ECS Distict Newsletter

Find familiar faces in the new Elizabethton City Schools video and see what it truly means to be part of the Cyclone Family! 🌪️

From the classroom, to the field, the stage, and throughout the community, Cyclone students experience opportunities, support, and relationships that last a lifetime.

At Elizabethton City Schools, we are more than a school system — we are a family that encourages students to learn, grow, lead, and succeed together.

Watch the video and discover the Cyclone difference!

A HUGE thank you to all of our amazing vendors, community partners, and generous donors who helped make the 2026 Back 2 School Bash such a huge success!

Your support, donations, resources, and time helped us provide a fun-filled evening for our students and families as we kicked off another great school year.

We are incredibly grateful to be part of a community that continues to show up for our students and schools. We truly could not do this without you! 🧡🖤

Thank you for investing in our students, supporting our families, and helping make the 2026 Back 2 School Bash one to remember!

The track and tennis courts at Elizabethton High School will be resurfaced this fall, helping preserve two prominent recreational spaces for years to come.

While these facilities serve student-athletes year round, they're also enjoyed by walkers, runners, tennis players, and families across the community.

The Tennessee Treasury Department presented a $64,000 check to Elizabethton City Schools on Thursday, July 30, for the project. We want to thank the Tennessee General Assembly for allocating money through the Public School Construction and Maintenance Fund.

Projects like this are possible through strong partnerships between the state of Tennessee, city of Elizabethton, and Elizabethton City Schools, all working toward the same goal of providing safe, well maintained places to be active and connect with each other.

Pictured from left to right: city manager Daniel Estes, city Mayor Bill Carter, State Senator Rusty Crowe, state Treasurer David Lillard Jr., Director of Schools Richard VanHuss, and State Representative Renea Jones TN-04

What a special way to kick off a new school year! 🧡🖤

This year at the Elizabethton City Schools Teacher Orientation, our keynote speakers were former students representing each of our schools!

Brooklyn Hurley represented East Side Elementary, Reagan and Rylee May represented West Side Elementary, Callie Mosley represented Harold McCormick, Aiden Cole represented T. A. Dugger, and Brock Mosley represented Elizabethton High School.

These students were truly some of the BEST speakers we have ever had at our opening orientation! They spoke with confidence, heart, and pride, and reminded all of us why the work our teachers and staff do each day matters so much.

Congratulations to Emily Morganstern, Renee Birchfield, and Regina Vasilko on receiving their Golden Apple in recognition of 25 years of dedicated service to Elizabethton City Schools! 🧡🖤

Thank you for the many years you have devoted to our students, families, and school system. We are grateful for your commitment to ECS and proud to celebrate this special milestone with you!

The ECS Family Resource Center (FRC) is a vital program designed to support families within the Elizabethton City Schools community. The FRC connects families with resources and services to help meet their unique needs, fostering a strong foundation for student success.

Mission Statement:
“Tennessee Family Resource Centers unlock potential.”

Vision Statement:
"Tennessee Family Resource Centers unlock potential by serving as a resource and support hub. FRCs proactively engage with their community to empower students and families, bridging gaps to ensure they evolve together through connected systems of support unique to each community."

The ECS FRC is here to help strengthen families and empower them to thrive. For more information or assistance, feel free to reach out or visit the center. Together, we can build a brighter future for our students and community!

Location:
Community Development and Engagement Center
(Former Union Prescription Shop Pharmacy)
402 Bemberg Road, Elizabethton, TN

Hours of Operation : 8am -4pm closed for lunch 11:30am -12:30pm

Chelsie Isaacs- FRC Director

Chelsie.isaacs@ecschools.net

Cell. 423-707-8290

Office. 423-547-8000 ext. 8222

Referral form and QR Code:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=5vXTf3svDk6zlMv7g3qzcJCyv0gbOpJIv69H8CkEUb9UQTk4TUdNVzRCQVNWMEpOSkxJVEYwMkxCNi4u

A huge thank you to TLC Massage Center in Elizabethton for once again supporting our students!

For the second year, TLC Massage Center has organized a donation drive at their office with the help of their generous clients, collecting backpacks, school supplies, and hygiene items to help our students start the school year prepared and confident.

We are so grateful for community partners like TLC Massage Center and their clients who continue to show up for our students. Thank you for your generosity and support!

