Battlefield High School Parent Newsletter

2nd Quarter 2016

“Success is a Choice”

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Table of Contents Dear Battlefield High School Families,

Principal’s Message 1 - 2

Counseling 3 - 7 It is hard to believe our first quarter is in the books. I want to thank students, staff, and the community for a warm Cafeteria 8 - 9 welcome as we all come together on behalf of students. As Reminders 9 you all know, we have already faced challenges as a community this school year, but I believe that when caring Athletics 10 - 11 adults come together for the benefit of kids, good things happen. Speaking of which, you will find at the end of this Library 12 newsletter a summary of our most recent Principal's Performing Arts 13 - 15 Advisory Council (PAC) meeting. In addition to the staff and parents on this council, we are fortunate to have World Languages 16 student leaders involved in helping shape Battlefield High School's future. I will continue updating the community on IT Program 16 the progress of our council, and you will soon receive PAC 17 contact information for those who sit on the PAC so that we can be sure to represent the needs of our community and Recognition 18 current reality in our meetings.

Rights/Services 19

Principal’s Message (cont’d next pg)

Principal’s Message (cont’d)

As you read through this newsletter, please let me know if there is SCHOOL anything you would like more information on. As an ADMINISTRATION administrative team and staff, we are here to serve the community and look forward to continuing to work with you. Ryan Ferrera, Principal

Billy Childress, Assistant Principal Dylan Grazier, Teacher on Special Assignment

Christopher Hintosh, Sincerely, Assistant Principal Judith Lester, Assistant Principal

Christopher McMillan, Assistant Principal Ryan Ferrera Principal Julie Byrne, Director of School Counseling

Jason Koch, Director of Student Activities

Joseph Huddle, Specialty Programs Coordinator

John Zook, School Security Officer

COUNSELING News from the Counseling Center

Signs of Suicide During the week of November 28th counselors will be working with HPE I teachers to deliver the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program to all 9th grade students. Students enrolled in HPE I will receive this lesson in their health classes. Ninth grade students who are not enrolled in HPE I at Battlefield will receive this lesson in an assembly. The SOS curriculum includes lessons on recognizing depression and signs of suicide. It has proven successful at increasing help-seeking behaviors by students concerned about themselves or a friend and is the only school-based suicide prevention program to show a reduction in suicide attempts in a randomized, controlled study (American Journal of Public Health, March 2004). Additional information regarding this program can be found in this newsletter.

College Transition Program Attention seniors! Are you curious about what life will be like next year when you go off to college? The College Transition Program is the perfect opportunity to find out what awaits you in just a few short months. On Monday, December 19th at 8:30am, the Counseling Center will be hosting the College Transition Program in the auditorium. Battlefield alumni from the Class of 2016 will be here to speak with current seniors. Topics being covered will include what to expect in a college classroom, time management & organizational skills, living with roommates, how to get involved in clubs/organizations, and scholarships/paying for college. Seniors who wish to attend this event must sign up in the college visit section of Family Connection no later than Tuesday, December 13th. Please contact Mr. Merkel in the Counseling Center if you have any questions about this event.

ASVAB Results The ASVAB administrators will return to Battlefield on Thursday, December 15th for distribution and interpretation of test scores and explanation of the Career Exploration Program. Students who took the ASVAB in October will receive a pass that morning to attend the results interpretation session. Please contact Mr. Sisson in the Counseling Center if you have any questions.

PSAT Results PSAT results will be accessible online in mid-December for students who provided an e-mail address on their PSAT answer sheet. Students who did not provide an e-mail address on their PSAT answer sheet will not have access to their scores until the paper score reports are delivered to Battlefield in January or February. Once paper score reports arrive, students will receive their PSAT test booklet, score report, an explanation of the score report, tips for improving their scores, and access to the CollegeBoard's "BigFuture”, a resource designed to help students explore careers, find colleges, and pay for college.

Junior Visits Counselors will be meeting with juniors in January through US/VA History classes. These presentations will include important information regarding planning for senior year, graduation requirements, college and career planning, and financial aid. We will be emphasizing the importance of having a post-secondary plan and will begin familiarizing juniors with the college application process.

Counseling (cont’d next pg.)

Counseling (cont’d)

FAFSA The 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use a FSA ID to confirm your identity when accessing financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents. Visit fsaid.ed.gov to create an FSA ID. Electronic filing is the fastest, easiest, and most accurate way to apply for financial aid. The earliest filing date for the 2017-2018 FAFSA is October 1, 2016.

