PATRIOT PRESS
Here's what's inside this week:
- Late start Wednesdays in Oct. 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
- Wednesday Oct. 29th NOT late start, 8:10 - 11:40
- NO SCHOOL Friday, Oct. 10th - State In-Service Day
- Fall conferences EARLY RELEASE Oct. 28th - 31st, 8:10 - 11:40
- Upcoming events, dates/times
- After school band practices and activities
- Healthy Youth Survey
- Meal benefit expiration
- Mental health support and training - free class Oct. 18th
- Upcoming deadline to protect your child’s Chromebook
- Aspire highly capable program referral window opens Oct. 8th
- ***New, added 10/1 Girls Who Code after school club, limited to 20 6th - 8th grade girls
- The importance of regular attendance
- Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month, October
- Give us your input - communications survey, by Oct. 10th
- PVM Dot Day installation
- Notes from the Nurse - Vaccination and Emergency Action Plan exclusion dates
- PV PTA Apparel orders for Spirit Wear - Orders due by Oct. 14th!
- PV PTA Winter Bazaar & Festival - call for vendors
- PSAT and World Languages tests 8th grade Deadlines Oct. 3rd
- New districtwide cellphone policy
- Register to Vote
- Employee Recognition Award
- Counselor's Corner
- Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) information
- Free technology monitoring tool for parents
- First View Bus App - get updates for construction delays etc
- Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services
- Report incidents anonymously with Vector Solutions reporting system
- PTA - information
- Family Resource Center information
- Sept. and Oct. Menus
- 25/26 Calendars, meal info., BGPS information links, contact info, hours, handbooks etc.
Oct. 3rd - Last day to turn in Fun Run donations
Oct. 14th - last day to submit Spirit Wear Apparel orders online
Oct. 24th - Picture Retakes Day
Oct. 28th - 31st - Fall conferences EARLY RELEASE 8:10 - 11:40 (primary school early release Oct. 27th - 31st, 9:10 - 12:40).
Nov. 2nd - Daylight Savings Ends
Washington State Healthy Youth Survey 2025
Читайте на русском ниже.
Lea en español a continuación.
Dear parents and guardians,
Battle Ground schools are participating in the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey in fall 2025. The survey will be given to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12.
The Healthy Youth Survey includes questions related to physical activity, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, interpersonal relationships, school experiences, risk and protective factors and access to school-based services.
Survey results are used by schools, communities and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks.
Participation in the survey is voluntary and steps are taken to ensure student privacy. There are no codes or codes used to link a survey back to a student.
Please read the attached letter for parents/guardians and youth or visit our website for more information about the Healthy Youth Survey.
If your child will participate in the survey, you do not need to take any action. If you prefer to opt your child out of taking the Healthy Youth Survey, follow these instructions to complete the process through Skyward Family Access.
Thank you,
Battle Ground Public Schools
RUSSIAN
Анкета о здоровье молодежи штата Вашингтон 2025 года
Уважаемые родители и опекуны учащихся школ Баттл Граунда!
Осенью 2025 года школьный округ Баттл Граунд примет участие в анкете о здоровье молодежи (Healthy Youth Survey) штата Вашингтон. В опросе примут участие учащиеся 6-х, 8-х, 10-х и 12-х классов.
Анкета о здоровье молодежи включает вопросы, касающиеся физической активности и питания, непреднамеренных и преднамеренных травм, употребления психоактивных веществ, факторов риска и защиты, а также доступа к услугам на базе школы.
Результаты опроса используются школами, сообществами и агентствами штата для планирования программ по поддержке молодежи и снижению рисков.
Участие в опросе является добровольным, а ответы учащихся - анонимными. Никакие коды или другая информация не используется для определения школьников, принимавших участие в анкетировании.
Дополнительную информацию об опросе о здоровье молодёжи вы найдете в прилагаемом письме для родителей/опекунов и подростков или на нашем веб-сайте.
Если ваш ребенок будет участвовать в опросе, вам не нужно предпринимать никаких действий. Если вы хотите отказаться от участия в этом анкетировании, следуйте этим инструкциям, чтобы завершить процесс через Skyward Family Access.
Спасибо.
Государственные школы округа Баттл Граунд
SPANISH
Encuesta sobre la salud de los jóvenes del estado de Washington 2025
Estimados padres y tutores:
Las escuelas de Battle Ground participarán en la encuesta sobre la salud de los jóvenes del estado de Washington en otoño de 2025. La encuesta se realizará a los estudiantes de 6.º, 8.º, 10.º y 12.º grado.
La encuesta sobre la salud de los jóvenes incluye preguntas relacionadas con la actividad física, las lesiones accidentales e intencionadas, el consumo de sustancias, las relaciones interpersonales, las experiencias escolares, los factores de riesgo y de protección y el acceso a los servicios escolares.
Los resultados de la encuesta son utilizados por las escuelas, las comunidades y las agencias estatales para planificar programas de apoyo a nuestros jóvenes y reducir sus riesgos.
La participación en la encuesta es voluntaria y se toman medidas para garantizar la privacidad de los estudiantes. No se utilizan códigos para vincular una encuesta con un estudiante.
