


We’re committed to supporting every child’s success! This edition includes:
✅ Child Find – Learn how we identify and support students with disabilities ages 3–21.
✅ Eligibility Committee & IEPs – Understand the process and your role as a parent.
✅ Spotlight on Dyslexia & ADHD – Learn how these conditions are supported in schools.
✅ Parent Tips for Home – Strategies for routines, communication, emotional support, and resources.
✅ IEP vs. 504 Plan Comparison – Know the difference and what’s best for your child.
📞 Need help or have questions?
Contact the Special Education Office at 304-354-7011 ext. 310 or email jlbennett@k12.wv.us.
📄 Alt Text for Accessibility:
Page 1: Overview of Child Find, parent roles, EC meetings, IEPs, and disability supports.
Page 2: Tips for supporting children with disabilities at home and a comparison of IEPs vs. 504 Plans.
🔗 Learn more and access resources: ParentGuidance.org









🚨 Calhoun County Schools Needs YOU! 🚨
Be the driver that makes a difference every day. Your route to a meaningful job starts here!
Now Hiring:
✅ Full-Time & Substitute School Bus Operators
Calhoun County Schools is seeking dedicated, safety-conscious individuals to help transport students to and from school safely each day.
Why Drive With Us?
Competitive pay
Benefits for full-time positions
Training for CDL licensing
Supportive team environment
Flexible scheduling for substitutes
Make a positive impact on students’ lives!
📍 Location: Calhoun County Schools
540 Alan B. Mollohan Drive, Mt. Zion, WV 26151
📞 Phone: (304) 354-7011
📠 Fax: (304) 354-7420
🌐 Apply Online: https://boe.calhoun.k12.wv.us
📧 Questions? Email: opaxton@k12.wv.us








Let’s show our school pride and have some fun leading up to Homecoming!
📅 October 13–17
🏠 Monday – Relax at Home Day
No School – Enjoy your day off and get ready for a spirited week!
😴 Tuesday – Tired Tuesday
Wear your coziest outfit to fight off the Monday-on-a-Tuesday blues.
🎭 Wednesday – Pattern Clash Day
Mix stripes, polka dots, and wild patterns into one bold outfit!
🌈 Thursday – Favorite Color Day
Dress head-to-toe in your favorite color – let your personality shine!
🏈 Friday – Team Spirit Day
Red, White, and Black Day – Show your Red Devil pride loud and proud!

Hey students and families! We’re sending out an attendance "health check" for the first 8 weeks of school by sending home an individual attendance report for each student. 📊
Your report will show how often you've been at school with your percentage attendance for the whole school year so far —and it’s color-coded to help you understand your attendance status:
🔴 Red = 0 - 90%: Academically at Risk due to absences
🟡 Yellow = 90.1%–95%: Meets standards, but needs improvement
🟢 Green = 95.1%–100%: Exemplary attendance—way to go! 🎉
✅ Good attendance helps you learn more, stay connected, and succeed!
Let’s keep showing up and growing strong together!
📸 Accessibility Note: Pictures of all 3 report types are included so families can easily recognize what their child’s report looks like.
#AttendanceMatters #ShowUpToGrowUp #ElementaryStrong #CelebrateSuccess





Join us for the Pleasant Hill Elementary PTO Meeting — we’re looking for new members to help make a difference!
🗓 Date: October 6th
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: School Cafeteria
Parents and guardians are welcome to become members. Come share your ideas, connect with others, and support our school community! 💡✨
#PleasantHillElementary #PTO #JoinUs #CommunityMatters #ParentInvolvement


Tomorrow, September 25th, Pleasant Hill Elementary students will be attending Heritage Day at the Molasses Festival! 🐝🌾🪵
Students will be bused to and from the festival and will return to school in time to ride their regular buses home.
This exciting event offers hands-on learning experiences where students will explore:
🍯 Molasses making
🐝 Beekeeping
🪵 Timbering
🧺 Basket weaving
🐐 Goat care
...and much more!
Parent Reminders:
Please have your child wear their BLUE Pleasant Hill T-shirt if possible.
Dress for the weather! Tennis shoes or boots are recommended, as the grounds may be muddy or wet.
If sending a packed lunch from home, please use a disposable bag.
If you plan to sign your child out after the activities you can do so on the porch of the community building starting at 1:30 with Ms. Saundra & Mrs. Haught.
We’re looking forward to a fun and educational day celebrating Appalachian heritage and traditions. Thank you for your support!
#PHEFieldTrip #MolassesFestival #HeritageDay #HandsOnLearning #PHEPride


We are excited to celebrate the wonderful students who participated in this year’s event:
👑 Preschool: Judson Mace & Harley Nester
👑 Kindergarten: Kayden Snider, Zoey Lacy & Sadie Bell
👑 1st Grade: Bentley Crislip, Zahrina Taylor & Autumn Snider
👑 2nd Grade: Aiden May
👑 3rd Grade: Shelton Sims & Halynn Whytsell
👑 4th Grade: No contestants this year
A heartfelt thank you to all of our candidates and their families for their support and hard work. This event is one of the PTO’s biggest fundraisers of the year, and we are so grateful for your contributions. The funds raised will go toward many exciting projects that benefit our students throughout the school year.
🌟 Now, for the winners! 🌟
👑 Prince & Princess: Aiden May & Sadie Bell
👑 King & Queen: Judson Mace & Zoey Lacy
We are so proud of all our participants—thank you for making this event so special!
📸 Accessibility Statement for Attached Pictures:
1)Two children stand in front of a balloon arch made of blue, white, and gold balloons with star-shaped balloons on top. Both wear sashes; one wears a crown.
2)A single child stands in front of a similar balloon arch, wearing a sash and crown.
3)Three children stand together in front of multiple balloon arches. All wear sashes; two wear crowns.
4)Ten children sit in two rows of chairs inside a gymnasium or multipurpose room, with yellow wall padding visible behind them.
💛 Thank you again for your continued support! #PHEPride #PHERoyalty #PTOFundraiser #2025RoyalCourt





