A full slate of both girls and boys basketball is scheduled for February 8 and we hope to see you there. Batavia High School will take on the Notre Dame Irish for a full day of both JV and Varsity girls and boys basketball. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
Game times are to be determined and will be played at both Batavia High School and Genesee Community College.
Admission will be Adults $5 & Students $2, Children 5 & under -free!
There will be a 50/50 raffle at each game.
The Foundation will be running concessions and are looking for donations of soda, water, pizza, candy and chips! Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted. All donations assist our fundraising efforts!
The Foundation will also be looking for volunteers during the games to assist with raffles and concessions. Students will be awarded community service hours if volunteering.
Please call Laurie for any donations, volunteering, or questions at 585-409-3275.
The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation was established in 2007 in memory of Michael Napoleone who died at the age of 8 of Burkitts Lymphoma, a form of pediatric cancer. Since its start, the Foundation has given over $750,000 to families facing the challenges of a pediatric cancer diagnosis. They have donated over $75,000 to Youth programs from their grant funding, and supported research in the amount of $95,000. They also donated $50,000 to Golisano Children's Hospital and recently just completed their $25,000 gift to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
The Foundation depends solely on volunteers and less than 3% of monies raised are applied to administrative costs.
Come out and watch your hometown teams and support a great cause!
To the many people who knew former Batavia High School teacher and principal Glenn Young — from family and friends to students and colleagues — he served as an inspiration. He made a difference as a favorite teacher and fair administrator.
“This man was an amazing person to work with and for. I have nothing but respect for him,” Burton Howell said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and I remember so fondly him telling everyone about his nephew that might get drafted from Arizona and how cool that story ended up.”
As a former Batavia resident and BHS graduate, Young grew up on a dairy farm outside of Potsdam before that and joined the Army after he graduated high school. He served in Germany during the Korean War and worked his way through college at Potsdam University as a police officer for the city of Potsdam.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1964, he took a position at BHS as a history teacher. In 1985, he became principal of the school until he retired 10 years later.
Glenn Young died Dec. 27 in Tucson, Ariz., where he lived during retirement. He was 91.
There were certain things about Young that Howell isn’t likely to forget, he said, such as the sound of Young’s cowboy boots coming down the hallway: they announced his arrival before he ever showed up. He also talked about how excited he was about his nephew John Fina, a tackle at the University of Arizona when the boy was being considered for the NFL draft.
“It was awesome when he got drafted by the Bills, and even better when he had a remarkable career here,” Howell said. “My fondest memory as a teacher with Glenn as my principal was at a parent meeting where the parent began attacking me. Glenn literally stood up between me and the parent and told them they would never speak to one of his teachers that way, and dismissed me. As I walked away, I heard him tear into the parent about how his teachers wouldn’t be treated that way.”
He had nothing but good words for this former administrator, Howell said. Former Board of Education President Patrick Burk shared a similar sentiment in that Young "was always kind, inclusive and welcoming.”
“I was honored to work with him as a member of the Board of Education,” Burk said on a social media post.
Batavia school teacher John Kirkwood also posted, adding, “You were a difference maker for the Batavia City School District, and you will be remembered fondly by those who had the pleasure to work with you.”
Former student Cheryl Kowalik told The Batavian that Young “cared about the students and staff he worked with.” He was an excellent teacher and principal, she said, and was an educator who made learning fun.
Another former student, current school Superintendent Jason Smith, credits Young as a bridge for Smith’s longtime friendship with a foreign exchange student from the 1980s.
“My best memory of Mr. Young was when he met with me in his office in early December of my junior year in 1988 to discuss a foreign exchange student at BHS, who was also a friend of mine. He was having difficulty at his present home placement, and Mr. Young was looking for ideas, somehow knowing we were friends,” Smith said. “The following week Hiro Yamabe moved in with my family and I on Elm Street for the rest of the school year.
“That conversation initiated by Mr. Young about Hiro resulted in a wonderful 37-year friendship,” Smith said. “Hiro, my family and I are so grateful to Mr. Young for showing such kindness and caring, as Hiro would have likely returned to Japan, and instead, it led to a wonderful and special friendship.”
There were a number of things that came to mind for Ginny Tiede when she thought of Glenn Young, though her clearest memory was of him patrolling the halls of BHS, walking “very softly in his cowboy boots.” He also had quite a green thumb, planting clumps of white birch in the courtyard and converting his home porch into a year-round automatic vegetable watering system.
“We visited him and Rosemary at their home in the foothills near Sabino Canyon in Tucson several decades ago,” Tiede said. “There was a hummingbird nest in the frame of their basketball hoop. Glenn liked to go hiking.”
Apparently, Batavia High School had carved out a spot in his heart just as he had impacted that community. He shared many memories with his grandson on return visits to Batavia after his retirement, Dawson Young said.
