BEREA —
Renfro Valley was packed on Saturday, Nov. 10, with families from 18 Kentucky counties all celebrating the important roles that parents and grandparents play in education.
Berea College’s Office of Externally Sponsored Programs and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame hosted the event. The Berea office sponsors college access programs across the region, including GEAR UP, Promise Neighborhood, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math & Science, Educational Talent Search and i3.
The highlight of the day was a program featuring Nashville recording artist Jimmy Wayne, whose number one hit “Do You Believe Me Now” and top 10 hits “Stay Gone” and “I Love You This Much” brought star-power to the stage. Wayne performed and spoke to parents and students about his journey through the foster care system and the difference that one family made in his life.
“This family allowed me to stay in their home for six years. I was a 16-year-old-kid, had been homeless, had been living on the street, had been in the system, had gone to 12 schools in two years,” Wayne said. “This family gave me an opportunity to chase my dream. And not only to chase my dream, but to catch it.”
Local businesses and organizations donated door prizes for attendees. Currier’s Music World in Richmond and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame each donated a guitar. Dora Lewis, parent of a Madison County middle school GEAR UP student and Tyler Haste, a Breathitt County student, won the guitars and met with Jimmy Wayne backstage. Billy Rose, owner of the Berea Dairy Queen, donated an iPad, which was won by Jaime Lakes, a family member of a Madison County GEAR UP middle school student. The Rockcastle County Kiwanis Club provided door prizes, also. Local bluegrass group Sugartree also performed for families as they ate lunch and toured Renfro Valley.
Along with providing entertainment and prizes, the daylong event brought educators, program staff and parents together to focus on children’s success. Hasan Davis, Kentucky Commissioner of Juvenile Justice, spoke to students and their families about the power of being a role model. He said to parents and family members, “We as adults need to be looking at our children and the ones we love and tell them every day how much we believe in them.”
Education
Stars, educators celebrate families
- Education
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State champs get their rings at YMCA breakfast
Two months may have passed, but Madison County continues to celebrate the state basketball championship won by the Madison Central boys team.
Team members were presented championship rings while their cheerleaders received pendants Saturday morning during a breakfast at the Telford YMCA attended by nearly 300. -
District urges students to ‘PowerMyLearning’ through the summer
Sixteen little penguins need help jumping from iceberg to iceberg as a hungry killer whale swims menacingly in the chilly water below.
The fate of the poor little penguins lies in the hands of a third-grade student, who must quickly find the answer to a math equation to lead the penguins to safety. -
GREAT bridges gap between cops, preteens
Bridging the gap between public misconceptions about police officers and the reality of what’s behind the uniform can be a daunting task. But, a growing program at Madison County middle schools is helping break down those barriers.
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Toyota bornlearning Academy graduates parents
Seven graduates received their certificates Thursday night, but not with the customary rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
It was a celebration of the parents’ six-month journey with the Toyota bornlearning Academy at Berea Community School.
The academy works with parents and caregivers of children from prenatal to 5 years old on ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. -
Caudill Middle School student showcase
Members of the Caudil Middle School Jazz Band entertain the crowd during the school's end of year student showcase Thursday.
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The Incredible Child: Support group for parents of special-needs children meets Tuesday at library
Richmond now has a local chapter of The Incredible Child, a support group for families of children with all types of disabilities.
The group will host the family-friendly event “Read to Me” from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Madison County Public Library in Richmond. -
EKU to host biannual Family Nature Day
Eastern Kentucky University’s Division of Natural Areas will host Family Nature Day on Saturday at Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory located on the borders of Garrard and Rockcastle counties.
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First Lady urges graduates to live by their values
Touching on her own college experiences, First Lady Michelle Obama urged Eastern Kentucky University graduates to live a life of service while building on valuable character traits that will benefit the entire nation.
Obama visited Richmond as the featured speaker for EKU’s evening commencement. She chose to speak at the ceremony because of the university’s recognized commitment to serving student military veterans. -
Board votes to reclassify full-time substitute teachers
Madison County Schools teachers and staff cheered Thursday night after a proposal to cut two contracted days from the school calendar died when board members declined to make a motion on the measure, either pro or con.
However, 15 educators in the district will see cuts to their salaries as the board voted 5-0 to reclassify full-time substitute teachers to para-educators. -
Little Shop of Horrors
The final performance of Berea Community High School’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors" is 7 p.m. Saturday (May 11) in the school's Kennedy Theater. Tickets are $5.
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