Bartow County School System

MATH FEST 2025: The 2nd Annual Math Fest Competition, hosted by Georgia Highlands College, celebrated Pi Day with a showcase of math talent. Dr. Maurice Wilson from the Math Department led the event in partnership with New Frontier of Bartow County. The competition included a Math Bating segment and an Individual Math Competition for grades 3-5. Schools earned points based on their rankings in each component, with the total points determining the Top School. Congratulations to White Elementary School, the 2025 Math Fest School Champion! --- Math Bating Math Bating is a group competition where teams of students are working together to solve math problems. 3rd Grade Math Bating Winners 1st Place from TES Number Ninjas 3B Frannie Devine, Nicolas Downer, Elis Smtih 2nd Place from HCES The Mathers Jackson Coker, Layla Outlaw, Nick Applin 3rd Place (5-way tie) AES Gold Tigers Sawyer Forsyth, Rheannon, Weirmorts, Rilyn Miller ALES Squad Goals Mike Chivalan Ramirez, Connor McClure, Daleney Lopez TES Number Ninjas 3A Wyatt Clayton, Sophie Mason, Everett Neighbors WES Golden Eagles Erianna Burgess, Mirabel Ejime, Aubrey Henry WES Multiplication Masters Kyrian Kusmin, Jetson Thompson, Rhett Pruitt 4th Grade Math Bating Winners 1st Place (2-way tie) WES Number Ninjas Alex Leon, Sariah Daniel, JR Ellington WES The Equation Explorers Lily Ragsdale, Emmett Smith, Maverick Womack 2nd Place (2-way tie) ALES The 3 Math Minions Dylan Ayala, Brandon Mora, Carter Sainvil CCES Smarties Evan Hall, Camryn Sherrill, Makenzie Morgan 3rd Place (2-way tie) CCES Scrazy Squirrels Trenton Meadows, Matthew Fortner, Logan Fortner TES Number Ninjas 4B Jackson Bagley, Ledger Heard, Declan Ammons 5th Grade Math Bating Winners 1st Place (2-way tie) AES Gold Tigers Bonnie Reed, Kincaid Butler, Banks Bailey CCES Math Magicians Bael Schweska, Jeffrey Wehunt, Tinley Henson 2nd Place AES Green Tigers Logan Hyde, Anthony Le Thai, Grayson Falconbury 3rd Place (2-way tie) CCES Cruising Calculators Haddon Ripley, Nathan Madden, Gavin Stone EHES 5B Evan Pham, Jack Turner, Hayde Yarbrough Individual Math Competition Winners Students worked individually to complete questions within time constraints. 3rd Grade Individual Winners 1st Place (2-way tie) TES Becket Philliber WES Elliot Broome 2nd Place (4-way tie) CCES Caroline McCorkle CCES Maverick Mendelsohn HCES Ari Pratt TES Sarah Boyette 3rd Place (5-way tie) AES Timothy Gunnels CCES Richard Todoran KES Omar Coronado TES Wade Sturgess WES Thomas Mancosky 4th Grade Individual Winners 1st Place WES Orion Belcher 2nd Place (2-way tie) CCES Joseph Scott CES Logan Brown 3rd Place WES Pola Anthony 5th Grade Individual Winners 1st Place WES Meredith Ragsdale 2nd Place (3-way tie) CCES Nathan Madden WES Jay Patel WES Brenden Nelson 3rd Place (7-way tie) AES Emsley Jenkins AES Saydie Ray ALES Ebeneezer Dumgyan CCES Bael Schweska CCES Haddon Ripley CES Declan Morris EHES Grayson McNulty

CHECK THIS OUT: Our Woodland High School Marching Wildcats will take part in the 141st Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade this Saturday in Midtown Atlanta. Started in 1858 by the Hibernian Benevolent Society, the parade holds the title as the longest running event in Atlanta history, continuing the tradition of celebrating the city’s Irish culture and history. The parade will begin at noon sharp at the intersection of Peachtree Street and 15th Street and will continue down Peachtree to 5th Street, concluding at 1:30 p.m. Parade attendees are encouraged to take MARTA. Both Arts Center and Midtown MARTA stops provide easy access to the parade route. For more information, please visit www.atlantastpats.com. CONGRATULATIONS, WILDCATS!

