Greenup County School District -

Please help us thank Linda Wellman for 53 years of service to the Greenup County School District! Ms. Wellman taught for 27 years, returning to serve on our school board for another 26 years. Ms. Wellman is a Greenup gal through and through. She graduated from Wurtland High School before the county schools consolidated, going on to serving her entire teaching career in Greenup County. Over those 27 years, she taught at Oldtown Elementary, Argillite Elementary, and Wurtland Middle. Serving on our board proved to provide Ms. Wellman with an opportunity to make a big difference. Notably, she was an early advocate and champion for our preschool program. She is thrilled that, today, our preschools give students an incredible jumpstart in their education. Ms. Wellman has expressed great satisfaction in the choices and opportunities that our students have to prepare them for their futures. After such a long tenure as an educator and board member, it is safe to say that Ms. Wellman has played a huge role in the good things happening for our Musketeers. Thank you for 53 years of service to our students and community, Ms. Wellman!

This week's schedule highlights students on our wrestling team! Congratulations to the team for their success at the Ashland Invitational! Here are the students who placed! Alexis Gipson 2nd place Casey Owens 4th place Jaxson Parrish 4th place David Craig 4th place Jaxon Law 6th place Wade Perkins 6th place #BelieveInGC

Good evening Musketeers, tomorrow Dec. 5, 2024 we will have a 2 hr. delay due to the predicted freezing rain and frigid temps... The early morning. daylight will provide a safer route to school for buses, student drivers, parents, and our children at the bus stops. #BelieveInGC

Congratulations to Melissa Jaco for earning the ACE Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association! This award celebrates those who go above and beyond in their continuing education and training! In fact, this is the 3rd time she has received this honor. Mrs. Jaco is one of our Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) dedicated to helping our students overcome difficulties with speech and language. She has been serving GC students for almost 20 years, and it doesn’t take long to realize how powerful the work of an SLP is! Melissa explained that they work with a wide variety of students. Some have severe speech and language delays, but some have simple speech impairments. All of these challenges prevent students from communicating, comprehending, and learning to their full potential, and our SLPs help students overcome them! Congratulations on your recognition, Melissa! We appreciate your dedication to continually learning how best to help our students! #BelieveInGC

Catch some great basketball and wrestling this week, with several home games for both!! Johnny says, "be there"!! #BelieveInGC

These 3 Musketeers have seen first-hand what it looks like to need help in a bad way. Recently, they learned about being a helping hand to those folks in need. A group trip to help flood victims gave them the kind of perspective that some people never get. Their message for all of us is this – “don’t take what you have for granted.” Olivia, Remington, and Carly recently joined their families in a joint effort to assist the flood victims on the east coast. What’s even more special is that it all started with the big-hearted idea of Carly’s older brother, a young man who is a 2019 graduate of GC! That young man is Christopher Pope, who you see closest on the top right manning the grill. Christopher recently acquired “Quality Meats” from his dad. Christopher’s idea was to go down and grill burgers for the families who needed a nice, warm meal. It didn’t take long before these 3 students’ families joined together to add to the trip. They packed 4 pickup trucks and a trailer “filled to the brim” with meat, canned food, diapers, bathing supplies, water, and more. Many community members sent items with them as well. They arrived at a small town outside of Asheville to a sight they described as “devastating”. Here were some of their recollections: “There were semi trucks in creeks. Houses and buildings were completely washed away. All the debris of what was left… they just had to burn it.” These wonderful students were eager to help, along with all their families. They set up a grill, played music on a bluetooth speaker, and “brought some light to the area”. These students told us that there were plenty of heavy hearts amongst the people they were there to serve, but that everyone, “was so thankful and grateful.” In return, Olivia, Remington, and Carly brought home some deep understandings to hold close to their hearts. “I feel like we shouldn’t complain so much… there are people who have it a lot worse,” Remington said. “It’s made me more grateful,” Carly added. Olivia reflected, “It’s taught me not to take what we have for granted… Thank God we can just go get groceries.” We’re so proud of these 3 students, as well as their families (who are all friends) who are raising them to serve others. If you happen to know these families, the students told us they are making another trip the week of Thanksgiving. Their actions “brought some light” to the small town they went to serve… and their story has brought a lot of light to us here in Greenup County. Great job, Musketeers! #BelieveInGC

