Parent Newsletter

February 2016

“Success is a Choice”

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

As we start the month of February, the students and staff of Battlefield are working to recover from the snow days of January. To ensure you have access to all of the changes that have been made to the schedule, please note the following: Updated February Calendar

February 4 Teachers will complete the online Course Recommendations for the 2016-17 school year.

February 5 End of the 2nd Marking Period/End of the 1st Semester

Table of Contents February 5 Students and parents can access Course Recommendations online through February 10. Please Principal’s Letter 1 – 2 note: Teachers will be discussing their recommendations with

Counseling 3 – 7 students. If you have questions, please reach out to the teacher by email or by phone. Cafeteria 8 - 9

Language Arts 10 February 6 STEM Expo (See the flyer in this newsletter for more detail.) Thank You 10

Library 11 - 12 February 8 2nd Semester begins.

Athletics 13 - 14 February 8 -12 Winter Spirit Week Music 15 - 16 February 15 Presidents’ Day Holiday Clubs 17 - 18

Boosters 19 February 16 Report Cards are distributed

VHSL 20 February 17 Schoolwide Meeting with all IT Students in grades 9, School Board 21 10, and 11

Senator 21 February 19 Mid-Year Transcripts will be mailed/transmitted to Testing 21 colleges

Cyber 22

STEM 23 1

Principal’s Message (cont’d)

Parents of Seniors: As you know from earlier communications this year, Jiffy Lube Live, the venue where graduation is held, will release graduation dates for Prince William County Schools in February. As soon as the date is set, Seniors and parents will be informed by e-mail, on the website, and by PA announcement. Seniors who pre-ordered their caps and gowns through Herff Jones will be able to pick up their items in March. If your student has not yet ordered a cap and gown, items that are required for graduation, please contact Chuck McCann at Herff Jones at 866-238-5336 or at [email protected]

If you are free on Saturday, February 6, please plan to attend the Haymaker STEM Expo being held at Battlefield from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This STEM Expo, the largest held in Prince William County, will feature over 50+ hands on activities along with demonstrations, presentations, and students’ projects suitable for children, teens, and adults. Representatives SCHOOL will be on site from Bridgewater College, ECPI, George Mason University – ADMINISTRATION Cyber Security Engineering, VSE STEM Outreach, STEM Outreach, Norfolk University – Engineering Department/Optical Engineering, NOVA, Old Amy S. Ethridge-Conti, Dominion University, Sweet Briar College – School of Engineering, Principal Commonwealth University – Department of Engineering, the Navy, and the United States Army. This is a free event so please plan to join Christopher Hintosh, Assistant Principal us! Judith Lester, Assistant Principal Christopher McMillan, Assistant Principal

Julia Renberg, Assistant Principal

Julie Byrne, Director of School Counseling Sincerely, Jason Koch, Director of Student Activities

Joseph Huddle, Specialty Programs Coordinator

Amy S. Ethridge-Conti Principal

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COUNSELING

Course Selection for 2016-2017:

Teachers have reviewed information related to course selections and will be making recommendations for their students in mid- to late-January so parents/guardians and students can make informed decisions concerning course selections for next year. Teacher recommendations will be visible to students in Parent Portal beginning February 5th. Students and parents/guardians who have questions regarding specific recommendations are urged to speak directly with the teacher who made the recommendation. Students will have the opportunity to enter their course requests in Parent Portal from February 5th through February 10th. Students should begin preparing for this task now by making sure they are able to log in to their Parent Portal account.

The counselors will begin meeting with students individually regarding course selection for the 2016-2017 school year in February and will continue to do so through the end of March. During those meetings, the counselors will verify that each student has selected appropriate courses to satisfy his/her graduation requirements and career goals, document alternate course selections, and answer any questions the student may have. Each student will be given a copy of his/her course selections to take home for parent/guardian signature. Course selection forms must be returned to the Counseling Center with parent/guardian signature within one week of the student meeting with his/her counselor. Course selection verification letters will be sent home to students and parents/guardians in mid-May.

