News from Bowling Green City Schools

September 6, 2024

Message from the Superintendent


Dear Members of the Bowling Green City Schools Community,

 

As we enter the month of September, it feels as if we are entering the “groove” of the school year. The daily and weekly routines begin to take shape as everyone settles in. The year is off to a great start, and wonderful activities are taking place within all of our schools each day.


As I am sure you are aware, the Bowling Green City Schools Board of Education has placed an operating levy on the November ballot. This levy is very important to our schools. The last time our community approved new operating dollars was in 2010, 14 years ago. Operating dollars are used to fund the day-to-day operations of the district such as maintenance, personnel cost, textbooks, technology, transportation, and utilities. Over the years, the district’s expenditures have outpaced revenues, placing BGCS in a position where additional funding is necessary in order to continue to provide the great services to our students and families. This ask is a need for our district and not a want. A 2024 Operating Levy Frequently Asked Questions document has been created to provide information to our community. This FAQ document can be found by clicking here.


I hope you enjoy the information in this issue of the district’s e-newsletter and are finding the bimonthly communications helpful. Our goal is to have a well-informed community about Bowling Green City Schools.


I am honored to serve the students, families, community, and staff of Bowling Green City Schools. I promise that our District will work hard to improve each day to provide a high-quality education for our students, be a financially sound organization for our stakeholders, and be a point of pride for the entire community.

 

Go Bobcats,


Dr. Ted Haselman

Superintendent

Superintendent Coffee Chats


The first Superintendent Coffee Chat is September 10 from 8-9 a.m. at Biggby Coffee, 215 E. Wooster St.


Join Dr. Haselman to ask questions and have open dialogue on topics relevant to Bowling Green City Schools and the community. To better accommodate our residents' schedules, two Coffee Chats have been scheduled for later in the day. He looks forward to meeting with you!

A Musical Journey of Hope:

Choir to Premiere Special Composition

Our choir program is pleased to announce an upcoming special event that blends music, storytelling, and a powerful message of hope. Thanks to the initiative of our Choir Director, Mrs. Beth Vaughn, the BGHS Choir is participating in the "Sing Me a Story" Music Composition Program. The Sing Me a Story Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to serve children and families in need through the imaginative stories of their children and the power of music. This project transforms children's stories into beautiful songs.


This year, our choir students had the unique opportunity to work on a song that is based on a story written by four-year-old Colton and his three-year-old brother, Connor. Their story, Colton and Connor's Pirate Frog Adventure, is particularly poignant as it reflects their resilience and imagination during a challenging time. Just after Colton's fourth birthday, he was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. Although Colton is still undergoing treatment, we are overjoyed to share that his cancer is now in remission.


Mrs. Vaughn applied for a grant through the Bowling Green Schools Foundation to bring this project to life. With the funding awarded, the Sing Me a Story Foundation commissioned BGSU Music Composition major Colton Ogg to compose the song and he has beautifully crafted the piece based on the boys' imaginative tale. Mr. Ogg stated, "The story I received from Colton and Connor reminded me of my younger brother and I when we were young. I tried to write the score in a way that would highlight the boys' humorous storytelling as well as their childlike innocence and creativity."


We invite everyone to join us for the Fall Choir Concert on Tuesday, October 8th, at 7:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Composer Colton Ogg, as well as brothers Colton and Connor and their family will be in attendance for the premiere of this heartwarming composition! This event will not only showcase our students' and the composer's talents, but it will also be a powerful celebration of the strength and creativity of two incredible young boys. It's a performance you won't want to miss!

Bobcat Vocal Boosters: Supporting BG Choirs

The Bowling Green Vocal Boosters are dedicated to raising funds and providing support for the BG Choir Department. Their efforts help cover travel, equipment, music, uniforms, programming, and enriching experiences for our talented students. Led by President Leah Bechstein, the Boosters meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the High School Choir room. Parents of choir students are encouraged to join the meetings or lend a hand in other ways if they can’t attend.


The Choir Department is currently hosting its annual Mum Sale fundraiser with Bench’s Greenhouse! Mums are available in assorted colors, and all proceeds go directly to supporting the choir program.


🗓 Order Deadline: Tuesday, September 10

📍 Pick-up: Tuesday, September 17, 2:45 PM - 6:00 PM at the PAC loading dock.

How to order: Visit the BGCS Choir link for Bench’s Greenhouse, and select “GIFT CARD” as the shipping option so your order will be delivered to BGHS for pick up. If ordering through a student, please include their name in the “notes” section.


Your support of this sale and other fundraisers—like the coffee and spring flower sales—makes a huge difference in our students' choir experience. Thank you for your continued support! For more information or to get involved, contact Leah Bechstein at leahbechstein@yahoo.com.

