🏆💥 Big Moves, Big Wins, and Big Smiles! 😄👟
Fitness Teams from elementary and middle schools across the state brought serious hustle to the 2025 WVDE Fit + Active Schools Face-Off 🌄🎽 Since January, these young athletes have been training hard—building strength, teamwork, and some seriously impressive stamina. 💪🔥
🏆 And a school from Kanawha County brought home the gold! 🎉 OVERBROOK ELEMENTARY took home 1st place in the Elementary Division! 🥇🐾 Way to represent, KCS! 🙌💙
This high-energy event wasn’t just about competition—it was also packed with fun, hands-on educational opportunities! 🧠➡️💡 In the Great Hall students learned the importance of living tobacco- and vape-free from RAZE 🚭, while Medical Assisting students from Ben Franklin Career Center checked vitals and shared health tips like real pros-in-the-making! 🩺💉📋
From flawless form to lightning-fast transitions ⏱️, teams were scored on everything from intensity and rhythm to stamina and communication. 🗣️🤝
Kanawha County kids showed up strong, supported each other, and inspired us all to keep moving and live healthy, active lives! 🥗🏃♂️❤️
Congratulations, Overbrook!
Nobody wants to discover at 9:47 p.m. that students do not have school the next morning.
As we take a closer look at the 2026–27 KCS school calendar, here are the dates families may want to make a plan for now:
✅ First Semester:
🗓️ Monday, September 7 - Labor Day
🗓️ Monday, October 5th - Parent/Teacher Conference
🗓️ Tuesday, October 6th - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ Tuesday, November 3rd - Election Day
🗓️ Wednesday, November 11th - Veterans Day
🗓️ Full Week, November 23-27, Thanksgiving Break
🗓️ Friday, December 18th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ December 23 - January 3, Christmas/Winter Break
✅ Second Semester:
🗓️ Monday, January 18th - MLKJR Day
🗓️ Friday, February 12th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ Friday, April 2nd - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ All Week, April 5th - 9th, Spring Break
Save this post. Send it to the grandparents. Drop it in the family group chat. Forward it to whoever normally asks, “Wait…do they have school tomorrow?”
The complete 2026–27 KCS school calendar is linked in the comments.
As we take a closer look at the 2026–27 KCS school calendar, here are the dates families may want to make a plan for now:
✅ First Semester:
🗓️ Monday, September 7 - Labor Day
🗓️ Monday, October 5th - Parent/Teacher Conference
🗓️ Tuesday, October 6th - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ Tuesday, November 3rd - Election Day
🗓️ Wednesday, November 11th - Veterans Day
🗓️ Full Week, November 23-27, Thanksgiving Break
🗓️ Friday, December 18th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ December 23 - January 3, Christmas/Winter Break
✅ Second Semester:
🗓️ Monday, January 18th - MLKJR Day
🗓️ Friday, February 12th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ Friday, April 2nd - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ All Week, April 5th - 9th, Spring Break
Save this post. Send it to the grandparents. Drop it in the family group chat. Forward it to whoever normally asks, “Wait…do they have school tomorrow?”
The complete 2026–27 KCS school calendar is linked in the comments.
And just like that, the school year is starting to feel very real. 💙
KCS principals and assistant principals met this morning for the Superintendent’s Conference to talk goals, share ideas and get ready for the year ahead.
Now, they’re back in their buildings and fine tuning the details to make the 2026-2027 one to remember!
We’re getting close, KCS!
📆 We'll have some calendar break downs and insights for you later today...see you then!
KCS principals and assistant principals met this morning for the Superintendent’s Conference to talk goals, share ideas and get ready for the year ahead.
Now, they’re back in their buildings and fine tuning the details to make the 2026-2027 one to remember!
We’re getting close, KCS!
📆 We'll have some calendar break downs and insights for you later today...see you then!
Who's on first.
What's on second?
I don't know is on third.
Does trying to figure out what school your house is zoned for sound like you are listening to a rerun of the famous Abbott and Costello "Who's on First?" sketch.
Let's try and solve that problem this year. If you are new to the area, recently moved, or just want to double check...let's "Find My School"
🔵 visit kcsbusstop.com (yes, its the same site you use to find your bus stop)
🔵 click on the "Find My School" tab
🔵 enter your address and the grade your student is starting and hit search
🔵 the elementary, middle, and high school your house is zoned for will come up
🔵 click on one of those schools to see the entire boundary line for those schools
🍎 “What’s for lunch?” A question often asked approximately 47 seconds after breakfast.
