Newport High School Newsletter

Welcome to the 2026-27 School Year at Newport High School. We hope everyone is having a great and relaxing summer. Please see below for important information for the beginning of the upcoming school year.

Wildcat families, mark your calendars!
Newport High School is hosting our Open House on Tuesday, August 11 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
Stop by anytime during those two hours. There's no set schedule, so come when it works for you.

This is your chance to meet the teachers and staff who will be working with your student this year, walk the building, find classrooms before day one, and pick up class schedules. Counselors and coaches will be on hand, and you can check out the clubs, athletics, and activities your Wildcat might want to join. Bring your questions. We'll have answers.

We're looking forward to a great year, and it starts with you walking through our doors. See you on the 11th!

Due to technology security changes at the state level. Students will receive their Macbooks the first week of school. This is a change from previous years

A brand new year starts Wednesday, August 12

The first bell rings at 8:15 AM, with cafeteria doors opening at 7:50 AM for breakfast, so there's plenty of time to eat and settle in before the day begins.

If you're new to Newport High School, don't worry about finding your way. Staff will be stationed throughout the building all morning to point you toward classrooms, lockers, and anywhere else you need to go. Returning students, we can't wait to see how you've grown over the summer.

Come with a charged device, something to write with, and your best attitude. That last one matters more than the rest.

See you on August 12th!!

This year Newport High School is rolling out a clear, school-wide policy for how students use artificial intelligence in their schoolwork. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are already part of how kids research and write, and math-specific tools like Photomath, Mathway, and Wolfram Alpha can solve a problem the moment a student points a phone at it. Rather than pretend these tools don't exist or let them run unchecked, we've built a simple system everyone can follow.

It works like a stoplight. Before each assignment, teachers tell students whether it's red, yellow, or green. Red means no AI at all, the kind of work where we need to see a student's own thinking, which covers most math practice, tests, and in-class writing. Yellow means AI is allowed only for the specific tasks a teacher approves, like brainstorming an essay or checking math work after it's already been done by hand, while the real thinking stays the student's own. Green means AI is encouraged, with the understanding that students stay honest about how they used it and always check its work.

Underneath the colors are three rules that never change. Keep private information out of AI tools, do your own work, and remember that a person stays in charge of the learning. Our goal here isn't to ban technology or wave it through without thought. It's to make sure the learning still belongs to your child, and that teachers always know what part, if any, AI played in the work they're grading. You can help at home by talking with your student about honest work and by reaching out with any questions.

Newport High School has a Wildly Important Goal that every family can help us reach. We want student attendance at 94.4 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 94.4 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.

As we head into the new year, here is one small dress code habit we are asking every Wildcat to build. During the school day, students should not wear anything on their heads. That means hoods stay down, and hats, caps, beanies, bonnets, du-rags, and other head coverings stay in backpacks or lockers once the day begins. It is a simple expectation, but an important one. Being able to see our students' faces helps us keep the building safe, helps teachers connect with kids during class, and keeps everyone present and engaged.

The only exceptions are head coverings worn for an approved medical or religious reason, and we are always glad to work with any family in that situation. If that applies to your student, just reach out to the front office so we can note it and make sure your child is set for the year. You can help at home by reminding your student to come to school ready to leave the hood down and the hat off. Little reminders now save everyone the awkward hallway conversation later, and they help us start the year on the same page. As always, thanks for partnering with us on this one.

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 94.4 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.

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.