February 2025

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February is a great time to review expectations with your children. We are slightly past the halfway mark into this school year and children benefit greatly from hearing their parents share what they expect from them in the area of academics, behaviors and friendships. It is also a great time to think about how many absences your child has had so far this year. The latest research shows that students being in school to learn is more important than ever and the negative impacts of high absenteeism starts as early as kindergarten. A good goal is to not miss more than 10 school days in a school year.

ATTENDANCE = LEARNING The Chief staff would like to continue to encourage families to limit family trips and vacations that take students out of school during the 180 day school year. When a student is absent, it can have an effect on the progress of the whole class, not just on the individual student who is absent. While everyone is sick sometimes and has to be absent, combined data has indicated Wolverine students have missed over 30 days of instruction this year due to parent requests and out-of-town trips alone. We want students to achieve at the highest levels at Chief. To do this, we need the highest levels of school attendance. Thank you for partnering with us about this issue.

I am so proud of our school. Although we still have many things to improve, and the journey toward every student being able to meet standard and beyond is slow and steady, we are making significant progress. We have such an amazing staff dedicated to meeting the needs of every student and providing a safe, positive learning environment. We will continue to do our best and to respond to new tensions and trials but I know that we are doing good work and that work is making a difference in more student’s lives every day. Thank you for being a part of this effort with us.

Mrs. Grigg, Principal

• Feb 19, 26 : One-hour late starts
• Feb 20: 6:30pm PTO meeting in the Chief Media Center

2024-25 school calendar

The 2024-25 academic calendar (Русский) (Español) is online. Here are some key dates:

• Spring break: Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4

• Last day of school: Tuesday, June 10 (assuming no added days for weather-related closures)

February is Black History Month—a time to honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black leaders, past and present. From scientists and artists to athletes and activists, Black individuals have shaped history and continue to inspire us today. This month, we encourage our students to learn, reflect, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage that makes our community stronger. Let’s take this opportunity to recognize the importance of diversity, inclusion, and the power of history in shaping our future!

6th grade Outdoor School field trip to Cispus Learning Center is right around the corner, March 25-28, 2025. The 6th grade teachers are hard at work planning, High School Student Counselors have been selected, and we held a parent information meeting on October 23rd. If you were unable to attend here is a video with pictures from last year's trip. Permission slips and more information will be shared out to 6th grade families this month If you are interested in attending as a parent volunteer please reach out to Mrs. Coine, limited parent volunteer positions available.

Snow routes for 2024-25 are now posted on the district website. Be sure and take a moment to check out our handy winter weather guide for information on late starts or school closures due to weather-related impacts. Please note, the district is divided into “north” and “south” schools. This year, Battle Ground Virtual Academy is considered a south school.

In case of a school closure or late start, we may begin contacting families as early as 5:30 a.m. We will attempt to contact you at the telephone number and email address that are listed in your Skyward (Family Access) account. We would encourage you to take a minute and log into Skyward to verify your contact information is up to date. You can also reach out to your school office for assistance.

Students can drop off a parent note for a student to ride a bus not their own in the office before school or during student lunches. Students can pick up their buss pass in the office at the end of the day. Parents can also email bus passes to info.cms@battlegroundps.org Bus passes will not be written for students after school.

When your student will be or is absent please let us know by emailing info.cms@battlegroundps.org. Be sure to include the reason so we can log the absence correctly. You can also enter the absence through Skyward.

Join our direct mailing list by filling out this google form.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MS SPORTS

Season 3

• Girls soccer January 13, 2025 - February 26, 2025

• Boys basketball January 27, 2025 - March 12, 2025

Season 4

• Coed track starts Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Student clearance opens on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

• Clearance closes at end of day on Tuesday, April 22, 2025

• Last day of the season: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Activity fee

Students who participate in middle school sports pay a one-time $40 fee per sport that cover some program costs such as transportation between games and officials. Find out if your family qualifies for waived activity fees.

All fines and current fees must be paid before the first contest in order for the student to be able to participate. If fees are a burden to your family, please contact your school’s main office.

Sports physicals

Students who participate in sports must have a sports physical before practices begin (physical clearance is good for 24 months). Sports physicals must be completed prior to the start of practices.

WIAA sports physical form (PDF)

Consent to share

Students wishing to take advantage of no-fee sports or other activities must have a new meal benefit application and consent to share form (русский) (Español) on file before registering for fall sports, even if you had a previous approved application on file. The consent to share can also be completed as part of the annual student update through Skyward.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MS SPORTS

Cell Phones & Electronics - OFF & AWAY - ALL DAY

All electronic devices (phones, earbuds, etc.) must be powered off and put in backpacks while students are at school. If you need to reach your student during the day for emergency or transportation reasons, please call the main office. 1st offense is a warning. 2nd offense the phone is turned into the office for the day and the student can pick it up after school (minor referral). 3rd offense the phone is turned into the office and a parent must pick up the phone (major referral).

Hats/Hoods off & Gum free

Students should remove hats and hoods when entering the building. Gum should be thrown in a garbage can before entering the building for the day.

Keeping students safe online is a priority in Battle Ground Public Schools. Recent events have reinforced the need to use caution when interacting online. These include national reports of online groups targeting children and teens. While we are not aware of BGPS students being targeted by these groups, it is important for staff, students and parents/guardians to work together to keep our young people safe.

How you can help students be safe

Please periodically review these tips with your child:

• Students should keep their passwords confidential. They should not share passwords or allow others to use their Chromebook after they sign in.

• Use school email addresses for only school-related communication and activities.

• Be cautious when accepting friend requests; communicating with other people online; and sharing photos, videos, and identifying information on social media and other sites. Review privacy settings to limit who can see this information.

• Monitor what your child is doing online and discuss risks associated with sharing personal content.

