Today, “I am Hamilton” spotlights Cathy Jennings, the coordinator of school health for Hamilton County Schools. The Jennings nomination lauded her work, helping schools get walking tracks as well as her work to secure pajamas for children to wear to school on PJ Polar Express Day. On this special day, children wear their pajamas to school to celebrate the winter holidays. She helped Wallace A. Smith and North Hamilton Elementary get a walking track earlier this year, and one is in the works for East Side Elementary.
“I am Hamilton” spotlights the contributions of alumni, teachers, parents, students, support workers, and community members in providing opportunities for children in the classrooms of Hamilton County Schools. Better opportunities for children today mean a brighter future filled with possibilities for our graduates, their families, and the community.
A grant from Erlanger and Kohl’s funded the walking track completed earlier this year at Wallace A. Smith. The track was part of the “Let’s Get Moving” campaign. The track at Wallace A. Smith track opened in September. The track for North Hamilton Elementary held a groundbreaking ceremony in November. The walking tracks encourage family activity in the community and teach children to live a healthy lifestyle.
Polar Express 2019 “PJ’s for Kids” is going on now, and Jennings is seeking sponsors to purchase pajamas for disadvantaged children in Pre-K to fifth-grade. Jennings can provide information for specific sizes needed. The deadline to provide pajamas for this year is Wednesday, December 11, 2019. If you would like to donate, contact Jennings at
[email protected] or call her office at 423-498-7225. Interested individuals or organizations can sponsor a child or a classroom.
To nominate someone for “I Am Hamilton,” send an email to
[email protected] with the name of the person you would like to nominate, the school the individual is connected to in Hamilton County Schools, the person’s title, and what makes the individual a valued contributor to Hamilton County Schools. You can nominate a graduate, teacher, parent, student, support worker, community member, or anyone playing a role in a school in the district. Also, include your name, school or location, and title.
Photo: Students from East Side Elementary present an I Am Hamilton shirt to Cathy Jennings, coordinator of school health for Hamilton County Schools. Students left to right: Meghan, Robert, Jany and Victor.
The I Am Hamilton series won a 2019 NSPRA Golden Achievement Award for school district communications from the National School Public Relations Association.