WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION: Special thanks to Bartow County School System Police Chief Randall Burch for his 40 years of service in law enforcement and 17 years with the BCSS. We have experienced incredible safety advancements because of his commitment to Bartow County students and staff! Happy Retirement, Chief Burch!
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: Thank you to our local law enforcement agencies for their unwavering support and partnership over the years!
Bartow County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Millsap
Adairsville Police Department - Chief Jones
Emerson Police Department - Chief Teems
Euharlee Police Department - Chief Matthews
Kingston Police Department - Chief Sosebee
White Police Department - Chief Davidson
NEW: A Spanish translator will be assisting at Central Registration from 11-2, Monday through Friday (7/18 - 7/21) of this week.
Un traductor de español asistira en el registro central de 11 a 2, de lunes a viernes (7/18-7/21) de esta semana.
The Bartow County School System, along with the Bartow County business and faith community, unite for an unprecedented, first of its kind, 10-month mental health campaign called Everybody has a Story and Somebody Cares…in Bartow County.
“In the last few years, we’ve endured a pandemic, lockdowns, financial stress, and many other challenges,” said Dr. David Ferguson, executive director of Relational Values Alliance. “These have taken a toll on the already challenged relational health and emotional wellness of our communities.”
“The statistics in America are astounding,” added David Franklin, executive director of the Bartow Baptist Association. “Stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness are the highest in our lifetime. Presently, 73 percent of teenagers say they are lonely. The latest poll revealed 87 percent of all Americans surveyed are stressed and anxious concerning inflation, the economy, world events, and more.”
Bartow County school counselors also report a greater number of students experiencing stress, anxiety, and loneliness in the wake of the pandemic. That prompted the formation of a 25-member Student Mental Health subcommittee, which includes principals, parents, counselors, and community leaders.
“Whether at school, work, church, or at home, EVERYBODY has a STORY of how they’ve been impacted by these stresses,” said Dr. Ferguson. “The good news is that when SOMEBODY communicates that they CARE, we are a little less alone. And it’s these caring connections that improve our outlook on life and overall mental and emotional health.”
We are committing to the emotional wellness of our community by focusing on specific and intentional relational words each month, such as respect, support, approval, and appreciation.
Starting in August, with the word respect, you may see celebrity public service announcements, videos or activities at work and school, or even sermons from your pastor or youth pastor that focus on relational values.
The entire community felt compelled to unite and help build a better Bartow.
“Not every organization or community slows down from the daily challenges and stress long enough to improve the human-to-human caring connections which can produce dramatic improvements in a wide range of symptoms like anxiety, addictions and depression, family conflicts, employee turnover at work, and even school performance,” added Dr. Ferguson. “We continue to affirm your county leaders for their vision in this initiative and for their unusual, unified commitment to the relational and emotional wellness of your community.”
Relational Values Alliance is an integral part of this campaign. Dr. Ferguson and his team have poured significant money, time, and resources into the community, even though they live more than 1,000 miles away.
RVA is in the process of developing a website, bartowcares.com, and generating monthly promotional posters, social media assets, and free downloadable digital materials that will support a focus on ten, key relational values in the community.
“Rarely do we see a community like Bartow County,” said Dr. Ferguson. “It’s because of Bartow’s unity of vision and unity among the leadership that we wanted to invest here. Your leaders want to move beyond their own silos and serve a broader community vision. That’s unique.”
The vision includes not just talking about relational values, but helping people practice them.
“We hope students will see that in addition to their parents, there are trusted adults in their schools and community who they can turn to for support,” added Dr. Brent Shropshire, director of counselors, college readiness, wellness, and fine arts in Bartow County Schools. “As we’re coming out of the pandemic, we want to increase mental health awareness and understanding, and we want students to know we’re all in this together.”
To follow the development of the campaign and contribute to its successes, please search and use the hashtag #BartowCares4U on social media.
BCSS REMINDER: 2022-23 OPEN HOUSE
Elementary & Middle
August 1, 2022
10:30-11:30AM, 1:30-2:30PM, and 5:00-6:00PM
High School
August 1, 2022
Grades 10-12 3:30-4:30PM
Freshman 6-7PM
BCCCA
August 2, 2022
4:30-6:00PM
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HIGH FUNCTIONING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY: Check out your favorite Bartow County teachers and administrators as they examine their school's multi-tiered system of support during a summer conference led by experts in the RTI process!
