LMS News

• Principal's ROAR

• Counselors' Corner

• LMS Giving Tree - Thank You

• Replacement levy to appear on Feb. 11 ballot

• 8th Gr Announcement: PSAT 8/9 Registration

• LMS Library News

• Art Corner

  • Artist of the Week

• Zero Referral Winner

• 2024/2025 Middle School Sports

  • Schedule - Season 2

  • Registration Information

District News

• Get the facts about the Feb. 11 replacement levy

• Snow routes and winter weather guide

• Join the instructional materials committee!

• Attend CASEE Science Night on Thursday, Jan. 16

• Dual credit information night is Thursday, Jan. 23

• School menus

• AI in the classroom

• Report, don’t repost

• Safety protocols

• Care Solace: Your link to mental health support

• Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services

• Employee Recognition Award

• Looking for something to do?

  
  

LMS Key Dates

Winter Break - No School

December 23, 2024 through January 3. 2025

Hello Laurin Community and Happy Holidays!

I want to start off by thanking you all for your continued support of our incredible Laurin Lions!

It was a fun week! Here is a look at a few highlights:

• Spirit week

• Math Finals

• Ugly Sweaters

• Science Labs

• Wrapping Teachers at Lunch

• 5 paragraph Essays

• The Grinch showed up

• Classroom Caroling and The Giving Tree and more!

If you come visit us, it will be easy to see that our school culture at LMS is stronger than ever. We know that students need to enjoy themselves while they learn or classroom engagement becomes increasingly difficult with all the other "things" that can be distracting for young people in today's day and age. 

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge that middle school can also be challenging some of our students. Our Admin team will work tirelessly to address and support anyone who is not feeling comfortable or safe on campus. 

Obviously, over the next two weeks your students will be around more than usual. Please take some time to talk to your students about their school experience. Ask them about what they are learning. Ask them about their friend groups and how those relationships are going. Some of our young people are learning how to "be students". We are here to help teach them about kindness and empathy, so that reports of bullying decrease and students can see the value in unity as the PRIDE of Laurin! 

Lastly, if you or your student has anything to report, you can reach our Admin Team at the emails below.

sakshaug.eirc@battlegroundps.org - Eric Sakshaug, Principal

kai.kelsey@battlegrounps.org - Kelsey Kai, Assistant Principal (Alpha A-K)

klodt.everett@battlegrounds.org - Everett Klodt, Assistant Principal (Alpha L-Z)

I wish you all a restful break! 

Mr. Saks

***Holiday Music Notes *** 

And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again!

We want to send a big SHOUT OUT to our Laurin Community with a thank you for supporting our Giving Tree.

We fulfilled 278 gift tags that went to Laurin students and their siblings within the household.

We want to thank:

• The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints - Brush Prairie Ward who donated 25 full Turkey meals for Thanksgiving and an additional 30 Winco food cards for our Giving Tree Families.

• Summitview Church for fully sponsoring 2 of our largest families.

• The Laurin MS PTO who fulfilled over 25 gift tags 

• Finally a huge THANK YOU to our Laurin Parents and Staff for providing gifts for every tag on our tree.

The success of Laurin's Giving Tree was with the help of the following organizers:

Kristin Juhnke, Jennifer Holland, Angie Krant, Jeaneen Hall, Shelley Bloemke, Judy Wiser, and Laurin PTO

Battle Ground Public Schools’ board of directors has placed a replacement education and operations levy on the special election ballot for Feb. 11, 2025. This local levy makes up approximately 13% of the district’s budget and fills the gap between funding received from the state and the actual cost of educating students. The replacement levy would fund things like student safety, instructional/support staff, class sizes, curriculum adoption, nursing and mental health support, special education, busing, sports, the arts and more. It would provide funding that impacts students in every BGPS school.

Voters approved the expiring education and operations levy in 2021 at an estimated rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The actual rate in the first year was $1.97. The estimated rate for this replacement levy would be $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed value each year. More information about the replacement levy is available on the district website.

Learn about the levy and ask questions

You are invited to attend a special presentation for our school. Get details on the replacement education and operations levy. The levy would provide funding for programs and services that affect students at our school, as well as students at every BGPS school. 

Date: January 14, 2025

Time: 6:00 to 7:00 pm

Location: Laurin Middle School Cafeteria

All presentations are open to the public. Childcare and light refreshments will be provided. Please bring your ID if you need to access childcare. 

In the event of a weather-related school closure, the presentation will be canceled. However, anyone may attend a different presentation at another school or find information on the district website. We hope to see you there!

If you require ASL interpretation services, please email communication@battlegroundps.org at least five days before the presentation.

Si necesita servicios de interpretación en español, envíe un correo electrónico a spanish.support@battlegroundps.org al menos cinco días antes de la presentación.

Если вам требуются услуги устного перевода на русский или украинский язык, отправьте электронное письмо по адресу russian.support@battlegroundps.org не позднее, чем за пять дней до презентации.

Come one! Come all! Now is the time for the Zero to One Referral Winner - the moment you've been waiting for!  Now, there will be TWO winners every week. Today's winners are: 

8th Grader: Brayden Dahl   AND

7th Grader: Maria Morales Banegas

Congratulations to both Brayden & Maria!

