READY, SET, CODE: Join us in cheering on our BCSS Robotics teams as they head to Chattanooga tomorrow morning for the BIG Region Championship event! Eight of our teams are competing for a shot at “Worlds” in April! This is a first in BCSS history!
GOOD LUCK:
AES
CCES (two teams)
CMS
CLES
MRES
WES
WMS
CLASS ACT: Another day, another visit to Cass High School from a college football coach! But wait! While this visit started the same as many others, with a helicopter landing on the football field, it ended in a way that will leave you smiling ALL WEEK!
Here's how it all unfolded. Georgia Tech Head Football Coach Brent Key popped in today, and while having a conversation with the Cass coaching staff, he was introduced to a GT fan, not just any GT fan, though, a SUPER FAN! We're talking about Brayden Warren. To know him is to love him, and the same adage proved true for Coach Key. He connected with Brayden and made sure to sign his jersey that he just so happened to have on today! Wait, there's more! Coach Key ALSO invited Brayden to be a special guest at an upcoming game and asked him to join the team for a locker room visit! Wow! Can you believe that? What a class act, and Brayden will always remember January 26, 2023. OK, you can go grab those tissues now.
CENTRAL OFFICE CELEBRATIONS: When you work in a school system and community like this, you have a lot to celebrate! And, if you know Superintendent Page, then you know he likes to celebrate the RIGHT WORK. In the Bartow County School System, the right work supports learning, collaboration, and results. That's what we value.
This month, we celebrate and honor Myra Rosenfeld, our Assistive Technology Specialist! While Myra may be behind the scenes a lot, she is an integral part of the Bartow County School System. Her duties include managing equipment for our Exceptional Education students. She's also kind, patient, and professional. We're proud to have her; she makes us all better! Congratulations, Myra!
NEW: We are changing pre-K sites from Woodland High School to the Bartow County College and Career Academy! If you are interested in the BCCCA, please make a note of that on your pre-K registration packet.
NEW: Adairsville High School becomes the 13th Bartow County school to be named a Model Professional Learning Community for its sustained success in raising student achievement!
“Honestly, we were shocked at first considering AHS had just received the designation as a Promising Practices School back in October,” said AHS Principal Dr. Lexie Bultman. “Of course, we are elated, as this recognition continues to highlight the phenomenal work being done by our staff and students daily.”
The school’s successful implementation of PLC’s was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students. PLC’s are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:
1. Focus on learning.
2. Build a collaborative culture.
3. Create a results orientation.
“Data is a partial, imperfect snapshot of the past,” said Dr. Bultman. “It took us completely re-examining how we told our PLC story through the student achievement data presented. Once we did that, we knew it would not be long before we achieved Model PLC status.”
Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture, and then submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.
“Our primary goal is to continue moving forward in the PLC journey, critically examining ways to maintain and improve our practices as well as foster and support the right work,” added Dr. Bultman. “Currently, the Guiding Coalition is discussing avenues to enhance our intervention block, which we call Tiger Time, to better support students. We are also moving forward with promoting more collaborative teams to apply for A-Team status.”
AHS, Allatoona Elementary School, Kingston Elementary School, Mission Road Elementary School, Adairsville Elementary School, Euharlee Elementary School, Clear Creek Elementary School, Pine Log Elementary School, Emerson Elementary School, Cass Middle School, Adairsville Middle School, Cloverleaf Elementary School, and White Elementary School now join the Bartow County School System as they celebrate Model PLC School and Model PLC District status.
CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS: Woodland High School Teacher and Georgia Teacher of the Year Michael Kobito is making waves once again, airwaves that is! He recently recorded an episode for a Classroom Conversations podcast, a collaboration between GPB and GaDOE. The podcast is titled “2023 GaTOTY: Know Your Why," and in it is an inspirational message for all Georgia educators! Check it out!
A-TEAM AWARD: Superintendent Page and system leaders present Adairsville Middle School and its eighth grade science team, which consists of Traci Newman and Kim Ruggles with the most prestigious award given by the District, the A-Team Award!
Traci Newman and Kim Ruggles 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 eighth grade science 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.
It is also evident that Principal Tony Stanfill and the AMS Guiding Coalition have played a significant role in the development of this A-Team. Its Guiding Coalition was mentioned many times as a source of strength for the PLC process and as the means for the professional development which resulted in the efficacy of this collaborative team. Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement!
Traci Newman and Kim Ruggles will now present at a future school board meeting, New Teacher Institute, and serve as role models for future A-Teams throughout our school system.
