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Amboy Middle School
REMEMBER TO VOTE! REPLACEMENT LEVY (PROPOSITION 9) ON THE APRIL 22 BALLOT
Ballots are in the mail and should arrive in mailboxes by April 4. On your ballot is a replacement education and operations levy for Battle Ground Public Schools. Local levy funding makes up the difference between state funding and the real-world costs to educate students. For instance, at our school the levy funds:
Special education
Technology support
Custodial services
Multilingual support
Safety
Mental health support
Curriculum
Teachers
Class sizes
Busing
Music
Sports
Extracurricular activities
Maintenance/grounds
Health/nursing and more
The replacement levy would allow the district to continue current service levels beyond 2025, when the existing education and operations levy expires. Please take the time to look over our levy information page, and consider attending one of two upcoming public forums to learn more about the levy. The first of those meetings will be on Tuesday, April 8, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lewisville campus (406 NW 5th Ave., Battle Ground). The second is Wednesday, April 16, at Prairie High School in the media center. Childcare and light refreshments will be provided.
Remember to return your ballot by April 22. Track your ballot and see if it was counted at VoteWA.gov.
NOTE - APRIL 9 IS A TWO-HOUR LATE START
MATH CHALLENGE!
Amboy Middle School was well represented at this year's Math Challenge! All four grade levels were there with nine teams. Congratulations to all participants!
Individual Challenge: 2nd place - Brooke Stenersen
Combination Score: Mental Math and Individual Challenge
1st place - Laya Hendrickson
2nd place - Treeva Olin
3rd place - Brooke Stenersen
4th place - Mason Rotschy
5th place - Drew Raisanen
5TH GRADE FOCUS
MATH
For math, April showers will bring multiplying and dividing whole numbers, decimal numbers, and fractions along with a sprinkling of Smarter Balanced test prep. Thank you to all the parents helping their students practice standard algorithm multiplication (aka long multiplication). Happy April!
SCIENCE
For the month of April, 5th graders will be diving into Space Systems. We will be talking about gravity, stars, and patterns in the night sky.
ELA/READING
We will be finishing our read aloud of Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth this month and writing an informative paragraph about Milo's transformation from the beginning of the story to the end. We will also get to spend some time writing our final exploded moment narrative stories about Milo's adventures in the make believe town of Abandon.
6TH GRADE STATUS
CHROMEBOOKS
Just a friendly reminder that Chromebooks are considered to be a school supply, so we need ALL students to come prepared each day with it charged and ready to go. We are still frequently seeing many students with Chromebooks not charged. Our curriculum in all subject areas typically requires daily use on the Chromebook. Please remind your child that Chromebooks are only to be used for educational purposes.
ADDITIONAL TESTING INFORMATION
Also, with state testing rapidly approaching, it is imperative that your child come to school with his/her Chromebook fully charged and he/she will also need a set of headphones/earbuds. Please make sure these work with the student's Chromebook prior to testing. BLUETOOTH EARBUDS/HEADPHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED!
STATE TESTING
The following dates have been identified as dates that all 6th grade students at Amboy will be taking the SBA tests - May 13th, 15th, 20th, and 21st.
We know that this can be a stressful time for many students, but we can help reduce some of this stress and set your child up for success by doing the following:
Get plenty of rest the night before any test.
Eat a nutritious breakfast in the morning.
Bring water and a healthy snack to eat throughout the day.
Do your best!
FIELD TRIP
We'll be going to Evergreen Air and Space Museum in McMinnville May 30th, June 2nd or June 3rd (depending on the class). We can take 4 chaperones per class. All volunteers must be cleared by May 15th in order to go. If you think you might be interested, please start that process now. Clearance is good for 2 years from the date it was submitted. Look for more information coming home with your child soon.
40 BOOK CHALLENGE
Keep up the great reading, and remember we're almost done with this challenge. To be on target to reach the goal you should be close to 35 books completed. Way to go!
