Bartow County School System

SHINING BRIGHT IN BARTOW: When you work in a school system and community like this, you have a lot to celebrate! The Academic Support Superstar Award recognizes our instructional coaches who have contributed to the Bartow County School System in the areas of Literacy, Disciplinary Literacy, and Mathematics. This month, we recognize Kristen Stevens (EHES), Lynn Sherman (RTMS), and Sarah Turner (CHS). Kristen is an outstanding instructional math coach who consistently supports teachers with dedication and a passion for improving math instruction. She is always eager to lend a hand and explore new strategies to enhance her work and the success of her team. Lynn is fully committed to supporting teachers in building effective literacy instruction. She continuously searches for new and innovative studies grounded in Science of Reading practices. Additionally, she is helping to lead the district in understanding and implementing the new GaDOE standards for the upcoming school year. Sarah brings a unique perspective to supporting literacy within the district. Her background in social studies greatly aids in building systemic reading and writing practices across all content areas. In addition, her passion for understanding and helping students and teachers is contagious within Cass High and admired by her fellow instructional coaches! CONGRATULATIONS!

With an average score of 1044, Bartow County School System students have achieved their highest overall SAT score since 2021. This score surpasses the state average by 14 points and the national average by 49 points. Adairsville High School students earned the highest SAT scores in Bartow County, followed by Cass High School, and Woodland High School. The overall scores are as follows: · AHS – 1061 · CHS – 1041 · WHS – 1032 AHS and CHS students have both set new records in reading and writing scores, with AHS scoring 552 and CHS scoring 541. Additionally, WHS students achieved a notable score of 539. In the math category, AHS students improved their scores by 14 points compared to last year, while CHS students saw an 11-point increase from 2023. “These strong scores can enhance college applications and help our students qualify for merit-based scholarships,” said Bartow County School System Superintendent Clint Terza. “The results show that our students are well-prepared for the academic challenges that lie ahead. I am very proud of the hard work shown by our students and teachers alike."

NEW: The Bartow County School System maintains a historically high four-year graduation rate of 95.1%! “Once again, that exceeds the state four-year graduation rate by about 10%,” said Bartow County School System Superintendent Clint Terza. “Just to put this information into perspective, about six years ago, our system graduation rate peaked at 87.1%. While that was still higher than the state rate at the time, we were not satisfied. Last year, specifically, we were intentional with our focus to raise the bar through our focus team initiative and collaborative teams of distinction. I am so proud of our schools’ work. Never complacent, our school leaders and educators know that graduation rates serve as a key performance indicator and reflects their effectiveness in educating and supporting students through graduation.” Adairsville High School leads the county with the highest graduation rate – 97.6% – and highest graduation rate for students with disabilities – 93.8%. “We are incredibly proud of our teachers’ hard work and dedication, which have been instrumental in our success and in fostering a strong commitment to graduation,” said Adairsville High School Principal Tony Stanfill. “Through the collaborative efforts and focus on learning by our teachers, we were able to accomplish our rate. We are also very proud of the fact that because of the hard work, we were able to meet our School Improvement Plan (SIP) goal for last year, which was to increase the graduation rate in many of our subgroups. Every subgroup met the improvement target!” Cass High School recorded another record-high graduation rate – 93.6%. That is up 1.1 percentage points from last year. “We are incredibly excited to set another school record for the fourth consecutive year,” said Cass High School Principal Steve Revard. “I am proud of our 2024 graduates for their commitment to success in the classroom and beyond. Our staff remains dedicated to equipping students with essential skills to become productive members of their community. We expect to see additional growth through our focus on advanced learning opportunities, interdisciplinary literacy, and accountability.” Woodland High School documented an impressive 94.6% graduation rate and equally notable graduation rate for students with disabilities – 91.7%. That is up nearly two percentage points from last year! “This achievement reflects our commitment to fostering academic excellence through regular monitoring of student learning and a strong emphasis on Tier I instruction,” said Woodland High School Principal Melinda Wilder. “Over the past five years, we have seen our graduation rate for students with disabilities rise by more than 28%, reaching an all-time high of 91.7% for the Class of 2024. Additionally, we saw gains in most student subgroups, showcasing our dedication to inclusivity and support for all learners. We identified areas for improvement and implemented targeted interventions for at-risk students and ensured high-quality, differentiated instruction for all learners. Our collaborative efforts among educators, counselors, and families have further enhanced student support, ensuring every student has the resources they need to succeed.”

