We hope that you have all had a relaxing summer and were able to get out and enjoy some of the incredible weather that we had over the last couple of months!

Our priority at Prairie is to provide a valuable education while creating relationships with students/Parents, inspiring learning, and empowering students. 

At Prairie, we value the relationships that we have been able to foster with our families in this community, and we look forward to meeting our new families this school year. If you are looking for ways to be involved at Prairie, we recommend joining our General Booster team, volunteering at the school, or attending various events that our ASB will be putting on throughout the year.

There are multiple ways to reach out and provide us with feedback throughout the year as well and a space to ask questions if you have them. Please feel free to email us any questions you have throughout the year:  info.phs@battlegroundps.org.  

Our Administrative Team:

Principal, Stephanie Watts: watts.stephanie@battlegroundps.org

Dean of Students, Darren Fox: fox.darren@battlegroundps.org

Assistant Principal, Charbonneau Gourde: gourde.charbonneau@battlegroundps.org

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, Everett Klodt: klodt.everett@battlegroundps.org

Assistant Principal, Eric Sakshaug: sakshaug.eric@battlegroundps.org

Sincerely,

Mrs. Watts

On Monday, August 25, 2025, we’re excited to host an informal, open-house style event for all incoming freshmen and new Prairie High School students. If your student is new to Prairie in any way, we invite you to drop in, tour the school, pick up their schedule, meet mentors, and get familiar with their new home away from home.

Event Details:

• Time: 12:00–2:00 PM (drop in anytime)

• Location: Prairie High School

• Who will be there: Administrators, mentors, and staff ready to help students get oriented

• What to expect: No formal program—come and go as you please. We’ll have helpful information available and can print student schedules so they can find classrooms and be prepared for the first day of school.

First Day of School – Tuesday, August 26

• 9th Grade Students: Arrive at the regular start time (7:55 AM) for a special orientation that includes an assembly, campus tours, and other fun activities to start the year.

• 10th–12th Grade Students: Arrive at 9:55 AM.

We will have schedules printed for freshmen, but all students should access their schedules through Skyward and either print a physical copy or have access on their devices. On the first day of school, 8/26/25, breakfast will be available for students in grades 10-12 who ride the bus, and they will remain in the commons while the freshmen are doing their orientation and tours prior to 9:55 when school begins for all other students.

We look forward to welcoming our new Falcons and helping them start the year with confidence and excitement!

We are hosting grade-level meetings on Wednesday, 8/27/25, to provide students with school-wide expectations and other important information. These are important meeting for students to attend.

Students who have early release or Running Start are strongly encouraged to attend, as there will be pertinent information they need to learn about how the school year will unfold. However, students who are unable to attend will be able to view a slide deck with voiceover on our website in the near future.

Our meetings will be held in the auditorium that day, during the following designated times:

9th grade 2nd period

10th grade 3rd period

11th grade 5th period

12th grade 6th period

Students will report to their classes at the start of their designated class period, and will then be excused to the auditorium. Students will meet key people and hear messages from their counselors, administrative team, and others.

Over the summer, Battle Ground Public Schools completed an update of Skyward Family Access, our student information system. The new version has an easier to use interface and navigation, and will allow you to see your child’s assignments, attendance, grades and more. Here are some key things to know:

• The new Skyward Family Access has a different URL. Please update any old bookmarks.

• You should have received an email with the subject line “Family Access Account Information.” It will contain information about logging in and updating your password. If you did not receive this email, please use the information below to log in and verify that your email address is entered correctly. If it is correct, please check your email spam folders and update settings to allow emails from do_not_reply@battlegroundps.org.

• The updated version of Skyward also has a new mobile app (Google Play and Apple App Store). Please uninstall older versions of the Skyward app before installing and setting up the new mobile app. You will not be able to reset your password in the older version.

• If you had a username and password, the same login information will still work. Please use the “Forgot password?” link if you do not know your password. Staff are not able to reset passwords; however, they can check to see if your email address is correct.

• If you do not have a username and password for an existing student, please contact your child’s school.

