A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
As we move forward in another exciting season of learning, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work you do each day Our mission Growing Students, Building Futures is more than just words; it is the foundation of everything we do.
Every student who walks through our doors is more than a grade Each student has a story, a unique path that we have the privilege to help shape We are not just teaching lessons; we are growing future leaders who will go on to impact our community and beyond Teachers make the difference, and your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence inspire our students to reach their full potential.
Leadership matters at every level Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in administrative roles, the way we lead directly influences the success of our students I encourage you to challenge students, provide opportunities, and demonstrate excellence in everything you do. The work is not always easy, but the impact is immeasurable.
Thank you for being part of this journey Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and I am proud to work alongside such a dedicated and talented team Let’s continue to invest in our students, support one another, and finish this year strong
IN THIS ISSUE
pg 2
Hopewell Elementary School
Taylor Elementary School
pg. 3
Park View Elementary School
PIE Innovation Center
pg. 4
Central Office - Business Department
Pg 5
Important Dates
Guest Writer - Robbie Winters
HOPEWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
EmmyWells,acompassionateandgenerousthirdgraderatHopewellElementary,recentlymadeaheartfeltdecisionto help children in need She donated an incredible 13 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigstochildrenexperiencingmedicalhairloss.
When asked about her motivation, Emmy shared, “I wanted to help cancer patients, so I decided to cut my hair to be used to make wigs.” Her selfless act of kindness is a shining example of the spirit of giving and care that we strive to nurtureatHopewellElementary
AtHopewell,webelieveinshowingloveandkindnessinallthatwedo,andEmmyisaperfectexampleofhowwe“love well”everyday Waytogo,Emmy!
TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Taylor Elementary was proud to welcome the district Roadshow visit, giving guests a firsthand look at what makes our school exceptional! Visitors explored our thriving chicken coop and garden, our innovative irrigation system designed withLeeUniversity andengagingSTEM,math,andwritinglessonsshowcasingcreativityandcriticalthinking
Beyondtheclassroom,ourafter-schoolclubsareinfullswing!CodingClubbuildsproblem-solvingskills,Choirnurtures creativity,andSTEMClubsparksinnovation.We’realsoexcitedforSTEMClubJr.’ssecondyear,givingyoungerstudents ahands-onlearningstart It’sagreattimetobeaTaylorTiger!
PARK VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students in Ms Lauren Suits' and Ms Alisha Bright’s afterschool programs are diving into the world of coding Fifth graders in Ms Suits’ class are using VEXcode VR to program virtual robots and will compete in the first annual Bradley County Schools STEM Competition. Meanwhile, fourth graders in Ms. Bright’s class are building coding skills through hands-on activities with Beebots, Sphero Indi Cars, and VEXcode VR, exploring concepts like binary code and algorithms.BothprogramsaimtoinspirestudentsandshowcaseSTEMandcomputerscienceasexcitingfuturecareer pathways
PIE INNOVATION CENTER
The PIE Innovation Center recently hosted nearly 800 eighth-grade students from Ocoee Middle School and Lake Forest Middle School to explore Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs The annual "Career Connection Days" offered students an immersive experience, including facility tours, classroom CTE lessons, hands-on activities, and lively games of CTE Jeopardy These days gave students a valuable glimpse into career pathways, enabling them to make informed decisions about their high school course selections Events like these show Bradley County Schools' dedicationtopreparingstudentsforbrightfuturesthroughinnovativelearningopportunities
CENTRAL OFFICE - BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
The Business Office serves as the backbone of the school district, ensuring smooth operations and financial stewardship Comprising two key departments Fiscal Services and Human Resources—this office is dedicated to managingthedistrict'sresourceseffectively.
