BGPS Bulletin

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Replacement levy ballots have been mailed; attend a presentation to learn more

• BGPS financial health score improves

• VIDEO: You might be a school counselor if...

• CASEE marks 20th year of annual pond survey

• SW Washington math tournament adds up to big fun

• Prairie Cloverbots qualify for world championships

• Prairie track athlete earns Prep Athlete of the Week honors

• Local musicians shine at Clackamas Jazz Festival

• ESD 112 Regional Art Show results

• Keeping Students Safe event at Prairie High School

• BGPS Family Resource Fair

• Annual plant sales set to start this month

• BG CAST Ep. 44 - Family and Community Resource Center

• Jobs in BGPS

• BGPS in the news

Battle Ground Public Schools has one more upcoming in-person opportunity to learn about the replacement levy:

• Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in the media center at Prairie High School

No RSVP is required. Childcare and light refreshments will be provided.

You can also learn about the levy on our website.

Battle Ground Public Schools’ financial health score saw a boost in recently updated rankings from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which monitors all Washington state school districts’ finances. 

Battle Ground’s score improved from 3.05 to 3.35 for the 2023-24 school year, the most recent for which scores are available. The average score for all other K-12 Clark County school districts last year was 3.02. 

The scores are intended to provide a snapshot of a school district’s financial health over time. Higher scores indicate greater financial stability and ability to respond to unexpected expenditures.

More details can be found on the district website, including a look at 2024-25 and beyond.

On a drizzly morning in March, students from the Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education put on wading gear, grab their equipment and trudge out to a pair of manmade ponds on their 80-acre outdoor learning campus in Brush Prairie. There, they wade in and recover traps set up the previous week, carefully cataloguing and tagging whatever they find.

“The purpose of the study is to look for the presence/absence of amphibian species in our two ponds and to track amphibian populations over time,” said Irene Catlin, environmental sciences teacher with CASEE. “Amphibians are sensitive to environmental changes, so they are excellent bioindicators.”

This year marked the 20th for the annual pond survey, started in cooperation with Charlie Crissafulli, a research ecologist in the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station.

“We do have a robust data set,” Catlin said. “Twenty years of data can allow us to really see the big picture of how amphibians are doing in our own backyard over time.”

Learn more about the study and an all-day amphibian summit happening at the CASEE campus on Thursday, May 8.

Congrats to the Prairie High School Cloverbots! The Cloverbots are the only Clark County team to qualify for the 2025 First Robotics World Championship. You can catch them being interviewed on KOIN around 7:15 a.m. on Friday, April 11. The following week they will be competing in Houston against teams from 40 countries. Best of luck, Cloverbots!

And check out this cool video the team put together to highlight their successful season:

Join us for a presentation by the Washington State Patrol. Officers will discuss the challenges and dangers posed by drugs and alcohol; current trends in drug use; signs that a student is impaired; ways students conceal drugs; and more. This event is free and open to the public (appropriate for students middle school age or older).

• What: Presentation by Washington State Patrol officers on drug and alcohol awareness

• When: Tuesday, April 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

• Where: Prairie High School (11311 NE 119th St. Vancouver, WA)

If you are unable to attend Tuesday, the same presentation will be given at schools in neighboring districts: Wednesday, April 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Mountain View High School (1500 SE Blairmont Dr, Vancouver); and Thursday, April 17 at Fort Vancouver High School (separate English, Russian presentations). A recorded version of the presentation will also be available on YouTube, including in Spanish and Russian.

The safety and well-being of students will always be a top priority for us. Join us next week in helping keep our students safe!

Battle Ground Public Schools will be hosting its inaugural Family Resource Fair on Saturday, April 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event brings together local charitable organizations, government agencies and businesses, providing a one-stop place to learn about opportunities and resources for all families.

Children can enjoy fun activities such as arts and crafts, while adults explore booths featuring area service providers including Goodwill Industries of the Columbia-Willamette, ESD 112, medical and dental services, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and many more. 

Where: Prairie High School commons (11311 NE 119th St. Vancouver, WA)
When: Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free (no RSVP required). This event is open to the public.

A combined effort of the district’s Family and Community Resource Center, Project AWARE and Career and Technical Education program, the Family Resource Fair is an effort to support all families by connecting them with existing resources in the local community.

A variety of bedding and flowering plants, vegetable starts and hanging baskets will be available for purchase at public sales beginning later this month.

CASEE will have native trees and shrubs such as Cascara, Douglas Fir, Pacific Ninebark, Oregon Grape, Red Flowering Currant, Serviceberry, Salmonberry, Indian Plum, etc.

Cash, check and credit cards accepted. Money raised from these sales supports the district's horticulture and FFA programs and welding teams. Students and staff from Battle Ground High School, Prairie High School and the FFA program grow thousands of plants each year.

Questions? Reach out to phsgreenhouse@battlegroundps.org

• Saturday, April 26 @ CASEE in partnership with NatureScaping of SWWA. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Sunday, April 27 @ CASEE 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Friday, May 2 @ PHS, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Saturday, May 3 @ BGHS plant sale, one day only. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Saturday, May 3 @ PHS, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Monday, May 5 @ PHS, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, May 6 @ PHS, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Battle Ground Public Schools is currently hiring for a number of positions.

Visit the jobs page for details and to apply.

Bus drivers
BGPS' transportation provider, First Student, is in need of part-time bus drivers. Get more details on First Student driving careers, including sign-on bonuses starting at $1,500 ($3,500 for experienced drivers).

Right At School
The district's before and after-school care provider, Right At School, is looking for program managers and educators. Learn more or email your resume to michael.speer@rightatschool.com.

The Columbian

• Battle Ground, Hockinson school districts try again for levies at ballot box

• Prairie’s Will Foster runner-up in shot put at prestigious Oregon Relays

The Reflector

• BGPS improves building conditions for operations staff through use of impact fees

• BGPS superintendent outlines cuts if double levy failure occurs, residents voice their support at board meeting

• Prairie’s Foster, Ridgefield’s Sullivan set huge PRs at Oregon Relays

• Rego Athletic Scholarship donates to Battle Ground Public Schools student-athletes

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