October 2015 - Battlefield High School

Battlefield High School
Parent Newsletter
October 2015
“Success is a Choice”
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Table of Contents
Principal’s Letter
1–2
Touch Base
3
Attendance
4 -5
Division Policies
5
Academic Intervention
5
Counseling
Senior Information
6-9
9
Library
10
Governor’s School
11
Thank You
11
Parking Permits
12
Cafeteria
12
Athletics
13
Driver’s Ed
14
Info Technology
14
Music Department
15 -16
Science
17
Health/PE
17
New Student Orientation
18
Clubs
This week marked the middle of the first marking period, and interim
grades will be issued to students on October 9, 2015. If you have
concerns about any of the grades your student has on the interim
report, there are a number of steps you can take. First, plan to attend
Touch Base at the school on Monday, October 12, from 7:30 to 10:00
a.m. If you are able to join us, you will have the opportunity to speak
directly with any/all of your student’s teachers and to review your
student’s progress. If you are not able to join us that morning, you
can e-mail or call the teachers to discuss how things are going in
class. (Remember: teachers cannot take phone calls during class
time. You may leave a message and the teacher will get back with
you within 48 hours.) You can also monitor the content being
covered in class and assignments that have been given by reviewing
the School Fusion pages for each of your student’s classes. If your
student is in need of extra help, you can coordinate that with the
teachers or you can work with your child’s counselor to set up a
schedule. Additionally, free tutoring through the school’s National
Honor Society is also available in the Library Media Center on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Activity buses run on those afternoons if
students do not have rides home. (See the exact dates for Activity
buses on the front page of the website.)
19 - 20
Boosters
21
PTO
21
Principal Message (cont’d next pg)
22 - 27
1
Inclement Weather
Principal’s Message (cont’d)
On October 14, all Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).
This test, which is paid for by the school division, is a practice for the SAT which most colleges and universities
use as part of their admission program. It is also used to select students for National Merit Scholarships and for
the National Assistance Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students. All students taking the PSAT
will be in groups with a proctor during the test which takes approximately 3 hours. Please note: students will
not be dismissed early from the PSAT unless there is an emergency situation as any disruption during testing
creates a distraction for all students.
While the PSAT is taking place, Seniors will have the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia for the day. Those
who choose not to attend the trip should report to school on time; space will be provided for them to study or
complete assignments. Although Freshmen do not take the PSAT, their morning will be busy as well. They
will be placed in groups and will rotate through a workshop on study skills, Naviance training, and a
presentation called Freshmen Year Counts.
Parents of Seniors: If you missed Senior Parent Night on September 21, please review the presentation
materials that are posted on the Counseling Center page of the website. All Seniors have now been provided
with information about the college application process during their senior meetings with their counselors.
Because of the high volume of applications our counselors will process over the
next four months, Seniors need to carefully follow the directions for requesting
SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATION
transcripts and letters of recommendations. It is imperative that Seniors not wait
until the last minute to ask for assistance!
As discussed at the Senior Parent Night, we do not yet have a date for the
graduation ceremony. The graduation window for all Prince William County
Schools is June 7-17, 2016. Once we have received confirmation from Jiffy
Lube Live that our date is locked in, something that does not happen until late
February, the day and time will be announced to parents and students by e-mail,
phone, and on the website.
Please continue to monitor the school website for the latest information about
what is happening at Battlefield. As always, we thank you for your support.
Amy S. Ethridge-Conti,
Principal
Christopher Hintosh,
Assistant Prinicpal
Judith Lester,
Assistant Principal
Christopher McMillan,
Assistant Principal
Julia Renberg,
Assistant Principal
Jim Smith,
Administrative Intern
Sincerely,
Julie Byrne,
Director of School Counseling
Jason Koch
Director of Student Activities
Amy S. Ethridge-Conti
Principal
Joseph Huddle,
Specialty Programs
Coordinator
2
TOUCH BASE
3
ATTENDANCE
Excused Absences:
Please be reminded that students who are absent from school should bring in a written note or send a fax within
48 hours (two days) of the absence. The note/fax should include the student’s first and last name, the date(s) of
the absence(s), the reason for the absence(s), a parent/guardian signature, and a phone number where the
parent/guardian may be reached.
Per Prince William County Schools Regulation, students can receive an excused absence for the following
reasons:
1. Personal illness of the student.
2. Medical and dental examination and/or treatment of the student when such appointments cannot be
scheduled other than during school hours.
3. Seniors may be excused for the purpose of college admission visitations or to apply for post-graduation
jobs. In each instance, prior approval of the principal or designee shall be obtained by the student.
4. Death in the family of the parent or guardian.
5. Observation of a religious holiday.
6. Emergency conditions in the student's home which require help from the student in caring for the sick or
injured.
Note: All work must be made up
Approved Preapproved Absences of three (3) or more days:
A written request for a prearranged absence must be presented to the student’s supervising administrator at least
five days prior to the planned absence. The request must contain the student’s name, reason for absence and
dates, as well as the contact telephone numbers. The supervising administrator uses professional judgment in
making a determination based on the reason stated in the written request for the prearranged absence. Such
factors as the educational value of the proposed experience, the personal or family benefit resulting from the
experience, and the impact of the absence on the student's academic progress will be given consideration in
determining whether a prearranged absence is approved or disapproved. Reasons of extenuating circumstances
are to be judged by the principal.
