Our Journey is Fleming County Schools’ district-wide newsletter, shared weekly with students, teachers, staff, parents, and guardians. It serves as a clear and consistent line of communication that keeps our school community informed, connected, and aligned. Our Journey helps create a shared understanding of where we are, where we are headed, and why the work matters.

The Week of Monday, March 16, 2026

In Fleming County Schools, we celebrate the creativity and talent of our K-12 students. From paintings and designs to choir, band, and drama performances, the arts are alive in every corner of our schools. Take a moment to explore this week’s featured work and help us celebrate the incredible ways our students are creating and expressing themselves.

Click on the image above to view each piece individually

Context: 8th Grade Woodland Style Art Project

Bright colors. Bold lines. Stories beneath the surface.

Eighth-grade art students recently explored the Woodland Painting Style inspired by Norval Morrisseau, an Anishinaabe artist known for founding this distinctive approach to visual storytelling. In this project, students were challenged to paint not only what they see, but also what they feel. Using “X-ray” perspectives, they revealed the inner life and spirit of animals through strong black lines and vibrant colors.

Throughout the project, students also learned about the cultural background connected to Morrisseau’s work. Classroom discussions focused on the importance of cultural appreciation and the responsibility artists have when drawing inspiration from traditions outside their own. Students explored how Morrisseau used his art to preserve and share Anishinaabe teachings and stories.

Each student created a 12×18 painting and wrote an accompanying Artist Statement explaining the ideas and meaning behind their work. These reflections helped students connect their artistic choices with the story or message they wanted to communicate through their artwork.

Through this experience, students not only developed painting techniques and visual storytelling skills but also gained a deeper appreciation for how art can carry meaning, culture, and personal expression.

Featured student artworks include:

Whales: Kyla Earlywine, 8th Grade Silver Snakes
Farm Animals: Mackenzi Utterback, 8th Grade Silver Snakes
Owl, Bird, Boat, and Fish: Casandra Rosales Hernandez, 8th Grade Silver Snakes
Bear and Bunnies: Salma Rodriguez-Perez, 8th Grade Silver Snakes
Wolves and the Moon: Aiden Overbey, 8th Grade Silver Snakes

For more information, please contact Mrs. Kelly Dusing, Art Teacher at Simons Middle School, at kelly.dusing@fleming.kyschools.us

Dear Fleming Countians,

We are now just two weeks away from Spring Break. It seems like only yesterday we were preparing for the first day of school, welcoming students back into classrooms, and beginning another year of learning and growth. The school year always seems to move quickly. The days are full, the weeks pass quickly, and before long, we find ourselves nearing another milestone in the school calendar. While time moves quickly, the work happening in our classrooms each day continues to make a meaningful difference for our students.

Throughout this school year, our teachers, staff, and school leaders have been working steadily behind the scenes to strengthen the learning experiences we provide for every student in Fleming County Schools. A large part of that work involves preparing for the next phase of our district’s curriculum development, which will culminate in the launch of an updated curriculum in the fall of 2026.

Over the past two years, we have focused on building a strong foundation for that work. Our educators have spent significant time identifying the priority academic standards that matter most for student learning. These standards represent the knowledge and skills that students truly need to be successful, not only in the next grade level, but after high school in college, careers, and life beyond school. By focusing our instruction around these essential standards, we ensure that students spend their time learning what matters most.

Alongside this work, teachers have been developing proficiency scales that provide clear descriptions of what learning looks like as students move from beginning understanding toward mastery. These scales help teachers provide clearer feedback to students and help students better understand where they are in their learning journey and what steps they can take to continue growing.

As we continue strengthening our learning system, we are also emphasizing three important ways we think about student success. First, we focus on growth, which reflects how much a student improves over time. Learning is a journey, and recognizing progress along that journey is essential. Second, we focus on mastery, which represents a student’s understanding of academic standards and is reflected through traditional grades and assessments. Third, we focus on readiness, which means students can apply both their academic knowledge and durable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and collaboration to real-world situations.

These three ideas. Growth, mastery, and readiness. Help us ensure that learning is not defined by a single test or a single moment. Instead, we look at how students grow, what they know, and how they apply their learning in meaningful ways.

