The October edition of the KCS Monthly Newsletter is now available 👇

🔗: https://5il.co/3ruj2

Content includes:
🔬A forensics lesson at SCHS
📅 Important November events and reminders
🛠️ HVAC Levy Project Updates
... and more!

2 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
a south charleston high school students doing a blood testing analysis during forensics class.
💙 Many of our schools operate food pantries to help students and families when extra support is needed. With more families seeking assistance right now, several schools are starting new pantries to meet the growing demand — and schools with existing pantries are continuing to accept donations.

If you’d like to help, please contact your local school—or the school you wish to support—to ask what items are most needed and where donations can be dropped off. Thank you, Kanawha County, for always supporting students. 💛
2 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
To donate to a school food pantry, contact your local school to ask how you can help.
📣 We’re looking for the real MVPs of flexibility — Substitute Teachers! 🏫✨

Like being called “Mr.” or “Ms.” by everyone in the room? ☕🍎
You might just be the substitute teacher we’re looking for!

Join KCS and help keep learning going strong while having fun along the way.

🔗: Apply Today ➡️ https://bit.ly/KCSSubs
3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
KCS is hiring substitute teachers. Apply now.
Reminder: No school for students tomorrow — it's a Professional Learning Day for staff! See you Thursday, students!
3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
no school for students on wednesday october 22nd, due to a PL Day.
🎃👻 THURSDAY — Trunk or Treat with KCS! 👻🎃

The KCS Office of Exceptional Students is excited to host a Trunk or Treat for all students with disabilities and their families! 🧡

📅 Date: Thursday, October 16th
📍 Location: Capital High School
🕔 Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM

Come out for an evening of fun, candy, and community! 🍬✨ We can’t wait to see your costumes and celebrate together.
3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
KCS office of exceptional students trunk or treat event at Capital high school on thrusday october 16th from 5:00pm-6:30pm open to all students with disabilities and their families.

🎉🏆 Triple Crown ! 👑

We’re celebrating not one, not two, but THREE incredible KCS educators who were recently recognized for their outstanding work! 🎉

At Overbrook Elementary, Brooke Bias was named Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE WV! Mrs. Bias is known for her energy, kindness, and the way she inspires students to stay active and confident—both in and out of the gym. 🏃‍♀️💪

And over at Alum Creek Elementary, Mr. Chet Lowther was named the West Virginia Art Education Association’s Elementary Art Educator of the Year! His creativity and passion for art help students see the world through color, curiosity, and imagination. 🎨✨

🖌️ And at the middle school level, Elkview's, Mrs. Casey Aldrich has been named the WVAEA Middle School Art Educator of the Year! She’s devoted to creating dynamic spaces where young artists grow in confidence and imagination every single day.

Congratulations to both! Their dedication reminds us just how many extraordinary people we have teaching and mentoring students across Kanawha County Schools every single day. 💙❤️💚

3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
Chet Lowther, art teacher at Alum Creek Elementary, named the West Virginia Art Education Association’s Elementary Art Educator of the Year.
Brooke Bias, the PE teacher at Overbrook Elementary, accepting her award from ShapeWV as the elementary PE teacher of the year.
Casey Aldrich, middle school art teacher of the year.
📣 Reminder for KCS Families

There will be no school for students on Monday, October 13th — it’s Parent/Teacher Conference Day! 🍎

Parent/Teacher conferences are a great opportunity to connect one-on-one with your student's teacher, learn more about how they’re growing, and hear ways you can support their success at home.

If you haven’t already, reach out to your student’s school or teacher to schedule your meeting. Every conversation helps strengthen the partnership that makes learning possible! 💬✨
3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
no school for kcs students on monday, october 13th due to parent/teacher conferences.

🌟 Academic Support for Everyone

Every student deserves the tools to succeed.
Kanawha County Schools has launched a new webpage — Academic Support for Everyone — highlighting the ways we help students stay on track and graduate with their classmates.

From social and emotional learning and personalized education planning to mentoring, tutoring, career readiness, and dropout prevention — this page is your one-stop resource for student success.

If you’re a parent or guardian who simply wants to explore the built-in supports already woven into the KCS curriculum, this page also offers a great overview of what all students receive as part of their education.

