Bartow County School System

WOW: Forget state, regional, or even national recognition, this Odyssey of the Mind team from Adairsville High School is working toward WORLDWIDE honors and recognition! John Sprayberry, Hope Brown, Ella Goble, Brailyn Myrick, and Tori Sprayberry (shown below) are headed to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals May 25 through May 28 at Iowa State University! The team qualified for World Finals after competing in the state competition earlier this month at Columbus State University! Odyssey of the Mind is an international, educational, creative, problem-solving competition. Every year, there are six long-term problems designed for vehicle, technical, classical arts and literature, structure, performance, and primary. After selecting their problem, teams spend weeks or months working together and creating a solution to their long-term problem. Working in teams, students learn teamwork, the appreciation and understanding of what others bring to the group, and a group is a more powerful thinking force than an individual. We are so proud of our AHS Odyssey of the Mind team! Let's wish them well as they head to World Finals! Hit that "love" button!

RED APPLE RUN: A little rain couldn't stop the Bartow Education Foundation from hosting the best race ever this weekend! The second annual 5K run and 1.5 mile walk to support the Teacher Grant Program was a tremendous success! Clear Creek Elementary, Cass Middle, and Cass High won the Top Team Awards for the most participants!

NEW: Our 2022-2023 Bartow Virtual Academy application window will open May 1 and close on May 31 for rising 6th-12th grade BCSS students. You can find additional information and the application link here: https://bartowga.sites.thrillshare.com/page/bartow-virtual-academy

GRADUATION REMINDER: Who's getting excited and maybe a little nervous?! We can't wait to see our seniors in their caps and gowns next month! Monday, May 23 – Cass High at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 – Woodland High at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 26 – Adairsville High at 8 p.m.

FREE SENSORY FRIENDLY DAY: The Booth Western Art Museum's Sensory Friendly Day is coming up on Saturday, May 7, from 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Registration is encouraged but not required. Check it out! https://boothmuseum.org/event/sensory-friendly-day/

DID YOU KNOW: You can use an EBT card at the Cartersville Farmers Market? Details below! Also, remember, children 18 or under can receive meals at no cost this summer through our summer feeding program. Additional information coming soon!

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: STEM CERTIFICATION • Kingston Elementary School • Red Top Middle School

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN’S WEEK WINNERS Exceptional Children’s Week is an annual celebration of students with exceptionalities and the professionals who serve them. This national movement was started by the Council for Exceptional Children. Each year, the Bartow County School System seeks to recognize the students and educators who work tirelessly within our Exceptional Education Department. Citizenship Elementary School Winner Cayden Thomas-Hicks, CCES Citizenship High School Winner Jaylin Sullivan, CHS Technological Brilliance Winner Hunter Davis, EES Sportsmanship Winner Matthew Rodriguez, AHS Artistic Gifts and Talents Winner Ariel Palmer, KES Bartow County Employee System Winners Exceptional Education Coordinators Amanda Smith Cara Shores Justin Fitzgerald Bartow County Employee Elementary School Winner Amanda Robinson, CCES Academic Excellence Elementary School Winner Griffin Galford, WES Academic Excellence Middle School Winner Carly Kelley, CMS Academic Excellence High School Winner Erik Gutierrez, CHS Director’s Choice Award Stephanie Hadaway, System Level Behavior Specialist

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: 2022 STATE WRESTLING Woodland High School, Head Coach Adrian Tramutola Caleb Henson, three-time STATE CHAMPION Cole Cochran, two-time STATE CHAMPION