There were plenty of teary eyes today for Veterans Day as we witnessed a truly amazing full-circle moment. This soldier, Warrant Officer Nekoda “Kody” Banks, returned to his old stomping grounds to help out an old teacher who holds a special place in his heart. That teacher is Brandi Litteral, who is now the principal at Wurtland Middle School. She described Kody to us as “her why” – a shining example of why she does what she does. Today Kody delivered a Veterans Day speech at Wurtland Middle School intertwined with encouragement to students who are facing challenges, as he can relate all too well. Kody graduated in 2013 after a childhood of hardship — he was in and out of foster care from elementary school through high school. We won’t go into the details he described of his childhood, but one of his “lighter” recollections was of nights when a bottle of water beside him would be frozen solid by morning. Brandi Litteral recalls buying him a nice coat one winter and that, although he would fall asleep sometimes, Kody was a “great kid” who was determined and had a lot of potential. When we asked him how he remained so determined despite his many serious hardships, Kody said, “I knew I wanted to be better… I didn’t want to fall into what society expected me to be.” Determined might be an understatement, as Ms. Litteral recalls Kody walking and riding bicycles over 4 miles when he had after-school activities. Although she had forgotten, Kody reminded her that she bought him one of those bicycles. “My teachers at GC were so good to me, but nobody had a bigger influence on me than Ms. Litteral,” Kody said. He added, “I really don’t think I’d be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.” Ms. Litteral spent a lot of energy on Kody in hopes of helping him find a way forward. She self admittedly “pestered him for years” about joining the military. She said she knew it would be a “way out” for Kody, who was a smart and determined young man. Those conversations must have stuck, as he is now a career soldier — a full time instructor for the Army National Guard who teaches critical skills to military units across the country. In describing his military career, Kody conveyed so much passion for his task of training units to “save lives”. We did a double take when he described that endeavor as “his Why”. We interrupted — “Did you notice what you just said?” We pointed out the irony that he would use the same phrase, “my why”, that Ms. Litteral used when describing him to us. We realized that we had just witnessed a moment that had come full circle. This old student and teacher whose “why's” are both about working to “save lives” in their own ways. Kody’s other “why’s” include his wife and daughter. He has built a life to be proud of, which Ms. Litteral made sure to let him know. He went from days when he slept in a cold shed, to having a beautiful family, owning a home, and making a difference in the world. Today he conveyed his childhood hardships to a gymnasium full of middle school students, and we sincerely mean it when we say that the students leaned in and listened. This Musketeer is continuing to sow the same seeds that were planted for him. Thank you for returning to GC today, Warrant Officer Banks. We are thankful for your service, for your willingness to give back to the next generation of students… and we are extremely proud of the man you’ve become. Happy Veterans Day, Mister Banks, and all of those who have served. #BelieveInGC

Musketeer family... let's here it for the boys as they head to Mason Co. tonight for the first round of playoffs!! They need our encouragement now more than ever!! #BelieveInGC

This is amazing!! These young ladies made the USA Junior All Girl Cheer Team!!! They went up against the best cheerleaders across the country, and after making every cut at their Nashville tryout, they just got the news this week! These girls are incredibly hardworking, and any time you talk to them they are so polite and conduct themselves in a way that would make anyone proud. We certainly are!! Congratulations Libby Carter, Ella Fraley, Gracie Howard, and Khloe Ginn!! #BelieveInGC

There are some Super spooky BOOks ready to be checked out, so don’t be afraid to encourage your student to read this month!! Do you remember your favorite "scary" books from childhood?! Kids love talking about how scary a book can be! Most of us still remember our favorites that we read as children! Take a look at some of the books our librarians picked out as their favorites! They have great suggestions ready for your students that are appropriate for every grade level! #BelieveInGC

Inside an office adorned with an assortment of rock and roll memorabilia and quirky trinkets, there’s a man whose upbeat voice can be heard from early morning and into the evening each day. It’s Brad Quillen’s office, who leads GC’s virtual learning. Many people throughout our district office regularly comment some variation of, “I just love hearing Mr. Quillen teach.” We wish you could all hear it for yourself – you can’t help but be inspired by it. With nothing more than an extra large computer monitor and a cup of coffee, Mr. Quillen brings a real sense of community to a group of students otherwise only connected through the internet. We asked Mr. Quillen how he keeps up his energy and optimism each and every day… we can’t recall a day when he wasn’t “on his game” teaching our virtual students. His initial answer was simple. “I have to be… people depend on it,” he said. Mr. Quillen isn’t fond of talking about himself or receiving compliments. We asked him to explain, though, and this was his answer: “I want to be positive because there’s enough negativity in the world… we just need more light. Believe it or not… I might be the nicest interaction that a student has in their day.” We’re proud and grateful to know that in a scenario that could easily be impersonal (learning virtually by computer), we have a teacher who intentionally tries to bring positivity to every student he interacts with. His office neighbor, Penny Tharp, offered some insight. “You can hear him talking to the students all day… and it doesn’t matter what kind of student they are… he talks to them all with the same encouragement and positivity,” she said. Penny continued, “That’s why I love to listen to him teach.” We’ll end with Mr. Quillen’s response as to why his position is so rewarding to him. “There are a few of my students who have life situations that wouldn’t allow them to get an education otherwise… and I know that they are,” he said. Sometimes you see a person pouring their whole heart into their work and you just think they should be celebrated. This is an example of that. Thank you, Mr. Quillen, for being a shining example of how we strive to provide every Musketeer with our very best effort. You are certainly the perfect example of that. #BelieveInGC