Whether your student needs additional support, a mentor, or guidance for life after graduation, KCS is here every step of the way. 💙💚❤️ You can find the page by clicking the link below, or by going to the KCS website ➡️ click menu on the homepage ➡️ look under the Parents/Guardians section ➡️ click on Academic Support Opportunities.

🔗 Explore all available supports (including a list of certified KCS tutors):
https://bit.ly/KCSAcademicSupport

(This page will continue to grow as new programs and supports are added or expanded!)

3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
students arms reaching for chalk that is sitting in a box on top of a picnic table.
🌟 Honoring Service, Supporting Students. 🇺🇸

In 2021—on Pearl Harbor Day—the West Virginia Department of Education and Common Ground Partners proudly recognized the first class of Purple Star Schools and Districts across the Mountain State. What began with 130 schools and 3 districts has now grown to 315 schools and 17 districts dedicated to supporting military-connected students and families. 💜

Kanawha County Schools is honored to be among them as a Purple Star District, continuing our commitment to helping students thrive—no matter where their family’s service takes them.

The Purple Star Award is one of many ways the Common Ground Partnership helps make West Virginia one of the best places in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. 🌄
3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
Kanawha County Schools is a Purple Star District
The September edition of the KCS Monthly Newsletter is now available 👇
🔗: https://5il.co/3qi3h

Content includes:
🚗 A trip to Safety City
📅 Important October events and reminders
🛠️ Two Roofing Project Updates
... and more!
3 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
student driving a go kart at safety city.
🎃👻 Trunk or Treat with KCS! 👻🎃

The KCS Office of Exceptional Students is excited to host a Trunk or Treat for all students with disabilities and their families! 🧡

📅 Date: Thursday, October 16th
📍 Location: Capital High School
🕔 Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM

Come out for an evening of fun, candy, and community! 🍬✨ We can’t wait to see your costumes and celebrate together.
4 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
KCS office of exceptional students trunk or treat event at Capital high school on thrusday october 16th from 5:00pm-6:30pm open to all students with disabilities and their families.
🌟 Path to the Stage: Week 3 Spotlight! 🌟

Alum Creek 3rd graders rocked their WVGSA Test Talks this week! 🎤🙌 Families cheered them on as they solved word problems ➗, tackled reading passages 📖, and showed off their big brain power 🧠✨.

3rd grade is the first year students take the WVGSA — and these students are proving they’re ready to shine bright! 🌟👏

#PathToTheStage
4 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
third grade student at alum creek elementary working through a lesson in preparation for the WVGSA test with a family member sitting beside him.
💡📘 Students out — teachers in.

At Herbert Hoover High School, teacher leaders and administrators from every school launched the brand-new KCS Instructional Playbook. This playbook has six “plays” (lessons) designed to boost student confidence, spark engagement, and get everyone involved in learning. These leaders will share the plays back at their schools on the next PL Day so all teachers can put them into action. 🙌 As the year goes on, more "plays" will be added to the playbook!

Meanwhile, our Student Support Services team met at South Charleston High School to collaborate on best practices and strategies that help ensure every KCS student has a healthy, safe, and successful education.

👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 PL Days are all about sharpening skills, sharing ideas, and building stronger schools — When our teachers grow, our students win. 💙💚❤️

📸 Check out today’s collaboration in action:
4 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
teachers in a meeting at herbert hoover high school learning new lessons to engage students.
student support services staff at a meeting at south charleston high school listening to a presentation about helping students stay healthy.
group shot of the entire student support services staff, which include school counselors, social workers, attendance, and school nurses.
📚💡Calendar Reminder — PL Day

No school for students tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th.
4 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
Wednesday, September 10th is a PL Day, no school for students.
🚍 New Way to Find KCS Bus Changes 🚍

We’ve added a “Bus Changes” quick link at the top of the KCS website!

✅ This link will take you to a page with all AM and PM bus changes, organized by terminal.
✅ Beginning Tuesday(9/2), district-wide bus changes will ONLY be posted on this page by the KCS Transportation Department.
✅ Some schools may still share their own school-specific bus changes on Schoology, but district-wide updates will not appear on Schoology anymore.

👉 Be sure to check the “Bus Changes” link daily for the most up-to-date information.

We hope this makes it easier for families to quickly find the information you need!
4 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
picture showing the new bus changes tab on the kcs website which is located on the top right of the homepage.
☁️ Watch out, Weather Channel—Alum Creek 3rd graders are coming for your job! 🌦️

Today, these budding forecasters learned how to spot different cloud types and even predict when a storm might roll in. Cirrus, stratus, or cumulonimbus…they’ve got it covered!

