Newport High School Newsletter

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year at Newport High School! We are thrilled to have our Wildcats back and ready to learn. Read on for important updates and reminders to help your family start the year off right.

We've updated how dismissal works at Newport High School, and we want every family to know the plan. These changes are designed to keep our afternoon dismissal organized, efficient, and safe for all students.

Dismissal now happens in two waves. At 3:15, we release car riders, drivers, and walkers. At 3:18, we release bus riders. Splitting the two groups keeps foot traffic and vehicle traffic from crossing paths and helps everyone get where they need to go faster.

Here's what your student needs to know based on how they get home

Car riders and drivers head to their lockers first, then exit through the auditorium doors. Anyone grabbing food from the cafeteria can stop there on the way out. Cars will be parked south of the crosswalk or under the bridge, so please plan your pickup spot accordingly.

Walkers also stop at their lockers first, then exit through the front doors. If your student needs a meal, they can swing by the cafeteria before heading out. For safety, walkers must use the 6th Street sidewalk, and students are not permitted to walk down Wildcat Drive.

Bus riders go to their lockers and then report to the cafeteria, where bus areas are clearly marked with bus numbers. Students stay in their assigned bus area until their bus is called, then exit through the cafeteria doors and go straight to their bus. Anyone who wants to eat can do that in the cafeteria while they wait.

The attached map shows all the exits and pickup areas at a glance, so take a minute to look it over with your student. If you have questions about where your child should go, reach out to the front office and we'll walk you through it.

Thanks for helping us make dismissal smooth and safe for every Wildcat.

Homecoming is coming up, and we want to see everyone there. This year's dance is set for Friday, October 24 at 7:00 PM in the Newport High School Auxiliary Gym.

To attend, students need to meet three expectations. First, no suspensions after September 8. Second, at least 90% attendance between September 8 and October 23. And third, no more than one F for the first quarter. All three have to be met to get in the door.

The good news is that all of this is within reach. Show up, stay on top of your work, and make good choices over the next several weeks, and you'll be set for a great night. If you have questions about where you stand, check in with your counselor or an administrator.

Here's some good news to start the year off right. Thanks to our partnership with GEAR UP Kentucky, our Class of 2027 Wildcats have a real shot at some serious help paying for college, and the best part is that you don't have to compete for it.

That's right. This isn't the kind of scholarship where thousands of students are fighting over a handful of awards. If you meet the requirements, the money is yours. You complete, you receive. It's that simple.

So what are we talking about? Any 2027 GUK graduate who enrolls at a Kentucky college, university, or technical college earns a first-year scholarship of $750. Then, if you head back for a second consecutive year, another $600 lands in your corner. That's real money toward whatever comes next for you, whether that's a four-year degree, a technical certification, or something in between.

Qualifying takes just four steps. You need to graduate from a GEAR UP Kentucky high school, which you're already doing right here at Newport. You'll want to take part in at least one documented GUK activity, complete both the FAFSA and the GEAR UP Kentucky Senior Survey, and then enroll at a Kentucky college, university, or technical college. Knock those out and the scholarship is guaranteed.

This is exactly the kind of opportunity we love seeing for our students, and we don't want a single senior to miss out on it. If you have questions or want to make sure you're checking every box, talk to your GEAR UP advisor. They're ready to walk you through it and help you claim what's yours.

Go get it, Wildcats. Your next step just got a whole lot easier.

NaviGo Scholars: Real Career Pathways for Wildcats

Here's an opportunity worth putting in front of your student. NaviGo Scholars connects local businesses with motivated high schoolers who want to explore real career fields and build workforce skills before they ever graduate. Selected students get hands-on learning, time inside actual workplaces, and personalized coaching from a NaviGo Coach who supports their college and career planning along the way. Applications are open now through September 2, so this is the window to jump in.

