Bartow County School System

BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER: So far, we have about 100 returning Read to Grow volunteers, but we need about 250 additional volunteers to cover all first-grade classrooms systemwide. Please join our team if you have some time to spare in your week to help our young children read! If you're interested, a training session will be held next Tuesday, August 17, at the Bartow County College and Career Academy. No registration required. For additional information, contact Kristy Mitchell at Kristy.Mitchell@bartow.k12.ga.us

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW: Woodland High School science students are experiencing the extension inquiry lab in Mr. Selman and Ms. Phillip's classes! BCSSSuccess #ExtendingTheLearning

NEW MENU ITEM ALERT: Personal Pan Pizzas! Freshly baked personal pan pizzas are served on Tuesdays & Thursdays at all middle and high schools! #FuelingGA #BCSSSuccess

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Who else saw this in Cartersville??!! We're ready for Friday nights in The Doug!!

WOODLAND WOW MOMENT: The man at the helm of a nationally recognized high school wrestling team, Adrian Tramutola, now earns the titles of Georgia’s Coach of the Year and Section 3 Coach of the Year from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Tramutola or “Coach T” is Woodland High School’s health and physical education teacher, head wrestling coach, and athletic coordinator. In his 13 years at WHS, the Woodland Wrestling Team has been named Team of the Year for All Sports in Georgia by USA Today. They also won seven state championships and seven runner-up finishes! “Coach T instills in his wrestlers a championship vision that encompasses all components of the scholar-athlete,” said WHS Principal David Stephenson. “He is clear about the commitment level required to succeed at the highest level, and he continually reinforces the intangibles that contribute to championship-level success: practice, fortitude, scholarship, and character. He doesn’t allow himself nor his athletes to believe that they can do anything BUT be the best they can be if they commit and follow through on those intangibles.” “This is a fantastic achievement and very well deserved,” added WHS Assistant Principal John Howard. “Coach Tramutola brings so much to the school by creating a championship atmosphere within his program. Students are inspired to be the best they can be, and the results speak for themselves. We are blessed to have him as part of the Wildcat family.” Prior to starting at WHS, Tramutola moved from Miami, Florida, and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he earned a degree in Sociology and master’s in K-12 Studies. Tramutola taught in Cobb and Morgan counties before becoming a Wildcat. As a Wildcat, Tramutola attributes his success to his students, parents, coaching staff, and administration. “In the early years at Woodland, we were blessed with great parents that supported us relentlessly,” added Tramutola. “They worked around the clock to make sure our kids had every opportunity to be successful. We've also had a great coaching staff in place with one goal – coach the kids we have in our room every day and not focus on anyone or anything else. We have always had great support from our administration at Woodland, and they will go to bat for us anytime we need them. Its cliché in sports to say our team is like a family, but ask anyone that has ever been associated with our program, and they will tell you that is exactly what it is. In a sport as demanding, physically and mentally, and time consuming as wrestling, you must have 100% buy-in. Our kids know we will support them and be there for them in any aspect of their lives, and I truly believe that’s why they believe in us as coaches.” The National Wrestling Coaches Association will officially present Tramutola’s awards in February prior to the Traditional State Tournament finals. Meanwhile, Woodland Wrestling starts in late October, and Tramutola expects the same level of success to carry into the 2021-2022 school year. “We will do the same we do every year around that time and that's go to work!,” said Tramutola.

