








Yesterday, our elementary grade-level teams took full advantage of their plan time by diving into high-impact professional development! 🎓
We were thrilled to welcome Mark Clements, Assistant Director of the Heart of Missouri RPDC, to campus today. Mark worked closely with our teachers on a powerful framework for continuous student growth:
🔹 Gather data 📊 🔹 Analyze data 🔍 🔹 Intentionally act 🎯 🔹 Notice and adjust 🔄 🔹 Systematically repeat 📈
Our dedicated educators are always working behind the scenes to refine their craft and maximize learning for every student. Thank you, Mark, for partnering with our team today!

We are thrilled to share our inaugural update with you! As highlighted in our new banner ,The Bobcat Brief 2nd Edition for September 23rd, 2026, is officially live.
Check out the link below for all the latest news, updates, and important dates to kick off the season right.
👉 Read it here:The Bobcat Brief 2nd Edition Go Bobcats! 🐾

The Bowling Green R-I School District is immensely proud to announce that Coach Matt Chance has been selected for induction into the Missouri Track & Cross Country Coaches Association (MTCCCA) Hall of Fame — Class of 2026!
This prestigious honor celebrates a career defined by championship leadership, relentless dedication, and an unwavering commitment to our student-athletes. Coach Chance has built far more than a winning program at Bowling Green—he has built a culture of character, discipline, and tradition.
In true Coach Chance fashion, he credits this milestone to our entire Bobcat community. Read his official statement below:
"I am incredibly humbled and honored to be inducted into the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame — Class of 2026.
This recognition is something I am truly grateful for, but I know one thing for certain: this is not a 'me' accomplishment — it is a 'WE' accomplishment.
First, I want to thank my assistant coaches. Thank you for the countless hours, the early mornings, the late nights, the practices, the meets, and everything you have poured into our program. Your commitment and dedication have helped make our program what it is today. I could not have done it without you.
To all of the track and cross country athletes who have competed for me throughout the years — thank you. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the time, effort, sacrifice, and commitment you have given to our programs. Every athlete who has put on a Bowling Green uniform has contributed to our story and our tradition. I am proud of each and every one of you.
I also want to thank my family for their constant love, encouragement, patience, and support. Coaching takes countless hours away from home, and I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices my family has made along the way. This honor belongs to you as much as it does to me.
Most importantly, I want to thank God. I am thankful for the opportunities He has given me, the people He has placed in my life, and the ability to coach, teach, mentor, and make a difference in the lives of young people.
When I look back, I don't think about the wins, championships, or awards first. I think about the people, the relationships, the memories, and the lives we have been fortunate enough to be a part of.
I am truly blessed to have spent so many years doing something I love with people I care deeply about.
Thank you to the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association for this incredible honor.
It’s not me. It’s WE."
— Coach Matt Chance
🗓️ CEREMONY INFORMATION
Details regarding the official Hall of Fame ceremony will be released as they are finalized. We look forward to having our Bobcat alumni, assistant coaches, former athletes, and community members join us in honoring Coach Chance's legendary career.
#BowlingGreenR1 #BobcatPride #MTCCCA #HallOfFame #ClassOf2026 #ItsWE #BobcatNation #MissouriTrack #CrossCountry

