Bartow County School System

REMINDER: Tomorrow, March 16, is an Early Release Day! Elementary schools dismiss at 11:30 a.m. and middle/high schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will still be served, and buses will run on an early dismissal schedule. After School programs will continue to operate.

NEW: With a broom in one hand and a mop in the other, Gabe Belberena goes to work in the Tiger Paw Café at Taylorsville Elementary School. First, he sweeps. Then, he mops. “And if there’s someone who can’t open their milk carton, I’m there, too, helping them,” said Gabe. This routine continues every day from 7:30 a.m. until the shrill sound of the morning bell signals it is time to stop. “Unfortunately, I have to stop and go to class,” added Gabe. That is right, Gabe is not a custodian, he is a fifth-grade student! For the last two months, Gabe has made this his morning routine. “Sometimes, when I feel like sleeping in, I think about cleaning, and that helps me get up and start the day,” said Gabe. But it is not the love of cleaning that has Gabe jumping out of bed every morning, it is helping others. “I have never seen this in all my years of working in a school building,” said TES Assistant Principal Kevin Muldoon. “Students, especially students his age, use the time before school starts to socialize with their friends, but not Gabe.” “I just want to help our custodian, Ms. Mary,” added Gabe. “She works so hard, and the breakfast area can get dirty quick with the younger kids eating. Also, some kids are so disrespectful and don’t clean up after themselves.” “I was so shocked,” said Lead Custodian Mary Alfaro. “I’m also proud. Other kids can learn from him.” That is exactly what is happening. Students, as young as five years old, are taking notice and helping Gabe in the mornings. “At TES, we all strive daily to live out our acronym of ROAR (Respectful, On-Task, Awesome Attitude, and Responsible),” added Muldoon. “Gabe exemplifies these characteristics both in the classroom and out. He has a good heart, cares deeply for people, and is a diligent worker. We are proud of the young man Gabe is becoming.” Gabe, as forward-thinking as he is, already lined up a couple successors for when he moves on to middle school next year. “If someone needs help, you should help them,” added Gabe. "That's what life is about." Kindness caught on camera and proof lessons are not always taught in the classroom.

BCSS SHOUTOUT: Congratulations to Adairsville High School’s Meredith Barnhill and Woodland High School’s John Howard as they were selected as Region Athletic Directors of the Year for their respective regions! They were recognized over the weekend at the Georgia Athletic Directors Association conference in Savannah!

MAGNET GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER: Take a swing at the Cartersville Country Club and support our three magnet programs! Proceeds help cover operational costs of the magnet programs, college trips, field trips, and travel abroad opportunities! Golf teams can register online at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx... Companies can complete their sponsorship online at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx... Cash, checks, and online payments are accepted https://woodland-high-school.square.site/.../bcss.../75...

WATCH OUT, GEORIGA: Our Tigers Robotics Team is competing this weekend in Dalton for the first time at the First Robotics Challenge (FRC) level, which is the highest level of competition! Let's show them some love and support!

REMINDER: Wednesday, March 16, is an Early Release Day! Elementary schools dismiss at 11:30 a.m. and middle/high schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will still be served, and buses will run on an early dismissal schedule. After School programs will continue to operate.

NEW: The SAT test scheduled for tomorrow, March 12, at Adairsville High School, has been rescheduled for March 26th.

NATIONAL PI DAY: Today, March 14, is known as Pi Day because the numerical date 3/14 is the same as Pi (π) – 3.14! To mark the occasion, Clear Creek Elementary School came up with 36 EPIC ways to celebrate math! Here are a few of our favorite activities showcased today by our brilliant students! • Sphero Battle Bots & Bowling • VR Goggles • Osmo Racing • Snow • Ice cream (from creamer) • Micro Pond • Green Screen • Drones • Edible Play Doh • Stomp Rockets • RVR (Robots) • Slime • Snap Circuits

NEW: Adairsville Elementary School students and staff mourn the sudden loss of their beloved speech-language pathologist of six years, Ms. Laurie Weeks. Six years of smiles. Six years of transformation in the lives of her 75 students. She was positive, patient, and truly passionate about the work she felt called to do in the Adairsville community. “Laurie will be so missed here at Adairsville,” said AES Teacher Kellie Dailey. “We all experienced her warm smile and sweet spirit as she interacted with us on her way to pick up her students each day. We observed her having sweet conversations with those students as they walked along beside her wheelchair. She was always engaged with them and took time to have ‘real’ conversations with them. She seemed to relish being in the company of her students who obviously loved her dearly. She was making a difference in their lives, and she was making a difference in our lives in serving our students.” Ms. Weeks was confined to a wheelchair, but she did not let that define her. Never complaining, Ms. Weeks raced children down the hallways, while others lovingly laughed and said, “she belongs on a racetrack!” “Laurie Weeks inspired me every day to look beyond my circumstances and see what I can do for others,” said BCSS Occupational Therapist Christy Lusian. “She never let paraplegia, a hectic schedule, or anything else stop her from having an upbeat attitude, a kind word to her friends, and having a sweet, loving heart for each and every one of the kids she served.” In a poignant moment this week, one of Ms. Week’s students said, “she doesn’t have to be in a wheelchair anymore, she’s walking in heaven.” Additional support services will continue to be available at Adairsville Elementary. Staff members are wearing her favorite color, purple, and her handicap parking space will soon be decorated by a local artist in her honor. Ms. Weeks will be missed by her Bartow County Speech and Language Family, Exceptional Education Department, System, and school community.