HISTORIC HIGHS: College Board’s newly released Advanced Placement Scholar Roster includes 102 Bartow County School System students – the highest number ever recorded in Bartow County! College Board’s AP program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school. Students can earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP exams administered in high schools. College Board recognizes three levels of achievement based on student performance and AP exams. The highest level of academic distinction is AP Scholar with Distinction, followed by AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar. Fifteen students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of 3.5 or higher on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. The honorees include Mark Brunson (AHS ’22), Sydney Irons (AHS ’22), Connor Patterson (AHS ’22), Camden Briggs (CHS ’22), Jaden Musacchio (CHS ’21), Jeffrey Shane (CHS ’21), Shelby Bishop (WHS ’22), Abigail Carlsen (WHS ’22), Stephane Echevarria (WHS ’22), JT Forsyth (WHS ’22), Joseph Jenkins (WHS ’21), Benjamin Novo (WHS ’22), Tucker Spivey (WHS ’21), Christopher Tarver (WHS ’22), and Caden Wolf (WHS ’22). Eleven students received the AP Scholar with Honor Award after earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. The recipients are Carson Carroll (CHS ’22), Aniya Perry (CHS ’22), Brenna Willingham (CHS ’21), Kevin Bassler (WHS ’21), Gregory Browning (WHS ’21), Taylor Chappell (WHS ’22), Jayla Chastain (WHS ’22), Ellie Eanes (WHS ’22), Eryn Gentry (WHS ’22), Priscila Martinez (WHS ’21), and Camber Wallace (WHS ’23). Seventy-six students earned the AP Scholar Award by earning a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. The honorees are Lily Benefield (AHS ’21), Wesley Boling (AHS ’22), Christina Burdette (AHS ’21), Andy Chen (AHS ’21), Brentley Durham (AHS ’21), Rachel Guice (AHS ’21), Kayli Hilburn (AHS ’22), Jose Marquez (AHS ’21), Kenny Nichols (AHS ’21), Jack Rood (AHS ’21), Melissa Sandoval (AHS ’21), Abigail Simpson (AHS ’22), Aldon Aquarian (CHS ’22), Maki Barnes (CHS ’22), Jessica Bhika (CHS ’21), Kaleb Bilodeau (CHS ’21), Emma Buffington (CHS ’21), Kayla Campbell (CHS ’21), Chloe Carpenter (CHS ’21), Phebe Carroll (CHS ’21), Alex DeAnda Rodriguez (CHS ’22), Eli Etheridge (CHS ’22), Oshauna Finch (CHS ’21), Caleb Hatzidakis (CHS ’21), Aislen Hernandez (CHS ’22), Zael Hurtado (CHS ’21), Kyla Jenkins (CHS ’21), Ricky Le (CHS ’22), Taylor Moore (CHS ’21), Isabel Navarro (CHS ’21), Meera Patel (CHS ’21), Hugo Ramirez (CHS ’21), Emma Satterfield (CHS ’22), Adriana Segura (CHS ’21), Andrew Turley (CHS ’21), Caroline Ventura-Velasquez (CHS ’21), Alana Walker (CHS ’21), Kelly Young (CHS ’22), Andrew Ziemer (CHS ’22), Isaiah Bagley (WHS ’21), Chandler Barras (WHS ’21), Jenna Bassler (WHS ’23), Logan Bennett (WHS ’22), Erica Boatner (WHS ’22), Erin Bollwerk (WHS ’22), Patrick Bollwerk (WHS ‘21), Marlee Bowles (WHS ’22), Kameron Chappell (WHS ’23), Baylee Childs (WHS ’21), Nicholas Constantine (WHS ’21), Aiden Cornette (WHS ‘23), Olivia Corp (WHS ’21), Mac Doran (WHS ’22), Adam Edens (WHS ’23), Brady Fuller (WHS ’21), Elijah Gentry (WHS ’21), Paulina Gierlak (WHS ’21), Hannah Godfrey (WHS ’23), Alana Hennon (WHS ’22), Gabriel Hull (WHS ’22), Savannah Lawson (WHS ’22), Natalie Letalien (WHS ’21), Kassidy McCool (WHS ’22), Mya Moffitt (WHS ’22), Sydney Molinaro (WHS ’21), Shanice N’guessan (WHS ’22), Haylee Roach (WHS ’22), Kaylie Roan (WHS ’21), Emma Savage (WHS ’21), Kaitlyn Sennett (WHS ’21), Matthew Stone (WHS ’22), Andrew Thayer (WHS ’23), Mason Tucker (WHS ’22), Bradley Walraven (WHS ’21), Jordan Waters (WHS ’21), and Blane York (WHS ’21). “Praise and congratulations go out to these students who have worked diligently throughout the years to achieve at high levels,” said Paula Camp, director of Advanced Learning, STEM, and Gifted Programs. “Our faculty, staff, parents, and community play an integral role in supporting the AP program. From about 22 AP course offerings last year to 25 this year and seven in the works, our AP program is stronger than it has ever been. Since 2017, our AP test takers and number of AP exams administered have tripled! This exponential growth is impressive and encouraging for our system!”

