The quest by HCES children to achieve perfect attendance reached new heights at the school this year, as a record 46 students were on track to be included in the awards program as of March 13. That’s when Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent students in the Commonwealth home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After discussions with HCES staff members and a few parents, the school made the decision to honor all 46 students for perfect attendance. “We feel it’s the right thing to do,” Richard Todd, HCES Principal, said. “We have folks in the community that have made donations specifically for this, and we have students and families who made every effort to value attendance and be here every day.” He pointed out that students had already made it through more than three-fourths of the school year, including cold and flu season, when the decision was made to move to NTI instruction.
In past years, all students who have achieved the status were seated in front of the entire HCES student body and staff, then allowed to partake in a “game show” event with students receiving prizes such as bicycles, scooters, $100 bills, gift cards, other cash prizes, and even a laptop computer. Each year, every student that earned perfect attendance has received at least a cash prize; Todd added that was the predominant reason he and the staff felt it necessary to do so this year.
“Even though 46 is twice the number of students with perfect attendance that we’ve had in the past, we feel they earned recognition of the award,” the HCES principal stated. The prizes donated this year by community stakeholders include a bicycle, two $25 Wal Mart gift card, and Acee’s gift card, and several cash contributions. “We had a staff member offer to purchase the gift cards for cash,” Todd added, “so we did that, then used all the cash to provide equal prizes for 45 of the students.”
The one exception was the girls’ bicycle. Since it is a larger bicycle, he explained that he placed the names of all girls in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in a drawing. Out of the 21 female students who fit those prerequisites, fourth-grader Brie Anna Simmons’ name was drawn as the recipient of the bicycle. “When I called her and her mother, Brittany Keefer, she was thrilled to get the bike,” Todd said.
The other 45 students will receive a $10 bill, he added, which is attached to the perfect attendance award. Students and families were given the awards when they picked up their report cards Wednesday and Thursday.
Students who met the perfect attendance criteria of missing less than one-half day of school include:
Sixth grade - Kera Adams, Sydnee Bailey, Jack Byassee, Savanna Cooley, Adison Embrey, Clayton Gilliland, Sha’Marian Gray, Kaden Grubbs, Ann Marie White;
Fifth grade – Boston Boaz, Kenzie Crumble, Katie Dowdy, Trenton Rowe, Lucas Walker, Jacob Wesley, Lakyn Wilber;
Fourth grade – Jenna Byassee, Brian Davis, Emily Ferguson, Kelton Hardy, Karadari Hornback, Macy Howell, Jordan Mason, Kylie Meshew, Rachel Perry, Blayke Riley, Kaleigh Rubey, Braxton Sheppard, Brie Anna Simmons;
Third grade – Grayson Clark, Ailey Farmer, Rebecca Freeman, Brenna Goodson, Lucas Grimmitt, Ke’Inyiaziah Powell, Leah White;
Second grade – Eli Blalock, Tucker Byassee, John Harris, Jackson Mullins, Brent Perry;
First grade – Brystol Byassee, Ean Byassee, Reese Clark;
Kindergarten – Luka Garcia, and Ryker Wyland.
Highlights of the attendance awards include: fourth grade, which had 13 of its 44 students earn the honor; six sibling pairs that met the requirements (Jack and Jenna Byassee, Tucker and Brystol Byassee, Grayson and Reese Clark, Brian Davis and Brie Anna Simmons, Brent and Rachel Perry, Ann Marie and Leah White); and the representation of every grade on the list.
FOURTH GRADE AWARDS
Reading
Bailey Childress
Kelton Hardy
Macy Howell
Jenna Byassee
Emilee Ferguson
Social Studies
Bailey Childress
Kelton Hardy
Jenna Byassee
Carter Camp
Language Arts
Kelton Hardy
Jenna Byassee
Macy Howell
Bailey Childress
Kara Hornback
Spelling
Jenna Byassee
Kelton Hardy
Kaleigh Rubey
Tyler Rogers
Bailey Childress
Writing
Karlie Kimbell
Bailey Childress
Top Reader
Kaleigh Rubey
Rachel Perry
Citizen
BrieAnna Simmons
John Tineo
Alle Speed
Math
Jenna Byassee
Emilee Ferguson
Macy Howell
Allie Hoff
Carter Camp
Science:
Jenna Byassee
Bailey Childress
Kelton Hardy
Rachel Perry
Leadership Cabinet
Jenna Byassee
Bailey Childress
Lee Polsgrove
FIFTH GRADE AWARDS
Reading (Top 5)
Kady Boaz
Trigg Deweese
Lillie Easley
Meadow Sowell
Katie Dowdy
Social Studies (Top 5 Averages)
Wes Workman - Top Average - 100
Gracie Bond
Kady Boaz
Boston Boaz
Lillie Easley
Language Arts (Top 5) Handwriting
Lillie Easley- 100.32 Gracie Bond
Kady Boaz Trevon Perry
Boston Boaz
Blythe Armbruster
Halle Evans
Easley Homeroom Best All Around
Brec Byassee
Blythe Armbruster
Best All Around - Mrs. Terry’s Homeroom
Katie Dowdy
Wes Workman
Math (top 5 ) Most Freckle Levels:
Wes Workman Trigg Deweese
Myles Roach
Boston Boaz
Trigg Deweese
Amber Wheeler
Science (top 5)
Gracie Bond
Blythe Armbruster
Wes Workman
Myles Roach
Lily Lambert
Leadership Cabinet