This is our 17th collaboration team to earn an A-Team Award!
AHS PAGE STAR STUDENT AND TEACHER: Senior Annie McCormick & Math Teacher Mrs. Katy Carder
McCormick has been named a STAR Student through PAGE after earning the highest SAT score in her class. McCormick also recognizes Mrs. Carder as her STAR Teacher!
CHS PAGE STAR STUDENT AND TEACHER: Senior Ryan Matthew Pope & Math Teacher Mrs. Tammy Ragus
Pope has been named a STAR Student through PAGE after earning the highest SAT score in his class. Pope also recognizes Mrs. Ragus as his STAR Teacher!
WHS PAGE STAR STUDENT AND TEACHER: WHS Senior Joseph Parker & WHS Chorus Teacher Mrs. Kimberly Human
Parker has been named a STAR Student through PAGE after earning the highest SAT score in his class. Parker also recognizes Mrs. Human as his STAR Teacher!
A SMART VISIT: From touchdowns at championship games to touch downs at local high schools; Georgia Head Football Coach Kirby Smart dropped in at Cass High School today to check in and eat lunch with Coaches Steve Gates, Connor Gates, Josh McWhorter, Drew McKaig, Bobby Hughes, and Principal Steve Revard! From Smart's helicopter landing on the Colonel's football field to pictures with Bartow County students; what a way to end the week!
In recent weeks, Cass High has been visited by coaches from Clemson, Ohio State, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Alabama, Charlotte, Troy, and Kennesaw State, among others!
HAPPY 100TH: Celebrating the 100th day of school, and you can tell this third grade team from Adairsville Elementary is ALL IN! Love it!
SCHOOL CHOICE PROCEDURES: All Out-of-Zone and Out-of-District applications will be available starting February 6! Details below. Please read carefully. No additional applications will be accepted after 3 p.m. on February 28.
NEW: The Bartow County School System is closely monitoring the weather and its potential impact to dismissal procedures countywide.
If a delay is needed to allow students to remain in a safe school building rather than in a vehicle, we will notify you immediately. Pertinent information can also be found on our website and social media outlets.
At this time, all After School programs and extracurricular activities will continue to operate.
BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER: JOIN OUR TEAM OF READ TO GROW VOLUNTEERS! A TRAINING SESSION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW AT 1 PM. ADDITIONAL DETAILS BELOW.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: PRE-K REGISTRATION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! DETAILS BELOW!
EDUCATOR JOB FAIR: CHECK THIS OUT!
BARTOW AND BEYOND: In this sea of RED and BLACK at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, we spy Woodland High School alumnus Caden Wolf!
Caden graduated last year as the PAGE STAR student and drumline captain of the WHS Marching Band.
Now, he's attending the University of Georgia, a percussionist in the Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, and double majoring in Political Science and Economics and minoring in Law!
We are SO proud of you, Caden, and GO DAWGS!
HERO CUP AWARDS: The hardware is home! Bartow County School Police Chief Billy Henson and Major Duane Smith presented the annual HERO CUP trophies to the schools who contributed the most during the Shop with a Hero fundraising drive!
CONGRATULATIONS:
Adairsville Elementary School - $2,940.66
Woodland Middle School - $1,100.00
Bartow College and Career Academy - $1,200.00
(back-to-back winners!)
A total of $13,082.86 was raised for the Shop with a Hero initiative, surpassing our $2,000 goal!
We are so grateful to be a part of a community that is always willing to step up when there is a need for our children.
Again, thank you for these generous donations as they were used to purchase hundreds of presents to children in need this past holiday season!
ICE CREAM WITH A COP: New year, same outstanding initiative designed to foster great relationships between Bartow County students and local law enforcement officers! School Resource Officer Donnie Scott organized today's ice cream social for fifth grade Cloverleaf Elementary School students. They discussed being successful, graduating on time, and respecting one another. These officers CARE and it SHOWS. We appreciate their work in the community.
Special thanks to those in attendance:
Officer Scott, Bartow County School Police
Chief Henson, Bartow County School Police
Major Smith, Bartow County School Police
K9 Deputy Tucker, Bartow County Sheriff's Office
Corporal Harris, Georgia State Patrol
Agent Glover, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Officer Veiga, Kingston Police Department
Officer Lamb, Kingston Police Department
Agent Warren, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Evan Driskill, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Grant Guise, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Officer McAfee, Department of Public Safety
