The newest piece of back-to-school technology does not need to be charged, updated or connected to Wi-Fi. A rare and beautiful thing. 😅
Beginning this school year, KCS students in pre-K through third grade will be required to scan a student bus tag when getting on and off the bus. Scanning is optional for students in fourth grade and above.
Each scan works directly with the Where’s the Bus app, so parents/guardians will receive a notification when their student scans on or off the bus. It is a small tag that provides an extra layer of student safety...and some valuable peace of mind for families.
Here are the three types of tags:
🟠 Pre-K: Orange tags are provided by the bus garage during the required pre-K orientation.
🚌 Grades K–3: These tags display the student’s grade prominently, reminding the driver that an adult must be present at the stop. They also include a QR code for scanning.
📱 Grades 4–5: These tags feature a larger QR code. Students in these grades do not need an adult present at the stop.
The QR code contains only the student’s ID number...not a name, address or other personal information.
And so we are all on the same page: The tag is a safety tool, not a ticket to ride. No child will be refused a ride or left standing on the side of the road because a tag was forgotten or lost. Without a scan, the app simply cannot notify the parent or guardian that the student got on or off the bus.
If a tag disappears, as small objects sometimes mysteriously do, schools will print a new one. Example K-3 and 4th and above tags are pictured below.
Beginning this school year, KCS students in pre-K through third grade will be required to scan a student bus tag when getting on and off the bus. Scanning is optional for students in fourth grade and above.
Each scan works directly with the Where’s the Bus app, so parents/guardians will receive a notification when their student scans on or off the bus. It is a small tag that provides an extra layer of student safety...and some valuable peace of mind for families.
Here are the three types of tags:
🟠 Pre-K: Orange tags are provided by the bus garage during the required pre-K orientation.
🚌 Grades K–3: These tags display the student’s grade prominently, reminding the driver that an adult must be present at the stop. They also include a QR code for scanning.
📱 Grades 4–5: These tags feature a larger QR code. Students in these grades do not need an adult present at the stop.
The QR code contains only the student’s ID number...not a name, address or other personal information.
And so we are all on the same page: The tag is a safety tool, not a ticket to ride. No child will be refused a ride or left standing on the side of the road because a tag was forgotten or lost. Without a scan, the app simply cannot notify the parent or guardian that the student got on or off the bus.
If a tag disappears, as small objects sometimes mysteriously do, schools will print a new one. Example K-3 and 4th and above tags are pictured below.
4,536 meals. 648 boxes. Five weeks. And behind every number was a student. ☀️💙
Each box contained seven meals for the week ahead. Through the summer meal box pickup program, the KCS Child Nutrition Department, with help from the Maintenance Department, made sure those boxes were ready for students throughout the summer.
The numbers are worth celebrating, but what they represent matters most: students having meals available even when school is not in session.
Each box contained seven meals for the week ahead. Through the summer meal box pickup program, the KCS Child Nutrition Department, with help from the Maintenance Department, made sure those boxes were ready for students throughout the summer.
The numbers are worth celebrating, but what they represent matters most: students having meals available even when school is not in session.
📅 The KCS school calendar can now live right where most of your other plans already do, on your phone.
After receiving a few requests for this option, we added an iCal version of the 2026–2027 school calendar. An iCal is a digital calendar file that adds school holidays, breaks, and other important dates directly to your smartphone’s calendar.
The link to the digital calendar is in the comments. Tap the link in the comments below and follow the prompts to add the calendar. No manually entering every day off required.
🛜 The link can also be found in the news section on the KCS website.
After receiving a few requests for this option, we added an iCal version of the 2026–2027 school calendar. An iCal is a digital calendar file that adds school holidays, breaks, and other important dates directly to your smartphone’s calendar.
The link to the digital calendar is in the comments. Tap the link in the comments below and follow the prompts to add the calendar. No manually entering every day off required.
🛜 The link can also be found in the news section on the KCS website.