There are more than a dozen Scholars Groups to choose from, spanning just about every interest area you can think of. A few highlights: the Balluff Industrial Sensing & Automation group is brand new this year and a great fit for students drawn to robotics, electrical engineering, and sensors. SHP Design, also new, gives juniors and seniors an inside look at architecture, interior design, and mechanical engineering. Beyond those, students can explore groups in Artificial Intelligence at NKU, Automotive Careers at the BMW Store, Cyber Defense with US Bank, Advanced Manufacturing with Toyota, Skilled Trades, Law Careers, Mental Health Careers, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, and more. Some run in the fall, some in the spring, and some across the full year, so there's flexibility to match a student's schedule.

A couple of details to know. Most groups meet about twice a month, often splitting time between the company's site and a Gateway campus, and the whole program kicks off with a celebration on Sunday, September 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. that selected scholars, families, and sponsors are all encouraged to attend.

Students can learn more and apply at navigoprep.com/navigo-scholars, and questions can go to navigo@learning-grove.org. If your Wildcat has been wondering what a career in a field actually looks like day to day, this is a chance to find out from the people who live it.

Are you between 14 and 24 and want a real say in the decisions that affect young people? The HEY! Youth Fellowship is looking for you.

This is a paid opportunity where fellows help guide efforts supporting youth mental health and well-being across Greater Cincinnati. You'll build leadership skills, get career experience, and make sure young people actually have a voice at the table. It's not busywork. The whole point is putting real decisions in the hands of the people they impact most.

Here's what you need to know. The program runs October 2026 through May 2027, meeting Mondays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Youth At The Center, 500 Reading Road. Dinner is provided. You can work up to seven hours a week at $18 per hour, and the application only takes about 10 minutes to complete.

The deadline is Monday, August 31, so don't sit on this one.

Apply here: https://www.youthatthecenter.org/fellowship/

The NHS Theatre Department is proud to announce their winter show will be Charlotte’s Web, the script based on the beloved children’s book by E.B. White. Auditions will be held on Wednesday September 2nd from 3:30 to 5:00 in the auditorium. Audition packets will be available for pick up beginning Monday August 24th from Ms. Stacy’s classroom 202. The cast includes around 15 different roles. IF you are interested or have questions you can see Ms. Stacy in between classes.

There's a lot happening at NHS after the final bell, and there's something for just about everyone. Whether you want extra help with homework, a creative outlet, a new skill, or just a fun way to stay active, our after-school clubs are a great way to get involved and meet people who share your interests.

Here's what's on the schedule:

Study Tables meets Tuesday through Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 with Ms. Tasha, offering homework help and a quiet place to focus. Cosmetology Club runs Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 with Ms. Tasha for anyone interested in hair, nails, and beauty basics. YLD meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 with Ms. Amy and focuses on youth leadership. Drama Club gathers Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 with Ms. Parr for acting and performance. Variety Club meets Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 with Ms. Katrina and covers life skills like cooking and sewing. Pickleball is Fridays at 3:15 with Ms. Parr. And our Outdoor Adventure Club has a kayaking trip coming up on September 12 with Mrs. Kennedy.

Getting involved is one of the best parts of high school, and it looks great on a college application too. Interested in any of these? Just talk to the club sponsor to sign up. Times are subject to change, and we'll keep adding new clubs and events throughout

Newport High School has a Wildly Important Goal that every family can help us reach. We want student attendance at 93.4 percent, which means our Wildcats are here and ready to learn nearly every single day. Hitting that number starts with a few simple habits around excuse notes, so here is how the system works. Every absence and every tardy needs a note. To keep that manageable, each family gets five parent notes for the school year to use however you see fit, no reason required, to excuse any absence or tardy. The one thing to remember is the deadline. A parent note or other valid excuse has to reach the school within five school days of the event. If it doesn't, that event is marked unexcused, and your parent notes are then applied to it automatically until they run out.