These middle school students are having a blast in their drama class! We won't spoil the spooky secrets in case you plan on going to see their production, but we had to show off how the arts draw out so much learning! Students are engaged as they read their scripts, building confidence as they prepare to be in front of a crowd, and learning team work as they make all the "moving parts" of a production come to life! And now for the bonus! Mr. Pack asked us to come help them film a commercial for their production, so we gave the whole class a crash course on camera and editing skills. That's right... these students are now making their own commercials!! We're seeing student involvement increase across the district, and we love seeing our students take a role in telling our story!! Good luck on your upcoming production, Musketeers!! #BelieveInGC

We were invited to visit Nurse Hunt and Nurse Stiltner's students this morning, and they did not disappoint! These medical science students are turning pumpkins into patients to learn all about what's ailing them — and how to treat them! They are having a blast decorating their pumpkins and are learning a lot! Some of their "finished" pumpkins are not for the squeamish, so we thought a healthy one was best to show off! We're not all cut out for the medical field, but these students sure seem to be! Great job, Musketeers! #BelieveInGC

Don't miss our Safety and Social Media Symposium this Thursday!! A free dinner will be provided from 5:00-6:00, followed by presentations by experts on keeping our students safe in this digital age! Reserve your seat with this link! ⬇️ https://forms.gle/UecPrPRwpn6S7uvR9 Oct 17 @ Greenup County High School Cafeteria *Optional* free dinner from 5:00-6:00 PM Speakers from 6:00 - 8:00 PM Resources Provided FBI Agent Marjoe Jennings Experts on Internet Safety #BelieveInGC

This week highlights one of Argillite Elementary's yearly traditions — an arial photo with everyone forming a pink ribbon! We love how this yearly project clearly teaches students the importance of helping and caring for others! #BelieveInGC

How many teenagers in 2024 do you think could successfully take a chicken from farm to table? We don’t think this valuable knowledge is very common anymore, which makes us all the more proud of Ms. Davis and her agriculture students. They recently completed their yearly project of processing poultry. These students would impress anyone. They learn how to care for animals, appreciate agriculture, and respect everything that could potentially make its way to their tables. You commonly hear them say things like, “it’s made me appreciate food more,” “I won’t be wasting food anymore,” and, “I have a deeper respect for animals now.” While this process can bring about a variety of emotions, no one can deny that being directly involved in the farm-to-table process brings a deeper respect for living things than you can ever gain from simply visiting a grocery store. It’s worth noting that students understood that they could participate as much or as little as they were comfortable with. Congratulations to our agriculture students for carrying on a set of skills and knowledge that are quickly disappearing from the average household. Their understanding of agricultural science is far beyond that of the average student, and they now possess an invaluable skill they’ll have for life. Thank you, Ms. Davis, for your tremendous dedication to our agriculture students! #BelieveInGC

