Battle Ground Public Schools

SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE A YEAR OF COLLABORATION This has been an instrumental year for Battle Ground Public Schools. We have accomplished much in the areas of academics and working together with community collaborators to plan for the district's future. STRATEGIC PLAN We have seen the completion of several projects that will have an immediate and long-range impact on our commitment to the continuous improvement of learning. After many meetings with a representative group from our community, we completed a strategic plan that reflects our learning priorities and vision for "INSPIRING EXCELLENCE by connecting every student to a positive future in a competitive global economy." The School Board adopted the BGPS Strategic Plan earlier this year as the foundation for the work we do to educate students. FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT TEAM The dedicated community members on the Facilities Improvement Team (FIT) met regularly for over one year to create a Long-Range Facilities Plan that addresses current and future facility needs. The Long-Range Facilities Plan is our roadmap for the future with regard to taking care of existing facilities and anticipating needs as our community grows. SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING Also this year, the district focused on addressing the social and emotional needs of our students and the continued implementation of the Project AWARE federal grant. We now have mental health providers in all buildings, prevention/intervention specialists in all middle and high school buildings, Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers who have trained hundreds of staff and community members and finally, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in all primary schools and several secondary schools. The critical element of PBIS—that is so crucial to supporting academic learning—is its belief that students flourish at a much higher level in schools where there is a system of teaching and re-teaching behavioral and academic expectations and reinforcing appropriate behavior than in a school environment that is overly punitive. We have made astonishing progress in two years and still have three more years to completely integrate the district with the elements of this grant. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE I am also happy to share that we continue to show progress in all areas of academics, and that our students are regularly acknowledged for the excellent work they do. Our music and arts programs are often featured in local papers and the media for winning awards. Two of our schools were selected this year by the state as being exemplary for academic performance. CASEE received the state's Lighthouse designation as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) school. Finally, our schools continue to fare well on state assessments. Yes, indeed, it has been an excellent year, however, there is still much to do. We look forward to continuing our work next year to make Battle Ground the premiere school district in southwest Washington. Take care and have a great summer, Mark Hottowe, Superintendent The Battle Ground Public Schools provides equal opportunity in programs and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin/language, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation including gender identity, disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, HIV/Hepatitis C status. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Contact the following regarding questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Compliance Officer, 360.885.5481; Title IX Athletic Coordinator 360.885.5415; Section 504/ ADA Coordinator 360.885.5481; Compliance Coordinator for State Civil Rights Laws, 360.885.5415; or a letter may be submitted to the designated coordinator at the Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604. Our Visi� INSPIRING EXCELLENCE by connecting every student to a positive future in a competitive global economy.

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