LEADING, LEARNING, AND EARNING: Red Top Middle School Counselor Heather Pezzello wins the Circle of Excellence Impact Award from the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia – a $5,000 prestigious school award that holds even greater value to RTMS students! “We will be using our award this school year to take our eighth-grade students on career/education field trips based on their YouScience aptitudes,” said Pezzello. “Students will be visiting career sites as well as institutions that offer the training required for that particular career field.” Pezzello won the Circle of Excellence Impact Award as a result of her innovative career readiness programming and leadership in helping students earn credentials of value and connecting students to career opportunities in construction. Last academic year, RTMS used its Focus Time to offer a Home Improvement course to interested students. Students were selected for the program using their YouScience aptitude results as well as self-referral. Students learned basic carpentry, electrical, and plumbing skills. More than 100 students even earned real industry credentials! On July 28, Pezzello was recognized by CEFGA at the 2021 Craft Pro Champions Breakfast Ceremony in Atlanta.

IT'S ON: Mark those calendars because registration is OPEN for the 5th Annual Backpack Buddies 5K! * Aug. 28th * 5K - $25 * 1K Fun Run - $20 * Ghost Runner option still receives a t-shirt! * $500 goes to the school with the most registrants! * Proceeds support Backpack Buddies initiative! MORE INFO HERE: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Cartersville/DowntownCartersville5KtosupportBackpackBuddies

SAFETY MESSAGE: Our campus police officers are back in the classroom! Today, Officer Thompson visited Woodland Middle School's Computer Science classes to discuss safe cell phone usage. Very important in today's world and among middle school students!

SADDLE UP: Woodland High School Senior Sawyer Cofield knew she was in for a wild ride when she met her performance horse "Pebbles" for the first time about nine months ago! Since then, this top-notch equestrian celebrated four Top 10, four Top 5, one Reserve World Championship (2nd place), and one World Championship (1st place) in Oaklahoma! Now, Sawyer is on a quest to obtain a TOP 20 TITLE! She is currently ranked 23rd in Novice Youth and 28th in Youth 14-18 in the Nation. In the meantime, Sawyer attends the Bartow County College and Career Academy and is enrolled in the Cosmetology Pathway! Clearly, Sawyer is unstoppable! Let's wish her luck as she continues to make a name for herself!

BACK IN BARTOW: Day two, and the fun is just getting started! Look who we spotted at Cloverleaf Elementary today?! Quite possibly some of the cutest kiddos and best superintendent around!

It is Euharlee Elementary School’s time to shine! After initiating a crucial culture shift and doing the right work to improve student performance, EHES has been named a Reward School by the Georgia Department of Education! #BetterInBartow

FIRST DAY FUN: Sweet staff and unbreakable bonds; what a great first day at Hamilton Crossing Elementary School! #backtoschool #bestyearever

FIRST DAY FUN: These Emerson Eagles soared into a new year in style, and what fun memories with Superintendent Page! #backtoschool #bestyearever

FIRST DAY FUN: Everyone's rocking and rolling and doing the right work at Red Top Middle School as Superintendent Page visits on the first day! #backtoschool #bestyearever

FIRST DAY FUN: Here are some of your favorite faces as Woodland High School kicks off its BEST YEAR YET! #backtoschool #bestyearever

FIRST DAY FUN: These sweet students welcomed Principal Amy Heater and Chief Leadership and Learning Officer Clint Terza to "The Leaf!" From outdoor activities to hallway photo booths, the energy from these CLES students was wonderful to see! #backtoschool #bestyearever

FIRST DAY FUN: The excitement is real at Adairsville Middle School as students and staff reunite! #backtoschool #bestyearever

FIRST DAY FUN: Students at the Bartow County College and Career Academy welcomed new Principal Dr. Greg Doss and Assistant Principal Lori Scifers today with open arms! Here's a small snapshot of their day! #backtoschool #bestyearever

ALL HANDS ON DECK: School starts tomorrow! Please be mindful of our busses on the roadway. All Bartow County School police officers will be in the area of their assigned schools monitoring and working traffic as needed. They will also visit each school throughout the day and respond to any calls for service if needed. The Bartow County Sheriff Office will also assist us with traffic at Mission Road Elementary and other locations as needed. The Adairsville Police Department, Emerson Police Department, and Euharlee Police Department will help us with the schools located in their jurisdiction. The Georgia State Patrol has been asked to step up patrol in school zones as well. We appreciate these agencies assisting us, not only for the first day but throughout the school year!