COLLEGE TOUR: The wheels on the bus go round and round...all the way to Mississippi State University! This morning, 21 students from Adairsville High School’s Magnet Program left on a college tour!
HAPPY TWOSDAY 2 YOU: 2-22-22...that calls for LOTS of tutus, ties, and twinning districtwide! Check out these Allatoona Elementary School students and staff on what's being called the "coolest date of the decade!"
RIGHT WORK: Let's recognize our new Ms. Dot STAR Award winners for going above and beyond in their line of work. Their impact can truly be felt districtwide!
CONGRATULATIONS:
Kayla Atkins, Administrative Assistant, CCES
Lauren Lyle, Nurse, KES
Susan Buckner, Nurse, MRES
OOOO...IT'S BACK: Back by popular demand - SUMMER STEM CAMP! More opportunities only found by attending Bartow County schools! Registration opens next week and it's VERY limited!
MEET THE ELITE: Thanks to past and present school board members, community members, counselors, principals, and central office staff, these elite Georgia Governor's Honors Program semifinalists are ready for their state level interviews and auditions at Berry College this weekend! Mock interviews are complete, and they did so well. We are beyond proud! We cannot wait to see who will get to attend the highly prestigious four-week summer residential program this summer.
NEW: The Bartow County School System will provide a Spanish translator to help families during pre-K and kindergarten registration. Details below!
NO ONE EATS ALONE DAY: Making friends and creating connections – it’s what this day is all about at middle schools across the nation! Cass Middle School participated in National No One Eats Alone Day, too, and joined the efforts to end social isolation and create a culture of belonging. Counselors, administrators, teachers, and student leaders led the way! Through an advisement activity, students learned a lot about the initiative, and they even sat at a different lunch table to meet new faces. If they didn’t know what to say, they could grab a conversation starter on the table! Superintendent Page loves this program and never misses an opportunity to hang out with his students!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS: Inspiring; it’s the best word to describe Cass High School’s third annual student-led Black History Fair! Through countless hours of collaboration, student leaders organized an important event infused with history, music, educational games, speakers, books, and business leaders! What an awe-inspiring celebration!
IMAGE AND INTERVIEW DAY: BIG day at Adairsville High School! More than 70 upperclassmen in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education classes learned how to create a resume, fill out a job application, prepare for an interview, and dress for success! Then, the amazing AHS CTAE Department brought in 17 employers, such as Shaw, Barnsley Resort, Brasington and Bailey Construction, and LakePoint, to interview students. You won’t believe what happened next! These employers were so impressed with our students that Barnsley Resort HIRED five students ON THE SPOT, Brasington and Bailey Construction HIRED one student ON THE SPOT, and the Bartow County District Attorney’s office discovered two possible students to work paid internships this summer!
Special thanks to our CTAE Department and local businesses that came in to provide our students unrivaled opportunities! It’s always better in Bartow!
NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK: We have the best counselors around hands down! They are caring, innovative, and truly impactful! We don't just celebrate them this week - we celebrate them every single day!
MEDIA SPECIALIST SHOUTOUT: Check this out! Several of our elementary media specialists participated in the School Library Media EdCamp at West Georgia!
Jennifer Martel (Clear Creek)
Stefanie Gaddy (Cloverleaf)
Ann Bagley (Euharlee)
Christine Gallagher (Kingston)
DANCING FOR A CAUSE: Cartersville Dances with the Stars is right around the corner – March 5, 2022! As you may already know, the Bartow County School System has several ties to this event. Adairsville Middle School Teacher Lynn Hedden will be performing this year, Woodland High School Teacher Tiffany Tindall is choreographing the group dance, and Bartow Education Foundation Executive Director Ms. Dot Frasier is usually one of the judges for the main events!
This is a special program as all the proceeds benefit the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter and Backpack Buddies. Through the Backpack Buddies initiative, hundreds of bags filled with non-perishable food items are sent home with food-insecure families in our system every single week. What a help this has been for so many!
To raise money for these causes and offer more support to the children in our county, Mrs. Hedden is selling unique, Bartow County school-specific shirts and organizing a Mister Softee raffle.
Links with additional information can be found below.
https://app.mobilecause.com/f/3oh3/n?vid=puppb
https://app.mobilecause.com/f/3ne5/n?fbclid=IwAR0f3G_BpnPvrQgFAoaso8EOj5vzQc4ZiG9iYnvAIlPKiPppqggaX24MORA&vid=pv5p7
Let’s cheer on our BCSS Family! We are always stronger together!
OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES: Adairsville High School students from several content areas (Physics, Robotics, and JROTC) were fortunate to have Sgt. Tarr, Sgt. Collins, and Sgt. Baerwald from Dobbins Air Force Base come show and demonstrate some of the most cutting edge robotics our military has to offer! Our students collaborated together to learn how robotics are used to carry and deliver explosive devices, and they were able to operate several of the robots as well! We’re grateful for these men who have taken the time to allow our students to explore this field and open up more possibilities to their future!
