Let’s talk all things KCS! Parents and guardians are invited to join KCS Superintendent, Dr. Paula Potter and school leaders for a town hall meeting from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the high school in their feeder area.
📅 Monday, August 24, 2026 - Sissonville Feeder Area
📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026 - Capital Feeder Area and Chandler
📅 Wednesday, August 26, 2026 - St. Albans Feeder Area
📅 Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - Herbert Hoover Feeder Area
📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026 - George Washington Feeder Area
📅 Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - Nitro Feeder Area
📅 Monday, September 14, 2026 - South Charleston Feeder Area and Ben Franklin
📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - Riverside Feeder Area and Carver
Bring your questions...we hope to see you there!
📅 Monday, August 24, 2026 - Sissonville Feeder Area
📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026 - Capital Feeder Area and Chandler
📅 Wednesday, August 26, 2026 - St. Albans Feeder Area
📅 Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - Herbert Hoover Feeder Area
📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026 - George Washington Feeder Area
📅 Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - Nitro Feeder Area
📅 Monday, September 14, 2026 - South Charleston Feeder Area and Ben Franklin
📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - Riverside Feeder Area and Carver
Bring your questions...we hope to see you there!
GW - Transportation Schedule Update
Beginning Friday, August 21, 2026, Routes GW05, GW06, and GW08 will transport both middle school and high school students on the same run. As a result, student pickup times have changed and will begin at 7:00 a.m.
The updated route schedules will be available in the Where The Bus app.
Families may also view their adjusted bus stop times at www.kcsbusstop.com.
At this time, afternoon drop-off times will remain unchanged.
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #GWTransportation | #BusUpdate
Beginning Friday, August 21, 2026, Routes GW05, GW06, and GW08 will transport both middle school and high school students on the same run. As a result, student pickup times have changed and will begin at 7:00 a.m.
The updated route schedules will be available in the Where The Bus app.
Families may also view their adjusted bus stop times at www.kcsbusstop.com.
At this time, afternoon drop-off times will remain unchanged.
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #GWTransportation | #BusUpdate
A great first day back on the Hill.
If you’re facing barriers that are making it difficult to attend school, we’re here to help.
Ms. Combs, Assistant Attendance Director
tcboms@mail.kana.k12.wv.us
304-348-7729 ext. 110
Showing up matters.
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #EveryDayCounts | #AttendanceMatters
If you’re facing barriers that are making it difficult to attend school, we’re here to help.
Ms. Combs, Assistant Attendance Director
tcboms@mail.kana.k12.wv.us
304-348-7729 ext. 110
Showing up matters.
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #EveryDayCounts | #AttendanceMatters
First assignment of the year: walk through the door. ✅
Next assignment: discover just how far you can go. 💙
We spent the morning at Lakewood Elementary, South Charleston Middle and Nitro High, where the smiles were bright and that unmistakable first-day energy was everywhere.
There are questions waiting to be asked, goals waiting to be set, talents still to be discovered and memories no one knows about yet. That’s the best part of a first day: so much of the year is still full of possibility.
Welcome back, KCS. We can’t wait to see what comes next. ✨
Next assignment: discover just how far you can go. 💙
We spent the morning at Lakewood Elementary, South Charleston Middle and Nitro High, where the smiles were bright and that unmistakable first-day energy was everywhere.
There are questions waiting to be asked, goals waiting to be set, talents still to be discovered and memories no one knows about yet. That’s the best part of a first day: so much of the year is still full of possibility.
Welcome back, KCS. We can’t wait to see what comes next. ✨
Greetings GW Parents!
The school day times and bus schedules are different this year. The buses do not arrive at GW until 8:00 am. Therefore, the doors will not open until 8:00 am. First period begins at 8:25 am and the end of the school day will now be 3:31 pm. Buses arrive to pick students up after school at 3:45 pm. Welcome back to another great year!!
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #BackToSchool | #GWHS2026
The school day times and bus schedules are different this year. The buses do not arrive at GW until 8:00 am. Therefore, the doors will not open until 8:00 am. First period begins at 8:25 am and the end of the school day will now be 3:31 pm. Buses arrive to pick students up after school at 3:45 pm. Welcome back to another great year!!
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #BackToSchool | #GWHS2026
The night before school has finally arrived
For some, it’s tomorrow; for others, close behind.
But all across KCS, a new year is in sight,
And first-day excitement is building tonight.
Backpacks are packed, or soon they will be.
There are teachers to meet and old friends to see.
The countdown is on, and plans are taking shape
For a year full of moments just waiting to be made.