• Some items may have moved or no longer be available.

• Families will receive printed report cards only upon request. Digital report cards will be available in Skyward and may be printed at home.

The new Skyward functions best on a desktop or laptop computer and full browser. Computers will be available for use by any BGPS parent or guardian at Battle Ground and Prairie high schools.

The 2025-26 academic calendar can be found on the website in English, Spanish and Russian.  The calendar was updated in June 2025 to include early releases for primary school students in May 2026.

• Tuesday, Aug. 26, is the first day of school for first through 12th grades. Kindergartners and Transitional Kindergartners will have a staggered start and will receive information from their school. The first full day of kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten is Friday, Sept. 5.

• Class schedules and teacher assignments will be released the week before school starts. Primary, middle and alternative learning schedules and assignments will be available in Skyward at 4 p.m. on Aug. 20. Battle Ground and Prairie high school students’ schedules will be available in Skyward on Aug. 22 at noon.

• Wednesday is typically a one-hour late start. The first Wednesday late start of the school year will be Sept. 3.

Families needing childcare options before and after school can find information on the district website.

All families with enrolled students are required to complete the annual student update every year before school begins. This provides you with important options regarding your child’s education and ensures that we have correct contact information for you. We will use this information to communicate with you regularly and reach you in case of an emergency.

To complete the student update, please log into Skyward (Family Access) and click “2025-26 annual student update” (do not select new student online enrollment) in the tiles on the home screen. See instructions. 

• If your transportation needs have changed, please make sure to opt in or out of busing. 

Due to a technical issue at the state level, the application for free and reduced-price meals is temporarily unavailable in Skyward. In the meantime, you can fill out an application available via the district website.

New this year – Bus route information will be available for your child(ren) in their Skyward account by the end of next week. Log in through Family Access and select the “transportation” tile on the home screen. You will be able to view the bus number, stop address and approximate pickup and drop off times. We also recommend installing the FirstView app from First Student. It allows you to set notifications, receive information about delays or route changes and track your child’s bus in near real-time. The FirstView app is available for Android and Apple devices. NOTE: A code is required to set up your account. Please watch for a News to Know email containing that information, or you can request it from your school office. Snow route information will be on the district’s transportation website after the start of the school year.

Due to the levy failure, the cost of participating in sports and attending games will increase. Levy dollars covered a portion of the costs associated with athletics. Please note: Students who receive free or reduced-price meals AND have a 2025-26 consent to share form on file will be eligible to have these costs waived. Prior school year consent to share form does not roll over.

Students wishing to take advantage of no-fee sports or other activities must submit a new meal benefit application and consent to share form (русский) (Español) before registering for fall sports, even if they have done so previously. The consent to share can also be completed as part of the annual student update through Skyward.

Students are allowed to park on campus in the student parking section.

Students can pick up a form in the attendance office, pay $5 at the ASB office, and return the signed forms to the attendance office.

Remember that only juniors and seniors are allowed to leave campus during the school day. Students who do not follow safe driving practices, or who are not in good standing may have their parking permit suspended or revoked, and may lose their off campus privileges.

Drive safely, Falcons!

Get school supply lists on the district website. Please be aware that, due to budget cuts caused by a double levy failure, the district is unable to provide basic school supplies by default for primary students this school year. Free backpacks and basic supplies will be available in your school office for any student in any grade upon request, but there will be some items that you’ll need to purchase for your child(ren). Contact your child’s school or the Family and Community Resource Center if your family needs assistance. Thank you to the Battle Ground Education Foundation for helping to fund this resource. Donations are greatly appreciated at bgef.org to help them to continue assisting families throughout the district.

Starting this fall, Prairie High School students will have the chance to gain real-world work experience on campus through a brand-new, student-run iQ Credit Union branch. This hands-on opportunity will allow students to manage a fully functioning credit union location, supported by financial literacy and business coursework. Students can participate by signing up for the financial operations course during forecasting, when they choose their classes for the following year. 

