The red carpet was rolled out for the first day of school on August 19th! If you didn't experience the official red carpet treatment, I hope you felt the welcoming energy and excitement it symbolizes.

As we settle into the new school year, I want to take a moment to share my thoughts and reflections on the exciting journey ahead.

First and foremost, I want to warmly welcome all our new students, families, and staff members who have joined our district this year. We are thrilled to have you as part of our school community, and we are committed to ensuring that you feel supported and valued as you embark on this new chapter with us.

I also want to express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated teachers, administrators, and support staff. Your hard work and dedication during the summer months have ensured a smooth start to the year. Your commitment to our students' success is truly inspiring, and I am confident that together we will continue to make great strides in achieving our district's goals.

As we move forward, I want to remind everyone of the importance of maintaining open lines of communication. Our district is a partnership between students, parents, staff, and the community. I encourage you to stay engaged, ask questions, and share your thoughts with us. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to create the best possible learning environment for our students.

I am looking forward to a year filled with growth, learning, and achievement for all. Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to our students' success. Let’s make this school year one to remember!

Yours in education,

Ryan S. Saxe

Lily Campbell, a 2024 graduate of Martinsburg High School, has been honored with the prestigious Underwood Smith Teaching Scholarship of West Virginia. This highly competitive scholarship awards $10,000 annually and is given to students pursuing careers in education. Lily is the sole recipient from Berkeley County and the Eastern Panhandle this year, reflecting her achievements and dedication.

The Underwood Smith Teaching Scholarship requires its recipients to commit to teaching in West Virginia for five years in a high-need subject area, such as Math, Science, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education. Lily is eager to fulfill this commitment and make a meaningful impact in her home state.

Lily’s journey towards becoming a teacher has been profoundly influenced by her high school English teacher. Mrs. Elliott, who taught Lily English, AP Language, and College English at Martinsburg High School, has been a major source of inspiration for her. Lily admires Mrs. Elliott's dedication to education and the positive classroom environment she created, which sparked Lily's own passion for teaching.

Additionally, Lily attributes much of her success to her mother, who has been her unwavering supporter throughout her life. Her mother’s encouragement and belief in her abilities have been instrumental in Lily’s pursuit of this scholarship. Lily also acknowledges the significant role her parents played in motivating her to participate in various extracurricular activities, such as dance and student council. These experiences have been crucial in developing her leadership skills and reinforcing her commitment to education.

Looking ahead, Lily is excited to begin her studies at West Virginia University in Morgantown, where she will major in Early Elementary Education. Her goal is to return to Berkeley County after graduation and teach 3rd grade at Rosemont Elementary, a school that holds special significance for her as she once attended it herself. Lily’s aspiration to give back to her community and contribute to the education of future generations is a testament to her dedication and passion for teaching.

Join us for our annual BCS Bullying Prevention Program Community Wide Kick-Off event at War Memorial Park on September 19 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. There will be community organizations, along with student performances, a DJ Dance Party, fun activities, speakers, light refreshments, and more! In the case of inclement weather, the event will be held at North Middle School.

This is a great opportunity learn more about our efforts to prevent bullying and improve school climate. We look forward to seeing you there!

BCS will be closed Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day. Use this day to relax and reset from the start of school!

The West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH)'s one-time extension for students to receive their updated vaccines ends Tuesday, September 3!

If you have not done so already, please make an appointment with a health care provider or community health center so your child can receive their updated vaccines.

Please submit your student's updated vaccination records directly to your school. If you have already submitted an updated copy of your student's vaccination records, no action is needed.

IMPORTANT: Students who do not have updated vaccine records on file by Tuesday, September 3, will NOT be permitted to attend school and these absences are unexcused.

Did you know you can track your student's school bus and receive push alerts when it's near the bus stop?

Download the Edulog Parent Portal app and sign up to receive alerts today! Visit the link here for more information: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/page/parent-bus-portal

Please note our Transportation Department is actively working to update the bus stop information in the app, and we appreciate your patience while these changes are made.

Good attendance is critical to the academic success of our students. We recently shared a magnetic attendance calendar with you to use as a tool to help plan your year. We discovered some errors on this calendar and wanted to make you aware to avoid confusion.

Soon, your student will bring home a sticker to place over your existing magnet that contains all the information you'll need to plan ahead this school year.

We do apologize for the original oversight and appreciate your willingness to take a few moments to update your calendar.

Please continue to help your student Strive for Less Than Five this school year!

REMINDER: Our automated attendance calls for the 2024-2025 school year will begin on Tuesday, September 3.

Next to starting the day with a full night's sleep and a good breakfast, regular attendance to school or class is primary to student academic success. Students cannot learn if they are not present and prepared to learn.

Beginning Tuesday, September 3, BCS families/caregivers will begin receiving notifications if their student has been marked absent from school.

To be sure that you are receiving school messages concerning your child's attendance, please make sure your Annual Emergency Information Update is complete so we have the correct contact information!

These messages will be sent to the primary caregiver according to the following schedule:

• High and Middle school messages will be delivered at approximately 9:45 a.m.

• Elementary and Intermediate school messages will follow at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Should you have questions after receiving a message, contact your school.

The Office of Child Nutrition and Wellness (OCN) has the capability of obtaining feedback on the meals served by our cafeteria professionals. By using the Nutrislice application (either via Berkeley County Schools website or a downloaded app on a mobile device), individuals can rate our menu items and provide comments. Feedback submitted in the Nutrislice application is reviewed by the OCN and is taken into consideration when creating our school menus for our students. Your feedback is welcomed!

Berkeley County Schools is excited to partner with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their Mental Health and Wellness Resource Center: ParentGuidance.org to empower families to support the mental health needs of children.

This is a family support library for all families that provides any adult and caretaker in the district with a trusted place to go for qualified answers to the toughest parenting and childcare challenges from the premier therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists in their respective specialties, who offer compassionate, anonymous, and supportive guidance for you and your children.

This FREE resource offers access to an array of tools including:

• Regular one-on-one parent coaching with cognitive behavioral health coaches

• On-demand parenting sessions taught by licensed therapists

• “Ask a Therapist,” a frequently updated question-and-answer forum

These resources are made possible through a three-year contract the WVDE has entered with the national nonprofit The Cook Center for Human Connection to make ParentGuidance.org immediately available for West Virginia families. Across the country, 361 districts and 6,308 schools are using the organization’s model offering more than 3.3 million families in 46 states access to services.

More information can be found on all school websites and the District website at https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/page/cook-center-for-human-connection

North Middle is one of four schools in West Virginia launching a new initiative called Star Academy which has seen positive outcomes in student attendance, academic achievement, and engagement throughout the nation.

We are excited to offer this hands-on learning opportunity for middle school students and look forward to seeing how this school within a school model can make an impact on student learning and more.

Check out the video below to learn more!

We are excited to tell you about BCS Bond Briefs, a new monthly segment highlighting the progress of our ongoing bond projects! This video includes updates from the Tomahawk Intermediate School addition, where construction of the new 4th Grade academic wing is well underway.

Click the link to check out the progress! Bond Tracker

Email: info@berkeleycountyschools.org
Phone: 304-267-3500