🧑💻 It's Back to School month! The Beginning of the Year Forms are open and waiting for you!
This year, we upgraded our paperwork game to save you time. Beginning of the Year forms are now faster and smarter!
Here is how it works:
1️⃣ Launch it: Click the forms link on our site and fill out the quick Packet Launcher.
2️⃣ Check it: Check your email for your student's official digital packet.
3️⃣ Finish it: Open the packet, see your prefilled info, complete the rest, and submit!
⚠️ Crucial Step: Submitting the launcher form is just the warm-up! Your forms are only done once you open the email packet, fill out the rest, and submit that final version. Please repeat these quick steps for each student in your house.
📝 Prefer paper? No problem! If you need a hard copy of these forms instead, just reach out directly to your student's school to grab them.
Let's get this school year started right! 🎒✨
This year, we upgraded our paperwork game to save you time. Beginning of the Year forms are now faster and smarter!
Here is how it works:
1️⃣ Launch it: Click the forms link on our site and fill out the quick Packet Launcher.
2️⃣ Check it: Check your email for your student's official digital packet.
3️⃣ Finish it: Open the packet, see your prefilled info, complete the rest, and submit!
⚠️ Crucial Step: Submitting the launcher form is just the warm-up! Your forms are only done once you open the email packet, fill out the rest, and submit that final version. Please repeat these quick steps for each student in your house.
📝 Prefer paper? No problem! If you need a hard copy of these forms instead, just reach out directly to your student's school to grab them.
Let's get this school year started right! 🎒✨
One school year. Three ways to avoid the classic: “Wait…there’s no school tomorrow?”
Not everyone uses a calendar the same way, so we made a few options:
☀️ Long Weekend Forecast: All the extra-long weekends in one place.
📌 Midweek Days Off: The schedule-changing dates most likely to sneak up on you.
📅 Full Digital Calendar: A familiar, month-by-month calendar that looks like the one hanging on your wall or refrigerator...not the standard school-system version that has tiny print and requires advanced codebreaking.
The picture of the digital calendar here only shows August, but you can open the digital calendar and click through every month of the school year. You can also save it, download it and share it with grandparents, family, friends or whoever is unofficially in charge of the family schedule.
Use whichever version works best or use all three. We’re not here to judge your calendar system. We’re just trying to keep a surprise Tuesday off from blowing it up.
Not everyone uses a calendar the same way, so we made a few options:
☀️ Long Weekend Forecast: All the extra-long weekends in one place.
📌 Midweek Days Off: The schedule-changing dates most likely to sneak up on you.
📅 Full Digital Calendar: A familiar, month-by-month calendar that looks like the one hanging on your wall or refrigerator...not the standard school-system version that has tiny print and requires advanced codebreaking.
The picture of the digital calendar here only shows August, but you can open the digital calendar and click through every month of the school year. You can also save it, download it and share it with grandparents, family, friends or whoever is unofficially in charge of the family schedule.
Use whichever version works best or use all three. We’re not here to judge your calendar system. We’re just trying to keep a surprise Tuesday off from blowing it up.
Nobody wants to discover at 9:47 p.m. that students do not have school the next morning.
As we take a closer look at the 2026–27 KCS school calendar, here are the dates families may want to make a plan for now:
✅ First Semester:
🗓️ Monday, September 7 - Labor Day
🗓️ Monday, October 5th - Parent/Teacher Conference
🗓️ Tuesday, October 6th - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ Tuesday, November 3rd - Election Day
🗓️ Wednesday, November 11th - Veterans Day
🗓️ Full Week, November 23-27, Thanksgiving Break
🗓️ Friday, December 18th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ December 23 - January 3, Christmas/Winter Break
✅ Second Semester:
🗓️ Monday, January 18th - MLKJR Day
🗓️ Friday, February 12th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ Friday, April 2nd - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ All Week, April 5th - 9th, Spring Break
Save this post. Send it to the grandparents. Drop it in the family group chat. Forward it to whoever normally asks, “Wait…do they have school tomorrow?”
