Bartow County School System

FUTURE IN FOCUS: 🎶Big things ahead for our Cass High Band🎺
They're hitting TWO Bands of America Regionals and TWO local competitive events this year! They're ready to build on their 2024 National Semi Finalist season!

With 58 new members and their largest band EVER, they're proud to present this year’s show: “This is Album of the Future.” 🚀

Let’s make some noise and some memories in 2025!💥
#betterinbartow

NEW FACE FRIDAY: Let's give Ms. Ashley Gutierrez a warm welcome! 👏 She comes to us from Kennesaw State University and is no stranger to Bartow County Schools!

"I was a Bartow County student and am now teaching first grade at Allatoona Elementary! Talk about a full circle moment. I'm so excited to give back to my community and teach at the best county!" ~Ms. Gutierrez

COMMUNITY MATTERS: Shoutout to Mrs. Marcia Guse, our school counselor at Allatoona Elementary, who shared her powerful story at Cobb EMC this week! A trilingual leader and mentor, she’s helping students overcome real-life challenges with empathy and strength.

Thanks to Cobb EMC’s 20 years of support, from field trips and literacy programs to student lunches and teacher awards, this partnership is changing lives. Together, they’re building brighter futures one student at a time! #betterinbartow #MentorsInAction

'SUPERIOR' SPOTLIGHT: This season, the Woodland High School Marching Band is proud to showcase something truly UNIQUE, an original production composed entirely by three of its own seniors: Hylan Davis, Izaak Higginbotham, and Makai Messier! These talented students began crafting the music for this show two years ago, and now their bandmates are bringing that vision to life on the field with a performance called HELIOS! The show tells the story of the sun’s immense energy, from its life-giving warmth to its awe-inspiring wrath! #betterinbartow #finearts

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: BARTOW COUNTY SCHOOL NUTITION

Huge thanks to our Seamless Summer Meal Program team for serving nearly a quarter of a million meals to students in need this summer! That’s an incredible accomplishment. Their collaboration, coordination, and distribution of meals made a meaningful impact across our community!

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: PINE LOG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Pine Log Elementary continues to lead the way in elementary STEM education! Congratulations to the entire school community for earning State STEM Certification, a MAJOR accomplishment that reflects hard work, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. This rigorous process is already paying off in big ways, and we couldn’t be prouder!

DON'T DELAY, SIGN UP TODAY: The 9th Annual Downtown Cartersville 5K & Fun Run is happening this Saturday, and we’d love for you to be part of it! This popular event supports our Backpack Buddies program, which provides meals to over 1,000 food-insecure students each week in both county and city schools throughout the school year.

Your participation makes a real difference, so lace up, sign up, and help us feed hope one step at a time!

https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Cartersville/TheDowntownCartersville5K

MILESTONE MOMENTS: There’s no doubt about it; Bartow County students are making impressive academic gains! The latest Georgia Milestones Assessment results show strong performance across multiple grade levels and subjects, especially MATH!

✏️ 3rd Grade Math – Above the state average
✏️ 4th Grade Math – Matched the state average
✏️ 5th Grade Math – 5% above the state average
✏️ 6th Grade Math – Increased for the third consecutive year
✏️ 7th Grade Math – 5% above the state average
✏️ 8th Grade Math – 13% above the state average
✏️ Grades 3–8 Overall Math – District average exceeded the state average
✏️ End-of-Grade ELA (Grades 3–8) – Scores aligned with the state average
✏️ Middle School Science & Social Studies – Steady improvement for three consecutive years
✏️ High School Algebra Concepts & Connections – Score matches state average and ranks highest in Cartersville-Bartow County

NEW FACE FRIDAY: We’re excited to welcome Mrs. Emily Kobito to Bartow County Schools! She joins us from a neighboring district and is now teaching fourth grade at Allatoona Elementary School. If her last name sounds familiar, it’s because her husband, Mr. Michael Kobito, was named Georgia Teacher of the Year and now serves as our district’s Talent Acquisition, Induction, and Retention Specialist. We’re thrilled to have both Kobitos contributing to our Bartow family!

