Back-to-school edition of The Hive is available now
Dear Parents & Guardians,The first day of school is one of my favorite days of the school year. I love to see the smiles on the students’ faces as they enter their new classrooms and reunite with their old friends.
The first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year will be unlike any that we’ve ever experienced. It will be unprecedented – much like all of 2020.
For the last six months, I have watched as our staff, students and families have worked together to face every challenge we have encountered. From teaching remotely to honoring the Class of 2020. We have truly been B’ville Strong! I want to take this moment to thank you again. Thank you for staying strong with us.
Thank you for supporting your child’s education. Thank you for helping your neighbors. Thank you for following safety protocols. Thank you for being there for one another.
Many of us hoped that our community -- our country and the world -- would be back to “normal” by now. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic continues, which brings a long list of uncertainties for schools. Even as this back-to-school edition of The Hive goes to print, there’s uncertainties about returning to our buildings.
For that reason, we are hoping that you will regularly check in with us on our District’s website, www.bville.org, and on our social media pages. We are committed to keeping B’ville families informed and updated. We are also dedicated to keeping all of our stakeholders -- families, staff and community members -- involved in our decisions during this unique time.
Attached to this email is the August 2020 edition of The Hive, which contains lots of back-to-school information. The Hive will be mailed to all District residents later this month, but we wanted you to have this information as soon as possible.
Included in The Hive are forms and information that formerly were sent to families with our District calendar. The District calendar is delayed but will also be delivered soon.
Here are some highlights from The Hive:
Food Service:
The District offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $2.00 at the Elementary and Middle Schools and $2.50 at Baker High School & Durgee Jr. High. Lunch costs $2.90 for Elementary grades and $3.00 for 6th through 9th grades. Lunch for grades 10-12 will be $3.25. Your children may qualify for free or for reduced price meals. Beginning July 1, 2019, students in New York State that are approved for reduced price meals will receive breakfast and lunch meals at no charge. Parents and guardians must fill out the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application, which can be found HERE. THIS APPLICATION MUST BE MADE EVERY YEAR.
Transportation:
The District establishes bus routes for the new school year over the summer months. Due to safety issues, no changes to daycare stops or bus stops for the newly established routes will be considered from Wednesday, August 26 to Friday, September 18. During this time period, the Transportation Department will accept late requests but will not make any changes in routes until Monday, September 21. You must submit a request form for daycare/sitter transportation EVERY YEAR, even if your daycare/sitter is the same as the previous year. You can download a Request for Transportation form HERE. Please submit it by 5 p.m. August 25, 2020 so that your child has transportation on the first day of school. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Transportation at (315) 638-6097.
No Image Request:
The District often features images of students, usually identified by name, school and grade, in district publications (including, but not limited to the calendar, website, newsletters, posters, and on the District’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages). We also share images of students with the local media (including, but not limited to newspapers and television stations and their websites and social media sites). If you DO NOT WANT your child’s image to be taken and used by the District or local media during the current school year, please fill out this opt?out form and return to Public Information Specialist Sarah Buckshot, Baldwinsville CSD, 29 East Oneida Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. This is for all students, including remote-only students. THIS REQUEST MUST BE MADE EVERY YEAR. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Buckshot at 315-638-6180 or sbuckshot@bville.org. Download form HERE. If you DO NOT RETURN this form, the district will assume that YOU GIVE PERMISSION for your child(ren) to be photographed as well as identified by name, school and grade in district publications for the current school year, as well as shared with the media.
The first day of school may be different this year, but it doesn’t have to be less special or less happy. Let us all embrace our Bee Pride and stay B’ville Strong! Can’t wait to see you soon -- even if it’s through a computer screen.
Sincerely,
Matthew J. McDonald
Superintendent of Schools