WOW: The Adairsville High School Construction Program, led by Kevin Goble, has earned its industry certification through Construction Ready and the Georgia Department of Education! After a yearlong process, students, staff, district, and community leaders celebrated the new five-year certification. Congratulations! This program is thriving, growing exponentially each year, and in the past four years, they have placed 37 students in the industry! #betterinbartow

EVERY CHOICE MATTERS: Teen Maze – a field trip our 8th grade students will not soon forget! Held at Georgia Highlands College, this real-life educational experience allowed our students to see how their daily choices can lead to amazing opportunities or life-changing consequences. Students navigated stations on topics such as teen pregnancy, violence, mental health, and graduation, which proved to be eye-opening for many. Special thanks to our community partners and volunteers for making this life-changing event possible!

"WAX" WONDERS: Fifth grade gifted students at Euharlee Elementary School brought historical figures to life today through research, creativity, and storytelling! Over the past several weeks, they have diligently prepared engaging and interactive presentations to demonstrate their deep understanding of significant historical personalities. They did an incredible job on this Living Wax Museum!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Calling all future innovators currently in grades 3-6! Join us this summer, June 9-12, at the Future Innovators STEM Camp, where imagination meets technology! Dive into the exciting worlds of drones, robotics, AR/VR, AI, and more! Unleash your creativity in our makerspace, explore 3D printing, and bring your ideas to life with animation! Registration opens March 18th at 6:00 p.m. and space is LIMITED! As always, this is a FREE camp for our students!

REMINDER: Tomorrow, March 11, will be an Early Release Day! Elementary schools dismiss at 11:30 a.m. and middle/high schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be served, and buses will run on an early dismissal schedule. After School programs will continue to operate.

OH, THE PLACES (BARTOW COUNTY) WILL GO: We're wrapping up the incredibly popular Read Across America Week at Allatoona Elementary School, where Superintendent Clint Terza and Deputy Superintendent Chrisian Suttle read some fan favorites, including "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish!" The wide eyes and giggles from these Wildcats were absolutely priceless. Celebrating Read Across America Week is essential because it spreads the joy and benefits of reading, especially among children. It fosters a love for books, enhances literacy skills, and so much more! #readacrossamerica #reading #betterinbartow

SUCCESS: With over 170 attendees, the Bartow County School System Educator Job Fair was our most successful hiring event yet! The long lines to meet our principals were no surprise—Bartow County is the place to be! We offer unique programs and have an exceptional staff. Come join our FAMILY!

NATIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK: Join us in celebrating our dedicated Bartow County School System Social Workers: Melissa Hulsey, Michelle Jenkins, Dr. LaToia Carter, and Ashley Saddler! This remarkable team consistently overcomes challenges and tirelessly advocates for our students and families. Their impact is profound, and their unwavering commitment to fostering HOPE is truly commendable!

Tayvian McKibbins… Tay…Big Tay…our #51. He knew how to battle. It’s how he landed on the defensive line at The Doug, graduated early from Cass High School, and earned a coveted position on the Georgia Southern football team. A Colonel first, an Eagle second. But it wasn’t his blocking or tackling that truly made him stand out, it was his character. “Tay’s million-dollar smile says it all, he had a huge personality and made an incredible impact to a lot of people on and off the field here at Cass. He will be missed tremendously,” said CHS Head Football Coach Steve Gates. “Tay was a friend of everyone,” added Assistant Principal Katherine Wallraven. “He smiled wherever he went and lit up a room whenever he walked in. Tay was a Colonel through and through and truly exhibited what it meant to love blue and live gold.” Tay lost his short battle with cancer on March 6, 2025. Leaving so many hearts in our small community shattered. We won’t see him walk across the stage come May, but rest assured, every time we “fire the cannon,” we will think of you, Tay. Fly High 51.