Early Dismissals:
The student presents a note requesting the early dismissal to the Attendance Office before 7:13 am. The request
must include the reason for leaving, time of requested dismissal, and parent/ guardian’s signature and telephone
number for verification. An early dismissal will be written for the student only after verbal verification by
parent or the person designated as the emergency contact has been received. The student must show the early
dismissal pass to their teacher and sign out in the attendance office prior to leaving the building. All students
must exit through the front doors. A student who leaves school without checking out in the Attendance Office
will receive an unexcused absence for each class missed and will be subject to disciplinary action. Parents who
arrange early dismissals with their child via text message must still follow early dismissal procedures
listed here.
Should a student become ill while at school, he/she will be given permission to go to the clinic. The school
nurse will contact a parent/guardian to obtain permission for the student to leave school. If a parent/guardian
or another adult on the student’s emergency card cannot be reached, the student will not be released
from school.
Attendance(cont’d next pg)
4
Attendance (cont’d)
Tardy Policy:
Students are expected to attend every class and be on time unless given a note/pass from their administrator,
counselor or other appropriate staff member. Students are considered tardy if they are not in the classroom
before the late bell is rung. Students who accumulate unexcused tardies to a particular class will receive the
following consequences:



1 detention for 3 unexcused tardies
2 detentions for 4 unexcused tardies
3 detentions for 5 unexcused tardies
The accumulation of unexcused tardies will reset at the beginning of each quarter. Students who continue to be
chronically tardy to class will be placed on an Attendance/Tardy contract.
DIVISION AND POLICIES
Battlefield Parents and Guardians:
The Policies and Regulations governing Prince William County Public Schools may be accessed online at
pwcs.edu.
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION
Starting Tuesday, September 29, and continuing each Tuesday and Thursday when an activity bus is available,
Academic Intervention will be held in the library from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Academic Intervention is an opportunity provided to students by their teacher and administrators to provide a
structured environment for students to improve their academics. Students can meet with their teachers during
this time and National Honor Society students will also be available to provide tutoring.
Students can be recommended for Academic Intervention by their teacher/administrator and the student’s
administrator will meet with the student to inform the student of the dates that he/she is expected to attend
Academic Intervention.
Please contact your student’s administrator if you have any questions.
5
COUNSELING
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The Office of Student Services is pleased to provide free of charge to all PWCS high school students, Family
Connection – a comprehensive website that you and your student can use to make plans about colleges, and
careers. Family Connection is linked with Naviance™, a service that we use in our office to track and analyze
data about college and career plans, so it provides up-to-date information that is specific to your student’s
school.
Family Connection allows your student to:




Get involved in the planning and advising process – Build a resume, complete online surveys, and
manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers
Research colleges – Compare his/her GPA, standardized test scores, and other statistics to actual
admissions decision data from your high school for students who have applied in the past
Research careers – Research hundreds of careers and career clusters, and take career assessments
Create plans for the future – Create goals and to-dos, and complete tasks assigned by the school to better
prepare your student for future college and career goals.
Family Connection also lets us share information with you and your student about upcoming meetings and
events, local scholarship opportunities, and other resources for college and career information.
You will find a link to your school’s Family Connection website on your high school’s website. You may also
easily look up your school’s Family Connection website by navigating to:
https://connection.naviance.com/auth/fclookup
Your student can obtain his/her user id and passcode from the school counseling department at your assigned
high school. I hope that you and your student will find this resource helpful as he/she plans for life after high
school. For more information about post-secondary planning please visit the Office of Student Services website
or follow us on Twitter (@PWCSFutureReady). If you have questions about Family Connection please contact
your student’s school counselor.
Sincerely,
Rebekah W. Schlatter, Supervisor
Secondary Counseling and Student Support Services
rs
Rebekah W. Schlatter
Supervisor of Secondary Counseling and Student Support Services
P.O. BOX 389, MANASSAS, VA 20108 • WWW.PWCS.EDU • 703.791.7258, FAX 703.791.8839
Email: schlattr@pwcs.edu
Follow us on Twitter @PWCSFutureReady
Counseling(cont’d next pg)
6
Counseling (cont’d)
PSAT – October 14th
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be administered to all
10th and 11th grade students at Battlefield High School on Wednesday, October 14th, 2015. An important first
step toward college, the PSAT is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives
juniors a chance to enter competitions for scholarships and gain access to college and career planning tools.
PWCS pays the testing fee for all 10th and 11th grade students. We strongly encourage all sophomores and
juniors to be present on test day and try their best.
All 10th and 11th grade students must remember to bring their own No. 2 pencils with erasers and an approved
calculator (scientific or graphing calculators are recommended). Check page 32 of the PSAT Student Bulletin
for a list of approved calculators. Please be advised that pencils and calculators will not be provided on test
day. Students will receive their room assignments the week before the test and should report directly to their
testing room on test day. The test will run until approximately 11am. All seniors will be involved in senior
activities and programming while testing is underway. All freshmen will be involved in freshmen activities and
programming while testing is underway. Please contact Carol Fitzwater at fitzwaca@pwcs.edu if you have any
questions.
Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Workshop
The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) program will be hosting the Virginia Leadership Seminar at
James Madison University June 3-5, 2016. The mission of HOBY and the purpose of this seminar is to
recognize and develop leadership talents in sophomores helping them to become effective leaders in their
school and community (http://www.vahoby.org/). Battlefield High School will send one sophomore to this
seminar. For more information on the HOBY Virginia Leadership Seminar and the application process,
interested sophomores should attend the information session on 10/29/15 in the Counseling Center. A sign-up
sheet for the information session will be available in the Counseling Center on October 1st. Please see Mr.
Sisson or Mrs. Pomfret in the Counseling Center for more information.