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.

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) earn at least 15 transferable college credits while enrolled in high school. Interested students can download the Early College Scholars Agreement 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. The professional school counselors at Battlefield provide academic, personal/social, and career counseling to all students and offer support and assistance to parents/guardians and staff. Please check our website and future newsletters for information regarding classroom guidance lessons, counseling services, and resources. Please contact your student’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns.

Counseling (cont’d next pg.)

Dear Parent or Guardian of 9th Grade Students:

Everyone knows that teenagers can be unpredictable, and their moods can frequently go up and down. This can be difficult for teens, their parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression appears to be occurring at a much earlier age, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double.

Prince William County Public Schools Health curriculum includes lessons on recognizing depression and signs of suicide. Battlefield High School also presents the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program as part of this curriculum. Our goals in participating in this program are:

 To help our students understand that depression is treatable, and help them recognize its symptoms,  To explain that suicide is preventable, and may occur as a result of untreated depression,  To impress upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.

Ninth grade students will participate in the SOS screening program during the week of November 28th. Students enrolled in HPE I will receive this lesson in their health classes. Ninth grade students who are not enrolled in HPE I at Battlefield will receive this lesson in an assembly. The screening does not provide a diagnosis of depression, but gives the students indication of whether or not they may be depressed. They will then have the option to speak with counseling staff here at Battlefield if they indicate a desire to do so.

Enclosed is a Parent Version of the same depression screening form and I ask that you take a moment to complete it for your child. This screening form does not have to be returned to school. I have included the questionnaire to make you aware of the types of questions that your child will be answering and to help you assess your teen’s risk for depression. If you are concerned about your child’s score, I encourage you to speak with your son or daughter and follow up with your doctor, clergy, or mental health professional for an assessment. I have included some local community resources for mental health care, if you need them:

1. Community Service Board – (703) 792-7800 2. HELPLINE – (703) 368-4141 3. Prince William Hospital Emergency – (703) 369-8337

If you have any questions or concerns about this program or the enclosed screening form, or wish to review the program, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Julie A. Byrne Director of School Counseling

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

If you do NOT wish your child to participate in SOS: Signs of Suicide intervention training, please complete the following and return it by Monday, November 21, 2016 to: Battlefield High School, 15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169, to the attention of Julie Byrne.

If I do not hear from you, I will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.

I, ______, do not give permission for ______to be screened for depression and participate in the (Printed Parent/Guardian Name) (Printed Name of Student)

SOS Suicide Prevention Program, to take place during the week of November 28, 2016.

______

Signature of Parent/Guardian

SOS High School Suicide Prevention Program -

Parent Screening Form: Brief Screen for Adolescent Depression (BSAD) Parent version – DO NOT RETURN. These questions are about feelings that people sometimes have and things that may have happened to your child. Most of the questions are about the LAST FOUR WEEKS.

Read each question carefully and answer it by circling the correct response:

1. In the last four weeks, has there been a time when it seemed like nothing was fun for him/her and he/she just wasn't interested in anything? NO YES 2. Has he/she seemed to have less energy than he/she usually does? NO YES

3. In the last four weeks has it seemed like he/she couldn't think as clearly or as fast as usual? NO YES

4. In the last four weeks, has he/she talked seriously about killing him/her self? NO YES 5. Has he/she tried to kill him/her self in the last year? NO YES

6. In the last four weeks, has he/she had trouble sleeping - that is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early? NO YES

7. Has there been a time when your child seemed to do things, like walking or talking, much more slowly than usual? NO YES

8. In the last four weeks has he/she often seemed to have trouble keeping his/her mind on his/her schoolwork or other things? NO YES

9. Has he/she said he/she couldn't do anything well or that he/she wasn't as good looking or as smart as other people? NO YES

Counseling (cont’d next pg.)

SOS High School Suicide Prevention Program Scoring Instructions and Interpretation for Parents

The Brief Screen for Adolescent Depression (BSAD) is a depression screening tool for teens and adolescents. In the Parent Version, you are asked to answer questions about your child. The BSAD does not definitively diagnose a teen or adolescent as clinically depressed, but it does give an indication of whether he or she should be referred to a health care professional (medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker) for further evaluation.

