As School Board Recognition Month wraps up, we’re taking a moment to honor the dedicated individuals who serve our community on the Jessamine County Board of Education.
Being a board member goes far beyond the public meetings you see on the calendar. It’s about:
👂Listening: Taking time for community conversations in the grocery store aisles or church pews.
🕯️Commitment: The late-night research and deep dives into the issues facing our district.
⚖️Leadership: Making the tough calls with one goal in mind—the success of every student.
These leaders volunteer countless hours to ensure our schools remain a place where both students and staff can thrive. We are so grateful for the heart they pour into our community.
To our board: This month-and every month-thank you for putting our students first, every single day! 💙
We are excited to share that JCTC's Gary Burdine has been honored with the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Education Award! 🏆
With an incredible 50 years of service, Mr. Burdine has helped shape the landscape of Jessamine County agriculture across generations. From his decades spent teaching high school students to his current role leading our Adult Agriculture program, he has been a steady hand and a wealth of knowledge for our community.
Gary, thank you for showing us that growth never stops. Congratulations on this wonderful honor!
Join the celebration! Share your favorite "Mr. Burdine" story or a congratulatory note in the comments below. 👇
They work behind the scenes to make sure we’re ready to hit the ground running the moment it's safe to return. Also, how cool is this find? Just further proof that we have the best crew in the state! 🏆
🚨 BINGO IS CANCELED TONIGHT🚨
Our team has been working hard to battle the ice and clear the parking lots and sidewalks, but the ice is proving to be a stubborn opponent! While we know that some of you may have cabin fever, the safety of our players and student drivers is our #1 priority.
Stay cozy, and we'll see you next time!
We have learned of a ParentSquare issue that prevented a large number of families from receiving today's post. 📱 We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to resolve the issue. Families may receive an additional message as we work to ensure that everyone is notified.
❄️ Understanding Our Weather Days
We've seen some questions about why the snow day on Friday has to be made up, and we wanted to provide some clarification. As a school district, we categorize inclement weather days in two ways: NTI Days and Snow Days. 🗓️
NTI Days (Non-Traditional Instruction): The state allows school districts to have 10 NTI days that do not need to be made up. As of tomorrow (Thursday, Jan 29), we have used all of those days. ✅
Built-in "Snow Days": This year's calendar had one additional day built in beyond the required number of days. This allowed for one snow day that did not have to be made up. We used that day on Friday, December 12. ☃️
Why the makeup? All other “snow days” missed for inclement weather must be made up—just as all missed days were before we utilized NTI days. The number of days school is in session is required by state law. ⚖️
⛄We hope this information helps!
❄️ JCS Update: Jan 29 & 30, 2026
Due to continued freezing temperatures and significant ice accumulation, road and parking lot conditions remain hazardous. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, there will be no school in Jessamine County for the remainder of the week. Please see details below and in the graphic.
📅 Schedule Changes
Thursday, Jan. 29: NTI Day #10.
Friday, Jan. 30: Snow Day (No school). This day will be made up on Monday, February 16 (Presidents Day).
📣 Childcare & Extra-Curriculars
JCS Childcare: Will open at 10:00 a.m. for registered families.
Activities & Events: Coaches and sponsors will reach out regarding schedules
Stay safe and stay warm, Jessamine County!
The United Way of the Bluegrass 211 Call Center is a free, confidential resource available to our community 24/7.
2-1-1 specialists can help connect you with:
🍎 Food assistance
🏠 Utility and housing support
🚗 Transportation resources
🚨 Other urgent needs
No matter the situation, you don't have to navigate it alone. Trained specialists are ready to provide guidance customized to your family's needs.
Ways to reach out: 📞 Dial: 2-1-1
🌐 Visit: uwbg211.org
When inclement weather keeps school buildings closed, our commitment to our students and families doesn’t stop. ❤️
Today we saw the true heart of our community when JCS hosted a meal pick-up to ensure our students—including our first responder families—had access to nutritious meals when they needed them most. Thanks to an incredible outpouring of support, we were able to provide 879 bags of food, each with four breakfasts and four lunches!🍎
This was a true community effort—coordinated by our Child Nutrition team, supported by bus drivers delivering meals to families who couldn’t get out, and made possible with the help of JCS administrators & staff, board members, community volunteers, SROs, and officers assisting with traffic. 💙
Moments like these remind us that when we face challenges, Jessamine County comes together. Thank you to every person who gave their time, energy, and heart to support our students and families. We are grateful to serve a community that looks out for one another. 🤝
Due to inclement weather, all Jessamine County Schools events and activities are canceled for Monday, January 26, 2026.
Additional updates for Monday:
❄️ All schools and the JCS Central Office will be closed.
❄️The Board of Education meeting originally scheduled for Monday has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd.