• Use GoGuardian Parent to see how your child is using their device. Get information on GoGuardian Parent.

How BGPS keeps students safe

• BGPS supports the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and insists that websites the district uses adhere to this law.

• The district provides active supervision and filtering of content on all devices in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act.

• The district restricts access to apps that have the potential for abuse or pose cybersecurity risks.

• Student data privacy agreements protect student information in conjunction with the Washington Student Data Privacy Alliance.

• Students learn about digital citizenship and appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response.

Learn more and find links to resources.

AI in the classroom

Artificial intelligence is a growing part of our everyday lives and there are a lot of questions about its use in classrooms. Battle Ground Public Schools uses MagicSchool for teachers and MagicStudent on the student side. MagicStudent does not collect student data and includes important safeguards to provide a safe environment to build AI literacy skills and accessibility tools to develop independence and improve learning. Visit the district website for more resources about going online safely.

Survey results on cellphone use, start times and school libraries

Last fall, Battle Ground Public Schools conducted a ThoughtExchange to gather ideas about student use of cellphones during school, school start times, school libraries and more. More than 2,200 people responded, including parents/guardians, students, staff members and community members. Thank you to everyone who participated! Your input helps guide decisions on these topics. Visit the district website to view the full survey results and read the key findings.

February school lunch menus

February school breakfast and lunch menus are available via Nutrislice and the district website. Meal expenses can be paid through InTouch Receipting.

Enroll now for kindergarten next fall

Any child who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2025, is eligible to enroll in kindergarten this fall. Enroll now to make sure your child can attend kindergarten orientation in the spring.

Transitional Kindergarten

Battle Ground Public Schools also offers Transitional Kindergarten for children who will turn 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet certain eligibility requirements. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage to learn more about the program. Applications will be accepted starting in early February.

Eighth and ninth graders invited to take PSAT

Students in grades 8 and 9 are invited to take the new PSAT 8/9 on April 26. This optional test is designed to help as you start your high school journey. It will help you understand where you are and where you want to go, as well as assisting with preparing for future assessment tests. With your scores, you'll get customized guidance to help you explore careers that match your interests and skills and information to help you search for colleges.Registration ends Friday, April 18.Visit the district’s standardized testing page to learn more.

Enrollment is open for many of the district’s alternative learning experience programs

Battle Ground Public Schools’ specialized and alternative learning experience programs are accepting enrollment applications for the 2024-25 school year. The district offers specialized and alternative programs for students in kindergarten through high school. Please see each program’s enrollment page for details on availability.

• Character and Academics for the Marketplace (CAM) Academy - A grades 3-12 school focusing on English language arts, history, science, math and instruction in computer technology.

• Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education (CASEE) - A half-day program focused on science, technology, engineering and math on an 80-acre learning campus in Brush Prairie.

• Summit View High School - An individualized learning environment for students from ages 14-21 focusing on reaching graduation.

• Open Doors GED - A program through Summit View High School for students ages 16-21 who are behind in credits and want to earn their GED.

• River HomeLink - An accredited public school providing parent-partnered educational options and support for students.

• Battle Ground Virtual Academy - BGVA provides a high-quality online learning experience where students are assigned a teacher with whom they and their parents meet regularly. Parents and guardians also play an active role in their child's online education.

Early Childhood Assistance program coming to Captain Strong Primary

Families of children ages 3-5 looking for preschool options are encouraged to check out the program at Captain Strong Primary. This program offers qualifying families a free preschool option. Students receive academic and social-emotional education through play-based activities with meals and snacks provided. Get more information and apply (en Español).

Basics of digital citizenship

Do you know how to be a good digital citizen? With students completing more work online, it is increasingly important that they understand how to recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world. Parents and guardians can learn more on the district’s parent resources webpage, including managing technology at home, resources for digital citizenship and setting up parental controls.

Care Solace: Your link to mental health support

Battle Ground Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students and their immediate family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help any student and/or their immediate family members quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of insurance or circumstance. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 in any language).

• Visit www.caresolace.com/battlegroundps and either search on your own or select “Book appointment” for assistance by video chat, email or phone.

Employee Recognition Award

Do you know an amazing staff member? The new Employee Recognition Awards will highlight staff members who reflect the district’s strategic plan goals. Three nominees will be selected each month and recognized at a board meeting. Everyone is welcome to submit a nomination.

Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services

Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433

Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431

Please report bullying, intimidation, harassment, threats and safety concerns using our anonymous reporting system. Reporters can remain anonymous. Emergencies should always be reported to 911. Learn more about emergency procedures and safety protocols.

Bus routes posted and FirstView mobile app

Bus routes are now available online. For questions about school district bus service, call your school or First Student at 360-841-7099, ext. 103 or 104. Please be aware that the first several weeks of school can often see changes to routes as First Student makes adjustments. Any changes impacting riders will be communicated by your child’s school.

Due to road construction in many areas of the district, some buses may need to take a detour and/or may be delayed. For the most up-to-date route information, late alerts, notifications when your student is close to home, etc., we strongly recommend installing the FirstView mobile app, available through the Apple App Store and Google Play. PLEASE NOTE: The district code has changed this year. To use the app, enter the four-digit code LMWV. Get instructions for installing the app.

Health and safety resources

See health and safety resources from the Washington state Dept. of Health.

8:10 a.m.– 2:40 p.m. – Student Hours
9:10 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. – Wednesday Late Start

10:10 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. – 2hr Late Start

Student drop off begins at 7:45am (or 8:45am on Wednesdays). Please do not drop students off before this time. Click here for Full Bell Schedules

MISSION STATEMENT

We believe in a safe learning community where all members are valued, respected, and encouraged to reach their maximum potential.

VISION STATEMENT

Creating Excitement for Learning