Familiar hallways will fill once again
With footsteps and laughter and old and new friends.
There will be questions, discoveries and more,
With brand-new possibilities behind every door.
So rest up, KCS. This year is brand new,
With memories to make and great things to do.
Tomorrow or soon, when your first day begins,
We’ll be ready and waiting to welcome you in. 💙
For some, it’s tomorrow; for others, close behind.
But all across KCS, a new year is in sight,
And first-day excitement is building tonight.
Backpacks are packed, or soon they will be.
There are teachers to meet and old friends to see.
The countdown is on, and plans are taking shape
For a year full of moments just waiting to be made.
Familiar hallways will fill once again
With footsteps and laughter and old and new friends.
There will be questions, discoveries and more,
With brand-new possibilities behind every door.
So rest up, KCS. This year is brand new,
With memories to make and great things to do.
Tomorrow or soon, when your first day begins,
We’ll be ready and waiting to welcome you in. 💙
That feeling when the attendance excuse is submitted and you can get on with your morning. 🕺
When your student is absent, you have an online option...no early-morning phone call or paper note to keep track of.
📱 Find the attendance excuse form in the KCS app on your device.
💻 Or visit your child’s school website and select Attendance Form in the top-right corner of the homepage.
One less thing to handle before the coffee kicks in. ☕
When your student is absent, you have an online option...no early-morning phone call or paper note to keep track of.
📱 Find the attendance excuse form in the KCS app on your device.
💻 Or visit your child’s school website and select Attendance Form in the top-right corner of the homepage.
One less thing to handle before the coffee kicks in. ☕
🎟️ KCS 65+ Tickets
Kanawha County residents age 65 and older can receive free admission to many school sporting events, concerts, musicals, plays and art shows with a KCS 65 and Older Club Card.
Applications and additional details are available on the KCS website. Some exclusions apply, including postseason playoffs and banquets.
Kanawha County residents age 65 and older can receive free admission to many school sporting events, concerts, musicals, plays and art shows with a KCS 65 and Older Club Card.
Applications and additional details are available on the KCS website. Some exclusions apply, including postseason playoffs and banquets.
⏰ School Start and End Times for 2026–2027
Most KCS schools will follow the same schedule as last year, but start or dismissal times have changed at a few schools as part of updates to help bus routes flow more smoothly across the county.
Before the first day, please find your child’s school in the graphics below and double-check its start and end times...even if the schedule was the same last year.
Please note that these are school bell times, not when doors open for students. We’ll see our students Wednesday! 💙
Most KCS schools will follow the same schedule as last year, but start or dismissal times have changed at a few schools as part of updates to help bus routes flow more smoothly across the county.
Before the first day, please find your child’s school in the graphics below and double-check its start and end times...even if the schedule was the same last year.
Please note that these are school bell times, not when doors open for students. We’ll see our students Wednesday! 💙
26 Patriots. National AP recognition.
Congratulations to our 2026 AP Scholars, recognized by College Board for their achievement on AP Exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction
Anshuman Haricharan
Vihaan Kakani
Manvitha Sanjaya
Lily Seagle
Ella Yosuico
AP Scholar with Honor
Nina Brumage
Salma Hamdan
Andrew Isaac
Ian Osborne
Donal Van Dyk
AP Scholar
Robert Akers
Samuel Christian
Annabelle Cipoletti
Henry Davis
William Kessler
Gabriella Lanham
Kylie Mullins
Yevin Ranasinghe
William Rawlings
Lily Rhodes
Adelyn Sirbu
William Smith
Kelly Wandling
Bassel Wehbi
Allison Wood
Hester Wu
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #APScholars | #AdvancedPlacement
First day back. Picture Day too. 📸
Wednesday, August 19 is the first day of school and Picture Day. Drapes and tux shirts will be provided for senior pictures.
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #PictureDay | #SeniorPictures
Clarification on KCS Athletic Ticket Prices
Adult admission to KCS athletic events will remain $7.
A graphic shared earlier today said adult ticket prices would increase to $8. Because of an internal miscommunication, the proposed change had not reached Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter for consideration before it was announced.
When Dr. Potter first learned of the proposal today, she determined that adult ticket prices would remain at the current $7 rate.
We apologize for the confusion caused by the earlier announcement, and we are clarifying our communication process to help prevent similar misunderstandings moving forward.
Adult admission to KCS athletic events will remain $7.
A graphic shared earlier today said adult ticket prices would increase to $8. Because of an internal miscommunication, the proposed change had not reached Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter for consideration before it was announced.
