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Calloway County Schools has named Ramona Freeman as the district's Laker Champion for Kids for September. Freeman is the cafeteria manager at Calloway County Middle School.
The Laker Champion for Kids is awarded each month to a Laker staff member who goes above and beyond for students and colleagues.
Freeman was nominated for the award by CCSD Director of Food Service Megan Adams.
“She consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, dedication, and professionalism," Adams wrote. "She leads by example every day, creating a positive work environment where every team member feels supported and motivated to do their best. Her ability to stay organized, remain calm under pressure, and solve problems quickly has made a lasting impact on both our team and our workplace at CCMS.
"One of her qualities that sets her apart is her willingness to learn, improve and enhance her surroundings and student experience. She takes the time to train new employees thoroughly, encourage teamwork, and are always willing to step in wherever she is needed. Whether it's having to make menu adjustments, maintaining high food safety and quality standards, or supporting staff through challenging situations, she does so with patience, respect, and integrity. Everyone at CCMS loves 'Mona."
She deserves this because of the positive influence she has on everyone around her, including the students. She makes the CCMS cafeteria an inviting space for all. Her hard work often goes above and beyond what is expected, and she inspires others to take pride in their work. Her leadership, dedication, and genuine care for both the team and our students is unmatched.”
CCMS principal David Carmichael is also appreciative of Freeman's work.
“She has been one of my mentors since I arrived on the CCMS campus," Carmichael said. "Her ability to lead with compassion and grace while also holding a very firm expectation of excellence from her colleagues is truly admirable. She is constantly working to improve upon the work environment, quality of product, and speed of service for students and staff. Additionally, she is an excellent communicator, keeping administration, teachers, and other staff members updated on any changes that might impact them. She spends countless hours during the day and the summer working to ensure students receive the food and help they need, and that it's of the highest quality she can provide for them, and works consistently with staff to assist with preparing for field trips and more. Her spirit of volunteering to assist with things carries over in all she does for our school, as well as her community, as she and her husband volunteer with their local fire department. Mona is truly one of a kind, and a true blessing to us and to the food service department in Calloway County Schools.”
Back to School Events - 2026-27
Districtwide:
- FRYSC Back to School Bash - July 23 - 4:30-6:30pm - Murray State Curris Center
- First Day of School - Wednesday, August 5th
Calloway County Preschool:
- July 14 - 8am-4:30pm - Packet Pickup
- July 30 - 5-7pm - Open House
East Calloway Elementary:
- July 22 - Registration (K-5) 2:30-6:30pm
- July 28 - K-2 Back to School Night 5:00-6:30
- July 28-29 - KinderCamp 9:00-11:00
- July 30 - 3-5 Back to School Night 5:00-6:30
North Calloway Elementary:
- July 20 - Registration (K-5) 9:00am-6:00pm
- July 27 - K/1 Back to School Night 5:30
- July 28 - 2nd & 3rd Back to School night 5:30
- July 30 - 4th & 5th Back to School night 5:30
Southwest Calloway Elementary:
- July 20 - Registration (K-5) 9:00am-6:00pm
- July 28 - K-2 Back to School - K 5:30pm, 1st/2nd 6:15pm
- July 30 - 3-5 Back to School Night - 5:30pm
Calloway County Middle School:
- July 24th - Registration 12-6pm (staggered by grade levels)
- July 27th - Smooth Sailing (6th grade) - 8am-12pm
- Back-to-School (6th grade) - 12-3pm
- Back-to-School (7/8th grades) - 3-6pm
Calloway County High School:
- July 14th – New Student Registration Day #1 from 8am-3pm
- July 21st – Freshmen and Senior Schedule Pickup in LMC from 11am-6pm
- July 22nd – Sophomore and Junior Schedule Pickup in LMC from 11am-6pm
- July 23rd – New Students Schedule Pickup in Guidance from 8am-11am and 12pm-2pm
- July 28th – New Student Registration Day #2 from 8am-3pm
- July 30th – Freshmen Orientation from 6pm-7:30pm at CCHS
Calloway County Virtual Learning Academy - Grades 10-12
- August 3rd - Registration Deadline - No late registrations in 26-27
Three Calloway County students placed in the statewide KBEA Keyboarding Contest this spring.
