What's New News Summary

Black History Month Contest Results!

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:41:00 GMT

If you’re looking for someone well-versed in African American history, you don’t have to look any further than the students at Louisa County Public Schools!

Louisa County Public Schools hosted its annual Black History Month Trivia Contest on Tuesday, February 24 at Louisa County Middle School. This year’s contest marked the eighth installment of the yearly tradition. Sixteen students from the division’s four elementary schools competed in the contest, with Moss-Nuckols Elementary School fifth-grader Alexander Jordan taking home the championship trophy!

Jordan’s victory came after an impressive – and highly competitive – performance by all 16 of the students. In total, they competed for nearly an hour, and during that time, they correctly answered 86 questions!

The LCPS Black History Month Trivia Contest debuted in 2019 thanks to the initiative and sponsorship of Kerry Wynn, a 2009 graduate of Louisa County High School and former NFL defensive lineman. The contest is an extension of his “Why Not Me? Foundation,” which provides cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 each year for the school division’s top three finalists.

“This contest means a lot to me because it’s important for us to continuously highlight African American history in schools,” Wynn said. “To see these students display how much they’ve been taught in school and to see how much research they’ve done to gain that knowledge, it’s inspiring. I’m really proud of the work Louisa County Public Schools is doing to bring out the best in our students.”

The process of whittling the division competition down to the 16 finalists began in early February when all fifth-graders at LCPS were given a study guide and the option to take a 25-question online quiz. The top four scorers from each school were invited to the finale on Tuesday.

For the first 60 questions of Tuesday’s competition, students fielded multiple-choice questions, having to choose the correct answer out of three options. In the second phase of the competition, students were required to fill in the blank after receiving their question. The contest featured questions concerning a variety of topics, such as business, historical figures, entertainment, sports, education, military, science, and more! To win, Jordan correctly fielded questions for 9 consecutive rounds.

“Alexander’s performance was outstanding,” LCPS Superintendent Doug Straley said at the event’s conclusion. “You can tell that he studied hard and worked to earn the trophy! All of our students did a great job, and I’m really proud of them.”

Straley also praised Wynn for his initiative and work to help organize the contest.

“We talk about citizenship a lot here at Louisa County Public Schools, and Kerry embodies that quality,” Straley said. “He’s a fantastic role model for our students, and he is someone I know our entire community takes a lot of pride in. He continues to donate his time and effort to make this world a better place, and we’re really thankful to have him as a member of our team.”

Through his victory, Jordan became the third champion to hail from Moss-Nuckols Elementary School, following in the footsteps of 2025 champion Lyric Owens and 2023 champion Driggs Johnson. Owens and Johnson were in attendance for Tuesday’s contest, along with 2024 champion Paloma Ortiz.

As a result of Jordan’s victory, Moss-Nuckols Elementary School will lay claim to the event’s official championship trophy for another year, as the trophy rotates from school to school based on that year’s champion.

For this year’s competition, LCPS Director of Elementary Education Heather Spaid served as the official announcer. Complete photos from the competition can be found at the school division’s website, which is lcps.k12.va.us.

1st Place - Alexander Jordan (Moss-Nuckols Elementary School)

2nd Place (tie) - Kathryn McHugh (Jouett Elementary School)

2nd Place (tie) - Isaiah Robinson (Moss-Nuckols Elementary School)

2nd Place (tie) - Evangeline Jones (Moss-Nuckols Elementary School)

Other competitors:

Levi Williamson (TJES)
Elizabeth Beason (TES)
Brian Enekwechi (TES)
Gracie Goolsby (JES)
Natalie Myer (TJES)
Cruz Amick (TES)
Levi Stanley (JES)
Callie McGhee (MNES)
Levi Kelly (TJES)
Barbara Kelley (TES)
Ben Friel (TJES)
Judah Denny (JES)

PHOTOS: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18SjDoqo3e/

Upcoming Substitute Teacher Workshop

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:41:00 GMT

Louisa County Public Schools will be hosting a Substitute Teacher Workshop on Tuesday, March 24th from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The workshop will take place at:
Moss-Nuckols Elementary School

To RSVP, please call 540-894-5115 or email LCPS HR Specialist Amber Gibson at gibsonad@lcps.k12.va.us.

Please also complete the following form: https://forms.gle/vSkh76XJEevVdTS7A

NOTES:
- This workshop is mandatory to become a substitute teacher for Louisa County Public Schools.
- Attendees must be at least 18-years-old.
- Attendees must hold a high school diploma or GED.

LCPS Calendar Update: February 2026

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:39:00 GMT

**This message was originally sent to LCPS families on February 17, 2026**

February 16, 2026

Greetings TeamLCPS Family!

