Flu season is upon us and here are a few reminders to help keep our schools healthy :
🦠 Wash hands often with soap and water
🦠 Cover coughs and sneezes
🦠 Keep students home if they have a fever or flu-like symptoms
🦠Students must be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications before returning to school
🦠Consider talking with your child’s health care provider about the flu vaccination
🚨🤒When to keep your child home:
If your child has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, severe cough, or feels unwell please keep them home and allow time to recover before returning to school.
💜 Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students, staff, and schools healthy throughout flu season.
Check out their smiling faces below as we celebrate their achievements.
Thank you to our teachers and families for supporting these students and encouraging them to be their very best each day. Here’s to another great month of learning and growing together!
PreK: Ashley Nolasco-Hernandez, Richard Jordan, Kais Bulger, Tariq Anderson. Not Pictured: Malani Chrispen
Kindergarten: Jakari Rogers, KJ McKay, Adaacy Geuea, Adalie Childree, Winter McDonald, Josiah Glenn, Kinsley Quaney
First Grade: Jonathon Thornton, Jayda Byrd, Kalix Jenkins, James Penn, Reginald Adams, Amora Russ, Alaia Lerma Not Pictured: Majesty Davis
Second Grade: Ian Esquivel, Amelia Quaney, Tobey Herrera, Alina Stole, Sawyer Laws, Jaime Caballero-Paredes
Thank you for supporting our school and helping make great things happen for our kids!
We want to hear from you? Help us identify areas of strength and opportunities to elevate the quality of West Bainbridge Primary. You can also access the survey at this link: https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=9D4EC2D1
Mrs. Holley’s second grade students are putting their thinking caps on with a little help from Magic School! Using this powerful tool, they explored strong reasons for and against students having cell phones as part of their Unit 5 opinion writing.
Magic School also helped them organize their ideas and structure their opinion essays—setting them up for clear, confident writing. We love seeing technology used to support critical thinking and strong student voices.
Decatur County Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all students and families. To support this effort, OPENGATE Security Systems are now in use at the primary and elementary levels.
At Jones Wheat Primary (JWP) and West Bainbridge Primary (WBP), OPENGATE is located in the front office safety vestibules for parent and visitor entry. At Hutto Elementary, OPENGATE systems are placed at areas of entry used by both students and adults, including the lobby, gym, and cafeteria.
OPENGATE allows individuals to walk through without stopping or removing belongings, helping maintain efficient entry while enhancing school safety.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep the Bearcat Family safe every day.
The Georgia School Climate Survey is now open, and we encourage all parents and families to participate. Your responses help us strengthen our school climate and better serve our students.
Scan the QR code or visit the website below to complete the survey.
We appreciate your time and feedback!
https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=9D4EC2D1
We have some important upcoming school dates you’ll want to mark on your calendar. Please take a look at the flyer below and plan ahead.
The OPENGATE Security System is an advanced, walk-through weapons detection system designed to enhance school safety while maintaining a smooth flow of student entry. Unlike traditional metal detectors, OPENGATE uses advanced sensors to detect weapons and prohibited items without requiring students to stop, empty their pockets, or remove backpacks. This allows for efficient and non-intrusive screening, making it ideal for high-traffic areas such as school entrances.
OPENGATE provides an added layer of protection for students and staff. The system is portable, quick to set up, and built to detect a wide range of threats while minimizing false alarms. With its modern design and cutting-edge technology, OPENGATE supports the district’s commitment to creating safe, secure, and nurturing learning environments across all grade levels.
We encourage families to continue emphasizing the importance of school safety and working together to help keep the Bearcat Family safe on every campus, every day.
See how OPENGATE is making a difference in some of the largest school districts in the country, like Brevard County:
https://youtu.be/0_bNqaGNh9g
Flu season is upon us and here are a few reminders to help keep our schools healthy :
🦠 Wash hands often with soap and water
🦠 Cover coughs and sneezes
🦠 Keep students home if they have a fever or flu-like symptoms
🦠Students must be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications before returning to school
🦠Consider talking with your child’s health care provider about the flu vaccination
🚨🤒When to keep your child home:
If your child has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, severe cough, or feels unwell please keep them home and allow time to recover before returning to school.
💜 Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students, staff, and schools healthy throughout flu season.
Many of the trains on display were truly special—some are more than 80 years old! Our students were fascinated and absolutely loved this hands-on experience.
To make the day even more exciting, Mr. Josey also helped secure two battery-operated train sets, which were given away to two very lucky students. The winners were Avah Clark and Kamerin Jackson.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the setup and giveaway possible:
*Joe Williams
*David Casagrande
*Bonnie Blue House
*Don Whaley at Health Products and Yogurt Too
Thank you all for creating such a memorable and joyful experience for our students. This is what community support looks like!