Each year we encourage students to take the most rigorous course load possible while still doing well in their classes. One part of the decision-making process during course selection should be a student’s self-assessment regarding the time and effort he/she is willing to commit to his/her studies. Understanding the expectations of a given course and how those expectations fit in with a student’s other academic, extra-curricular, and personal responsibilities is key to striking the right balance between being challenged and being overwhelmed. Students are encouraged to research the courses in which they are interested by speaking with both the teacher who currently teaches a particular course and other students who have taken the course. The information gathered from these conversations can assist students in choosing their courses and in making progress toward reaching their goals.

It is very important that parents/guardians and students take an active role in the selection of courses during the high school years. Course selections are personal and should be based on a student’s interests, abilities, and future career goals. When a student meets with his/her counselor for course selection, it is our expectation that the student and parent/guardian have discussed the student’s choices in light of his/her career goals.

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Counseling (cont’d) The PWCS 2016-2017 High School Course Catalog is now available online under “For Students” on the BHS website. Students will not receive a printed copy of the catalog. Students who do not have access to a computer at home may use a computer in the Career Center or library before school, after school, or during lunch to review the course catalog. It is very important that students and parents/guardians become familiar with the course catalog and be particularly aware of course prerequisites. Students must meet prerequisites to have the foundation necessary to be successful in their courses. The course catalog also provides pertinent information regarding graduation requirements, diploma seals, promotion policy and grade classification, eligibility requirements, and the class withdrawal policy. Please refer to the course catalog for specific requirements. Contact your student’s counselor if you have any questions.

National Merit Scholarship Program: Battlefield is proud to announce that the following seniors have been named as Commended Students in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program: Nihar Bhat, Ian Cabacungan, Rachel Hong, Hana Komine, Hannah Oentung, Blake Pagon, Steven Tian, and Ethan Villagran. Commended Students are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NSMQT) used for program entry. These students are among 34,000 high performers out of the 1.5 million students who took the test in October 2014. Way to go, Bobcats!

Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Workshop: Battlefield is proud to announce that Sydney King will represent our school at the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Workshop on June 3 - June 5, 2016 at James Madison University. Destiny Ball was selected as our alternate for this event. HOBY is a three-day seminar that introduces students to distinguished leaders of the community through informal panel discussions. The mission of this internationally recognized organization is to seek out and develop leadership potential in students while emphasizing democracy, free enterprise, volunteerism and service to others. Through an application process, only one sophomore (and one alternate) from each high school in Virginia is invited to attend. Congratulations Sydney!

Transition to College: We would like to offer a big thank you to the 2015 Battlefield alumni who spoke about their first semester of college during our Transition to College program in late December. The program allowed current seniors to find out what to expect as they move on to college next year. The seniors who attended the event had the opportunity to ask questions and hear about topics including: adjustment to college life, college classes, time management, getting involved, and scholarships/paying for college.

Counseling (cont’d next pg.) 4

Counseling (cont’d) PSAT Results: The redesign of the PSAT brings with is some changes in score reporting. Beginning January 7, 2016, students who took the PSAT in October 2015 will be able to access their scores electronically through their CollegeBoard account. Paper copies of student score reports are not expected to be delivered to Battlefield until the end of January. Due to the delayed arrival of paper score reports, Battlefield’s PSAT Results Parent Info Night has been canceled for this year.

Super Saturday FAFSA Completion Workshop: Stonewall Jackson High School and the Virginia Association of School Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA) will host Super Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, February 6, 2016. This event offers free assistance to students and parents completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as well as financial aid presentations. All high school, college, and adult students who plan to attend college during the 2016-2017 academic year are welcome to attend free of charge. For more information, contact Nancy Pomaranski, SJHS school counselor, at [email protected] or 571-598-3003. Stonewall Jackson HS is located at 8820 Rixlew Ln, Manassas, 20109.

Virginia Girls State and Boys State: American Legion Post 1799 is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for Girls State and Boys State starting January 11, 2016. This year the post will fully fund and sponsor delegates to Virginia Girls State and Boys State. Applications can be obtained in the Counseling Center and are due to Mrs. Smith by 2:30pm on Friday, February 5, 2016. Selection for high school juniors will be based on: academics, leadership, character, and service to the community. Both programs run June 19-25, 2016 with Girls State at Longwood University and Boys State at Radford University. American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State are the premier programs for teaching how government works while developing leadership skills and an appreciation for your rights as a citizen. As a participant in the program you will: run for office; learn public speaking; create and enforce laws; and actively participate in all phases of creating and running a working government in this exciting and fun summer program. For more information visit these web sites: The American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State: http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/; Virginia Girls State: http://www.girlsstate-va.org/; Department of Virginia Boys State: http://www.vaboysstate.org/;

American Legion Department of Virginia: http://www.valegion.org/.

