested in joining, please contact MaryBeth Myers at ktmyers@brtc.net or 876-7198, or Lexi Johnson at velg@brtc.net or 335-3931 by March 12. Relay for Life will be held at Bomber Field on June 11. Team members shown from left are (back row) Tyler Morgan, William Stewart, (front row) Annie Cooper, Lindsay Tatum, MaryBeth Myers, Hannah Gilbert and Lexi Johnson.                                                                             (Relay for Life photo)

BCES wins district academic team meet

Ballard County Elementary School’s Academic Team won its district meet over Hickman County on Feb. 27 at BCES. The team will advance to regional competition, to be held March 20 at Morgan Elementary in Paducah. Participants there will be Ballard, Hickman, Clark, Morgan, Community Christian Academy, Lone Oak, St. Mary, Graves, Mayfield, and Farmington. Some individual students also will participate based on written assessment scores. 

Both the second-place quick-recall and first-place future problem solving teams from Ballard will compete at regionals. Members of the QR team are Will Stewart, Josh Byerly, Sam Paul, Anna Henderson, Taylor Doke, Landon Wicker, and Mason LeFevre. The FPS team includes  Drake Blevins, Ethan McDowell, Ben Fithen, Bradley Chandler, Olivia Mayberry and Mason LeFevre; their competition was Feb. 23.

The top five individuals in each written assessment category also qualify for regionals. The students from Ballard who will go to Morgan are Sam Paul, first place, Peyton Cooper, third place in districts in language arts; Landon Wicker, second, Josh Byerly, fifth, social studies; Peyton McDaniel, first, Byerly, third, math; Lexie Scott, fourth, Cayce Chaykowsky, fifth, science; Taylor Doke, first, Scott, second (tie), Anna Henderson, fourth, written composition; Doke, first, Jonnah McManus, second, and William Stewart, fourth, arts and humanities.

Cutline:

Members of the Ballard County Elementary School academic team are shown here from left (back row) Coach Sherry Taylor, Bradley Chandler, Johnna McManus, Will Stewart, Peyton McDaniel, Taylor Doke, Lexi Scott, Mason LeFevre, Coach Jeanette Kimbro, (middle row) Landon Wicker, Sam Paul, Peyton Cooper, Olivia Mayberry, Josh Byerly, (kneeling) Emma LeFevre, Cayce Chaykowsky and Anna Henderson. Team members not shown are FPS Coach Jennifer Mayberry, students Drake Blevins, Ethan McDowell, Ben Fithen and Mason Purcell.                                                                                (BCES photo)

FFA gets one first-, three second-place awards at Spencer County Invitational

While many members of Future Farmers of America were celebrating the end of FFA Week and the weekend, 18 members of the Ballard Memorial High School chapter traveled to the Spencer County Invitational to compete Feb. 27 in contests to help them prepare for upcoming FFA Day regional contests.

Leading the pack was the talent team of Brittany Grider, Stephanie Pearson, Sara Hargrove, Victoria McCain, Lauren Kendall and Michelle Lain. Even though they were missing one member and another was fighting a sore throat, their performance of “White Liar,” a song made popular by Miranda Lambert, earned them first place honors.

The junior chapter meeting team of Lain, Kendall, McCain, Becca Smith, Allie Wildharber, Clay Arnel and Peyton Cooper earned second place in their group. In this contest, they did official FFA opening and closing ceremonies and conducted 5 ½ minutes of business according to parliamentary rules.

Jane Thomson and Ryan Buchanan warmed up for regional contests by taking second place in their respective impromptu speaking contests: Thomson in turf and lawn and Buchanan in horse. Several other members competed in contests and gained invaluable experience as they look forward to next week’s contests. Drew Myers entered in crop, Jay Middleton spoke in beef, Collin Cooper spoke in dairy, Ashley Brunson entered in goat, Audrie Blakney was in sheep, Nathan Myers spoke in extemperaneous, and Peyton Cooper entered prepared public speaking.

Chapter adviser Mark Williams said, “Even though some of the speakers did not do as well as they would have liked, they are now better prepared to enter their respective regional contests.”

While on the trip, the group enjoyed eating together at Golden Corral in Elizabethtown, went to the movies afterwards and the spent the night in a hotel. Williams said that the FFA would like to thank Stephanie Kendall and Lisa Williams for accompanying the group on this trip.

