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Great schools don't just develop students academically. They join with families to develop complete human beings.

In Upshur County Schools, students benefit from dedicated gymnasiums and regular physical education experiences that encourage movement, teamwork, resilience, and healthy lifestyles. Physical activity helps students learn to regulate themselves, work with others, overcome challenges, and develop habits that support success in the classroom and beyond.

An education should prepare students for life, not just a test. That's why providing opportunities for students to stay active, engaged, and healthy remains an important part of our mission every day.
about 16 hours ago, Upshur County Schools
Students participate in a physical education activity inside a school gymnasium. Several students stand near orange cones while others run and throw balls across the gym floor. Blue wall padding, basketball hoops, and student-created banners decorate the space, with a teacher supervising the activity in the background.
🎃📏🔬 Pumpkins, Predictions, and Problem Solving! 🎃📏🔬

These 5th graders put their math and science skills to work with a hands-on pumpkin investigation! Before making any measurements, students made predictions about their pumpkin's weight, circumference, height, number of ridges, and even how many seeds were hiding inside.

Then came the real challenge: measuring, weighing, counting, comparing data, and analyzing results to see how close their estimates were. Activities like this bring classroom learning to life by showing students how math and science work together to help us explore and understand the world around us.

From estimation and measurement to data collection and critical thinking, these future problem-solvers were learning far more than what's inside a pumpkin! 🎃📊🧮
1 day ago, Upshur County Schools
Four elementary students gather around a large pumpkin during a hands-on STEM activity in a classroom. The students use worksheets, measuring tools, and pencils to record observations and predictions about the pumpkin's weight, size, ridges, and seed count. Additional groups of students can be seen in the background working with pumpkins at other stations. The activity combines math, science, measurement, estimation, and data collection in a collaborative learning environment.
A classroom worksheet titled “Pumpkin Math” is displayed on a table. The worksheet guides students through a pumpkin investigation by first making estimates and then recording actual measurements. Data fields include pumpkin weight, number of ridges or creases, circumference, height, and seed count. Students record measurements in both inches and centimeters and compare predictions to actual results. At the bottom, follow-up questions ask students to identify the heaviest pumpkin, the pumpkin with the most ridges, the largest circumference, the greatest number of seeds, and the total number of seeds found in all pumpkins. The page is bordered with small jack-o’-lantern illustrations. For a more detailed explaination please call 304-472-5480.
🧡 National Bullying Prevention Month is a great time to learn how we can support children facing bullying. This free resource from ParentGuidance.org offers expert guidance for families on recognizing, preventing, and responding to bullying.
2 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Helping Your Child When They're Bullied Course Created by: Dr. Melissa Lopez-Larson Bullying is a pervasive issue that Dr. Melissa Lopez-Larson has seen growing exponentially over the past several years. In this course, Dr. Lopez-Larson discusses how to identify bullying, treatment options, strategies for prevention, and more. Topics include: What bullying is and isn't, Who bullies and who gets bullied, stopping the bullying cycle, Bullying in social media, Bullying in school, and Bullying in sports. In this course, Dr. Lopez-Larson teaches • Identifying true bullying • Stopping the cycle • Navigating social media • Addressing school issues • Preventing sports bullying
📐 Every great builder, welder, nurse, mechanic, electrician, engineer, business owner, and problem-solver starts with math.

In one of today's lessons at French Creek Elementary, students are doing more than finding answers. They're building the reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that tomorrow's workforce depends on. From managing budgets and measuring materials to analyzing data and operating technology, math is a foundation for success in nearly every career.

At Upshur County Schools, we're helping students develop the skills they'll use for a lifetime, one problem at a time. Our community's investment in our schools is an investment for community tomorrow.
3 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Students sit at a group table in an elementary classroom while participating in a math lesson displayed on a large interactive board at the front of the room. The screen shows a mathematics problem with answers and teacher annotations. Classroom bookshelves line the wall beneath the display, and educational posters, student work, and an American flag are visible around the room. Students face the board and engage with the lesson as mathematical concepts are reviewed and discussed.
At Upshur County Schools, everyone shows up for kids.

Whether it's a classroom teacher, counselor, or principal, our team is committed to supporting student success wherever the need exists. This week at Union Elementary School, School Counselor Ashley Woody led students in an important lesson on Halloween trick-or-treat safety, while Principal Brown took time to work directly with a student during classroom instruction.

