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JCPS Acting Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio provided additional guidance to our school principals on August 8 regarding the solar eclipse later this month.
Here are the highlights:
- All JCPS middle and high schools will have a delayed dismissal the day of the eclipse, Monday, August 21. The dismissal time for these schools, including all special schools and alternative schools, will be 2:41 p.m. This is a delay of 21 minutes past the regular dismissal time of 2:20 p.m.
- Elementary schools will have an on-time dismissal, but parents should know that their child may be delayed when arriving home that afternoon due to traffic. This is especially true for students whose transportation may run through a depot.
- Students and teachers may participate in instructional activities regarding the eclipse if proper safety protocols are followed. Each school should develop a plan and communicate that plan to the appropriate assistant superintendent. The plan should include which classes are going outside for instruction and the safety protocols being followed to ensure student and staff safety.
- Each student involved in outside instructional activities must complete a permission form that will be provided by the school.
- Additionally, all non-eclipse outdoor activities (e.g., recess, physical education) between 12:30 and 3 p.m. should be moved indoors.
If parents are requesting an excused absence to attend the eclipse, an educational enhancement form must be submitted by Friday, August 18. Normally, these forms would be due on August 16, but we are providing two extra days because August 16 is the first day of school. Each school should have forms to provide parents and information about additional student obligations, if required by your school’s School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council.
A link to the district form is available here: http://bit.ly/2vM2j22.
Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D-3) is inviting everyone to come out to the Annual Community Unity and Back To School Festival on Saturday, August 12th in Algonquin Park for some great summer fun. It will be a fun filled afternoon and evening for the entire family and a way to help kids get ready to go back to school.
“I am very pleased that the community once again sees Algonquin Park as an important place for all the neighborhoods in the area. The individuals who love the community stepped up to be lifeguards so the Algonquin Pool could be opened when all the other pools were opened and the pool would not open late,” says Woolridge. “As a way of saying thank you, we want to have a little fun and help children in need have a good start to the new school year.
The Annual Community Unity and Back To School Festival will get underway from 1:00pm to 8:00pm in Algonquin Park located at Cypress and Burwell Streets.
There will be a Back to School Back Pack and School Supply giveaway starting at 2:00pm. 500 back packs will be given away while they last. The backpacks will include rulers, notebooks, folders, pencil pouch, glue stick and more supplies.
All children must be accompanied by an adult to receive a backpack and supplies.
The festival will also feature food from Mack Bar-B-Que and free hot dogs beginning at 2:00pm until they are gone, compliments of Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge.
There will be music from Eddie Abraham 4:00pm to 5:30pm and the very popular Unlimited Band 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Metro Parks will be on hand providing inflatables, face painting, balloons and other activities for the kids.
Everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, kick back and enjoy a great summer day in Algonquin Park.
“This is truly a community event with a purpose: making sure our children are ready for school and helping our families. We also want the community to have a chance to enjoy themselves with a little fun in Algonquin Park which is such a great asset to the community,” says Woolridge. “I hope everyone will come out and join us.”
For more information about the Annual Community Unity and Back To School Festival, contact Councilwoman Woolridge’s office at 574-1103.
For the first time in 99 years, a total solar eclipse will pass over the U.S. from one coast to the other. Where will you experience this historic event? How about the infield at Churchill Downs Racetrack!
The Kentucky Derby Museum is offering a Solar Eclipse Viewing Tour on Monday, August 21st from 1-3p.m. We’ll provide guests with free eclipse viewing glasses and an ideal location for one of the best views of the eclipse in Louisville at the optimal viewing time.
Learn more about Eclipse, an 18th Century, undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse who became a very successful sire and today appears in the pedigree of most modern Thoroughbreds. He also lends his name to the Eclipse Awards, one of the highest honors bestowed in Thoroughbred racing and racing media coverage.
A Behind the Scenes Tour of Churchill Downs and general admission to the Museum is also included, giving guests time to explore two floors of interact exhibits and take in a viewing of the 360° movie, The Greatest Race.
Tickets for the Solar Eclipse Viewing Tour are $50 per person. Kids under 5 are free. For more information and to secure your spot, visit here.
A talent contest to save a theater brings together a wide variety of talented animals performing popular song favorites when “Sing” closes out another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 12th at 8:00pm.