College Fairs
The Eastern Prince William County Regional College Fair will be held at C.D. Hylton High School on
Thursday, October 15, 2015, 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Approximately 100 colleges and universities will be
represented. All seniors and juniors and their parents are strongly encouraged to attend this free event. Forest
Park High School is located at 14051 Spriggs Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22193.
Information regarding other area college fairs can be found on the “College & Military Visits” section of the
Counseling Center webpage.
Counseling(cont’d next pg)
7
Counseling(cont’d)
ASVAB
Battlefield will host the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) on Tuesday, October 27, 2015
at 7:30am. This free 3-hour test is for students in grades 10-12 who are undecided about a career path or who
wish to enter into the U. S. Military. The ASVAB is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense
and is scored in four areas: Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and
Mathematics Knowledge. The results count towards the Armed Forces Qualifying Test score, which determines
whether students are qualified to enlist in the military. In addition, the test contains an interest inventory
portion and a career exploration tool that can identify potential occupations. Students DO NOT need an interest
in the military to take this test. ASVAB participants are not under any obligation to the Military as a result of
taking the ASVAB. Interested students must register for the test with their counselor by Friday, October 9,
2015.
Financial Aid Night
The Battlefield High School Counseling Department will host Financial Aid Night on Thursday, November 19,
2015 at 7:00pm in the school auditorium. The presenter will be Felice Rollins of College Momentum.
Family Connection
Family Connection is a web-based program that Battlefield students of all grade levels can use free of charge
for college searches, career planning, building a resume, and setting goals. In addition to those resources,
seniors also use this program for requesting transcripts and searching for scholarships. All 9th grade students
will be introduced to Family Connection this semester with a scavenger hunt activity as they explore the tools
the website offers. We encourage all students to use this valuable resource as they develop and refine their
post-secondary plans. To log in, students enter their PWCS ID# as their user id and their password is their date
of birth (MMDDYYYY). Parents can have access to much of the same information by logging into the website
as a guest. The link to sign on to Family Connection can be found on the main Battlefield High School web
page under “For Students” on the left menu.
Youth Salute
The Youth Salute Ceremony hosted by Forest Park High School on Thursday, September 24 was strongly
represented by Battlefield High School. The following Battlefield student nominees were recognized for their
academic credentials, leadership, and service to the community: Lauren Ainslie, Anthony Gang, Shannon Gang,
Connor Gately, Rachel Hong, Maryam Kargar, Laura Keane, Hana Komine, Georgia Matthews, Lindsay Park,
Reeya Rabena, Justine Suegay, Steven Tian, and Dana Wang. Hana Komine was selected as a top ten finalist
during the ceremony based on her credentials and her written statement. Congratulations to all the nominees
from Battlefield!
This was the final Youth Salute Ceremony, as the volunteer group that governed the process in Prince William
County is stepping down. Thank you to all the parents and volunteers who made Youth Salute possible for
students at Battlefield High School, and throughout Prince William County.
Counseling(cont’d next pg)
8
Counseling(cont’d)
Governor’s Early College Scholars Program
The Governor’s Early College Scholars Program is intended to encourage eligible high school students to
complete requirements for a high school diploma and concurrently earn at least 15 hours of transferable credits
toward a college degree. This program can potentially result in a more productive senior year and reduce the
amount of college tuition for families. Students earning a college degree in seven semesters instead of eight can
save an average of $5,000 in college expenses.
The Governor’s Early College Scholars Program agreement may be signed at any time, from ninth to twelfth
grade. Participants agree to: (1) earn an Advanced Studies diploma with a Governor’s Seal and (2) take and
complete college-level course work (ie: AP or dual enrollment) that will earn at least 15 transferable college
credits while enrolled in high school. Interested students can download the Early College Scholars Agreement
from this newsletter, at the “Documents & Downloads” menu of the Counseling Center webpage, or pick one
up in the Counseling Center. Completed forms should be returned to the Counseling Center.
SENIOR INFORMATION
Class of 2016 - Fall Trip. Seniors head to Philadelphia on Wednesday,
October 14th.
The Class of 2016 will meet for its panoramic picture and meeting last block on Monday, November 9th. At the
meeting, seniors will receive information from Chuck McCann, Battlefield’s Herff Jones representative, about
ordering caps & gowns and other graduation or Class of 2016 items.
Grad Fair Chuck McCann from Herff Jones will be at Battlefield on the
evenings of Tuesday, December 1st (for students whose last names begin
with the letters A – L) and Wednesday, December 2nd (for students whose
last names begin with the letters M – Z) to take orders for caps & gowns
and other graduation or Class of 2016 items.
9
LIBRARY NEWS
We would like to
welcome Mrs.
Karen Tierney to
the BFHS Library
staff!
Mrs. Levinson-Library Media Specialist
Mrs. Tierney-Library Media Specialist
Mrs. Craven-Library Assistant
This year you will hear two new terms:
Library Learning Commons
Makerspaces
These are 21st century ideas that are popping up in
public libraries and school libraries around the
world. Throughout the year, students will see
changes in the library, virtually and physically, to
achieve these goals.
10
GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL
Battlefield Earns a Silver Award
The Governor’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard
recognizes schools for implementing best practices that support
proper nutrition and increased physical activity to promote student
health and improved academic performance. The best practices
and policies recommended by Virginia Action for Healthy Kids,
national and state organizations, and the Join Committee of the
Board of Education and Board of Health are incorporated into the
scorecard.
In order to be eligible for receipt of
an award, a school must accumulate a minimum of 50 points from the physical
activity section and 50 points from the nutrition section. For the 2014 – 2015
school year, Battlefield earned 82 points from the physical activity section and
79 points from the nutrition section for a total of 161 points for a Silver Award.
