📣 We Need Your Input!
Parents, teachers, administrators, community members, and students — we’re asking for just a few minutes of your time to complete a short, anonymous survey about gifted services at EES.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will help guide improvements to our gifted program at both the school and district levels.
📝 Click the link to take the survey: https://forms.gle/PCznw5RK8QgNZd5A8
Thank you in advance for your time and support!
TORNADO RELIEF COLLECTIONS CONTINUING UNTIL 10 A.M. WEDNESDAY
We are continuing to collect tornado relief items for our neighbors in Laurel County through 10 a.m. Wednesday. Collections are slow so we will not leave with the items until 10 a.m. on Wednesday from the Central Office parking lot.
Please reference yesterday's post for more information:
The Harlan County School District is collecting emergency essentials for the tornado victims impacted by the horrific destruction. We will be stuffing our Black Bear box truck beginning this afternoon. The urgent need is for gift cards, plastic totes with lids, bungee cords, contractor trash bags, rakes, portable non perishable snacks such as nabs, protein bars, beef jerky, candy bars, cakes, etc.. Gift cards should be grocery cards, fast food restaurants, Lowe's, 84 Lumber, Walmart, etc.. No canned food and no clothing will be accepted. Buses will be parked at Cumberland and Evarts Elementary by the end of school today. The buses will be clearly marked with donation signs. Gift cards should be dropped at central office only between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Wednesday. We are working with the Southeast /South Central Educational cooperative for this relief effort. They are on the ground in Laurel County assisting.
It is time to register for preschool! Use the QR Code to register for the inaugural class of the Harlan County Child Development Center. Register today as spots are limited!
📢 Great news! The internet has been restored, and we will resume testing for grades 6–8. Let’s finish strong—YOU’VE GOT THIS! 💪✨
The Harlan County School District is collecting emergency essentials for the tornado victims impacted by the horrific destruction.
We will be stuffing our Black Bear box truck at the Central Office parking lot beginning this afternoon and continuing until noon on Tuesday.
The urgent need is for gift cards, plastic totes with lids, bungee cords, contractor trash bags, rakes, portable non perishable snacks such as nabs, protein bars, beef jerky, candy bars, cakes, etc..
Gift cards should be grocery cards, fast food restaurants, Lowe's, 84 Lumber, Walmart, etc..
No canned food and no clothing will be accepted.
Buses will be parked at Cumberland and Evarts Elementary by the end of school today. The buses will be clearly marked with donation signs.
Gift cards should be dropped at central office only between 7:30 a.m. and noon on Tuesday.
We are working with the Southeast /South Central Educational cooperative.
NOTICE: Evarts Elementary's phone and internet service is currently down. If you need to contact the school, please do so in person. Thank you for understanding.
Updated: Buses will pick up at Huff Settlement.
Due to low hanging communication wires, buses may not be able to reach students who live past 23100 on KY 38 at Holmes Mill on the Monday morning routes. Parents may bring students past the lines to meet the buses if they wish.
The communications provider is aware of the issue and is working to correct the problem.
🎯 READY, SET, TEST! 📝 📅 Testing Starts TOMORROW for grades 6-8! Let’s be prepared and confident!
PRI and Gear Up are looking for parental input with this survey. Your child should bring a copy home soon. We ask that you complete the written copy or access the survey with the scan code and complete electronically. Thank you for assisting us with this survey.
🎯 READY, SET, TEST! 📝
📅 Testing Starts TOMORROW! Let’s be prepared and confident!
Two for Tuesday Attendance Shoutout!
🎉🎉 Congratulations to Gannon Stewart AND Jacob Price🎉🎉
We’re doubling the fun this week and celebrating TWO weeks of perfect attendance winners!
Each of these awesome students is taking home a Walmart gift card for showing up, staying strong, and setting the standard! 🏆🛒
👏 A big round of applause to ALL the students who had perfect attendance these past two weeks—you’re absolute rockstars! 🌟
Let’s keep it going, everyone! 🚀
Every student with perfect attendance this week will be entered to WIN BIG—don’t miss out! 🎯
Here’s to more winners, more fun, and another amazing week ahead!