Many of you may already be familiar with Tyson Sammons, but we’re going to give you some insight that’s more important than any of his athletic achievements. After talking to Tyson, it is apparent that he truly pours his heart into everything he does without any hope of recognition. If you’ve ever talked to Tyson, it’ll come as no surprise that he acts nervous and reluctant to take a picture or talk about himself. It’s no act. The young man just doesn’t relish in attention. It’s one of his many endearing qualities. After seeing the tremendous buzz about Tyson, getting compared to GC athletic legends like Jim Dunaway and Don Gullett, we wanted to dig deeper into this energizing player. We asked Tyson how he felt about all the attention he’s been getting, and he replied, “it’s enough,” with a humble half smile as he looked to the floor. When we asked him what he meant by that, he replied, “I just wish my teammates got more… the football team is 6 and 1, not me.” We reminded Tyson that we’ve never featured him individually aside from congratulating him for last year’s EKC Player of the Year award. “I appreciate that,” he said. We told Tyson that we wanted to disregard his stats and acknowledgements – that his most impressive athletic achievement in our eyes is that you *never* see him on the field not giving 100%. Win or lose, you never see #2 and think, “why did he let his foot off the gas on that play?” So we asked Tyson where that intense drive and hustle comes from. “Just watch Rocky IV,” he said jokingly – “I don’t know how to explain it.” Tyson pondered for a moment and continued, “Pouring your heart into it… that’s what I call it.” We continued to press, asking how he gets it or where it comes from. “In the Bible, it says you should work for people like you're working for God… I look at school and football like my job… so I pour my heart into it,” Tyson explained. Everyone will tell you that he does indeed pour his heart into everything. Feedback from staff in regards to Tyson includes, “one of the nicest kids you’ll ever meet… couldn’t ask for a better kid… respectful to everybody… really good student.” In fact, Tyson is known for rallying students together to be a cheer section for other sports. Wanting to respect Tyson’s humility, we kept the talk brief and ended by asking him if he had any message for our Musketeer family. Here is his reply: “I just want to say thank you. 5 years ago they were different ball games… the fans, attendance, and excitement. It just feels great to have a community behind us, and it makes it a completely different experience. I want GC to be like the other great programs you see out there… the community gives their support, win or lose.” We asked if he had anything to say about his team. “There’s nothing I can do without everyone else,” he replied. Help us congratulate Tyson Sammons for being a great example of “pouring your heart into” whatever you do. It’s not only the touchdowns that excites all of us in Green and Gold – it’s the unbelievable grit and determination. Most importantly, we’re proud of Tyson for putting others before himself, and can’t wait to see how he makes the world a better place with that mentality. Great job, Musketeer. #BelieveInGC

This is Mr. Marcus, a new Instructional Assistant here at GC. He was tired on Thursday – yet he took the previous day off work. We were amazed when we found out why and thought you’d like to know as well. Mr. Marcus’ father is in the shipping/logistics business and has a lot of insight into the devastation some towns have experienced from flooding. Understanding the severity of the conditions around Asheville, North Carolina, the two decided to take action. Mr. Marcus loaded up the back of his pickup truck with supplies they purchased themselves. He requested Tuesday off and left as soon as he got off of work. He and his father arrived at a small town just outside of Asheville, and spent Wednesday delivering supplies using 4-wheelers and side-by-sides to the folks who “knew where it all needed to go”. He reports that their biggest need is baby food and formula, and that fresh water wasn’t a big need. Mr. Marcus left late on Wednesday and drove all night to show up to work yesterday, where he supervised students participating in Old Fashioned Days. It just goes to show what big-hearted people we have serving our students. With that said, you may be interested in who this new Musketeer is and how he arrived at GC. Mr. Marcus is working on his teaching degree, and called GC at the guidance of his college. When we learned about him we were honored and excited to be a part of his journey, offering him a position as an instructional assistant. Mr. Marcus is a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and planned on being a career military man. Multiple service-related injuries and surgeries required him to make a new plan for his life. In trying to answer the question “What’s next?”, Mr. Marcus reflected on his life. He had a rocky childhood and was removed from his home as a teenager, which led him to not being a great student. At some point, Mr. Marcus decided to take charge of his life and create a future that was positive. “That’s the reason I want to be a teacher,” Mr. Marcus said, explaining that he wants to help young people who have similar situations. Mr. Marcus continued, “I always wanted to be a teacher… I guess I just thought I wasn’t smart enough.” Then one day he had a realization. “I decided there’s no reason I can’t… I’ve never not been able to accomplish something when I put everything into it… and I’ll be able to really help others,” he said. We’re proud of Mr. Marcus for all of the reasons we described and are excited for him to complete his teaching degree while working as an instructional assistant here at GC. As he has reminded us, let’s all keep our eyes open to how we can help our fellow neighbors in need. Great job, sir. #BelieveInGC

Just a quick moment to brag on a student who serves as a great example of the good we’re seeing in new classes across GC! This is Isaiah, and he’s taking a multimedia class. Technically, they are learning how to take professional photos, videos, and more. Truthfully, though, these students are learning how to expand their horizons with new skills, think like entrepreneurs, and work with others as a team. Today, Isaiah was tasked with getting footage of our students at Old Fashioned Days. It's an opportunity to uplift our students who are participating. Not only did he do that, he even came to us beforehand to ask for last minute tips and guidance. He really did a great job today. Most importantly, it’s great to see our students taking initiative! Every day they get the opportunity to experience new things that they wouldn’t have otherwise, and we’re seeing the impact it has on them. Whether it be media, welding, or phlebotomy… our students are learning that this world has a whole lot to offer. We’re so proud of moments like this when we see them excited to put their learning to use while serving others. Great job today, Isaiah! #BelieveInGC

Here's what's going on this week here at GC! Many student groups (band, choir, JROTC, etc.) will be appearing and performing at Old Fashioned Days on Thursday... make sure to ask your student if they will be participating! #BelieveInGC