Baldwinsville Central School District

As the 2010-2011 school year is about to commence, the administration, faculty, and staff members at C.W. Baker High School are looking forward to your return. We hope that you have had the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate, as well as enjoy time with your family and friends during the summer break. We are confident that you are excited about reconnecting with your classmates, teachers, counselor, and your program of academic study.

This school year, we have many new and exciting activities, experiences, and opportunities planned for you. We are offering new elective courses in Aerospace Engineering and Principles of Biomedical Sciences. These courses are offered in partnership between Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and the Baldwinsville Central School District. Mastering English Skills II is another course that will assist enrolled students with enhancing their reading and writing skills, while Creative Writing will provide an opportunity for students to investigate techniques for developing plot, setting, character, conflict and resolution. Accounting (OCC) will challenge students’ understanding of accounting principles and practice, as well as give successful participants three college credits through Onondaga Community College.

The school building has seen some minor changes over the summer in preparation for construction of a new main entrance and the renovations of older classroom spaces. Since construction will be ongoing during the school year it is essential for you to know that it will not impact instruction. All major work will be completed after regular school hours. Additionally, as noted in district publications, the starting and ending times for Baker High School have changed. School will now be starting at 7:30 A.M. during the 2010 – 2011 school year. Your school day will end at 2:25 P.M. Please make every attempt to arrive to school prior to 7:30 A.M. to ensure that you are ready to begin 1st Period by 7:34 A.M. Any student arriving between 7:30 A.M. and 7:34 A.M. should report directly to the Attendance Office.

Remember to take advantage of the various co-curricular, fine arts, and athletic opportunities that we offer at C.W. Baker High School. We want you to “bee” involved! Additionally, the high school leadership team will be offering opportunities monthly for your voice to be heard through open discussion forums to address student interests and issues. Furthermore, we will continue to promote the success of all students by assisting with their academic, testing, and preparation needs through the use of our Testing Accommodations Center and our successful Academic Help Lab. As you begin to prepare for success, please take advantage of all of our academic support services. One of the most effective ways for you to receive additional help is to attend daily after school help sessions from 2:25 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity by staying after school with your teacher(s) as often as possible. To assist you with transportation needs, the school district will continue to offer late bus runs every Monday through Friday. Busses will depart the high school at 3:15 p.m. Additionally, review sessions will be offered after school prior to taking scheduled Regents and final examinations.

During the school day, extra help is also available for Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, and Languages other than English (LOTE) classes through our Academic Help Lab. The staff members who are assigned to work in the Academic Lab are supportive and interested in the success of all of the Baker High School students who take advantage of their assistance. Visit them often during your lunch period or a study hall.

Please feel free to contact the school guidance counselors, classroom teachers, administrators, school resource officer, health office personnel, as well as instructional support staff members. Each one of them can assist you with answering questions or concerns that you may have throughout the school year. Additionally, the most up-to-date information (parking, calendar, Code of Conduct, etc.) can be found on our district website at www.bville.org. Your success is important to us! Good luck and work hard to make the 2010-2011 school year successful for you.

We look forward to seeing and working with you on the first day of school (Wednesday, September 8, 2010). Go Bees!

Sincerely,