batavia

The large corner desk was covered with at least 10 stacks of paper. But Pamela Buresch doesn't panic at the sight or the cluttered book shelves or the memo board tacked over with stuff.

As administrator of student assessment and data analysis for the Batavia City School District, she's responsible for oodles of projects linked to these paper trails. And she says she knows what's in each pile.

"I love my job," she said with a warm smile and a calm, focused attitude.

These days, the lifelong educator is busy coordinating district and state assessment programs for pre-K through 12th grade. The work involves analyzing test scores, student results, state reporting and testing protocols. She also looks at data to determine where students did well or need further instruction.

State assessments are conducted each year in grades 3 to 12 to measure how well students are learning. There was testing in January and there will be more this month as well as in June and August.

When it comes to testing, Buresch analyzes each question. If students do poorly on a test she looks at all angles. How was the question worded? How much of this was covered in class? The answers help educators improve the tests.

Superintendent Margaret Puzio said student achievement data plays an increasingly important role in educational reform.

“Our new Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is known for using academic performance data to innovate," said the superintendent. "He closed down poor-performing schools in Chicago based on data and reopened them with new staff. For example, a doctor consults blood test results before treating a patient. In education, we need to know what students already know before we try to teach them.”

Buresch agreed.

“For us, it’s all about the learning,” Buresch said. “It’s all about using the data to help the students improve.”

New York now has so-called Value-added Growth Reporting. It asks administrators to examine each student individually instead of grouping them by grade or class.

When assessing a child's progress over time, they can compare, say, his or her progress in fourth grade to what it was in third.

The school report cards are published twice a year and are now available online. They are one tool in gauging abilities and achievement gaps when considering ethnicity, economic status, English proficiency and disabilities.

Over the years, each of Batavia’s schools have been named among the high-achieving, gap-closing schools.

Getting out and visiting these classrooms is something Buresch does eagerly. She says it reminds of her of the days when she was the principal of Batavia High School.

“I miss it,” she said about the daily interaction with students. “(But) it’s nice to still have an impact (as an administrator). ... I really love it, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."

Today's Deal of the Day: A $50 gift certificate from Larry's Steakhouse in Batavia. The Batavian's Good Deal Price: $25 -- HALF off!

Larry's, located at 60 Main St. in Batavia, is one of the newer and finer dining establishments in Batavia. The menu offers many great items, but of course the speciality is steak.  Larry's also features a full bar.

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value.  It cannot be used, by state law, to purchase alcohol.

How to Win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Ideally, the winner will arrange to stop by my office on Main Street before 5:00 p.m. to pick up gift certificate. Mail is an option, but it would be better to hand you the gift certificate. 

If you want to be notified via e-mail of future Deals of the Day, sign up for the Deals of the Day e-mail list by clicking here.

Merchants: If you would like your business featured in Deal of the Day, call Howard Owens at 260-6970.

SOLD

Roy A. Watson, Jr., 20, of Batavia, was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana with the assistance of K-9 "Fin" during a traffic stop yesterday at 4:30 p.m. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana.

Michelle D. Clark, 20, of Brockport, and Celina D. Bryan, 19, of Batavia, are accused of hosting an underage drinking party for approximately 50 people Thursday night.  The party was reportedly held at 5157 Clinton Street Road. Sheriff's deputies responded to the address at 11:30 p.m. in response to a loud noise complaint. Both women are charged with one count of unlawfully dealing with a child.

I find this exciting: In a special arrangement with Roxy's Music Store, 228 W. Main St., Batavia, we can offer exclusively to readers of The Batavian a Raptor Stage Backstage II Guitar Kit, from Peavey, at a substantial cost savings.

The recommended retail price is $450. We're offering it exclusively on The Batavian for $295.

I played this guitar a little bit in Roxy's the other day and I'm impressed. I wish guitars of this quality were available at this price when I was first learning to play. I might have practiced more. It's well balanced, stays in tune, is easy to finger and plays and looks pro.  This is a heck of a deal for a beginner or intermediate player, or even an experience player who is looking for an axe to just keep handy around the house.