The score on the BSAD is achieved by adding up the number of “Yes” answers to the 9 questions on the scale. The following guidelines are estimates of the likelihood that your child may be clinically depressed.

SCORE RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION

0-2 Scores of 2 or lower (two or fewer “Yes” answers) indicate that it is unlikely that a teen is clinically depressed.

3 Scores of 3 (three “Yes” answers) indicate that a teen may be clinically depressed, and he or she might benefit from further screening by a mental health professional.

4 or higher Scores of 4 or higher (four or more “Yes” answers) indicate that it is likely that a teen is clinically depressed. He or she probably has some significant symptoms of depression and would benefit from talking to a mental health professional about these feelings.

Questions These questions are about suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. If you answered “Yes” to either of these questions, it is strongly recommended that 4 and 5 your teen see a mental health professional for further evaluation, regardless of his or her score.

CAFETERIA

Eliminating Ingredients of Concern PWCS School Food and Nurtition Services is working towards the elimination of “ingredients of concern” in all of our recipes and food products. We are in a continuous process of sourcing locally grown, sustainable, heatlhy food for our customers.

How does School Food and Nurtition Services define ingredients of concern? While some controversy exists as to what ingredients should be concerning to consumers, our Reigstered Dietitians use the latest science-based research regarding the saftety of the ingredients in ou r foods. Ingredients we are working to eliminiate include artificial perservatieves. We have alaready eliminated artificial colors and sweeteners. This year we have taken the following steps to reduce ingredients of concerns.

Nitrates/Nitrites are preservatives found in cured meats that have been linked to the formation of a cancer causing compound. Our hot dogs have been nitrate and nitrite free for the past few years. This year, we are using nitrate and nitrite free sliced turkey ham and turkey breast.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative used to prevent the growth of microorganisms in acidic food. Research indicates it may cause hives, asthma or other hypersensitive reactions. This ingredient was in our lemon and lime juices, but this year we found a new product without this preservative.

Caramel coloring has been linked to cancer. Like you would at home, we use vanilla extract for baking, and it contains small smounts of this ingredient. This year we were able to find a vanilla extract that does not contain caramel coloring.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a resin used to coat the inside of metal cans. Some research has shown that it can seep into food and cause harmful health effects to the brain, behavior and blood pressure of small children. This year, we changed the brand of canned beans that we use to one that does not have this lining.

Antibiotics are used on most chickens to keep them from getting sick in the crowded, unsanitary conditions in which they are raised. The extensive use of antibiotics is creating “superbugs” that cause illnesses antibiotics cannot cure. School Food and Nutrition Services has been working with a group called “School Food Focus” to source chickens raised without antibiotics. As no chickens have antibiotics in them when we consume them, there are a few distinctions for the term “antibiotic-free”. One includes chickens that have been raised with No Antibiotics Ever (NAE). Another is the Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use (CRAU) standard, which allows for only minimal use of medically important antibiotics as prescribed by a licensed veterinarian. CRAU is a USDA certified standard. As of last year, our popcorn chicken has been raised without any antibiotics ever, and this year our chicken drumstick has the same distinction. Over the course of this school year, we will be working on adding CRAU standard chicken for our chicken fillet, spicy chicken fillet and chicken tenders. We are encouraging every poultry producer to improve the standards of poultry production to provide better chicken for our customers.

Visit the “Special Diets” page of our website, www.pwcsnutrition.com, for a complete list of ingredients in all of our food products.

Source: www.schollfoodfocus.org/ingredientwatch

Cafeteria (cont’d)

STUDENT ACCOUNT REMINDERS

Parents are reminded to check and update their student’s account. This is especially important for students with spending restrictions. Make sure to remove any restrictions that are no longer applicable. We find that some notes have been with the student since elementary school!

Be advised that the meal cost increases as your child moves from middle school to the high school level.

If you participate in the myschoolbucks.com program for funding your student’s account, it is important to make the necessary changes regarding school site, grade level, etc.

Parents of students who are on the free/reduced meal program are reminded that a new application needs to be submitted and approved each school year.

Last year’s eligibility expired Oct 11. Applications can be found on line at pwcs.edu. If you do not have access to a computer, paper applications can be obtained via the BHS Counseling office. If you need further assistance with the process, please contact the School Nutrition office at 703 791 7314.