Here’s where to find KCS breakfast and lunch menus:
💻 On the KCS website: From the district homepage, click Menu, then select School Menus | Kanawha County Schools under the Parent/Guardians column. Choose the menu you need, and the next page will automatically display the text-based version that can be read by assistive technology. Beneath that menu, you’ll find a button to open, download or print the traditional version.
📱 In the KCS app: Tap More in the bottom-right corner, then Dining, followed by the link that appears. From there, you’ll see the same menu buttons and pages available on the website.
Menus for the next month will be posted on the last day of the current month...giving everyone plenty of time to review the lineup and begin negotiations over broccoli.
🧑💻 We hope you found this week's transportation and menu information helpful. No worries if you missed it, we'll recap all of it on the Monday and Tuesday before the first day of school. Next week, we'll tackle how to find your school if you're new to the area or recently moved, and we'll take a deep dive into the school year calendar.
Here’s where to find KCS breakfast and lunch menus:
💻 On the KCS website: From the district homepage, click Menu, then select School Menus | Kanawha County Schools under the Parent/Guardians column. Choose the menu you need, and the next page will automatically display the text-based version that can be read by assistive technology. Beneath that menu, you’ll find a button to open, download or print the traditional version.
📱 In the KCS app: Tap More in the bottom-right corner, then Dining, followed by the link that appears. From there, you’ll see the same menu buttons and pages available on the website.
Menus for the next month will be posted on the last day of the current month...giving everyone plenty of time to review the lineup and begin negotiations over broccoli.
🧑💻 We hope you found this week's transportation and menu information helpful. No worries if you missed it, we'll recap all of it on the Monday and Tuesday before the first day of school. Next week, we'll tackle how to find your school if you're new to the area or recently moved, and we'll take a deep dive into the school year calendar.
🚌📱 At this point, introducing a new KCS bus-tracking app feels a little like setting your friend up on another blind date after your last few recommendations made them question your judgment.
We hear the questions. We see the side-eye. Frankly, we’ve earned it.
But hear us out: This one has a steady job, excellent reviews and appears ready for commitment.
Meet Where’s the Bus? The question Kanawha County families have been asking for years, now conveniently available as an app.
With Where’s the Bus, families can:
🚌 See the bus moving in real time
⏰ Get estimated arrival times
🔔 Receive delay and transportation alerts
📲 See when their student scans on and off the bus
In other words, you can stop standing at the window like a Victorian sea captain waiting for a ship to emerge from the fog.
And before anyone asks: Yes, we genuinely believe this one is going to be good. It is already used by schools across North America and has strong ratings from tens of thousands of actual human beings...very few of whom, to our knowledge, are KCS employees using burner accounts.
Download Where’s the Bus from the App Store or Google Play, then visit our Back-to-School Hub for step-by-step signup instructions (link in comments).
If you have been personally victimized by a previous bus-tracking app, we respect your journey. All we ask is that you give this one a chance. 🚌
We hear the questions. We see the side-eye. Frankly, we’ve earned it.
But hear us out: This one has a steady job, excellent reviews and appears ready for commitment.
Meet Where’s the Bus? The question Kanawha County families have been asking for years, now conveniently available as an app.
With Where’s the Bus, families can:
🚌 See the bus moving in real time
⏰ Get estimated arrival times
🔔 Receive delay and transportation alerts
📲 See when their student scans on and off the bus
In other words, you can stop standing at the window like a Victorian sea captain waiting for a ship to emerge from the fog.
And before anyone asks: Yes, we genuinely believe this one is going to be good. It is already used by schools across North America and has strong ratings from tens of thousands of actual human beings...very few of whom, to our knowledge, are KCS employees using burner accounts.
Download Where’s the Bus from the App Store or Google Play, then visit our Back-to-School Hub for step-by-step signup instructions (link in comments).
If you have been personally victimized by a previous bus-tracking app, we respect your journey. All we ask is that you give this one a chance. 🚌
📦 We’re down to the final two Wednesdays of 7-day meal box pickup!
If you signed up for the 7-Day Meal Box Distribution, stop by Mary Ingles Elementary School or East Bank Baseball Field this Wednesday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The final pickup will be next Wednesday, July 29. Please help us spread the word!
If you signed up for the 7-Day Meal Box Distribution, stop by Mary Ingles Elementary School or East Bank Baseball Field this Wednesday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The final pickup will be next Wednesday, July 29. Please help us spread the word!