We are proud to partner with Communities In Schools, Westbrook Health Services, Minnie Hamilton Health System, and Brother Up to support our students and families.
🛠️ Our Services Include:
Attendance Support
Social Emotional Learning & Developmental Guidance
Individual & Group Counseling
Preventive Education
Behavioral Analysis & Plans
Advocacy
Intervention & Trainings
FAFSA Assistance
Linkage & Referrals
Intellectual & Academic Testing
Health Care
Suicide Prevention & Erin's Law
Clothing, Food & Hygiene Closet
Parent Trainings
Prevention Education
Volunteer Training
📞 Important Numbers:
Emergency: 911
MHHS Behavioral Health: 304-354-9244
Westbrook Health Services: 304-927-5200
Children’s Crisis Line: 1-800-579-5844
State Police (Report Incidents): 304-558-7778
WV Children’s Crisis & Referral Line (HELP4WV): 1-844-HELP4WV (1-844-435-7498)
Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: 1-800-352-6513
Suicide & Crisis Support (24/7): Call or text 988
💻 Online Resource for Parents/Caregivers: https://parentalguidance.org
👥 Meet Our Team:
Jeannie Bennett-Yoak, Assistant Superintendent/COO Student Services – jlbennett@k12.wv.us
Dr. James Mullins, Psychologist – jemullins@k12.wv.us
Patricia Homberg, Dean of Students, CMHS – phomberg@k12.wv.us
Cheri White, Executive Secretary – cheri.white@k12.wv.us
Brittany Parsons, Coordinator of Student Services/Lead CIS Facilitator – brittany.parsons@k12.wv.us
Destiney Montgomery, Psychosocial Coordinator at MHHS – destiney.montgomery@k12.wv.us
Amy Cottrell, Counselor – amy.b.cottrell@k12.wv.us
Brandi Hardway-Sampson, Counselor – brsampson@k12.wv.us
Kevin Boak, CIS Facilitator at CMHS – kboak@k12.wv.us
Carrie Collins, CIS Facilitator at PHE – carrie.collins@k12.wv.us
Jessica Hardway, CIS Facilitator at AES – jessica.hardway@k12.wv.us
Jo Lynn Wilson, CIS Facilitator at CGCC – jlnwilso@k12.wv.us
Nekka Poore, Title I Aide at AES – nekka.poore@k12.wv.us
Tiffany Mace, Title I Aide at PHE – tiffany.mace@k12.wv.us
Trudi Anderson, Nurse BSN RN NCSN – tm.anderson@k12.wv.us
Autumn Lilly, Nurse RN CCHP – autumn.lilly@k12.wv.us
💬 We’re here to help. Reach out anytime!



Please join us for our Parent Family Engagement night at the Pumpkin Patch.
🎃 Join Us for a Fun-Filled Family Night at the Pumpkin Patch! 🎃
Date: 10/23/25
Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
Location: Calhoun Middle High School Baseball Field
We’re excited to invite all families to a special evening of fall fun, learning, and connection! Come explore the pumpkin patch and enjoy a variety of engaging booths and activities designed for all ages:
Pumpkin Patch Family Engagement Event
🍂 Story Walk – Enjoy the telling of “Skeletons for Dinner”
🎃 Pumpkin Picking – Choose your perfect pumpkin to take home
🍪 Snacks & Drinks – Refreshments for the whole family
👻 Costume Contest – Dress to impress for a chance to win!
🎯 Games & Door Prizes – Fun challenges and exciting giveaways
🎨 Art Station – Get creative with seasonal crafts
💬 Social Emotional Learning Booth – Activities to support your child’s well-being
📚 Informational Vendors – Resources for families and students
📈 Attendance Session – Learn how attendance impacts student success


Student Data Forms and Emergency Dismissal Forms need to be turned in as soon as possible. These forms are placed in our emergency evacuation book, and we must have a completed form for each student in case of an emergency evacuation.
Additionally, Emergency Dismissal Forms must be completed and returned. These are kept in the teachers' rooms so they know where to send each child if we need to dismiss at a time different from the regular school schedule.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter!



September Supper Menu


You're invited to Pop into 1st Grade at Pleasant Hill! 🍿
Come learn all about what to expect this school year. Teachers will share helpful info, students will give you a classroom tour, and we’ll wrap up the afternoon with popcorn!
📍 Pleasant Hill Elementary
📅 Friday, September 12th
🕑 2:00 PM
We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉
🔎 Accessibility Note:
This flyer promotes the “Pop in to 1st Grade” event at Pleasant Hill Elementary on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM. It invites 1st grade parents to learn about the upcoming school year. Teachers will share important information, students will give classroom tours, and popcorn will be served to close the afternoon. The flyer features playful popcorn graphics and uses varied font sizes and colors for emphasis.


Join us for “Cooties & Cupcakes” – a fun and interactive learning event! 🧩🧁
Your child will play Cooties, a puzzle game that boosts learning, and you’ll leave with a great tool to support them at home.
📍 Pleasant Hill Elementary
📅 Friday, September 12th
🕐 1:00 PM
Don’t miss out on the fun and learning! 🎉
🔎 Accessibility Note:
This flyer invites 3rd grade families to join “Cooties and Cupcakes”, a fun make-and-take activity featuring the puzzle game Cooties. The event will be held on Friday, September 12th at 1:00 PM. The flyer includes colorful illustrations of cupcakes with sprinkles, paper stars, and abstract shapes to create a playful and inviting design.


