Aurora School

The March Reading Challenge has come to a close. Congratulations to South for defending their title as the county Reader Leader and keeping the trophy for another month! 🏆👏 This month, our Preston County School community doubled their challenge completion rate, with individuals reading over 600 minutes! 📚✨ A special shoutout to the 48 amazing students and staff who read over 1400 minutes! 🙌💪 Let’s keep the reading spirit alive as we jump into April’s Spring into Reading Challenge! 🌷📖 What’s on your reading list for April? Drop your book recommendations below! 👇#PCSReads #Beanstack

Great job!

Congratulations to Mr. Henry and the Aurora School Band for receiving a II -Excellent Performance rating at Region 10 Band Festival today!

During a special meeting of the Preston County Board of Education on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the Board interviewed eight candidates for the current vacancy on the Board that was previously filled by Mrs. Shelley Miller. After completing all of the interviews and deliberating on the matter, the Board approved Mrs. Beth Noss to fill the vacancy through June 30, 2026. The remaining two years of the term will be determined in the May 2026 Primary Election. Congratulations to new Board member Beth Noss! Mrs. Noss will be sworn in at an upcoming meeting of the Board following her required initial training through the WV State Board Association.

During a special meeting of the Preston County Board of Education on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the Board interviewed eight candidates for the current vacancy on the Board that was previously filled by Mrs. Shelley Miller. After completing all of the interviews and deliberating on the matter, the Board approved Mrs. Beth Noss to fill the vacancy through June 30, 2026. The remaining two years of the term will be determined in the May 2026 Primary Election. Congratulations to new Board member Beth Noss! Mrs. Noss will be sworn in at an upcoming meeting of the Board following her required initial training through the WV State Board Association.

Preston County Schools is proud to once again collaborate with Let Your Light Shine for Preston County, Wal-Mart, and the many other businesses and churches in the county who work to supply complete Easter Dinners for 500 of our own families who find themselves in need. Our schools take up donations and hold drives in an effort to assist, as well as many of our schools will serve as distribution sites on April 11th and 12th. More information will follow as we get closer to those dates. Any families in need can contact their school's counselor or student support team. For more information on either applying for the meal, or if you're wanting to volunteer or donate, you can contact either the school's student support team, or search Let Your Shine For Preston County and get directly in contact with them. We greatly appreciate these efforts around another holiday season, and are proud to continue to work to make the lives of Prestonians better. Thank you for the continued invitation to collaborate on such a good initiative.

Attention 7th and 8th grade students. Fun, learning opportunities this summer. Applications are due by April 11th. https://wvde.us/academics/middle-secondary-education/student-events-programs-initiatives/governors-schools-west-virginia/governors-stem-institute-gsi West Virginia University (7th Grade) Students will dive into the world of science, math, and engineering to investigate everything from everyday legends to internet rumors. Get ready for exciting experiments, collaborative projects, and a whole lot of myth-busting mayhem! Prepare to get your hands dirty (and maybe a little messy) as we uncover the truth behind the myths. Green Bank Observatory (8th Grade) Learn about the magic of the universe as you study the mysteries of outer space, utilizing data from the Green Bank Observatory (Green Bank) in Pocahontas County. Accessing the information under the guidance of nationally recognized scientists and instructors, students will learn about the constellations, outer space and, perhaps just as importantly, about their inner selves.

Nathan Stoner, Levi Skiles, Livey Baker, and Amelia Rinehart represented Aurora School at the Youth and Government Leadership Seminars in Charleston. Eighth grade students participated in WV Supreme Court of Appeals, Supreme Court tour, meeting with the Senate President, Randy Smith, a mock trial at the Robert C. Byrd US Court House where Livey was part of the jury, a guided tour of the Capitol building, visited the Culture Center State Museum, dinner with the Legislatures, and most exciting was meeting the Governor of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, as he was walking from his home to the Capital. Thank you to the Lions Club for giving students this opportunity and Missy Skiles for chaperoning our students!

Congratulations to all of our winners and participants in the Regional Social Studies Fair yesterday. Preston County had an amazing showing. 2025 Preston County West Virginia Region VII Social Studies Fair Results Preston County Clean Sweep at Regionals! On March 19, 2025, Preston County Schools sent thirty-six projects to compete at the West Virginia Region VII Social Studies Fair. The West Virginia Region VII Social Studies Fair was held at the Waco Center in Glenville, West Virginia. Results: 24 first place, 4 second place, 4 third place, and 4 that had a great showing. First Place winners will now advance to the West Virginia State Social Studies Fair on April 11, 2025, at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Division I First Place: Delilah Ringer – Bruceton Noah Goodrich – Kingwood Grady Walsh, Coal Baker & Wyatt Calhoun – Terra Alta/East Preston Emilia Bright – Bruceton Ava Kerstetter & Addilyn Baker – Kingwood Taylor Schnopp – Kingwood Ryan Foley – Kingwood Division II First Place: Aiden Huggins & Connor Larue – West Preston Adrienne Bernatowicz – Central Preston Scarlett Hayes – Central Preston Ava Waters – Aurora Remington Wolfe & Isaiah Nelson – South Preston Ella Dilly – West Preston Kenzley Rouzee & Katelyn Kelly – Central Preston Sophie Uphold – Central Preston Collin Sheets & Bryson Teets – Central Preston Temperance Phillips & Kayleigh Myers – South Preston Mason White & Noah Johnson – West Preston Division III First Place: Isabella Edmunds – Preston High Kalista Huggins – Preston High Elijah Barker – Preston High Delaney Seese & Olivia Seese – Preston High Reese Stratton – Preston High Sophia Flowers, Leila Carpenter & Kaitlin Michaels – Preston High Division I Second Place: Cooper Welch & John Yates – Kingwood Penelope Hebb & Savannah Calhoun - Kingwood Division II Second Place: Makenzie Goodwin – Central Preston Ava Myers – South Preston Division I Third Place: Briar Larew – Kingwood Jay Taylor & Eli Mauldin – Kingwood Division III Mackenzie Selders & Heidi Michael 0 Preston High Logan Bell – Preston High Didn’t Place: Catalina Richards – Bruceton Ty Peaslee – Kingwood Deseree Newland, Audrey Britton & Jaden Arnold – Preston High Colson Manko – Preston High