When Dr. Potter first learned of the proposal today, she determined that adult ticket prices would remain at the current $7 rate.
We apologize for the confusion caused by the earlier announcement, and we are clarifying our communication process to help prevent similar misunderstandings moving forward.
Have questions about exceptional student services? Today is a good day to get answers.
The Office of Exceptional Students Open House is happening today from 2–6 p.m. at the Edison Staff Development Center, 157 2nd Avenue in South Charleston. Families can find information about IEPs, 504s, transportation, speech services, OT/PT, behavioral support, technology and more.
Childcare is available, and free homework supplies will be offered while they last. Can’t attend in person? Use the QR code on the flyer to schedule a virtual appointment.
The Office of Exceptional Students Open House is happening today from 2–6 p.m. at the Edison Staff Development Center, 157 2nd Avenue in South Charleston. Families can find information about IEPs, 504s, transportation, speech services, OT/PT, behavioral support, technology and more.
Childcare is available, and free homework supplies will be offered while they last. Can’t attend in person? Use the QR code on the flyer to schedule a virtual appointment.
Your voice matters.
Join us for the George Washington High School Feeder Area Town Hall Meeting as we celebrate what’s happening in our schools, share ideas, and discuss the future of our students.
📅 Tuesday, September 2
🕠 5:30–6:30 PM
📍 GWHS Auditorium
Families, students, staff, and community members are all welcome. We hope to see you there.
#HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #TownHall | #GWCommunity
🚌 What is my student's bus route number?
We received this question a few times after yesterday’s bus post. The quickest way to find your student’s route is through the KCS Bus Route Finder.
Just:
📍 Enter your home address
🏫 Select your student’s school
🔎 Click Find Bus
The results will show the available route, bus stop location, pickup/drop-off times for that address, and your student's bus route number. Be sure to review both the morning and afternoon information, they may not be the same.
The route number is listed in the results, such as CH06 in the picture below. The bus number may change, but the route stays the same.
🔗 Find your student’s bus route here: https://findmyschool.us/kanawhawv
We received this question a few times after yesterday’s bus post. The quickest way to find your student’s route is through the KCS Bus Route Finder.
Just:
📍 Enter your home address
🏫 Select your student’s school
🔎 Click Find Bus
The results will show the available route, bus stop location, pickup/drop-off times for that address, and your student's bus route number. Be sure to review both the morning and afternoon information, they may not be the same.
The route number is listed in the results, such as CH06 in the picture below. The bus number may change, but the route stays the same.
🔗 Find your student’s bus route here: https://findmyschool.us/kanawhawv
Another incredible achievement for the Hill. Congratulations to GW’s own Crystal Embol on winning two gold medals at the 2026 State Games of America, capturing gold in both Women’s Open Singles and Women’s Open Doubles. 🥇🥇 #HailGW | #patriotpride | #lifeonthehill | #StateGamesOfAmerica | #GWTennis 📸: Mike Switzer @switzerdesign
The bus number is still there. We’re just asking everyone to mostly ignore it. Simple enough, right? 😅
Beginning this school year, KCS students will be assigned to a bus route instead of a specific bus number.
Each route has a two-letter abbreviation for the high school feeder area followed by two numbers, such as HH01. The letters will appear in that high school’s colors, and the route number will be displayed on the side of the bus next to the bus number.
🚌 What does that mean?
If your student’s route is HH01, look for the HH01 sign. It could be attached to bus 1908 today, bus 2101 tomorrow or bus 1911 next week. If the bus displays HH01, it is covering your student’s route.
The bus number identifies the vehicle. The route number tells you where it is going.
📱 What about the Where’s the Bus? app?
The app will also identify your student’s bus by the route number. Instead of looking for bus 1908, families will look for their student’s assigned route, HH01 in this example.
🔔 Why are we making this change?
In the past, about 90% of transportation’s bus-change notifications simply told families that a different bus was covering the same route. Assigning students to routes will eliminate most of those notices.
That means fewer notifications such as “bus 1908 will ride bus 2101 this afternoon” and more room for the updates families actually need to see.
The bus number has not been fired. It just has a much smaller role this season. The route number is the one to remember.
Beginning this school year, KCS students will be assigned to a bus route instead of a specific bus number.
Each route has a two-letter abbreviation for the high school feeder area followed by two numbers, such as HH01. The letters will appear in that high school’s colors, and the route number will be displayed on the side of the bus next to the bus number.
🚌 What does that mean?
If your student’s route is HH01, look for the HH01 sign. It could be attached to bus 1908 today, bus 2101 tomorrow or bus 1911 next week. If the bus displays HH01, it is covering your student’s route.
