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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."

Elizabethtown Independent Schools is proud to join schools across the nation in recognizing Special Education Day 2025—an annual observance commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), signed into law in 1975. The legislation guaranteed students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education, forever changing the landscape of American public schooling.

Before IDEA, countless students with disabilities received little to no formal education. Schools were not required to adapt instruction, make accommodations, or create inclusive learning environments. Many families had to send their children to special institutions—often at great financial and emotional cost. IDEA changed that. It ensured that students ages 3–21 with qualifying needs in 13 eligibility categories could receive individualized support, instruction, and pathways to graduation.

The impact continues to echo across classrooms today.

Elizabethtown High School senior Bella Patrick remembers being a young student in another district when older students visited her classroom to help with writing.

Now, years later, Patrick has the chance to pay that support forward by working with fifth graders at Morningside Elementary.

Patrick was one of several EHS students who volunteered during the school’s on-demand writing conferences on Monday. Parents, community members, Superintendent Paul M. Mullins, and EIS Director of Human Resources Derisa Hindle also served as writing mentors.

“It’s been a lot of fun working with them,” Patrick said. “I’m where I am now because people helped me.”

On Friday, Elizabethtown Independent Schools proudly honored Dr. William Godfrey with the dedication of the newly named William Godfrey Aquatic Center, recognizing his decades of service to EIS, local swimmers, and the broader Elizabethtown community. The ceremony celebrated a man whose leadership and passion for the sport have shaped generations of student-athletes and elevated swimming in Elizabethtown to statewide prominence.

Superintendent Paul M. Mullins spoke extensively about Dr. Godfrey’s remarkable influence on the district.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Godfrey,” Mullins said. “He has meant so much to our students and our community. The depth of his contributions can’t be measured. He’s the face of one of our most successful athletic programs, and his influence and commitment to competitive swimming have truly shaped our community.”