During the week, the chapter had celebrated National FFA Week with a wide variety of activities. Monday was Camouflage Day, Tuesday was favorite Color Day, Wednesday was Hillbilly Day, Thursday was Professional Career Dress Day, and Friday was FFA Apparel Day. Each day, those participating were eligible for prizes. Kinsey Carroll and Jordan Buchanan won pig key chains on Monday; Stephanie Pearson and Jay Middleton won FFA lanyards on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Peyton Cooper and Nathan Myers won FFA water bottles; on Thursday, Kevyn Cunningham and Ryan Buchanan won a multipurpose keychain or cell phone pad. Friday’s winners, Audrie Blakney and Bobby Crabtree, won either a FFA cap or socks. Members who participated in activities every day were eligible for the grand prize. This lucky person was Jesse Chandler, who won a FFA blanket.

Monday night, over 25 FFA members came to the Ballard County Middle School gym for a night of games and fellowship. They played kickball and scatterball and ate pizza. On Thursday, the chapter provided chocolate chip cookies in both the career and technical center and high-school teachers’ lounges.

Cutlines (please click thumbnails for larger images):

Jesse Chandler was the grand prize winner of Ballard’s FFA Week with this blanket.

These are the 18 Ballard FFA members who competed at the Spencer County Invitational.

The FFA’s first-place talent group with their plaque.

Ryan Buchanan won second place in beef impromptu speaking at the Spencer County Invitational.

Jane Thomson won second place in turf and lawn impromptu speaking at the Spencer County Invitational.

(BMHS FFA photos)

KDRP presents 'Brain and Body Octane Tour' at BCES

Vicki Yonts of Kentucky Delta Regional Project is shown here with fourth-grade students at Ballard County Elementary School during the Brain and Body Octane Tour on Feb. 25. The tour presented information on substance abuse, bullying, internet safety, dental hygiene, physical activity and nutrition, and centered on making good choices. KDRP is a federal wellness grant serving communities in 60 counties in Western Kentucky.

(KDRP photo)

School board accepts bids for two construction projects

The Ballard County Board of Education accepted bids for two construction projects at a special called meeting on Feb. 22.

The first project includes work at the district’s career and technical center, preschool/head start and elementary school. The low bid was $2,332,614 by Pinnacle Construction of Benton, said Superintendent Ed Adami. At the CTC, the company will renovate an automobile tech lab into a health sciences lab, put down new corridor tile and tech room carpet, rework bathrooms and put in security cameras and a secure window-wall similar to the one in the high school. At the preschool, they will replace cafeteria windows, add air conditioning to the gym, redo the building’s electric system, add a security camera and replace a sidewalk. At the elementary, they will renovate mechanical rooms, re-roof the gymnasium, replace the HVAC, replace corridor lights and tile, and install security cameras and an electronic entrance control.

In the second project, the football stadium also will get a major facelift. The low bid of $711,500 was by Cleaver Construction of Murray. Work will include renovation of the weight room, resurfacing of the tennis court, expansion and resurfacing of the track to comply with KHSAA standards, installing new stadium lighting with underground electric feed, renovating stadium bleachers to comply with ADA standards, and installing a new press box.

Adami said that work will begin immediately after the 2009-10 school year ends in order to minimize student disruptions, and will be completed before the 2010-11 school year begins.

FCCLA members take regional offices; one to try for state position

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Three members of the Ballard Memorial High School chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America were elected to regional office at interviews on Feb. 16. Skylar Amis (single photo) was elected as the organization’s Region 1 vice president of programs. Michelle Lain (left in photo of two) was elected Region 1 vice president of individual programs. She is the daughter of Carmen Hall of Kevil. Lauren Kendall was elected Region 1 vice president of public relations and parliamentary law. She is the daughter of Phillip and Stephanie Kendall of LaCenter. Amis also selected to be the FCCLA state officer candidate from Region 1. She will run for state office at the 2010 FCCLA state meeting March 28-31 in Louisville. Amis has served as Region 1 vice president for both parliamentary law and STAR events. She is the daughter of Terry and Kelly Amis of Kevil. 

(BMHS FCCLA photos)

BCES now offering collection of books online

Students at Ballard County Elementary School have a new reading resource online. BCES librarian Rhonda Pace applied for and was awarded a one-year school resource grant from Sylvan Dell Publishing, which provides unlimited student and family access to books through the Internet.

