Hawkins County School District

HCS December Calendar
December 2: HCS Board Meeting
December 17: Second Harvest Distribution
December 19: Abbreviated Day 11:30 Dismissal
December 22-January 2: Winter Break (Teachers return 1/5/26, Students return 1/6/26)

The big man in red had some competition for the spotlight! 🎅🐾 Santa stopped by to help Surgoinsville Middle School celebrate achieving the best staff attendance in November, but Archie might have stolen the show.
There’s nothing like cookies, cocoa, and some holiday puppy love to reward a job well done! 🍪☕️ Way to go Surgoinsville Middle School!!!
#SantaAndArchie #PawsAndClaus #StaffAppreciation #HCSProud #HCSignite

🏆 HUGE congratulations to our Hawkins County Schools District Level Employees of the Year! 🎉 We celebrate your dedication, leadership, and incredible impact on our district's mission. Your hard work behind the scenes ensures success for every student and staff member. Thank you for your excellence! #HCSignite

EVENT CANCELLED: Due to a scheduling issue with Second Harvest, we are unfortunately unable to hold the distribution at Cherokee High School on December 17, 2025. We truly apologize for the inconvenience. Please mark your calendars for our next distribution in March 2026.

Second Harvest Food Distribution Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Cherokee High School in the football field parking lot from 10:00am to 10:45am. These will be on a first come / first serve basis. There will be no distribution at Volunteer. No preregistration necessary.

🏆 AND THE WINNER IS... CHURCH HILL ELEMENTARY! 🏆

A huge congratulations to Church Hill Elementary School for taking the top spot in our District-Wide Attendance Competition! Way to show up and shine, CHES students!

Thank you to our families for prioritizing attendance—every day counts! Let's keep this momentum going across the district! 👏💙 #HCSignite #AttendanceMatters #ChurchHillElementary #CHESistheBest

Hawkins County will operate on a two hour delay, tomorrow, Monday, December 15 due to extremely cold temperatures.

Hawkins County Schools will implement a two hour delay tomorrow, December 12, due to rain, snowfall, and freezing temps forecasted for over night hours. We will evaluate conditions early in the morning and will announce any further changes as necessary.

Hawkins County School District is thrilled to announce and celebrate our incredible Employees of the Year! These dedicated professionals consistently go above and beyond, making a profound impact on the lives of our students and the entire school community. Their commitment, hard work, and passion are truly inspiring. Join us in congratulating this outstanding group for this well-deserved recognition! We are so fortunate to have you leading the way in Hawkins County. #HCSignite

Check out this movie poster quiz and determine how good you and your kids are at finding the fake!

https://www.commonsense.org/two-truths-and-ai?lid=4u3swozvq9si

The speed of digital media is changing fast! Artificial Intelligence can now create incredibly realistic videos and audio (known as "deepfakes"). This makes teaching our children to think critically about everything they see and hear online more important than ever.

For amazing, trusted resources to help guide these conversations with your child, check out the free guides and articles available from Common Sense Media.

Let's partner to raise digitally savvy and safe students!

#HCSignite #DigitalLiteracy #ParentPartnership

During Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) annual convention, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education’s Division of Coordinated School Health and Wellpoint, 36 school districts were recognized for their participation in the Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge, a statewide initiative designed to recognize and reward school districts that demonstrate commitment to promoting student wellness and academic success through healthier school environments. Grounded in research showing that healthy students are better learners, the Challenge encouraged local school boards, administrators, and community partners to work together to strengthen health education, expand access to physical activity, and address barriers to care. Through 13 measurable criteria, the Challenge recognized districts that went above and beyond in connecting health and academics. Hawkins County Schools was honored to receive Gold Status Recognition along with a $6,000 check to continue health and wellness efforts in the District.

Congratulations to Hawkins Elementary School for being named a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education!

Each year, schools and districts receive designations based on key indicators of student success. These measures include how well students perform academically, how much they improve from year to year, student attendance, high school graduation rates and college/career readiness, and how effectively English learners make progress in language development. Together, these indicators provide a comprehensive picture of how well schools are meeting the needs of all learners.

Congratulations to Cherokee High School for being named a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education!

Each year, schools and districts receive designations based on key indicators of student success. These measures include how well students perform academically, how much they improve from year to year, student attendance, high school graduation rates and college/career readiness, and how effectively English learners make progress in language development. Together, these indicators provide a comprehensive picture of how well schools are meeting the needs of all learners.

Congratulations to Mt. Carmel Elementary School for being named a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education!

Each year, schools and districts receive designations based on key indicators of student success. These measures include how well students perform academically, how much they improve from year to year, student attendance, high school graduation rates and college/career readiness, and how effectively English learners make progress in language development. Together, these indicators provide a comprehensive picture of how well schools are meeting the needs of all learners.

Surgoinsville Parents,

The school system has been advised that Surgoinsville Police Department officers will issue tickets for illegal passing because of after school traffic. Passing cars have created safety concerns for oncoming traffic. You can assist by doing the following:

Please do not arrive at school prior to the end of school or until the campuses are open for cars to line up.
Please do not pass stopped traffic on the roadway in front of the schools.

Sincerely,
School Administration

It’s Giving Tuesday! This day was established in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and United Nations Foundation. Their goal was to create a day of giving and volunteering. One way you can help is visiting the HCS DonorsChoose page. Today, donations will be 1.5X. We currently have 5 projects:

Laura Bright – CHMS
Benjamin Mahan – Bulls Gap
Bethany Musslewhite – Bulls Gap
Josh Peterson (2) – VHS

https://www.donorschoose.org/hawkinscountyschools?active=true

If you cannot give, share it with friends and family.

Wow! Time flies! We've already completed half of the school year with 90 days! Congratulations to students who have missed fewer than 4 days – that’s less than 5% of the school year! You're setting yourself up for success! Positive attendance builds strong academic foundations, boosts confidence, and develops valuable habits that will benefit you throughout life.

Join the Mission: Become a GEAR UP Site Coordinator!
Do you have a passion for mentoring students and guiding them toward college and career success? The GEAR UP Partnership is hiring a Site Coordinator in Hawkins County to coordinate tutoring, college visits, workshops, and family involvement. Help us empower our students to achieve their highest potential!
Apply today! https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32696