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

This and other pages updated Feb. 4, 2010.

Upcoming events

Cancellations and changes:

Freshman/JV Boys basketball @ Graves County Monday Feb. 8 has been cancelled.

Little League Boys Basketball for Monday Feb. 8 has been rescheduled for Fri. Feb. 12.

New GED FastTrack program begins Feb. 8 at Adult and Family Education Center

A new, two-week, no-cost GED FastTrack preparation course will be offered at Ballard County Adult and Family Education Center beginning Feb. 8.

Anyone interested in taking the course should call 665-8412, ext. 223, to register. Orientation and enrollment will begin today (Monday, Feb. 1).

The class will be taught at the Adult Education Center located at the Ballard County Community Resource Center, 158 E. Third St. here (directly behind Regions Bank). Eight sessions will be held, Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on any of the classes or registration, please call the number above, or email marlene.fraser@ballard.kyschools.us.

BCMS, BMHS list remaining SBDM dates; BMHS date changes to Feb. 9

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: Feb. 8; March 8; 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. The February meeting has been moved to Tuesday, Feb. 9, because of schedule conflicts. Other dates are as follows: March 8; April 12; May 10 and June 14.

Graduated licensing classes set for Feb. 22 at BMHS

Brian Gill will conduct graduated licensing classes at Ballard Memorial High School on Feb. 22 from 4:30-8:30 p.m.

The class will be held in Room 211 of the school at 3561 Paducah Road, Barlow (Lindsay Jones’ room). Students with driving permits should receive a letter about the class; that is their registration ticket. Students should bring their permits and another photo ID to the class.

For more information about this class, please contact Gill at brian.gill@graves.kyschools.us, or counselor Lorry Beth Wilson at 270-665-8400, ext. 2503, or email lorrybeth.wilson@ballard.kyschools.us.

For more information about Kentucky’s graduated licensing law, please visit http://gdl.kytc.ky.gov/grad_summary.htm. This website also provides an online permit manual and practice driving log sheets.

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.

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.

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!

BMHS student honored at art show

Emilee Steinbeck, a junior at Ballard Memorial High School, received an honorable mention for her sculpture entry of the small sushi tray (right) in this year’s Teen Spirit exhibit at Yeiser Art Center, 200 Broadway, Paducah. BMHS student Molly Arant also had a sculpture accepted for the annual show, which featured works from students at 12 area high schools. The exhibit is on display at the Yeiser through Feb. 20; gallery hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

(Yeiser Art Center photo)

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.

School board members to receive training, attend annual meeting

Several members of the Ballard County Board of Education will receive training at the 74th Annual Kentucky School Boards Association Conference, scheduled for Jan. 22-24 in Louisville.

All Kentucky school board members are required to have 12 hours of training each year, said Ballard Superintendent Ed Adami. “Our KSBA provides some of the most pertinent training for board members. We’ve been to National School Board Association meetings, but these are more directed toward what our members face here in Kentucky.”

Board members Kim Terrell and Haskell Sheeks will be attending the Louisville meeting, Adami said. They will have the opportunity to hear nationally-renowned speakers, and attend sessions on subjects as varied as governance, instruction, facilities, law and legislation pending in the current Kentucky General Assembly session, he added. KSBA also offers other trainings throughout the year.

“There is an overwhelming amount of information that school board members must absorb and retain,” Adami continued. “We appreciate their dedication and the time they spend. Our board members don’t just serve this community when they attend board meetings, or trainings, either. They attend school events, support our academic and athletic teams, buy goods at booster and student club fund raisers and volunteer in our schools, offering countless hours most of the general public never sees.”

January is School Board Recognition Month, and Adami listed the members of the Ballard Board: Kim Terrell has served on the board since 1999. Kelly Wildharber has served since 2005; Tammy Dennis, Haskell Sheeks and Karen Tilford all took office in 2009.

 “I am proud to work alongside the members of our Board of Education in our joint quest to follow our district mission statement: ‘In partnership with and in service to our community, the mission of Ballard County Schools is to prepare every student to be a successful individual,’” Adami said. “I encourage my fellow community members to join me in thanking them for their selfless service.”

Cutline:

Ballard Middle School art teacher Mitch Kimball (left) and students in his academic enrichment class produced this banner with student handprints for display at this year’s Kentucky School Boards Association meeting in Louisville. The theme for the annual conference is “Public Education – Kentucky’s Common Wealth.” The organization solicits banners from all school districts. Kimball is shown here with Ballard County Schools’ Superintendent Ed Adami. BCMS students who worked on the banner were Jessica Jones, Georgann Ingram, Scott Jenkins, Tanner Bertram, Justin King, Trevor Langston, Devin Griffin, Devin Holmes, Katey Hargrove, Lyndsey Grief, Haley Houston, Breana Koontz and Lauren Graves.