The publisher’s online reading program offers 45 eBooks, each with selectable English and Spanish text and audio. The books are fun, fictional stories involving animals and nature, and offer spectacular art and much more. The back of each book has a 3- to 5-page educational section called “For Creative Minds” that parents can explore with their children.

Also, each title has its own homepage loaded with 30-40 pages of cross-curricular teaching activities and three interactive quizzes – all free online. A release from Sylvan Dell said, “We think you’ll find this program an interesting integration of fun reading with the option of serious science, math, geography and language learning.”

All offerings are online, so the books may be viewed from any computer with broadband for a family reading and learning event. For those teachers using the books in their classroom, it offers an opportunity to involve parents and reinforce classroom learning.

Because BCES has this eBook site license, students and their families have complete access to this resource from their home computers. “We encourage you to enjoy it with your children,” Pace said.

Links to the eBook license page have been posted on the school’s website. Please click the “Schools” tab near the top of the home page. Click the Ballard County Elementary Schools link and then look for the “Sylvan Dell eBooks site” link or click here.

The eBooks are fairly intuitive, but the document here explains step-by-step how to operate them.

Pace said that if students and teachers were enjoying the eBook site after the grant expires in January 2011, the publishers had programs to help.

Proficient, distinguished students lists now posted on school pages

Student results from last year’s Commonwealth Accountability Tests have been posted on each school's web page. The school pages may be accessed by clicking the "Schools" tab at the top of this page, and then clicking the appropriate building's page link.

Student names are listed at their current grade levels, although test results are from the 2008-09 school year. (In other words, results for last year's fifth-graders are posted as sixth-grade students on the middle school page, etc.)

There are no scores for last year’s freshman; ninth-graders take a different set of standardized tests.

BMHS guidance office now on Twitter

Ballard Memorial guidance counselor Lorry Beth Wilson has created a page on social networking site Twitter for scholarship updates and deadlines. “It’s not solely for seniors, because I have Governor’s Scholars Program and essay contest information on it as well,” she said.

Students, parents and teachers may log on to www.twitter.com/BMHSguidance and follow the posts, or “tweets.” Notes and handouts provided to students at school sometimes don’t make it home, Wilson continued, so even if a parent doesn’t have an email account or personal computer, he or she can pull up Twitter from library or other public computers to see the updates.

Several teachers send home electronic newsletters, and the district has asked for interested parents to share emails for newsletters and other information. However, the guidance office is only the second entity at Ballard County Schools to take advantage of Internet social networking as a tool to reach students and parents, and the first to do it across the board.

Two years ago, BMHS Beta Club advisor Korrie Purcell started a Facebook group for her club members. She posted practice schedules for the group’s state talent show skit and fundraiser information. “I made it and the sent the kids invitations to join, and then they sent invitations to other members,” she said, so the group was controlled and contained. “We also placed the video of our dance from the convention when we made second place at state.” Purcell said she was going to update the group because they were planning another performance for the Beta Convention talent show after fall break.

Use of the sites has been a topic of serious discussion, not just in education circles, but also in other public uses like business or organization accounts. While it’s a great way to reach certain segments of the population, it also opens up the page “owner” to sometimes unwanted postings or comments.

“Honestly, I chose Twitter because it seemed to be a safer way to distribute the information without the accidental/purposeful extras that others can post on other sites,” Wilson explained. “With Twitter, I am the only one responsible for the content of the page and I can block people who don’t need access or who abuse the page.”

Other than the login or screen name, information on “followers” of the tweets is not recognizable in the listing, Wilson continued. “I believe this is one of the safest forms of communication in this type of media.”

All schools on track to reach 2014 state goals; major gains seen in some areas

All of Ballard County’s schools met their annual national goals and are well on their way to meeting the state’s goals by 2014, as evidenced by test scores released last week. Major gains in at least one subject area were seen at each school, with Ballard Memorial High School seeing increases in every area.

The improvements have lead to the district rising in overall ranking in the state from 88^th among the state’s 174 school districts in 2007 to 42^nd in 2009, said Superintendent Ed Adami, easily in the top 25 percent statewide. All schools also met adequate yearly progress goals in every area under the federal No Child Left Behind act, he said – a feat only 60.2 percent of Kentucky’s public schools managed this year.