THANK YOU
We would like to say THANK YOU to Eggspectations for another
successful breakfast to jumpstart the beginning of the 2015-2016 school
year for the school staff. As always, everything was awesome and the
breakfast was delicious.
11
PARKING PERMITS
Students that would like to drive to school are required to attend a parking permit meeting with a parent on one
of the following days:



October 6th
November 10th
December 8th
All meetings will begin promptly at 3pm.
CAFETERIA
School Food and Nutrition Services Celebrates Virginia Farm to School Week
PWCS School Food and Nutrition Services celebrates Virginia Farm to School Week, October 5-9, 2015! Did
you know your school cafeteria serves seasonal Virginia produce all year long? During the month of October,
several of your school lunch items are coming straight from a Virginia Farm, including: apples, cabbage, kale,
fall squash, yellow squash, lettuce, milk, peppers, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Wow!
School Food and Nutrition Services works with Loving’s Produce, Inc. to source local, Virginia grown products
for school menus. Some of our farmers are listed below:
•
Chesterfield Berry Farm (Moseley, VA)
•
Crown Orchard (Batesville, VA)
•
Kirby Farms (Mechanicsville, VA)
•
Smith Farms (Hanover, VA)
•
Southwest Virginia Farm Coop
Incorporating local products into our menus gives students the opportunity to enjoy nutritious fresh fruits and
vegetables, while learning about the seasonality of foods and how foods are grown. These products support
local farms and are a tasty way to improve the health of our children!
12
ATHLETICS
Attention Golfers! Register for the 12th Annual BHS Golf Tournament today!
October 12th at Evergreen Country Club ~ Volunteers needed!
PINK OUT
Varsity football game on October 30th #FightLikeABobcat
Purchase your PINK OUT Spirit wear and proudly show support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Items are
available for purchase at lunch on select Mondays & Wednesdays in October (check our FB page). Send
Cash or Check made to BHS ABC with your students!
T-shirts $15
Long sleeve $20
Sweatshirt $35
Mark your calendars!



October 12 - Bobcat Golf Tournament at Evergreen Country Club
October 20 - Booster Meeting at 6:30 in the Mini Theater
November 7 - Bobcats Boots, Bling, & BBQ – Tickets $75 couple/ $40 single
BHS Athletic Booster Corporate Sponsors
The Bobcat Athletics Boosters Club would like to thank our corporate sponsors for joining our
#OneTeamOneDream Capital Campaign to improve the athletic facilities at BHS.
These companies are making BIG THINGS HAPPEN for our student-athletes and the community!
The Farm at Broad Run Nursery
and Greenhouses
GEICO – Insurance Agent Dave
Stinson
1st Degree Marketing & Public
Relations
Beitzell Fence
Browns Manassas Hyundai
Elite Sports Medicine and
Physical Therapy
The Hopkins Law Firm
Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano
Kerxton Insurance Agency
Manassas Asphalt
Next Level Fitness &
Performance
PEVS Paintball Park
Reid Construction Group
Bull Run Academy of
Gymnastics
Century 21 – Kim Herrewig
GMS Gymnastics
Park Valley Church
State Farm Insurance –
Bob Garrigan
Edge Concrete Company, Inc
Imagine Design
Become a Corporate Sponsor!
Don’t let your company sit on the sidelines! www.bobcatathletics.org
Go Bobcats! See you in the stands!
Twitter: @BobcatsClub
Facebook: Battlefield High School Athletic Booster Club
13
DRIVER’S EDUCATION
PWCS Driver Education Model Becomes State Law
Parent/Student Meeting
Virginia Code §22.1-205: Driver Education Programs, requires students to accompany their parents/guardians
to participate in a 90-minute traffic safety program as part of their in-classroom driver education curriculum.
This program requirement must be met before a student receives a Driver Education Certificate of Completion
card (DEC-1 card).
Parents/guardians and students are strongly encouraged to attend the program at the time the student is
enrolled in the classroom driver education course.
Battlefield will hold Driver Education Meetings on the following dates:
 October 14, 2015
 November 18, 2015
 April 13, 2016
If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, go to http://www.pwcs.edu and click on “Instructional
Programs/Curriculum”. From the dropdown menu, select “Health, PE, Driver Ed, JROTC, Athletics. From
there, click on “Driver Education for the full schedule of the student/parent presentations at all PWCS high
schools.
Important Note: All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Doors will close promptly at the beginning of
the presentation. In order to meet the 90-minute requirement of participation by parents and students,
participants will not be permitted to enter the program after it has started and the doors are closed.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The Battlefield Information Technology specialty program is pleased to welcome 314 new students for the
2015-2015 school year. Highlights of the program include adding Project Lead the Way this fall, as well
as robotics competitions on Oct 23 (ILITE Robotics Off-Season Competition) and Dec 12 (FIRST Tech
Challenge – Northern VA Regional).
Also, new this year will be a series of after school presentations from IT and
STEM professionals.
14
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
The 2015-16 school year is off to a great start and Battlefield Choir members
are busily preparing for upcoming auditions and concerts. On Saturday,
September 26th, 110 Battlefield
students auditioned for the All
County Choir. (That’s over half of
the entire vocal music department!!)
Students selected to participate in
this select choir will perform at Patriot High School on October 24th.
Singers from the Class of 2016 will audition for the Seniors Honors
Choir on October 10th at Longwood University. The Virginia Music
Educators Association (VMEA) Senior Honors Choir will rehearse
and perform November 19th-21st in Norfolk.
