Harlan County Public Schools

There will be no school in the Harlan County School District on Monday, February 17th.

There will be no school in the Harlan County School District on Tuesday, February 11th. This is not an NTI day.

The Harlan County Board of Education revised the school calendar to utilize Monday, February 17th, as a make up day. This was previously designated for no school on Presidents’ Day. All schools will be in session on Monday, February 17th.

Congratulations to our Harlan County High School Academic Team members who competed Saturday in the District 56 competition at Harlan Independent, claiming top honors in quick recall, mathematics, language arts and arts and humanities. Overall, the team was only three points off of the first place score. Here are the results for Harlan County High School. Math 1st Plez Dean 2nd Ethan Lewis 5th Gabriel Clay Science 5th Plez Dean Social Studies 5th Amelia Colinger Language Arts 1st Bryson Eldridge 2nd Lacey Short Arts & Humanities 1st Bryson Eldridge 3rd Chloe McCreary 5th Jimmy Shepherd 3rd Future Problem Solving 1st Quick Recall

Monday, January 27th will be NTI Day 10 for Harlan County Schools. Please complete NTI Day 10 assignments. Teachers available from 8:30-3.

The Harlan County Board of Education believes schools are strengthened when all stakeholders are actively engaged in the education process. Our Board of Education would like your feedback for a school calendar which supports maximizing consistent instructional time for students, opportunities for professional growth for teachers and increasing student achievement. Please complete this short 2025-2026 School Calendar survey (link below) by Friday, January 31st at 3 p.m. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyuwAXel30LVuVamPmGlBK9tl6rSbm3d1l0iw_4O_ybdHqaA/viewform?usp=header

Harlan County Schools will operate on a 2 hour delay for students and transportation on Thursday January, 23rd.

The Harlan County Middle School Cheer Competition will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at Harlan County High School. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for the public. Admission is $3. Concessions will be available. Squads competing are Black Mountain, Cawood, Cumberland, Evarts, James A. Cawood, Rosspoint and Wallins. Due to an overwhelming response to the competition, we have had to make some adjustments to be sure that we can accommodate the crowd. We will be utilizing both sides of the gym as opposed to our traditional use of the home side only. Evarts, Black Mountain, Rosspoint and Cumberland fans should sit on the home side. Cawood, Wallins and James A. Cawood fans should sit on the visitor’s side. Cheer squads are judged on a sideline cheer, floor cheer and pom routine. An award will be presented for crowd participation and sportsmanship. Cheerleaders making honor roll will be recognized for their academic achievement. This is the eighth year for the competition which funds the Frank Brittain Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame for Harlan County Schools.

The Harlan County Black Bears game vs. Pikeville this evening has been moved to Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Bears will play South Laurel at 8. Homecoming will be moved to Wednesday, January 29th, at 5:30 p.m. Free admission.

We will have NTI Day 9 on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

The 5th/6th Grade tournament will be played tonight at JACES as scheduled. Wallins vs. Green Hills @ 5:30 p.m. Cawood vs. Cumberland @ 6:30 p.m.

The Harlan County Elementary Cheer Competition will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at Harlan County High School. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for the public. Admission is $3. Concessions will be available. Squads competing are Cawood, Cumberland, Evarts, Green Hills and Rosspoint. All teams will compete facing the home side of the gymnasium. Little Dancers from Rosspoint, Cumberland and Evarts will perform at intermission, along with the Harlan County High School Dance Team will perform. Cheer squads are judged on a sideline cheer, floor cheer, and pom routine. Cheerleaders making honor roll will be recognized for their academic achievement. This is the eighth year for the competition which funds the Frank Brittain Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame for Harlan County Schools.

Let's Go Bears! Good luck to our Harlan County High School Black Bears as they head to Owensboro to compete in the Class 2A state championships at the Owensboro Sports Center. The Bears will play Mercer County on Friday at 9 p.m. EST, 8 p.m. CST. All times on the bracket are CST or local time for Owensboro. Tickets can only be purchased for the tournament at www.owensborotickets.com. The only streaming service permitted for the tournament is www.prepspin.com. The cost is $14.95 per game. WTUK will broadcast the games on 105.1 FM. WTUK will not have video of the games.

Harlan County Schools will operate on a 2 hour delay for students and transportation on Wednesday January, 15th. If we receive any snowfall this evening or tomorrow morning, we will reevaluate travel conditions.

The Harlan County Black Bears are headed to the state 2A Championship tournament in Owensboro. The Bears, led by Coach Kyle Jones, will battle Mercer County on Friday at 8 p.m. CST.

We will not have classes on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Numerous areas of the county continue to be a challenge on returning to school safely as the snow depths varied, with the northern parts of the county receiving up to 8 inches. This is not an NTI day.

