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Elizabethtown High School senior Rush Clagett is accustomed to standing before an audience. As a longtime member of the school band, he has performed in front of crowds for years. But stepping onto the stage to recite poetry — without an instrument in hand — was an entirely new experience.

“The stress of performing was the same,” Clagett said. “I want to do well in front of everyone. That’s pretty much the same.”

That familiar drive to perform at his best carried him all the way to the state stage, where Clagett earned a second-place finish at the Kentucky Poetry Out Loud competition held at the Farish Theater at the Lexington Public Library. His achievement marks the second consecutive year an Elizabethtown student has placed runner-up in the statewide contest, following Jocelyn Trejo-Zetina’s second-place finish last year, a testament to the growing strength of the arts at Elizabethtown High School.

Elizabethtown Independent Schools is celebrating an extraordinary moment for its youngest learners. 

Panther Academy, Helmwood Heights Elementary, and Morningside Elementary have each been selected to receive Kentucky’s prestigious Read to Achieve (RTA) Grant, a competitive state award that recognizes schools doing transformative work in early literacy. 

The Elizabethtown Educational Foundation (EEF) is once again investing directly in classrooms across Elizabethtown Independent Schools, awarding a new round of teacher grants aimed at enhancing student learning through innovation, creativity, and hands-on experiences.

Known as Go Big E Grants, the awards support classroom and school-based projects that go beyond standard curriculum resources and give teachers the flexibility to bring new ideas to life. This year’s grants totaled thousands of dollars and reached educators across multiple schools and grade levels.

The Elizabethtown Independent Schools Theatre Guild is bringing the beloved holiday classic The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to the EPAC stage on Dec. 12–13 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10, and children six and under are free, making this festive performance something the whole community can enjoy.

Directed by theatre teacher Pacey Hammond, the production blends humor, heart, and holiday spirit—and promises to leave audiences smiling long after the final curtain.

Hammond says the decision to produce The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was intentional and community-centered.

“We wanted a show that was both heartfelt and funny, something that would bring the whole school community together. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever strikes the perfect balance,” Hammond said. “It’s accessible for young performers and full of memorable characters. It also provides opportunities for a large, diverse cast to shine."