Battlefield High School Choirs’ concert season will open on Thursday, October 15th with the wildly popular
Pyramid Choir Concert. BHS’s five choirs will perform along with the 8th grade choruses from Bull Run and
Ronald Reagan Middle Schools. This special night is an opportunity for middle school students to get a taste of
the “big stage” of the high school vocal music program. Auditorium doors open at 6:30pm for this celebration
of music. Light concessions will be available for purchase. Be sure to stop by the Pie Tasting Station – and
order your pies for the upcoming holiday season.
The Battlefield Choral Boosters invite you to stay up-to-date with choir events and activities by visiting their
new website: www.BattlefieldChoirs.org. In addition to information about the school’s music program, the
website will showcase recent and archived performances, provide parents with access to supporting the choirs,
and serve as a repository for updates on the choirs’ upcoming trip to Germany. Interested in getting involved?
Booster club meetings take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the choir room, starting at 7:00pm. The
Choral Boosters invite all Battlefield families to join the fun!
Music (con’t next pg)
15
Music (cont’d)
Senior Regional Orchestra
Congratulations to Travis Angerman, Phillip Choi, Eugene Choo, Grace Kim, Laura Kolos, Adrienne Hyde,
Andrew Schlagel, Daniel Park, David Park, Philip Park, and Aidan Ziemba! All of these students successfully
auditioned for Senior Regional Orchestra on September 26th. They have worked hard throughout the summer to
prepare for their auditions - kudos to them on their accomplishment!
Marching Band
On September 26, the Marching Bobcats competed in the North Stafford Invitational. The band won every
category in class AAAA including: 1st Place Music, 1st Place Visual, 1st Place General effect, 1st Place Color
Guard, and 1st Place Drumline. The band will be competing again on October 10 at the Hanover Hawks
Marching Invitational and the Midlothian Marching Invitational.
16
SCIENCE
Over the summer Alli Michaud and Kara Lawless, Biology Teachers, were inspired by Pinterest to create a
bulletin board incorporating aspects of Bobcat life that make students successful. They put their creativity to
work personalizing the elements to Battlefield High School creating the Periodic Table of Elements of Success
bulletin board on the second floor.
HEALTH and PE
The HPE department reports things are off to a great start this school year! 9th graders have been competing in
the annual track meet for HPE 1. The department is pleased to announce that this is the first year that HPE 1
students will be given the chance for certification in FA/CPR (for a $3 fee). 10th graders have been busy in the
classroom, starting the driver's education component of HPE 2. Of course, one of the main focal points will be
safety behind the wheel.
17
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
On August 21, Battlefield welcomed 704 participants at the 2015 New Student Orientation. With a help of over
100 student and staff volunteers, attendees engaged
in a 3.5-hour program that included a school tour,
meeting school counselors and the administrative
team, presentations on how to get involved,
overview of our library and the IT program, a
fashion show on school appropriate dress code,
Bobcat spirit activities and signing of the
"Commitment to Graduate" banner. At the end,
participants were asked to complete a six-question
survey to provide the school with their feedback about the event. Here are the results:
99% marked "strongly agree" or "agree" to the questions #3 "The orientation provided relevant information
about school expectations and opportunities for students" and #4 "The student-volunteers assigned to my group
were welcoming and answered my questions".
98% marked "strongly agree" or "agree" to the questions #1 "The orientation helped me feel more comfortable
about my first day of school", #2 "The orientation helped me feel more prepared for my first year of high
school", and #5 "Overall, I am glad to have participated in the New Student Orientation and would recommend
the event to others in the future."
For the question #6 "Which of the sessions did you find most helpful?", a majority of students selected "School
Tour" as their favorite part of the orientation.
Once again, we would like to thank Battlefield PTO and Athletic Boosters, Chick-Fil-A of Gainesville, and all
of our wonderful volunteers for supporting the event and ensuring its success. Welcome to Battlefield to all of
our new Bobcats!
Banner Signing
18
CLUBS
Holiday Craft & Vendor Show
BHS DECA is starting to get ready for our annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Show being held on Saturday,
November 21, here at BHS. If you are interested in being a vendor or have an awesome craft for sale, please
submit your application, which can be found in this newsletter. If you are from a direct sales company, you can
email Amy Homan at homanag@pwcs.edu to see if we already have a rep for your company. We also accept
local businesses who are looking to advertise their companies or services with a booth. We look forward to
putting on another successful holiday show!
Holiday Craft
&
Vendor Show
Saturday, November 21, 2015 10 am-3 pm
15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169
The Battlefield High School DECA club invites you to participate in our upcoming indoor holiday craft and
vendor show. The show will provide a diverse offering to our school and local community through its mix of
hand crafters, home based and small boutique businesses. We are actively encouraging our Booster Club and
Student Organizations to participate in the show by selling their traditional and new fundraising items.
We reserve the right to limit the number of exhibitors in each category to create a balanced market environment
and ensure success for all participating vendors.
 Standard Vendor Space rates will be $60 per space. Each space measures 10 feet wide x 6 feet deep x 6 feet
high. There is a limit of 2 spaces per Vendor. Only one vendor can be in each space.
 All spaces must be completely set up by 10 am when the doors open to the public and must remain set up
with personnel in the space until 3 pm when the event finishes. Vendors are responsible for cleaning up their
display area before leaving.
 Vendors are welcome to bring their own tables, stands, display racks, lattice, easels, and other display items
as long as they fit within your designated space.
