The Model community suffered a great loss yesterday with the passing of Mr. Rodney Rhodus—beloved teacher, mentor, colleague, and pillar of our school for more than three decades.
For 33 years, Mr. Rhodus poured his heart, wisdom, and passion into Model, teaching generations of students to love literature, to write with meaning, and to think deeply. Alongside his wife, Mrs. Liese Rhodus, who taught here for 32 years, they became known lovingly as “The Rhodi,” shaping the lives of nearly every Model graduate over the past 30 years.
Mr. Rhodus brought creativity, thoughtfulness, and an unmistakable spark to everything he did, whether it was celebrating Gatsby Day with the Junior class, surprising students by donning a kilt, dressing in character while teaching, or guiding young writers to find their voice. His classroom was a place where literature came alive and where students knew they were seen, challenged, and cared for.
He was more than a teacher. He was a mentor, a leader, an author, a writer, a storyteller, a scholar, a colleague, and a friend. His influence reaches far beyond the walls of our school.
To Mrs. Rhodus and the Rhodus family—we send our deepest love and condolences. To the thousands of students who learned under his guidance—may you carry forward not only his spirit of curiosity, but also his great sense of humor, warmth, and wisdom. And to Mr. Rhodus—thank you. We will miss you dearly, and we will never forget you.
🎨 Watercolor & Wellness 💪 Freshman students in Dr. Melanie Smith's Health class combined art, data, and wellness education in an interdisciplinary project exploring the many dimensions of health. As part of their exploration, students created personal wellness wheels, analyzed trends through data, and are now preparing to pitch their own mock wellness policies to address real needs within a school community. This is what hands-on, whole-student learning looks like at Model. 🏫📚🖌️🧑🎓
It's that time of year again! Governor's School For The Arts is looking for current Kentucky high school sophomores and juniors with skill in their artform, passion for creativity, an open mind, collaborative spirit, and an eagerness for learning. Does this sound like you or a student you know? If so, apply for GSA this fall! Please click here to learn more or see Mrs. Jana Mayer in the Counseling Office.
🚗 If you are taking your permit test, please reach out to modelcounseling@eku.edu or see Stephanie Clark in the Counseling Office at least 48 hours in advance for the School Compliance Form.
🦋 𝙈𝙧𝙨. 𝙈𝙖𝙮’𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮! On the first day of their butterfly project, Kindergarteners placed caterpillars and milkweed into their classroom habitat—beginning an up-close journey through the monarch butterfly life cycle. Ms. June Settle, a retiree of EKU’s College of STEM and Center for Environmental Education, visited the class to teach students about monarchs and how to care for them. She’ll guide the Monarchs all the way through to the big release day, which we’ll share with you, too! Model Lab is committed to experiential learning, and this hands-on science experience brings learning to life with one of nature’s most magical transformations. 🌱🦋✨ Watch our Reel recap here!
🥣 Fresh from the oven and straight from the classroom! Just days into the school year, our seventh-grade Practical Living students were already whipping up something sweet! 🧁
As part of the Family & Consumer Science pathway in Model’s CTE program, students got hands-on experience in the kitchen making homemade muffins—and yes, the smell was just as good as the final product!
The lunch menu for the entire month of September is now available! Access it by doing one of the following:
"More" → "Lunch" in the Model Lab app,
"JUMP TO" → "Lunch" at model.eku.edu,
Via the direct link: model.eku.edu/dining
Before the first bell of the 25-26 school year even rang, Model students were already representing on the national level in competition, athletics, and research. 🏅⚽️🔬
🏆 Jacob Austin ('27) represented Model at the AAU Junior Olympic Games 2025 in Houston, TX, with a javelin throw of 122’11”, ranking him in the top 30 of nationwide! This capped off a standout season with Jacob finishing: top five in Kentucky, top 30 in the U.S., and a Junior Olympian.
⚽ Lyndon Mulcahy ('30) was selected as one of just 18 players from a 14-state region to compete in the US Youth Soccer ODP Regional Tournament! After impressing at the Sub-Regional ID Camp in Illinois, Lyndon is headed to Orlando, Florida this January to represent the Midwest Region. 📖 More here.
🧬 Ten Model students are now published authors in the Journal of Cancer Education! After launching a peer-led cancer education initiative last year, these students co-authored a paper that was officially published this summer—an extraordinary achievement in both public health and academic research.