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual help and community service organization. It has a worldwide membership of 2.8 million. The Department of Virginia comprises 214 posts divided into 17 districts. Currently they have over 59,000 members. The Department Headquarters office is located in Richmond, VA.

Counseling (cont’d next pg.) 5

Counseling (cont’d) HBCU Festival: Alfred Street Baptist Church is hosting the 14th annual HBCU Festival on Saturday, February 20, 2016, 10:00am-3:00pm, at T.C. Williams High School. Doors open at 9:00am. Over 70 colleges and universities will be represented and some schools will conduct on-site admissions and waive application fees. There will be seminars for students and parents/guardians, plus band auditions (must pre-register and bring your own instrument). Visit: www.alfredstreet.org/hbcu.htm for more information. T.C. Williams High School is located at 3330 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302.

Junior Parent Night: Mark your calendar! The Counseling Department will host Junior Parent Night on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00pm in the BHS auditorium. We will provide information regarding the college application process and timeline, an overview of what colleges are looking for, and how your student can best present himself/herself to the admissions committee. Please plan to attend this important event!

Practical Nursing Program Applications: Applications are now available for the Prince William County School of Practical Nursing. Current juniors interested in this program for 2016-2017 should visit the program's website at www.pwcs.nursing.schoolfusion.us for information regarding the application process. Current seniors may also apply to attend the program as an adult during the 2016-2017 school year. All applications are due to the School of Practical Nursing at by March 15, 2016. Contact Tammy Dean, Program Director, at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Enrichment Opportunities: Students looking for enrichment opportunities can find such information in Family Connection. Click on the “Colleges” tab, then click the link to “Enrichment Programs” to find a list of opportunities and information regarding the application process, cost, contact information, and more. Students who need help logging into Family Connection should visit the Counseling Center to receive assistance from one of the secretaries.

AP Exam Information: AP Exams will be administered Monday, May 2nd through Friday, May 13th. Dates and times are preset by The College Board and must be adhered to. Below are some important events of which AP students and parents/guardians should be aware. In January, AP teachers distributed the “2015-2016 Bulletin for AP Students & Parents” to AP students. This bulletin should be read closely by both students and parents/guardians. An online version of the bulletin can be found at: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/takingtheexam/exam-policies .

Counseling (cont’d next pg.)

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Counseling (cont’d) AP pre-administration will occur in early April. Pre-administration is a way to save time on exam days. During this time, students will complete identifying information on the answer sheets. It is strongly encouraged that when students are entering information on the answer sheets that they use the same information as in previous years and with other College Board assessments. For example, students should use the same email address on any AP exam answer sheets that they used on their PSAT answer sheet and/or their College Board account. This helps with continuity of score reporting.

The 2015-2016 AP exam schedule is listed below (not all AP classes are offered at Battlefield):

Date Exam 8:00 am Exam 12:00 pm Chemistry Psychology Mon. May 2 Environmental Science Computer Science A Art History Tue. May 3 Spanish Language & Culture Physics 1: Algebra-Based English Literature & Composition Japanese Language & Culture Wed. May 4 Physics 2: Algebra-Based Calculus AB Chinese Language & Culture Thurs. May 5 Calculus BC Seminar German Language & Culture European History Fri. May 6 United States History Studio Art Biology Physics C: Mechanics Mon. May 9 2:00 pm Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism Music Theory United States Government & Politics French Language & Culture Tue. May 10 Spanish Literature & Culture English Language & Composition Italian Language & Culture Wed. May 11 Macroeconomics Comparative Government & Politics Statistics Thur. May 12 World History Human Geography Fri. May 13 Microeconomics

Selective Service: Did you know? According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Those who fail to register can be denied many important opportunities including student loans, government jobs, and a driver’s license in most states. Register with Selective Service at www.sss.gov. Please remember that the Counseling Department is committed to the academic, interpersonal, and career success of every student at Battlefield. Please check future newsletters for information regarding classroom guidance activities and counseling services. As always, please contact the appropriate counselor if you have any questions or concerns.

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CAFETERIA

You Can Make a Difference for Hundreds of PWCS Students - Join Us!