“My grandfather lived an amazing and accomplished life,” Dawson said in an online post. “My grandfather loved Batavia High School. In his time there, he told me how he had helped build the courtyard adjacent to the cafeterias; that courtyard was named ‘The Glenn’ in honor of him. My grandfather talked very fondly of several teachers he had hired and worked with. My grandfather was close with many teachers and former students at the school.
“He would tell me his experience every time he returned to Batavia; he would walk down some of the streets and be recognized and admired. He was a remarkable person and I am so extremely proud to have had him as my grandpa,” Dawson said. “I love you, Grandpa, so very much. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and for being an inspiration to me.”
Glenn Young is survived by a brother, Dale Young of Spring Valley, Ariz.; a sister, Carol Sullivan of California; a son Douglas Young of Clinton, Ill.; and daughter Vicki Hoover of Springfield, Ill.; a son, Mike Young of Longmont, Colo.; and a son, Jeffrey Young of Tucson, Ariz.
Keegan Fisher and his dad, David, a U.S. Army veteran, of Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
Batavia High School’s combined chorus usually sings a few patriotic songs for the school’s annual tribute to veterans, and ninth-grader Keegan Fisher was there for his dad’s first visit to the ceremony.
Although he has no aspirations to follow his father’s path to serve in the U.S. Army, Keegan respects how it has shaped him.
“I think it’s pretty cool. He doesn’t take any (nonsense) from anyone,” the high school freshman said Thursday after the hour-long ceremony. “He doesn’t like when people don’t treat others right.”
His dad, David Fisher, is a 1987 BHS grad who has been too busy to attend any of the school's previous veteran ceremonies. He was glad to have had the opportunity to make this one on his birthday, he said.
“I attend all the veterans events that I can. I'm with the Patriot Guard riders. We escort people to their final resting place, and that usually winds up taking quite a bit of my time … going to the National Cemetery, local cemeteries, wherever the vet decides to be buried at, that's where we go,” Fisher said. “Not only being a veteran, but being a combat vet, we really don't get a whole lot of thank-yous. So when we do, when we get something like this, it means a lot.”
Hesigned up for the Army because he “didn’t really anything to do after high school,” and ended up soaking up an eight-year experience to the fullest, he said.
“I wanted to travel, so I kind of figured, what better way to travel then joint he service; they sent you everywhere. It actually turned out to be probably the best decision I’ve ever made,” he said. “I grew up a lot. I learned different cultures from around the world. I also learned the worst that people can do to each other as well. It was just a good experience all the way around. I enjoyed every minute, or almost every minute, of it. I did six months in Panama and two years in the Gulf War.”
High School Principal Jenny Wesp welcomed all of the visiting veterans and noted the high school’s own vets, Greg Ciszak, Chris Weicher and Chris Gorton, plus Board of Education member Chezeray Rolle.
The chorus sang the “Batavia Alma Mater,” the “National Anthem,” and “Flanders Field,” based on a poem by John McCrae dating back to World War I. The poem's setting is Flanders, a former county in what is now Belgium with a strategically favorable location on the North Sea — great for trade and commerce while also an invitation for many battles, Wesp said.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Sharon Chaplain, U.S. Air Force veteran Photo by Joanne Beck
The BHS wind and string ensembles performed patriotic numbers tucked around keynote speaker and Air Force veteran Sharon Chaplain, who attended Jackson Elementary and Batavia Middle schools from 1979 to 1983 before moving out of the area.
Now a resident of Brockport, she shared her humble beginnings at Jackson.
“To say I was quiet and shy is really an understatement,” she said. “I didn’t speak in school. In fact, one of my high school teachers used to read my lips because I wouldn’t speak up. I’d get so nervous that I would throw up. In fact, I threw up in the Jackson school library when I started school there.”
She asked the audience of mostly high school students, “How many of you have ever been told you can’t do something?” and promised to return to that question at the end of her talk.
Despite her immense timidness, Chaplain wanted to attend college, but she realized two things: college is expensive when paying for it yourself, and that it could be the means to an end of being stuck with her mother. Yes, she loves her mother, but “she was a little bit controlling and I knew that if I didn’t do something drastic, I would be stuck with her for the rest of my life,” Chaplain said.
So, she decided to take a test to join military service. Her first choice was the Navy, which had already met its quota, so she entered the Air Force. She passed that initial test and received notice that she was to begin that November.
“And everybody said ‘you’re not even going to make it through basic training. And to be honest with you, I didn’t think I was going to do it. I wasn’t athletic, didn’t go out for sports,” she said. “But I knew that I had to do something. So I got on the plane … and if you’ve ever seen anything about basic training in the military, it’s pretty much, and I can verify this, it’s pretty much you’re getting screamed at, you’re cleaning and you’re exercising the whole time. And after a couple days, I thought I made the worst mistake in my life.”