For additional pictures click on the ESE FB Page

We look forward to seeing our Kindergarten and tuition families!

please use S. Pine to enter through the back gate and park behind the gym

please arrive after 8:15 a.m., once our morning dismissal traffic has ended

please note that the information at this meeting is intended for parents, so 1st-5th gr tuition students will remain in their classes and Kindergarten students don’t have school that day.

Check backpacks this week for important PTAC forms.

As you consider purchasing HME apparel, remember that we start our weeks with McCormick Monday, when we wear blue and gold to show our Hurricane pride

For additional pictures click on the HME FB Page

WSE has so many people to thank for helping get everything ready for our students!

• 🎾 Tennis Court Play Area — A special thank you to Jeremiah, Amber, and Casey Gale for finishing up the tennis court play area just in time for our students! It looks fantastic!

• 🎨 Octoball Court — Thank you to Melinda and June Wild for painting the Octoball Court! It looks amazing and is ready for lots of fun this school year!

• 🚪 Exterior Doors — A special thank you to Dot Cornett for painting about eight exterior doors! What a difference a fresh coat of paint makes!

• 🐾 A Special Piece of West Side History — Thank you to Eddie and Paula Leonard, Steve Potter, Amber Gale, Becky Blackburn, Kelly Wilson, Nicholas Angus, and Eric Dunlap for helping get our old West Side sign back up!

A big thank you also goes to Mr. Cole’s students at EHS for building a back and frame for the sign and to Richie Burrow with ECS Maintenance for helping make it happen.

This sign has a special history! West Side grandparent Arklie Hooten originally made it many years ago for West Side, and we are so glad we can preserve it and continue using it for years to come. 🧡🖤

It truly takes a community, and we appreciate everyone who gave their time and talents this summer to make West Side look its best for our students!

Welcome Back Families,

I am thrilled to welcome you and your children to the start of another wonderful school year! As Principal, I am honored to lead our K–5 community, and I look forward to partnering with each of you to create a positive, supportive learning environment where every child can thrive.

This is an exciting time of year with new classrooms, new friendships, and new growth opportunities. Whether your child is entering kindergarten for the first time or returning as a seasoned student, we are committed to making this transition smooth and joyful.

A huge thank you goes out to our incredible staff. Our teachers have worked incredibly hard to prepare their classrooms, creating welcoming and engaging learning environments. Our office and custodial teams have gone above and beyond to ensure the school is clean, organized, and ready for the start of the school year.

Key Dates and Reminders

The first day of school for 1st grade through 5th grade will be Friday, August 7, from 8:00 AM to 11:46 AM (half-day). Kindergarten students do not attend on the first day; kindergarten parents should arrive after 8:30 AM to sign up for a phase-in day and submit any missing registration paperwork.

The first full school day (8:00 AM to 3:00 PM) begins Monday, August 10.

We will host a Parent Open House on Tuesday, August 11, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the gym. Kindergarten parents will meet in the cafeteria at 5:30 PM before the session starts. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers and administrators, sign up for PTO, and bring school supplies. You can also sign your child up for ESP. This year, ESP will remain at West Side until 6:00 PM—no bus travel to Harold McCormick.

Important Registration and Attendance Information

Please note that teachers take attendance at 8:00 AM each morning. Students who arrive after 8:00 AM will be marked tardy (three tardies equal one absence). If your child is absent, please call the office to report the absence.

All families must have an active email account to set up a Skyward Family Access account. Parents of returning students should update all information and complete required forms in Skyward as soon as possible. A school computer is available in the office if you need assistance, and paper copies are also available upon request.

Please submit copies of any legal documents about your child to the main office. We are happy to help with copying documents.

Free Breakfast and Lunch

This school year, breakfast and lunch are free for all students. Breakfast will continue to be served in the classroom.

Drop-Off and Dismissal Procedures

Doors open at 7:30 AM at both the front/main office entrance and the back/gym entrance. All students remain in the gym from 7:30 AM to 7:45 AM. At 7:45 AM, students are dismissed to their classrooms for Early Start. We encourage all students to attend Early Start, as it provides time for breakfast or independent reading. Students who are not in the classroom by 8:00 AM should report to the office for a tardy slip.

Please note that due to increased safety precautions, parents cannot escort students to class or eat lunch with students.

All students are dismissed at 3:00 PM daily. Older siblings will be picked up from their younger sibling's classrooms. A detailed dismissal map is included with this email. Traffic at both drop-off and pick-up will flow one way, from west to east. Car traffic will not be allowed on Dakota Street during dismissal, as it is designated for buses only.

