Battlefield High School

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Battlefield High School
Address
Map
15000 Graduation Drive

Haymarket (address)
,
Virginia
20169
Information
School typePublic high school
MottoSuccess Is A Choice
Founded2004
School districtPrince William County Schools
School number(571) 261-4400
PrincipalAmy Ethridge-Conti
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,580
Color(s)Purple, Black, and Silver
MascotBobcat
Athletic ConferenceAAA Cedar Run District
AAA Northwest Region
Websitewww.BattlefieldHighSchool.org
The atrium in the central stairwell.
BHS' location and the area it serves.

Battlefield High School is a public secondary school within the Gainesville District of unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia, and is part of Prince William County Public Schools. The school is located north of the town of Haymarket and bears a "Haymarket, Virginia" address. Battlefield is one of two Centers for Information Technology in the school division.

Originally nicknamed "Dominion Valley High School" for its location proximal to the housing development of the same name along Route 15, the naming committee for the school ultimately elected to avoid options that included "Dominion Valley," "Gainesville," and "Haymarket" as it was felt the school name should not ostracize any of the communities or developments it would ultimately serve.

While even some school district documents refer to the school with the acronym "BFHS," the acronym "BHS" is preferred.

The rapid construction of homes in the area surrounding Battlefield has resulted in a tremendous population increase, which guarantees that at least for now, the school will operate well over its intended capacity. Communities served by Battlefield include Bridlewood, Bristow, Bull Run Mountain Estates, Catharpin, Coverstone, Dominion Valley, Evergreen, Gainesville, Glenkirk, Heritage Hunt, Lake Manassas, Piedmont, Rocky Run, Somerset, Town of Haymarket, and West Market.

In May of 2007 Newsweek magazine ranked Battlefield High School 1068th in the nation on its annual list of "Best High Schools in America."[1]

History

Battlefield High School was opened in September 2004 as the ninth high school in Prince William County.

The principal is Amy Ethridge-Conti. Assistant Principals include L. Edward Stephenson, Maria McDonald, Chris McMillan, and Lisa Zdravecky. Jane Sumner is the Specialty Program Coordinator. Michelle McGregor and Catherine Porter are currently Teachers on Administrative Assignment. Ben Stutler serves as Director of Activities, and Danielle "Dani" Gately serves as Head of Security along with the School Resource Officer, Officer John Tillman.

Prior school leaders have included Jack W. Parker (Principal 2004-2004), Natalie K. Bonshire (Assistant Principal 2005-2007), and Major R. Warner, Jr. (Assistant Principal 2004-2007).

In both the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 school years, Battlefield High School was named a "School of Excellence" by Prince William County. According to PWCS, "a School of Excellence must be fully accredited by the state and ... must ensure that ninety-five percent of students beginning the year on or above grade level pass the SOL tests. They must also ensure that fifty percent of students beginning the year below grade level pass the SOL tests."[2]

Accreditation

Battlefield High School is a fully accredited high school based on its performance on the Standards of Learning tests in Virginia since its opening in 2004.[3]

Battlefield High School has made "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) each year it has been open, according to the Virginia Department of Education's benchmarks set by the mandate of the No Child Left Behind Act.

School Seal

The school seal, illustrated in the school colors of purple, black, and silver, was designed by Carl Kielbasa of Herff-Jones, Inc. The center of the seal is a representation of "graduation" with the traditional mortarboard and rolled diploma. Around the outside of the seal are representations of "the arts" (a drama mask, a lyre, and a palette), "academics" (the traditional "torch and tome"), "Information Technology" (the words wrapping the globe), and "athletics" (the winged shoe of Hermes (stylized as a modern sneaker) and the traditional laurel). The crest of the seal is a disembodied Bobcat head superimposed upon mountains, representing the Piedmont region of the Appalachian Mountains, a prominent local geographic feature. At the base of the seal on the tasseled scroll are the keywords "Courage," "Honor," and "Integrity."

Campus

Battlefield High School, exterior.
The school seal, painted in the foyer.
An interior "road sign".

Originally simply "High School #9," the campus includes one primary academic building, a separate security residence, an observation tower overlooking the large student parking lot, and the athletic stadium complex. (The stadium does not currently bear a specific name.) Located on Graduation Drive, the school is within the Dominion Valley subdivision. The academic facility ("the school") is approximately 276,000 square feet in size, is located on a 79.77-acre site, and was designed by Moseley Architects, formerly Moseley Wilkins, and Wood. Construction took place beginning in March 2002, with the facility opening on 19 August 2004.[4]

Many of the interior trim aspects were originally painted a salmon color, but after the selection of the school colors (purple, black, and silver), many trim sections were repainted in school colors. The floors of the school feature black tile borders along wall edges and school-colored purple lockers, configured "over-under" to provide two lockers per bay. The walls are white and power-efficient fluorescent lighting is used throughout, supplemented by natural light that enters through windows both in classrooms and in stairwells, as well as through the courtyard. Additionally, a large atrium at the center of the school is a functional architectural detail that allows natural light into the surrounding areas.

