Battlefield Newsletter

BES Mission Statement: Our mission is working together to promote high levels of learning for all students.

BES Vision Statement: Building Exceptional Students

• We will create a caring environment where all students can succeed.

• We will work collaboratively to learn, plan and grow as educators in order to promote high levels of achievement.

• We will help our students reach their potential by prioritizing individual student goals, differentiating instruction, and utilizing best practices

• We will work together to encourage and celebrate student success.

• We will give 100% to know and meet the social, academic, and emotional needs of each child.

Goal 2: The percentage of students (all grades) performing at Proficient and Distinguished will improve from 38.2% to 43% on the 2025 EOG Milestones ELA assessment.

Goal 3: The percentage of 5th grade students performing at Developing, Proficient, and Distinguished will improve from 59.3% to 80% on the 2025 EOG Milestones Science assessment.

When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels."

- Unknown

Happy New Year and welcome back! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable holiday break. We are excited to begin the new semester.

A new semester is a time for fresh starts and growth. Our teachers and staff are ready to continue creating a positive and engaging learning environment for our students. We look forward to the events and learning opportunities ahead and remain committed to helping every student succeed.

We are grateful for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make this semester a successful and rewarding one for our children. Let’s make 2026 a fantastic year!

In December, our students participated in MAP mid-year benchmark testing. This assessment provided us with valuable insights into each student’s academic progress and areas of growth. We are currently using the data from these tests to make thoughtful adjustments to our curriculum and to implement targeted interventions. Our goal is to ensure that each student receives the support they need to succeed and continue growing academically.

Based on your feedback, our second WIN night information will be sent out digitally. Toward the end of January, we will send out your child's MAP data. We will also follow that up with a digital update on understanding the MAP data. After viewing this data, if you have any questions or concerns or want to set up a conference, reach out to your child's teacher.

We will continue to monitor and recognize positive student attendance throughout the second semester. Please remember to submit excuse notes within ten days of any absence, and provide a doctor’s or dentist’s note whenever a student is tardy for an appointment. We understand that illnesses occur, and we appreciate families ensuring students stay home to recover when needed.

Regular school attendance plays a critical role in student learning. Consistent time in the classroom allows students to build knowledge progressively, practice essential skills, and remain connected to instruction. Daily attendance also supports collaboration with peers and timely feedback from teachers, all of which contribute to academic success. Developing strong attendance habits helps students build responsibility and routines that support long-term success in school and beyond.

We are Battlefield!

Dr. McCrary

On December 3rd, twenty-two Battlefield students participated in the county Technology Competition held at the College and Career Academy, showcasing their creativity, collaboration, and technical skills. We are proud of all of our participants, and we would like to congratulate the following students who will advance to the next round:

Battlefield Elementary School held its annual Spelling Bee on December 11th, featuring fourteen 4th grade students and seventeen 5th grade students. These students dedicated many afternoons preparing for the competition with the support of Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Smith, and we are proud of their commitment and hard work.

Congratulations to our 4th grade winner, Daksya Kanthan Rao, and runner-up, Bentley Pierro, as well as our 5th grade winner, Colton Dupre, and runner-up, Tinsley Lewis. Daksya and Colton will represent BES at the county Spelling Bee on January 27th at 5:30 p.m. in the Tiger Creek Elementary Auditorium.

Blood Drive – Thursday, January 15th 🩸

BES will be partnering with Blood Assurance to host a Blood Drive on Thursday, January 15th from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

We invite our families, staff, and community members to participate if they are able. Every donation helps save lives, and your support makes a meaningful difference.

More information about scheduling a donation time will be sent out soon. Thank you for helping us support this life-saving cause!

We are excited to share that the BES YMCA After School Care program has recently earned a 2 out of 3 star Quality Rated designation.

By participating in Georgia’s Quality Rated program, the YMCA has committed to meeting standards that go beyond the state’s basic licensing requirements. Quality Rated focuses on continuous improvement and ensuring high-quality care and learning experiences for children. This designation reflects the YMCA’s ongoing dedication to excellence in after-school programming.

How does Quality Rated benefit our families and students?

• Increased emphasis on strengthening math and language skills

• New on-site supplies to enhance active play and learning

• Expanded professional development for YMCA caregivers

• Outcomes-based programming with a focus on PBIS standards

Thank you for your continued support of the YMCA and its commitment to providing quality care for our students. If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with YMCA staff or contact them directly at ngaymca@ymcachattanooga.org.

Our car rider line is staffed from 7:00 to 7:50 a.m., with additional staff members present during the busiest times to ensure safety and efficiency. We understand that many of you are on your way to work after drop-off, and we want to help make your morning as smooth as possible.

