Bartow County School System

SNEAK PEEK: Check out a few of our awesome kiddos on the cover of our new Student Handbook! We can't wait to see our teachers next week and our students August 6th for the first day of school! BIG things are happening in Bartow!

REMINDER: Here are your 2025-2026 OPEN HOUSE dates that we initially posted in the spring! We are gearing up for a special year! Remember, important dates will always be posted on our award-winning website, as well, and school supply lists will be on your individual school's website and/or social media channels😃📓
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Elementary/Middle
Monday, August 4, 2025
10:30 - 11:30 AM, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, and 5:00 - 6:00 PM
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High School
Monday, August 4, 2025
Grades 10th – 12th, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Freshman 6:00 - 7:00 PM
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BCCCA
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
4:30 – 6:00 PM

INTERNATIONAL STAGE: The MRES RoboCats had an unforgettable adventure at the Florida Sunshine Invitational in Daytona Beach!

From trading pins and bracelets to sampling international treats, our students connected with Robotics teams from around the globe in a celebration of creativity, culture, and collaboration. One of the highlights? Teaming up with a group from Cincinnati, Ohio for an exciting Alliance Round - two robots, one table, and a whole lot of teamwork!

This event offered our students a unique opportunity to apply their skills, adapt in a competitive environment, and build global connections. We appreciate the continued support from our coaches, sponsors, parents, and the MRES community, all of whom made this experience possible!🎉

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Two outstanding students from Adairsville High School's Engineering program, Levi Heim and Sam Bailey, earned an exclusive opportunity this summer to visit the Kennedy Space Center as division winners in the InSPIRESS Program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville!

During their visit, they presented their team’s project at the base of the historic Atlantis orbiter, sharing their work with both the public and NASA researchers. A highlight of the trip was witnessing a live satellite launch!

As part of their VIP tour, organized by UAH and NASA, they also explored iconic locations including the Vehicle Assembly Building, a launch pad, and the Industrial Operations Zone! They viewed two Artemis modules up close, saw Neil Armstrong’s flight suit, and stood in the very elevator used by astronauts as they begin their missions after quarantine! How amazing is that? Not many students can say they did that during summer break!

SAFETY & SECURITY: Leaders from law enforcement, emergency management, healthcare, education, and public information - all united under one roof with one shared purpose: protecting our students and staff. Special thanks to Bartow County School Police Chief Billy Henson for his help in coordinating this effort with Homeland Security Coordinator Kevin Stanfield. #vitalcollaboration #betterinbartow

ON THE ROAD: Huge shoutout to our Mission Road RoboCats! This outstanding Robotics team is on the road to the Florida Sunshine Invitational! We'll keep you up to date as they compete tomorrow against dozens of other countries!

WOW: Our School Nutrition team is on track to serve a QUARTER OF A MILLION MEALS in just SIX WEEKS with our Summer Feeding Program! OUTSTANDING WORK, BCSS!

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE: We’re proud to celebrate our very own Deputy Superintendent, Christian Suttle, for completing the prestigious two-year Superintendent Professional Development Program, an initiative led by the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia School Superintendents Association! This achievement reflects his dedication to educational leadership and excellence. We are fortunate to have such outstanding talent leading the way! #betterinbartow

BARTOW CARES: What started as a school-based initiative is now growing into a community-wide movement and even catching the attention of Harvard University! 👏 This year, Bartow Cares is expanding beyond our classrooms to include local businesses and faith-based organizations, all coming together around shared values like kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and hope. Last Thursday, we hosted an incredible community collaboration meeting with leaders from across Bartow County, including Cartersville First Baptist Pastor Kyle Walker, David Franklin, Sheriff Clark Millsap, Commissioner Steve Taylor, Chamber President Cindy Williams, and many more. 🤝 Together, we’re building a culture that supports our students’ well-being and academic success, and we’re just getting started. ✨ Stay tuned for more exciting updates on how Bartow Cares is growing and how you can be part of it! ✨

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: We’re proud to announce that 10 Bartow County schools have earned the “Beating the Odds” designation from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) for their exceptional performance during the 2023–2024 school year! So, what does “Beating the Odds” really mean? According to GOSA, it’s “a statistical analysis that compares a school’s actual performance on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) with the performance of schools with similar characteristics across the state. Schools that perform higher than similar schools are considered ‘Beating the Odds.’” In other words, these schools didn’t just meet expectations—they surpassed them, outperforming schools with similar profiles and past performance indicators. Congratulations to these outstanding schools: 🏆 Euharlee Elementary School 🏆 Mission Road Elementary School 🏆 Allatoona Elementary School 🏆 Clear Creek Elementary School 🏆 Cloverleaf Elementary 🏆 White Elementary School 🏆 Red Top Middle School 🏆 Kingston Elementary School 🏆 Hamilton Crossing Elementary School 🏆 Woodland High School

SUMMER STEM: We wrapped up this week's STEM Camp with a Special Operations drone demonstration and presentation from the Bartow County Sheriff's Office! Another highlight of the day?! Fourth graders running the end of camp awards ceremony! How neat to have elementary age children work the lights and audio in a state-of-the-art facility! You won't find these opportunities anywhere else! #betterinbartow

WOW: Our Seamless Summer Meal Program is off to an incredible start! In just the first three days of operation last week, our team served an amazing 26,692 meals—nearly double the number from this time last year! Awesome work, BCSS Nutrition Department!