Anything past that needs documentation, like a doctor or dentist note, a note from the court clerk or court designated worker, or an obituary or funeral card for the death of a family member. We know life happens, and this system is built to give families flexibility while keeping our attendance strong, because showing up is where learning starts. That goal of 93.4 percent is not just a number on a wall. It is what we mean when we say "Here Every Day, the Wildcat Way," and we get there one day and one Wildcat at a time. If you ever have a question about a note or an absence, just call the front office and we will walk you through it.

$2,500 Scholarship, No Essay Required

If you've ever skipped a scholarship because it wanted a five-page essay and a perfect GPA, this one's different. Cirkled In is offering the "No Sweat" Scholarship, a $2,500 award you can use for any educational need, and the whole application takes about two minutes.

The name isn't a joke. There's no essay, no minimum GPA, and no income requirements. It's open to all high school students, grades 9 through 12. You just create a free profile and click apply. That's it.

Here's how it works. Head to cirkledin.com and sign up for free, then go to cirkledin.com/scholarships and hit "Apply Now." The deadline is September 30, 2026, and winners will be notified by November 15, 2026.

Cirkled In is a platform built to help you showcase your skills and achievements to colleges and employers, find your best-fit school, land internships, and win scholarships. So even beyond this award, setting up a profile puts you in front of opportunities.

Two minutes for a shot at $2,500 is a good trade. Apply here: https://www.cirkledin.com/scholarships

Every day is a fresh chance for your student to learn something new, laugh with a friend, and take one more step forward, and it all starts with showing up. When our Wildcats are here day after day, great things happen. They stay connected to their teachers, they keep their momentum going, and they get the full Newport High experience we work so hard to give them.

That is why we are excited about our goal this year to reach 93.4 percent attendance together. It is a goal we know our families can help us hit, and every single day counts toward it. Get your Wildcat here, cheer them on, and let us take care of the rest. Here every day, the Wildcat way.

We want to talk with you about something that quietly shapes almost everything else at school: attendance. It's easy to think of a missed day here or there as no big deal, but the research is pretty clear that those days add up faster than most of us expect, and they matter more than we tend to realize.

Consider a few things we've learned. Missing just two days a month, which barely feels like a pattern, works out to about 18 days a year. That's the line researchers call chronic absence, and it's enough to pull a student's grades down. Attendance in the very first weeks of school often predicts how the whole year will go. And by the middle grades, how often a student shows up becomes one of the strongest signals of whether they'll graduate. The good news buried in all of that is the flip side: when attendance goes up, so do grades and the odds of walking across that stage.

None of this is about blame. We know mornings are hard, and we know that sometimes what keeps a student home has nothing to do with wanting to be here. Transportation falls through. Someone gets sick. Life happens. What we're asking is that we work on this together. Talk with your student about why being here matters. Reach out to us early when something is getting in the way, before a few absences turn into a habit. And when you're not sure how to handle a situation, let us be part of solving it.

Our goal this year is a 93.4% attendance rate across the building, and we genuinely believe we can hit it with your help. Every day a Wildcat is here is a day that counts. Thanks for partnering with us to make sure our students are here every day, the Wildcat way.

The LIHEAP Summer Subsidy Program will accept applications August 3 through September 11, 2026, to help eligible Kentucky households offset cooling costs with a one-time electric benefit. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.

Interested households should contact their local NKCAC-Neighborhood Center to determine eligibility and complete the application process. To find the office serving your county, visit www.nkcac.org or call 859-581-6607.

To qualify, households must meet eligibility requirements, including having a household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Benefits are paid directly to the household's electric provider.

Please note:

• A disconnect notice, past-due bill, or eviction notice is not required to apply.

• Receiving assistance during previous LIHEAP components does not affect eligibility for this program.

The Wildcat Market is open and ready to welcome Newport families. It's a free shopping market available to all Newport students and their families, where you can pick up food, fresh produce, clothing for children and adults, hygiene products, household items, and other everyday necessities. Everything is provided at no cost thanks to generous donations and community partnerships. If you like Plato's Closet or Goodwill, you'll love the Wildcat Market, and new items arrive every month. The Market is open on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 12:00 to 4:00 PM, so you can shop twice a month. This year's shopping dates run from August 27th all the way through May 27th, with the only closure on October 8th. For the full 2026-2027 schedule and more information, find us on Facebook. One district, one community, stronger together.