As the weather gets colder, we know students may want to stay in the car until the last minute. Please help us keep the line moving by having your child ready to exit the car promptly—with their backpack, lunch box, and any other materials in hand.

With the weather changing, we also see an increase in tardies during the next few months. Our goal is to have every student in class on time and ready to learn each day. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our car rider line safe, efficient, and on schedule!

We want to remind all families of the importance of keeping up to date with your child’s cafeteria balance. At this time, our cafeteria has an outstanding balance of $2,000, and we appreciate your help in reducing this debt. If you have any questions or need assistance checking your child’s account, please contact our cafeteria manager, Mrs. Jenny Hastick, at jhastick.bat@catoosa.k12.ga.us or by phone at (706) 866-9183. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support in keeping our school meal program running smoothly.

We make every effort to keep you informed about important events. Please note that all dates are subject to change; however, we will provide updates as soon as possible if any adjustments are necessary.

1/19: No School

1/27: County Spelling Bee at Tiger Creek Elementary @ 5:30

2/11: 5th Grade Parent Luncheon

2/13: No School

2/16: No School

3/12: 1/2 Day for Students

3/13: No School

3/30 - 4/3: Spring Break

4/20 - 4/23: Georgia Milestones Testing

4/24 - 4/30: Georgia Milestones Makeup Testing

5/4 - 5/8: Staff Appreciation Week

5/18: ELA Georgia Milestones Retest

5/19: Math Georgia Milestones Retest

5/21: 5th Grade Recognition

5/22: Last Day of School (1/2 Day for students)

Joining the Parent Portal is one of the best ways to stay actively involved in your child’s education. Through the portal, you can view real-time updates on grades, attendance, assignments, missing work, and teacher comments, helping you support your child throughout the school year.

If you have not yet created a Parent Portal account, we strongly encourage you to do so. It only takes a few minutes to set up and provides ongoing access to information that supports student success.

To sign up, please contact Chasity Purcell at cpurcell@catoosa.k12.ga.us. She will provide your unique access code and step-by-step instructions needed to log in. Once your account is activated, you’ll be able to:

• Monitor your child’s academic progress at any time

• View attendance records and tardies as they are updated

• Receive alerts about low grades or missing assignments

Parent Portal is an important tool for communication between school and home, and we hope every family will take advantage of it. If you have any questions or need assistance after enrolling, please reach out — we are happy to help!

Month: January

Theme: AI Awareness

Focus Title: Can your child tell the difference between AI and real life?

Parent Blurb: From AI-written essays to fake videos, kids need to know what’s real—and what’s not.

Grade 3-5 Message: Grades 305: AI tools are everywhere, and kids need guidance. Learn how to teach safe, smart AI use on Parent ProTech: https://app.parentprotech.com/932/catoosa-county/en/signup?source=admin

Subject: New Bus Traversa MyRide K-12 Parent App - Starting March 26, 2025

Dear CCPS Bus Rider Families,

We are excited to announce a new bus-tracking app called Traversa MyRide K-12, starting on March 26, 2025, for the entire district. CCPS Parents will have access to our new app, MyRide K-12. Please scan the QR code below with your smartphone's camera to download and sign up for our new CCPS Bus app.

Changing over to Traversa offers a more advanced and user-friendly platform designed to improve the safety and efficiency of our student transportation. Key benefits include:

• Improved Efficiency: Streamlined processes and real-time updates.

• Enhanced Safety: Advanced features to ensure student safety.

• Better Communication: Timely notifications and updates through the MyRide K-12 Parent App, allowing you to track your child’s bus with:

• Estimated arrival times

• Potential delays or route changes

• Notifications for specific events (e.g., bus approaching)

• Data Privacy: Rest assured that student data is protected and the app adheres to all privacy regulations.

After scanning the QR code, you will be directed to download the app and create an account using your student ID.

Directions to Download MyRide K-12 App

We encourage all CCPS Bus rider families to participate in the new Bus app program. We are particularly interested in your comments regarding the accuracy of bus pick-up and drop-off times displayed in the app. You will be able to track your student 30 minutes prior to and post pick-up time.

Please share your thoughts and suggestions with:

• Mrs. Mary Lanham, CCPS Transportation Manager: mlanham@catoosa.k12.ga.us

• Or call our Transportation Office @ 706-965-2913

All comments are welcome and appreciated. We look forward to our new MyRide K-12 Program and all it can offer by way of accuracy. We look forward to partnering with you to make our transportation system the best it can be.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mary Lanham

CCPS Transportation Manager