LITERARY LEADERS: Let's celebrate the incredible success of Adairsville High School’s Literary team at the Region 7AAA event, where they achieved an impressive 3rd place overall! This remarkable honor highlights the dedication and talent of our students, who delivered captivating performances across various categories, including writing, acting, speaking, and singing. • Argumentative Essay: 🥇 Lilith Affolder - 1st place • Literary Analysis: Skyla Rowland - 4th place • Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: 🥈 Lilith Affolder - 2nd place • International Extemporaneous Speaking: 🥉 Savannah Viktora - 3rd place • Humorous Interpretation: Kisa Ramsey - 4th place • Dramatic Interpretation: 🥉 Aslyn Phillips - 3rd place • Duo Interpretation: 🥈 Ella Goble and Allison Potter - 2nd place • Girls Solo: 🥉 Amelia Carter - 3rd place • Boys Solo: 🥈 Caleb Goodwin - 2nd place • Trio: Aslyn Phillips, Amelia Carter, Ava Whitfield - 4th place • Quartet: 🥉 Caleb Goodwin, Soloman Gardner, John Sprayberry, Mason Brown - 3rd place We are very proud of all their hard work and dedication. A special shoutout to Lilith Affolder as she advances to the State competition on March 22! Best of luck, Lilith! 🌟

LITERARY LEADERS: This talented Cass High School team competed in the Region 7 AAAAA Literary Competition in Kennesaw and brought home some impressive accolades: 🥈 Xavier Rector - 2nd Place in Literary Analysis Essay 🥈 Brandy Jordan - 2nd Place in Dramatic Interpretation 🥉 Racquel Davis - 3rd Place in Girls Solo 🥈 MacKenzie Cornett, Terrianna Flowers, and Audrey Briggs - 2nd Place in Girls Trio Let's give a huge round of applause to these outstanding students for their hard work and dedication! 👏👏👏

RECORD BREAKING YEAR: Bartow County high schools have achieved a record 12 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor School awards this year, the highest in the county's history. According to the Georgia Department of Education, 301 AP Honor Schools were recognized across 104 districts, based on 2024 AP courses and exams. Adairsville High School received: • AP STEM School Award • AP Humanities School Award • AP Humanities Achievement School Award Cass High School earned: • AP STEM School Award • AP Humanities School Award • AP Humanities Achievement School Award • AP Access and Support Schools Award Woodland High School gained: • AP STEM School Award • AP Humanities School Award • AP Humanities Achievement School Award • AP STEM Achievement School Award • AP Schools of Distinction Award Award Categories: • AP Access and Support Schools: Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identified as African American and/or Hispanic (minimum of 16 students) and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher. At least 25 exams must be administered. • AP Challenge Schools: Schools with enrollments of 900 or fewer students and exams administered in English, math, science, and social studies and a minimum of 25 total exams administered. • AP Expansion Schools: AP schools with 25% growth in AP student participation from May 2023 to May 2024 and a minimum of 25 students testing in May 2023. • AP Humanities Schools: Schools that administered at least five exams in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two social studies courses, one fine arts course, and one world language course, and a minimum of 25 total exams administered. • AP Humanities Achievement Schools: AP Humanities schools (see above definition) with at least 50% of all AP Humanities exams earning scores of 3 or higher. • AP Schools of Distinction: Schools with at least 20% of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher. • AP STEM Schools: Schools that administered at least 5 exams in each of four separate AP STEM courses (math, science, and computer science) and a minimum of 25 total exams administered. • AP STEM Achievement Schools: AP STEM schools (see above definition) with at least 50% of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher. “Our success in earning these AP Honor awards is a direct result of our dedicated teachers, hardworking students, and the strong support of our school community,” said AP and Magnet Coordinator Kaylie Smith. “We attribute this achievement to a rigorous and engaging curriculum, a culture that encourages academic challenge, and the unwavering commitment of our teachers to providing high-quality instruction. Our students continue to rise to the challenge, demonstrating their ability to excel in Advanced Placement courses, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts.” “Last year’s AP results solidify that our focus on implementing rigorous Tier I instruction, developing disciplinary literacy, and offering instructional support for all students is truly paying off,” said CHS AP Coordinator Sarah Turner. “Six years ago, Bartow County Schools goal was to grow our AP program and ensure access for all—an effort recognized through our AP Access and Support School designation. We are proud to say that not only are our students choosing to participate in the college level courses, but they are thriving. By fostering a culture that values academic challenge, we’ve leveraged every resource to support both students and teachers in developing the skills necessary to earn these qualifying scores.” “We are incredibly proud of Woodland High School’s recognition as an AP School of Distinction,” said WHS Assistant Principal and Magnet Coordinator Mary Beth Tumlin. “This award is difficult to receive where at least 20% of the population takes the AP exam and at least 50% pass the exam. This recognition demonstrates how our school has embraced AP for all. These achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of our students and teachers in pursuing academic excellence. Earning achievement recognition in AP Humanities and AP STEM categories highlights our commitment to providing rigorous and well-rounded educational opportunities that prepare students for success in college and beyond.” Each high school will be honored for its achievements at an upcoming Board of Education meeting.