Exclusively available during school hours only to students, staff and associated families, the branch will offer financial education, job training, valuable career-building experience and possible paid internships. Thanks to iQ Credit Union, the cost of remodeling the space for the branch at Prairie High School was fully covered. With this branch, Prairie will join seven other high schools in Southwest Washington, including Battle Ground, participating in this innovative program.

The BGPS board of directors is approving a revision to the cell phone policy, with the intention of limiting cell phone use during class time. The revisions also will standardize current practices and consequences for students not following the rules.

Parents - We need your help! As we work to minimize cell phone disruptions to instructional time, we are asking that parents/guardians do not contact students during class. We are asking students to have their phone "off and away" during instructional time, which means that they should not be able to respond to texts or calls anyway. If there is an emergency or other extenuating circumstance, please contact the main office at 360-885-5000, and we can easily contact any student. As always, please communicate with us if there are unique situations that arise.

What students can do:

• Bring cellphones and other personal electronic devices to school, but they must be silenced and remain out of sight (e.g., in a backpack) during class time, unless the student has been given permission by a teacher or school administrator.

• Use cellphones and other personal electronic devices on school grounds before the first bell of the school day and after the last bell of the school day, during passing times and lunch and during emergency situations that involve imminent physical danger.

• Talk to their parent or guardian using the phone in the main office.

What students can't do:

• Use cellphones and other personal electronic devices during class time, unless given permission by a teacher or school administrator for instructional or educational purposes and usage is monitored.

• Use cellphones and other personal electronic devices in locker rooms or restrooms at any time.

• Send, share, view or possess content that violates district policies.

• Take photos of or record other students without their explicit permission.

Discipline:

Students who violate the cellphone policy will be subject to progressive disciplinary action up to and including confiscation of their phone/device and/or losing the privilege of bringing it onto school property. If a school chooses to confiscate the phone, they are required to ensure the security of the device. A school may require a parent/guardian to pick the phone up at the end of the school day.

• Initial offense: Student is warned and reminded of the rules.

• Repeat offenses:

  • The student’s mobile device will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the day.

  • Parents or guardians will be notified.

  • A meeting may be held with the student and their parent/guardian to discuss a success plan if excessive offenses continue.

  • The district may administer appropriate interventions and student discipline.
    

Hello Falcon Families from the PHS Boosters! Please welcome to our 25/26 Booster Board:

President- Cheyenne Williamson

Vice President- Kelly Dreger

Secretary- Savannah Lartigue

Treasurer- Melissa Kimball 

Co-Treasurer- Carol Kahn 

Auction Chair- Zandra McChesney 

Co-Auction Chair- Nicole Neisz

Concessions- Angie Bartley

This year's Booster Board is very excited for this upcoming year! 

Our 31st Annual Auction will be held on April 25th,2026, so mark your calendars! More details to come later! 

If you are interested in learning more, share ideas or getting involved, please attend one of our meetings! Meeting dates will be announced soon. Zoom links will also be available for the meetings. 

Please email Cheyenne at President.phsfalconboosters@gmail.com with questions and/or to receive the Zoom link for meetings! 

Battle Ground Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help students and/or their immediate family members quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of insurance or circumstance. Care Solace is available all year long, even when school is not in session. 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.

Battle Ground Public Schools partners with Chartwells to provide meals at school. Menus will continue to be available via Nutrislice, with payments processed through InTouch Receipting. You will be able to see and pay all charges in one place. Use your Skyward / FamilyID information to log in (note: parent usernames now include an extra zero). See meal prices for 2025-26. 

All students who attend schools that do not offer free meals to all students may still qualify to receive meals at no cost to their family if they meet the requirements.

Due to a technical issue at the state level, the application for free and reduced-price meals is temporarily unavailable in Skyward. In the meantime, you can fill out an application available via the district website. Please note that even if your child has qualified for free meals in the past, you will still need to reapply.

No School Friday, 8/29/25!

First one-hour late start is Wednesday, 9/3/25!

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/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Lynnell Tsugawa-Murray, Assistant Superintendent, Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604, murray.lynnell@battlegroundps.org, 360.885.5340 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