ALUMNI SHOUTOUT Congratulations to Cumberland High School Alumnus SFC Michael Victor Joseph II on his many successes. Joseph is a member of the U.S. A282D Army Band at Fort Jackson, S.C., which recently performed during services for the late President James "Jimmy" Carter. Joseph hails from Cumberland. He is married to Amanda Williams Joseph of Cumberland, and they share two beautiful children, Andrew and Ari. Currently serving as the First Sergeant of the 282D Army Band, he has proudly served the United States Army for 21 years. His service to the country began in the Kentucky Army National Guard as an infantryman and continues with active-duty service as an Army Band Musician. His love for music began at the age of 11. He started his musical journey as a 6th grader in the beginner band program at Cumberland Middle School taught by band director, Mr. Dan Midkiff. He began marching in the high school band during his 7th-grade year as a bass drummer. Joseph quickly gained technical proficiency as a percussionist and competed for honors throughout his high school experience. His senior year accolades include 1st chair snare drum—All-Festival; 2nd chair snare drum—All-Regional; 1st chair snare drum, concert band—All-State; Solo and Ensemble distinguished musician award recipient; John Philip Sousa award recipient. Additionally, he was a member of the Cumberland High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program for three years. Sergeant Major Dillard Day’s leadership and approach toward young people sparked his love for the military. Development in basic leadership skills, the importance of community service, and learning how to be a great citizen at this early age helped him gain confidence which ultimately motivated him to serve his country. He has had many unique opportunities to share his love of music as a percussionist, vocalist, and guitarist with millions around the world. Some of the highlights of his musical career are as follows: • Kentucky Derby and Virginia International Tattoo performances • Operation Rising Star Vocal Competition Winner (Formally known as Military Idol) • Performed with the Army Soldier Show • Performed with American Idol vocal coach, Ms. Debra Byrd and country music star, Michael Peterson • Nashville recording artist • Drum Major for countless professional sporting and community outreach events • Musical tours throughout Japan • Opened for country superstar, Craig Morgan • Survivor Outreach Services (Gold Star Families Remembrance Concerts) • Performed with the 101st Airborne Division Country Band at Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN) • And President James Earl Carter's “Jimmy Carter” Funeral Service performances. Although Joseph has shared his musical gift on the big stage throughout the world, he is most proud of his family and his service to the Soldiers in which he serves. He and his family look forward to beginning a new chapter after retirement in less than three years. It is amazing and ironic that Joseph started his musical adventure as a bass drummer in the Cumberland High School drumline and found it most fitting to serve within the same capacity for the highest honor a military band member can serve. He has truly come full circle in his most recent world-class performance for the respectful send-off of a former sitting President of the United States of America. Thank you SFC Michael Joseph II for your outstanding service. We are #HCProud!

There will be no school in the Harlan County School District on Friday, January 10th. The National Weather Service has placed Harlan County under a winter storm warning which has now been backed up to begin at 7:00 am. This is a traditional cancellation, not NTI.

EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS OFFERED VIRTUAL ALGEBRA CLASS The Harlan County School District is implementing a virtual abbreviated Algebra I class to eighth graders across the district who want to be better prepared for the advanced mathematics classes at Harlan County High School this fall. The course will be independent study and facilitated by Harlan County High School Mathematics Instructor and Districtwide Math Resource Teacher Greg Longworth. “The course is a journey into the world of mathematics where we’ll explore patterns, problem-solving strategies, and real-world applications of algebraic concepts,” said Longworth. “Whether you’re already confident in math or find it challenging, this class is designed to help you grow and succeed.” Longworth explained the class will focus on developing a strong foundation in key topics such as linear equations, inequalities, quadratic functions, and more. He said the concepts will not only help in future math courses, but also in everyday decision-making and critical thinking. Eight grade students will receive a letter at school detailing the enrollment process and expectations for the class. The class will begin this month. “I’m here to help them at any point,” said Longworth. “If any of the participating students ever feel stuck or unsure, they should not hesitate to reach out for help, whether it is during my school visits, after school or through email. This is an opportunity to make Algebra I no just a math class, but a space where you build confidence, curiosity and problem-solving skills for life.” Harlan County Schools Superintendent Brent Roark said, “We are pleased to be able to provide this service to our students. This is a tremendous opportunity for those students who are planning to take accelerated mathematics at the high school to broaden their knowledge. This is another effort to continue advancing our curriculum to better meet the needs of our students.” Contact information for Longworth is included in the letter alerting students to the availability of this pilot program. Parents who would like to receive additional information may contact Longworth through email at greg.longworth@harlan.kyschools.us or by calling 573-4330, Ext. 2030.

7th/8th Tournament: The dates for the 7th and 8th tournament are January 27th (Monday), January 28th (Tuesday), January 30th (Thursday), and February 1st (Saturday). Black Mountain Elementary is our host for this tournament. All Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday games will be played at JACES. The Consolation and Championship games (Saturday) will be played at HCHS. Games each session are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.