BRIGHT IN BARTOW: Adairsville High School Junior Vivian Reyes earned herself a seat at the state superintendent’s table! She was chosen, along with 73 other Georgia students, to serve on State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council. “I applied with a clear mission,” said Reyes. “I want to address the often-overlooked challenges students silently endure, such as mindset and mentality struggles. More importantly, I aim to amplify underrepresented voices, a crucial aspect of the Council's mission, and advocate for actionable solutions.” As part of the application process, more than 1,500 students across the state wrote essays addressing a wide variety of topics in education. Council members were then selected based on the strength of their essay answers. Throughout this academic year, Reyes and the Student Advisory Council will meet with Superintendent Woods to provide feedback on state policies, serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit the community. “Advocacy has always been important to me,” said Reyes. “It began with my role in HoPe (Hispanic Organization Promoting Education), where I have proudly served as president of an award-winning chapter for nearly three years. This position has allowed me to connect with students and families on a cultural level as we navigated the education system together. I gained significant experience in understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by Hispanic and Latino students and their families, particularly those related to language barriers.” Reyes, who ranks among the top five percent of her class, is also an AHS Magnet student, a member of Student Government and Women in STEM Excel, and an integral part of educational non-profit organizations such as Intercultural Fest and Los Niños. Reyes’ is also a scholarship award winner. Recently, she was granted a full scholarship to attend the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) NextGen program in Washington, D.C. She was one of only two students in Georgia selected to represent first-generation Hispanics. Additionally, during her time at CHCI, Reyes had the opportunity to meet and learn from Senator Raphael Warnock’s staff, gaining valuable insights into our nation’s political landscape. “I am dedicated to pushing for the changes we need in education and eager to collaborate with other students who share this passion,” added Reyes. “By learning from each other's experiences, we can create a powerful collective impact. The future truly rests in the hands of the youth, and I am excited to work with others to shape it. As my mentors and parents have always told me, ‘We have to be the ones to create a pathway for future generations, porque si no lo hacemos, ¿quién lo va a hacer?'

MARCHING TIGER WIN: Congratulations to our Adairsville High School Marching Tiger Band on its performance at the Armuchee Invitational Band Competition! 🎼Superior Drum Major 🎼Superior Percussion 🎼Superior Band 🎼Class 2-A Winner 🎼Division Champion

FREE MUSEUM EVENT: Join your friends at the Booth Western Art Museum Thursday for free snacks, hands-on glow art activities, animal encounters with Georgia Reptile Society (GRS), and an immersive experience under the Western sky with a portable Star Lab Planetarium! View constellations guiding pioneers on the Oregon Trail, create glow dust 3-D stars and a Western glow landscape, sew a constellation with glow yarn, make glow bead bracelets, and explore the West with a scavenger hunt. Additional details below!

After an extensive assessment of conditions and facilities with local emergency management officials this morning, all after-school activities scheduled for today, September 27, 2024, and extracurricular activities scheduled for tomorrow, September 28, 2024, will proceed as planned. High schools will communicate additional information as needed.

The Bartow County School System will be closed to all students and staff Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27, 2024, due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Helene and the potential for hazardous conditions in our area. Extracurricular activities scheduled for Thursday, September 26, are canceled. We will continue to work closely with emergency management officials this week to determine if Friday and Saturday evening school events need to be rescheduled. Please expect a district update by Friday afternoon. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our school community and act with utmost caution.

WEATHER NOTICE: We are carefully monitoring weather conditions ahead of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene and will keep you updated as decisions are made. Official announcements will be made through automated calls, emails, our district website, and social media channels. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our school community.

ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH: Attendance is more than just being present in class; it’s about building a brighter future for our children. Chronic absenteeism can have long-lasting effects on a student’s academic and social development. Let’s work together to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed 🚌

REMINDER: This important College Fair starts at 6 p.m. tonight at the Bartow County College and Career Academy! Details below!

EMPY BOWLS: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! The most successful Empty Bowls fundraiser to date! YOU helped raise more than $12,000 for food insecure children in Cartersville-Bartow County! That is AMAZING! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for partaking in the 13th Annual Empty Bowls event at the Bartow County College and Career Academy!

REMINDER: Graduation dates! Let the countdown officially begin for the Class of 2025! Cass High School May 19, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Make-up date May 21, 2025 Woodland High School May 20, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Make-up date May 21, 2025 Adairsville High School May 22, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Make-up date May 23, 2025

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: We had to capture this sweet moment between our Deputy Superintendent, Christian Suttle, and our White Elementary School student! Our system leaders love being in our schools, and it shows!

STEM SHOWCASE: Adairsville High School Magnet students WOW us once again! Today, their knowledge and talents were on display for the community as they expanded on the Empty Bowls initiative and explored how they could educate, develop, and implement more sustainable systems to reduce food insecurity in Bartow County! GOOD JOB, AP Calculus, Engineering & Robotics, AP Government, Advanced Composition, Computer Science, AP Art, Spanish, and more! If you haven't toured this Magnet Program, you NEED to! Impressive work!

ALMOST TIME: Empty Bowls is right around the corner! Join us this Sunday for an all-you-can-eat meal from a dozen of your favorite local restaurants! Choose a unique bowl, fill your belly, and enjoy live entertainment, all the while knowing your money is going towards the Backpack Buddies initiative to help food insecure children in your community! Scan the QR code below to purchase your $25 ticket and thank the Laney Family because they have been integral in making this event happen year after year! *Tickets available at the door, too!

CENTRAL OFFICE CELEBRATIONS: When you work in a school system and community like this, you have a lot to celebrate! This month, we celebrate and honor Kerrie Roberson, our Administrative Assistant to Federal and State Programs. Kerrie used to be our amazing receptionist at Central Office and just made the transition into Federal and State Programs. She has excelled through it all. Kerrie works hard for the school system and stays late if it means getting the job done. Kerrie has the best personality; she's kind, personable, and just someone you want to be around. She makes us all better! Congratulations, Kerrie!

COLLEGE FAIR: Sophomores, juniors, seniors...SPIN Night at the College and Career Academy is for YOU! College representatives will be there next Tuesday, and you'll be able to learn about college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships! One-stop-shop event! Additional details below!

A TEAM AWARD: Superintendent Terza and system leaders present the Bartow County College and Career Academy and its work-based learning coordinator collaboration team, which consists of Deanna Boughton (CHS), Dr. Alicia Brown (AHS), and Lori Kilgo (WHS) with the most prestigious award given by the District, the A-Team Award! Deanna Boughton (CHS), Dr. Alicia Brown (AHS), and Lori Kilgo (WHS) exemplify the three big ideas of our Professional Learning Communities culture as they continually demonstrate a focus on learning, collaboration, and results. Through observations and conversations with each team member, it is evident this team uses the PLC process to work together with collective responsibility for student learning. They ensure a guaranteed and viable curriculum for all their students, use common formative assessments to monitor student learning, use common assessment data to improve teaching and learning practices, and support the RTI process by providing systematic interventions and extensions for all students. Deanna Boughton (CHS), Dr. Alicia Brown (AHS), and Lori Kilgo (WHS) will now present at an upcoming school board meeting, New Teacher Institute, and serve as role models for future A-Teams throughout our school system.

ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH: Attend today...achieve tomorrow! Showing up matters! Here are some tips our parents may find useful as they tackle this new academic year!🌟 Set a Routine: Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine Communicate: Talk to your child about the importance of attending school Stay Informed: Keep track of your child’s attendance and reach out to teachers if you notice any issues Create a Supportive Environment: Encourage a positive attitude towards school and learning #AttendanceMatters #EveryDayCounts #SchoolSuccess