In Upshur County Schools, helping children learn, grow, and stay safe isn't limited to a job title. It's a shared commitment that can be found in every classroom, every day.
4 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A building principal works one-on-one with an elementary student at a desk during a math lesson. The student and teacher review a workbook page featuring counting exercises and colored dot models while other students complete similar activities at nearby desks. Educational materials, number charts, and math workbooks are visible throughout the classroom, highlighting small-group instruction and individualized learning support.
An elementary classroom gathers for a small-group lesson as students sit on a colorful carpet facing an instructor seated in a chair. The instructor leads a hands-on discussion using gestures while students listen and participate. Bright classroom materials, stacked gym mats, storage bins, and a bulletin board displaying the months of the year are visible in the background, creating an engaging early learning environment focused on interaction, communication, and foundational skill development.
Staff Spotlight: TeLenna Bender! 🌟

For 10 years, TeLenna has been a vital part of the Upshur County Schools Maintenance Department, helping manage student records, coordinating deliveries, supporting custodial and food services, and keeping warehouse inventory organized. Her dedication and commitment help keep our schools running smoothly every day.

TeLenna says the best part of her job is the relationships she has built with coworkers, vendors, drivers, and contractors. When asked what she loves most about Upshur County Schools, the answer was simple: "The people I work with, they are my family!"
5 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Employee Name: TeLenna Bender  Position: Facilities Secretary  School/Department: Upshur County Schools Maintenance  Years with UCS: 10 Years  What Do They Do? Take care of student records on request dating graduation in 1925, assist with deliveries, custodial and food orders, and help maintain inventory in the warehouse.  Why They Love Upshur County Schools The people I work with, they are my family!  Most Rewarding Part of the Job Having such wonderful relationships with the people I work with, including salespeople, truck drivers, and contractors.  Message to Future Employees Just be yourself. The people you with are great and will help you anyway they can. Always communicate.  Fun Facts: • One Word: Dedicated • Hobby: Love to Read and Garden • Fun Fact: I love to cook!  Employee Quote: "I am not better than you and you are not better than me, no matter who you are."  Join Our Team! Visit upshurschools.com to fill out an application.
➗ Math is more than getting the right answer. It's about understanding the "why."

A 5th-grade student at Hodgesville Elementary demonstrates problem-solving strategies while working through a multiplication challenge on the classroom interactive smart board. As these classroom displays age, maintaining access to modern learning technology remains an important district priority.

When students explain their thinking, defend their reasoning, and share their approach with classmates, they aren't just learning math facts. They're developing critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom.

At Upshur County Schools, we want students to be active participants in their learning, building confidence as they tackle complex problems and discover multiple pathways to a solution.
5 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A fifth-grade student stands at an interactive classroom display demonstrating a multiplication problem to classmates. The screen contains handwritten math work showing multiple strategies for solving 5 × 30, including skip counting by fives (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35), calculations involving 10 × 30, 10 × 10 = 100, and a number line illustrating multiples of 30 up to 150. The student points to the work on the display while explaining the solution process. The image highlights student-led learning, mathematical reasoning, and the use of visual problem-solving strategies to build understanding of multiplication concepts.
School Bus Safety Week Tip #5

🛑 When the school bus stops, so should you. It is the law.

In West Virginia, drivers must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. Whether students are boarding or heading home, those few moments are among the most dangerous parts of the school day. Slow down, stay alert, and never pass a stopped school bus. Violators can face fines of at least $500, possible jail time, and will have the driver license suspended for no less than 30 days.

Every stop matters. Every child matters.
8 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A bright yellow school bus travels along a winding rural road through the Appalachian Mountains during peak autumn color. The bus has its stop arm extended and red warning lights activated. A group of students with backpacks stands safely at a designated bus stop well away from the roadway behind a fence line. Vibrant red, orange, and gold fall foliage surrounds the scene, with rolling mountain ridges stretching across the background beneath a clear blue sky. A small outline of the state of West Virginia appears in the upper right corner. Warm morning sunlight illuminates the landscape, emphasizing student transportation safety, community connection, and rural school travel.
School Bus Safety Week Tip #4

🚸 Crossing the road? Follow the driver's lead.

Students should always wait for the bus driver to signal before crossing in front of the bus. Never cross behind a bus, and always make eye contact with the driver when possible. These simple habits help everyone get to and from school safely.

Safe habits today become safe routines for life.
9 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A bright yellow school bus travels along a winding rural road through the Appalachian Mountains during peak autumn color. The bus has its stop arm extended and red warning lights activated. A group of students with backpacks stands safely at a designated bus stop well away from the roadway behind a fence line. Vibrant red, orange, and gold fall foliage surrounds the scene, with rolling mountain ridges stretching across the background beneath a clear blue sky. A small outline of the state of West Virginia appears in the upper right corner. Warm morning sunlight illuminates the landscape, emphasizing student transportation safety, community connection, and rural school travel.
📚 Words matter. Learning matters. Engagement matters.

Ms. Cutlip's students aren't just memorizing vocabulary words. They're building the language, comprehension, and critical thinking skills that help them succeed across every subject area.

Through active discussion, collaborative learning, and high-quality instruction, students are strengthening the reading skills that serve as the foundation for future success. Every question, every response, and every new word learned is another step toward becoming confident, capable learners.