It’s National School Principal’s Day and, we may be a bit biased, but we believe we have two of the best—Mr. Saylor and Mr. Middleton!
We’re so fortunate to have leaders who always put students first. Whether it’s making tough calls, staying flexible, or showing up for our school and community time and time again, their commitment speaks volumes.
Thank you both for everything you do—you make a big difference every single day!
May 2025 Wildcat News
Let's "Color Our World" with Books This Summer! 📚🖍️
The Evarts Public Library's Summer Reading Program, "Color Our World," runs from June 12th to July 17th. Get ready for a vibrant summer of reading and fun!
#EvartsPublicLibrary #SummerReadingProgram #ColorOurWorld
Harlan County 4-H Fun Day is happening on Wednesday, June 4th at 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Harlan Huff Park! Come join the fun!
#HarlanCounty4H #4H
Kona will here May 6th.
Harlan County Middle School Band Concert is Thursday at 6 p.m. at Harlan County High School. We hope to see you there to support this young musicians who have worked hard this year.
Alice in Wonderland Performance K-2nd, Tuesday, April 29th 12:00 PM
Natasha Ely has been selected as the teacher for the Harlan County Child Development Center opening this August.
Ely, a current kindergarten teacher at James A. Cawood Elementary School, has been with the district seven years.
“I’m thrilled to continue this journey and start a new chapter as the teacher at the first Harlan County Child Development Center,” said Ely after learning of her selection earlier this week.
“After spending valuable time as a kindergarten teacher, I can’t wait to grow alongside these kiddos in a nurturing and innovative learning environment,” she said. “I’m excited to help lay the foundation and instill the love of learning in our future Black Bears!”
Leah Coots, the district’s preschool coordinator, said “I'm so excited to have Mrs. Ely join our team as the teacher of our Child Development Center. With her valuable experience teaching kindergarten, she brings a strong understanding of early childhood development and a genuine passion for fostering a love of learning right from the start. Mrs. Ely is a dynamic and engaging teacher, and we're confident she will provide Harlan County students with a strong and nurturing beginning to their educational journey.”
Superintendent Brent Roark said “the whole district is excited to see this endeavor coming to fruition. Mrs. Ely is an excellent choice to teach our inaugural class of these early learners. We know she is an exceptional teacher. She has a great rapport with the young students and families. “
“She has the artistic abilities that will allow the kids to do performances and programs to showcase their learning,” he said.
Roark said the center’s programs will be strongly rooted in not only basic social skills, but also in curriculum, instruction, focus on numeracy and early literacy.
The learning center will follow the state pre-school program.
The center is continuing to take applications for the first class of four-year old students.
Applications are now being accepted for students to attend the Child Development Center. The program will open this August. Positions are limited so apply early.
Applications are available at the Harlan county Public Schools central administrative offices, 251 Ball Park Road, Harlan.
Questions may be addressed to Leah Coots at 573-4330 or Kim Saylor at 573-1950.
📣 KSA Testing Announcement for Grades 3–8 📣
As we near the end of the school year, it's time to prepare for the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). Please take note of the following testing dates:
📝 Testing Schedule
📚 Grades 3–5: May 9 and May 12–15
📚 Grades 6–8: May 16 and May 19–22
🕒 Make-Up Dates: May 23 and May 27–29
Please note: No EHO (Educational Enhancement Opportunity) requests will be approved during the testing window. If your child has an appointment, we kindly ask that you reschedule or make arrangements so that your child can test beforehand or be available for a make-up session.
We understand this is a busy time of year, and we appreciate your support in prioritizing attendance during these last 14 days of school. These assessments help us measure student learning and growth, and every student’s participation truly matters.
✅ Good Faith Effort Checklist – Let’s Do Our Best!
Parents/Guardians, please encourage your child to:
Get a good night’s sleep before each test
Eat a healthy breakfast
Arrive to school on time
Bring a positive attitude and try their best
Be respectful and follow test instructions
Use their time wisely and check their work
🎉 Incentives & Celebrations 🎉
We’re planning some fun activities to celebrate the end of the year! Participation in these incentives will be based on perfect attendance during the testing window, so let’s aim for being present and ready each day!
Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us make these final days count! 💙📚