JTA Parent Update 2026 - 2027 | Smore Newsletters for Education

📅 Week at a Glance & Upcoming Events 📅

Friday, October 2

Progress Report #2 coming home - Please reach out to teachers about grade concerns

Monday, October 5 - Friday, October 9

Fall Break

Monday, October 12

NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day

Tuesday, October 13

Students return to school after Fall Break

Wednesday, October 14

Site-Based Decision Making @ 4:30 PM in the Library

Thursday, October 15

Girls Basketball HOME vs. LaRue County Middle School @ 5:30 (Faculty Recognition Night)
Hardin County Board Meeting @ 6:00 PM

🚩IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENTS 🚩

1. We are looking for volunteers to help us with events throughout the school year. If you are interested in volunteering, please refer to the flier to the right. You must also visit this website to complete verification steps. Thank you!

2. Pre-order your yearbook for the 2026 - 2027 school year! There is NO guarantee of extra copies if you don't pre-order. Use code YBKICONS to save up to $20 on your pre-order!

3. Saturday School will resume on October 17. THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY SCHOOL TOMORROW DUE TO FALL BREAK!

4. North Hardin High School BETA Club is hosting a Trunk or Treat on October 26, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in the Front Bus Parking Lot.

💬 Principal's Message - October 💬

From the Desk of Mrs. Cassady

Where Trojans Belong

One of my strongest memories from school has nothing to do with a lesson, a test, or a report card.

It involves my mother.

Like many parents of her generation, she treated my school as an extension of our community. If I was having a rough patch academically or behaviorally, there was always the possibility that she might show up. Sometimes she volunteered. Sometimes she attended a program. Sometimes she simply checked in. On more than one occasion, she sat in my classroom for a while as a not-so-subtle reminder that my teachers and parents were very much on the same team.

As a child, I found this possibility terrifying.

As an educator, I now recognize it as a tremendous gift.

Schools looked different then. Parents walked through the front doors without buzzing in. Visitors did not present driver's licenses. There were no visitor badges, security vestibules, or electronic access systems. While I certainly would not want to go backward when it comes to school safety, there is no denying that the experience of entering a school feels different today than it did a generation ago.

The reality is that many of those procedures are necessary. We have a responsibility to protect students, safeguard privacy, and follow district safety expectations. Those requirements are not going away, nor should they. Every visitor must be screened, provide identification, and follow established procedures before entering the building. These measures are not designed to keep parents out. They are designed to keep students safe.

There is another reality worth acknowledging as well. Not everyone remembers school fondly. Some parents had difficult experiences as students themselves. For some, school was a place where they felt unsuccessful, misunderstood, embarrassed, or unwelcome. Those experiences can stay with us long after we leave the classroom, and sometimes they shape how we feel about schools as adults. If that describes you, I hope you will give JTA the opportunity to help write a different story. We want this to be a place where every family feels respected, appreciated, and valued as a partner in a child's education.

While we may not be able to change security requirements or erase difficult experiences from the past, we can control how people are treated when they walk through our doors. Recently, I have heard concerns from some parents who shared that they did not always feel welcome at JTA. In some cases, that feeling stemmed from the procedures themselves. In others, parents felt that an interaction or conversation left them feeling dismissed, rushed, or spoken to harshly.

If that has been your experience, I want you to know something important:

That is not the JTA way.

Our motto is "Where Trojans Belong."

Those words do not apply only to students. They apply to every member of our school community, including parents, grandparents, guardians, and volunteers. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel valued, respected, and heard.

The truth is that we cannot accomplish our mission without you.

One of the great paradoxes of education is that parent involvement tends to be abundant in elementary school and much harder to find in middle and high school. Somewhere between picture books and algebra, many parents begin to step back. Some do so because their children desire greater independence. Others are balancing careers, family responsibilities, and busy schedules. Some simply assume schools no longer need their help.

We do.

In fact, we need it now more than ever.

Our students are bright, funny, creative, and incredibly easy to love. Some are thriving academically. Others need an extra dose of encouragement, confidence, or attention. A volunteer who spends an hour reading with a student, helping with math practice, listening to a child read aloud, assisting with school projects, or simply being another caring adult in a child's life can make a bigger difference than they may ever realize.

My vision for JTA is simple.

I want it to be the kind of school people talk about with pride. The kind of school families recommend to their friends. The kind of school that attracts outstanding educators because it is filled with outstanding students who are supported by outstanding families. A school where everyone understands that educating children is not the work of teachers alone but the shared responsibility of an entire community.

That community includes you.

So, if you have an hour a week, an hour a month, or simply a willingness to help, I would love to hear from you. There are many ways to become involved, and every contribution matters. As required by district policy, volunteers who work directly with students must complete a background check. Our office staff will be happy to help guide you through that process.

At JTA, Trojans belong.

We hope you'll come belong with us.

Danielle Cassady

Principal

James T. Alton Middle School

danielle.cassady@hardin.kyschools.us

270-877-2135 Ext. 2006

📣 Student Shoutouts 📣

Shoutout from Mrs. Laperle, 8th Grade Language Arts

"Our Poetry students recently took their learning outdoors. We read and enjoyed poems by Kentucky poets, talked about the power of place and language, and then brought poetry to life by writing favorite lines in sidewalk chalk outside the school. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Kentucky voices, creativity, and the simple joy of putting poetry out into the world."

Shoutout from Mrs. Conley, All Grades Language Arts

"Ronin Salazar is a great student who smiles and speaks softly to questions or sharing his thoughts. He is eager to learn and to apply what he has learned. At the end of the day, he tells me about his soccer games. He loves playing. I am glad to be a part of Ronin's journey. Keep doing what you are doing Ronin. You are AWESOME!!"