STEM COMMUNITY PARTER APPRECIATION LUNCH: An intentional focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in our schools helps all our students learn at higher levels. With nearly a dozen district and state STEM certified schools, we would not have seen the successes we’ve had without our community partners! They have been with us since we began this journey five years ago, and they are with us today. Our volunteers are the heartbeat of this program; they’re critical! Hopes and dreams are cultivated in our children because of these individuals. Thank you to our stakeholders, teachers, principals, STEM Program Director Paula Camp, and board members for making this program extremely successful!

MINI GRANT AWARD WINNERS: Mark Justice and Watts from Cobb EMC visited Emerson Elementary School today to present Sarah Parris, Heather Misztak, and Jeff Vest with Mini Grant Awards! Each of these grants will support Emerson Eagles through reading promotion in the school, increased technology skills, and STEM activities in all grades! Before leaving, Watts even took a stroll around the school and visited some of our students and classrooms! Thank you to Cobb EMC for its support!

WOW: By now, you know the Band programs in Bartow County are top-notch, but did realize just how good they are? Check out these familiar faces in the Georgia All-State Band! Emma Brown, CMS Nola Brown, CMS Vincent Morris, CMS Camden Briggs, CHS Melanie Armstead, CHS Damaya Norwood, CHS Lillian Taylor, CHS Ben Novo, WHS Stephen Owens, WHS Trip Drennan, WHS After passing rigorous auditions, these students earned the right to travel to Athens over the weekend and learn from world-renowned conductors! Cass Middle School was the only middle school in Bartow County to have members in the Georgia All-State Band and were tied for the most students in all the middle schools in GMEA District 7. CMS also had the most students in GMEA District 7 make District band in February with 22 incredible students! Congratulations to some of the best musicians in the state of Georgia!

COMMUNICATE + CONNECT + SUCCEED: The Bartow County School System is strengthening the connection between home and school – one language class at a time! Under the direction and leadership of ESOL Program Coordinator Kristy Mitchell, more than 70 BCSS parents are receiving heavily discounted English as a Second Language classes through a partnership with Organic Language Acquisition School. Parents who primarily speak Spanish, Japanese, or even Punjabi are now learning basic words and phrases, the alphabet, and how to read in English. This unique opportunity has resulted in 74.1 percent of the parents participating saying they are more actively involved in their child’s school, and 81.5% say they are now more confident in helping their child with their homework. One of our most successful partnerships to date; for more information on how to get involved, please contact Kristy Mitchell at kristy.mitchell@bartow.k12.ga.us. Additional classes will be offered in the future.

GA TOTY FINALIST INFORMATION: While Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist Michael Kobito awaits a formal state interview and speech to advance in the competition, read why he's truly one of the best in the country! “What a tremendous honor for one of our most preeminent teachers,” said Bartow County School System Superintendent Dr. Philip Page. “As far back as our Teacher of the Year records date, which is more than two decades, we have not seen a teacher advance to this elite level. We are so proud of Mr. Kobito and the work he’s doing at his alma mater. The marching band is well known for its accolades, and I know students are excited to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade next year under Mr. Kobito’s leadership. Students say, ‘the way he teaches changes lives.’ We believe that statement wholeheartedly because we’ve seen it.” https://www.bartow.k12.ga.us/article/679822

STATE RECOGNITION: Congratulations to Ms. Stormy Ruff, our Exceptional Education lead teacher, on her graduation from the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education (GCASE) Administrator Development Academy! Ms. Ruff participated in the academy this academic year and recently presented her project at the Spring Legal Conference in Athens, Georgia.

NEW: This is "shout it from the rooftop" type news for the Bartow County School System; Woodland High School Teacher and Band Director Michael Kobito is named one of only 10 finalists in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition! He truly represents the very best of our state's public education system! Congratulations! Additional details to come! "My goal as a teacher has always been to give my kids a chance to learn and be successful, just like my most impactful teachers did to me," said Kobito. "I want my kids to find pride in who they are and who they are becoming while in our school. To be recognized as the Teacher of the Year at my alma mater has been a special experience for me personally because it showed some validation that my goal was coming to fruition. The recognition from the school system was special because I felt like I was representing Woodland well. Now, to be selected as a State Finalist...that's huge! I am so proud to represent our school and county, not only as a graduate of our school system, but as a teacher in it."

CARTERSVILLE DANCES WITH THE STARS: Adairsville Middle School Teacher Lynn Hedden competed in the 10th Annual Cartersville Dances with the Stars event this weekend and raised $16,166 for Backpack Buddies and the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter! Special thanks to the generous donors below and Woodland High School Teacher Tiffany Tindall for choreographing the dance! Such a special night and tribute to Chuck Nida, a longtime supporter of Bartow County Schools. Bartow County Schools Employees Adairsville Middle School Cass Middle School North Georgia Community Foundation H&R Block AllState Insurance Company Mr. Softee Swim Blessing Raffle El Nopal of Adairsville Spirit Night Knockout Nutrition of Adairsville Image Source II

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMEN: Three Bartow County juniors vied for the top spot this weekend in the prestigious Distinguished Young Woman of Bartow County competition and each walked away with titles! Ava Helton - Talent, Fitness, and Overall Winner, CHS Loren Montoya - Scholastic & Interview Winner, CHS JoBeth O'Kelley - Scholastic Winner, AHS Ava is now the Bartow County Representative for the Class of 2023 and will compete for the state title this summer! Congratulations, ladies! We are so very proud! Our very own WHS Senior Mya Moffitt is currently the Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia! Clearly, the best of the best come from BARTOW COUNTY!

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES: Calling all high school students & teachers in Bartow County! Check out this summer STEM Academy and Entrepreneurship Academy located in North Carolina! It's free to all accepted applicants!

STEM...IT'S WHO WE ARE: Of course, we're participating in Georgia STEM Day! Check out EHES students working on several STEM projects today!