BGPS Bulletin - Thursday, April 17

IN THIS ISSUE:

Remember to vote by April 22
Graduation rates for the class of 2024
How one shot saved the season for two middle school boys basketball teams
April 14 board meeting update
- Board meeting highlight
BGHS cadets compete at national marksmanship event
Prairie High School culinary class cooks up delicious mac and cheese
Help us celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!
District plant sales start this month
Family Resource Fair at Prairie High School
Stuff the Bus event
Jobs in BGPS
BGPS in the news

Have you returned your ballot yet?

A graphic reading "Remember to vote! Tuesday, April 22"

Election Day is next Tuesday, and BGPS has a replacement education and operations levy (Proposition 9) on the ballot. If approved, the levy would continue to support programs and services that affect students in every BGPS school.

If your ballot hasn't arrived by now, please contact the Clark County Elections Department to request a replacement.

Need more information? Head on over to our website. You can learn what the levy pays for, get details on the cost (including a personalized estimate of your property tax bill) and read responses to frequently asked questions.

Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22.

🎓Class of 2024 graduation rate is highest in more than a decade

Chart showing BGPS graduation rates from 2013 to 2024

High school graduate smiles at the camera

As we prepare to celebrate the class of 2025, we want to look back at the accomplishments of last year’s graduating class. The district’s four-year graduation rate (average of all BGPS schools) increased from 78.4% in 2023 to 81.8% in 2024. BGPS’ class of 2024 was just 1 percentage point below the state’s average four-year graduation rate that year.

Several Battle Ground schools exceeded the state’s average rate in 2024:

Battle Ground High School: 87.2% (increased 2 percentage points over 2023)
Prairie High School: 88.7% (increased 3.1 percentage points over 2023)
CAM Academy: 93% (increased 0.7 percentage points over 2023)
Battle Ground Virtual Academy: 83.6% (school's first graduating class)

While there is still more work to be done, we celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff as reflected in the graduation rate for the class of 2024. With this momentum, we’re setting our sights even higher for the class of 2025.

How one basket saved a season for two middle school boys basketball teams 🏀

During one of his middle school basketball games this season, Chief Umtuch Middle School eighth grader Sean Dillon found himself with the ball in his hands and space to shoot. He heaved the basketball at the rim. Just short.

A player on the other team snagged the rebound and then, unexpectedly, handed the ball back to Sean. After a moment’s hesitation, Sean took another shot.

A miss. Another Daybreak Dragon rebound. Another “steal” ending up in Sean’s hands.

The third time was the charm. Beaming and pounding his chest, Sean ran back up the floor as both teams and the entire audience erupted into cheers.

Sean lives with Down Syndrome, though his mom said the diagnosis has never held her son back. He's been playing basketball since he was 3 or 4 years old. Still, this moment meant a lot to them.

“He sees himself as everyone else. Being part of a team like this is huge,” Jenna Dillon said. “Wearing that team shirt is an extreme source of pride.”

Daybreak Dragons coach Tracee Villines said her players knew about Sean but the decision to give him the shot was entirely their own.

“That expression on his face? I would pay a hundred dollars to see that again," said Everett Winegardner, an eighth grader at CAM Academy playing for the Dragons.

“We had been struggling during the season with some attitudes and a lack of success,” Villines said. “After that, win or lose, we were finally a team.”

Middle school sports are entirely levy funded in Battle Ground Public Schools.

April 14 school board meeting update

A collage photo of Battle Ground school board members

BGPS’ board of directors met for a regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 14. Video and notes from that meeting are available on the district website. The board will next meet on Monday, April 28, for a regular meeting at 6 p.m. You are invited to attend in-person at the Lewisville campus (406 NW 5th Ave., Battle Ground) or watch the meeting online.

Board highlight

During the board meeting, students from Pleasant Valley Primary School previewed their yearly "living museum," when students and teachers dress up and act like historical figures. This year, they include theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, baseball icon Jackie Robinson, primatologist Jane Goodall and pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart, amongst others. Check them out during the student voice portion of the board meeting!

Members of Pleasant Valley Primary School's fourth grade leadership team with Superintendent Denny Waters and Deputy Superintendent Shelly Whitten

JROTC cadets compete at regional marksmanship event

Students pose for a photo holding airsoft rifles after a competition in Utah

Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Battle Ground and Prairie high schools recently competed at the western regional championships for the Civilian Marksmanship Program (3P) at the Mountain America Center in Sandy, Utah.

"I am very proud of these athletes," said Lt. Col. (ret.) Andrew Woodrow, senior aerospace science instructor at BGHS. "This is a tough sport that demands concentration, skill and nerves of steel to even earn a spot at this level."

During a grueling two-day competition, cadets faced teams from Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Wyoming and Washington state. Prairie High School cadet Seth Fisher was the top local finisher, coming in sixth overall.

Battle Ground High School was represented by Brianna Hall, Jack McAleer, Charles Weiner, Noah Colagross and Isaac Yenderrozos. Prairie High School's team included Fisher, Alisha Sundar, Travis Davis and Bennett Adams. Way to go, cadets!

In a contest to find the best mac & cheese, everyone wins

Students in Britt Pedlar's Foods II class at Prairie High School were handed a tough assignment last week: Make the best macaroni and cheese, as judged by district staff and administrators.

Seven different teams of students worked together to create their own recipes, gather the necessary ingredients and then put their dish together within 30 minutes.

The winner was selected based on taste, texture and plating. One taste tester said of the ultimate winner, "It was very good! Cheesy, not too greasy and it has great flavor."

Sadly, the rest of us will have to take their word for it.

🤤

Prairie High School students scoop up a bowl of mac and cheese

CORRECTION: District financial health score improves

A bar graph showing financial health scores

The April 10 edition of the BGPS Bulletin contained a story showing Battle Ground Public Schools' financial health score from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction had improved in the most recent rankings, from a score of 3.05 to 3.35 for the 2023-24 school year.

That story contained information that the average financial health score for all other Clark County K-12 school districts was 3.02. The correct average for those districts is actually 2.64. We have amended the full story on the district website to reflect this corrected information.

Help us celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!

Graphic reading "Teacher Appreciation Week 2025"

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 5-11 and we're asking all of YOU to help us celebrate! Tell us about your or your child's favorite teacher(s) by filling out this short Google Form before Wednesday, April 30. You can also include a photo of your child and their teacher (please be aware, photos may be used on district websites and social media).

Thank you to all of our amazing teachers and our community for helping to recognize the hard work they do each and every year.

District plant sales start this month!

Get your green thumbs ready, Battle Ground Public Schools’ annual plant and greenhouse sales kick off starting Saturday, April 26. A variety of annual and perennial bedding and flowering plants will be available, along with vegetable starts and hanging baskets. All items are grown by district students and staff. Money raised from these sales supports the district's horticulture and FFA programs and welding teams.

Get all the details on the district website.

Inaugural BGPS Family Resource Fair happening at Prairie High School

Flyer for the Family Resource Fair at Prairie High School on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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, Educational Service District 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.

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.