 Table Rental: If you choose to rent tables, there will be a $15 table rental fee. There is a limited amount so
please make note of this on your application. Tables will be set up and ready for you when the doors open to
Vendors Saturday at 8am.
 PWCS, Battlefield High School, BHS DECA, or any of its agents or volunteers will not accept
responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged items nor will they be held responsible for any financial
commitments and/or obligations undertaken by an individual, business or organization.
Vendors will be selected on a first come, first serve basis as the application and check is received. Please make
sure that you include an email address. If we have already accepted another vendor who sells the same product
that you do, your check will be returned to you. Applications will be continued to be accepted until each
category is filled.
Further show details concerning: advertising, the day of the event, and any other details will be emailed to you.
If you have any questions concerning the show, please do not hesitate to email Amy Homan at
homanag@pwcs.edu. BHS DECA looks forward to working with you!
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Holiday Craft
&
Vendor Show
Saturday, November 21, 2015 10 am-3 pm
15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169
Name________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Business ______________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number_________________________________________________________________________
Email________________________________________________________________________________
Description of Crafts or Items for Sale:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Space Fees: (Spaces are 10 feet wide x 6 feet deep x 6 feet high. Maximum 2 spaces per Vendor)
□ Vendors $60 per space
Tables: Rented tables will cost $15 to cover the costs of table, delivery, set up, and pick up.
□ I will not use tables in my space or will bring in my own.
□ I would like to rent two, 6- foot tables for the space(s) I will be renting. (Tables=$15)
Total fees (space(s) + table(s))=____________________________
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Battlefield High School
I have read and understand the Battlefield High School Holiday Craft & Vendor Show Rules and Regulations
and I agree to abide by them. I hereby release Battlefield High School and the Battlefield DECA, their agents
and/or representatives, the show committee, other volunteers, and PWCS from and against any and all
liabilities, loss, costs or damages of any kind or nature arising out of or in connection with this show (if more
than one business intends to share a space, both must sign).
Signature _________________________________________ Date ______________________
Mail all applications and fees to:
Attention: BHS DECA, Amy Homan, 15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169
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BOOSTERS
Slopers Stitch House and the Band
Support Organization invite all
Battlefield Bobcats to receive
**20% DISCOUNT on LETTER JACKETS**
The Entire Month of OCTOBER!
Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
10560 Associates Court, Manassas – (703) 368-7197
*A portion of all sales will support the BHS Band program.
PTO
The Battlefield High School PTO would like to thank the following individuals for joining us in supporting our
school.
That ten dollar membership fee goes toward thank-you gifts to teachers, mini-scholarships for classrooms,
scholarships for seniors, along with working with the school to identify technology needs the PTO can help
purchase.
The PTO meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday each month in the BHS Library. In order to meet demands in our
busy schedules, it may be necessary to move (shift) our meetings to every 2 months. We strive to keep BHSPTO members informed of ongoing events. Check our website for updates. Join the BHS-PTO and be an
involved parent. You don't have to be PTO member to drop by or volunteer in your child’s school. Everyone is
welcome.
Our next project is working alongside the Student Council for the BHS Homecoming Dance on Oct. 3. PTO
members will be manning the coat closet under the guidance of former BHS parent Wanda Miller who has
returned to help out this year.
To learn more or sign up, go to BHS-PTO.com. You can join online.
Don't miss out on the fun and friendship.
Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook!
A big “THANK YOU” to everyone at our first meeting.
We look forward to a great 2015-16 school year!
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INCLEMENT WEATHER
September 2015
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Warm conditions will soon give way to rougher fall and winter weather. Please get ready by taking note of the
following Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) inclement weather practices.
When snow, ice, or cold causes hazardous road and walking conditions, schools may open late, close early, or
even close for the entire day. Decisions are made based on countywide conditions and weather forecasts.
Conditions may not always be the same where you live, but we are focused on ensuring the safety of all
students, staff, and residents across more than 350 square miles. Occasionally schools will open when local
roads and sidewalks are unsafe for travel. If that happens, make the safe choice. You have the option of not
sending your child(ren) to school. Students will receive an excused absence and will not be penalized
academically, though they are expected to make up all assignments.
PWCS transportation teams determine travel safety by monitoring conditions and driving both major and
remote roads across the county. They also consider input from police, Virginia Department of Transportation,
and weather forecasts before recommending a decision. Safety is always the top priority, and we try to reach a
decision as early as possible given changing conditions. We always strive to get the word out between 5 and
5:30 a.m., through many outlets:
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Email: Subscribe to E-News at https://pwcsalerts.bbcportal.com.
Mobile: Check your MyPWCS app. Get it free on Apple or Android online app stores.
Text Message: Register your smartphones through your E-News account at
https://pwcsalerts.bbcportal.com.
Online: Check pwcs.edu and or any school websites (if you have been monitoring the sites, refresh your
browser with “Control F5” to get the latest web information.
Social Media: Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/PWCSNews or follow us on Twitter,
twitter.com/pwcsnews.
Local radio and TV stations make announcements and repeat delay and closing information regularly.
Watch PWCS-TV on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon channel 36.
Call the PWCS information line at 703.791.2776 and select option 3.
Occasionally, delayed openings are used to allow commuter traffic to clear or hazardous road conditions to
improve before schools can open. If conditions worsen unexpectedly, a closing decision is still possible.
DR. STEVEN L. WALTS
Superintendent of Schools
P.O. BOX 389, MANASSAS, VA 20108 • WWW.PWCS.EDU
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When bad weather hits or worsens after school starts, it may be necessary to close schools early. Expect
announcements that “All Prince William County Public Schools will close one hour (or two hours) early today,”
depending on conditions. Early closings usually mean all after-school student activities, athletic activities, and
General Educational Development (GED) and Adult Education classes are cancelled too. But exceptions can be
made, please monitor your email and check your school’s website for special information.