Calloway County Middle School student Kate Darnell placed first overall in the middle school division with 96 NWAM. CCMS student Brooklyn Powell finished second with 74 NWAM. Both students won gift cards from KBEA as prizes for placing.
Calloway County High School student Jillian Stovall placed second overall in the state in the high school division with 116 NWAM and also received a gift card.
Calloway County Schools has announced Robin Hurst as the district’s new Secondary Supervisor of Instruction.
Hurst brings a wealth of experience to the district. She is currently finishing her eleventh year as the supervisor of instruction at Lyon County Schools, also serving as the district’s assistant superintendent for the last four years. She was the principal of Lyon County High School for four years after teaching business at LCHS for 10 years. She also served in numerous roles at the beginning of her career at Fulton Independent.
"I am truly honored and excited to join the Calloway County Schools family as Supervisor of Instruction,” said Hurst. “Education has always been about relationships, service, and helping students reach their fullest potential, and I look forward to working alongside the outstanding teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families across the district. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting student success and building on the strong tradition of excellence already present in Calloway County Schools."
Hurst replaces Brian Wilmurth, who retired from the district in 2025. She will work alongside Ryan Marchetti, who will move to Elementary Supervisor of Instruction.
“We are excited to bring Ms. Hurst to Calloway County Schools,” noted Superintendent Tres Settle. “She brings an impressive amount of knowledge and experience into this role and will be an immediate asset for our schools. I am confident she will be a great addition to our team and help keep the positive momentum we have in our district.”
Hurst will officially begin her new position on July 1st.
Calloway County Middle School students Naomi Dean (right) and Kensley Greer (left) qualified to compete in the regionals of the National Civics Bee in The Carson Center in Paducah on April 25th. Students qualified for the regionals through an essay competition.
Naomi Dean finished third overall during the competition and advances to the state level competition in Louisville at the Kentucky State Fair this fall.
Calloway County Middle School's Robotics Team recently placed two teams in the top ten in the state at the RCX State Tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington. The team of Joel Arrietta, Parker Cook and Kamden Howard placed 5th, while the team of Nathan Hale, Landon Hill, and Gabe Horton placed 7th from an original field of over one hundred middle school robotics teams across the state. Both teams recorded record scores for CCMS Robotics in tournament competition.
The robotics team is coached by Mandy Brogan, Jessi Giles, and JT Hearn.
Calloway County Schools have named Jeri Kramer as the April Laker Champion for Kids. Kramer is a district-wide special education teacher serving multiple schools. She is also the head softball coach for CCHS and CCMS.
The Laker Champion for Kids is awarded each month to a Laker staff member who goes above and beyond for students and colleagues.
Kramer was nominated by East teacher Christie Swann and CCMS speech-language pathologist Abby Sykes.
“I tried to think of an eloquent way to express all that she does for our kids and for the teachers who work with them, but I could not find just the right words,” wrote Swann. “I think the best I can do is to say that she does anything and everything that she can do to meet every need that arises. She has a special touch with our friends with autism. She is firm when she has to be and kind and gentle at every opportunity. She is present at every school in the district, and it sometimes seems she is present at all of the schools in the span of one day. She is the autism consultant, the teacher for our hearing-impaired students, a case manager, an ARC chairperson, a leader in the special education department at the high school, a bus driver, the head coach for the CCMS and CCHS girls' softball teams, and a sounding board for many of us. She fills in wherever she is needed and manages to do the work with a smile and a calm spirit. Her official title of ‘itinerant special education teacher’ in no way describes the magnitude of her job. She does not accept praise or gratitude easily, but I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving of recognition for all she does for students and colleagues throughout the district.”
Sykes nominated Kramer for her work behind the scenes in the district.
“Typically, there are two types of individuals helping the world go around: those the public sees and those who work behind the scenes assuring everything keeps moving effectively,” wrote Sykes. “People like her are the quiet unsung heroes who never desire the accolades associated with public view.”
