Bartow County School System

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Marc & Kelly Barrere… “My husband, Marc Barrere, and I both graduated from Cass High School. Marc has been the Resource Officer at Cass High for five wonderful years! While we were at Cass High, we both ran track and cross country at the same time. The Cass High newspaper, the ‘Trumpet’ even did a feature story on us at the same time. Fast forwarding to now, we have been married for almost 28 years, and we have three children. Two of them have graduated from Cass High, and we currently have a daughter that is a sophomore at Cass High. We definitely ‘Love Blue and Live Gold.’ #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Brock & Mallorie Arp… “My husband and I met in an art class at Adairsville Middle School in seventh grade. We have been together ever since. We are going on 16 years together since that seventh-grade art class. We have been married for almost 8 years and we welcomed our first son this past November. What's even better is that we are both teachers now; I work at Adairsville Middle School and he works at Adairsville High School. We both always wanted to work at our hometown schools. It's funny how an art class in seventh grade changed our whole lives!” #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Ted & Whitney Bailey... “My hubby, Ted Bailey, and I were high school sweethearts at Cass High School! I was in 10th grade, and he was a senior when he asked me to the Homecoming Dance in 1997. The rest was history! Now, it’s so awesome to have our kids go to Cass and to work at Cass High as the LSS and serve the community that so generously poured into me!" #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Eric & Amanda Elrod (Current Adairsville Middle School Principal & White Elementary School Principal… “We started dating our junior year at AHS in 1996! Eric asked me out in weight training class, and we married in 2002!” #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Blake & Amanda Wade… “My husband, Blake Wade, and I met at Cass Middle school in 7th grade. We’ve now been together for 26 years! I also teach at an elementary school in the county and our 3 boys all have gone, or are currently going to, Bartow County schools, as well!” ❤️ #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Clay & Ansley Burt… “Clay and I went to school together from kindergarten at Mission Road Elementary to senior year at Woodland High. We were actually Mr. and Miss MRES our 5th grade year and Prom King and Queen our senior year. Our love story began in middle school, and we have been together ever since, truly growing up together. We have now been married for almost four years and have two little girls that we absolutely adore. This stage of life has been our favorite, but we are so thankful for all of our memories in the Bartow County School System! ❤️ #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK THIS OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Nick & Christie Barnett (Voted Cass High School Cutest Couple in 2005) … “I married my 7th grade Cass Middle School sweetheart, Nick Barnett. We have been married 18 years and have four beautiful children. And we still love blue and live gold!! So glad I checked 'yes' on that locker note over 25 years ago!” #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

CHECK IT OUT: 💖We’re celebrating #BCSSLoveStories on Valentine’s Day! 💖 This is the love story of Kyle & Cassidy Adams… “We met in 1st grade when we were in Mrs. Jackson’s class together at Adairsville Elementary School. We started dating in 6th grade when we had gym class together at Adairsville Middle School. We dated until high school, where we broke up but got back together in our sophomore year and stayed together until we graduated from Adairsville High School in 2013. We reconnected after one year in college and have been together ever since! We are happily married with two sons and one on the way.” #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows #HeartfeltHistories

HOW COOL IS THIS: Understanding the importance of mental health, Allatoona Elementary School Counselor Marcia Guse hosts a monthly UNWIND session for staff members! “The first Monday of each month, we gather for an UNWIND session,” said Guse. “It’s a chance to relax with breathing exercises, engage the right side of our brains in a positive way, and take a moment for ourselves. While participation isn’t mandatory, we strongly encourage everyone to join—it’s a wonderful opportunity for some well-deserved 'me time'!” Great job, Ms. Guse! Thank you for your innovative approach!

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE FUN: Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and we want to know... Did you meet your forever love in Bartow County Schools? Whether you were high school sweethearts or reconnected later in life, we want to hear your #BCSSLoveStory! Share your story below or email it with a PICTURE, and we may feature it on our social media channels this FRIDAY! Thank you! Let's have fun with this! #HeartfeltHistories #BCSSBuildsBeautifulStories #WhereLoveGrows Email: alisha.evans@bartow.k12.ga.us

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: While Superintendent Terza was at the College & Career Academy for a meeting, he couldn't resist stopping by to say hello to the preschool class! They were absolutely thrilled to see him—and, of course, to discuss why chocolate milk is the best. Just one more reason (#98,347) why we have the best superintendent around! Students and their learning are at the heart of everything he does.

BIG BCSS ANNOUNCEMENT: Four Bartow County LEGO Robotics teams returned with trophies from the Chattanooga Regional Championship—and TWO are advancing to the international stage! Emerson Elementary’s Encoders earned 1st Place Champions, securing a spot in the Western Edge Open Competition in Long Beach, California, from May 30 to June 1. They’ll compete alongside 90 teams from 24 countries! Mission Road Elementary’s Robocats took 2nd Place Champion, advancing to the Florida Sunshine Invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida, from June 24-28, at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus. They’ll face off against 96 teams from 24 countries! Clear Creek Elementary’s Team Blaze earned 1st Place for Robot Game performance with an impressive top score of 340 points! White Elementary’s Great Warrior Sharks claimed 2nd Place for Robot Design! Additionally, Hamilton Crossing Elementary’s RoboKnights and Euharlee Elementary’s Mecha Cats earned strong scores, showing their incredible talent! Mark your calendars to see all 13 Bartow County LEGO Robotics teams in action at the Bartow Robotics Showcase at Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville on March 8.