Here are some other important things to know:
 Do not bring students to school early during a delayed opening; staff may also be late.
 Only individuals specifically designated on the Student Emergency Card (along with parents/guardians
and siblings) may pick up preschool and elementary students at the bus stop. Prepare for unexpected
early closings by updating school files with the names of those authorized to meet your child when you
cannot. Preschool and kindergarten students will be returned to the school if no designated individual
meets them at the bus stop.
 Have a plan so children know what to do if they arrive home before anyone is there to meet them.
Middle and high school students also need plans to ensure their safety.
 Please do not call your child’s school or PWCS offices during weather emergencies. The School
Division telephone system is needed to attend to operational and emergency matters.
 PWCS staff work hard to make school grounds safe after severe weather. You can help by ensuring your
neighborhood sidewalks, walking paths, and bus stops are cleared so students will have a safe place to
walk and wait, and so buses will have a clear route to safely pick up and drop off children.
 Look for enclosed special instructions concerning SACC and Next Generation students.
Remember, the decision to change the school schedule is never made lightly.
If you have any questions concerning these procedures, please call the principal of the school your child attends
prior to the inclement weather season.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Walts
Superintendent of Schools
Attachment
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Special Instructions for School Age Child Care (SACC) and Next Generation Parents/Guardians
 Parents will be asked to complete and return to their SACC site staff an “Inclement Weather Plan Form”
which describes how their child(ren) will leave the school at dismissal when SACC and Next Generation
programs do not open.
 If schools are closed for the day, SACC and Next Generation are closed as well.
 When Prince William County Public Schools opens two hours late, the SACC program will open two
hours late; Next Generation will open on schedule.
 When schools close early, after-school SACC and Next Generation Programs do not open.
 When all after-school and evening activities are cancelled, SACC and Next Generation programs close
at 5 p.m.
 If you have any questions, please call the SACC supervisor at 703.791.8844.
Special Instructions for Preschool Parents/Guardians
When a two-hour delayed opening of school is announced, this automatically alters the preschool schedules.
Parents/guardians should review the following schedule:
Two-Hour Delayed Opening
 A.M. preschool and full-day preschool students should expect their bus to arrive at the bus stop two
hours later than usual.
 A.M. preschool and full-day preschool walking students should arrive at school two hours later than the
regular schedule.
 Only A.M. preschool students will be dismissed one hour later than the regular schedule. Full-time
preschool students will be dismissed at the regular time.
 P.M. preschool student buses will arrive one hour later than usual and will be dismissed at the regular
time.
One-Hour Early Closing
A.M. preschool and full-day preschool students will be dismissed one hour earlier than the regular schedule.
There will be no P.M. preschool.
Two-Hour Early Closing
A.M. preschool and full-day preschool students will be dismissed two hours earlier than the regular schedule.
There will be no P.M. preschool.
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INCLEMENCIOS DEL TIEMPO
Septiembre de 2015
Estimados padres/tutores:
El calor pronto dará lugar a las condiciones climáticas más severas del otoño y el invierno. Por este motivo,
sírvanse tomar nota de los siguientes procedimientos de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Prince William
(PWCS, por sus siglas en inglés) para casos de inclemencias del tiempo.
Cuando la nieve, el hielo o el frío crean condiciones peligrosas para quienes conducen o caminan, es posible
que las escuelas abran más tarde, terminen más temprano o permanezcan cerradas todo el día. Estas decisiones
se basan en las condiciones en todo el condado y el pronóstico meteorológico. Aunque no sean las del lugar
donde viven, se centran en mantener la seguridad de los estudiantes, personal y residentes en un radio de más de
350 millas cuadradas. En ocasiones, las escuelas abrirán cuando las rutas locales y las aceras no sean seguras
para transitar. En estos casos, decida qué es más seguro; tienen la opción de no enviar a sus hijos a la escuela.
Los estudiantes serán considerados ausentes con justificación y no serán penalizados académicamente. Sin
embargo, se espera que recuperen/realicen todos los trabajos.
El personal de transporte de PWCS controla y recorre tanto las carreteras principales como las más remotas del
condado. La información se combina con la obtenida de los servicios meteorológicos, la policía y el
Departamento de Transporte de Virginia antes de tomar una decisión. La seguridad es siempre la mayor
prioridad y ante las condiciones cambiantes, tratamos de tomar una decisión lo más temprano posible. Nos
esforzamos por comunicarla entre las 5 y las 5:30 a.m. a través de distintos medios:
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Correo electrónico: suscríbanse a E-News en https://pwcsalerts.bbcportal.com.
Celular: vayan a la aplicación MyPWCS. Descárguenla gratis de las tiendas Apple o Android en línea.
Mensaje de texto: registren sus teléfonos inteligentes a través de su cuenta de E-News en
https://pwcsalerts.bbcportal.com.
En línea: visiten pwcs.edu y/o las páginas de las escuelas (si han estado controlando el sitio, actualicen
el navegador con “Control F5” para obtener la última información publicada.
Redas sociales: hagan clic en “me gusta” en nuestra página de Facebook en facebook.com/PWCSNews
o sígannos en Twitter, twitter.com/pwcsnews.
Las radios y estaciones de televisión local realizan anuncios y repiten las aperturas demoradas y los
cierres regularmente.
Miren PWCS-TV en el canal 18 de Comcast y el canal 36 de Verizon.