Shoutout from Mrs. Logsdon, 7th Grade Math

"Jackson Goodman is always polite, ready to learn, and willing to help when needed!"

Shoutout from Mr. Edwards, 8th Grade Social Studies

"Nixon Morris has started this year off strong. This year, he has been a leader in maturity and perspectives this year. In social studies, we cover difficult topics that require students who consider many perspectives. Nixon not only takes strong sides and justifies his side, but understands counter arguments and their weaknesses."

Shoutout from Mrs. Howell, 8th Grade Social Studies

"I would like to shout out the following students from my 4th Period Study Skills class for always be polite and productive. These students are the epitome of being a Trojan. You are always respectful toward adults and peers, always strive to be the best version of yourself, and put a bright spot in my day. Thank you for being great!"

Isaiah Luna

Elijah McKinney

Matthias Robinson

Anyah Santiful

Madison Van Syckel

Jonathan Velasquez-Sanchez

Anthony Wadlington

Emalyn Walker

Robert Wentzel

Erica Wilson

💙🖤🤍 Trojan Sports Report 💙🖤🤍

Cross Country

Paxton Jarvis and Isabella Franco have both PR'd at their meet. Congratulations girl!

Paxton Jarvis: 27:09 to 24:46

Isabella Franco: 25:21 to 24:59

🏐 Volleyball Open Gym🏐

Volleyball Open Gym will begin Wednesday, October 21 (this is a change from previous newsletters), from 3:00-4:30 PM and will be every Wednesday until November 18
Tryouts will be on November 20th and 24th
Athletes who want to go to open gyms and try out must have their physical updated in Healthy Rosters. If students have any questions, please see Ms. Barkley or Mrs. Colston

🏥 Nurse Paperwork 🏥

The school nurse paperwork was sent home the first week of school. If you want your child to see the school nurse for any reason, they must have it completed and returned. That documentation MUST be on file for school health personnel to see and treat students.

Important Student Health Information

In alignment with updated requirements from the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Kentucky Department of Education, a written provider order must be on file before any prescribed medication can be administered by the school nurse. In the past, a grace period was allowed for submitting this documentation. However, effective with the 2025–2026 school year, that grace period will no longer be permitted. When bringing prescribed medication to school for administration by the nurse, you must also bring the written provider order at the same time. Without it, the medication cannot and will not be given to your student.
Also in alignment with updated requirements, effective for the 2025-2026 school year, over-the-counter medications (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Neosporin, Tums, etc.) cannot be given to a student without a written consent on file. If you give permission for your student to receive over-the-counter medications administered by the school nurse, please return your Healthy Kids Clinic registration forms with your consent. We will no longer be able to accept verbal permission.

📱Traceable Communication 📱

We are encouraging our teachers to use Apptegy Rooms with you, so you can get consistent, quick, and reliable communication. The best feature is it is similar to texting because we know how busy life can be. Please download the Apptegy App and sign up to receive communication from your student's teachers!

A new Kentucky law, KRS 160.145 (aka Senate Bill 181), requires school districts to adopt a traceable communication system that “shall be the exclusive means for school district employees and volunteers to communicate electronically with students.” You can read more about HCS Traceable Communication when you CLICK HERE.

📱HCS App 📱

Hardin County Schools has another tool to communicate with students, parents, staff and the community. Smart device users can download the HCS App from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Each school and the district will still communicate through the all-call system with phone calls, text messages and/or emails. That is why it is critically important that your phone number and email address are current in the HCS Parent Portal

💻 Parent Portal 💻

The Parent Portal is a wonderful tool to keep track of grades and attendance. Log in to the Parent Portal by CLICKING HERE. A Parent Portal app is also available from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. If parents do not have login credentials for the Parent Portal, they should contact their child’s school.

🚨Policies & Student Guidelines 🚨

👗👚 Dress Code Policy 👗👚

Proper appearance and dress makes a good impression and keeps the educational and learning environment professional. The Hardin County School District asks that students and parents accept responsibilities concerning student dress code.

Tank tops, tube tops, halter tops, crop tops, shirts that show the midriff, bareback tops, off-the-shoulder tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut and/or revealing tops, blouses or dresses are prohibited.
Shorts, skirts, and dresses must meet the 5 inch rule, (no more than 5 inches from the top of the knee all of the way around using an index card placed vertically for measurement)
Pajama pants are not allowed.
Visible rips, tears, or holes located higher than finger-tip length are not permitted, unless an underlayer (ex: leggings, form-fitting pants, a neatly sewn patch, undershirt, etc.) is worn underneath the affected area.

Dress Code Policy

📱 Cell Phone Policy 📱

KENTUCKY STATE LAW

Students may have cell phones and electronic devices (including Bluetooth headphones) in their possession, but they must be turned off or silenced during the school day. Cell phones, earbuds/headphones, & other electronic devices must remain out of sight from the time class starts at 8:00 AM until the time they exit the school building, except when authorized by a teacher or administrator. This includes use in the cafeteria at lunch and in the hallways during transition. If students use these devices, teachers will take the device and turn them into the office to collect at the end of the day. They will also face a consequence per school policy.

PARENT CONTACT DURING SCHOOL HOURS

If a student needs to contact their parent or guardian, the student should use the Student Signup form to put in a request to come to the front office to call home.

To minimize disruption to the learning environment, parents are kindly requested to contact the school's front office directly at 270-877-2135 if they need to relay an urgent message to their child during school hours. This allows school staff to deliver messages efficiently and ensures that classroom instruction remains uninterrupted.

Cell Phone Policy

🆘 Other Helpful Resources 🆘

Please refer to the links below for information on these topics:

JTA Student Handbook

HCS Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline

JTA Parent Update 2026 - 2027