These ideas are also closely connected to our district’s Portrait of a Learner, the BRIDGE Performance Indicators (BPIs), and our commitment to Vibrant Learning. The Portrait of a Learner describes the skills and qualities we want every Fleming County graduate to carry with them, including strong academic knowledge, critical thinking, communication, and the ability to apply learning in real life. Vibrant Learning helps bring that vision to life in our classrooms by creating engaging, meaningful experiences where students can explore ideas, solve problems, and connect their learning to the world around them. When students grow, demonstrate mastery, and show readiness through real experiences, we see the Portrait of a Learner taking shape in authentic ways.

Transparency with families and the community is also an important part of this work. In the fall of 2025, Fleming County Schools began providing parents and guardians with access to the actual assignments and assessments connected to students’ standards-referenced grading and traditional grades at the high school level. This allows families to see not only the grades students receive, but also the work and expectations behind those grades.

We will continue strengthening that transparency moving forward. In the fall of 2026, parents, guardians, and the community will be able to access the district’s curriculum from kindergarten through grade twelve. This will provide a clear view of what students are learning across grade levels and subjects, helping families better understand the learning journey our students experience each year. Our goal is simple. We want our community to clearly see what students are learning, how they are learning, and how that learning prepares them for the future. When schools and communities share a clear understanding of learning, it strengthens trust and supports student success.

As we move toward the remainder of the school year, we will continue building on this foundation while also celebrating the many accomplishments of our students. Across the district, students are performing in the arts, competing in academic events, excelling in athletics, and serving their community in meaningful ways. These experiences help shape well-rounded learners and reflect the many opportunities available to students in our schools.

None of this work happens in isolation. The strength of Fleming County Schools has always been the strength of our community. Parents, families, community leaders, businesses, churches, and local organizations continue to support our schools in ways that make a lasting impact on the lives of our students. Your encouragement, involvement, and belief in our young people play a vital role in their success. As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we remain focused on the work ahead while also taking time to appreciate the progress our students are making each day. Education is built one lesson, one opportunity, and one experience at a time. When those moments come together across a school year, they create growth that lasts far beyond the classroom. Thank you for your continued support of Fleming County Schools and the students we serve. 

Our Journey Continues…

Brian K. Creasman
Superintendent
Fleming County Schools

The FCHS Covered Bridge Cadet Squadron paid tribute to their namesakes today by visiting 7 of the remaining 11 covered bridges in Kentucky. The cadets researched the history and engineering aspects of the bridges and then reported those details as they gathered at the bridges. They CAP Cadets visited: the Cabin Creek Covered Bridge, Dover Covered Bridge, Walcott Covered Bridge, Johnson Creek Covered Bridge, Grange City Covered Bridge, Ringos Mills Covered Bridge, and Goddard-White Covered Bridge. The cadets are led by Dr. David J. Litteral, CSM, U.S. Army (Retired), a FCHS Social Studies Teacher. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Litteral at david.litteral@fleming.kyschools.us

In Fleming County Schools, End-of-Year (EoY) Presentations of Learning are authentic, student-driven exhibitions that showcase a student’s growth, mastery, and readiness. They serve as a culminating reflection of the learning journey across the school year. These presentations extend far beyond traditional final exams or year-end reviews. Instead, they are meaningful, public demonstrations of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students have developed, aligned to the district’s Portrait of a Learner and the BRIDGE Performance Indicators (BPIs).

Local Accountability in Fleming County Schools focuses on what matters most, real learning and real growth. Through multiple measures and authentic student work, we support students, inform families, guide staff, and keep our community connected to how our schools are preparing every learner for the future.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Statewide SAT Day (Grade 11), PSAT (Grades 9 & 10), Seniors to Bowling Alley

Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Monthly Board of Education Meeting at 6:00 pm (Location: FES)

Thursday, March 19, 2026: Local Accountability Advisory Council Meeting at 11:00 am (Location: FCHS)

Tuesday, March 24, 2026: 26-27 Kindergarten Registration at 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Fleming/Mason RECC)

Friday, March 27, 2026: Deadline for BPI Website for grades 3-12

Monday, March 30th - Friday, April 3rd: Spring Break