As we move through the second semester, I want to take a moment to commend our students, staff, and families for continuing to make the magic happen across Louisa County Public Schools. Each time I visit our schools, I am inspired by the hard work, positive attitudes, and commitment to excellence I see in our classrooms and hallways. There are more incredible accomplishments still ahead of us, and I am grateful to be on this Journey to GREATNESS with each of you!

I am writing today to inform you of an important update that will impact school divisions across Virginia. A statewide special election has been called to be held on Tuesday, April 21st. This date is particularly significant for our division, as four of our schools serve as voting precincts for Louisa County.

Although we received confirmation of the special election date from the Virginia Department of Elections only within the past few days, our team has worked quickly to develop a plan as we move forward. Accordingly, Tuesday, April 21st will now be a Staff Workday and Remote Learning Day for Louisa County Public Schools. Additional details and specific instructions will be shared with families in the days leading up to April 21st.

Please make note of this important calendar update. The revised calendar is uploaded on our division website (lcps.k12.va.us) and TeamLCPS mobile app. We also encourage you to download and print the most current version of the 2025–2026 LCPS Calendar using the link below:

LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MxZyllWuzeZvbL23SO1GCbOyiT9UnBTG/view?usp=sharing

As always, THANK YOU for your continued support. If you have any questions concerning this revision, please click here to send us a question via our Community Questions Form, and we’ll get back to you with a response as soon as possible.

Together, we are TeamLCPS!

J. Douglas Straley II

Division Superintendent

Louisa County Public Schools

School Board Meeting: March 3

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:52:00 GMT

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM OF THIS MEETING

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

This is to advise that the Louisa County School Board will have a Public Hearing on the

FY’ 2026-2027 School Board Budget at its Regular Meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the School Board Meeting Room at the Louisa County Public Schools Central Office Administration Building, 953 Davis Highway, Mineral, Louisa County, Virginia.

Citizens are invited to attend and express their views on the 2026-2027 Budget.

By Order Of:

Gregory V. Strickland, Chairman

Louisa County School Board

2026 LCPS Spelling Bee

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:37:00 GMT

Just a couple of months ago, Moss-Nuckols Elementary School fifth-grader Aiden West was one of about 1,700 students vying for the title of Spelling Bee Champion for Louisa County Public Schools.

And on Wednesday, February 5th, during the final moments of the 2026 LCPS Spelling Bee, only one word stood between him and the title: Medusa.

West was up to the challenge, confidently and correctly spelling the word to earn the title as this year’s top speller at LCPS.

West was one of 30 spellers who qualified for and competed in the 2026 LCPS Spelling Bee on Wednesday night. Each speller earned their right to compete by succeeding in their respective school’s spelling bee. Beginning in early November and continuing through early January, all four elementary schools in the division, as well as Louisa County Middle School, hosted their own school-level bees for third through eighth-grade students. Students who finished as the first or second-place speller in their grade level qualified for the division Bee. Those who finished in third place in their grade levels served as alternates for the division competition.

West earned his spot in the division Bee by finishing second amongst all fifth-graders at M-NES. This year’s runner-up, Dylan Earley, qualified for the bee thanks to a second-place finish at the fifth-grade level for Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

During the division Bee, the students battled nerves and pressure inside the Alan Jackson Theatre at Louisa County High School to conquer a handful of extremely challenging words, successfully rolling through words like “cilantro,” "maladaptive," and "irrevocable." The students also handled the pressure that comes with a live audience, as seats in the auditorium were filled with proud parents, siblings, and friends.

West’s triumph came after 8 rounds of competition that lasted approximately 74 minutes. During the competition, he successfully handled words such as “perceptible,” “acoustic,” and “complex.”

With the win, West became the first elementary-age student to win the title in five years. Coincidentally, the last elementary student to finish in first place was also a Moss-Nuckols Elementary School student, Anni Blair, back in 2021.

Afterward, LCPS superintendent Doug Straley commended all of the competitors for their performance.

“Every one of the students that participated here tonight was a champion,” Straley said. “They earned their right to be here. I’m so proud of all of them for the hard work and long hours of studying they put in, and it showed because they did a fantastic job.”

As the winner of the 2026 LCPS Spelling Bee, LaFontaine will now move on to compete in the 52nd annual Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee on March 24th. By virtue of finishing as the runner-up, Earley will serve as the alternate.

Judges for this year’s Spelling Bee were LCPS Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Justin Grigg, LCPS Director of Assessment and Accountability Tom Smith, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School teacher Sarah Martin. Louisa County High School teacher Helen Weddle served as the pronouncer.

Louisa County Public Schools would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all of the competitors and sincere thanks to all of the family members, friends, and teachers who supported this year’s spellers!