Tired of working evenings and weekends? Want to be off for your child’s school vacations? Looking for a job that truly has an impact on your community? Consider working for School Food and Nutrition Services!

School Food and Nutrition Services is seeking passionate, dedicated, fun-loving applicants for all areas of the county. We strive to provide wholesome, enjoyable, high quality, nutritious meals to our students, so they can be ready to learn and take full advantage of the educational opportunities provided to them. The work we do is important, and the people who do it are inspiring. If these values are important to you too, come be part of our team!

The number of hours needed varies by school, anywhere from 3-6 hours a day. Most shifts fall between 9am and 3pm. Employees have all weekends, school holidays and snow days off. Most staff members work close to home, in their own neighborhood schools. Starting pay is $11.25 an hour. Opportunities for growth and advancement are available.

Ready to join us? Go to https://jobs.pwcs.edu/Jobs/, and click on CLASSIFIED and then CAFETERIA. You must log in to apply for a position. Click the login link, and enter your user ID and password. If you do not yet have an account, click the first link at the top of the page, “here,” to create one. For help with the online application, contact Human Resources at 703-791-8771.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact School Food and Nutrition Services at 703.791.7314. We look forward to hearing from you!

Café (cont’d next pg.) 8

Café (cont’d) School Meal Menus & Nutrition Information- There’s a FREE App for That!

PWCS Food and Nutrition Services launched their new school meal mobile app “Nutri-Café” in late October. The app is FREE and available for both iPhone and Android.

Mobile features include access to monthly menus for breakfast and lunch at all school levels, as well as calorie, carbohydrate and sodium content, and other nutrient information. Allergens for a food are indicated when applicable. Users can add frequently viewed menus to their favorites.

There is also a web-based version of Nutri-Café (http://nutri-cafe.com/?State=VA&DistrictId=21). It has the same interactive menu and nutrition information as the app, plus some additional features. On the website, customers can use the “meal calculator” to build a healthy tray, and see the totals for the nutrients they will be eating. For example, the meal calculator will total up the grams of carbohydrates for a complete breakfast or lunch, based on the consumer’s selections. Links to MySchoolBucks.com, the District’s online meal prepayment system, as well as the electronic free/reduced applications, are available on the site.

Use a smart phone “Quick Read” scanner on the codes below, or go to your phone’s app store, to download our FREE mobile app today!

Contact School Food and Nutrition Services at 703.791.7314 with questions.

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LANGUAGE ARTS

Battlefield's 10th Grade English Classes will be holding their annual business mock interviews on Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18, 2016. Parent and/or community volunteers are needed for the event, which will have available time slots on each day in shifts from 7 a.m.-10 a.m.; 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.; and 12:15 p.m.-1:50 p.m. If you are a business owner or have interview experience, you will enjoy this event! As a businessman or businesswoman in our area, you will have an opportunity to sit with our students in five- minute "practice" job interviews. Students will be dressed to impress and have a résumé. We can provide you with a guided list of questions, or you may create your own. Students should be prepared to answer questions related to their fields of interest, as indicated on their résumés, or "generic" job interview questions. If interested, contact Mary Beth Starkey, 10th Grade English Team Lead, by Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, via email at [email protected] or phone at 571-261-4400.

THANK YOU

Thank you to all of the following individuals and businesses who donated items for this year’s staff holiday party. We are very appreciative of your support!

Applebee’s Food Lion Michael’s

Bad to the Bone Barbeque Foster’s Next Level Fitness

Battlefield Athletic Booster Giant Outback Steak House Club I-HOP Park Valley Church Battlefield Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Jimbo’s Pepsi

Battlefield Student Council Judy Lester, Assistant Principal Rebecca Utter, Chemistry Teacher Association (SCA) Julie Byrne, Director of Bone Fish Counseling Red, Hot, and Blue

Chateau O’Brien Kirkland’s Running Store

Cheesecake Factory Lighthouse Chiropractic Subway of Haymarket

Chili’s Lion & Bull Target

Chris McMillan, Assistant LulaRoe (Courtesy of Amy Tony’s Pizza of Haymarket Homan) Principal Tropical Smoothie Café Dominion Valley Mama Mia

Eggspectation Massage Envy

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LIBRARY

Mrs. Levinson-Library Media Specialist Mrs. Tierney-Library Media Specialist

Mrs. Craven-Library Assistant

MakerSpaces Virtual Book Fair We have added a large container of Legos We are excited to partner with to our Makerspace shelves and Built Ups. Bookworm Central to offer the Students have also been enjoying the board games. We are accepting donations Battlefield Virtual Book Fair! Click on for similar materials. the image above and use our organization code: battlefield

Amazon Wish List Help expand the BFHS LLC’s book

collection!