TALENTED YOUNG AUTHORS: Check out the first, second, and third place WINNERS in the Young Georgia Authors writing competition! First place winners will move on to the next level of judging! Congratulations!
Kindergarten
Denzel Morales, KES (first place)
Jackson Coker, HCES (second place)
Kate Greenway, AES (third place)
1st
Evie D'Agostino, EHES (first place)
Nylie Jackson, MRES (second place)
Riley Couch, PLES (tied for third place)
Eli Reynolds, EES (tied for third place)
2nd
Julianna McSwain, CLES (first place)
Abi Coker, HCES (second place)
Noah McDurmon (third place)
3rd
Kai White, AES (first place)
Laina Cagle, MRES (second place)
Abby Strauss, ALES (tied for second place)
Deliah Lake, TES (third place)
4th
Ashlyn Ann Marie Brown, CCES (first place)
Astrid Bowen, ALES, (second place)
Mason Hepler, HCES (third place)
5th
Daphne Ledford, ALES (first place)
Lillie Dunson, AES (second place)
Alyssa Brianne Smith, CCES (third place)
6th
Charlotte Guzman, CMS (first place)
Jessica Wigley, WMS (second place)
Brynen Herron, AMS (third place)
7th
Dylan Teems, AMS (first place)
London Barrere, CMS (second place)
Susan Bishop, CMS (third place)
8th
Charlotte Langhans, CMS (first place)
Kathryn Herndon, AMS (second place)
Nola Brown, CMS (third place)
9th
Braden Mathis, AHS (first place)
Jaxon Legar, AHS (second place)
10th
Joseph Loh, CHS (first place)
Alysia Montellano, AHS (second place)
Nadia Fowler, BCCCA (third place)
11th
Samantha Lusian, AHS (first place)
Gideon Fortner, CHS (second place)
Olivia Alvarez, WHS (tied for second place)
Addie Coker, AHS (third place)
12th
Devon Dobbs, WHS (first place)
Chelsea Harris, CHS (second place)
Mary Draper, BCCCA (third place)
Eleven Bartow County School System students advance in the highly competitive and prestigious Georgia Governor’s Honors Program – the most semifinalists since 2016!
The eleven semifinalists include Adairsville High School juniors Samantha Lusian (Communicative Arts) and Danielle Lusian (Music: Tenor or Soprano), and sophomore David Tarver (Engineering: Computer Programing); Cass High School juniors Luke Fritz (Engineering: Mechanical Design), Jacques Denoux (Music: Acoustic or Electric Bass), Sydney Orr (Visual Arts), Loren Montoya (Social Studies), and sophomore Lillian Taylor (Music: French Horn); Woodland High School juniors Jenna Bassler (Music: Flute) and David Drennan (Music: Trombone), and sophomore Christian Koontz (Visual Arts).
“This year, about 3,200 students across the state were nominated to the state-level competition, and more than 1,300 of them have been selected as semifinalists for the state interviews and auditions,” said BCSS GHP Coordinator Paula Camp. “I am extremely proud of our semifinalists. They’re already critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders in their schools, and they are ready for the new challenges that await them.”
The 2022 GHP semifinalists will now have the opportunity to interview or audition at Berry College on February 26. Finalists and alternates will be announced March 25.
Upon acceptance, finalists will participate in the elite, four-week, summer residential program at Berry College starting June 19.
The Governor’s Honors Program remains fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION: We have BIG news to start the week!
Mission Road Elementary School becomes the 10th Bartow County school to be named a Model Professional Learning Community for its sustained success in raising student achievement!
I am very excited that my staff is being recognized for doing the RIGHT work for our MRES students,” said MRES Principal Sherrie Hughes. “They have worked countless hours to increase student achievement for all learners. I am proud that we are working to build a foundation where every student will develop the academic, creative, and social skills needed to become responsible, contributing members of the community.”
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.
“We began the PLC process more than three years ago by forming a guiding coalition of teacher leaders,” added Hughes. “This group created mission and vision statements along with collective commitments to create a shared sense of purpose. Then, MRES began to focus on the three big ideas: learning, collaboration, and results. Our teachers met twice weekly in grade level collaboration teams to choose essential standards, create common assessments, and focus on improving achievement. We worked to create a culture where teachers have common goals and are mutually accountable for all students.”
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.
“This recognition requires that we continue to see ongoing improvement in student achievement,” said Hughes. “Our staff will use collaboration time to focus on student needs based on the most current data. We will set goals with our students that allow them to feel empowered and encouraged to reach their full potential. As we perfect the PLC process, we will close learning gaps for all.”