The kit includes the guitar and travel amp as well as a guitar strap, digital tuner, strings, picks and the new Peavey/Rock House Method Total Musician Series DVD for helping the beginning player get started on the road to R-O-C-K in the U-S-A.

The guiar is solid body and features a dual single-coil plus one humbucker pickup configuration with five-way pickup selector and master volume and tone controls.

The Backstage amp features technology that emulates the tone, response and dynamics of tube amplifiers. The amp includes high and low EQ controls, a 6 1/2" speaker, switchable TransTube overdrive, a tape/CD input for jamming with a player's favorite songs and a headphone input quiet practice.

There is only one item available at this price and it is exclusive through The Batavian. The winning purchaser will need to arrange to stop by The Batavian office to pick up a purchase voucher. The kit must be picked up in the store. No delivery is available.  This item will be available until it sells and only one kit at this price is available.

To purchase this online exclusive from The Batavian and Roxy's Music Store, click the PayPal button below (this is the only way you can make this purchase -- this price is NOT available in the store).

The Batavian will have more online exclusive deals coming in the next week or two. If you would like to be notified when they're posted, sign up for our Deal of the Day e-mail list.

If you're a local business owner and would like to offer The Batavian readers great deals either as part of The Deal of the Day or as an Online Exclusive, call me at 585-260-6970.

Happy Thursday from Care-A-Van! There truly has been a lot of “fire” on the bus lately!

We just got back from a four day road trip to Elizabeth, New Jersey and New York City.

Our trip to partner with NY City Relief Bus, the Hope Center and Street Light Mission truly was a blessed time! I could write all night! I will be sharing our stories with you throughout the next few weeks! I bet I could write a best seller of what God has done in his kingdom this past week.  We all came back burning with more passion to go forth and serve the lost and hurting here in Batavia.

On the way home coming down 86, Paul said he smelled something hot. I truly thought it was the souls burning up with how God put us on fire. But in all reality, there was smoke coming from the converter. Well of course, this PR director panicked and wanted off immediately! Thank goodness we had our mechanic PJ on the bus; he checked it all out, while I and some of the team members stood in the field and prayed that God would take care of it. Sure enough the smoke stopped and all was good to go! That darn devil, he thought he was going to win, but praises to God all was taken care of and we were able to roll on into Batavia.

We headed to the streets tonight in our hometown. The bus was filled with activity. God gave groceries to 10 families, fed homemade chicken casserole to many kids and parents, did some home visits to families in need and just blessed the whole neighborhood.

Thank you for your prayers for our safety and our protection while we were gone.

All of your prayers not only blessed us but thousands of souls in Elizabeth, New Jersey and New York City! Now how awesome is that! Stay tuned for more of God’s news from the streets of Batavia and the 700 plus mile road trip he took Care-A-Van ministries on!

Today's Deal of the Day: A $25 gift certificate from Batavia Downs Grandstand Bar & Grille in Batavia. The Batavian's Good Deal Price: $12.50 -- HALF off!

Enjoy a great meal in one of Genesee County's favorite entertainment venues.

Rules: The gift certificate must be used by within 30 days of purchase. It is not valid with other offers and has no cash value. By law, gift certificates cannot be used for purchase of alcohol.

How to win: Purchase using the PayPal "Buy Now" button below. After the first person to hit the "buy now" button completes the purchase, PayPal will let you know that the item has been sold. Ideally, the winner will arrange to stop by my office on Main Street before 5:00 p.m. to pick up the gift certificate. Mail is an option, but it would be better to hand you the gift certificate. 

If you want to be notified via e-mail of future Deals of the Day, sign up for the Deals of the Day e-mail list by clicking here.

Merchants: If you would like your business featured in Deal of the Day, call Howard Owens at 260-6970.

SOLD

Sabrina Shumway, 29, of Batavia, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Her arrest dates back to an April 17 traffic stop in which she was allegedly found to possess cocaine and marijuana. She was issued an appearance ticket.