As is common practice with many modern schools, corridors are labeled with "road signs," helping students to navigate the large structure. At Battlefield, "east-west" roads are numbered First, Second, and Third streets on the ground level, beginning closest to the front of the school. On the upper level, Fourth and Fifth streets follow the same pattern. "North-south" corridors are "avenues," each beginning with an ascending letter of the alphabet and each named for something relevant to Battlefield's community. "Antioch Avenue" is the first on the ground floor, followed by "Bristow," "Catharpin," and "Dominion Valley" Avenues. On the upper floor, "Evergreen, "Freedom," "Gainesville," and "Haymarket" Avenues complete the grid.

Further identifying monikers for exterior routes were published in 2007 as part of a revised traffic pattern plan. The high volume of traffic on Graduation Drive and Route 15 has been concern not only for the school but for the local department of transportation as well. Several of the exterior roads carry the unofficial names "Bobcat Trail," "Senior Drive," and "Spirit Way."

The on-paper capacity of the school is approximately 2,050, though the school's current enrollment (2,580) is fully contained within the existing facility. As previously predicted, the enrollment has outgrown the facility, necessitating innovative uses of space, teachers frequently changing classrooms, and students learning in nontraditional spaces, illustrating the rapid pace of growth in the region. There are preliminary plans in place to open the county's eleventh high school, tentatively named Kettle Run High School, in the nearby Brentsville Magisterial District near Vint Hill, which was originally slated to be designed for approximately 2,050 students by reusing the same design as that of Battlefield and its "sister schools," Forest Park and Freedom. [5] The plan originally called to open this new high school by 2009, but due to budget concerns, this was pushed back to 2011 during the 06-07 school year.

Students

As of 30 September 2006, using the terms from the reporting instrument, the student body was 64.3% White, 11.9% Asian / Pacific Islander, 11.4% Black, 9.7% Hispanic, 2.6% unspecified, and less than 1% Indian/Alaskan. English is the predominantly-spoken first language of the population, followed by Korean. Over twenty countries of origin are represented in the student body.

2007-2008 school year statistics are forthcoming.

Enrollment

Upon its opening for the 2004–2005 school year, the student population was approximately 1,100 students. With the addition of the senior class for 2005–2006, that number was approximately 1,750. The enrollment during 2006–2007 rose to 2,276 students, with 736 students in 9th, 605 in 10th, 514 in 11th, and 421 in 12th grades respectively.[6] According to a report by the Guidance Department of 26 March 2007, there were 2,262 students enrolled, with 713 students in 9th, 608 in 10th, 508 in 11th, and 415 in 12th grades respectively.

The anticipated enrollment for opening day of the 2007–2008 academic year was estimated in Spring 2007 at 2,477, though as predicted, this number exceeded estimates. The 2007-2008 school year began with an enrollment of 2,552 students. At the end of the first day of classes, enrollment had already risen to 2,596.

In 2004–2005, 5.57% of the student body was enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. In 2005–2006, that figure increased to 11.51% of the student body. In 2005–2006, 42% of graduating students received a Standard Diploma, and 50.4% of graduating students received an Advanced Diploma. Dropout rates have been less than 2% since the school opened in 2004.

For 2006–2007, the school began hosting its Air Force JROTC program, which is currently comprised of 135 students. The program is led by Lt. Col. R. Cartee and Chief Master Sergeant D. Woodiel, and instructs both aerospace history and engineering as well as leadership and community skills.

The iT Specialty Program at BHS stood at 415 students for 2006–2007.

Attendance

Average daily attendance for 2004–2005 was 94.7%, and for 2005–2006 was 94.18%, with any duration departure from the instructional setting constituting an absence for purposes of reporting this statistic.

In the 2005–2006 school year, 90% of graduating students matriculated to a college or university, 49% to a four year program and 41% to a two year program.

Standardized test scores

As reported by the school division to the Virginia Department of Education, English Performance pass rates were 91% of 99% tested in 2004–2005, and 92% of 100% tested in 2005–2006. Mathematics Performance pass rates were 93% of 99% tested in 2004–2005, and 90% of 99% tested in 2005–2006. Science Performance pass rates were 89% throughout 2004–2006. Social Studies Performance pass rates were 95% for 2004–2005 and 92% for 2005–2006.

The average composite SAT score for a Battlefield High School student in 2005–2006 was 1035.

Post-graduation

95% of seniors graduating from Battlefield at the end of the 2006-2007 school year went on to attend a two- or four-year college.

Faculty and staff

Battlefield High School employs over 250 total staff members, approximately 190 of whom are members of the instructional faculty. PWCS facilities were recently ranked the cleanest and best maintained on the eastern seaboard by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. As reported to the Virginia Department of Education, in 2005–2006, only four teachers in the building did not meet Federal standards for the definition of "Highly Qualified," less than the Commonwealth average of five teachers per school. As of 2005–2006, 48% of the staff had completed at least one graduate degree beyond the Bachelor level. Many teachers at Battlefield hold multiple graduate degrees and/or professional certifications, and several are actively involved in doctoral studies. It was anticipated that approximately 20 to 25 new teacher positions were to be added for the 2007–2008 academic year. This number rose to over 30 before the school year began.