IT HAS ARRIVED: Our donated Porsche from Sam's Garage rolled into the Bartow County College and Career Academy today and our students COULD NOT BE HAPPIER! Thank you! We'll continue to document the work on this vehicle and share with you all! Who knows, maybe it could end up in the Savoy one day 😉

FUTURE FOCUSED: Our very own Superintendent, Clint Terza, has been named to the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce's incoming 2025 Board of Directors! A well-educated population contributes to a strong, competitive local economy. Superintendent Terza will do a great job highlighting the importance of investing in education as a driver of economic growth! The Board announcement was made today at the Chamber's annual meeting and quarterly luncheon. We love working with our Chamber!

MUSICAL MILESTONE: The Cass Middle School Honor Band makes history with its first-ever performance at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Conference! Selected as one of the top middle school bands in the state, they showcased their dedication, musicianship, and passion for excellence on a prestigious stage. This milestone performance not only highlights the students' hard work but also cements Cass Middle School’s reputation as a premier band program in Georgia. The honor of performing at GMEA reflects the program’s growth, commitment, and the unwavering support of its students, director, and community.

COUNSELOR CELEBRATION: As National School Counseling Week comes to a close, we want to express our sincere gratitude to our 34 school counselors and to Brent Shropshire at Central Office for his leadership. Today, they enjoyed a special luncheon with keynote speaker Ms. Veronica Owens from Georgia Agricultural Education, where we honored their invaluable role as mentors, listeners, and champions of every student’s potential. Their unwavering dedication is key to our students' success, and we couldn’t be more thankful for all they do. Cass High School Counselor Andrew Griffin said it well, "Through our support, we create a safe space where students can grow, reflect, and build resilience. When a student feels uncertain about their path or struggles with balancing school and personal challenges, counselors are there, providing not just solutions, but hope. We help students see that their dreams are possible and encourage them to embrace their uniqueness, strengths, and talents." THANK YOU: Wendi Rood Tara O’Dell Marcia Guse Holly Bishop Niki Patterson Danielle Monroe Crystal Heim Stephanie Hadaway Claudia Adams Megan Trevino Francie Livingston Kaye Matthews Amy Morgan Laura Over Edson Pierre Tracy Moore LaToia Carter (Social Worker) Jonathan Campbell Heather Pezzello Melissa Hulsey (Social Worker) Dina Donato Hannah Dodd Kellen Martinak Bren Lewis Dr. Jessica Holt Twilya Toombs Michelle Jenkins (Social Worker) Alison Whitehead Andrew Griffin Torriann Willis Tarah Akins Monal Nabulsi Ashley Saddler (Homeless Liaison)

CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND: Join us in cheering on our six Bartow County Robotics teams as they compete tomorrow at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for the FIRST Lego League Region Championship! Best of luck to CCES Team Blaze, Emerson Encoders, Euharlee Mecha Cats, Hamilton Crossing Robo-Knights, MRES Robocats, and White Great Warrior Sharks. The event is free and open to the public — come out and support these amazing teams!

PORSCHE DONATION: We are excited to share that the Bartow County College and Career Academy has received an extraordinary donation of a Porsche from Mike’s Garage! The car will arrive at the Academy on February 11, 2025, at 9:11 a.m. This remarkable gift offers our students a unique, hands-on opportunity to collaborate and restore the vehicle. As part of our Automotive/Technical program, students will hone their skills in car maintenance, repair, and problem-solving, all while working as a cohesive team. A heartfelt thank you to Mike from Porsche, Bruce at Savoy, Joshua Johnson from Lake Point, Sam at Sam’s Garage, Dr. Lance Berry from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Board of Commissioners, CTAE Director Lisa Diprima, Automotive Instructor Aaron Almaguer, Jennifer Stratton, and Tamika Brundidge from Chattahoochee Technical College for their unwavering support of our students' growth and learning! The Chattahoochee Technical College dual enrollment film class, led by Instructor Mike Beavers, will document and share videos of this exciting project, and Mr. Jonathan Wallin’s engineering class will be fabricating parts for the restoration. Thank you to everyone for making this incredible opportunity possible!

STAR STATUS: The Cartersville Rotary Club celebrates the Cartersville-Bartow County STAR students and teachers! Adairsville High School's Levi Heim, Cass High School's Cindy Muniz, and Woodland High School's Talal Tariq achieved the highest SAT scores at their respective schools, earning them the title of STAR students from the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Additionally, being in the top 10% of their class, these students selected the educators who have had the most significant impact on their academic journeys. Heim chose AHS Engineering Teacher Ryan Torrence as his STAR teacher, Muniz selected CHS AP U.S. History Teacher Julian Woodward, and Tariq nominated WHS Physics Teacher Jacquelyn Brennan. The Rotary Club of Cartersville also honored Heim as the DISTRICT WINNER for achieving the highest SAT score in the county! Heim and his STAR teacher will now compete for regionwide honors next month.

STAR STATUS: Introducing Adairsville High School's 2024-2025 STAR Student, Levi Heim, and STAR Teacher, Mr. Ryan Torrence! Levi Heim has been honored as a STAR Student by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) for achieving the highest SAT score in his graduating class. He has chosen Mr. Torrence, his Engineering teacher, as his STAR Teacher, recognizing him as the educator who has had the most significant impact on his academic journey. Congratulations to both! They will be celebrated at a special luncheon tomorrow at the Cartersville Country Club, where the winners of the District STAR Student & STAR Teacher Award will be announced.