The complete 2026–27 KCS school calendar is linked in the comments.
As we take a closer look at the 2026–27 KCS school calendar, here are the dates families may want to make a plan for now:
✅ First Semester:
🗓️ Monday, September 7 - Labor Day
🗓️ Monday, October 5th - Parent/Teacher Conference
🗓️ Tuesday, October 6th - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ Tuesday, November 3rd - Election Day
🗓️ Wednesday, November 11th - Veterans Day
🗓️ Full Week, November 23-27, Thanksgiving Break
🗓️ Friday, December 18th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ December 23 - January 3, Christmas/Winter Break
✅ Second Semester:
🗓️ Monday, January 18th - MLKJR Day
🗓️ Friday, February 12th - PL Day (half-day for students)
🗓️ Friday, April 2nd - PL Day (full-day off)
🗓️ All Week, April 5th - 9th, Spring Break
Save this post. Send it to the grandparents. Drop it in the family group chat. Forward it to whoever normally asks, “Wait…do they have school tomorrow?”
The complete 2026–27 KCS school calendar is linked in the comments.
And just like that, the school year is starting to feel very real. 💙
KCS principals and assistant principals met this morning for the Superintendent’s Conference to talk goals, share ideas and get ready for the year ahead.
Now, they’re back in their buildings and fine tuning the details to make the 2026-2027 one to remember!
We’re getting close, KCS!
📆 We'll have some calendar break downs and insights for you later today...see you then!
KCS principals and assistant principals met this morning for the Superintendent’s Conference to talk goals, share ideas and get ready for the year ahead.
Now, they’re back in their buildings and fine tuning the details to make the 2026-2027 one to remember!
We’re getting close, KCS!
📆 We'll have some calendar break downs and insights for you later today...see you then!
🔴 Last Meal Box Distribution!!
If you signed up for the seven day meal box summer meals, today is the final pick up date!
If you signed up for the seven day meal box summer meals, today is the final pick up date!
Who's on first.
What's on second?
I don't know is on third.
Does trying to figure out what school your house is zoned for sound like you are listening to a rerun of the famous Abbott and Costello "Who's on First?" sketch.
Let's try and solve that problem this year. If you are new to the area, recently moved, or just want to double check...let's "Find My School"
🔵 visit kcsbusstop.com (yes, its the same site you use to find your bus stop)
🔵 click on the "Find My School" tab
🔵 enter your address and the grade your student is starting and hit search
🔵 the elementary, middle, and high school your house is zoned for will come up
🔵 click on one of those schools to see the entire boundary line for those schools
🍎 “What’s for lunch?” A question often asked approximately 47 seconds after breakfast.
Here’s where to find KCS breakfast and lunch menus:
💻 On the KCS website: From the district homepage, click Menu, then select School Menus | Kanawha County Schools under the Parent/Guardians column. Choose the menu you need, and the next page will automatically display the text-based version that can be read by assistive technology. Beneath that menu, you’ll find a button to open, download or print the traditional version.
📱 In the KCS app: Tap More in the bottom-right corner, then Dining, followed by the link that appears. From there, you’ll see the same menu buttons and pages available on the website.
Menus for the next month will be posted on the last day of the current month...giving everyone plenty of time to review the lineup and begin negotiations over broccoli.
🧑💻 We hope you found this week's transportation and menu information helpful. No worries if you missed it, we'll recap all of it on the Monday and Tuesday before the first day of school. Next week, we'll tackle how to find your school if you're new to the area or recently moved, and we'll take a deep dive into the school year calendar.
Here’s where to find KCS breakfast and lunch menus:
💻 On the KCS website: From the district homepage, click Menu, then select School Menus | Kanawha County Schools under the Parent/Guardians column. Choose the menu you need, and the next page will automatically display the text-based version that can be read by assistive technology. Beneath that menu, you’ll find a button to open, download or print the traditional version.
