Superintendent DeBarbieri's announcements for January 19, 2024
January 19, 2024Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff,
Classmates and friends of Ava Wood are wearing pink and purple and the number 19 today to honor her memory as the anniversary of her passing nears. Our Boys Varsity Basketball team will be wearing their black jerseys this evening and they are encouraging spectators to wear Ava’s favorite colors in her honor. Our students have paid tribute to Ava in numerous ways over the past year and continue to keep her memory alive.
We recently received a statement from Ava’s family, which we would like to share with you:
Thank you for the continued outpouring of love for Ava. Over the last several months, it has been an incredible experience to witness the impact that Ava’s life has had on people here in Central New York and around the world. The memories you’ve shared on social media have made us smile and reminded us of how incredible Ava truly was. We want to encourage you to continue honoring Ava’s life in your words and actions. Smile - even when it’s difficult. Laugh - loud and often! Be kind and inclusive - everyone is going through something, and your kindness might change the course of their life for the better. Soak up every moment and remember that the most important gifts in life are family and friends.
Our counseling teams are prepared to provide students with the appropriate support this week and next, and far into the future. Please look for communications from the Durgee and Baker principals with resources for families. Our Wellness Committee has also posted information in its newsletter regarding grief. The newsletter is posted on our website. Please continue to reach out to your child’s school if they need support at any time. We are here to help.
I have a few other announcements to share with you today:
Calendar Reminders:
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The Marking Period ends on Friday, January 26th.
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The next Community Café will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31st at C.W. Baker High School in the cafeteria. The topic discussed will be "Funding Improvements & Building the Future."
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Report cards will be available in the Parent Portal on Friday, February 2nd.
Lego League Competition:
Students from all five of our elementary schools and sixth graders at Ray Middle School will participate in the FIRST Lego League competition, a robotics challenge, on Saturday at McEvoy BOCES in Cortland.
Our teams of student engineers have designed, built and coded Lego robots to compete against students from several local elementary and middle schools. FIRST Lego League is an international, inquiry-based program that teaches students, ages 9-14, about science, technology and collaboration. The local challenge is in its third year and is organized by OCM BOCES.
Good luck to our student engineers! We are excited for you and proud of your hard work!
Good luck to all Bees in competitions this weekend and to our Pep Band as they perform during the Le Moyne College’s women’s basketball game tonight and the men’s basketball game on Sunday. Go Bees!
Please continue to check ParentSquare, your email and our website, for important updates. As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph M. DeBarbieri
Superintendent of Schools