For back/gym side pick-up, please use G Street, Williams Avenue, and Happy Valley Street. For front/main office side pick-up, please use Parkway Boulevard and Burgie Street. When exiting, please make right-hand turns for safety.

Your student's car tag should be placed in your vehicle's front or passenger side window daily and left in place until your child is loaded. After car tags have been issued, cars without a tag must pull up to the front office to check students out for safety purposes.

Here's to an amazing school year ahead!

John Wright, Principal

West Side Elementary School

For additional pictures click on the WSE FB Page

If you weren't able to make it, you can find the orientation slides at the link below. They include lots of helpful information to get the school year started.

We hope everyone had an amazing first day at T.A. Dugger! We loved seeing our hallways full of students again, and we can't wait to see all the learning, growth, and memories this year will bring

Orientation Slides: https://canva.link/b4ajg3na4xmr8g5

Welcome to Cyclone Country, Mr. Wilson!

Okay, we said we were finished with introductions…but we have one more new face to welcome to the Cyclone family!

Meet Ethan Wilson, the new percussion instructor for Elizabethton High School and T.A. Dugger Junior High!

Originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Mr. Wilson attended MTSU and brings experience as the Percussion Director at Smyrna High School and Front Ensemble Coordinator at Fairview High School. We’re excited for him to bring that experience—and plenty of rhythm—to our Cyclone musicians!

When he’s not making music, Mr. Wilson loves filmmaking, especially script writing and directing. And because apparently one creative outlet isn’t enough, he also composes and publishes music for percussion ensemble and winds.

We’re excited to have Mr. Wilson working with students across both EHS and TAD and can’t wait to hear what our percussionists accomplish this year!

Welcome to the Cyclone family, Mr. Wilson—we’re so glad you’re here!

Welcome home, Ms. Church!

We’ve made it to our final new-teacher introduction, and we’re wrapping up the week by welcoming another experienced educator to the TAD family!

Meet Ashley Church, our new Extended Resource teacher!

A Johnson City native, Ms. Church earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education K–12, Comprehensive from ETSU and her master’s degree in Autism Spectrum Disorder from Grand Canyon University. The 2026–2027 school year will mark her 12th year in the classroom, after spending the past 11 years teaching students from kindergarten through 8th grade in Washington County.

Outside of school, you’ll likely find Ms. Church in the kitchen cooking, baking, or canning. She’s also a big fan of Mexican food and a Caramel Cold Brew from Dunkin—which sounds like a pretty solid survival plan for year 12.

Ms. Church lives in Gray with her husband, Aaron, and their three daughters, Laurel, Millie, and Livie. We’re thrilled to welcome the whole crew into Cyclone Country!

We can’t wait for our students and families to get to know Ms. Church—and we couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up our introductions to the newest members of our TAD family!

Welcome home, Ms. Church—TAD is the place to be!

Welcome home, Mr. Grubbs!

Our new-teacher introductions continue, and next up is someone kicking off his teaching career right here in Cyclone Country!

Meet Isaac Grubbs, our new 6th grade Science teacher!

Originally from Bristol, Tennessee, Mr. Grubbs attended Northeast State Community College before completing his bachelor’s degree at ETSU. After completing a full year of student teaching last school year, he’s officially stepping into his very own classroom for the first time—and we’re pretty excited he chose TAD to do it!

But Mr. Grubbs isn’t stopping with the science lab. He’ll also be heading to the court as a boys basketball coach at Elizabethton High School. Basically, we’re wasting no time making sure he’s fully immersed in all things Cyclone!

We’re so excited to have Mr. Grubbs begin his teaching career with us and can’t wait to see all he brings to our students.

Welcome home, Mr. Grubbs—TAD is the place to be

Welcome home, Ms. Webster!

We’re continuing our week of introducing the newest members of the TAD family, and this one may look a little familiar!

Meet Haley Webster, our new 7th grade Applied Studies teacher!

Originally from Lenoir City, Tennessee, Ms. Webster attended ETSU and completed her student teaching right here at TAD last year with Mary Beth Leonard. Apparently, we made a pretty good impression—because now she’s officially a Cyclone!

When she’s not at school, Ms. Webster shares her one-bedroom apartment with a cat named Margaret, a dog named Chibbs, and around 50 houseplants. Yes, FIFTY. At this point, Margaret and Chibbs are basically living in a botanical garden.

We loved having Ms. Webster at TAD as a student teacher, and we’re even more excited to welcome her back as part of our faculty.