KICKBALL
A fun reward can be earned by your child at the end of the year. Each student in 6th grade has the opportunity to play in a kickball tournament. To be eligible, students must have ALL work turned in and no grades below a "C". The kickball tournament will begin after state testing at the end of May/beginning of June. During the kickball tournament if students have incomplete work or D's/F's, students will stay in for a study hall to complete and/or correct work. We hope that this earned reward encourages and motivates your child to work hard to keep up with his/her work throughout the semester.
7TH GRADE SCOOP
MATH
The Math classes have finished up Unit 6 Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities. We have started working in Unit 7 Angles, Triangles, and Prisms. The Advanced class is continuing to work in 8th grade workbooks.
ELA
After spring break students will begin Unit 6 (Argumentative writing). The Essential Question for this unit is: How do different electives motivate students and prepare them for the future? Also after spring break, students will be completing their spring iReady tests in reading as well as in math.
SCIENCE
We will be starting our Populations and Resources unit this month. This unit reviews concepts such as food chains and food webs and teaches students about interactions among populations and factors that limit population growth. Students will also learn how both living and nonliving factors affect populations.
On another topic, please send your child to school with a charged Chromebook, pencils, paper, and a good night's sleep. This request is prompted mostly by a very large number of students who do not have pencils. Uncharged Chromebooks are also very popular these days. If you know that your child frequently loses their pencils and you want to send a bunch to school, that would be great, too. As always, thank you for all that you do at home and for the support you provide!
HISTORY
We are working on finishing up the WWII era and moving on into the history of the 1950s. We will be using our writing CER skills to show our understanding. Please check homes for history books as many of our needed class sets have disappeared. Snack donations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!
8TH GRADE UPDATE
ELA
Will be working on argument writing and all components to an argumentative essay.
HISTORY
Some will be working on the state's required CBA (Classroom Based Assessment) on a historical event and the checks and balances system in our Constitution. Working on time period of the early 1800s.
SCIENCE
Students will connect ideas about how the environment determines traits are adaptive and non adaptive, and how this affects the likelihood of survival and reproduction.
MATH
We will be working on the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres along with irrational numbers and exponential growth.
ALGEBRA
Students are working on factoring polynomials and graphing parabolas.
HOMEWORK
There is no homework policy but students are expected to complete assignments at home if not completed in the time allotted at school or have been absent from school.
8TH GRADE RECOGNITION
We are reaching out to our 8th grade parents hoping to find someone or several of you that may be willing to donate their time and materials to build a new archway to use for the 8th Grade Recognition ceremony. The one we currently have has been used for many years, and we are needing one that is not extremely heavy and can also be easily torn down and stored to use in the future.
Please contact the school or Ms. Blahnik at blahnik.nicole@battlegroundps.org if you have any questions.
MS. GATZ'S GALLERY
THE CATCH FROM THE EAGLE'S NEST
April's character trait for 5th graders is responsibility and for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders April's trait is honesty. Responsibility is a good one. The Eagle's Nest gets busier close to the end of a grading period. There is suddenly an urgency among the students to get their assignments done and turned in. Honesty comes in during the grading period when students are forced to answer the question asked by parents or teachers, "Did you get all your work done in class?" "Do you have any homework?"
When you ask your student, "How was your day?" do you get the typical "Fine."? When you ask "What did you learn about?" do you get, "Nothing." as the response? You could try these conversation starters:
What was the best part of your day? Did you make someone smile today?
What did you do today that was hard? Where did you see good today?
Where did you DO good today? How did you help someone today?
Do you have anything that you did today that you regret?
Did you tell someone "Thank you" today? What for?
Please consider sending a snack with your student each day. They always seem to be hungry. Many students admit they do not eat breakfast. Snacks are especially important for 7th graders who don't have lunch until 12:42 p.m. Students can show responsibility by packing a snack for tomorrow when they get home.
YACOLT-AMBOY PTO
President, vice president, and secretary positions will be vacant this coming school year. If you are interested in filling one of these positions, please email yacoltamboypto@gmail.com. Voting will be held at the May 13th meeting at Amboy Middle School at 4 p.m.
