River HomeLink Theatre Presents 'Peter Pan' For Spring Production (Photo) -03/14/25

Come along with Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys as they outsmart the dastardly Captain Hook during River HomeLink Theatre's upcoming production of "Peter Pan." Journey to the exciting world of Neverland for a tale about friendship, family and the bittersweet innocence of growing up. Under the direction of Sandy Sparks, this tale comes alive with original costumes, snappy songs and plenty of amazing choreography.

 

Shows are at Prairie High School (11311 NE 119th St.):

• Fridays, March 21 and 28 - 7 p.m.

• Saturdays, March 22 and 29 - 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for children ages 3-10 and senior citizens, or $10 for general admission. They are available online in advance or at the door on show days.

 

Peter Pan is a two-act play adapted from the novel 'Peter and Wendy' by J.M. Barrie. Adapted by Craig Sodaro and produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Services, Inc., Denver, Colorado

Battle Ground High School’s Second-ever Student-directed Play Heads To Ancient Greece (Photo) -03/04/25

Battle Ground High School’s drama program is putting on their second student-directed play, starting March 7. “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza,” written by Don Zolidis, takes you into the overactive imagination of two high school students tasked with giving a presentation on Greek mythology.

 

The result is a wise-cracking, side-splitting comedy, as two narrators battle to cover the entirety of Greek mythology. Featuring teen-friendly takes on such classic tales such as Daedalus and Icarus, Jason and the Argonauts, Cronos and the Titans and many others. 

 

“It basically comes out as this slightly incorrect retelling of these well-known myths,” said senior Amanda Dunn, director of this year’s play. “It just sort of devolves into the absolute chaos of two kids running around on the fly, improving about Greek mythology.”

 

Shows will be for one weekend only, starting Friday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. Shows also will be held at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8. All performances will be held at The Lair inside Battle Ground High School. Tickets are $5 each, available at the door or online in advance through InTouch. 

 

“This is actually an interactive play,” Dunn said, “so I hope the audience plays their part and comes away really having enjoyed that and the humor in the show. In my humble opinion, it is absolutely hilarious.”

 

“The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza” is presented in arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. and Broadway Licensing Global.

Battle Ground Superintendent To Retire; Board Of Directors Appoints Successor (Photo) -02/28/25

After 18 years in Battle Ground Public Schools, Superintendent Denny Waters is set to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. He is relocating outside of Southwest Washington to live closer to family. 

 

The Battle Ground board of directors approved Waters' retirement at its Feb. 10 meeting. On Feb. 24, the board voted to appoint Shelly Whitten to be the next superintendent of the district. Whitten, the district's current deputy superintendent, will begin her new role on July 1, 2025.

 

About Waters

Waters has nearly 40 years of experience in education. In Battle Ground, he served as an assistant principal and executive director of special services before becoming the district's deputy superintendent in 2017. In that role, he earned a 2020 Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator award from the Washington Association of School Administrators. 

 

Since becoming superintendent in 2021, Waters has demonstrated a commitment to transparency, stakeholder engagement and fiscal responsibility. With input from staff, families and the community, he oversaw the creation of a new strategic plan focused on safe and caring environments, high-quality instruction and collaboration that cultivates trust. He formed student and citizen advisory committees to capture student input and increase communication with parents and community members on important issues such as facility planning. In 2024, local voters approved the district's first-ever capital levy to make building repairs and create and update spaces for construction trades, culinary and health sciences classes. That same year, the district also received a clean financial audit by the Washington state auditor's office. 

 

Said Waters, "Working in BGPS and serving as superintendent has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with students, parents, guardians, staff and community members to move the district forward. I am confident that the foundation we have built will continue to support the district."

 

About Whitten

A Battle Ground alum, Whitten also has more than three decades of experience as an educator. Her tenure in the district includes working as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of instructional leadership, director of human resources and assistant superintendent of human resources. She became the deputy superintendent in 2020 and has worked closely with Waters to lead the district's pandemic recovery efforts, oversee the teaching and learning and human resources departments, develop the strategic plan, establish committees that tap into the perspectives of different stakeholders and guide decisionmaking about the district's facilities. The deputy superintendent role helps to provide continuity of leadership and act as the superintendent when the superintendent is not available.

 

Whitten has a bachelor's degree in elementary education, master's degree in education administration and superintendent certification from Washington State University.

Battle Ground Public Schools Kindergarten Enrollment Is Now Available (Photo) -02/20/25

It's time to enroll next year's kindergartners! Online enrollment is available for children who will attend Battle Ground Public Schools next year. Any child who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2025, is eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall. 

 

Parents/guardians will need proof of their child's birth date (such as a birth certificate) and a signed and completed Washington state certificate of immunization status form or certificate of exemption. Please note that the state of Washington requires that immunization records be medically verified. Families can find out which school their child will attend by using the Clark County Property Information Center or by calling the district boundaries office at 360-885-6577.
 

Parents/guardians are encouraged to enroll their child as soon as possible to allow their child to participate in key events leading up to the start of kindergarten, including kindergarten orientation and Jump Start.

 

Alternative kindergarten options

Battle Ground Public Schools' K-12 alternative learning experiences also offer early learning opportunities: 

 

Battle Ground Virtual Academy is an online learning option that uses a web-based curriculum with interactive activities, videos and workbooks. All curriculum is provided and lessons are delivered online. Students receive 30 hours of learning activities per week, as well as one classroom experience per week, either in person or virtually.

 

River HomeLink offers two half-day in-person kindergarten classes along with three days of at-home instruction. All curriculum materials are provided. Parents are asked to volunteer as a classroom assistant two days per week. 

 

River also offers PrimeLink, where families can receive weekly advice and assistance on planning, implementing and reporting on their child's home-based instruction. Parents also have the option of selecting their own at-home curriculum from a list of approved options and taking advantage of a one-time consultation to assist with setting up the at-home learning environment. Students in all ALE programs still have the option of taking elective classes at their neighborhood school.

 

Kindergarten orientation schedules

Enrolled students and their families will be invited to attend a kindergarten orientation in the spring where they can get to know their school and learn more about the kindergarten program. 

 

2025 kindergarten orientation dates:

• Captain Strong: May 20, 4:30 - 6:15 p.m.

• Daybreak: May 20, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

• Glenwood Heights: May 22, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

• Maple Grove: May 22, 5 - 6 p.m.

• Pleasant Valley: May 22, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

• Tukes Valley: May 22, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

• Yacolt: May 22, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

Jump Start

Jump Start is a four-day program that helps kindergarten students get acclimated to school. This year's Jump Start dates are Aug. 11 through Aug. 14. Jump Start space is limited and determined on a first-come, first-serve basis. Families must complete kindergarten enrollment to be eligible for Jump Start participation.
 

2025-26 school calendar and start of school

School will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025; however, kindergartners will have a staggered start. This allows small groups of students to get acclimated to the school environment on the first couple of days of school before beginning to attend school full time. Parents will receive a letter before the start of school about their child's start date.

 

Before and after-school care

The district has partnered with Right At School to provide before- and after-school care at its primary schools from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day that school is in session.

 

Transitional Kindergarten

Battle Ground Public Schools also offers Transitional Kindergarten for children who will be 4 years old by the end of August. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage to learn more about the program and fill out an online eligibility form. Families will be notified in late May regarding their eligibility status.

 

Preschool options

Battle Ground Public Schools also offers preschool options for early learners. Prairie High School, Battle Ground High School and the BGPS Community Education Department offer tuition-based preschool programs for ages 3-5. Battle Ground Public Schools also offers early intervention programs and services for children ages 3-5 who are identified for special education services. Learn more and compare options.