📱 In the KCS app: Tap More in the bottom-right corner, then Dining, followed by the link that appears. From there, you’ll see the same menu buttons and pages available on the website.
Menus for the next month will be posted on the last day of the current month...giving everyone plenty of time to review the lineup and begin negotiations over broccoli.
🧑💻 We hope you found this week's transportation and menu information helpful. No worries if you missed it, we'll recap all of it on the Monday and Tuesday before the first day of school. Next week, we'll tackle how to find your school if you're new to the area or recently moved, and we'll take a deep dive into the school year calendar.
🚌📱 At this point, introducing a new KCS bus-tracking app feels a little like setting your friend up on another blind date after your last few recommendations made them question your judgment.
We hear the questions. We see the side-eye. Frankly, we’ve earned it.
But hear us out: This one has a steady job, excellent reviews and appears ready for commitment.
Meet Where’s the Bus? The question Kanawha County families have been asking for years, now conveniently available as an app.
With Where’s the Bus, families can:
🚌 See the bus moving in real time
⏰ Get estimated arrival times
🔔 Receive delay and transportation alerts
📲 See when their student scans on and off the bus
In other words, you can stop standing at the window like a Victorian sea captain waiting for a ship to emerge from the fog.
And before anyone asks: Yes, we genuinely believe this one is going to be good. It is already used by schools across North America and has strong ratings from tens of thousands of actual human beings...very few of whom, to our knowledge, are KCS employees using burner accounts.
Download Where’s the Bus from the App Store or Google Play, then visit our Back-to-School Hub for step-by-step signup instructions (link in comments).
If you have been personally victimized by a previous bus-tracking app, we respect your journey. All we ask is that you give this one a chance. 🚌
We hear the questions. We see the side-eye. Frankly, we’ve earned it.
But hear us out: This one has a steady job, excellent reviews and appears ready for commitment.
Meet Where’s the Bus? The question Kanawha County families have been asking for years, now conveniently available as an app.
With Where’s the Bus, families can:
🚌 See the bus moving in real time
⏰ Get estimated arrival times
🔔 Receive delay and transportation alerts
📲 See when their student scans on and off the bus
In other words, you can stop standing at the window like a Victorian sea captain waiting for a ship to emerge from the fog.
And before anyone asks: Yes, we genuinely believe this one is going to be good. It is already used by schools across North America and has strong ratings from tens of thousands of actual human beings...very few of whom, to our knowledge, are KCS employees using burner accounts.
Download Where’s the Bus from the App Store or Google Play, then visit our Back-to-School Hub for step-by-step signup instructions (link in comments).
If you have been personally victimized by a previous bus-tracking app, we respect your journey. All we ask is that you give this one a chance. 🚌
📦 We’re down to the final two Wednesdays of 7-day meal box pickup!
If you signed up for the 7-Day Meal Box Distribution, stop by Mary Ingles Elementary School or East Bank Baseball Field this Wednesday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The final pickup will be next Wednesday, July 29. Please help us spread the word!
If you signed up for the 7-Day Meal Box Distribution, stop by Mary Ingles Elementary School or East Bank Baseball Field this Wednesday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The final pickup will be next Wednesday, July 29. Please help us spread the word!
🚌 The school bus waits for no one, especially the child who suddenly can’t find the other shoe.
🔵 Before the first day, visit kcsbusstop.com. Enter your home address and select your student’s school. You’ll see the morning and afternoon route number, bus number, bus stop location, pickup time and drop-off time.
🔵 One important change this year: the route number is the number to remember. If you see Route: SA06 | Bus 1908, your route is SA06. Bus 1908 will normally drive that route, but a different bus may be used from time to time. The route, stop and times will stay the same. This means fewer unnecessary alerts and more meaningful updates.