“She is one of the district leaders who taught me to not only serve the students with their minutes, but to serve them and their families like Him. Thankfully, I am blessed with beginning my career alongside one of my heroes for children and now working daily with her to serve our students as her career closes. She optimizes our district's wide vision - ‘Every student matters.’ She believes and practices what sets our district apart from all the others - to do right by the child no matter what. There is no district wide employee who could love our children more.”
Five students from the Calloway County Middle School Laker Band were selected for the KMEA All-State Middle School Band.
Zach Hudson and Adrian Scales were selected to the KMEA All-State Concert Band. Chloe Appleby, Elijah Craft, and Alexander Dube were selected to the KMEA All-State Symphonic Band.
Middle school students from across the state auditioned to be a part of this prestigious group of musicians. The culminating event for the All-State students was a performance with other All-State members in March at the EKU Center for the Arts in Richmond, KY.
Calloway County Middle School's Academic Team placed eighth overall at the KAAC State Governor's Cup Competition in Louisville March 20-23.
The Quick Recall team finished their tournament in the Elite 8 and a tie for fifth place. In pool play, the Lakers went undefeated by winning all four games against Green County, St. Agnes, June Buchanan, and Woodford County. This finish in pool play qualified them for the “Smart Sixteen." In the first round of the Smart Sixteen, the Lakers defeated Glasgow Middle, which allowed them to advance to the elite eight. The Lakers were defeated by South Oldham in the next round, which gave the Lakers the distinction of being the fifth place QR team in the state. The quick recall team consisted of Jayden Burkeen, Ellie Johnson, Elijah Craft, Lilah Hill, Andy Rogers, Daniel Briedwell, Grace Munoz, and Madison Purdy.
The Lakers had two students medal in English composition, with Hallie O’Dell coming in at fourth place and Ellie Johnson claiming eighth place. Johnson and O'Dell were also selected for the state academic all-tournament teams.
The Lakers were assisted by Azlyn Rose, Ashlyn Sebby, Ruby Moore, Nathan Langley, and Naomi Dean.
Calloway County Middle School's Laker Band earned "Distinguished" ratings from judges at their recent KMEA Concert Band Assessment in Paducah.
CCMS had two bands in the assessment - a 6th grade band and a 7th/8th grade band. Both bands earned "Distinguished" ratings.
Calloway County Middle School’s Academic Team sent 19 students to The Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN, to compete in the Regional Science, Geography, and History Bee tournaments on March 7.
In Science Bee,The Lakers earned several top finishes. In 8th grade, Wyatt Lasley won the championship. In 7th grade, Grace Munoz took first, followed by Elliott Malone (2nd), Anna Grace Pearson (3rd), and Gunnar Champion (4th). Kinley Brown placed 2nd in 6th grade. Bryce Pile won the 5th‑grade division, and Emry Munoz won the 4th‑grade division.
Eight students qualified for the National Science Bee, and five earned invitations to the international tournament. Team members include Wyatt Lasley, Gunnar Champion, Elliott Malone, Laurel Gray, Kinley Brown, Anna Grace Pearson, Grace Munoz, Emry Munoz, and Bryce Pile.
In Geography Bee, the team brought home multiple medals. Jayden Burkeen placed 3rd in the 8th‑grade division, Daniel Briedwell earned 3rd in 7th grade, and Colt Hance took 3rd in 6th grade. Four students qualified for Nationals, and three received international invitations. Team members are Jayden Burkeen, Nathan Langley, Andy Rogers, Braxton Cossey, Daniel Briedwell, Liam Morris, and Colt Hance.
In History Bee, the Lakers continued their success with several strong finishes. Jayden Burkeen earned 2nd place in the 8th‑grade division, and Daniel Briedwell placed 3rd in 7th grade. Six students qualified for Nationals, and one earned an international invitation. Team members include Colt Hance, Orlando Leon, Daniel Briedwell, Andy Rogers, Jayden Burkeen, Emmitt Champion, Nathan Langley, Braxton Cossey, Liam Morris, and Emma Grogan.