Thank you to McKay’s Used Books for These are books that Battlefield HS students have requested. their $100 donation! With it we were

able to add 30 books to our collection.

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World Languages and Literature

 World Drama: realistic fiction involving different cultures or set in another country

 World Language dictionaries and language guides

 World Languages Fiction: popular fiction in different languages

Electronic Sign In Students who come to the Library Learning Commons can now sign in

using a program called Library Trac. Teen Read Week was Oct. 18-24 There has been a lot of positive feedback from the students. The BHS Library Learning Commons celebrated

Teen Read Week and the grand opening of the Haymarket/Gainesville Community Library with a drawing to win a $30 gift card for Regal Cinemas. Gary Shergill won the $30. Contestants emailed a selfie featuring their PWC

Public Library card.

October-December Library stats

Classes: 20 Individual Student visits: 2,419 Checkouts: 960

VRC quizzes taken: 91

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ATHLETICS

Basketball Battlefield Boys Varsity team is off to a solid start this season with a 9-4 overall record, including a 3-0 start in Conference 8. The team recently competed in the Maryland Governor's Challenge over winter break, splitting 2 games against highly ranked Maryland public schools. This year's team is led by senior captains Blake Pagon and Collin Parker, as well as junior captain Shonari Street. Pagon, Street, and sophomore Brayden Gault are all averaging more than 12 points per game to lead the Bobcats offensively. Seniors Jarrett Glover, Keagan McGinnis, and Parker continue to provide senior leadership, especially on the defensive end. The team is now entering the heart of its conference schedule. Come out and support your Bobcats as the run to the state tournament begins. Go Bobcats! Battlefield Girls Varsity program is off to the best start in the school’s history as they are starting the new year off in first place in Conference 8 and 14-1 with a recent win against Monday night. This year’s team is led by two seniors Nikki Dyson and Taylor Baltimore. The lady Bobcats team this year has many key players which has made them a tough matchup for most teams. Juniors Marley McLaughlin, Dana Harrington, Ahlia Moone and Danielle Harrington are also big factors to this year’s success all averaging between 8-12 points a game. Come out and support your lady Bobcats as they look to continue their successful season!

Gymnastics Battlefield High School Team is undefeated so far including a win against last year's State Champions McLean. Emily Ignacio has won 1st all around at every meet we have competed in. Alex Wisnieski has placed 2nd behind Emily when competing All Around. We have a very strong showings from juniors Dana Parker and Lauren Murphy. Hannah Gallagher has also placed very high and is a huge contributor on vault and bars specifically.

Wrestling The wrestling team got off to a great start and are currently ranked #2 among all classes both public and private in the state of Virginia. Highlights have included first ever wins in program history over Colonial Forge, the defending 6A state champions, and Christiansburg HS, 14x 3A state champions. The Bobcat wrestlers are heading toward the postseason and looking forward to defending their conference and regional titles.

Track The Battlefield High School Track and Field team is off to a tremendous start with a wonderful group of diligent and passionate athletes, both from returners and from those new to the program. The girls 4x400 relay is thus far the only relay to qualify for states, as well as nationals, but all relays, boys and girls, have at least qualified for regionals, and in general the relays are near the top of all relays in the state. There are also various athletes that have individually qualified for states, including Emily Harrison in Pole Vault and Rayna Smith, Xyan Xrichardson, Chad Jones, and Andre Sivels in High Jump. With continued hard work and dedication, we believe that more postseason standards will be achieved, whether they are conference, regional or state qualifiers before the start of the postseason with the Conference Championships. We are looking forward to the 6A Conference 8 Championships and defending the boys’ and girls' titles from last year in what is looking to be a highly contested competition.

Athletics (cont’d next pg.)

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Athletics (cont’d.)

Lacrosse

The Boys team has begun their annual fundraiser selling mulch.