🔵 Tomorrow: the new KCS bus-tracking app. Yes, we have done this before. Several times. But we have a really good feeling about this one. We’ll show you where to download it and how to set up your account. Please join us in cautious optimism.
🔵 Before the first day, visit kcsbusstop.com. Enter your home address and select your student’s school. You’ll see the morning and afternoon route number, bus number, bus stop location, pickup time and drop-off time.
🔵 One important change this year: the route number is the number to remember. If you see Route: SA06 | Bus 1908, your route is SA06. Bus 1908 will normally drive that route, but a different bus may be used from time to time. The route, stop and times will stay the same. This means fewer unnecessary alerts and more meaningful updates.
🔵 Tomorrow: the new KCS bus-tracking app. Yes, we have done this before. Several times. But we have a really good feeling about this one. We’ll show you where to download it and how to set up your account. Please join us in cautious optimism.
🎒Back-to-school season has officially arrived...and before anyone opens 14 browser tabs trying to find one form, we did the homework for you.
The KCS Back-to-School Hub is now live! Visit the KCS website and click Back to School in the button bar to find calendars, menus, transportation information, forms, app guides and more. We’ll put the direct link in the comments, too.
This officially kicks off our back-to-school campaign! We’ll share helpful information each week leading up to the first day of school on August 19.
Next week, we’re starting with two of the big ones: food menus and transportation. Because “What’s for lunch?” and “Where’s the bus?” deserve easier answers than a scavenger hunt.
The KCS Back-to-School Hub is now live! Visit the KCS website and click Back to School in the button bar to find calendars, menus, transportation information, forms, app guides and more. We’ll put the direct link in the comments, too.
This officially kicks off our back-to-school campaign! We’ll share helpful information each week leading up to the first day of school on August 19.
Next week, we’re starting with two of the big ones: food menus and transportation. Because “What’s for lunch?” and “Where’s the bus?” deserve easier answers than a scavenger hunt.
🏀 You’re looking at a whole lot of greatness before the rest of the world knew their names.
This DuPont High School basketball team was stacked...future pros, hometown legends and more than a few guys who made life very uncomfortable for anyone trying to guard them.
A couple of these faces may be obvious. The real challenge: How many of the other former KCS standouts can you name?
How many can you name? Tell us what you remember about this team on the court, the highlight reels that made the DuPont Panthers must-see entertainment.
#WVPublicSchools #ILoveWVPublicSchools #WVPublicSchoolsRaisedMe
This DuPont High School basketball team was stacked...future pros, hometown legends and more than a few guys who made life very uncomfortable for anyone trying to guard them.
A couple of these faces may be obvious. The real challenge: How many of the other former KCS standouts can you name?
How many can you name? Tell us what you remember about this team on the court, the highlight reels that made the DuPont Panthers must-see entertainment.
#WVPublicSchools #ILoveWVPublicSchools #WVPublicSchoolsRaisedMe
🔊 Sound the alarm
🔔 Ring the bell
🏫 Clear the hallways
Horace Mann Middle School Principal Shandon Ryan-Tweedy has been named a finalist for the 2027 School Principal of the Year! 🎉👏
Shandon brings BIG energy, heart, and determination to everything she does. Students love her. Staff love her. Families love her. And it is easy to see why.
💙🎉🔥 We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate this incredible recognition. Congratulations, Shandon! Horace Mann is lucky to have you, and KCS could not be prouder! 💙🎉🔥
Now everybody make some noise for Tweedy! 👏👏👏
📸: Pictures taken when Shandon was named KCS Principal of the Year!
🔔 Ring the bell
🏫 Clear the hallways
Horace Mann Middle School Principal Shandon Ryan-Tweedy has been named a finalist for the 2027 School Principal of the Year! 🎉👏
Shandon brings BIG energy, heart, and determination to everything she does. Students love her. Staff love her. Families love her. And it is easy to see why.