The bus number identifies the vehicle. The route number tells you where it is going.
📱 What about the Where’s the Bus? app?
The app will also identify your student’s bus by the route number. Instead of looking for bus 1908, families will look for their student’s assigned route, HH01 in this example.
🔔 Why are we making this change?
In the past, about 90% of transportation’s bus-change notifications simply told families that a different bus was covering the same route. Assigning students to routes will eliminate most of those notices.
That means fewer notifications such as “bus 1908 will ride bus 2101 this afternoon” and more room for the updates families actually need to see.
The bus number has not been fired. It just has a much smaller role this season. The route number is the one to remember.
The newest piece of back-to-school technology does not need to be charged, updated or connected to Wi-Fi. A rare and beautiful thing. 😅
Beginning this school year, KCS students in pre-K through third grade will be required to scan a student bus tag when getting on and off the bus. Scanning is optional for students in fourth grade and above.
Each scan works directly with the Where’s the Bus app, so parents/guardians will receive a notification when their student scans on or off the bus. It is a small tag that provides an extra layer of student safety...and some valuable peace of mind for families.
Here are the three types of tags:
🟠 Pre-K: Orange tags are provided by the bus garage during the required pre-K orientation.
🚌 Grades K–3: These tags display the student’s grade prominently, reminding the driver that an adult must be present at the stop. They also include a QR code for scanning.
📱 Grades 4–5: These tags feature a larger QR code. Students in these grades do not need an adult present at the stop.
The QR code contains only the student’s ID number...not a name, address or other personal information.
And so we are all on the same page: The tag is a safety tool, not a ticket to ride. No child will be refused a ride or left standing on the side of the road because a tag was forgotten or lost. Without a scan, the app simply cannot notify the parent or guardian that the student got on or off the bus.
If a tag disappears, as small objects sometimes mysteriously do, schools will print a new one. Example K-3 and 4th and above tags are pictured below.
Beginning this school year, KCS students in pre-K through third grade will be required to scan a student bus tag when getting on and off the bus. Scanning is optional for students in fourth grade and above.
Each scan works directly with the Where’s the Bus app, so parents/guardians will receive a notification when their student scans on or off the bus. It is a small tag that provides an extra layer of student safety...and some valuable peace of mind for families.
Here are the three types of tags:
🟠 Pre-K: Orange tags are provided by the bus garage during the required pre-K orientation.
🚌 Grades K–3: These tags display the student’s grade prominently, reminding the driver that an adult must be present at the stop. They also include a QR code for scanning.
📱 Grades 4–5: These tags feature a larger QR code. Students in these grades do not need an adult present at the stop.
The QR code contains only the student’s ID number...not a name, address or other personal information.
And so we are all on the same page: The tag is a safety tool, not a ticket to ride. No child will be refused a ride or left standing on the side of the road because a tag was forgotten or lost. Without a scan, the app simply cannot notify the parent or guardian that the student got on or off the bus.
If a tag disappears, as small objects sometimes mysteriously do, schools will print a new one. Example K-3 and 4th and above tags are pictured below.
4,536 meals. 648 boxes. Five weeks. And behind every number was a student. ☀️💙
Each box contained seven meals for the week ahead. Through the summer meal box pickup program, the KCS Child Nutrition Department, with help from the Maintenance Department, made sure those boxes were ready for students throughout the summer.
The numbers are worth celebrating, but what they represent matters most: students having meals available even when school is not in session.
Each box contained seven meals for the week ahead. Through the summer meal box pickup program, the KCS Child Nutrition Department, with help from the Maintenance Department, made sure those boxes were ready for students throughout the summer.
The numbers are worth celebrating, but what they represent matters most: students having meals available even when school is not in session.
📅 The KCS school calendar can now live right where most of your other plans already do, on your phone.
After receiving a few requests for this option, we added an iCal version of the 2026–2027 school calendar. An iCal is a digital calendar file that adds school holidays, breaks, and other important dates directly to your smartphone’s calendar.
The link to the digital calendar is in the comments. Tap the link in the comments below and follow the prompts to add the calendar. No manually entering every day off required.
🛜 The link can also be found in the news section on the KCS website.
After receiving a few requests for this option, we added an iCal version of the 2026–2027 school calendar. An iCal is a digital calendar file that adds school holidays, breaks, and other important dates directly to your smartphone’s calendar.
The link to the digital calendar is in the comments. Tap the link in the comments below and follow the prompts to add the calendar. No manually entering every day off required.
🛜 The link can also be found in the news section on the KCS website.