Calloway County Middle School's Robotics Team competed in the Paducah Area Regional Robotics Tournament on March 7th against fifteen other teams from area schools. The three-person teams of Joel Arrietta, Parker Cook, and Kamden Howard and Nathan Hale, Landon Hill, and Gabe Horton both finished in the top five, which qualifies them for the state tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington in late April.
Calloway County Middle School won first place as a team in U.S. History during the Murray State University's History Day competition on March 3rd. The CCMS World History team took second place overall.
CCMS student Jayden Burkeen placed first overall as an individual in U.S. History. Parker Hafford individually placed fourth overall in the World History competition.
he US History Team consisted of Jayden Burkeen, Nathan Langley, James Minter, Emma Grogan, Ellie Johnson, Daniel Briedwell, Ruby Moore, and Andy Rogers. The World History Team consisted of Parker Hafford, Emmitt Champion, Braxton Cossey, Elijah Craft, Elliott Malone, Liam Morris, Odin Beatty, and Ethan Pervine.
Calloway County Middle School's Speech Team finished fourth overall in the KHSSL State Tournament on February 27th in Florence at Boone County High School. The team also earned the Sustained Excellence Award, which recognizes teams that accumulate sweepstakes points over time through consistent success.
Eighteen students represented Calloway County Middle School while competing against teams from 29 qualifying schools across the state.
Individual student performances highlighted the team’s depth and preparation, with six finalists, five semifinalists, and ten quarterfinalists earning top placements.
Finalists included Joel Arrieta, who placed third in declamation; Noelle Raspberry and Kali Hurt, who earned fifth place in duo acting; Andrew Dunnaway, who placed fifth in humorous interpretation; Lilah Hill and Zoree Whitley, who finished sixth in improvisational duo; Payton Hixson, who placed sixth in oratory; and Willow Howland, who placed 6th in poetry.
Semifinalists, placing in the top 12 of their events, included Maya Hughes and Eden Howland in duo acting; Beau Keene in both extemporaneous speaking and impromptu; Emma Hixson in extemporaneous speaking; and Lilah Hill in impromptu.
Quarterfinalist honors, representing top-24 finishes, were earned by Andrew Dunnaway in broadcasting; Ethan Pervine and Madison Purdy in improvisational duo; Andrew Dunnaway and Willow Howland in improvisational duo; Payton Hixson in poetry; Zoree Whitley in poetry; Madelyn Tudor in prose; Madison Purdy in prose; Ethan Pervine in storytelling; Eliza Hall in storytelling; and Willow Howland in storytelling. Team members Preston Crawford and Parker Hafford also contributed to the team’s overall success through their participation at the state tournament.
The Calloway County Middle School Speech Team is coached by Jennifer Dunnaway and Kaydee Hughes.
Calloway County Middle School seventh grader Gunnar Champion finished sixth at the Kentucky Middle School State Wrestling Championship held in Broadbent Arena in Louisville on February 22nd. Champion wrestled in the 95 pound weight class.
This is Champion's fourth time qualifying for the event and his first time earning a medal.
Pictured L to R are Head Coach Michael Adams, Champion, Assistant Wrestling Coach and Gunnar's father Chris Champion
Calloway County Middle School's Academic Team finished first overall in the regional Governor’s Cup tournament on February 14th at Graves County Middle School. This is the 17th regional championship for CCMS over the past 18 years. Among 15 schools in the region, CCMS totaled 48.5 team points, followed by Heath Middle in second with 25 points, and Lone Oak Middle in third place with 24 points.
The regional championship qualifies the Lakers to compete at the state tournament in Louisville in March.
In the team events, the Lakers claimed the championship in both Quick Recall and Future Problem Solving. The Future Problem Solving team is composed of Ellie Johnson, Ruby Moore, Ashlyn Sebby, Azlyn Rose, Naomi Dean, Odin Beatty, and James Johnson. The Quick Recall team is composed of Andy Rogers, Jayden Burkeen, Lilah Hill, Ellie Johnson, Elijah Craft, Wyatt Lasley, Madison Purdy, Grace Munoz, and Daniel Briedwell.