Fiscal Services oversees the financial health of the district, which, as of December, includes managing approximately $125 million in budgeted funds. This department also coordinates approximately $9.5 million in construction projects andprocessesanaverageof1,400paycheckseachmonth,reflectingitscommitmenttoaccuracyandefficiency
TheHumanResourcesdepartmentplaysacriticalroleinsupportingthedistrict'semployees.Fromprocessingnewhires toguidingemployeesthroughretirementandresignationprocedures,HumanResourcesensuresthatalltransitionsare handled smoothly and professionally. Additionally, the department manages insurance changes, ensuring staff have accesstothebenefitstheyneedtosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies
Together, the departments within the Business Office exemplify excellence in operational management, ensuring the district'sresourcesareutilizedtosupporteducationandgrowth
TheTeam: FrontRow(LefttoRight):TammyKeylon,SarahCrispin,TaylorHooker,CherylAllen BackRow(LefttoRight):MarciaBrown,AmandaWhite,LauraWhite,El
TheinauguralBradleyCountySchoolsSTEMDRIVE (Design,Research, Innovate, Vision, Engineer) Competition, held on Friday, March 7, 2025, was a groundbreaking event that ignited creativity and innovation among elementary and middle school students Organized by the BCS Technology Department and held at the PIE Innovation Center, the competition featured engaging activities to challenge young minds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students showcasedtheirproblem-solvingskillsandteamwork,makingtheevent both inspiring and dynamic. The excitement and enthusiasm from participants, teachers, and spectators highlighted the competition’s successinfosteringapassionforSTEMeducation
ENTHUSIASM
by Robbie Winters
On Wednesday evening, Bradley County Schools lost a legend and I lost someone that was very special to me My high school basketball coach/history teacher, and Bradley Central High School legend, Earl Rowan, passed away yesterday I had the privilege to play for Coach Rowan for two years and to be in his Current Issues class my senior year, but because he was friends with my parents, I knew Coach Rowan since I was a little boy. In all those years, I never remember seeing Coach Rowan have a bad day He had a zest for life and a love for all things Bradley Central The biggest takeaway from my many experiences with Coach Rowan was how much enthusiasm he had for life, for his students, for hisplayers,andforBradleyCentralHighSchool.
When I was beginning my education classes in college, I remember setting a goal to love coming to school as much as Coach Rowan loved coming to school. His enthusiasmwascontagious! Itwasimpossibleformetoleavemytimeswithhim and not be "pumped up " I think that is why I loved being around him so much Sadly, we can all think of some "Debbie Downers" that always seem to bring the room down Not so with Coach Rowan Every bad thing that happened was simply a challenge to be overcome. And, make no mistake, we would overcome everychallenge Ilovedhiswayofthinking
I don't remember a ton of details from his class . . . but I remember how much I looked forward to being there with him I knew we would have some highly energetic discussions about current events (and maybe try to get him to go down a few rabbit holes to waste some time, like asking him about his time on the Price is Right) . . . and that he loved us and loved teaching us. I don't remember a single offensive set or out of bounds play that we ran in his practices but there was no doubt that he would have us emotionally ready to run through a wall for Bradley Central His passion would sometimes get the best of him and he would get "T'd Up" because he could not sit idly by and watch hisboysinblack&goldgetmistreatedbyaperceivedbadcall.
Coach Rowan SPOKE LIFE to us, but what made him different is that he SPOKE LIFE to us ENTHUSIASTICALLY. The challenge for today is to be enthusiastic with your students If you ' ve lost some of your early years enthusiasm, I encourage you to pray that God returns it to you abundantly You see, Coach Rowan knew Christ well, too I bet that is where the deep joy in his calling and passion for his studentsreallycamefrom.
In Thessalonians, the apostle Paul tells us that we don't grieve as the world grieves, as those without hope. We will grieve him being gone, no doubt. But, I can't wait to see him again . . . and see him with that big smile and hear him laughing Ibethe'llbeinblackandgold
IMPORTANT DATES
March24
BoardofEducationMeeting
March29
MathMeet
April10
BoardofEducationMeeting
April18
SchoolsClosed-Parent/TeacherConferences
April21
SchoolsClosed-StockpiledStaffDevelopment
April24
BoardWorkSession
April30
StateoftheSchoolsAddress
May1
BoardofEducationMeeting
May5
BradleyCentralSeniorNight
May6
WalkerValleySeniorNight
May7
SeniorVisitstoElementary
May7
WalkerValleyBaccalaureate
May7,2025
BradleyCentralBaccalaureate
May8
WalkerValleyGraduation
May9
VirtualGraduation
May10
GoalGraduation
May10
BradleyCentralGraduation
May23
LastDayofSchool