Por favor lea la carta adjunta para padres/tutores y jóvenes o visite nuestro sitio web para obtener más información sobre la encuesta sobre la salud de los jóvenes.
Si su estudiante va a participar en esta encuesta, no es necesario que haga nada. Si prefiere que su estudiante no participe en la encuesta de Juventud Saludable, siga estas instrucciones para completar el proceso, follow these instructions to complete the process a través de Skyward Acceso de Familia.
Gracias,
Escuelas Públicas de Battle Ground
Creating a dot
PVM staff in Dot Day shirts
Dot Day installation
Exclusion dates are coming up soon for students with a life threatening health condition who do not have Emergency Action Plans and medication orders turned in to the nurse. Those with incomplete documentation will be excluded from school on October 3rd. Please contact the school nurse if you have questions.
The exclusion date for students still needing a TDaP booster or other vaccinations is coming up in October. Those out of compliance for vaccinations should be receiving communication from the nurse. If your student has just entered 7th grade, please be sure their TDaP vaccination is up to date; this is usually when this booster becomes due.
Updating contact and health information
Parents/guardians please make sure you are updating the School Health Form in Skyward each year so that we have correct and current information regarding your child/ren (complete the "Update" in Skyward Family Access. Update opens August 1st each year to update school forms.). Skyward does not pull information forward each school year. There are many School Health Forms that have not been updated for 2-4 years. We need current information and this is how we most often know if your child has a Life threatening health condition. We want to keep your child/ren safe while at school and we can't do our job if we do not have correct and updated information.
Thank you for your time in this important matter.
WA immunization requirements
Life threatening health condition/allergy
If your student has a life threatening medical condition/allergy, we must have updated health information each year as well as medication at school forms for any rescue medications that need to be kept at the nurse's office at school. Parents and nurses work together to create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for what to do for your child in the case of a medical emergency. Please contact our nurses if your student has a life threatening medical condition/allergy and you have not already alerted the school and had an EAP created. Students and parents will need to meet with nurses before a student may self-carry any rescue medications.
Office Phone: 360-885-5500
younge-barnes.diane@battlegroundps.orgPVM LPN info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
Health and safety resources
See health and safety resources from the Washington state Dept. of Health.
Staying healthy
Clark County Public Health recommends that people take the following actions to prevent colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
- Stay home if running a fever or experiencing other symptoms of illness. See our guidelines for keeping children home from school for more information.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
If you need to email our nurses:
PVM RN younge-barnes.diane@battlegroundps.orgPVM LPN info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
School office 360-885-5500
Additional information:
As you know, our school has had rules regarding cellphones for some time. Now, Battle Ground has a new cellphone policy that standardizes the approach across schools in the district. The policy is based on input from parents, guardians, staff and students. See what’s allowed by grade level. Thank you for your partnership in minimizing distractions during school and supporting student learning.
Are you registered to vote in the upcoming general election? If not, you can pick up a printed voter registration form in any Battle Ground school or district office, register to vote online by Oct. 24 or register in person at the Clark County elections office by Nov. 4. Learn more.
Voter registration forms are located in the PVM office on the visitor sign in table.
SOS (Signs of Suicide) lessons for grades 6, 7 and 8 to begin Sept. 2nd.
Dear Parent / Caregiver,
This year school staff are working to teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help.
SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.
Through the program, students learn:
that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
who they can turn to at school for help
Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. At the end of class, students will complete an exit slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. Additionally the slip will ask if the student has a trusted adult that works at the school. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk.
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Mrs. Friesen. You can reach me by phone at 360-885-5550 or email at friesen.jerolyn@battlegroundps.org
Care Solace: Your link to mental health support
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 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. 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.
Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services
Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433
Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431
Report, don’t repost
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.
Pleasant Valley PTA supports students and teachers at Pleasant Valley by providing programs, activities, and events that help them grow socially and academically. We work closely with school administrators and teachers to determine the needs of our schools and advocate for our students.
We all care about our students. Some of us just don’t know how we can make a difference or don’t have the time to volunteer because of other obligations. Pleasant Valley PTA and Washington State PTA can be your voice and can help make a difference in the lives of ALL our students. As a large organized body we can impact decisions at the National and State levels that affect our students at Pleasant Valley.
By joining Pleasant Valley PTA and exercising your right to vote, you have a voice in your students education. Become a member and stay connected with important issues and information about our school.
What Membership is:
Support for students & staff
Our legislative voice! (Membership count affects our number of votes at Convention & Legislative Assembly)
Funding for student programs & activties
What Membership is NOT:
A commitment to volunteer. The PTA will never require your participation in fundraising or volunteering.
What your Membership includes:
Access to resources
Discounts from State and National PTA
- NEW PTA WEBSITE: PleasantValleyPTA.org,
- Sign up here to receive info on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities: https://pleasantvalleypta.org/volunteer
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Office: 360-885-5500
Fax: 360-885-5510
Absence reporting: 360-885-5512
District office switchboard: 360-885-5300
Principal: Austin Brothers
Asst. Principal: Erin Thompson
Mailing address:
PO Box 200
Battle Ground, WA 98604
Email: info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
Website: https://pvm.battlegroundps.org/
Location: 14320 NE 50th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98686 Mail to: Pleasant Valley Middle, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: 360-885-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVMiddle/