Any questions can be directed to: Teri Carlton, Cafeteria Manager 571-261-4520 [email protected]

REMINDERS

Parents, as a friendly reminder, if you will be picking your child up for early dismissal, please send your child in with a note to be delivered to the attendance office before first period. Your child will then be excused from class, at the designated time, and will then check-out through the attendance office. Your student will exit the building to your vehicle. Following these procedures will not only save you time but will also expedite the dismissal process.

ATHLETICS

Boys Basketball - The Boys Basketball program is excited to tip off another season. We cannot wait to see and hear the fantastic support from the student body, parents, teachers, and other members of the community that we have had in the past. Please check out the athletics website for game times and we hope to see you there in your purple and black! GO BOBCATS!

Cheer - The Battlefield Cheerleading program had a very successful competitive season! The Varsity Team 3-peated as the Conference 8 Champions and were 6A North Regional Runner-Ups again for 2016. This team qualified for VHSL State Championship at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on November 5th and tied for 3rd in the State! The JV Team also had a successful season placing in the TOP 3 of their competitions. Both teams have also enjoyed supporting the Football teams at their games this year. Honors include: All-Conference Cheerleader of the Year: Carly Dobyns; 11- 1st Team All-conference Cheerleaders, 7 – 1st team All-Region, two 2nd team All-Region and 4 All-State Cheerleaders: Carly Dobyns, Hunter Morris, Emily Ignacio and Kayle Kirby.

Girls Soccer - The 3 time defending Virginia 6A State Champion girls’ soccer team is looking forward to another exciting season in the spring. Tryouts take place in February and we will have an interest meeting in late November to discuss the upcoming season/tryouts.

Track and Field - The Battlefield High School Track and Field team began tryouts for the team the week of November 7th and is eager to commence the indoor track and field season. Both the boys and girls teams seek to defend their 6A Conference 8 (Cedar Run Conference) titles, and use their 13th and 6th place finishes, respectively, as a team at the 6A Outdoor State Championships, to propel them forward to even greater accomplishments this indoor track and field season. The team also welcomes Kristine Maggs (distance), William Woodson (hurdles), and Jaimie Gordon (long and triple jump) as members of the coaching staff, along with returning Mike Bailey (throws), Ken Harrison (pole vault), and Jarrette Marley (head coach, sprints and mid-distance).

On the girl’s side, the team returns almost entirely intact, with the significant loss of mid-distance standout Kyla Carte (George Mason University). Notably, the girls return defending 6A multiple time state pole vault champion Emily Harrison (committed to Villanova University), along with conference champions Rayna Smith (junior, long jump), Montana Coward (senior, triple jump), Lauren Hoffman (senior, 55 meter hurdles, committed to Duke University), Boatemaa Nyarko-Brentuo (senior, 300 meter dash), and several other point earners. The team also welcomes 2nd place finisher Olivia McGill (junior), formerly of Skyline High School, in the 3A State Outdoor Championships in the 100m and 200m dash. Filled with experienced leadership, and underclassmen eager to make their impact on the program, the Battlefield High School girl’s track and field team has great expectations for the upcoming indoor season.

Athletics (cont’d next pg.)

Athletics (cont’d)

On the boys side, the team lost several seniors to graduation, including, but not limited to, Zac Kerxton (Villanova University, football), Grant Mitchell (University of Mary Washington), Dakota Dalton (Shenandoah University, football), and Sidney Yap (Stevenson University). Notable returners include All-American and All-State Xyan Xrichardson (senior, high jump), as well as conference champions Charles Jones (senior, 55 meter hurdles), and a multitude of other contributors to the team that assisted in winning the conference championship last year. The boy’s team will be looking for contributions in every event possible to re-capture the conference championship, and make as much noise as possible at the regional and state level. Battlefield cross country ended the season in spectacular fashion. The boys team ran a great race at conferences and should be proud of many best times. The girls team placed third at conferences and moved on to Regionals where they also saw many best times and ran phenomenally.

We are so proud of the entire team for their commitments, successes and continuous grace

All three volleyball teams made some history this season. As a team loaded with talent, Freshmen went undefeated (19-0) and earned first-time wins over Colonial Forge, Colgan, and Riverside.