🚌 The school bus waits for no one, especially the child who suddenly can’t find the other shoe.
🔵 Before the first day, visit kcsbusstop.com. Enter your home address and select your student’s school. You’ll see the morning and afternoon route number, bus number, bus stop location, pickup time and drop-off time.
🔵 One important change this year: the route number is the number to remember. If you see Route: SA06 | Bus 1908, your route is SA06. Bus 1908 will normally drive that route, but a different bus may be used from time to time. The route, stop and times will stay the same. This means fewer unnecessary alerts and more meaningful updates.
🔵 Tomorrow: the new KCS bus-tracking app. Yes, we have done this before. Several times. But we have a really good feeling about this one. We’ll show you where to download it and how to set up your account. Please join us in cautious optimism.
🔵 Before the first day, visit kcsbusstop.com. Enter your home address and select your student’s school. You’ll see the morning and afternoon route number, bus number, bus stop location, pickup time and drop-off time.
🔵 One important change this year: the route number is the number to remember. If you see Route: SA06 | Bus 1908, your route is SA06. Bus 1908 will normally drive that route, but a different bus may be used from time to time. The route, stop and times will stay the same. This means fewer unnecessary alerts and more meaningful updates.
🔵 Tomorrow: the new KCS bus-tracking app. Yes, we have done this before. Several times. But we have a really good feeling about this one. We’ll show you where to download it and how to set up your account. Please join us in cautious optimism.
🎒Back-to-school season has officially arrived...and before anyone opens 14 browser tabs trying to find one form, we did the homework for you.
The KCS Back-to-School Hub is now live! Visit the KCS website and click Back to School in the button bar to find calendars, menus, transportation information, forms, app guides and more. We’ll put the direct link in the comments, too.
This officially kicks off our back-to-school campaign! We’ll share helpful information each week leading up to the first day of school on August 19.
Next week, we’re starting with two of the big ones: food menus and transportation. Because “What’s for lunch?” and “Where’s the bus?” deserve easier answers than a scavenger hunt.
The KCS Back-to-School Hub is now live! Visit the KCS website and click Back to School in the button bar to find calendars, menus, transportation information, forms, app guides and more. We’ll put the direct link in the comments, too.
This officially kicks off our back-to-school campaign! We’ll share helpful information each week leading up to the first day of school on August 19.
Next week, we’re starting with two of the big ones: food menus and transportation. Because “What’s for lunch?” and “Where’s the bus?” deserve easier answers than a scavenger hunt.
🔊 Sound the alarm
🔔 Ring the bell
🏫 Clear the hallways
Horace Mann Middle School Principal Shandon Ryan-Tweedy has been named a finalist for the 2027 School Principal of the Year! 🎉👏
Shandon brings BIG energy, heart, and determination to everything she does. Students love her. Staff love her. Families love her. And it is easy to see why.
💙🎉🔥 We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate this incredible recognition. Congratulations, Shandon! Horace Mann is lucky to have you, and KCS could not be prouder! 💙🎉🔥
Now everybody make some noise for Tweedy! 👏👏👏
📸: Pictures taken when Shandon was named KCS Principal of the Year!
🔔 Ring the bell
🏫 Clear the hallways
Horace Mann Middle School Principal Shandon Ryan-Tweedy has been named a finalist for the 2027 School Principal of the Year! 🎉👏
Shandon brings BIG energy, heart, and determination to everything she does. Students love her. Staff love her. Families love her. And it is easy to see why.
💙🎉🔥 We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate this incredible recognition. Congratulations, Shandon! Horace Mann is lucky to have you, and KCS could not be prouder! 💙🎉🔥
Now everybody make some noise for Tweedy! 👏👏👏
📸: Pictures taken when Shandon was named KCS Principal of the Year!
A little baseball and a little board business
Dr. Potter recognized two state championship baseball teams at the KCSBOE meeting on Monday.
⚾️ George Washington High School - AAAA WV Baseball State Champions
⚾️ St. Albans High School - AAA WV Baseball State Champions.
It was great to have players and coaches from both teams at the meeting and to celebrate two incredible seasons for their schools and communities.
The meeting also included a few Board updates. Ric Cavender completed his two-year term as Board President, and the Board elected Kate White to serve as President for the next two years. Mike Arbogast was elected President Pro Tem.
✋ Mike Arbogast, Becky Jordan and Lisa Otey were sworn in following their election in May.
Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches and everyone recognized Monday evening!