These students have shown kindness, responsibility, and a positive attitude—what a wonderful way to head into the holiday season. We are so proud of each of you and all the great choices you make every day!
Please join us in congratulating our November & December Students of the Month!
November:
PreK: Charleigh Smith, Raelyn Jones, Kodi Wimbley, Jaicee Hemanes, Kyree Herring, Khymir McCray
Kindergarten: Malaysia Battles, Kameron Butler, Lia Suarez-Rodriguez, Remy Patridge, Phoenix Jones, Serenity Bouie, Jakari Rogers
First Grade: Zola Kyles, Aliyah Johnson, Karson Matchett, Yara Ibueisheh, Tripp Hemanes, A'moree Jeanty, Kayra Patel, Jersey Session
Second Grade: Harmony Williams, Taylynn Watson, Khylan James, Miliani Hernandez, Ky'Rie Turner, Emory Jennett
December:
PreK: Jasiel Avila Ramirez, Mason Evans, Ari'Yuana James, Algin Merritt, Kinsgton Morgan, Carly Wells
Kindergarten: Ilonni Clemons, Yarely Montalvo Rodriguez, Kylie Ross, Aubree Reed, Ayden Tomlin, Haddliey Smith
First Grade: Benjamin Flanders, Jersey Rambo, Miracle Spivey, Remington Trawick, Brooklyn Boswell, Natalie Mora, Mazi Merritt, Chasalyn Fry, Brayson Cross
Second Grade: William Donalson, Kentavious Gardner, Skylar Evans, Ava Williams, Erin Freeman, Anne Hurtt
The countdown to Winter Break is on! Please take a moment to review the attached flyer for early release times so you can plan for dismissal, transportation, and after-school needs.
Thank you for helping us keep everything running smoothly as we wrap up the semester. We wish all our families a joyful, cozy, and well-deserved Winter Break!
Did you know that students at West Bainbridge Primary and Jones Wheat Primary get 2 hours of instruction in digital literacy and STEM each week as part of the WOZ ED program in Decatur County Schools. These lucky students from PreK-2nd Grade students have been learning about how Robots THINK, SENSE, and ACT
as part of the WOZ ED Robotics Pathway. This weekend (Saturday, December 13 from 8:30-2:00) families can take their students to see robots in action at our SWGA FIRST LEGO LEAGUE Robotics Tournament. students from all around the region will be running robot rounds, presenting innovative STEM projects, and having a great time. Come Join the Fun ...you will be amazed by what these students can do with a little imagination and innovation!
Be sure to check out the flyer below for everything happening during the rest of December — including special events, reminders, and our schedule as we head into the holidays.
Please take a moment to look over the flyer so your family stays in the loop!
Get ready to bring a little Whoville magic to school!
On Grinch Day, students are invited to dress up as their favorite character from the classic Grinch story — Cindy Lou Who, the Grinch, Max, or any Whoville friend!
It’s a fun and festive way to celebrate the season, spread joy, and show off your creativity. We can’t wait to see all the Grinchy (and not-so-Grinchy!) outfits!
Check out the flyer for all the details!
You're invited — Robots in Action! 🤖
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Join us at Bainbridge Middle School for the FIRST LEGO League Southern Regional Qualifier Tournament — Saturday, December 13, 2025, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM. The theme is Archaeology and students have been "digging in" to develop innovative solutions, showcase their engineering design skills, and dazzle us with their autonomous robots on the tables.
Bainbridge Middle School
3130 Thomasville Road, Bainbridge, GA 39819
Saturday, December 13 — 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Highlights:
🤖Live robot rounds in the GYM (9:30–11:30 & 12:00–1:15) — free for the public to watch
🤖Teams competing include Decatur County’s 66302–Techno Treasures & 66305–Sand Stormers
🤖Students will present innovation projects and autonomous robots on the competition tables
🤖Robot PITS will feature interactive activities and team Innovation Project and Robot Design displays
🤖Hutto Elementary students will host a Robot Expo in the lobby showcasing projects as they prepare for the GA STC competition
🥤🍫 Concessions available all day from Bainbridge High School’s Buddy & Bella’s (specialty drinks $3.50; Pepsi & Gatorade $2.50; snacks $1–$3) — all proceeds benefit the BHS Entrepreneurship Program and 🍕LUNCH will also be for sale in the cafeteria with all proceeds benefiting the BMS Drama Club
Seating for family and spectators in the bleachers; follow ENTER/EXIT signage via Thomasville Road
Come cheer on our local teams, explore innovation projects, try interactive pit activities, and support student programs — see you there! 🎉