📝 Student authors: Jiwoo Kim ('27), Youngwoo Kim ('26), Jacob Austin ('27), Aleen Bakhos ('27), Haleigh Bowens ('27), Aiden Flynn ('27), Teddy Mott ('27), Erin Simpkinson ('27), Tobias Sowders ('27), River Turner ('27)
📖 Read the article: "Peer-Led Cancer Education Intervention in Appalachian Kentucky: Evaluating Effects on Participants’ Cancer Knowledge and Perspectives"
Let’s give it up for these Model students who continue to raise the bar in every arena! 👏👏
The first week of school brought all the energy we hoped for... and then some!
📚 Students found their groove in classrooms with Ms. Castillo, Mr. Messer, and Ms. Herbst, jumping into new routines, learning, and friendships. 🧑🏫
🥪 Mr. Marsili’s 6th graders learned why clear instructions matter—especially when it comes to AI (and sandwich making)! 😆
🎶 Dr. Darville welcomed a guest harpist all the way from Turkey, and our high school orchestra wowed with an impromptu Baroque Concerto performance.
☀️ Recess brought smiles and sunshine each day. 😁
📸 Kindergarten families… a sweet surprise is coming your way soon! 🤫
🚗 And yes—we’ve even loved seeing our youngest Patriots in the pick-up line! Having them under the same roof this year has made our school community complete. 🫶
Here’s to a great start to another great year! 🥳🎉 (See more photos on our Facebook)
🥯 A day of food and fun! 🍕 Before heading into the long weekend, our school day was filled with celebration! Seniors started the morning with their Class of 2026 Breakfast, marking the beginning of a memorable year ahead. Later that day, the Model Parent Organization treated students across all grades to a schoolwide pizza party! It was the perfect way to head into the long weekend—full bellies, happy hearts, and lots of smiles. Thank you to MPO and the Class of 2026 families for making the day possible!
For any secondary student (grades 7-12) interested in being part of this year's theatre production, please attend a short meeting TOMORROW, Wednesday, September 3, from 3:00-3:30 p.m. in Mr. Felix’s Room #4103 (the music room).
📣 Model Cheer Clinic 📣
Grades K-6 female students are invited to attend the Model Cheer Clinic!
📅 September 30 - October 2 | 🕒 3:00-4:30 p.m. | 📍 Model Gym
Questions? Contact:
Coach Ryan – Ryan.Smith@eku.edu
The first Parent Newsletter of the 2025-2026 school year was sent today to all parent and student contacts. You can read the newsletter via email or at this link.
Make sure to check your email's inbox, and add us to your contacts so important information doesn't go to your spam or junk folders. 📧😁
📚✨ Your story of success started today! From the very first high-fives at the door to the joy of seeing old friends and meeting new teachers, the first day of the 2025-26 school year was one to remember.
🎉 Elementary students kept the tradition alive by sliding into school with big smiles.
🏆 EKU athletes and teams cheered on every student with encouragement and enthusiasm.
❤️ Our faculty, staff, and families welcomed students back with open arms, ready for the year ahead.
Here’s to a year filled with growth, learning, and moments that matter. We can’t wait to see all the chapters our students will write this year at Model Laboratory Schools! 🌟📖
📵 What’s the cell phone policy at Model? Our students explain in this video! ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GQvAWW3S2/
From Meet the Teacher to New Family and 6th Grade Academy orientations and our annual Picnic, we loved seeing our students and families back on campus today! 🏫🖍️🍎🧑🏫
🎒📚✏️ BACK TO SCHOOL 2025-2026 ✏️ 📚🎒 We can't wait to meet our students and their families beginning this week with Meet the Teacher on Thursday, August 21. Don't forget to visit our back-to-school page for a one-stop-shop of essential information!
Please join us in giving a warm Model welcome to the newest members of our staff for the 2025-2026 school year! We’re excited to add this group of talented professionals to the Model Family, each one bringing unique strengths, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to excellence. 🎉🧑🏫🏫🎉
Please join us in giving a warm Model welcome to the newest members of our faculty for the 2025-2026 school year! We’re excited to add this group of educators to the Model Family, each one bringing unique strengths, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to excellence. 🎉🧑🏫🏫🎉
🎉 WE’RE READY FOR YOU! 🎈 The excitement is building as our faculty & staff get ready for the first day of school! Join us this week at Meet the Teacher or the New Family Picnic on Thursday, August 21, before we kick off the new school year on Monday, August 25. Watch the video on our Facebook here!