After a few years' hiatus, JV (20-2) returned to the Richmond area for a day-long tournament with wins over Western Albemarle and Grafton. Savanna Malone & Katelyn Rubin were named to the All-Tournament Team. Finally, Varsity started our successful season with an 8 match winning streak, including first-time victories over Colonial Forge, Colgan, and Mount Vernon. We also won at the Cardinal District champion Forest Park and against the Patriot District champion West Springfield. Congratulations go to Lauren Hamma (1st Team), Irene Kim (1st Team & Libero of the Year), Lauren Havill (2nd Team), and Cedar Run Honorable Mentions: Macy Havill, Abby Koppisch, Alli Perkins, and Elle Whitaker. 6A North All-Region Second Team honors went to Irene Kim and Honorable Mention to Lauren Hamma. BHS would like to wish all the best to the volleyball seniors (Emily Beitzell, Lauren Hamma, Lauren Havill, Irene Kim, Alli Perkins, Jackie Potter, Michelle Quach along with our managers Andy Gobbi, Allison Kite, and Alexis Richardson). There will be a volleyball awards potluck dinner on December 1 at 6:30pm in the Enclosed Cafeteria to recognize all three teams. Go Bobcats!

LIBRARY

Mrs. McMaster – Librarian Mrs. Tierney – Librarian

Mrs. Craven – Library Assistant

Bobcat Readers’ Choice

Extra Credit in English class and PRIZES up for grabs!

Read one of the Bobcat Readers’ Choice books then take a quiz in the library! We will email the score to the teacher. Look for the BRC display in the LLC. Students who get 80% or better on a BRC quiz will be entered into a giveaway! One entry per quiz.

Website Changes

Easy to navigate, updated, and organized!

Our new LLC website includes many user-friendly pages of tools and resources to help both at school and at home. The Research Databases page has access to over 40 different resources. Username/password bookmarks available in the LLC. The Citation Help page has been updated with MLA 8 and includes a step-by-step explanation of how to convert from MLA 7! Students can even use their School Messenger login to access e-books and place holds in the Catalog!

Walmart Wish-List

Help the Battlefield LLC update the Homework and Activity Centers!

We have partnered with Walmart and created a Wish List to help provide tools and resources for staff and students to use for schoolwork, activities, and displays. Updates will be made periodically. Please consider making a small October Library Stats purchase in support of our students and staff! Classes Served: 70 Checkouts: over 1500 Permanent Lunch Passes Issued: 129

PERFORMING ARTS

What a great start to the first nine weeks! With over 240 singers this year, he Battlefield Choirs participated in the PWC All County choir event, with 75 students being selected to participate or as an alternate in September. On October 20, the choirs of BHS, Bull Run Middle School, and Reagan Middle School teamed up to perform the widely popular Pyramid concert. 450 students lifted their voices in song- providing a wonderful and memorable experience for everyone. Also in October, James Harris and Tanner Jaksa were selected to participate in the Senior State Honors choir, which will take place at the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA November 17- 19 during the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference. And speaking of the Homestead, the widely acclaimed BHS Men’s Choir will be giving a special performance at the same conference on Thursday November 17 at 1:30PM. They are one of four high school choirs from around the state to be selected for the prestigious opportunity. On December 11 at 4PM, the BHS select women’s choir, Bel Canto, will give a masterworks concert at Manassas Presbyterian Church. They will be performing Benjamin Brittain’s holiday classic Ceremony of Carols. Also on that concert, the award winning Battlefield Singers will present an octavo concert which will feature the choir of Manassas Presbyterian Church. And finally, and December 15 at 7PM, the BHS choral program will give their annual winter concert entitled, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” The Winter concert is free of charge, but we ask that you bring a canned food item per person for entry. 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 trips. 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 (cont’d next pg)

Music (cont’d)

Battlefield Orchestra: Fall 2016 Newsletter Submission

Battlefield orchestra students have been busy this fall auditioning, performing, and volunteering in our surrounding community.

Congratulations to the thirteen students who successfully auditioned for this year’s Junior and Senior Regional Orchestras. A big “shout out” to Nyree Brown, Nicole Cheng, Phillip Choi, Eugene Choo, Brandon Kim, Lily Kochareun, Laura Kolos, Aiden Lee, Tae Lee, David Park, Michelle Quach, Kyle Woodson, and Aidan Ziemba for their amazing accomplishment. For the third year in a row, Battlefield High School is sending the largest delegation of participating students in our region. Way to go!