We offer bags of double shredded hardwood mulch in two options, Black (2 cubic feet) and Brown (3 cubic feet). The cost is $4.50 per bag. Our delivery date is Saturday, April 2nd. On orders of 5 bags of mulch or more, we will deliver your mulch if you live within the Battlefield District. If you would like mulch, but live outside Battlefield boundaries or have ordered less than 5 bags of mulch, you can pick up your order on April 2nd. If other arrangements need to be made for pick up, please email Caye Glaze for details.

All orders must be placed by Friday, February 26th. Please make checks payable to:

“BHS ABC” and in the memo section, “Boys Lacrosse”. Thank you for your support!

*If you have any questions, please see Kevin Marsh, Physics teacher/ Lacrosse Head Coach or email Caye Glaze at [email protected].

Order Form

Mulch Number of bags

Brown ______

Black ______

$4.50/bag Total $______

Please complete and turn in order form and payment to Kevin Marsh.

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MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Orchestra

Our musicians performed an outstanding winter concert this past December! If you missed it, use our school- fusion page to find links to our concert videos. Students performed a combined work with the choirs and many holiday selections to celebrate the season. Our orchestra student council and volunteers worked hard to decorate the stage and did a fabulous job. You can explore all of the photos on our orchestra Facebook page!

Many students joined us for our annual “Carols at the Mall”. We had lots of fun and celebrated the start of our winter break with a dinner at iHop afterwards. We hope to see you there next year if you weren’t able to join us this year!

Battlefield Orchestra students are currently preparing for district assessment. This event, which is being hosted here at Battlefield High School, serves as the state standardized assessment for orchestra. All three orchestras will be performing, with the Battlefield Philharmonica preparing the highest available grade of literature. Good luck to all of our students as they practice for one of the most important events of the year.

We have over seventy students attending our spring trip to Orlando, Florida where we will be competing in the Heritage National Competition. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy Universal Studios and some other events in the area. Space may still be available if you would like to join us, just email our orchestra director at [email protected]. Some financial assistance is available for students in need, so please reach out if you are interested in attending!

We will be selling Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough from February 2nd – 12th. All proceeds benefit individual trip accounts for students traveling to Orlando. The choir has sold these products in the past and they have received very positive reviews.

Finally, our annual ice-skating night will be on February 12th from 7:30 – 8:50p.m. at the Haymarket Ice-Plex. All Battlefield Orchestra students and guests are invited! Come join us for some skating fun – just bring cash for the skate rental and entrance fee.

Music (cont’d next pg) 15

Music (cont’d)

Chorus

Battlefield Choir members completed All District auditions, giving five performances for different organizations in the community as well as two performances at BHS, ending 2015 beautifully. On Tuesday, November 3, 110 Battlefield students auditioned for the All District Choir at Woodbridge Senior High School. (That’s over half of the entire vocal music department!!) The 28 students selected to participate in this select choir will perform at Gar-Field High School on Saturday February 20, 2016. The Winter Concert season opened with a wonderful concert for the local P.E.O chapter on Saturday, November 21. Members of supremely talented Men’s Choir performed old and new holiday classics. Continuing the community outreach, the Battlefield Singers gave beautiful concerts at Heritage Hunt, the Haymarket Tree Lighting Ceremony, and at the Promenade Virginia Gateway Center. The concert season ended with two wonderful concerts on December 10 with the orchestra and December 17. Battlefield High School Choirs’ concert season will continue with the pre-assessment concert held on Tuesday, March 1, followed by District IX Choral Assessment on March 14-15. More information will be addressed in the near future. 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 NYC. Interested in getting involved? Booster club meetings take place on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the choir room, starting at 7:00 p.m. The Choral Boosters invite all Battlefield families to join the fun!

Trianna Owens, Mackenzie Sova, and Mikayla Sova, represented Battlefield high school for the Martin Luther King Day celebration on Saturday, January 16th at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge. Job well done!

Music (cont’d next pg.) 16

CLUBS

Key Club

Members of Battlefield High School's Key Club volunteered at Alvey Elementary's Star Wars Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, December 5, 2015, and were highly commended for their participation. Students who participated were complimented by both adult volunteers and attendees and helped out in many different ways.

Some students made decorations ahead of time and delivered them the prior night. About twenty students helped set up for the event, and some also picked up costumes prior to the event.

