CAM adding grades 3,4; HomeLinks consolidating

Battle Ground Public Schools, which have long offered a variety of educational options in addition to the traditional five-days-a-week-classroom model, are improving the award-winning, parent- partnered CAM and HomeLink programs.

CAM expands to primary grades

CAM Jr.-Sr. High School, a rigorous academic, parent-partnered alternative learning experience, is
changing its name to CAM Academy and adding third and fourth grades to its 5-12 lineup. CAM also is increasing its capacity for ninth graders, reports Principal  Colleen O’Neal.

CAM started in 1996 as a high school (grades 9-12) and
gradually added additional grades. It has been a 5-12 school for five years.

Parents across the school district were surveyed in the spring about grades 3 and 4. Interest was greater than expected, resulting in two classrooms at each of those grade levels at CAM.

Ms. O’Neal said, grades 1 and 2 will be added at some point, perhaps next year. “The goal is to create a first-through-12^th grade, rigorous, parent-partnered academic experience,” she said. With the two primary grades and an expanded ninth grade, enrollment is expected to be about 520 full-time-equivalent students.

CAM Academy students have classroom instruction Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and work on their own and/or with parents on Wednesdays under an individual learning contract.

The expansion of CAM into the primary grades “speaks highly of this school district’s administration and the School Board for providing different ways to meet the various needs and learning styles of students,” Ms. O’Neal said. Parents still wishing to get on the “interested” list may do so via the school’s Website.

CAM Academy -- www.camjr-sr.com
715 Onsdorff Blvd., Battle Ground (adjacent to Battle Ground Baptist Church)
(360) 885-6800, office reopens Aug. 20
Principal, Colleen O’Neal, 885-6801

HomeLinks consolidate at Maple Grove
campus

Battle Ground HomeLink school, which has
been associated with CAM near downtown Battle Ground, is moving to the Maple
Grove campus where it will merge with River HomeLink.

The larger, consolidated school will mean “a greater
choice of opportunities for parents who are seeking an alternative to the five-days-a-week model and who will play an active role in their children’s education,” said Principal Mark Clements.

After 15 years in Camas, River HomeLink has been at the
Maple Grove site one year. The combined HomeLink schools will have about 550 full-time-equivalent students, Mr. Clements said.

There are five different HomeLink programs involving one
to three days a week in classes on campus plus schooling at home. Parents are heavily involved in HomeLink programs and will be expected to participate in professional-development sessions on campus throughout the
year.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to offer more options for families in the greater Battle Ground community,” Mr. Clements said. “This is a merger of two award-winning schools. The students will be the beneficiaries.”

Information meetings for parents wanting to learn more about HomeLink will be conducted at the school at these dates and times: Tuesday, July 31, 9 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m.; Monday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m.

River HomeLink -- http://www.bgsd.k12.wa.us/riv
610-C S.W. Eaton Blvd. (aka N.E. 199^th St., just east of Battle Ground Cinemas)
(360) 334-8200, office reopens Aug. 13
Principal, Mark Clements: 334-8201