MRES, 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.
NEW: After a recent comprehensive review of Bartow County School System Public Health Protocols by parent, teacher, and principal advisory councils, the following changes to current guidelines have been made and are effective immediately:
Bartow County Schools will only be contact tracing if a school is in the “yellow phase,” which means more than 1% of the total student and staff population is COVID-19 positive. Contact tracing is the process of identifying students who may have been exposed to the infection.
While in the “green phase,” BCS will only monitor confirmed positive students or students who have been exposed to COVID-19 at home. If your child was exposed at home but has immunity, he/she may return to school, but is expected to wear a mask and remain symptom free. Daily temperature checks for these individuals will no longer be conducted by school nurses. Without immunity, prior system guidelines apply.
If your school documents an increase in COVID-19 cases and moves into the “yellow phase,” all prior system quarantine guidelines apply, and protocols remain unchanged for students who test positive for COVID-19.
As always, thank you for your continued patience and understanding as COVID-19 evolves in our community and new information is released regularly by public health officials.
We remain committed to safety and high levels of learning for all students.
STAR STUDENTS & TEACHERS: Drumroll, please? The SYSTEM WINNER in the PAGE STAR Student and Teacher program is Woodland High School Senior Caden Wolf! Announced today at a special luncheon hosted by the Cartersville Rotary Club at the Cartersville Country Club, Caden and his STAR Teacher, Emerson Elementary School Assistant Principal Kerry Hammond, now advance to the regional competition!
Not only did Caden earn the highest SAT score in the district, he earned a coveted position in his school's drumline and played in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Caden has an intrinsic need to be challenged and push for greatness, needs that Ms. Hammond noticed when she taught eight-year-old Caden at EES! Ms. Hammond helped provide the foundation Caden needed to flourish, and look where he is now!
Congratulations to AHS STAR Student Mark Brunson and AHS STAR Teacher Summer Erickson and CHS STAR Student Andrew Ziemer and CHS STAR Teacher Sam Iddings! What wonderful representations of the Bartow County School System! We could not be more proud of every individual honored in this student teacher achievement recognition program!
GROUNDHOG SHADOW DAY: On this Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow and Woodland High School CTAE classes participate in a Groundhog Shadow Day! That means more than 680 students from all grade levels receive the opportunity to walk through a college and career fair today at WHS and excitedly ask questions about what local businesses and schools have to offer for jobs and postsecondary opportunities! The level of engagement is incredible! Thank you to our community parters that are participating. This morning, we saw the City of Cartersville, Chick-fil-A, Mister Softee, Georgia Highlands College, Chattahoochee Technical College, Dress for Success, and all branches of the military, just to name a few!
"GRANTING" WISHES: The Bartow Education Foundation awards 196 Bartow County teachers grant money to transform their classrooms and provide unique educational opportunities for hundreds of students.
“The Teacher Grant program is the largest project we fund,” said Bartow Education Foundation Executive Director Dot Frasier. This year, we disbursed $92,301.82 in grants. While that’s a little less than in years past, I am very happy with the outcome considering these unprecedented times. The grant money is introducing our students to materials and lessons that I never thought possible in Bartow County!”
Adairsville High School received $18, 621.59 in grant money – the most out of any school districtwide. Grants, which support learning, collaboration, and results, include the intent to purchase drones and 3-D printers to push the boundaries of innovation. Adairsville High School’s Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Technology, and Math will use its well-deserved money to erect a four-tier portable greenuse for a one-of-a-kind outdoor classroom. Math teachers will now be able to teach a Personal Finance class so students will be able to make sound financial decisions for life, and administrators will be purchasing paint to create encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting messages in restroom areas to make a positive impact on the school’s climate and culture, just to name a few grant proposals.
“So many teachers reach into their own pockets every year to supplement student learning,” added Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “So, we are very thankful for Ms. Dot and the Bartow Education Foundation, teachers, and community members who contribute annually to this worthy cause. Our students are learning at higher levels because of them.”
At the middle school level, teachers are spending their grant money on multi-sensory spaces for Exceptional Education students, tools to aid in graphic design, and even materials for community service projects, like mercy mats, made for distribution to the homeless population.
Many schools build upon projects started last year. At Cloverleaf Elementary School, teachers used grant money last year to purchase materials for a chicken coop. Cass High School students built it, and now teachers are utilizing additional grant money to purchase baby chickens and supplies for their garden area. Students from all grade levels will be able to complete many investigative projects and problem-based learning (PBL) tasks centered around the chickens, their needs, life cycle, and habitat.
In addition to the Teacher Grant program, which is now in its 27th year, the Bartow Education Foundation helps fund programs that benefit BCSS retirees, teachers of the year, and bus drivers.
[Pictured: Ms. Dot holding materials purchased through grants]