One adult who ran the Jedi training camp said the boys that worked with her were exceptional with interacting with the kids. One in particular, Cason Atkinson, who "played" Darth Vader, was "over the top amazing"! He battled kids with light sabers for three hours and "was so interactive, falling into walls and onto the ground repeatedly."

All of the Battlefield students who wore costumes played the characters so well, and took pictures with the guests all day long. They worked with professional Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion. The members of the 501st Legion said they really enjoyed working with the students and asked specifically which high school they were from as they were very impressed.

The face painter from Alvey had the pleasure of working with four BHS Key Club students: Lisa Moshiro, Maanvi Vij, Olivia Morrow, and Miguel George. These students met her one Sunday before the event where she held a face painting training session.

BHS Key Club students likewise enjoyed the event and look forward to participating in more like it throughout the year.

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BHS Dance Team

On Friday, January 8th, the Battlefield Purple Reign Dance Team was able to start the New Year with a performance opportunity they will likely never forget. This 28 member squad was invited to the Verizon Center to perform the halftime show of the Washington Wizards versus Toronto Raptors basketball game. Prior to their three hour practice in preparation for the event, the team was given a private Sports Marketing tour and inside look at this giant athletic and entertainment venue in Washington D.C. They had the opportunity to understand the ins and outs of logos, advertising, and costs while getting the VIP treatment. The special halftime event consisted of 310 cheerleaders and dancers from VA, MD, DC, and PA covering the entire basketball court. Although the Washington Wizards did not win that game, it was a winning event for our dancers.

Bobcat Accomplishments It is the goal of every teacher at Battlefield High School to make learning course content relevant and fun. Mrs. Endreola of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department embodies that endeavor. Last year she created a board game for her students to help prepare them for the Workplace Readiness Exam (WRE), a graduation requirement for all standard-level diploma students, starting with the Class of 2017. The game was such a hit with students that she spent the summer revising it in order to have it published by a board game manufacturer.

This year the CTE department decided to use with all of our students, and they arrived just in time to be used by teachers to prepare students for the WRE. The reviews have been so overwhelmingly positive from both teachers and students that Doug Wright, the Supervisor of CTE for Prince William County, has ordered board games for every high school in Prince William County. He also asked Mrs. Endreola to present her game to teachers across the School division so their students can benefit from her hard work.

Congratulations, Mrs. Endreola!

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BOOSTERS Scholarship News!

Thank you to all the student-athletes who applied for the BHS ABC fall scholarship. We would like to congratulate Nicolas Shablom and Georgia Matthews who were both awarded a $1,000 Battlefield High School Athletic Boosters Club scholarship! The Boosters award $6,000 a year ($1,000 to a male and female student-athlete in each season).

Congratulations to Tommy DeAngelus and Devin Patterson for being awarded the Frederick L. Potter Memorial Scholarship. Each recipient received $1250* each. The Frederick L. Potter Memorial Scholarship was established following his passing in 2012 by his wife, Michelle, sons, Freddie, Bucky, and Nick, and daughter Jackie to allow graduating Battlefield football and boys lacrosse athletes an opportunity for post-high school education they may not otherwise have. The yearly scholarships are administered by the Battlefield High School Athletic Booster Club; are for $2500* for each of the football and lacrosse teams; and the selections are made by the football and boys lacrosse coaching staffs.

Mark your calendars! Tommy (left), Devin (right)

 February 16 - Booster Meeting at 6:30 in the Mini Theater  Concessions Lead position opening soon! Volunteer needed!  March 12 - Shamrock Shootout – registration opening soon!  March 15 - Booster Meeting at 6:30 in the Mini Theater  April 16 - Bobcats Boots, Bling, & BBQ – Tickets $75 couple/ $40 single

BHS Athletic Booster Corporate Sponsors

The Farm at Broad Run Nursery and Elite Sports Medicine and Physical Gateway Dental & Orthodontics Greenhouses Therapy

1st Degree Marketing & Public GEICO- Insurance Agent Dave Stinson Browns Manassas Hyundai Relations

Dominion Virginia Power Edge Concrete Company The Hopkins Law Firm

Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano Kerxton Insurance Agency Next Level Fitness & Performance

Manassas Asphalt PEVS Paintball Park Reid Constriction Group, LLC

Bull Run Academy of Gymnastics Century 21 – Kim Herrewig State Farm Insurance – Bob Garrigan

GMS Gymnastics Imagine Design Park Valley Church

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.