Our students were joined by the Bull Run and Reagan Middle School Orchestras in their first concert of the year this past October. At the end of the concert, the Battlefield Student Orchestra Council joined forces with the Willing Warriors to raise over $300 in donations for our veterans. Thank you to all who attended and helped make our concert a success.

Eugene Choo and Tae Lee were invited to perform in a masterclass with world-renowned violinist Emil Chudnovsky. Students had to submit a professional quality audition recording in order to be considered. The masterclass was held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas in conjunction with the Piedmont Music Club.

Students are beginning to prepare for their spring trip to Chicago. We recently completed our annual pie fundraiser, providing thousands of dollars to our students to help offset the cost of travel. Students will see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Willis Tower, and other local attractions before competing in the National Heritage Competition.

Nine Philharmonia students volunteered to perform at the Haymarket Library in celebration of their One Year Anniversary. A video clip from their spectacular performance can be found on our Facebook page.

Music (cont’d next pg)

Music (cont’d)

Thank you to Andrea Houde, West Virginia University’s Professor of Viola and String Pedagogy, for spending a two-day residency with our students here at Battlefield High School. Professor Houde performed portions of her recital program, assisted students in mastering advanced string techniques like shifting and vibrato, and taught a masterclass for students preparing for the upcoming All- County auditions. Additionally, Ms. Houde presented to our county’s string teachers in a workshop held at Battlefield High School.

Select students will be performing at Haymarket’s Annual Holiday Celebration on December 3rd at 3:00PM. Good food and music promise a fun time for all!

We invite all to our annual holiday concert on Thursday, December 8th at 7:00PM in the Battlefield High School Auditorium. Enjoy music of the season, hot chocolate, and more.

Students can join us on December 21st at 6:00PM in the Manassas Mall for holiday caroling. Just bring your instrument and we’ll bring the music. Hope to see you there!

For all of the latest information follow us on Facebook (@battlefieldorch) or Twitter (@orchestrasatbhs). Check out videos from our latest performance on our YouTube channel or by visiting www.battlefieldorchestras.com.

WORLD LANGUAGES

Spanish for Native Speakers are courses geared toward native and heritage speakers of Spanish. Students improve their literacy skills in Spanish as well as their listening and speaking abilities. Additionally, students discover aspects of the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. Although they already know the language, these classes offer students the unique opportunity to improve their knowledge and use of academic Spanish. Through literature, discussions, current events and other engaging activities, students discover and explore the origin of their family’s linguistic and cultural background!

Battlefield High School currently offers levels one and two of Spanish for Native Speakers. During course registration in early 2017, students can also register for Spanish for Native Speakers level three. After completing available levels of Spanish for Native Speakers, teachers place students in the appropriate next course. Many students continue to AP Spanish 5 and have the opportunity to earn college credit.

If your student or a student you know is interested in a Spanish for Native Speakers course, please contact Señor Escorcia [email protected].

La clase de español para nativos está enfocada en estudiantes que nacieron en un país en donde se habla el español (Native Speakers) o que hayan nacido en los Estados Unidos de padres hispanos y hayan aprendido el español en casa (Heritage Speakers). Los estudiantes mejoran sus habilidades para leer y escribir así como sus habilidades para escuchar y hablar. Además, descubren aspectos culturales de los países que hablan español. Aunque ellos ya hablen el idioma, estas clases les ofrecen la oportunidad de mejorar su español académico a través de la literatura, debates, eventos de actualidad y otras actividades interesantes. A su vez, descubrirán y explorarán el orígen cultural y lingüístico de su familia.

Actualmente, Battlefield High School ofrece los niveles uno y dos de Español para Nativos. Pero para la inscripción de clases al comienzo del 2017, los estudiantes podrán registrar español para nativos tres. Después de haber finalizado las clases de español para nativos que están tomando en estos momentos, los profesores clasificarán a los estudiantes en el siguiente nivel. Muchos estudiantes continúan en las clases de español 5 AP y tienen la oportunidad de obtener crédito universitario.

Si su hijo/a o un estudiante que usted conoce está interesado en las clases de español para nativos, por favor contáctese con el señor Escorcia [email protected].

IT PROGRAM

Battlefield IT Specialty Program Information Night – November 17th

The Battlefield Information Technology specialty program will have an informational meeting on Thursday, November 17th, at 7PM, in the Battlefield auditorium. The informational session is designed for rising freshmen, and current Battlefield freshmen and sophomores who are currently not in the specialty program, but would like to join.