(BCS photo)

January students of the month chosen at BCCTC

Buchanan                            Gill                                Davidson

Naas                                    Basham                            Cornett 

Instructors at the Ballard County Career and Technical Center have started a new 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 January are Ryan Buchanan, agriculture; Amanda Gill, allied health; Matt Davidson, auto body; Sarah Naas, business; Josh Basham, carpentry; and Jonathan Cornett, welding.

(BCCTC photos)

Preschoolers get second RIF book at school-wide pajama party

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Students at Ballard County Preschool and Head Start had a pajama party and received the second of three distributions through the federal Reading is Fundamental program on Jan. 14. Each child received a book. Regions Bank donated $350 in matching funds to make the books giveaways possible; the program will put 588 books into the hands of Ballard County children this year. The last distributions will be in March. In the group photo, Murray Head Start Director Carol Elder reads to students in Amy Metcalf’s class. Jaden Smith from Jessica Buchanan’s class is shown with his teddy bear.

(BCPS photos)

BCES students 'juggle' a positive message

Students at Ballard County Elementary school recently attended assemblies featuring entertainer Paul O. Kelly, who taught them about “Juggling Up the Learning Ladder. Students shown with him are Phillip McKee, McKenzie Laster, Jessica Wren and Joshua Byerley. His message to students was that they could do anything if they “took it one step at the time."  

 (BCS photo)

BCMS announces perfect attendance winner for second quarter

Ballard County Middle School seventh-grader Carly Dodge was the winner of the iPod Shuffle for perfect attendance during the second nine weeks. She is shown here with Kelly Wray, director of Ballard’s Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center. Student names are drawn from the pool of perfect attendees at the end of each grading period. 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 announces perfect attendance winner

Ballard County Elementary School third-grader Charida Robinson was the winner of the bicycle for perfect attendance during the second nine weeks. She 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 139 eligible this quarter. The gifts are provided by the Ballard County Board of Education; Family Focus also provides rewards for classrooms with the highest attendance every month.

 (BCES photo)

BCMS students take heart challenge

Students at Ballard County Middle School completed a heart challenge course the week of Dec. 7, guided by health educators Jennifer Doom and Kaleene Cornell of the Purchase District Health Department. Doom spoke to the practical living classes in grades 6-8 about the importance of good nutrition and staying away from junk food, staying hydrated and getting enough milk servings each day. Cornell joined her at week’s end to show the importance of physical activity by implementing the heart challenge course.

(BCMS photo)

FBLA spreads Christmas cheer at Life Care

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Members of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter at Ballard Memorial High School members went to Life Care Nursing Home in LaCenter in December to spread a little Christmas cheer. Doors were decorated by several members, and every resident and worker received a Christmas card from FBLA.  Shown in the first photo are students Kelsey Donoho, Shelby Jo Windt and Erin Stewart. The second photo is of Daphne Bommarito and FBLA co-adviser Renee’ McDermott.

 (BMHS FBLA photo)

Family Focus thanks community for supporting food drive, 'Santa's Helpers'

Christmas was a little brighter in many Ballard County households this year, thanks to an outpouring of community support. Through donations to the “Santa’s Helpers” program, Family Focus Family Resource and Youth Service Center provided assistance to 305 children in the community last month. Wickliffe Masonic Lodge #625 and Family Focus teamed up again for another successful Christmas food drive and distribution that served 160 families.

The annual food distribution is made possible by donations from local businesses, merchants, industries, and the work of Ballard students and Lodge members, Family Focus director Kelley Wray said. The Masons bring in about half the total by donating money and collecting donations of food and money from local entities; Ballard students bring in the other half. Specific grocery items are assigned by class to kindergarten through 12^th grade. “The Masons have done this project for many years, and were pleased with the amount of food that was collected by the students,” Wray said.

All families received several sacks of the groceries, including items like peanut butter, fresh and canned fruit, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, canned soup and vegetables, cereal, dried beans, spaghetti and noodles, and crackers.

The Student Ambassadors group from Ballard Memorial High School helped Lodge members and Family Focus staff put the bags together on Dec. 18, and students Jay Middleton and Abbey Shelley helped on Dec. 19 with distribution to the 160 families.