FUTURE INNOVATORS: Our free Summer STEM Camp is in FULL SWING, and it's bigger and better than ever! Students are diving into hands-on learning at our new STEM Innovation Center, Esports Arena, and other facilities inside the Bartow County College and Career Academy! From snap circuits and aerial drones to robotics, animation, lighting, and sound, they're exploring it all! These exciting activities are helping students build problem-solving skills, think critically, spark creativity, and prepare for success in a rapidly evolving digital world. #betterinbartow

CODE & CONQUER: Our Emerson Elementary School Robotics Team, the Emerson Encoders, had the experience of a lifetime competing on the global stage at the Western Edge Invitational in California! From hype music and creative pit designs to pin trading, coding, and fierce competition, the Encoders fully emersed themselves in the experience. They returned home energized and equipped with new skills and insights to share with their teammates for the 2025–26 season. Special thanks to our incredible coaches, parents, and generous sponsors. Your support truly turned this dream into reality!

TECH TALK: The Bartow County School System continues to lead in STEM education, and that leadership was on full display at this year’s NWGA RESA STEM Forum, hosted at the Bartow County College and Career Academy. More than a dozen of our educators presented innovative strategies and solutions, while many others attended to gather fresh ideas and bring them back to their classrooms—fueling creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge learning across the school system! #betterinbartow

HAPPY HORIZONS: We’re proud to celebrate 51 remarkable educators who are stepping into retirement this year! Together, they’ve dedicated over 1,380 years to shaping minds, building futures, and strengthening our schools. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom, into the lives of students, families, and the heart of our community. Thank you for your years of service, your passion, and the legacy you leave behind! #betterinbartow --- Shelly Abernathy, 30 years Dave Adams, 35 years Christine Alderman, 25 years Tracey Alford, 30 years Linda S. Allen, 35 years Jason Arnold, 31 ½ years Tim Ayers, 20 years Molly Bearden, 19 years Cheryl Crawford, 33 years Jacki Culberson, 24 years Scott Cullifer, 30 years Sherry Fleming, 27 years Carla Fowler, 11 years Jessica Gardner, 30 years Regina Gilbert, 10 years Kristi Greger, 30 years Michele Gulledge, 17 years Donna Guyton, 30 years Maura Hammond, 25 years Bruce Harger, 30 years JR Hauger, 23 years Susan H. Hendrix, 24 years Sharon Hibberts, 38 years Dawn Holmes, 25 years Bobby Hughes, 29 years Sherrie Hughes, 35 years Sydney Hughes, 38 years Teresa Kraft, 30 years Jayme Laney, 31 years Kristy Laney, 32 years Susan Long, 20 years Melena Manley, 33 years Kaye Matthews, 34 years Katie McKenzie, 30 years Dr. Tracy Medlock, 35 years Nicky Moore, 30 years Summer Perry, 33 years William Pickel, 21 years Angie Pinkard, 30 years Dedra Rasbury, 23 years David J Rawlins, 29 years Henry Perry Rentz, 29 years John Shepherd, 30 years Lynn Sherman, 38 years Cara Shores, 37 years Terri Justus Smith, 26 ½ years Talina Starr, 18 years Kellie Thompson, 20 years Vicky M. Wade, 27 years Hollie West, 20 years Sherry Young, 27 years [Not all pictured]

THE RESULTS ARE IN: Bartow County showed up and showed out at this year’s Red Apple Run, hosted by the Bartow Education Foundation! 🎉 Top Participating Schools: Adairsville Elementary School Cass Middle School Woodland High School Each of these schools earned a $500 prize, thanks to the generosity of our amazing donors! 💰👏 Ms. Dot Frasier, Executive Director of the Foundation, proudly presented the checks during this week’s System Leadership meeting. With over 250 runners and walkers, the Red Apple Run raised more than $15,000 for the Foundation’s Teacher Grant Program — helping educators bring innovative ideas to life in Bartow classrooms! 🍎📚

LEADING & LEARNING: Do you spot a familiar face? Over 350 Bartow County School System leaders gathered today at the Clarence Brown Conference Center to dive into powerful conversations about Tier 1 instruction — that’s the everyday, high-quality teaching every student receives in the classroom!💡📚 Teachers and administrators are already planning for next year, using real data and teacher feedback to make sure our classrooms keep getting stronger! #betterinbartow #TeamBartow #learning #leading #levelingup

CLASS DISMISSED: The final bell rang, marking a day full of bittersweet goodbyes systemwide! There were tears, cheers, and high-fives as buses rolled away for the last time this school year. System administrators beamed with pride, waving to students, and teachers couldn’t hold back their emotions as students leaned out of bus windows, flashing the “🫶” symbol—a simple gesture that said it all. This isn’t goodbye—it’s “See you later!” To all BCSS students: have an amazing summer filled with fun, rest, and adventure! And don’t forget—Superintendent Terza has a special message just for YOU at 4 p.m. today. Be sure to pick up the phone!

SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM: It's back! Starting June 3, we will be offering meals at no cost to all children 18 years of age and under! The locations are below, but please remember, they are subject to change