The presentation will include details on: graphic arts, networking, programming, Project Lead the Way, robotics and web technologies. For more information, please contact Mr. Joseph Huddle [email protected].

The online application is now available, and may be submitted any time before February 1st.

Note: Battlefield HS will be accepting transfer students on a limited basis. A lottery will be held for the selection of transfer students.

PRINCIPALS ADVISORY COUNSEL (PAC)

The Principal’s Advisory Council met, on October 24th. To begin the meeting, Mr. Ferrera introduced the Chairman of Council, Mr. Neil Dorsey, a parent of a student attending Battlefield; Vice Chairman, Mr. Brian Shepard, math teacher; and Secretary, Mrs. Allison Levene, Biology Teacher. Following introductions the council discussed the drafted by-laws and with some revisions, a motion was made to pass the by-laws. After the discussion of the by-laws concluded, the council moved to the ILITE Robotics room where the robotics students presented information about the program highlighting their performance at world competitions and the enthusiasm they have for sharing their passion with younger students through the 11 different summer camps that are offered. Ms. Julie Byrne, Director of School Counseling, shared information about a new program being put on by the counseling office called Talk to Me Tuesdays. On the first Tuesday of each month, school counselors will be available during each lunch for students and staff to ask questions. During the first Talk to Me Tuesday, 14 students visited the counselors with questions. Senior Phil Choi shared information about BHS Big Brother, Big Sisters, a freshmen and transfer student mentoring program. Mr. Hintosh, Assistant Principal, and Mr. Grazier, Administrative Intern, closed the program highlight section of the meeting by discussing the Advance Placement improvement plans for Battlefield High School. The highlight included Battlefield’s excellent on-time graduation rate and discussed the school goal of increasing our challenge index.

RECOGNITION

On Monday, September 26, Stonewall Cosmetology (transport base for Hylton, Battlefield, and Osbourn Park) went to the State Fair to compete in 3 separate competitions hosted by Skills USA. Stonewall Cosmetology took 16 girls and brought home placement in all categories. Senior Alycia Hollins, Battlefield’s very own, placed 2nd in the Formal Hair Styling! Please make sure to congratulate Alycia for her hard work and dedication.

Formal Hair Styling (100 contestants) 1st place Enmy Gonzalez (Hylton) 2nd place Alycia Hollins (Battlefield) 6th place Natalie Ramirez (Stonewall) 8th place Lauren Finn (Stonewall)

Fantasy Hair Style (50 contestants) 1st place Patricia Flores (Hylton) 9th place Talia Dougan (Hylton)

Total Fashion Look (20 teams of 3) 7th place Tatian Alfaro, Jennifer Cabrera, Cassandra Calles (Stonewall)

If you see these young ladies around please take a moment to congratulate them, they have all worked very hard.

RIGHTS TO SPECIAL PROGRAMS/SERVICES

Right to Special Programs/Services This notice is intended to inform the community of a student’s right to a free, appropriate public education and the availability of programs and services, including a special education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) are federal laws that give the School Division certain responsibilities with respect to providing such educational programs to students with disabilities. Under the IDEA and Section 504, the School Division has the responsibility to actively and continuously identify, locate, and evaluate those children, infant to age 21, living in Prince William County who may be in need of special education and/or related services, or adaptations or accommodations to regular education services. These laws also require the School Division to: • Refer for possible evaluation any student of school age living in the School Division who a school staff member suspects may be disabled.

• Provide appropriate educational and school‐related opportunities to students with disabilities in an inclusive setting to the maximum extent appropriate.

• Provide notice of the availability of services and types and location of services to nearby private schools, pediatricians, and the Health Department.

• Provide parents/guardians of students with disabilities with notice of their rights annually, and prior to their student’s evaluation and placement, or any significant change in their student’s placement.

• Develop and implement procedural safeguards with respect to actions regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities.

• Provide procedures for the reporting, investigation, and resolution of student complaints of discrimination or harassment based upon disability, which were revised by the School Division in April of 2016 and are contained in Regulation 738-1, “Complaint Procedures for Student Claims of Discrimination or Harassment.”

• Provide written notice of the School Division’s procedural safeguards to parents or guardians.

If you suspect that your student may have a disability affecting your student’s development or academic performance, or may have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, please contact the Director of Special Education at 703.791.7287 for further information.