DISTRICT NEWS
UPCOMING SURVEY OF BGPS STUDENTS, FAMILIES
Understanding the perspectives of the people who make up Battle Ground Public Schools is important as we continue working toward improvement. This month, you and your family have an opportunity to share their thoughts in an optional survey administered by the Center for Educational Effectiveness.
All parents and guardians will receive the survey via email on April 8. Students in fifth through 12th grades also will receive the survey, unless a parent or guardian opted them out in the annual student update. The surveys will close on May 2. Learn more.
2025-26 SCHOOL CALENDAR - KEY DATES
The Battle Ground school board recently approved the 2025-26 academic calendar. Here are some of the key dates:
First day of school - Tuesday, August 26
Thanksgiving break - November 26-28
Winter break - December 22, 2025, through January 2, 2026
Spring break - April 6-10
Last day of school (weather dependent) - Wednesday, June 10, 2026
APRIL SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
April school breakfast and lunch menus are available via Nutrislice and the district website. Meal expenses can be paid through InTouch Receipting.
BGPS BOARD SELECTS SHELLY WHITTEN AS NEXT SUPERINTENDENT
The Battle Ground Public Schools board of directors voted to appoint Shelly Whitten to be the next superintendent of the district. Whitten, the district's current deputy superintendent, will begin her new role on July 1, 2025. She will replace current Superintendent Denny Waters, who is retiring.
"It is an honor to serve the community I grew up in and love," said Whitten, "There's no place I'd rather invest my passion and energy."
FAMILY RESOURCE FAIR AT PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL
Battle Ground Public Schools invites our community to the first-ever Family Resource Fair on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Prairie High School. This free event is an opportunity to meet with local service providers, learn about available resources, enjoy some fun and games and walk away with free backpacks and school supplies. Whether you are interested in improving your mental health, getting in better shape or learning about other supports available in our area, this is the event for you. There will be plenty of fun activities for both young and old, as well as snacks and light refreshments. No RSVP is required. We hope to see you there!
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS - COED TRACK REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration is open now for season four of middle school sports. Coed track season begins April 14. Students who participate in sports must have completed a sports physical (physical clearance is good for 24 months). A completed sports physical must be turned in before students can participate in organized sports. Learn more and start the registration process.
ENROLL NOW FOR KINDERGARTEN NEXT FALL
Any child who will be 5 years old by August 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 August 31 and meet certain eligibility requirements. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage to learn more about the program. Applications are now being accepted.
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 DISTRICT'S ALTERNATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS
Battle Ground Public Schools' specialized and alternative learning experience programs are accepting enrollment applications for the 2025-26 school year. The district offers specialized and alternative programs for students in kindergarten through high school. Learn more about these educational options.
GOOGLE WORKSPACES
Battle Ground Public Schools uses Google Workspaces for Education. This includes apps like Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Forms. Working within Google programs helps students build valuable future-ready skills and collaborate digitally. They can also access their work anywhere using their district Google account. Starting in sixth grade, students may be assigned a Chromebook that they can use while at school and take home at the end of the school day. Check out the Guardian's guide to Google tools for more information on how these resources support student learning and help to keep them safe online. Learn more and find other resources for going online.
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.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?
Be sure to check out our Community Events page for fun ideas of things to do throughout the local community. Nonprofit organizations looking to share their own upcoming events are welcome to submit a flyer to be included. Flyers are posted on the community events webpage and printed at relevant schools on their community bulletin boards. The BGPS community flyer checklist provides information about what is required for flyer submission.
The Battle Ground Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Information about the district's nondiscrimination and sex-based discrimination policies and grievance procedures are located on the district's website at https://www.battlegroundps.org/notice-of-nondiscrimination/. The following employees have been designated to receive and respond to questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator: Tom Adams, Director of Student Services, Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604, adams.tom@battlegroundps.org, 360.885.5415 and/or U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Title IX inquiries may also be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator/Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Michelle Reinhardt, Executive Director of Human Resources, Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604, reinhardt.michelle@battlegroundps.org 360.885.5481