 “The Masons and Family Focus would like to give a big thank-you to everyone who made the project a success,” Wray added

“We also would like to thank everyone who supported the Family Focus Santa’s Helpers program this year,” said Wray. “I want to thank every contributor for his or her support and assistance to make this program possible. The community really came together to help those less fortunate this holiday season.”

The requirements were very similar to last year’s program. In order to qualify, families had to be eligible for free school lunches and a parent or guardian was required to attend at least one pre-holiday parenting workshop. All qualifying families then received a gift card to Kohl’s for each child. Younger children received toys in addition to the gift cards.

“The parents were thrilled to be able to do their own shopping for their children,” Wray continued. “The community gave them a chance to do something they really wanted to do for their kids.”

Parents were encouraged to complete a survey after each workshop. Wray said that according to the surveys, both the workshops and the shopping cards seem to be positives. “We look forward to continuing to serve our families based on their needs and the needs of our community,” she added.

For more information on Family Focus and the programs the center offers, please contact Kelly Wray at 665-8412, ext. 226, or email kelly.wray@ballard.kyschools.us.

Cutline:

Shown from left, Family Focus assistant Kandi Foster and Ballard Memorial students Jay Middleton and Abby Shelley prepare sacks of groceries for distribution on Dec. 19 at Ballard County Elementary School. Wickliffe Masonic Lodge #625 and Ballard students combined for the program, which helped 160 families.

(Family Focus photo)

Ballard students assist with Christmas on the River project

(Please click thumbnails for larger images.) Students from several of Ballard County’s schools assisted Seamen’s Church Institute with its Christmas on the River program again this year. Shown here making cards are (from left) Kylie, Kennady and Lexie in Susan Bodell’s class at Ballard County Preschool and Head Start. Bodell said the project really hit home with her students this year, since one child in her class has a parent who will be away from home at Christmas, working on a tow-boat. Janice Hays’ business class and her and Cindy Allardin’s academic enrichment classes at Ballard County Career and Technical Center helped wrap scarves for the Christmas on the River Project. The Future Business Leaders of America group also collected items such as popcorn, hot chocolate mix, lip balm, playing cards and puzzle books for the boat workers. First-graders at Ballard County Elementary School also made cards, and Ballard Memorial High School students in the Future Business Leaders of America collected items to be placed in the program’s shoeboxes, which are distributed to river industry members who are working over the holidays.

(BCS photos)

Preschoolers get dental check-ups as part of UK program

Students at Ballard County Preschool and Head Start were given dental exams and cleaning by the University of Kentucky’s dental team on Dec. 10. The children all received toothbrushes and a fluoride varnish, and parents received a report on whether their children needed additional dental work. Shown here from left are hygienists Anne Matlock and Elva Bridges, and Dr. Keith White.

(BCPS photo)

BMHS student organizations 'Unite to Read' with elementary class

By Heather Mix, FBLA Reporter, and

Janice Hays, FBLA Adviser

All five of the vocational student organizations at Ballard Career and Technical Center recently took part in the fifth annual local Unite to Read event. Students from Health Occupations Students of America, Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and SkillsUSA visited third-grade classes at Ballard Country Elementary School on Nov. 23. The BCES students rotated from classroom to classroom, where each of the student organizations were set up to teach about the Kentucky Derby.

Each group contributed to students learning about the Kentucky Derby in its own way. HOSA distributed copies of the book Five True Horse Stories to every third-grade student, and members read several of the stories out loud to all students. FFA explained how a saddle is used. Members allowed students to sit on an actual saddle and picked it up to the height of a horse’s back. FBLA taught students about the Kentucky Derby’s history, distributed bookmarks they’d made in advanced computer applications class, and had the third-graders design their own jockey silks and horse. FCCLA treated everyone to traditional Derby cookies and lemonade. SkillsUSA explained the different colors of horses.

Health sciences teacher April Jewell said, “I thought each of the student-led organizations that participated in Unite to Read did a fantastic job! Not only did third grade learn a lot of interesting facts, the high school students excelled in each of their areas.”

Cutlines (please click thumbnails for larger images):

This group of Ballard Memorial High School students recently took part in the local fifth annual Unite to Read event at Ballard County Elementary School.

HOSA students distributed copies of Five True Horse Stories to every BCES third-grader and read to the classes.

FFA explained how a saddle is used and lifted ‘riders’ to the height of a horse’s back.

FBLA students told third-graders about the Kentucky Derby’s history and distributed bookmarks they’d made.

FCCLA treated everyone to cookies and lemonade.

SkillsUSA explained the different colors of horses.

(BCCTC photos)

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.