Newport Independent Schools wants families to know about two rights they have under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). First, you can request information about any state or district testing policy, including what a given assessment covers, why students take it, how much instructional time it uses, and when and how results are shared. Second, you have the right to ask about the professional qualifications of your child's teacher and any paraeducator who works with your child. That includes whether they meet Kentucky's certification and licensing requirements, whether they are teaching under an emergency or provisional status, and their college major, degree, and field of certification. To request testing information, contact Autumn Slankard, District Assessment Coordinator, at 859-292-3092 or autumn.slankard@newport.kyschools.us. For educator qualifications, contact Dr. Melissa Hemmerle, Director of Federal Programs, at 859-292-3092 or melissa.hemmerle@newport.kyschools.us. When you reach out, please include your child's name, school, grade, and the specific information you want. Translation, interpretation, and accessible formats are available on request.

Here's what's happening around Newport.

Volleyball has a full home stand at the Wildcats' den, hosting Dayton on Tuesday, Walton on Wednesday, and Lloyd on Thursday, with JV starting at 6 and varsity to follow at 7 each night. Thursday doubles up when middle school football welcomes St. Henry at 7:30. Then it's Friday night lights on the road as varsity football heads to Gallatin County for Week 3, kickoff at 7.

Three home volleyball matches in a row is a great excuse to pack the gym, so come out, bring some noise, and show these teams what Wildcat support looks like.

Go Wildcats!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 29. The Newport High School Youth Service Center is teaming up with Good Deeds Pharmacy to host a Community Resource Fair at the NHS Stadium from 12 to 3 PM, and everyone is invited.

The whole idea is to connect our families with the people and organizations that can help them build brighter futures. You'll get to meet college graduates, local business owners, and community service agencies, all in one place and all ready to share what they do.

And it's not just about the resources. Come hungry and ready to have some fun, because we'll have food trucks, a bouncy house, music, and plenty more to keep the whole family entertained.

We hope to see you there. Bring the family, bring your neighbors, and let's keep building a stronger community together.

Wildcat Esports Tryouts Are Here

Think you've got the skills to compete for NHS? Esports tryouts are open, and we want to see what you've got.

Tryouts run Monday through Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM in the esports room in the library. Stop in any of those days to give it a shot. We provide the controllers and equipment, so all you need to bring is yourself and your game.

A couple of things to know before you come. You'll need your own game accounts and logins, so make sure you can sign in on your end. And to participate, you must be 13 years or older.

Whether you've been gaming for years or you're just looking for a new way to get involved, come out and represent the Wildcats. We'll see you in the esports room.

Newport High School is hosting a Back to School Softball Camp with the Newport Ladycats, and it's a great chance for players to sharpen their skills before the new season gets going. Starting August 20th at Newport Vets (26 Caroline Dr, Newport, KY 41071), the camp is open to all players in grades 7 through 12, no matter where they are in their development. Players will work on the fundamentals that matter most, including hitting, fielding, throwing, base running, and game situations, all while building the confidence and teamwork that carry over to every part of the game. Best of all, the camp is completely free. It just takes commitment and effort. If your athlete is ready to grow as a player and start the season strong, contact Coach Turner at kenneth.turner@newport.kyschools.us to register today.

Looking for a new way to get your student active this season? The Cincinnati Royals Rugby program is building boys' and girls' teams for students born in 2012 or later, and no experience is needed. It's a welcoming place to start from scratch.

Rugby helps young athletes build teamwork, confidence, fitness, communication, and resilience, all while becoming part of a close-knit community. And you don't have to choose between sports. The Royals encourage multi-sport athletes, so your student can keep playing the sports and activities they already love while giving rugby a try.

Families can learn more and sign up at www.RoyalsRugby.com.