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: 2022 STATE WRESTLING Cass High School, Head Coach D.L. Koontz Duals Team Champion (Seniors) Abigail Gentry Cole Hunt, 120, Traditional and Individual State Champion Bryce Kresho, 138, Traditional third-place (Juniors) Tripp Adams, 195, Traditional Team Elijah Doolittle, 152, Traditional Team Parker Dunn, 182, Traditional fourth-place Tyler McKnight, 145, Traditional runner-up Zach McKnight: 170, Traditional runner-up Camdan Walters Will Buttrum (Sophomores) Lee Camp, 106, Traditional runner-up Angel Castandeda Jake Crapps, 126, Traditional and Individual State Champion Richard Martin Neurexia Montero Neurimar Montero Juan Aragort (Freshman) Anthony Alcazar Hunter Barrett Malekhi McFarley AJ Piatt, 113, Traditional runner-up Kriecg Roe, 160, Traditional fourth-place Tanner Toups (Managers) Mariah Martin Breanna Yelverton Alicia Gentry Novella Martin

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: 2022 STATE WRESTLING • Adairsville High School, Head Coach Ryan Torrence • Isaac Linley, 132 lbs, two-time STATE CHAMPION

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: YOUNG GEORGIA AUTHORS WRITING COMPETITION – REGION WINNERS • Joseph Loh, CHS • Samantha Lusian – AHS

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: SPELLING BEE REGIONAL WINNER – Ethan Rollax, Adairsville Middle School Even though Ethan did not advance to the Scripp’s National Spelling Bee, state leaders were blown away by how well he did in the state spelling bee competition, and we sure are proud of him here in the Bartow County School System! Ethan is doing BIG things and will continue to do so – mark our words – and look at that contagious smile!

BOARD RECOGNITIONS: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH – Ms. Stephanie White, our outstanding volunteer at Adairsville Elementary School! “Stephanie White is the most dedicated volunteer at AES. She started mentoring a student when he was a second grader, and he is now in fourth-grade. Their relationship has helped him become a better student, both academically and behaviorally. She gives of her time on a weekly basis and shows him what true dedication is. Stephanie also volunteers in multiple classrooms, including the rooms of her two daughters. She supports the Gateway teachers with any projects they do and makes sure nothing is left undone. We look forward to seeing Stephanie come into the school, and we know with her, our students are extra blessed.” – AES

CANCEL CANCER COLOR RUN 5K: If you missed the Red Apple Run this weekend, have no fear, Cass High School is here! The school's Cancel Cancer Color Run is this Saturday! Meet us at the reconstructed Colonel Trail and wear your favorite white t-shirt! Use the link below to sign up for the most COLORFUL run in Bartow County! Half of the the proceeds benefit the Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation! https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/White/CancelCancerCOLORRUN5K

You're invited to join us for a virtual Coffee with the Principal on Thursday, April 21, at 10:00 am. We will be giving important updates on our goals for this year and our progress towards them, upcoming events for the remainder of the school year, and important dates regarding next school year. Use this link to sign up for the meeting: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F45A8AD23AAF94-coffee5 Use this link to join the meeting on Thursday: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NmU5ZTZiZTktNzljZC00NzE2LWFkNjYtYzA3NGNlNGU2Mzk5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22846e829e-3694-42be-9e87-6cbb3e2765cb%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%220c6a3437-466f-467b-b9b7-1ea58e40d6db%22%7d

The Bartow County School System will once again host its Summer Intervention Program May 31 - June 23 for all students who do not show proficiency on one or more of their identified essential standards by the last day of school. If it appears your child may need this additional assistance, you will be notified by letter before May 9. This in-person Summer Intervention Program is required, not optional for all identified students. Through our Professional Learning Communities process, each grade level and subject area collaboration team work through a rigorous process to identify essential standards or critical knowledge your child must acquire while in class. Students work on these essential standards all year and are provided ample intervention time if they do not show proficiency. This program is only for students who still need extra assistance on their essential standards at the end of the academic year. The Summer Intervention Program is specifically for elementary and middle school students who have not met proficiency on all their essential standards in English Language Arts, Reading, and Math by the last day of school and high school students who earned between a 50 and 64 for their final grade in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. If required to attend the program, Monday through Thursday sessions will be held at your child’s school. Breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be available. Students who qualify for summer intervention will exit the program once they have met proficiency on the identified essential standards even if completed before June 23. Elementary and Middle School: Kindergarten – 8th Tuesday, May 31 – Thursday, June 23 (No Friday Sessions) 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ELA and Math Location: All Schools Lunch and Transportation Provided High School: 9th – 12th Grade Tuesday, May 31 – Thursday, June 23 (No Friday Sessions) Available for English, Math, Science, and Social Studies 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Location: All Schools Lunch and Transportation Provided