Scores on the annual tests are being calculated differently this year, with the Kentucky Department of Education now reporting the percentages of students who score proficient or distinguished in each subject area. The change stems from the state General Assembly’s decision to rebuild standardized accountability testing in Kentucky over the next few years. Only parts of the Kentucky Core Content Test will be used through 2001.

In order to more accurately compare previous tests to future ones, the Council for Better Education, Kentucky Association of School Councils and the Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence have come up with a Transition Index that shows where the new calculations fall on the continuum to proficiency originally set by the state. Under that system, all schools should reach an accountability score of 100 by the year 2014.

The district’s overall transition index is 91. At BMHS, the index is 85; at Ballard County Middle it is 99; and at Ballard County Elementary it is 90. Additional information about each individual school follows.

Ballard Memorial High School:

The high school saw gains in every subject area this year. They are above the national percentages in math and reading, above state percentages in four of the five measured categories, and are tied for 26^th place overall among the state’s 231 high schools. In the region, only Mayfield High School’s overall number of 86 was higher.

“We’re excited,” said Principal Donald Shively. “We talk every day with our students about having pride in our school, pride in our community and pride in our heritage, and test scores are one way to show that.” He credited the hard work of teachers and the high level of student preparation as reasons for the overall jump in scores.

The math marks came in with 54.17 percent of students scoring at least proficient, ranking them first in the region and 29^th in the state. Science scores of 53.13 percent also ranked first in the region and 34^th in the state; reading scores of 74.51 percent ranked fifth in the region and also 34^th in the state. Social studies was 47.92 percent (sixth in the region). On-demand reading was 26.96 percent, which was good enough for 15^th in the region, but was the only mark not to exceed the state’s overall score.

Ballard County Middle School:

BCMS saw major gains in many areas, including meeting and surpassing the 100-point Transition Index mark required by the state by the year 2014 in multiple subject areas. At one point away from the overall 100-point mark, they are the 36^th highest-performing middle school in the state out of 331 schools reporting scores, or in the top 11 percent of middle schools statewide. In the region, only Lone Oak at 101 and Benton at 110 scored better.

“Our biggest gain was in science, where our scores went from 97 to 107 according to the Transition Index scale,” said Principal Casey Allen. “As far as we know, 107 is the highest content score any school in Ballard County has ever achieved.” The percentage score was 78.50, more than 15 points above the state’s overall number of 62.72 percent.

The reading score was 102, and each grade level eclipsed the 100-point mark in setting it, Allen added. Sixth-grade reading was at 100 points on the Transition Index scale, seventh at 104, and eighth at 102. The percentage score of 75.88 is well above both the state and national numbers of 66 and about 67 respectively.

Math scores also went up on the Transition Index from 94 in 2008 to 97 this year, and both the seventh and eighth grades went over the 100-point proficiency mark at 104 and 105 respectively, Allen continued. Social studies score remained solidly in the 90s for the fourth consecutive year.

Ballard County Elementary School:

At BCES, the news was more restrained this year, but they had made great strides in previous years.

On-demand writing scores went up over five points to 96.8 percent, said Principal Phillip Harned. The score is the highest in the school’s Transition Index. Social studies scores went up over three points to an even 90 in the Index. The reading score of 68.37 was just above the national percentage of 67.04, and the math score of 57.14 also was several points above the nation’s 51.53 percent.

Private business doubles reward offered for information about BMHS vandalism

A private business has offered an additional $1,000 reward in the case of vandalism at Ballard Memorial High School this week, bringing the total to $2,000.

The Ballard County Sheriff’s Office and Ballard County Board of Education announced a combined reward of $1,000 reward on Thursday, with each organization offering $500. Ballard County Sheriff Todd Cooper contacted the district on Friday about the business’ $1,000 match.

Cooper said the reward would be paid to anyone whose information leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot at the front of the school on Sept. 15. Ballard County Sheriff Todd Cooper said that anyone who wants to give information may remain anonymous, although he or she will have to provide his/her name and address to the sheriff’s office order to receive the reward money. “They can all our crime line at 270-335-5385,” he said.

Vandals apparently shot at the front of BMHS some time during the overnight hours of Sept. 15. Nine bullet holes were put in the two-story front window, and what appears to be another was found on the back of the veterans’ monument that stands in front of the school at 3561 Paducah Road, Barlow.