There are currently several committees operating at the school, including the Technology Committee, the Social Committee, the Principal's Advisory Council, the Freshman Transition Committee, and the STAR Program Committee.

The iT Medal, featuring the logo for the Center for Information Technology.

Curriculum

Battlefield offers a county wide IT-specialized program for qualified students. The program offers courses in computer science and programming, as well as advanced certification programs including A+, Oracle, Cisco, Microsoft Certified Systems, and is a certification center for the Certified Internet Web Professional program.[7]

In 2006, the Virginia Department of Education conferred an award upon the iT team of business partners for collaboration between the iT program at Battlefield and local industry.[8]

Extracurricular activities

File:Battlefieldbobcats.gif
Battlefield Bobcats logo.

The school mascot is the bobcat and the sports teams currently play in the AAA Cedar Run District and Northwest Region.

As of June 2007, the roster of clubs and activities at Battlefield High School included the following:

The Battlefield Robocats robotics team received the "Rookie All Star" award during both the FIRST 2006 Richmond, Virginia preliminary competition and the FIRST 2006 Columbia, North Carolina preliminary competition, qualifying the Robocats for the FIRST Robotics World Championship held in Atlanta, Georgia. The Robocats took the "Rookie All Star" award a third time during the Atlanta World Championships, making them the 2006 Rookie Team of the Year.[9] The team is led by teachers Gail Drake and Michael Piccione.

The girls tennis team won the 2006 Cedar Run District[10] and the Northwestern Regional title. Coach Lisa Rucker was named Coach of the Year by The Washington Post as a result.[10]

The Battlefield Band is a Virginia Honor Band, and is affiliated with the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director's Association, or VBODA.[11] The band is under the direction of Matt Brodt.

The Battlefield High School varsity football team currently has a record of 5-1. They are ranked #22 (as of 10/8/07) in the state by MaxPreps.com.

Graduation traditions

Battlefield High School is still a "new" school for all intents and purposes, and as such, yet has few established traditions. (The school leadership commented in March 2007 that the school is just beginning to emerge from the stage of "for the first time," meaning that the school is beginning to establish an annual routine now that it is reached and surpassed full capacity, and will soon have taken its first incoming freshmen and graduated them.)

Following suit with other PWCS schools, Battlefield began holding graduation at nearby Nissan Pavilion for the 2007 commencement exercises. This semi-outdoor amphitheater (reminiscent of similar facilities, such as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center) seats 25,000 and is located in Bristow. The ceremony is conducted in full Academic dress, with students wearing undergraduate-style gowns in school colors (specifically purple and silver) with corresponding mortarboards, and teaching and administrative faculty wearing black Master gowns (regardless of their actual degree) with the option of wearing their own hoods, either conferred by their institutions or purchased through BHS prior to graduation.

The guest speaker at the 2007 Nissan Pavilion commencement, which graduated 375 seniors, was Dr. Andrew Flagel, Dean of Admissions at neighboring George Mason University.

Other Photographs

References

  1. ^ "America's Top Public High Schools" (HTML). MSNBC. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Twenty-Eight County Schools Named Schools of Excellence" (Press release). Prince William County Public Schools. November 16 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Virginia AYP Status for 2006–2007" (Microsoft Excel). Virginia Department of Education. 2006/2007. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Battlefield High School Opens..." (Microsoft Excel) (Press release). Prince William County Public Schools. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  5. ^ "Staff Report: Public Facility Review #PLN2007-00079" (Adobe Acrobat). County of Prince William Planning Commission. January 31 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "2006-2007 Fall Membership: School Summaries by Ethnicity, Grade, and Gender" (Microsoft Excel). Virginia Department of Education. September 30 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Certified Internet Web Professional" (HTML). Prosoft Learning. 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Certified Internet Web Professional" (HTML). Prosoft Learning. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Catz, Chelle (January 10 2007). "Chit Chat: Patrick Boyd - 'See you in Vegas!'". The Gainesville Times. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Spring 2006 All-Met". The Washington Post. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  11. ^ "Virginia Honor Bands" (HTML). Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Dept. of Communications and Technology Services, Prince William County Schools (2006), 2005-2009 Strategic Plan, Prince William County Schools
  • Fruhwirth, S (2007), Battlefield High School Enrollment, BHS Guidance Department
  • McClelland, J. (2007), Clubs and Sponsors, Battlefield High School
  • Reeves, KD (2006), Printed SASI Reports, BHS Office of Instructional Technology
  • Zaboth, J (2007), Battlefield High School 2008 Budget Worksheet, BHS Bookkeeper's Office

See Also

External links


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