Adding up the accolades for all three Bartow County high schools, as they have been named Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools by the Georgia Department of Education! There are 239 AP Honor Schools this year in 88 districts. They are named in eight categories based on the results of 2021 AP courses and exams. Adairsville High School received the AP STEM School Award, AP Humanities School Award, and AP Expansion School Award. Cass High School earned the AP STEM School Award, AP Humanities School Award, AP Expansion School Award, and AP Access and Support School Award. Woodland High School gained the AP STEM School Award, AP Humanities School Award, and AP Expansion School Award. The following describes the categories in detail: AP Access and Support Schools Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identified themselves as African-American and/or Hispanic and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher. AP Challenge Schools Schools with enrollments of 900 or fewer students and students testing in English, math, science, and social studies. AP Expansion Schools AP schools with 25% growth in AP student participation from May 2020 to May 2021 and a minimum of 25 students testing in May 2020. AP Humanities Schools Schools with a minimum of five students testing in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two history/social science courses, one fine arts course and one world language course. 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 with a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses. (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles) 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. “We are very excited to increase our AP Honors School awards from two recognitions to three this year: AP Expansion, AP STEM, and now also AP Humanities,” said AHS AP Coordinator Beth Payton. “This is confirmation of the focused work put in by both our teachers and students in participating in the most rigorous academic opportunities available to them. Not only do our AP course offerings continue to grow, as we now offer 19 different advanced placement courses, but our AP student population has reached an all-time high as well, making up nearly 30% of the total student population. This growth continues to be reflected in our AP Expansion award, which we have earned over the last three years. We look forward to seeing continued growth in our AP program and the impact this will have on the lives of our students.” We are proud to see the hard work of our students and staff recognized with the distinction of an AP Honor School,” said CHS Principal Steve Revard. “Cass High has quadrupled our number of Honor School awards, going from one award in 2020 to four awards in 2022. Our achievements are due to AP students taking full advantage of additional course offerings. Last year, we noted a need for AP opportunities within Fine Arts. We added AP Music Theory and earned the AP Humanities award this year. That growth will continue with an additional AP Fine Arts course (3D Art) for next year, as well as three additional new AP courses. These additions come after expanding our AP opportunities by four new courses in 2021. There is also an increasing level of support for our students through study resources, peer tutoring opportunities, and one-on-one time with teachers. We are committed to an AP program that will continue to grow, not only in opportunities for our students, but also in testing results and data.” “We are excited to grow our AP program,” added WHS Principal Dave Stephenson. “We have worked to build an understanding that a child can access AP learning at any point in high school, and that has created a sense that AP is more open and accessible to all learners. For example, although a school is named an AP Expansion School by growing its program participation by 25% in a year, Woodland’s AP participation grew by 71.5%!” Each high school will be honored for its achievements at the Bartow County Board of Education meeting on May 16, 2022.

WOW: Two Bartow County students have been named REGIONAL WINNERS in the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition! Congratulations, Samantha Lusian (AHS) and Joseph Loh (CHS)! We cannot wait to read your literary works, "The Ink on the Wall," and "Perspective."

RED APPLE RUN: It's almost time to lace up your running shoes for the 2nd Annual Red Apple Run 5K and 1.5 Mile Walk this Saturday! However, today is the last day to register to ensure you receive a t-shirt! About $20K was raised last year! Let's surpass that! All proceeds benefit teachers and students in Bartow County through the Bartow Education Foundation's Teacher Grant Program. Register online at RedAppleRun.org.