The goal is to create a systematic process that ensures every child receives the additional time and support needed to learn at high levels!
NEW: Calling all juniors and seniors; this year's SPIN night will be held at the Tellus! Details below!
REMINDER: Summer registration opens tomorrow! Details below!
GOOD NEWS: The Bartow County School System has been approved to use federal relief funds to purchase essential school supplies for all students in grades pre-K through 12.
This one-time allotment of funds will cover most of the supplies needed in students’ classrooms this academic year.
Updated elementary and middle school supply lists will be published on your school’s website by July 15, 2022.
Items that will be provided by the school system include but are not limited to paper towels, Lysol wipes, loose-leaf paper, crayons, pencils, notebooks, and binders.
Graphing calculators, pencil boxes, headphones, backpacks, and lunch boxes are examples of items that the school system will not be able to purchase.
Again, check your school's website for an updated supply list as the academic year approaches, and please note, this is a one-time disbursement of supplies.
This is an exciting opportunity for our school system, and we hope it helps provide some financial relief for our families.
If you listen closely, you can hear a whisper in Adairsville Middle School. It is not a murmur, mutter, or mumble, though, it is a movement that is raising student leaders, fighting back against loneliness and isolation, and changing the lives of students one conversation at a time.
“The community needs to understand that we are living in an epidemic of loneliness,” said Whisper Founder Bryan Davidson. “Seventy-three percent of Generation Z say they feel alone, and students are showing more signs of anxiety and depression than before COVID-19.”
In an effort to reverse nationwide trends, Whisper, a local, nonprofit organization, landed at AMS during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Whisper is a grassroots movement that empowers students to change the culture of their school through the power of simple conversations.
“We are all created as relational beings,” added Davidson. “We’re made for each other. But when we’re alone, isolated, and lonely, we fail to thrive. We become islands. Conversation is a bridge that brings us together.”
Every Whisper movement begins with fire starters – the few who take ownership of the movement and spread it to others.
Meet David Coon, a recent eighth-grade graduate and fire starter.
“Whisper helps kids break out of what I call a ‘shell’ that they lock themselves into,” said Coon. "They won't talk to anyone or tell anyone what is going on, but Whisper has stopped that.”
Whisper identifies and equips leaders like David with the tools needed to facilitate meaningful interactions with friends and peers and host weekly gatherings.
Whisper worked. From a handful of AMS students to more than 300; they came together to teach and experience relational needs, such as respect, encouragement, support, compassion, and appreciation.
“It really helped so many kids and made the school a better place,” said Coon. "We made it to where almost none of those kids were locked in a ‘shell.’ Kids that didn’t talk to anyone would stop in the hallways to talk. That was the goal and the impact of Whisper.”
“Whisper is one of, if not the most, empowering student movements I've ever seen,” added AMS Principal Tony Stanfill. “The student leaders did an amazing job of first learning how to effectively communicate, then lead their peers in conversation, confidence, self-worth/awareness, and kindness towards their follow classmates. The culture changed. Students would say hello and ask, ‘How is your day going, Mr. Stanfill?’ They really wanted to know how others were doing.”
Whisper, founded in 2018, had only been in high schools until now. Since its recent success at AMS, you can anticipate this culture shift in additional schools come fall.
Whisper is the name of the movement, but the results are shout worthy.
WOW: Congratulations, Nathan Dolen and Sebastian Ogle! These Bartow County College and Career Academy Public Safety Pathway students just attended and graduated the Georgia Law Enforcement Experience Academy in Forsyth County!
During the rigorous one-week academy, these rising seniors were challenged physically and academically in the areas of criminal procedure, traffic stops, domestic violence, active shooters, and more. They both passed the firearms qualifications course too!
Another example of Bartow County students prepared for job offers immediately following high school graduation!
Good job, Nathan, Sebastian, and BCSS Public Safety Instructor Greg Magee for helping students achieve the high goals they set for themselves!
JOIN OUR TEAM: Still some positions available! Come on down and see why it's the best system around!
https://bartow.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
NEW: Our Free and Reduced-Price School Meal application window opens tomorrow, July 1, 2022. It is important to fill out the application because Congress has not extended school nutrition waivers this year. Unfortunately, that means breakfast and lunch will not be automatically free for all students.
We have enjoyed serving meals at no cost to our families over the last two years. Please understand these decisions are made at the federal level. If anything changes, we will be sure to communicate with you immediately.