❄️While offices are closed, district administrators will be available and can be reached via email.
Stay safe and warm, everyone!
❄️ WEATHER UPDATE ❄️
Due to the impending winter storm, all JCS on and off-campus activities scheduled for Saturday, January 24th and Sunday, January 25th have been CANCELED. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates regarding activities for next week. Stay safe and warm!
When our community steps up to provide additional support, it makes a tremendous difference! A massive thank you to KCAL Old Time Radio Show and to everyone who performed, attended, and donated at their Gospel Showcase benefit! Their generosity raised $12,400 this year, with a grand total of nearly $48,638 for seven shows going back to 2019! 🎶
These funds go directly toward removing barriers to education and providing hope for local families. ❤️
What does it feel like when kindness , good choices, and stellar behavior are recognized by your bus driver and your school?
It looks like this! 🤩
A great school day starts and ends on the bus. Our drivers and monitors are a vital part of our positive behavior team, working alongside our schools to celebrate students who lead with kindness and respect. These two superstars were caught rocking JELV's 5 Steps on the ride to and from school, earning them a free Raising Cane's kids combo. 🍗
Way to go, Otters! Thanks for making your bus ride a better place for everyone. 🚌
Project Graduation is an overnight lock-in for all graduating seniors from EJHS, WJHS, and TPS. Our mission is simple: provide a fun, high-energy celebration in a safe, drug- and alcohol-free environment.
This event is 100% funded by our amazing community, and we need your help to make it happen!
How you can help:
Join the Planning Committee: Meet us TONIGHT at 6:30 PM in the WJHS Library.
Donate or Volunteer: Help us with fundraising and logistics!
Questions? Reach out to Darlene Barnes at Darlene.Barnes@jessamine.kyschools.us.
Let’s make the Class of 2026's graduation night unforgettable!
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." - Martin Luther King Jr.
We look forward to welcoming students back tomorrow!
Huge shoutout to the EJHS Dance Team for finishing 4th in Hip Hop at the KHSAA State Championships! Your hard work and energy were outstanding. We are so proud of you, Jags!
Do you know a teacher or special educator who inspires, innovates, and truly transforms lives? It's time to celebrate the incredible educators who make a difference every single day!
Nominations are open for the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year and Special Educator of the Year awards! This is your chance to shine a spotlight on their dedication and hard work.
📅Nominations close January 31, 2026, at 5 PM.
Let's show our amazing teachers some love! ❤️
📝Teacher of the Year nomination forms
https://forms.gle/UyypsQvUwNqsrhcw5 (English version)
https://forms.gle/w5L7G6DEt92yVWfL6 (Ukrainian version)
https://forms.gle/Xah1rYgnjsQD72xd7 (Spanish version)
📝Outstanding Special Educator nomination form
https://forms.gle/HMWzHqmH3oEtuXR39
#TeacherOfTheYear #SpecialEducator #ThankATeacher #EducationExcellence
🗓️ Reminder
JCS schools and offices will be closed this Monday, January 19, 2026 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
We hope you enjoy this day of reflection and service. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday, January 20!
#MLKDay #Community #Service
In a world of instant texts and DMs, Mrs. Clark’s class at WJMS is going "old school" to make a global connection! 📬🌏
Since November, these Colts have been building a wonderful friendship with pen pals in Indonesia. While the project started with an introductory Zoom meeting, the real magic has been happening in the mailbox. There’s nothing quite like the "old school" excitement of receiving a physical letter from across the ocean—tearing open the envelope, seeing the unique stamps, and holding a message from a friend thousands of miles away. 📩✨
Our Colts are helping their Indonesian peers practice English through these letters and small cultural gift exchanges. Coming up next: our Indonesian friends will present on their culture and our students will share what makes the USA awesome!
We love seeing our students hone their communication skills and use their leadership abilities to help others learn while becoming true global citizens. Keep up the great work, Colts! 🐎❤️
IT’S CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN FRIDAY! 🏀🔥
This Friday night, January 16th, the East vs. West rivalry takes center stage for an epic doubleheader.
Whether you’re rooting for the Jaguars or the Colts, come out for a night of high-energy basketball and a special moment for our community.
The Rundown:
🏀 6:00 PM – Girls Varsity Tip-off
🏆7:30 PM – Hall of Fame Induction: We are proud to honor Marci Smith as she is inducted into the Jessamine County Athletic Hall of Fame!
🏀7:45 PM – Boys Varsity Tip-off
📍 Location: West Jessamine High School
Let’s pack the stands and show our spirit! #HighSchoolHoops #HallOfFame #JagsVsColts
📣 Big congrats to the East Jessamine Middle School Cheer Team for a fantastic season and earning Runner-Up honors at the State Middle & Elementary School Cheer Championships! Your hard work, determination and spirit shine bright and make JCS proud. 💙