Forecast for Alum Creek: 100% chance of learning, with scattered giggles throughout the day. 😄🌤️
5 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
students at alum creek looking at the clouds in the sky as part of their science lesson.
students at alum creek looking at the clouds in the sky as part of their science lesson.
📱 New KCS App: Tips for Parents!

Our new KCS app makes staying connected with your child’s school easier than ever! Here are a few quick tips to get the most out of it:

1️⃣ Favorite Your Student’s School – Make sure your child’s school is marked as a favorite so you can access it quickly. You can favorite multiple schools so you can easily flip back and forth between multiple schools.

2️⃣ Set the Default School – Change your default school so when you open the app, your child’s school appears first instead of the district page.

3️⃣ Explore the Menu – Find important info like documents, lunch menus, the school calendar, and the online attendance excuse form—all in one place!

Check out the images below for step-by-step instructions. 👇
5 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
On the home screen of the KCS app you can change schools, favorite schools, change the default school, and find important documents.
You are able to favorite multiple schools in the app so you can move back and forth between schools easily.
to set your default organization in the app, click on the gear icon located on the top right of the menu page
to find the app menu, click on the blue box with three white lines in the top left corner of the screen.
🦁🐼🦓 Alum Creek Elementary Was a ZOO Today—Literally! 🐘🐍🐧 2nd and 3rd graders roared with excitement as they brought the ACES Zoo to life in an amazing collaborative project! 🧠📚🐾 Students presented their animal research, showing off their knowledge of wild creatures and their habitats—everything from the arctic tundra to the tropical rainforest! ❄️🌴 What really warmed our hearts? 💛 The way students worked together—cheering each other on, asking thoughtful questions, and sharing in each other’s success. 🤝✨ This wild adventure wasn’t just about animals—it was about teamwork, confidence, and creativity. 💫🎉 Way to go, ACES Zoo Crew! 🙌🦜📖
8 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
alum creek students dressed up as a flamingo, deer, and shark for their presentations about animals.
a student dressed up as a monkey while giving her presentation about monkeys.
a student dressed up as a sloth to present her research on sloths.
a student standing next to her research board about flamingos.
a student dressed up as a penguin smiling at the camera.
a student dressed up as a shark for her research project about the great white shark.
a student dressed up as a black bear standing next to his research board about black bears.
a student dressed up as a deer next to her research project about deer that has deer antlers and fur on the table.
a student dressed up as a moose for his project about moose.
a student smiling in his panda costume while standing next to his research project about pandas.
☀️📚 Third Grade Readers in the Sunshine! 🍫🌳 3rd graders at Alum Creek Elementary soaked up the beautiful weather with an outdoor reading session! They're diving into The Chocolate Touch and sharing some sweet small-group discussions. Great books + great conversations + great sunshine = the perfect morning! 😎📖💬
8 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
wide shot showing the entire 3rd grade class at alum creek elementary reading on the basketball court on the playground.
two students at alum creek elementary reading their book together.
two students going over their book together.
two alum creek students discussing the book.
students smiling at the camera while they read a book outside.
alum creek students discussing their book together.
alum creek students reading on the playground.
alum creek students reading on the playground.
alum creek students reading on the playground.
alum creek students reading on the playground.
🌟 BIG adventure for our littlest learners! 🌟 Preschoolers at Alum Creek Elementary went on their very first field trip — and wow, was it a blast! 🚌💨 They picnicked under the sky, explored the great outdoors like tiny scientists 🧪🌿, and got their hands messy with some fun experiments. It was a day full of giggles, curiosity, and wide-eyed wonder. We’re so proud of these brave little explorers! 💛 📸 Check out some of the adorable moments below!
9 months ago, Kanawha County Schools
alum creek students walking down a path on the field trip.
alum creek students getting off of the school bus after arriving to their field trip.
alum creek student digging in the dirt for an experiment during the field trip.
alum creek students playing with a jump rope on the blacktop.
alum creek students doing an experiment as part of a lesson on the field trip.
alum creek students and staff lining up to go eat lunch.
alum creek student waving hello after getting off of the school bus.
alum creek students having a snack at the picnic table.
alum creek student giving a thumbs up after eating her snack at the picnic table.