Please fill out the Free and Reduced-Price School Meal application by September 14 to avoid breakfast and lunch charges if your child qualifies. You can fill out an online application here https://www.bartow.k12.ga.us/page/nutrition-services, print a hard copy from our website and return it to your child’s school, or pick up an application at Central Office starting on July 11. The county office is located on 65 Gilreath Road in Cartersville.
Additionally, as a reminder for those who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals, you can always download the “MyPaymentsPlus” app and add money to your child’s meal account. Convenience fees apply.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter as we work to “feed the body and fuel the mind” for complete academic success.
FULL STEM/STEAM AHEAD WITH GTRI AND NW GA RESA: We were incredibly honored and humbled to host the Georgia Tech Research Institute today at Adairsville High School!
STEM teachers and leaders from all over the county and surrounding counties heard our vision and implementation plan for STEM, which is deeply rooted in Professional Learning Communities. Participants also learned from our State STEM Certified schools and AHS Magnet students as they described their rigorous STEM research.
Later in the afternoon, GTRI helped participants with STEM community asset mapping and improving plans for engaging community partners.
We loved having the Georgia Department of Education in our buildings, along with all our amazing partners, stakeholders, and Board Member Anna Sullivan!
Great day of showcasing the work we do in Bartow County Schools! We are excited to continue this partnership with Georgia Tech!
PROJECT PURPOSE: The Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce helped unlock the potential of five Adairsville High School students through a new program called Project Purpose!
Here’s how it works. High school counselors and work-based learning coordinators identify graduating seniors based on their post-high school goals. Then, the Chamber helps facilitate a one-week intensive skills bootcamp, which includes courses on soft skills, professionalism and work ethics, resume assistance, financial literacy, and more! Upon competition, the graduates are given the opportunity to interview with several companies, such as Anheuser-Busch, Gerdau, Shaw, Textron, Toyo Tires, NOTS Logistics, and YANMAR. Most individuals received at least two JOB OFFERS at the end! Here’s where our AHS graduates landed:
• Austin Pilkay, Shaw
• Kamdin DeValentino, NOTS Logistics
• Christian Leon, NOTS Logistics
• Tristin Alford, YANMAR
• Nycholause Garrett, NOTS Logistics
Congratulations! The inaugural Project Purpose Signing Day Ceremony at the Chamber was a huge success!
Special thanks to Georgia Power for sponsoring the program and Chattahoochee Technical College for hosting the courses. Chatt Tech professors, GHC professors, the Etowah Scholarship Foundation, Leadership Consultant Cherie Wasit, and local financial coach Dan Dollevoet were facilitators in the program.
“There are few things more rewarding than opening doors to a bright future for our local, young talent,” said Chamber CEO Cindy Williams. “This program allows for life-changing opportunities, and I could not be prouder of the graduates and the Bartow community.”
SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM: Our school nutrition staff and volunteers have been working very hard to feed children this summer, and we are extremely appreciative of them! One week, they served about 12,600 meals, and the next, they served about 19,700! Good work! What a help to many!
STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARDS: Congratulations to the following student-athletes for being named most positive in their sports by the Positive Athlete Organization! We also had a state winner, Ms. Selena Amerson from Cass High School! Selena received a Children's Hospital of Atlanta "Hope & Will" Award and a $1,000 scholarship!
REGIONAL WINNERS:
Boys Multi-Sport - Evan Sanders, Adairsville High School
Boys Swim & Dive - Matt Rodriguez, Adairsville High School
Girls Track & Field - Lucianna Mclendon, Cass High School
Girls Tennis - Jaylee Kilgo, Woodland High School
[pictured: Selena Amerson]
OPENINGS: No better time than now to join our team!
Click this link https://www.bartow.k12.ga.us/page/career-opportunities to see what jobs are available right now within our school system!
BE IN THE KNOW: Most of our families have already downloaded our award-winning app, but if you haven't done so, please do! Just look for the BCSS in your app store!
On the BCSS App, you'll find LUNCH MENUS, NEWS & NOTIFICATIONS, EVENTS, STAFF, ACADEMIC CALENDARS AND MORE!
Thank you for #stayingconnected to your school system FAMILY!
AHS TO CALI: A West Coast STEM adventure with AHS Magnet students is underway! Check out a few places they've been!
* Golden Gate Bridge
* Alcatraz
* Cable car rides in San Francisco
* Stanford University
* Tech Interactive
* Google & Facebook
* Pacific Ocean