Along with the overall championship, many students earned medals across multiple areas of competition.
In Science, the Lakers swept the top two spots, with Eli Craft winning the regional championship and Grace Munoz finishing second. The team also secured three places in Fine Arts: Ellie Johnson claimed the championship, Madison Purdy finished fourth, and Grace Munoz placed fifth.
Madison Purdy also earned third place in both Language Arts and General Knowledge. In Social Studies, Jayden Burkeen finished as runner‑up, while Nathan Langley took sixth place. The Lakers captured three top spots in Composition as well, with Ellie Johnson winning the championship, Hallie O’Dell placing third, and Naomi Dean finishing fifth. In Mathematics, Andy Rogers earned sixth place.
Two Lakers received special recognition for scores that currently rank among the state’s best: Ellie Johnson’s Fine Arts score was the sixth-highest statewide, and Madison Purdy’s Language Arts score ranked eighth in the state.
Calloway County Middle School's Science Bowl team were the regional champions after competing against 17 teams from two states at the regional competition on February 13th, sponsored by the United States Department of Energy.
The regional win qualifies the Lakers to represent Kentucky to compete in the National Science Bowl, held in Washington D.C. beginning on April 30th against winning regional teams from around the country. This is the tenth time the Lakers have qualified for the national tournament.
The students participated in a quick recall formatted competition containing advanced questions in the areas of science and mathematics. The Lakers went undefeated throughout the tournament on their way to the title.
Calloway County Middle School's MathCOUNTS team will advance to the state championship in Lexington in March after qualifying at the Kentucky Lake regional on February 7th at WKCTC in Paducah.
The members of the advancing team are Andy Rogers, Dean Vernon, Daniel Briedwell, and Landon Hill. Elliott Malone was the third highest scoring individual in the entire tournament.
In addition, the tournament concluded with a countdown round, which is a single elimination quick recall competition for the top twelve scoring individuals. The Laker Team had four members that qualified for this part of the tournament—Andy Rogers, Dean Vernon, Daniel Briedwell, and Elliott Malone.
The Laker MathCOUNTS team is composed of Laurel Gray, JR Wade, Ryder Wallace, Reese McNeely, Tristan Gomez, Orlando Leon, Landon Hill, Elliott Malone, Jackson Jamriska, Kamden Hendrick, Daniel Briedwell, Ryan Pool, Dean Vernon and Andy Rogers.
Calloway County Schools have named Danielle Schwettman the February Laker Champion for Kids. Schwettman is the director of the CCMS Family Resource Youth Service Center.
The Laker Champion for Kids is awarded each month to a Laker staff member who goes above and beyond for students and colleagues.
Schwettman was nominated for the award by CCMS principal David Carmichael.
"She is a friend to everyone at this school," wrote Carmichael. "Staff, student, parent - it doesn't matter. If you need an ear to listen to you, a snack to get your through the day, a word of comfort, or a lighthearted joke, she has you covered. She works tirelessly to seek out community partnerships to benefit our staff and our kids and has a heart of gold. Any student in need - whether it be a need for food, clothing, shower, or otherwise - she supplies for them. And if she can't, she doesn't stop working until she finds someone who is able."
"There are people in this world that can't say 'no,' and then there are people who simply won't say 'no.' She is the latter. Not helping is seemingly impossible for her, as she not only supplies help when asked, but constantly looks for ways to help, as well. She organizes countless events for our school, brings in guest speakers, reaches out to parents on a daily basis, and leads several initiatives to generate a positive school environment, culture, and climate, and also promotes those same ideals throughout our community.
"When walking down the hall, you can always count on seeing her face with a huge smile on it - even on her darkest days. Her positivity is infectious, and her friendship priceless. It is my honor to work alongside her and nominate her for this award."
Calloway County Middle School's Speech Team placed first in the Lakes Region of the Kentucky High School Speech League junior regional tournament on Saturday. This is the 23rd straight speech regional championship for CCMS.