Brec Byassee
Halle Evans
Riley Norwood
Myles Roach
SIXTH GRADE AWARDS
Student Name | Awards |
Kera Adams | Promotion Certificate Perfect Attendance |
Jerrek Alexander | Promotion Certificate Best Handwriting |
Kevin Alexander | Promotion Certificate |
Marquan Alexander | Promotion Certificate |
Sydnee Bailey | Promotion Certificate Science Award Highest Average Math Award Accelerated Math Award Highest Language Award Top Reading Average Top Social Studies Average Top Novel Reader |
Abbey Bellew | Promotion Certificate Top Novel Reader |
Shalise Bowles | Promotion Certificate |
Carly Bradley | Promotion Certificate |
Blair Byassee | Promotion Certificate Math Award |
Jack Byassee | Promotion Certificate Science Award Math Award Perfect Attendance
|
Witt Carter | Promotion Certificate Most Improved in Reading |
Savanna Cooley | Promotion Certificate Math Award Most Improved in Reading Perfect Attendance |
Drew Cunningham | Promotion Certificate |
Kiran Dadd | Promotion Certificate |
Kaylee Dix | Promotion Certificate |
Allyson Ellegood | Promotion Certificate Math Award Top Social Studies Average |
Adison Embrey | Promotion Certificate Perfect Attendance |
Karli Faircloth | Promotion Certificate Citizenship Award |
Abigail Frizzell | Promotion Certificate Math Award |
Macy Fuller | Promotion Certificate Science Award Math Award Language Award Best All Around - Gallimore Homeroom Top Reading Average Top Social Studies Average |
Clayton Gilliland | Promotion Certificate Citizenship Award Perfect Attendance |
Sha/Marian Gray | Promotion Certificate Perfect Attendance |
Kaden Grubbs | Promotion Certificate Math Award Best All-Around- Blalock Homeroom Perfect Attendance |
Sophia Harding | Promotion Certificate |
Jayvion “Leak” Harper | Promotion Certificate |
Kylee Harper | Promotion Certificate |
Kadynse Hayden | Promotion Certificate Hard Worker Award in Reading and Social Studies |
Shawn Higgins | Promotion Certificate |
Katelynn Johnson | Promotion Certificate |
Noah Jones | Promotion Certificate |
Will Lupton | Promotion Certificate |
Noah Malinauskas | Promotion Certificate Science Award Math Award Accelerated Math Award Best All Around - Gallimore Homeroom Top Social Studies Average
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Jacob Mann | Promotion Certificate |
Avery Moon | Promotion Certificate |
Gracie Morris | Promotion Certificate Math Award Language Award Peer Helper Award-Bizzle Homeroom Top Social Studies Average |
Jennifer Norwood | Promotion Certificate |
Zeke Overby | Promotion Certificate Science Award Math Award Accelerated Math Award Language Award |
Allyson Parker | Promotion Certificate Science Award Math Award |
Audrey Perry | Promotion Certificate |
Jaedon Peyton | Promotion Certificate Math Award Best All Around-Bizzle Homeroom Top Social Studies Average |
Samantha Polsgrove | Promotion Certificate |
Jalisa Reed | Promotion Certificate Work Hard and Be Nice Award-BIzzle Homeroom |
Quantaja Robinson | Promotion Certificate |
Brendon Rosas | Promotion Certificate |
Noah Russelburg | Promotion Certificate Top Novel Reader |
Kaylee Seaton | Promotion Certificate Best Handwriting |
Kaylee Sproul | Promotion Certificate Best All-Around- Blalock Homeroom |
Kady Stinson | Promotion Certificate |
Kaylee Sumner | Promotion Certificate |
Austin Todd | Promotion Certificate Top Reading Average |
Audrey Tucker | Promotion Certificate Science Award Math Award Accelerated Math Award Language Award Leadership to Peers Award-Bizzle Homeroom Top Reading Average Top Novel Reader Top Social Studies Average |
Alex Ward | Promotion Certificate |
Ann Marie White | Promotion Certificate Perfect Attendance |
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K-PREP
The last few years, HCES has gotten students pumped up for the state K-PREP assessment using a themed facelift of the school, a stress-free day before testing, goodies and treats related to the theme, and staff dress-up correlated to the theme. One of the biggest motivators for students to do their best, however, has been the banners placed in the HCES gym listing the names of all students who scored proficient and distinguished on the previous year’s tests.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, students not only didn’t take the K-PREP assessment, they were also denied the revealing of the newly-hung banner.
Pictured is the banner, recently hung by Hickman County School’s Bobby Kelly, William Jones, and Jeff Boaz. Like the others, the banner includes the names of each student in grades 3-6 who scored proficient or distinguished on at least one section of the K-PREP test. “We’re proud that the number of students listed on the banner continues to grow. That’s due to the hard work of the teachers and staff, and especially the students, as we continue to demonstrate Falcon Pride,” Richard Todd, HCES Principal, said.
The first banner was created and hung in 2015, as Todd consulted with both staff and students regarding ways to motivate students to give their best effort while also building school spirit and pride. The banners are hung annually in the HCES gym based on recommendations from students.