We are thrilled to share that our district recently completed a major step in our ongoing commitment to keeping our schools, students, and staff safe. Thanks to the proactive leadership of High School Principal Joe Chinn, Bowling Green R-1 was able to secure an intensive, all-day training session at absolutely no cost to our district!
Today, our dedicated school safety team participated in a full-day, comprehensive Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Training .
🤝 Who is CES?
The training was conducted by Josh Crowell, Ed.S. from CES—MSBA's Center for Education Safety. As a specialized branch of the Missouri School Boards' Association, CES is the state's leading resource for school safety, dedicated to helping schools create secure, supportive learning environments .
🗺️ A Foundation of Excellence
The curriculum and the structured assessment forms used during this training are built upon a nationally recognized framework originally developed by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center. This research-backed, evidence-based foundation ensures our safety team is utilizing the highest industry standards to evaluate and support student safety.
🎯 Key Objectives of the Training
Our safety team worked hard throughout the day, focusing on several critical goals to enhance our school security and culture :
Preventing Violence through Assessment: Understanding how behavioral risk assessment works and learning why violence is preventable when the right systems are in place.
The Power of Relationships: Recognizing the vital role that strong, positive relationships play within our school culture to keep everyone safe.
Building Effective Programs: Learning what makes a behavioral threat assessment team highly effective and cohesive .
Hands-On Skills: Developing and practicing active skills to conduct behavioral risk assessments and properly manage potentially threatening situations .
Navigating Legalities: Ensuring strict confidentiality and understanding the legal standards involved in school safety and behavioral health .
Cultivating Safe Climates: Implementing proactive strategies to enhance and maintain a safe, welcoming school climate for all students .
We want to extend a massive thank you to Josh Crowell and MSBA's Center for Education Safety for providing this invaluable training , and to Principal Joe Chinn for securing this opportunity for our staff! We are so proud of our team for their continuous dedication to making Bowling Green R-1 a safe place to learn, grow, and thrive. 🎒❤️
#BGPride #SchoolSafety #BobcatNation #SafetyFirst #MSBA #CenterForEducationSafety #CommunityStrong #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture






Hello Bobcat Community!
We are thrilled to share our inaugural update with you! As highlighted in our new banner ,The Bobcat Brief #1 for August 26th, 2026, is officially live.
Check out the link below for all the latest news, updates, and important dates to kick off the season right.
👉 Read it here: The Bobcat Brief #1
Go Bobcats! 🐾

Our dedicated team is prepped, passionate, and ready to welcome our students back this Monday!
Before the school doors open and that Bobcat pride takes over, make sure to relax and enjoy these last few days of summer break.
Have a safe and fantastic weekend, Bowling Green—we’ll see you bright and early Monday morning! 🎓✨
#BobcatPride #BackToSchool #BowlingGreenR1 #BobcatNation #HaveAGreatWeekend #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

🥪 **A Huge Thank You to Peoples Savings Bank & Courtney Young!** 🥪
Just wanted to share this picture from Wednesday, August 19th! A massive thank you to **Peoples Savings Bank** for treating our entire staff to a delicious lunch. Your generous support and partnership in our community mean so much to all of us!
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Courtney Young for providing two weeks of incredibly valuable and meaningful professional development. Our staff is feeling inspired, equipped, and energized for a fantastic year ahead thanks to your expertise and dedication! 💡📚
Thank you both for investing in our team and supporting our community! 💙
#CommunityPartners #PeoplesSavingsBank #ProfessionalDevelopment #Grateful #TeamWork #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture


Bowling Green R-I School District has officially received the highest possible federal rating from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for 2026 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! 🏆
Not only did our district earn the top designation of **"Meets the Requirements and Purposes of the IDEA,"** but we achieved a **PERFECT score of 4.0 out of 4.0** across every single evaluated performance area! 🎓✨
**Our Perfect 4/4 Scores Include:**
* 🎯 Special Education Audit & Financial Compliance
* 📈 Graduation & Dropout Rates
* 📝 Assessment Participation & Proficiency
* ⏱️ Evaluation Timelines & Postsecondary Transition Planning
A huge shoutout to Special Education Director Dr. Malinka Buchanan, and our incredible teachers and support staff for their incredible work ensuring every student succeeds! 👏❤️🖤
#BGBobcats #BowlingGreenMO #SpecialEducation #ExcellenceInEducation #DESE #StudentSuccess#NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture
Our new teachers are back on campus this week, and the energy is incredible!
A HUGE shout-out to our Director of Curriculum, Courtney Young, for preparing a dynamic and highly effective onboarding agenda to set our new team up for success. 🌟
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest educators:
✏️ Charlie Bowen – 8th Grade Math
✏️ Zoe Brandenburger – 2nd Grade
✏️ Amanda Cannon – High School Biology
✏️ Alexis Ince – High School Art
✏️ Kelley Lewis – Pre-K
✏️ Mandy Pepper – Special Education
✏️ Bridget Turner – 2nd Grade
It’s been an action-packed week from Tuesday through Thursday! Our new staff took a facilities tour with Dr. Hunter, worked with the District of Continuous Improvement (DCI) team on high-yield instructional strategies, and participated in essential sessions covering technology, library resources, and mentorship programs.
🍕 Special Sponsor Appreciation: A giant THANK YOU to United Credit Union for treating our new team to a delicious lunch on Wednesday, August 12th! We truly appreciate your generous support of our school community.
Help us welcome our new team in the comments below! 👇
#WelcomeToTheFamily #NewTeacherOrientation #ExcellenceInEducation #CommunityPartners #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture


Yesterday, Principal Kim Luebrecht and our middle school team welcomed the newest Bobcats for Bobcat Academy! 🎉
Transitions to middle school can come with a few nervous butterflies, but hosting this session before day one is such a game-changer. Together with parents, our students got a head start on:
📍 Drop-Off Logistics: Clear maps and routines to make day-one arrivals smooth and stress-free.
💻 Tech & Tools: Getting prepped on Chromebooks, Infinite Campus, and student email.
📋 Keys to Success: Going over expectations for attendance, dress code, phone policies, and keeping in "Good Standing."
A huge thank you to Principal Luebrecht, our dedicated staff, and the amazing parents who partnered with us to make this event a success.
We can already tell this 6th-grade class is going to accomplish great things. We can’t wait to see everyone back in the halls! 🎓✨
#BobcatPride #MiddleSchoolTransition #BobcatAcademy #BackToSchool #ParentPartnerships #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture



We are thrilled to announce that our Director of Special Services, Malinka Buchanan, officially defended her doctoral dissertation on August 5th!
Her research, titled “Exploring Teachers' Experiences with Response to Intervention (RTI) Before A Special Education Referral" reflects her deep commitment to supporting our educators and ensuring every student receives the tools they need to succeed.
Defending a dissertation is a massive milestone that takes years of dedication, passion, and hard work. We could not be prouder to have her leadership and expertise guiding our Special Services department.
Please join us in the comments below in congratulating Dr. Buchanan on this incredible achievement!
#EducationLeadership #SpecialServices #DoctoralDefense #DrBuchanan #ProudDistrict #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture


Online Registration for returning students will open on August 3 for the 2026-2027 school year and can be completed at https://bit.ly/BGR1_ParentPortal. New student registration can be started now at https://bit.ly/InitialPreReg2026.
You do NOT need to register in person. Online registration can be completed in the comfort of your home.
Need help registering? Please see the flyer attached for information on available assistance with your registration needs.
Bowling Green R-1 Schools will offer in -person assistance with online registration for new and returning students on August 11 and 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

New Year, New Goals, Bright Future! As we gear up for an incredible school year ahead, members of our Board of Education and Superintendent kicked off the season by volunteering at the main gate of the Pike County Fair taking tickets and greeting families! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello—we loved seeing so many of our students, staff, and neighbors enjoying the evening together as we prepare for a great year ahead.

Please complete the google form for school bus transportation for the 2026-27 school year. If you have any questions please contact Beth Holland at bholland@bgschools.k12.mo.us
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY9M9I9MoDL7sV0Nv_3XRvpVOotULliPv7J5jhblSMRUAXxg/viewform?usp=dialog
Hello BGR1 families! MAP and EOC state assessment results are in. Individual student reports will be distributed during fall parent-teacher conferences. If you would like to receive your child's results before conferences, you're welcome to pick them up early at the school office during regular business hours.