💙🎉🔥 We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate this incredible recognition. Congratulations, Shandon! Horace Mann is lucky to have you, and KCS could not be prouder! 💙🎉🔥
Now everybody make some noise for Tweedy! 👏👏👏
📸: Pictures taken when Shandon was named KCS Principal of the Year!
A little baseball and a little board business
Dr. Potter recognized two state championship baseball teams at the KCSBOE meeting on Monday.
⚾️ George Washington High School - AAAA WV Baseball State Champions
⚾️ St. Albans High School - AAA WV Baseball State Champions.
It was great to have players and coaches from both teams at the meeting and to celebrate two incredible seasons for their schools and communities.
The meeting also included a few Board updates. Ric Cavender completed his two-year term as Board President, and the Board elected Kate White to serve as President for the next two years. Mike Arbogast was elected President Pro Tem.
✋ Mike Arbogast, Becky Jordan and Lisa Otey were sworn in following their election in May.
Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches and everyone recognized Monday evening!
Dr. Potter recognized two state championship baseball teams at the KCSBOE meeting on Monday.
⚾️ George Washington High School - AAAA WV Baseball State Champions
⚾️ St. Albans High School - AAA WV Baseball State Champions.
It was great to have players and coaches from both teams at the meeting and to celebrate two incredible seasons for their schools and communities.
The meeting also included a few Board updates. Ric Cavender completed his two-year term as Board President, and the Board elected Kate White to serve as President for the next two years. Mike Arbogast was elected President Pro Tem.
✋ Mike Arbogast, Becky Jordan and Lisa Otey were sworn in following their election in May.
Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches and everyone recognized Monday evening!
Families of students who receive special education services may soon receive the Indicator 8 Parent Survey from the West Virginia Department of Education.
If your family is selected to participate, we encourage you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share honest feedback about your experience.
This survey gives families an important opportunity to provide input on communication, collaboration, and support. Your feedback helps schools and districts better understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and help support continued growth for students and families across Kanawha County Schools.
If your family is selected to participate, we encourage you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share honest feedback about your experience.
This survey gives families an important opportunity to provide input on communication, collaboration, and support. Your feedback helps schools and districts better understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Thank you for taking the time to share your voice and help support continued growth for students and families across Kanawha County Schools.
Summer learning, teacher edition. ☀️📚
140 KCS teachers attended Math and English Summer Learning Academies last week. They spent the week sharing ideas and finding new ways to support students.
It was more than just professional development...it was connection, collaboration, and a reminder of how much heart our teachers bring to the classroom. 💙
140 KCS teachers attended Math and English Summer Learning Academies last week. They spent the week sharing ideas and finding new ways to support students.
It was more than just professional development...it was connection, collaboration, and a reminder of how much heart our teachers bring to the classroom. 💙
☀️🍔 Summer break is here, and summer meals are available for children ages 2–18 through the WVDE and USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children.
This summer, 10 sites across Kanawha County will offer breakfast and/or lunch during specific dates and times. Families do not need to register for the open meal sites — children can come anytime during the posted meal time.
🔵 Meals are for children ages 2–18
🔵 Open meal sites do not require registration
🔵 Meal box pickup is also available at two USDA-approved locations
Registration is required for meal box pickup, and the meal box form is now live. The registration link will be in the comments of this post and is also available on the KCS website.
Full schedules, locations, meal times, and meal box registration details are available on the KCS website.
This summer, 10 sites across Kanawha County will offer breakfast and/or lunch during specific dates and times. Families do not need to register for the open meal sites — children can come anytime during the posted meal time.
🔵 Meals are for children ages 2–18
🔵 Open meal sites do not require registration
🔵 Meal box pickup is also available at two USDA-approved locations
Registration is required for meal box pickup, and the meal box form is now live. The registration link will be in the comments of this post and is also available on the KCS website.
Full schedules, locations, meal times, and meal box registration details are available on the KCS website.