SEUSS CELEBRATION: What a perfect way to start the week – with Read Across America and a Seuss-y treat! Join Superintendent Terza, don't be shy, for green eggs and ham and a good book to try! These Kingston cuties LOVED IT🎉📚🥚 #betterinbartow

HONORING HERITAGE: A one-of-a-kind event to wrap up a special Black History Month! Cass High School's Black Student Union hosted a fantastic Black History Fair, celebrating culture and history with flair! 🎉 We extend our heartfelt thanks to the amazing representatives from Black Bartow Events, Morris Brown College, Fort Valley State University, Harvesting Scholars, and the Future Centers for joining us! A special shoutout to our inspiring guest speakers, including Mr. Adam Lee. Your words truly resonated!

THE RESULTS ARE IN: Our amazing Cartersville Dances with the Stars couple, Eric and Amanda Elrod, danced their hearts out this weekend and raised an incredible $32,938 – the THIRD HIGHEST amount of any couple! In total, the event raised a whopping $354,744 for the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter, Backpack Buddies, and The Least of These! 💖 Thank you to everyone who supported and donated to these wonderful causes! Also, thank you to Adairsville High School for their fantastic prop designs!

BUILT IN BARTOW: This weekend, 13 talented students from Bartow County showcased their skills at the Georgia Student Technology Competition, and they did not disappoint! Levi Heim, a 12th grader at Adairsville High School, took home 1st place for his incredible 3D Modeling project, earning scholarship money for college! Gabriel Greenway, also a 12th grader at Adairsville High School, clinched 1st place for his outstanding Robotics project, securing scholarship money for college as well! Brian Hardy and Levi McStotts, both 12th graders at Adairsville High School, earned 3rd place for their innovative Device Modification project, along with scholarship money for college! Nathaniel Fortier, an 11th grader at Adairsville High School, grabbed 3rd place for his impressive Programming project. This marks Nathaniel’s second consecutive year of winning at the state level! Other Bartow County students who competed this weekend included: Juan Cifuentes (Cloverleaf Elementary) Trent Howell (Hamilton Crossing Elementary) Katie Martel and Mekenzie Moss (Adairsville Middle; 2nd year competing at the state level) Connor Mohesky and Liam Broome (Cass Middle) Jordon Goodwin (Adairsville High) Keira Woodside (Adairsville High & Bartow County College and Career Academy) Congratulations to all our students for their hard work and achievements! 🎉

IT'S OFFICIAL: Cass High School STANDOUT student-athlete, Bear McWhorter, COMMITS to MICHIGAN! All-American since his eighth-grade year, Bear chose the Wolverines over Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Clemson! Special thanks to 11 Alive and our local media outlets for documenting a history-making moment! GO BLUE!

CENTRAL OFFICE CELEBRATIONS: When you work in a school system and community like this, you have a lot to celebrate! This month, we are excited to celebrate and recognize Josh Gayton, our System Technology Support Specialist. With a vast and impressive background in technology, Josh consistently delivers quick, efficient service with an unmatched level of care, whether he's working in our schools or Central Office. We are proud to have him as an integral part of our BCSS family.