Six CCMS students were named regional champions in their events including Noelle Raspberry in declamation, Andrew Dunnaway in humorous interpretation, Payton Hixson in oratory, Madelyn Tudor in prose as well as the duo acting team of Maya Hughes and Eden Howland along with the improvisational duo team of Lilah Hill and Zoree Whitley.
The team also had eight students named regional runners-up in their individual events. These include Joel Arrieta in declamation, Zoree Whitley in dramatic interpretation, Emma Hixson in extemporaneous speaking, Preston Crawford in humorous interpretation, Lilah Hill in impromptu, Beau Keene in oratory, Payton Hixson in poetry, Madison Purdy in prose and Willow Howland in storytelling.
All regional champions and runners-up will advance to the state tournament along with these students who also qualified: Eliza Hall, Parker Hafford, Kali Hurt, and Ethan Pervine.
The team now moves on to state competition in Lexington in late February.
The CCMS Speech Team is coached by Jennifer Dunnaway and Kaydee Hughes.
Calloway County Middle School's girls' basketball team won the regular season and district tournament championships this season. On January 22nd, they defeated North Marshall 29-21 to win the district tournament, finishing their season with a 14-4 overall record.
Calloway County Middle School's Academic Team won the District Governor's Cup tournament on January 17th at North Marshall Middle School. This is the 18th consecutive district championship for the CCMS Academic Team.
The Lakers totaled 75 team points, followed by Murray Middle with 37 team points.
Three Calloway County students have been selected for the KMEA All-State Choir.
CCHS students Sam Cecil and Annalyn Norsworthy were selected for the high school choir, and CCMS student Peyton Hixson was selected for the junior high choir.
They will join other elite singers at the KMEA Conference in Louisville this February, where they will rehearse under nationally recognized conductors and perform in a showcase concert.
Selection for this prestigious ensemble is highly competitive. Students prepare and perform a rigorous audition that includes scales, sight-reading, and a prepared piece.
Calloway County Middle School's Academic Team finished as overall team champions in the mid-season tournament hosted by the West Kentucky Academic Association in Paducah on December 15h. The tournament included 16 middle school teams from all around Region One of Kentucky.
Calloway County Middle School's Speech Team delivered an impressive performance on December 13th at the Daviess County Jingle Jam Speech Tournament, earning an overall second-place finish among seven competing schools. The tournament featured strong competition, with SCAPA (The School for Creative and Performing Arts) taking first place overall, but the CCMS Lakers showcased depth, talent, and consistency across a wide range of events.
Leading the way for Calloway County was Andrew Dunnaway, who once again claimed first place in Humorous Interpretation, continuing his streak of standout performances this season. Numerous Lakers also reached the awards stage in individual and partnered events. Noelle Raspberry placed fourth in Broadcasting, while Zoree Whitley earned third place in Dramatic Interpretation, fourth in Poetry, and fourth in Improvisational Duo alongside partner Lilah Hill. Eden Howland secured a strong second-place finish in Dramatic Interpretation, and Madelyn Tudor placed fourth in Dramatic Interpretation and third in Prose.
Additional top finishes included Lilah Hill, who placed third in Extemporaneous Speaking and third in Impromptu; Preston Crawford, who earned sixth in Humorous Interpretation; Beau Keene with a fifth-place finish in Oratory; and Payton Hixson, who placed third in Oratory. Willow Howland had an outstanding day as well, finishing fifth in Poetry and second in Storytelling, while Eliza Hall placed sixth in Storytelling. In duo events, Ethan Pervine and Madison Purdy placed sixth in Improvisational Duo, and the Duo Acting team of Madison Purdy and Eliza Hill earned a fourth-place finish.
Several Lakers narrowly missed finals but still earned recognition for their efforts, with Emma Hixson, Beau Keene, and Ethan Pervine each named “next out” in their respective events. The strong showing at the Jingle Jam Tournament highlights the dedication and hard work of the Calloway County Middle School Speech Team, as well as the continued success of its talented student performers.