At Upshur County Schools, great teaching and engaged students create powerful learning opportunities every day.
9 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A classroom literacy lesson is underway as a teacher sits near an interactive display while approximately a dozen elementary students gather on a blue rug and classroom seating area. The display shows a reading lesson focused on multisyllabic words, with the word “wisdom” visible on the screen. Several students have their hands raised and appear to be participating in the discussion.  The classroom walls are filled with educational materials, including an alphabet border, vocabulary and character trait charts, writing examples, classroom expectations, and student work displays. A sign reading “HOW WORK” hangs above a display of colorful student projects. An American flag hangs in the front corner of the room, and a globe sits beside a storage unit beneath the display screen. The classroom door is labeled “THIRD GRADE” and decorated with fall-themed artwork. Tables, books, flexible seating options, and organized learning materials surround the instructional space, creating an environment focused on active student engagement and literacy development

While the world is full of distractions, Mrs. Mouser's students at French Creek Elementary School are focused on something far more important: learning to read. 📚

Early literacy is one of the strongest predictors of future academic success, and classrooms like this are where that foundation is built. Through explicit instruction, active participation, and daily practice, students are developing the skills that will empower them for a lifetime.

10 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A teacher stands beside an interactive classroom display while leading a small-group reading lesson with elementary students seated on a blue carpet. The screen shows a phonics and reading exercise titled “Reading – Read Phrases,” with phrases including “no gas in it” and “Don and Bob.” Students face the display and teacher, participating in the lesson. The classroom features bright yellow sunflower decorations, an alphabet display hanging across the wall, colorful crayon-shaped cutouts labeled by color, and a literacy bulletin board displaying the nursery rhyme “Little Bo Peep.” The room is well-organized and designed to support early literacy instruction through direct teaching and student engagement.
School Bus Safety Week #3

⚠️ The most dangerous place around a school bus is outside the bus.

The "Danger Zone" includes the areas directly in front of, behind, and alongside the bus where drivers may have difficulty seeing students. West Virginia transportation officials encourage students to stay visible and follow driver instructions at all times.

If you can't see the driver, the driver may not be able to see you.
10 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A bright yellow school bus travels along a winding rural road through the Appalachian Mountains during peak autumn color. The bus has its stop arm extended and red warning lights activated. A group of students with backpacks stands safely at a designated bus stop well away from the roadway behind a fence line. Vibrant red, orange, and gold fall foliage surrounds the scene, with rolling mountain ridges stretching across the background beneath a clear blue sky. A small outline of the state of West Virginia appears in the upper right corner. Warm morning sunlight illuminates the landscape, emphasizing student transportation safety, community connection, and rural school travel.
School Bus Safety Week Tip #2

📱❌ Distracted driving and school buses don't mix.

Many illegal school bus passings happen because motorists are distracted, speeding, or simply not paying attention. Before reaching a school bus stop or seeing flashing yellow lights ahead, put the phone away and focus on the road.

The text can wait. A child's safety can't.
11 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A bright yellow school bus travels along a winding rural road through the Appalachian Mountains during peak autumn color. The bus has its stop arm extended and red warning lights activated. A group of students with backpacks stands safely at a designated bus stop well away from the roadway behind a fence line. Vibrant red, orange, and gold fall foliage surrounds the scene, with rolling mountain ridges stretching across the background beneath a clear blue sky. A small outline of the state of West Virginia appears in the upper right corner. Warm morning sunlight illuminates the landscape, emphasizing student transportation safety, community connection, and rural school travel.
🥩 The connection between our schools and community extends all the way to the lunch tray.

Through our Child Nutrition Program, Upshur County Schools recently procured 38 forty-pound cases of ground beef from Shorts Family Farm, bringing locally sourced food directly into our cafeterias. Partnerships like these support local agriculture, strengthen our local economy, and provide students with quality meals made possible by the people who call Upshur County home.
11 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Stacks of open cardboard boxes filled with packaged ground beef are stored in a refrigerated food storage area. Several boxes are handwritten with the name "Eldon Short," identifying the local supplier. The boxes contain large sealed packages of ground beef stacked on pallets and shelves, with additional food service boxes visible along both sides of the storage room. The images document locally sourced ground beef purchased from Shorts Family Farm for use in the Upshur County Schools Child Nutrition Program.
Stacks of open cardboard boxes filled with packaged ground beef are stored in a refrigerated food storage area. Several boxes are handwritten with the name "Eldon Short," identifying the local supplier. The boxes contain large sealed packages of ground beef stacked on pallets and shelves, with additional food service boxes visible along both sides of the storage room. The images document locally sourced ground beef purchased from Shorts Family Farm for use in the Upshur County Schools Child Nutrition Program.
Learning you can taste!