Congratulations to 5th Grader: Laylah Clifton...

 Laurin’s Artist of the Week!

If you would like to be Laurin’s “Artist of the Week” and have your artwork on display in the plexi-glass case on the west end of the playground… fill out a slip with your first and last name, grade level, and Room number at breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria.  (… or See Miss Bachman in Room #14) You do not have to be in Art Class to enter, or to win!

Here are season and registration dates for 2024/2025 Middle School Sports that is open to 6th through 8th grade students. Now is the time to get schedule your sports physical if your student plans on participating. Sports physicals are good for 2 years.

Visit the district’s middle school sports webpage to learn more.

CLICK HERE REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

Season 3

Girls Soccer

• Season January 13, 2025 through February 26, 2025

• Registration December 9, 2024 through January 7, 2025

Boys Basketball

• Season January 27, 2025 through March 12, 2025

• Registration January 6, 2025 through January 31, 2025

Season 4

Coed Track

• Season April 9, 2025 - May 21, 2025

• Registration Wednesday, March 12, 2025 through on Tuesday, April 22, 2025

*Registration opens 3 weeks prior to the start of the season, registration closes 2 weeks after the 1st practice.

Here are ten quick facts about Proposition 8, the replacement educational programs and operations levy on the Feb. 11 ballot:

1. If approved by voters, the proposed levy would replace the expiring education and operations levy, which ends in December 2025. 

2. The replacement education and operations levy would begin January 2026 and continue through December 2029. 

3. The levy would provide funding for programs and services that affect students in every BGPS school.

4. The levy would pay for things that the state doesn’t fully fund. These include student safety, busing, special education, curriculum, mental health support, nursing/health services, sports, the arts and more.

5. The costs of supporting students and operating schools are increasing. 

6. This levy is separate and different from the capital levy approved in February 2024. The capital levy will cover building repairs; technology updates; and spaces for construction trades, culinary, and health sciences classes.

7. The levy provides 13% of the district’s total budget. Without levy funding, the district would need to make cuts to programs and services. For example, class sizes could increase, bus routes could be consolidated and middle school sports would likely be eliminated.

8. The levy would collect $166.28 million over four years. By law, the district can’t collect more than the amount that voters approve, even if property values increase. 

9. The estimated rate is $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value. For the owner of a $621,000 property, the proposed levy would cost an estimated $101 per month in the first year.

10. The levy will appear on the ballot on Feb. 11, 2025. Remember to vote! Every registered voter who lives within the district is eligible.

More information about the replacement levy is available on the district website.

Snow routes for the 2024-25 school year are available on the district website. Please also take a moment to ensure your contact information is up to date through Skyward (Family Access). On weather-impacted days, the district will begin communicating with families as early as 5:30 a.m. Download our handy weather guide for more information and a list of which schools are in the north and south parts of the district.

This committee ensures that new teaching and learning materials were selected following the proper process and evaluates library books that are being reconsidered. The deadline to apply is January 26, 2025. Apply now.

What, exactly, is CASEE? Come learn about the district’s half-day science-based program for high school students. The Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education is holding their annual Science Night open house on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Visit with teachers and current students, view ongoing experiments and tour the 80-acre outdoor learning campus in Brush Prairie (11104 NE 149th St). Students in grades 8-11, along with their parents/guardians, are welcome to attend. Please RSVP in advance. We hope to see you there!

Battle Ground Public School is hosting a virtual presentation via Google Meet to provide information about dual credit for all students and families, eighth through 11th grades, on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 4-5 p.m. Dual credit provides students with the potential to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Information will include Running Start at Clark College, Cascadia Tech Academy (Skills Center), career and technical education dual credit, work-based learning,  College in the High School and Advanced Placement classes. If you have any questions, contact Work-Based Learning Coordinator Kris Neal via email at neal.kris@battlegroundps.org.

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.

Artificial intelligence is a growing part of our everyday lives and there are a lot of questions about its use in classrooms. Battle Ground Public Schools uses MagicSchool for teachers and MagicStudent on the student side. MagicStudent does not collect student data and includes important safeguards to provide a safe environment to build AI literacy skills and accessibility tools to develop independence and improve learning. Visit the district website for more resources about going online safely.

If you see or hear of a possible threat, please report it to law enforcement directly and/or to school staff. This is the best and most helpful action because it begins an investigation and helps to limit the potential for misinformation to spread.

Reposting or sharing a threat on social media in an attempt to warn others spreads the threat farther from its original source and may cause unnecessary alarm and fear.

You can report bullying, intimidation, harassment, threats and safety concerns using our anonymous reporting system. Emergencies should always be reported to 911.

Battle Ground Public Schools has joined other 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. 

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.

Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433

Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431

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.

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.

12/23 - 1/3/25 Winter Break (no school)

1/6/2025 - 1/31/25 Boys Basketball Registration Window open

1/13/2024 to 2/6/2025 Girls Soccer Season

1/27/2024 to 3/12/2024 Boys Basketball Season

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