Dr. Potter recognized two state championship baseball teams at the KCSBOE meeting on Monday.
⚾️ George Washington High School - AAAA WV Baseball State Champions
⚾️ St. Albans High School - AAA WV Baseball State Champions.
It was great to have players and coaches from both teams at the meeting and to celebrate two incredible seasons for their schools and communities.
The meeting also included a few Board updates. Ric Cavender completed his two-year term as Board President, and the Board elected Kate White to serve as President for the next two years. Mike Arbogast was elected President Pro Tem.
✋ Mike Arbogast, Becky Jordan and Lisa Otey were sworn in following their election in May.
Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches and everyone recognized Monday evening!
Families of students who receive special education services may soon receive the Indicator 8 Parent Survey from the West Virginia Department of Education.
If your family is selected to participate, we encourage you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share honest feedback about your experience.
This survey gives families an important opportunity to provide input on communication, collaboration, and support. Your feedback helps schools and districts better understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and help support continued growth for students and families across Kanawha County Schools.
If your family is selected to participate, we encourage you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share honest feedback about your experience.
This survey gives families an important opportunity to provide input on communication, collaboration, and support. Your feedback helps schools and districts better understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and help support continued growth for students and families across Kanawha County Schools.
Summer learning, teacher edition. ☀️📚
140 KCS teachers attended Math and English Summer Learning Academies last week. They spent the week sharing ideas and finding new ways to support students.
It was more than just professional development...it was connection, collaboration, and a reminder of how much heart our teachers bring to the classroom. 💙
140 KCS teachers attended Math and English Summer Learning Academies last week. They spent the week sharing ideas and finding new ways to support students.
It was more than just professional development...it was connection, collaboration, and a reminder of how much heart our teachers bring to the classroom. 💙
☀️🍔 Summer break is here, and summer meals are available for children ages 2–18 through the WVDE and USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children.
This summer, 10 sites across Kanawha County will offer breakfast and/or lunch during specific dates and times. Families do not need to register for the open meal sites — children can come anytime during the posted meal time.
🔵 Meals are for children ages 2–18
🔵 Open meal sites do not require registration
🔵 Meal box pickup is also available at two USDA-approved locations
Registration is required for meal box pickup, and the meal box form is now live. The registration link will be in the comments of this post and is also available on the KCS website.
Full schedules, locations, meal times, and meal box registration details are available on the KCS website.
This summer, 10 sites across Kanawha County will offer breakfast and/or lunch during specific dates and times. Families do not need to register for the open meal sites — children can come anytime during the posted meal time.
🔵 Meals are for children ages 2–18
🔵 Open meal sites do not require registration
🔵 Meal box pickup is also available at two USDA-approved locations
Registration is required for meal box pickup, and the meal box form is now live. The registration link will be in the comments of this post and is also available on the KCS website.
Full schedules, locations, meal times, and meal box registration details are available on the KCS website.
Families of students who receive special education services may soon receive the Indicator 8 Parent Survey from the West Virginia Department of Education.
If your family is selected to participate, we encourage you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share honest feedback about your experience.
This survey gives families an important opportunity to provide input on communication, collaboration, and support. Your feedback helps schools and districts better understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and help support continued growth for students and families across Kanawha County Schools.
If your family is selected to participate, we encourage you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share honest feedback about your experience.
This survey gives families an important opportunity to provide input on communication, collaboration, and support. Your feedback helps schools and districts better understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and help support continued growth for students and families across Kanawha County Schools.
🌿 Trails, bridges, pollinator gardens, wildlife habitats, and student creativity...this is STEAM learning in action!
Students in the Riverside feeder area recently wrapped up an incredible year-long environmental education project made possible through a STEAM Grant from WV Tourism and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
Students helped design two hiking trails, built a bridge and ponds, created pollinator gardens, installed bird, squirrel, bee and bat houses and feeders, developed a wildlife market and created award-winning environmental art.
A huge thank you to the many people and organizations who helped make this project possible, including WVDEP, WV DNR, WVSU 4-H, WV State Police, Morris Creek Watershed, Riverside High School student groups, DuPont Middle School, Marshall University, WVU, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, school staff, families and so many others who gave their time, talents and support.
Congratulations to our Eco Warriors! You showed what can happen when students, schools and the community come together to take care of the place we call home. 🌎💚
Students in the Riverside feeder area recently wrapped up an incredible year-long environmental education project made possible through a STEAM Grant from WV Tourism and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
Students helped design two hiking trails, built a bridge and ponds, created pollinator gardens, installed bird, squirrel, bee and bat houses and feeders, developed a wildlife market and created award-winning environmental art.