School Winners/Alternates

Jouett Elementary School

3rd Grade: Michael Miller, Reid Atkinson, Serenity Yates (Alternate)

4th Grade: Thalia Lucas, Eva Garnett, Sage Reed (Alternate)

5th Grade: Cheyenne Sprouse, Charlie Brooks, Emma Johnson (Alternate)

Moss-Nuckols Elementary School

3rd Grade: Parker Appler, Lucy Lucckese, Johnathan Riddick (Alternate)

4th Grade: Asher Quinn, Spencer Ferraro, William Weaver (Alternate)

5th Grade: Audrey Marr, Aiden West, Lilly Martin (Alternate)

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

3rd Grade: William Besley, Elizabeth Ferguson, Destiny Joyner (Alternate)

4th Grade: Callum Bushey, Emmett Carroll, Korrin Huber (Alternate)

5th Grade: Piper McCavanagh, Dylan Earley, Brody Lowe (Alternate)

Trevilians Elementary School

3rd Grade: Teagan Norris, Logan Hembry, Matteo Tingler (Alternate)

4th Grade: Jasiah Long, Alice Jones, Miles Rudd (Alternate)

5th Grade: Carson Brown, Barbara Kelley, Emberly Bell (Alternate)

Louisa County Middle School

6th Grade: Grace Pearson, Melanie Powell, Alaina Fitzgerald (Alternate)

7th Grade: Tanner Daughtrey, Hampton Taylor, Paloma Ortiz (Alternate)

8th Grade: Lila Garnett, Tianna Jennings, Julianna Rooney (Alternate)

DETAILS: Black History Month Trivia Contest

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:35:00 GMT

Greetings #TeamLCPS 5th-Grade Families!

On behalf of Louisa County Public Schools, we are excited to announce that LCPS will be hosting its eighth annual Black History Month Trivia Contest during the month of February! This exciting contest is sponsored by LCHS graduate, Kerry Wynn (Class of 2009), and The Kerry Wynn “Why Not Me?” Foundation. Kerry is a former NFL defensive lineman and – most importantly – a perfect example of the qualities we value here at #TeamLCPS! This contest is very near and dear to Kerry, and we are honored to partner with him to host it!

The 2026 Black History Month Trivia Contest is specifically for all 5th-grade students at Louisa County Public Schools. We have provided all 5th-grade students with a comprehensive study guide. Between the dates of January 26 and February 6, each elementary school will be asking students to take a short, 25-question quiz. While taking the quiz, students will need to use their school-issued device, and they will not be allowed to use the internet for any other purpose than to take the quiz. Your child’s teacher will provide more details about when your child’s classroom-level quiz will be conducted.

The top four scorers at each of our four elementary schools will be invited to the division competition at Louisa County Middle School in late February. Should your child qualify for that competition, we will provide further details so that your student can join us for the event! We are excited to say that Kerry also plans to attend the event!

Here’s some more exciting news! The top three finishers in the division competition will each receive a cash prize:

1st Place - $100

2nd Place - $75

3rd Place - $50

The study guide included with this letter is to be used for both the classroom-level and division-level contests. We would love for all students to participate. However, this is not a mandatory competition. If you would prefer your child not to participate, please let your child’s teacher know that they will not be participating.

At #TeamLCPS, we cherish the impact that African Americans have made throughout history. This contest is a great way for your child to learn many incredible facts and tidbits about African American history, culture, and traditions!

If your child’s study guide gets lost or damaged, please email woolfoal@lcps.k12.va.us for a replacement copy. The study guide is also available online on your school’s website as well as our division website, lcps.k12.va.us.

Please contact me if you have any further questions!

Andrew Woolfolk

Public Information Specialist

Louisa County Public Schools

woolfoal@lcps.k12.va.us

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL STUDY GUIDE!

School Supply Lists!

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:49:00 GMT

To access this year's elementary school supply lists, please click here.

At the secondary level (LCHS and LCMS), teachers will provide students with a list of recommended school supplies during Open House (Thursday, August 7) and the first week of school. For the start of the school year, students are asked to bring basic school supplies with them, such as looseleaf paper (college-ruled), spiral notebooks, and pencils.

And just like last year, we also want to provide all LCPS families with a few reminders that will help guide you as you make purchases in the near future. These reminders will help students avoid items that do not correlate with our school's weapons detectors.

- All three-ring binders should be 1.5 inches or less.

- When possible, please use plastic water bottles. If you do purchase metal water bottles, please opt for small/medium-sized bottles.

- Please avoid purchasing wheeled, rolling backpacks if possible.

- Please do not purchase adult-sized scissors. Instead, opt for blunt, small/medium-sized scissors.

Thanks so much for your cooperation! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Preschool and Kindergarten Details!

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:10:00 GMT

For details on how to apply for preschool, please click here.

For details on how to register for kindergarten, please click here.