April Calendar of Events

Just a reminder that all pastry sales are due by Friday March 21,2025. If you plan to send the order to school with your child, tomorrow is the last day of school this week.

The 2025-2026 Proposed Calendar is currently available for public comment. Public Comments on the calendar can be submitted to Superintendent Martin at brrmarti@k12.wv.us. Comments will be received through Wednesday, April 9th with the final hearing and vote on the calendar scheduled for the Monday, April 14th Board Meeting. Important dates on the calendar to note: 8/18 - First Day for Students 5/28 - Possible Last Day for Students 5/28 - PHS Graduation 9/26 and 9/29 Off (Buckwheat) Full Week off for Thanksgiving Christmas Break begins on 12/24 - (students go 12/22, 12/23) Calendar - https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2073/PCS/5430428/2025-2026_Preston_D03182025T121615.pdf Non-Traditional (Brain Freeze Days) Application - https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2073/PCS/5430427/NTI_Day_Application.pdf

Parenting can be challenging, and at times, feel isolating. Parent coaching is here to provide support during those tough moments. Offered at no cost by your school district, parent coaching connects you with a coach and resources developed by therapists. Click here to sign up for ongoing support: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

Beanstack top readers for the last two weeks! Way to go!

After 2 weeks in March, here are your top reading schools in Beanstack. #PCSREADS #BEANSTACK

Exciting news from Preston County Schools! We have not only met, but exceeded our reading goal with 2 months still remaining in the year. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our students and educators. Let's continue to promote a culture of reading and keep our schools at the top of the leader board. How are you encouraging reading in your community? #keepreading #Beanstack #PCSREADS

Attn Parents, This is a friendly reminder that pastry orders and money are due next Friday the 21st. All proceeds will be used to Fund Field Day activities. 

Preston County Schools is in need of substitute cooks. Becoming a sub cook can even lead to full-time employment with PCS if interested. The next class will be Monday, March 24th at 9AM in the PCS Board Room. To be eligible for employment, applicants must pass the test at the end of class, have a HS Diploma or GED, and receive a clean background check. If interested, please call Autumn Sheets at 304-329-0580 ext. 3216, or email Justin Hough, Director of Child Nutrition, at jhough@k12.wv.us

Yesterday, March 10th, Preston County Schools were well-represented at the State Science and Engineering Fair. We had multiple students place and receive recognitions. The results are listed below. Congratulations to these awesome students. WEST VIRGINIA STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR RESULTS FOR PRESTON COUNTY MARCH 10, 2025, CHARLESTON COLISEUM & CONVENTION CENTER FIRST PLACE: DONALD “TRAVIS” PARKS - PHS ETHAN WHITE - PHS SECOND PLACE: ZADAYA BOLYARD – SOUTH PRESTON VADA WALSH – TERRA ALTA EAST PRESTON AINSLY FEATHERS – SOUTH PRESTON RILEY MAYFIELD - PHS THIRD PLACE: TARYN SULLIVAN - AURORA NICHOLAS BERNATOWICZ – PHS MARIAH TITCHENELL – PHS HAYLIE TRENUM – PHS ALYSSA FRIEND – PHS SOPHIE ZINN – PHS ETHAN WHITE – RECEIVED A REGIONAL WATER PRIZE AWARD DONALD ‘TRAVIS” PARKS – RECEIVED A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AWARD

The Preston County Board of Education is looking to fill a vacancy left by the recent resignation of one of its members. Those interested in the position are asked to submit a written notice of interest to Preston County Schools Superintendent Brad Martin by 2 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025. Notices can be emailed, hand-delivered or mailed to the Superintendent’s Office at 731 Preston Drive, Kingwood, WV 26537 or to brrmarti@k12.wv.us. Alongside notices, candidates should include qualifications, experience and why they’re interested. Interviews will be conducted Wednesday, March 26th at 6:00 PM in the BOE Boardroom. Candidates should be available that evening, as times and durations are dependent on the number of applicants. Interested candidates must reside within the 1st or 2nd Magisterial Districts of Preston County. This vacancy cannot be filled from a resident of the 3rd.