“This is a great movie to help close out ten years of the Free Summer Movie program that began as a way to showcase one of the best entertainment venues in the area,” says Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15). “Once again, Iroquois Amphitheater has delighted audiences and introduced people to Iroquois Park.”
“Sing” focuses on the efforts of Buster, a koala, who tries to save his late father’s theater. He decides to hold a talent contest and a wide range of talented animals come forth to audition and save his father’s legacy. The 2016 American 3D computer-animated musical comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment stars the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly.
“We appreciate the support we have received from the Metro Council over these past ten years. With the Council’s help, we have enjoyed entertaining thousands of families at the Iroquois Amphitheatre with the Free Summer Movies program over that time,” says Seve Ghose, Director of Metro Parks. “We forward to their Council continued support over these next ten years and beyond.”
The Free Summer Movies program is made possible by several Metro Council members. For the 2017 movie season, more than 5,000 people attended the free films that were shown on Monday and Saturday nights. The final Monday night film will be The Legend of Tarzan on August 14th. Joining Councilwoman Butler as sponsors this year are Council Members Rick Blackwell (D-12) Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13), Dan Johnson (D-21) President David Yates (D-25), Mary C. Woolridge (D-3), David James (D-6), Cindi Fowler (D- 14), Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), Angela Leet (R-7), Pat Mulvihill (D-10), Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4), Bill Hollander (D-9), Robin Engel (R-22), Barbara Shanklin (D-2), Madonna Flood (D-24), and James Peden (R-23).
Concessions are available. No outside food is permitted. Iroquois Amphitheater is located at 1080 Amphitheater Road, off New Cut Road. To learn more about events at Iroquois Amphitheater, call 502-368-5865.
Councilman David James will join volunteers with the 1st Gethsemane Center for this year’s Back to School effort to get school supplies to needy students in District 6 schools on Friday, August 11th. “The best way to ensure children in need get the things they need for learning for the new school year is to make sure school supplies are delivered to the schools in need,” said James. James and the volunteers have been collecting donations of schools supplies from Walmart and Kosair Charities. Those donations will be sorted on Friday and then delivered to six schools on Monday, August 14th. The schools are Cochran, McFerran, Engelhard, Wheatley and Frasier Elementary Schools and Noe Middle School. “We are happy to partner with Councilman James, Walmart and Kosair to once again to take care of children in need who live in our neighborhoods,” says Keith A. Bush Sr., Director of the 1st G. Center for Family Development”
On Friday, the volunteers will begin the sorting process of supplies at 12:30pm. The donated supplies include:
- Crayons
- Notebooks
- Pencil boxes and pouches
- Backpacks
The sorting operation will start at 12;30pm at 1st Gethsemane Life Development Center located at 1221 First Gethsemane Ave.
Photo: The Kentucky Center
A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE! ON STAGE
Saturday, December 9, 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
The Brown Theatre
315 W. Broadway, Louisville 40202
The classic animated television special comes to life in this faithful musical stage adaptation featuring all your favorite Peanuts characters and the classic Vince Guaraldi score. Join Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, and the gang as they stage a play, save a tree, and learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 11, at 10 a.m., through The Kentucky Center Ticket Service online, by phone (502.584.7777), and at The Kentucky Center box office (501 W. Main Street).
Please note this performance does not take place at The Kentucky Center. The historic Brown Theatre on Broadway is located several blocks away from the Ohio River, near the intersection of Broadway and Third Street.
Photo: The Kentucky Center
HOME FREE: A Country Christmas
Thursday, December 7, 8 p.m.
Brown Theatre
315 W. Broadway, Louisville 40202
Home Free is known for their show-stopping performances that combine their signature all vocal, no instrument music with quick-witted humor.
On this tour, fans will hear new music from the re-release of Full Of (Even More) Cheer, new Country hits like Maren Morris’ “My Church”, Pop slams like Shakira’s “Try Everything”, and fan favorites like the Calypso arrangement of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 11, at 10 a.m., through The Kentucky Center Ticket Service online, by phone (502.584-7777), and at the box office (501 W. Main).
Please note this event does not take place at The Kentucky Center. The historic Brown Theatre on Broadway is located several blocks away from the Ohio River, near the intersection of Broadway and Third Street.
