
🎉 SPELLING BEE CHAMP | Congratulations to Meyzeek Middle School eighth grade student Zachary Rara, winner of the 15th District PTA Spelling Bee for the third year in a row! Zachary will advance to the regional competition on Mar. 8 at the Louisville Free Public Library.
Coming in second and third place were:
🌟 Second: Ahaan Aragwal, Greathouse Shryock Elementary
🌟 Third: Gabe Fajardo Cruz, Barret Traditional Middle School


🚨 NTI DAYS | Due to an increase in illness-related student and staff absences, JCPS will utilize Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) Days on Friday, February 7, 2025 and Monday, February 10, 2025. All athletic and extracurricular activities will continue as planned. Families and employees should see their email for additional information.


🎉 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 💡 | Congratulations to W.E.B. DuBois Academy, winner of the third annual Battle for the Lantern! 🏆 They bested the talented young women from Grace James Academy in a fierce trivia showdown testing their knowledge of Black history.





✅ COMMUNITY FORUMS | The Jefferson County Board of Education wants your input as they search for a new superintendent. Join us at two upcoming Community Forums on Saturday, Feb. 15:
➡️ 10 to 11 a.m. at the Academy @ Shawnee
➡️ 12 to 1 p.m. at Ballard High School


🐶 SPOTTED 🖤 | Check out Perry Elementary School's paw-sitively precious 101st day of school celebration! We love the 101 Dalmatians theme! 🧡

✅ SUPERINTENDENT SURVEY | The Jefferson County Board of Education wants to hear from the public as they search for the next superintendent of JCPS. With Dr. Marty Pollio retiring this summer, the board has begun the process of hiring his successor. To assist in this effort, board members are inviting the public to complete a survey that asks about the qualities and priorities they’d like to see from the next leader of JCPS.
Whether you’re a parent, student, staff member, community leader, or simply someone who cares about the future of JCPS and Louisville, your input is invaluable!
Take a few moments to fill out the survey and share your thoughts: bit.ly/jcps-superintendent-search
#WeAreJCPS


🖤 BLACK HISTORY MONTH | JCPS is excited to celebrate Black History Month with our students, staff, and community!
Check out these resources from the JCPS Diversity, Equity, and Poverty Department on teaching and celebrating Black history: https://adobe.ly/3RpgXDh


COMING SOON TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU | The JCPS Summer Success League (formerly known as the Backpack League) will be held June 16 – July 11, 2025. Make plans now to join us!
- Breakfast and lunch provided for students
- Transportation provided (within proximity to the address)
- Math and Literacy Instruction
- Enrichment Activities
- Social Emotional Learning
- Fun
- Engaging
HOURS:
- Elementary Students (incoming 1st through incoming 6th graders) attend 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Middle and High School Students (incoming 7th through 12th graders) attend 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Watch the JCPS INSIDER newsletter for more information, including how to sign up!


✅ SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | The 2025 Comprehensive School Survey is open now through Feb. 28, 2025!
If you are a JCPS parent/guardian or employee, take the survey now at https://bit.ly/JCPSCSS25!


✅ BOARD UPDATE | During yesterday's Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) meeting, the Constitutional Oath of Office was administered to JCBE members Gail Logan Strange (District 1), Tricia Lister (District 2), Trevin Bass (District 4), and Taylor Everett (District 7), who were elected in November.
Also during last night's meeting, Dr. Corrie Shull was elected chairperson of the JCBE, and James Craig was elected vice chairperson.
Thank you to all of our JCBE members for their dedication to JCPS!


🏇 HORSING AROUND WITH ART 🎉 | Congratulations to Pleasure Ridge Park High School sophomore Kayci Shacklette, grand prize winner of the Kentucky Derby Museum's 39th annual Horsing Around With Art competition, presented by WinStar Farm!
Shacklette’s winning artwork, The Final Furlong, will be displayed at the museum. She also received a Spring Race Day Experience prize package sponsored by Churchill Downs, and PRP High School’s art department was awarded $500 to purchase art supplies!

🔧 ENGINEERING PATHWAY | Jeffersontown High School and Fern Creek High School engineering pathway students got a behind-the-scenes look yesterday at Jones Plastic & Engineering Co., one of Louisville’s largest employers! Students toured the facility and learned about exciting job opportunities and future careers.





🌟 THANK YOU | We are so grateful to our Jefferson County Board of Education members for their tireless advocacy and unwavering dedication to JCPS.
Their passion for helping our students thrive is truly inspiring. Happy School Board Recognition Month!


🌟 CHECKMATE | Congratulations to the top school chess teams and players, awarded by the Kentucky Chess Ambassadors!
➡️ Grace M. James Academy of Excellence: Middle School Chess Team of the Year
➡️ Valley High School: High School Chess Team of the Year
Players of the Year:
➡️ Anna McCandless (Grace James Academy)
➡️ Devyn Hill (Grace James Academy)
➡️ Prathyun Dhanapalraj (Meyzeek Middle School)
#WeAreJCPS


We are loving our new app! Access documents, news, updates, and even emergency notifications, right from your pocket.
Download for Android: https://aptg.co/5BH22f
Download for iPhone: https://aptg.co/mqSZlT


🌟 BRIGHT STARTS 🌟 | This week, the JCPS Flash Dads visited Shelby Academy and Mornings with Moms volunteers visited Foster Traditional Academy to surprise students with smiles, high-fives, and encouragement!
Their energy and kindness helped students kick off their day on a positive note. Thank you to these incredible volunteers for spreading joy and building community spirit! 💕 #WeAreJCPS

🌟 EMPOWERING LEADERS | Student leaders from 18 JCPS middle schools came together for an unforgettable day of growth, inspiration, and connection at the Explore Ambassadors Conference! Students dove into sessions designed to build leadership skills!


❤️ WARMTH ON WHEELS 🚍 | JCPS bus driver Larry Elliott regularly goes above and beyond for his students, supplying activity packets, books, and consistent kindness.
This week, in the face of bitter cold, he provided cozy blankets to help students stay warm. Let’s give a big shoutout to this amazing driver for going the extra mile to make sure the ride to school was as warm as it was welcoming!


🎉 CONGRATULATIONS | Ashley Billiter, a senior at duPont Manual High School, will join Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul in representing Kentucky during the 63rd annual U.S. Senate Youth Program in March!
Read more: bit.ly/2025USSYP


DOWNLOAD THE NEW JCPS APP | We're thrilled to announce the new app for JCPS! It's everything Jefferson County Public Schools, in your pocket.
Download for Android: https://aptg.co/5BH22f
Download for iPhone: https://aptg.co/mqSZlT