Empowering Young Scientists: BGMS Teacher Leads Summer Watershed Institute

Our very own 7th grade science teacher, Paula Williams, was the lead teacher at this summer's Ohio Supercomputer Center’s Youth Watershed Summer Institute! Middle school students from across the state had an amazing week collecting and analyzing data from local creeks, creating their own watersheds, and learning essential computer and analytical skills. They also explored The Ohio State University’s research facilities and enjoyed fun evening activities.

Mrs. Williams emphasized how the program inspired students to think about ways to improve Ohio's freshwater resources by comparing historical and current data on the Big Darby Creek watershed. She expressed hope that everyone who participated would leave inspired with actionable ideas to help improve Ohio’s freshwater resources. For the full story click here.


Bowling Green Middle School 6th and 7th graders interested in joining next year (July 13-18, 2025) can apply here starting January 1st, 2025!

Supporting the Whole Child: BGCS Student Wellness Services

At Bowling Green City Schools (BGCS), we believe in focusing on the whole child, ensuring that every student feels physically and emotionally safe and connected to their school community. The mission of our Student Wellness program is to help students reach their full potential by fostering a sense of belonging and providing a comprehensive range of wellness services. Our student wellness services operate on three tiers of support: school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support.


In partnership with the Wood County Educational Service Center, the ADAMHS Board, the

Children’s Resource Center, and other community organizations, BGCS has established a robust student wellness and success plan. This initiative provides students with access to essential physical and mental health services.


Key Components of Our Wellness Services


Prevention Education: Our partnership with the Wood County Educational Service Center brings a full- time prevention educator to the district, focusing on preventing alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among students.


Mental Health Services: Collaborating with the Children’s Resource Center, we offer mental health therapy and case management to support the emotional well-being of our students and their families. Our district also uses SOS to teach suicide prevention to students in grades 6-12. Both programs are evidence-based youth suicide prevention programs that teach middle and high school students how to identify warning signs of suicide and depression. 


Nursing Services: With dedicated nurses in each school building, we ensure timely responses to injuries and illnesses, along with the early identification of at-risk symptoms. Staff also receive training on crucial health topics such as AED use, seizure action plans, diabetic management, EpiPen administration, mental health, and trauma-informed education.


Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): PBIS uses evidence-based practices to create a positive school culture and learning environment. By clearly defining and rewarding positive behaviors, PBIS helps build intrinsic motivation in students, leading to a positive learning environment.


Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): SEL helps students and adults acquire the skills to manage emotions, set positive goals, show empathy, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. We promote SEL through:


  • Climate: Creating a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment.
  • Direct Instruction: Using programs like Second Step, COPE, and DARE to teach SEL skills.
  • Infusion: Integrating SEL skills throughout the day via modeling and teaching opportunities.


Wellness Coordination: A coordinator of student wellness and community outreach organizes all services within our wellness program, ensuring comprehensive support for our students.


The Whole Child Framework


Our wellness program is based on the five tenets of Ohio’s Whole Child Framework, which asserts that students are more likely to succeed when they are healthy, feel safe, are supported by strong relationships, are challenged, and are engaged in meaningful learning.


Impact of Student Wellness Services


These initiatives are expected to enhance attendance rates and learning outcomes by addressing students physical and mental health needs, ensuring they stay engaged and thriving in school.


For more information about our student wellness services click here.

1BookBG: Welcoming Author & Illustrator Jerrett Lerner to Bowling Green Elementary Schools October 9.


Each K-5 student will receive a book!


Read this article for more information.

Goodwill Pass It On Challenge - Sept. 16-20

Are you feeling the need to declutter your home? Well start going through your things now. Bag up and set aside items you would like to donate for the Goodwill “Pass It On Challenge” with 13abc!


This is a friendly competition between Bowling Green High School and Northview High School benefiting Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio.


A Goodwill donation trailer will be at BGHS from Monday, September 16 through Thursday, September 19, with donation drop-off hours from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Bring your clothing, household items, and furniture. Not only will your donations help those in need, but the school that collects the most weight wins a $500 scholarship for a 2025 graduating senior, courtesy of Goodwill and 13abc!


Drop-off Dates: Sept 16-19, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Winner Announced: Friday, Sept 20, during the BG vs. NV game!


Earn BONUS WEIGHT for every photo you post on social media (FB, Instagram, Twitter) with @GoodwillNow tagged, will earns BGHS an extra 100 pounds! Whether you’re boxing up donations or dropping them off, snap a pic and help BGHS win!

Snapshot of Success:

Highlights from Around the District

Here are a few photos of highlights from around the district over the past few weeks.

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