Don’t let your company sit on the sidelines! www.bobcatathletics.org Twitter: @BobcatsClub Facebook: Battlefield High School Athletic Booster Club 19

Former Battlefield parent Mr. Dennis Norkus is still active with helping us track statistics through VHSL. With his assistance, Mr. Norkus has shared the following with us in regards to our Girls Varsity Soccer teams.

I am pleased to inform you that the VHSL Record Book http://www.vhsl.org/about.page197 has been updated with the Battlefield High School Girls Varsity Soccer 2015 accomplishments. The Girls Soccer statistics start on page 50. Congratulations to the team and its coaching staff.

Individual Records 6A Team Champions 2015 Battlefield 2 Frank W. Cox 1 Becca Callison Most assists in a game – 4 versus Stonewall Team Records Jackson in 2015 Most wins in a season – 21 in 2015 Most assists in a career – 71 from 2012-2015 Consecutive wins – 30 from 2014-2015 Unbeaten Streak – 30 from 2014-2015 Halle Lahammer Shut outs in a season – 16 in 2015 Most shutouts in a season – 16 in 2015 Goals against average in a season – 0.42 in 2015 Most shutouts in a career – 28 from 2014-2015

Kevin Hilton Current number of wins – 148 from 2008 - 2015

Accomplishments that have been accomplished in the past by BHSGVS and still recorded in the book: 6A Team Champions 2014 Battlefield (4‐3 pk) 0 Centreville 0 AAA Goals‐against average in a season 2013 Deep Run 2 Battlefield 1 0.41 Battlefield 2011 2008 James Robinson 2 Battlefield 1 0.44 Battlefield 2006 0.52 Battlefield 2014 Team Records Most wins in a season Individual Records 21 Battlefield 2008 Most goals in a career (50‐or‐more) 21 Battlefield 2013 92 Colleen Gawkins Battlefield 2011‐14 21 Battlefield 2014 74 Sahar Aflaki Battlefield 2007‐10 20 Battlefield 2011 Most assists in a season Consecutive wins 22 Becca Callison Battlefield 2014 21 Battlefield 2014 Most shutouts in a career Unbeaten streak; 21 Battlefield 2014 41 Taylor Kerxton Battlefield 2010‐13 Shutouts in a season; 14 Battlefield 2011 28 Kristen Norkus Battlefield 2005‐08

Most shutouts in a season 14 Taylor Kerxton Battlefield 2011 12 Taylor Kerxton Battlefield 2012 12 Halle Lahammer Battlefield 2014

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SCHOOL BOARD

On January 6, 2016, Sidney La Bell and Lauren Buckhout had the pleasure to speak at the PWCS school board meeting regarding their Sustainability and Renewable Technology class offered at Battlefield High School. These young ladies spoke about the value and the benefits this class has afforded them. The Sustainability and Renewable Technology class covers topics such as air, water, energy, conservation, population, and consumption.

SENATOR

In January, Ms. Stephanie Evers and Mr. Joseph Huddle met with State Senator Richard (Dick) Black in Richmond to discuss state funding for the VA STAR program. Senator Black was very supportive for VA STAR, and their efforts to give refurbished computers to families throughout the state. On the same day, VA STAR awarded Battlefield HS a “VA Best Practice Grant” of $2000. The competitive award was given to only three schools in Virginia.

TESTING

“Understanding College Admissions Testing: redesigned SAT, ACT, and SAT II” Information Night

On February 16, 2016, our business partner, Tri-Ed Tutoring, will be offering a free information night for Battlefield High School students and their families to present changes made by the College Board to the SAT, effective March, 2016. The event will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Battlefield high school auditorium. The backup date is set for February 22, 2016. 21

CYBER

Battlefield hosts 16 ILITE Cyber - US Cyber Patriot competition teams, encompassing over 80 students. This past weekend, the teams competed in the State Competition. At this time, Battlefield is:

 First place for SILVER teams  First place for GOLD teams  Two teams are tied in Second place for PLATINUM  and our ROTC Air Force is in Second place for PLATINUM

The final scores will be evaluated once teams that have to perform a ‘snow make up’ take place. A huge congratulations to all teams!

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