October 2024

October 2024 - Monthly Newsletter

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Hello Wolverine Parents and Families,

Wolverine Families,

October is upon us, bringing with it the crisp breeze of autumn and the spirited energy of a new season. As we transition into this vibrant month, our school continues to embrace the fresh opportunities and learning experiences ahead. I am heartened by the enthusiasm and adaptability of our students, staff, and the entire school community. As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, let us celebrate the accomplishments of our students and recommit to our shared goal of fostering an enriching and supportive learning environment. Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to our school's mission, "Creating Excitement for Learning".

Tamarah Grigg, Principal & Justin Pierce, Assistant Principal.

Chief Info

Important Dates

Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23: One-hour late starts
Friday, Oct. 11, and Wednesday, Oct. 30: No school for students due to teacher training
Monday October 28: Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer practices begin.

2024-25 school calendar

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

Thanksgiving break: Nov. 27-29
Winter break: Dec. 23, 2024, through Jan. 3, 2025
Spring break: Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4
In-service dates (no student attendance): Oct. 11, Oct. 30, Jan. 29
Last day of school: Tuesday, June 10 (assuming no added days for weather-related closures)

October 31 Halloween Guidelines for Dress Up

Some friendly reminders:

School dress code must be followed…..must be adequately covered
No Masks
If makeup is needed to complete the costume, it must be applied at home. (this goes for hair paint, glitter, etc)
School appropriate props… no fake weaponry.

When in doubt… if you have to ask questions or think your costume might not meet the above criteria. DON’T WEAR IT!!!

Provide your input

Battle Ground Public Schools is conducting a ThoughtExchange to gather your ideas about student use of cellphones during school, school start times, school libraries and more. Your input will help guide future decisions on these topics. The ThoughtExchange will include both survey questions and opportunities for you to write in your own ideas. At the end, you can submit more ideas and rank those submitted by other people. Participation is anonymous.

Join the ThoughtExchange now. The deadline is Friday, Oct. 18.

Bus Passes

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.

Report your students Absences

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.

PTO news

General Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 17th 6:30 in the Chief Library

Spirit Wear Sale Through Oct. 6th. Online Ordering at https://chiefumtuch24.itemorder.com/shop/home/

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6th Grade Parents watch for info about Outdoor School Fundraising!

https://www.facebook.com/chiefpto

Chief Sports Update

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MS SPORTS

October Sports Events:

7th - GBB - @ Pleasant Valley JV 4:15, Var 5:30

9th - GBB - HOME v Amboy JV 4:15, Var 5:30

10th - Cross Country - TBA

14th - GBB - @ Daybreak Var ONLY 4:15 No JV game

15th - GBB JV only - HOME v Tukes Valley JV 4:15

16h - GBB Varsity tourney - @ PVM 4:15/5:45 (8 min quarters)

17th - Cross Country District Meet @ CASEE Center 4:30pm (please limit to one car per family if able, limited parking is available at CASEE Center)

Season 2

Starts Monday, October 28, 2024. Student clearance opens on Monday, October 7, 2024
Girls volleyball and boys soccer clearance closes at end of day on Monday, November 4, 2024. (There is a waiver day on Wednesday, October 30, 2024)
Last day of the season: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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

Schoolwide Expectation Reminders

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.

Student Online Safety

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.

BGPS District Information

Special education parent advisory group

Parents/guardians of students who receive special education services or are on 504 plans are invited to apply to join a new parent advisory group. This is a great opportunity to share your insights and ideas on how to enhance educational experiences for students with special needs. If you are interested in participating, please take a few minutes to apply online by Monday, Oct. 14.

Safety Study Hall

Visit the Safety Study Hall website, a place for schools, students, and families to learn about safety topics.

New safety protocols

This year, Battle Ground Public Schools joins most Southwest Washington schools and districts in using the Standard Response Protocol for emergencies. Depending on the situation, a school will be placed in a hold, secure, lockdown, evacuation or shelter. See what these terms mean. This common language helps schools, first responders and the community communicate clearly and effectively to reduce misunderstandings in emergency situations.

Athletic events at District Stadium

To provide a safe, enjoyable environment for students and families during athletic events at District Stadium, all primary and middle students must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older who will be responsible for the student(s) for the duration of the event. The adult cannot be a high school student. Primary and middle school students will not be allowed to enter if they are not accompanied by an adult. In addition, only clear bags are allowed into District Stadium. Read more.

The importance of regular attendance

Thank you for working to maintain your child’s attendance. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential to student learning and success. The skills that students learn in primary school will help them be successful in middle and high school. A student’s attendance often can predict whether they are likely to graduate high school on time. Read more.

New websites and mobile app

Battle Ground Public Schools has launched new websites, along with a brand new mobile app! You can find the mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It will allow you to set notifications for individual schools, quickly view updates, get alerts on weather-impacted days and much more.

Meal benefit expiration

Please be aware that free and reduced-price meal benefits (now known as the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit Application) will expire on Wednesday, Oct. 9, for students who have not renewed their application from last year. Families must apply for meal benefits each year to continue receiving lunch and breakfast at a reduced rate, or to maintain access to free or reduced activity fees with the added completion of a consent to share form. Only one application is required for each family, and the information is always confidential.

You can reapply for meal benefits by:

Completing the meal application online through Skyward
Picking up a meal benefits application at your child’s school and returning it.
Print an application (available in English |Español | русский) and return it to your child's school or the district office located in Building A of the CASEE campus at 11104 NE 149th St. in Brush Prairie.

Lexia access ended

Due to the end of temporary pandemic relief funding, BGPS has discontinued automatic access to Lexia, the reading program for primary students. Going forward, Lexia will only be available to students identified as needing additional reading support. If you have concerns about a primary student’s reading level, please reach out to their teacher.

School menus

Starting this year, Battle Ground Public Schools is partnering with Chartwells to provide breakfast and lunch at school. Menus are still available via Nutrislice and meal expenses can still be paid through InTouch Receipting, just like last year. Printable menus are also available on the district and school websites.

Right At School day camp on Friday, Oct. 11

Parents looking for childcare options during the Oct. 11 state in-service day can register their children for a day camp offered by Right At School. The before/after school care provider will be putting on the camp at Glenwood Heights Primary School on Friday, Oct. 11. Information on pricing and how to register can be found on the Right At School website.

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.

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

Report incidents anonymously with SafeSchools

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.

Busing and First Student ParentView app

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.

Student Hours (Monday – Friday)

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