"I am so excited to be joining Bartow County this year! Everyone has already been so welcoming, and the support from the community is evident. It's clear that Bartow cares about its students and teachers, and I'm thrilled to be joining such a tight-knit community that values education!" ~Mrs. Kobito

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF: Pine Log Elementary!

STEM journaling on the second week of school? Yes, please! Plus, add story time with our amazing School Resource Officer, Daniel Anno, and learning with pollinators and chickens! #betterinbartow

NEW SAFETY REPORTING TOOL: The Bartow County School System is now using the See Something, Send Something mobile app to strengthen school safety. This secure app allows students, staff, and community members to anonymously report concerns about school safety or student well-being directly from their mobile device.

All tips are received and processed 24/7 by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Watchdesk, ensuring timely attention and response.

Download the free See Send app today from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Your voice can help keep our schools safe.

SERVING UP SUCCESS: If there’s an award to be won, the Bartow County School Nutrition team is leading the way!

We’re proud to announce that our team has received the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award from Action for Healthy Kids and the USDA.

This national honor celebrates our innovative efforts to improve the quality and nutrition of school meals. It’s a reflection of the dedication and creativity our staff brings to the table every single day!

TOP TEN: Congratulations to Adairsville High School’s Riley Pope (11th grade) and Morgan Perry (10th grade) for earning a spot among the Top 10 in the Nation with their Agriscience project focused on livestock diets and food labeling!

This October, they will represent AHS and Georgia FFA on the national stage in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and achievement! #tigersontop #betterinbartow

FUN FACT: Guess what school in the entire county has the highest number of 4-H participants? Woodland Middle 👏👏
CONGRATULATIONS! #betterinbartow

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Adairsville Elementary, Allatoona Elementary, and Pine Log Elementary are the first in the district to launch their own Broadcasting/Production Rooms, giving students hands-on experience in media, AV tech, podcasting, and more!

📚 These innovative spaces connect directly to CTAE pathways and STEM-integrated curriculum, aligning with Governor Kemp’s High Demand Career List.

🎙️ With training led by Cooper Fiscus-van Rossum from the Georgia Film Academy, school leaders are preparing students for future careers in writing, graphic design, IT, and media broadcasting.

👀 Want to see future leaders and problem solvers in action? Visit one of these schools and check out their student-led media productions!! #betterinbartow

ROLL CALL 2025: These Hamilton Crossing Knights are READY for the BEST YEAR EVER! Can't you tell?! Between photo ops with Superintendent Terza, fist bumps, and mascot encounters, we'd say this was one AMAZING day! Sure, there were some tears, but they never last long with a staff like this! #backtoschool2025 #betterinbartow

"BEE" THE CHANGE: You might notice a BEE popping up around our schools and community soon, and it has everything to do with our Bartow Cares 4 U campaign! You’ll learn more about it soon but know this: the initiative is gaining even more momentum following another powerful community collaboration meeting today. As discussed, we have a meaningful opportunity to shape our community culture through the values of kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and hope. Will you join us? Together, we’re building a culture that supports our students’ well-being and academic success!

NEW YEAR, NEW FACES: From the softball field at the University of Georgia to the classroom at Hamilton Crossing Elementary, we’re excited to welcome Miss Sydney Chambley to the Knight family!

"I am thrilled to be a part of the Bartow County community because of its goal of excellence and care for the individual needs of students, faculty, and staff. It is an honor to be a part of such an amazing school district."
#NewTeacherSpotlight #betterinbartow

WE'RE READY: Our K-8 educators continue diving into the new school year with purpose and energy! Check out this full day of professional learning centered on our new reading curriculum, Arts and Letters. Rooted in the Science of Reading, this rigorous program is designed to build deep background knowledge by weaving science, social studies, and the arts into daily literacy instruction. We’re excited to bring this integrated approach into classrooms and strengthen the foundation for every learner!

BIGGER THAN BALL: What a turnout for Cass High School student-athlete Brodie McWhorter’s School Supply Drive! Long lines of families from across the community gathered to receive free school supplies, thanks to Brodie’s new initiative! His commitment to helping others off the field is a powerful reminder that true leadership starts with service!
Kudos to Brodie and all the standout student-athletes across the county who stepped up to support their community! Your teamwork off the field is just as inspiring as your performance on it!