A huge thank you to the many people and organizations who helped make this project possible, including WVDEP, WV DNR, WVSU 4-H, WV State Police, Morris Creek Watershed, Riverside High School student groups, DuPont Middle School, Marshall University, WVU, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, school staff, families and so many others who gave their time, talents and support.
Congratulations to our Eco Warriors! You showed what can happen when students, schools and the community come together to take care of the place we call home. 🌎💚
🎓 It’s graduation season!
The Class of 2026 is ready to walk across the stage, and we can’t wait to celebrate our high school graduates.
Check out the time and dates for every graduation ceremony in the picture below.
💻 🔗 Check out the time and dates for every graduation ceremony in the picture below.
WV Video Productions will be livestreaming every ceremony, so family and friends who can’t be there in person can still watch the big moment.
The livestream link is in the comments.
Class of 2026...You have put in the work, and we’re so proud of you! 🎓
The Class of 2026 is ready to walk across the stage, and we can’t wait to celebrate our high school graduates.
Check out the time and dates for every graduation ceremony in the picture below.
💻 🔗 Check out the time and dates for every graduation ceremony in the picture below.
WV Video Productions will be livestreaming every ceremony, so family and friends who can’t be there in person can still watch the big moment.
The livestream link is in the comments.
Class of 2026...You have put in the work, and we’re so proud of you! 🎓
☀️🍔 KCS Summer Meals available for children ages 2–18 through the WVDE and USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children.
This summer, in partnership with the WVDE and USDA Summer Food Program for Children, 10 sites across Kanawha County will offer breakfast and/or lunch during specific dates and times. Families do not need to register for those open meal sites...children can come during the posted meal time.
🔵 Meals are for children ages 2-18
KCS will also offer a separate meal box pickup program at two USDA-approved locations. Registration is required for meal box pickup, and the meal box form is now live. The registration link will be in the comments of this post, and is available on our website.
Full schedules, locations, meal times, and meal box registration details are available on the KCS website.
This summer, in partnership with the WVDE and USDA Summer Food Program for Children, 10 sites across Kanawha County will offer breakfast and/or lunch during specific dates and times. Families do not need to register for those open meal sites...children can come during the posted meal time.
🔵 Meals are for children ages 2-18
KCS will also offer a separate meal box pickup program at two USDA-approved locations. Registration is required for meal box pickup, and the meal box form is now live. The registration link will be in the comments of this post, and is available on our website.
Full schedules, locations, meal times, and meal box registration details are available on the KCS website.
🚀 AI, coding, cybersecurity, and....Minecraft?
The West Virginia Department of Education, in partnership with Prodigy Learning and Microsoft, is offering the AI Ready Skills Credential Program to middle and high schools across West Virginia at no cost.
The program gives students a chance to build foundational skills in artificial intelligence, coding, and cybersecurity while working through Minecraft Education worlds and earning credentials that show what they know.
This opportunity also includes free access to Coding in Minecraft and Cyber in Minecraft, along with professional development options for teachers.
KCS is sharing this information to help make sure our families, students, and educators are aware of this statewide opportunity.
🔗 To learn more or sign up, click on the link in the comments.
👏💫 A board meeting full of good moments and well-deserved recognition.
Last night, we had the chance to celebrate some incredible people across Kanawha County Schools, including our 2026 Teacher of the Year, Service Person of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Principal of the Year and Educator of the Year.
We also recognized our elementary Teachers of the Third Nine Weeks and 12 outstanding eighth grade students who earned the 2026 Golden Horseshoe.
From classrooms and counseling offices to school leadership, service roles and student achievement, these moments are a great reminder of the people who make KCS special. ❤️💙💚
🤗 Congratulations to all who were honored. We are proud to celebrate you!
Last night, we had the chance to celebrate some incredible people across Kanawha County Schools, including our 2026 Teacher of the Year, Service Person of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Principal of the Year and Educator of the Year.
We also recognized our elementary Teachers of the Third Nine Weeks and 12 outstanding eighth grade students who earned the 2026 Golden Horseshoe.
From classrooms and counseling offices to school leadership, service roles and student achievement, these moments are a great reminder of the people who make KCS special. ❤️💙💚
🤗 Congratulations to all who were honored. We are proud to celebrate you!