Llamen a la línea de información de PWCS al 703.791.2776 y seleccionen la opción 3.
A veces, las escuelas abrirán más tarde para permitir que se despeje el tráfico de las horas pico y que mejoren
las condiciones peligrosas de las carreteras. Si las condiciones empeoraran inesperadamente, se podrá tomar la
decisión de cancelar las clases.
DR. STEVEN L. WALTS
Superintendent of Schools
P.O. BOX 389, MANASSAS, VA 20108 • WWW.PWCS.EDU
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Si las condiciones climáticas empeoran después de haber comenzado la escuela, podrá ser necesario cerrar
temprano. Los anuncios típicamente indicarán que: “Hoy, todas las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Prince
William cerrarán una hora (o dos horas) más temprano”. Generalmente, todas las actividades estudiantiles que
tienen lugar después de la escuela, las actividades deportivas, las clases de Desarrollo de Educación General
(GED por sus siglas en inglés) y las Clases de Educación para Adultos también se cancelarán. Sin embargo,
puede que haya excepciones, por lo que deben mantenerse informados a través del correo electrónico y la
página de Internet de su escuela.
Algunos puntos importantes:
 No traigan a sus hijos temprano a la escuela cuando esta abra con retraso; es posible que el personal
también llegue tarde.
 Solamente aquellas personas designadas en la Tarjeta de Emergencia (además de los padres/tutores y
hermanos) pueden recoger a los estudiantes de primaria y kindergarten en la parada de autobús. Estén
preparados en caso de que haya cierres temprano. Actualicen el expediente escolar con los nombres de
aquellas personas autorizadas para recibir a sus hijos cuando ustedes no puedan. Los alumnos de
preescolar y kindergarten regresarán a la escuela si no hay una persona autorizada en la parada.
 Tengan un plan para que los niños sepan qué hacer en caso de que lleguen a casa y no haya nadie para
recibirlos. Los estudiantes de la escuela intermedia y secundaria también necesitan un plan para
garantizar su seguridad.
 Durante emergencias debido al mal tiempo, por favor, no llamen a sus hijos a la escuela o a las oficinas
de PCWS. El sistema telefónico de la División Escolar debe estar disponible para los asuntos
relacionados con las operaciones y las emergencias
 El personal de PWCS trabaja duro para que las instalaciones de la escuela sean seguras después de sufrir
condiciones climáticas severas. Los padres pueden contribuir asegurándose de que las aceras en los
barrios, los senderos y las paradas de autobús permanezcan despejadas para que los alumnos puedan
caminar y esperar sin peligro, y para que los autobuses tengan una ruta limpia y segura para recoger y
dejar a los niños.
 Adjuntamos instrucciones especiales para los alumnos de SACC y Next Generation.
Recuerden, la decisión de cambiar el horario escolar nunca se toma a la ligera.
Si tuvieran preguntas o dudas con respecto a estos procedimientos, por favor, contáctense con el director de la
escuela de sus hijos antes que comience la temporada de mal tiempo.
Agradezco su cooperación y apoyo continuo.
Atentamente,
Steven L. Walts
Superintendente de Escuelas
Adjunto
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Instrucciones especiales para padres/tutores de alumnos en el Programa de Cuidado de Niños de Edad
Escolar (SACC, por sus siglas en inglés) y Next Generation
 Los padres deberán completar y devolver al personal de SACC el formulario de “Plan en Caso de Mal
Tiempo” (“Inclement Weather Plan Form”), el cual describe cómo sus hijos se van a ir de la escuela al
final del día escolar si los programas SACC y Next Generation no se ofrecen ese día.
 Si las escuelas están cerradas todo el día, los programas SACC y Next Generation no se ofrecerán.
 Si las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Prince William abren dos horas más tarde de lo normal, el
programa SACC también abrirán dos horas más tarde. Next Generation abrirá en el horario normal.
 Si las escuelas cierran temprano, los programas SACC y Next Generation para después de la escuela no
se ofrecerán.
 Si se cancelan todas las actividades extraescolares y actividades por la tarde, los programas SACC y
Next Generation cerrarán a las 5 p.m.
 Si tienen preguntas, por favor llamen al supervisor de SACC al 703.791.8844.
Instrucciones especiales para padres/tutores de alumnos de preescolar
Cuando se anuncia que las escuelas van a abrir con una demora de dos horas, el horario de las clases
preescolares cambia automáticamente. Los padres/tutores deben revisar el siguiente horario:
Apertura con dos horas de retraso
 Los alumnos que asisten a clases preescolares durante la mañana y los que asisten a clases preescolares
todo el día deben esperar la llegada del autobús en su parada dos horas más tarde de lo normal.
 Los alumnos que caminan a la escuela para asistir a clases preescolares durante la mañana o todo el día
deben llegar a la escuela dos horas más tarde de lo normal.
 Sólo los alumnos que asisten a clases preescolares durante la mañana saldrán una hora más tarde de lo
normal. Los alumnos que asisten a clases preescolares todo el día saldrán a su hora normal.
 Los autobuses para los alumnos que asisten a clases preescolares durante la tarde llegarán una hora más
tarde de lo normal y los alumnos saldrán a su hora normal.
Cierre una hora antes de lo normal
Los alumnos que asisten a clases preescolares durante la mañana o todo el día saldrán una hora más temprano
de lo normal. No habrá clases preescolares durante la tarde.
Cierre dos horas antes de lo normal
Los alumnos que asisten a clases preescolares durante la mañana o todo el día saldrán dos horas más temprano
de lo normal. No habrá clases preescolares durante la tarde.
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