There were no students in the building at the time of the incident, said BMHS Principal Donald Shively. Custodians were working in the building until approximately 11 p.m., but they were in other parts of the complex and did not hear any unusual noises, he said. The school librarian reported the damage to him just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

The large stained glass bomber that is featured in the window was not damaged. However, eight panels of double-paned glass were pierced; their repair is scheduled for late next week, said district facilities director Kerry Fulcher. The library also will have to be thoroughly cleaned before it can be reopened, he added. Shards of glass littered the floor in front of the window, and Fulcher said there were glass slivers in the upstairs balcony as well.

 “We are treating this as a random act of vandalism,” said Superintendent Ed Adami. Deputies from the Ballard Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the incident.

District seeks substitutes of all kinds

Ballard County Schools is seeking substitutes for almost all district positions, from certified teachers to classified bus drivers and monitors, cafeteria, instructional aid and janitorial staff.

Some requirements differ for certified and classified applicants, said Tina Jones, the school district’s personnel/human resources director. All applicants must complete an application, allow district staff to copy Social Security cards and drivers’ licenses, have a current physical exam and skin test for tuberculosis, and must be approved by the Board of Education at one of its regular meetings.

Those applying for certified teacher substitute status also must provide an official college/university transcript showing a minimum of 64 credit hours at a 2.45 GPA or higher, or a valid Kentucky teaching certificate, she said. All certified applicants must pass a state and federal criminal records check.

Those applying for classified substitute status must pass a state criminal records check.

All applicants will complete and intent and retirement forms, and an IRS W4 form, she added.

Both the certified and classified applications are available on Ballard’s website, www.ballard.kyschools.us. Simply visit the site and click on the “Employee Information” link on the left side of the home page.

For more information, contact Jones at 665-8400, ext. 2008, or email tina.jones@ballard.kyschools.us.

'Calling all email addresses' - Parents who would like student info electronically asked to let school personnel know

One of the focal points for Ballard County Schools this year is simplifying and improving communication with students and families. “We want to use all available means to accomplish that goal,” said district Superintendent Ed Adami. “One important type of communication that we want to use more often is email.”

With that in mind, each school is creating email groups to let families know about upcoming events, announcements, scholarship and application deadlines and other important information. “We will not use your email for anything other than school information,” Adami said.

If you would like to receive these emails to help keep you more informed, please follow these simple instructions:

For Ballard Memorial High School students:

Counselor Lorry Beth Wilson would like to receive email address from both parents/guardians and students. To enroll, simply send an email to lorrybeth.wilson@ballard.kyschools.us. In the subject line, please type the words PARENT REQUEST, then the student’s name and what year he or she will graduate (example: PARENT REQUEST: John Doe, 2012). This will help to ensure that you receive the information for the grade level that you need, instead of all emails for class information that may not apply to you.

If you want to receive emails for more than one student, please send a separate email for each child.

For Ballard County Middle School students:

Parents/guardians are invited to send an email to Principal Casey Allen at casey.allen@ballard.kyschools.us. In the subject line, please type the words PARENT REQUEST, then the student’s name and grade level (example: PARENT REQUEST: Jane Doe, Sixth Grade). This will help to ensure that you receive the information for the grade level that you need.

If you want to receive emails for more than one student, please send a separate email for each child.

For Ballard County Elementary School students:

Parents/guardians are invited to send an email to computer lab administrator Jayna Gholson at jayna.gholson@ballard.kyschools.us. In the subject line, please type the words PARENT REQUEST, then the student’s name and grade level (example: PARENT REQUEST: John Doe, Third Grade). This will help to ensure that you receive the information for the grade level that you need.

If you want to receive emails for more than one student, please send a separate email for each child.

For Ballard County Preschool/Head Start students:

Parents/guardians are invited to send an email to Head Start Family Service assistant Trish Pickett at trish.pickett@ballard.kyschools.us. In the subject line, please type the words PARENT REQUEST, then the student’s name, teacher’s name, and “AM” for morning class or “PM” for afternoon class (example: PARENT REQUEST: Jane Doe, Ms. Kelly’s PM Class). This will help to ensure that you receive the information for the grade level that you need.

If you want to receive emails for more than one student, please send a separate email for each child.

To be involved in any of these email lists is strictly voluntary, but school officials hope that this will help provide students and parents with the most up-to-date information possible.