Tim Derico stopped by Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School today to check out Mrs. Orr’s home economics class, where students were busy making homemade apple butter. Students aren’t just following a recipe. They’re building practical life skills, learning the value of hard work, and creating something to share with their families.

And yes, they get to take some home!
11 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A large copper kettle of apple butter simmers outdoors on a grassy lawn, with steam rising from the surface. A person wearing a gray blazer, red tie, blue pants, and an identification badge stands beside the kettle, using a long wooden paddle attached to a wooden stirring mechanism. In the background are a roadway, several vehicles, utility poles and power lines, homes, and a tree-covered hillside displaying fall colors beneath a clear blue sky. The scene shows a traditional apple butter-making process taking place on a sunny autumn day.
School Bus Safety Tip #1

⏰ The safest bus stop is a calm bus stop.

Families can help by making sure students arrive at the bus stop at least five to ten minutes early. Rushing, running, or crossing roads at the last second creates unnecessary risks.

A few extra minutes can make a big difference in keeping mornings safe and stress-free.
12 days ago, Upshur County Schools
A bright yellow school bus travels along a winding rural road through the Appalachian Mountains during peak autumn color. The bus has its stop arm extended and red warning lights activated. A group of students with backpacks stands safely at a designated bus stop well away from the roadway behind a fence line. Vibrant red, orange, and gold fall foliage surrounds the scene, with rolling mountain ridges stretching across the background beneath a clear blue sky. A small outline of the state of West Virginia appears in the upper right corner. Warm morning sunlight illuminates the landscape, emphasizing student transportation safety, community connection, and rural school travel.
The best learning happens when students aren't just listening, they're participating.

Mrs. Norman brings learning to the floor, creating an environment where students can collaborate, explore ideas, and learn from one another. By meeting students where they are, both physically and academically, instruction becomes more engaging and meaningful.

Active teaching. Active learning. Real growth.
15 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Elementary classroom scene showing approximately ten young students seated in a circle on a color-blocked classroom rug. An educator kneels among the group, leading a small-group lesson or discussion. In the center of the circle is an open bin filled with colorful markers and classroom supplies, along with instructional materials placed on the floor. Students are gathered closely around the materials and appear focused on the activity. The classroom contains student desks and chairs arranged around the perimeter, with rolling plastic storage drawers and personal classroom items visible nearby. The room is brightly lit with a warm, welcoming learning environment that emphasizes collaboration, engagement, and hands-on instruction.
Technology doesn't replace learning. It accelerates it.

Today, BUHS students are putting powerful technology to work as they build skills that matter beyond the classroom. While many see devices as entertainment, our students are using them to create, collaborate, solve problems, and prepare for their futures.

That's the power of public education: giving every student access to the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in a modern world. 🚀💡
16 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Overhead view of several high school students seated around a classroom table using iPads with keyboard cases. The devices display coding and programming activities as students collaborate on digital projects. Backpacks and laptops are visible on the table, highlighting a technology-rich learning environment focused on developing real-world skills, problem-solving, and digital literacy in a public school classroom.
🧡 October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping children navigate bullying. Explore these free family resources from ParentGuidance.org for expert advice, support, and practical strategies to help children feel safe, confident, and supported.
16 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Article Ask a Therapist Question On-Demand Course Effective Strategies for Parents to Recognize and Stop Bullying How to Help Your Child Deal with a Bully Helping Your Child When They’re Bullied Check out these new resources! Scan To Explore ParentGuidance.org Family Support Resources Visit our website: ParentGuidance.org
Article Ask a Therapist Question On-Demand Course Effective Strategies for Parents to Recognize and Stop Bullying How to Help Your Child Deal with a Bully Helping Your Child When They’re Bullied Check out these new resources! Scan To Explore ParentGuidance.org Family Support Resources Visit our website: ParentGuidance.org
Professional Learning in Action: Literacy Matters

Strong readers become strong learners.

Today, educators at Buckhannon Academy Elementary School engaged in professional development with 95% Phonics, deepening their understanding of Tier II intervention strategies designed to strengthen literacy outcomes for students who need additional support.

By expanding their knowledge of evidence-based reading instruction, our teachers are building the skills and systems needed to help students develop foundational literacy skills and become confident, successful readers.

Professional Learning Day is an investment in our educators so they can continue making a difference for students every day.
17 days ago, Upshur County Schools
Educators participate in a professional learning session in a classroom setting. Several tables are arranged throughout the room with staff members seated in small groups reviewing materials, taking notes, and discussing instructional strategies. A presenter stands at the front of the room near a large display screen showing presentation content. Notebooks, instructional resources, laptops, and water bottles are visible on the tables. Classroom bulletin boards and educational displays line the walls. The professional development session focused on 95% Phonics and Tier II literacy intervention strategies to strengthen reading instruction and support student literacy growth.