Principal's Weekly Update

Sept. 13th, 2024

Hello BGVA families,

We hope you are all off to a good start to your school year. Our staff are truly enjoying working with each of you to achieve your academic goals. Watching families realizing academic success while still having the ability to fit “school” around your life and its important activities, is a joy.

I would like to personally thank all the families who joined our Online Success Workshop this past week. Important information was shared and great conversions and questions were shared between our veteran online families and those who are new at navigating the online world.

One parent felt the information was so valuable, their spouse will be joining our next Online Success Workshop on November 14th. Please mark your calendars. If you are attending for the first time or would like to join again; we look forward to seeing you then .

As BGVA continues to enroll new students and families; please remember it can take up to 48 hours or 2 school business days to process all the pieces necessary to onboard new students and families. We strive to ensure accuracy of each student’s courses and academic goals. Our staff continue to work diligently to create a smooth experience for you and our BGVA families.

Imagine EDGENUITY Family/Parent Portal: Families, this is a very important tool to access and monitor student course information which will assist your goals in staying informed of your child's current academic progress. If you do not already have your Parent Portal Activation Code: please email your request to mercedes.mehr@battlegroundps.org and klein.kathleen@battlegroundps.org

Check emails regularly: It is very important for students and families to check emails frequently. This is our main form of communication and we do not want you to miss any important information your family may need.

Here are a few other important items for you to consider:

• Parking: Parking at BGVA/River Homelink and Maple Grove Primary is very, very difficult at best. We have 3 schools sharing one small parking lot. It is very likely that you will not be able to find a parking spot. It is therefore very important that families follow the drop off and pick up procedures that all three schools will be following.

• Parking lot procedures: Please enter the East entrance and follow the serpentine route through the parking lot. Families should not leave cars unattended in the drop off/pick up areas. The Battle Ground Police Department had input on this plan, because of overflow school cars backing up traffic on Eaton. Cars may be ticketed for stopping traffic on Eaton.

• Accessing BGVA: BGVA does not have an office at the front of the Maple Grove Primary or River Homelink campus. BGVA students should not go into or through those offices to access BGVA. If you are wanting to access a BGVA teacher, classroom or lab, please call the BGVA office at 360-334-8250 or email our teacher/advisor so we can let you into the campus.

• Chromebooks: BGVA students can get Chromebooks and Tech support by contacting Julie Mehr either by email mehr.julie@battlegroundps.org or by phone at 360-334-8291.

• Weekly student/Teacher contact: It is required by State Law that students in the virtual school environment must have “Weekly Teacher/Student contact”. This can include direct emails or through the online classroom platforms. Please make sure you are responding to emails and class prompts weekly to ensure we are all in compliance with Alternative Learning Education (ALE) requirements.

• Advisory Contact: At BGVA, we have an extra layer of support for our students in the form of staff advisors. Your advisor will be connecting with you soon for your monthly check-ins to ensure you are getting everything you need to be successful here at BGVA

• Online Student attendance: BGVA students are not required to attend our campus in person. BGVA is not designed or staffed for large group or full classroom gatherings. In the K-8 grade bands, there are limited in-person learning opportunities available and that information will be communicated by the grade band staff.

Students who want or need to visit the campus should do so by scheduling an appointment with their advisors. Students should not spend extended time in teacher work areas. The Digital learning lab is for students who need additional extended study time.

• Local Middle and High School Activity Participation

An important reminder: As a BGVA student, you are eligible to participate at your local middle or high school for their after school activities; such as sports, drama, band and other activities. Studies show that students engaged in extracurricular activities have better attendance and higher grades. Make sure you reach out to your local school or contact your BGVA advisor if you have any additional questions regarding these opportunities.

• BGVA shares a campus with Maple Grove Primary and River Homelink. If you are on campus, it has been requested that BGVA and RHL students do not walk through Maple Grove Primary recess area. Your help with this is greatly appreciated.

Good Happenings at BGVA

K-5

Trekkers, grades 3, 4 and 5: Hello! We now have another teacher working with us in grades K-5! You may notice Mr. Bradley Cain in our Virtual and in person Classrooms. Mr. Cain will be helping out with advising and supporting students in their learning. He is a welcome addition to our BGVA team! Our other big news item is that the iReady assessment is now ready for students to begin. Please see more information in my weekly newsletter. Here is the Karlsen Newsletter for grades 3, 4 and 5. https://secure.smore.com/n/gdhb3

6-8

Adventurers - Thank you to the families who joined our Online Success Workshop - We hope you will bring a friend and join us November 14th for the next Online Success Workshop.

High School

Check your emails regularly. Advisors are trying to set up meetings to do check-ins to ensure your schedules and earned credits are accurate. Here is the link to the HS Smore Newsletter

Go Mountaineers!

We will continue working together to “Foster the Joy of Learning”.

Enjoy the weekend.

Mr. Stanfill

BGVA - Principal