As I write this update on Wednesday, February 11, the sky is clear, and we are in the midst of a “February heat wave!” Thank you all for your patience as we navigated this recent spell of tough weather. I am especially grateful to our Buildings and Grounds crew for keeping our paths and parking lots clear, and to our bus drivers for navigating some tricky days.
While it has been a tough winter, our students and staff continue to persevere, showcasing their talents and skills daily. Over the past few weeks, I have seen our 3-year-olds engage with challenging letter work; 4th graders use critical thinking skills to creatively define parts of texts; and middle schoolers engage in peer mediation training. I’ve also celebrated with our summa cum laude graduates at BHS! Of course, this does not even include all the extra-curricular events and athletic contests that have been occurring.
Most recently, I attended the
Emerging Visions Art Show at GO-ART, where our talented Batavia High School art students exhibited their fantastic work. I encourage you to pay a visit to GO-ART to check out this amazing exhibition. Bravo to our students and our art teachers!
A few weeks ago, our entire BCSD faculty and staff came together to recommit to our Professional Learning Communities journey, now in year three! Renowned educator Dr. Anthony Muhammad both challenged and inspired our faculty and staff with a compelling message about the power of teacher teams in schools, collaborating to analyze and prioritize learning standards for our students, and to continually share best practices in teaching. It was truly an awe-inspiring day, and feedback was extremely positive.
In a few weeks, our BHS Production Club will be presenting the musical “Anastasia” on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 pm, followed by a Sunday, March 8 matinee at 2 pm. This is always a special event for me as I so enjoy playing in the pit orchestra with our talented student musicians!
Finally, winter sports are winding down, and Sectional play will be starting. Congratulations to our senior BHS athletes, and thank you for sharing your talent and skills with our fans and families!
As we approach our annual mid-winter recess, I hope our families enjoy this extra time with their children, and don’t forget to read a good book!
Thank you!
Jason A. Smith
Superintendent of Schools
Batavia City School District