Welcome home, Ms. Webster—TAD is the place to be!

Welcome home, Ms. Honeycutt!

This week, we’re introducing the newest members of our TAD family—and we’re starting with someone who proves that once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone!

Meet Amber Honeycutt, our new 8th grade ELA teacher!

Originally from Roan Mountain and now living in Johnson City, Ms. Honeycutt is a graduate of Elizabethton High School, Carson-Newman College, and ETSU. She brings a wealth of experience to TAD, including 20 years teaching English at Elizabethton High School, nine years at Charleston County School of the Arts, and most recently, a year at Sullivan Heights Middle School.

Ms. Honeycutt traded East Tennessee for life by the ocean in Folly Beach, South Carolina (and honestly, we understand the temptation ), but moved back last year to be closer to family. And now, her return to Elizabethton City Schools is bringing her somewhere extra special: T.A. Dugger, where her dad taught for 33 years!

Talk about a full-circle moment.

We are beyond excited to have Ms. Honeycutt back in Cyclone Country and officially part of the TAD family. Welcome home—TAD is the place to be!

Most librarians help students find books. Elizabethton High School’s Dustin Hensley helps them find problems they can solve—and gives them the confidence to solve them.

Dustin created a program built around the belief that young people should be part of solving community problems—not simply learning about them.

So when a student spots neglected downtown space, a gap in mental health support, or a challenge facing local leaders, Dustin’s first question isn’t, “Can you do this?,” it’s, “Who do we need to call?”

A semester may begin with students asking Dustin to proofread every email they write. By the end, they’re calling the county mayor themselves.

That’s the kind of confidence Elizabethton is building every day: students who understand they have the power to contribute to their communities.

Dustin’s story is one chapter in a larger effort between EHS and XQ to rethink what learning can look like when students are trusted with meaningful work.

Learn more about Elizabethton+XQ

PSAT/NMSQT:

Exam date: 10/2/2026

Deadline to register: 09/25/2026

Fee: $25 due at registration

Register with Ms. Judy

Fall ASVAB:

Exam Date: 10/1/2026

Deadline to register: 9/25/2026

Register with Ms. Judy

New School year is about to start so don’t forget all the wonderful things you might need!!

Plenty of high school students watch true crime. But at this XQ school in northeast Tennessee, Alex Campbell’s students get to try their hand at investigating a real cold case.

“How could anybody think that solving a 30-year-old cold case is less rigorous than solving a problem in a book, and the answer’s already in the back?”

What happens next? A real investigation, with real consequences. An Amazon docuseries, Murder 101.

Learn more about the students and educators behind the series. https://xqsuperschool.org/.../the-tennessee-school...

A huge thank you to Elizabethton Federal Savings Bank for their generous donation toward a new scoreboard at the Lady Cyclone Softball Facility!

We’re incredibly thankful for your support of our student-athletes and for helping us continue to improve our facilities. We can’t wait to see the new scoreboard in action

Congratulations to all our inductees! Each member of the 2026 class will be inducted later this Fall!

#betsybuilt #ehssportshalloffame

You can now keep up with all your favorite Elizabethton High School teams. Scan the QR code below or Click here

How to get started:

1. Make sure you "Allow Notifications" when you download the app.

2. Sign into the app with your cell number and complete a very brief account profile

3. Click on the teams page and be sure to Follow all of the teams in the app you’d like to hear from!

4. You can do this by clicking into the specific team sections and then tap the “Follow” button at the top of the page.

• Reading 101 Guide for Parents
• Story Time with Auntie B
• CDC- Children's Mental Health Information
• The Jason Foundation - Suicide Prevention
• (Chips) Change Is Possible - Family Domestic Violence Shelter
• Coping with Stress- Teens & Young Adults
• CDC- Centers for Disease Control And Prevention
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Northeast TN Feeding Site Map
• Carter County Health Department
• Child Care Provider Map
• Carter County Drug Prevention- Youth
• Mental Health Association of East Tennessee
• Contact 211
• Elizabethton Carter County Public Library
• Tennessee R.E.A.D.S. Book Download System
• Tennessee Electronic Library
• Child Mind Institute
• ARM Pantry- food, clothing, and hygiene supplies
• United Way of East Tennessee Highlands
• Northeast Community Credit Union Resources
• Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce
• IRS Issues Taxpayer GuidanceCCDP - Families Raising Families
  
• Strong Starts- Ballad Health