It took some more time for her to have a bit of a paradigm shift: this existence, minus perhaps all of the exercising, wasn’t much different than living with her mother, she said. And she observed that when recruits cried or complained, “the instructors were screaming at them all the more.”
She pushed through and graduated basic training, moving on to technical school, where she learned her job and first assignment. Chaplain ended up being sent to South Korea, a place she hadn’t envisioned when dreaming about where in the world she might get sent to. Her stint was during Desert Storm, and it took more perseverance to be stationed in hostile territory, she said.
During some letter exchanges with folks back home, her enthusiasm for mail waned until she received a package from a 9-year-old girl who sent her puzzle books and games and began to ask her questions. They communicated until Chaplain wrote what would be the final letter. She suggested that this little girl respect the flag and the “Star-Spangled Banner” and those who wear the uniform and what that represents for the United States.
She didn’t hear back from that girl for several years, and wondered if she had offended her. It wasn’t until 25 years later that they met each other, and discovered how each had comforted the other during difficult personal times through those letters and their words.
“So to bring it back to where I started, if anybody tells you you can’t do something, you can’t make a difference, remember this story. A 9-year-old girl made a difference in my life,” she said. “You know, all you have to do to make a difference is take one small step outside of your comfort zone because that's what she did, and that's what I did in joining the service, and that's all it is.”
Veterans who attended Thursday's veterans ceremony at Batavia High School includedfront row left, Lurando Mata, U.S. Army and Air Force Reserves; Donald Weyer, U.S. Army; Tom Cecere, U.S. Navy; Rocco Pellegrino, U. S. Navy; back row left, David Reiss, U.S. Navy; Vincent Pontillo, U. S. Marine Corps; Jose Ortiz, U.S. Army; Chris Weicher, U.S. Marine Corps; Vic Digregorio, U.S. Navy; and David Panek, U.S. Navy. Photo by Joanne Beck
Willow loses a little weight from a trimming Wednesday at Batavia High School on State Street. Photo by Joanne Beck
Batavia High School’s old faithful willow tree, a longtime staple in the front lawn on State Street, got a trim Wednesday as part of a much-needed and proactive maintenance recommended by arborist company Wyatt Van Buren Tree Service of East Bethany.
Van Buren Tree Service had advised the city school district that the tree had several dead branches, adding too much weight to the trunks, and required some proactive trimming to avoid the risk of future storms irreparably damaging the tree, school officials said.
The Batavian asked why the district opted to use an arborist. Superintendent Jason Smith said that although the district has a buildings and grounds crew, Van Buren was chosen because of his expertise in dealing with trees of this type.
"We selected Wyatt Van Buren Tree Service, based in East Bethany, NY, for this project because they specialize in preservation work for mature trees like this one,” Smith said. “While our buildings and grounds team handles regular maintenance, this project required specialized equipment and expertise that we don't have in-house. The work needed to be handled delicately to protect the iconic tree's health and longevity.”
Did this action have to be approved by the Board of Education, and how much did these services cost?
“The Board of Education was kept informed throughout the process and was supportive, though formal approval wasn't required, as we followed standard purchasing procedures,” Smith said. “The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many alumni and families expressing appreciation for our efforts to preserve this iconic tree that means so much to our school community.”
Smith wanted to be clear that the tree trimming company has a certified arborist on staff who assisted with the process to “make sure all the right steps are taken for the correct preservation of the willow tree.”
“The purchase order was not to exceed $4,000, but we expect it to be less as it took less time than anticipated,” he said.
The goal was to proactively maintain the tree and preserve it “for generations of BHS students and staff to come,” officials said. Work was to only last a few days; however, it went much more quickly and was completed by Wednesday afternoon.
Starting the week of October 28, the Batavia City School District, in partnership with a certified arborist, will begin needed work on the beloved and historic willow tree on the front lawn of Batavia High School (260 State St. Batavia).
According to the arborist, while the tree appears healthy, several dead branches are adding too much weight to the trunks. Without this work, we run the risk of a strong storm irreparably damaging the tree.
Our goal is to proactively maintain the tree and preserve it for generations of Batavia High School students and staff to come.
Work on the tree should only last a few days and will not impact school arrivals or dismissals.
Musicians of Note, an event honoring past Batavia High School graduates who have made an impact in music, will host its 5th annual ceremony on Thursday, October 24, at 7 p.m., at the Frank E. Owen Auditorium at Batavia High School.
Rose Caccamise
Honorees will be recognized with a video presentation and performance ensembles to celebrate their achievements. A plaque featuring their accomplishments will be displayed on the new Musicians of Note wall at Batavia High School.
This year’s recipients of the Musician of Note Award include:
Rose Caccamise (posthumous, Class of 1958)
Owner of Roxy’s Music Store and supporter of local musicians
First BHS alumnus to be inducted into both Athletic and Music Hall of Fames
Daniel DeLuca
Daniel DeLuca (Class of 1985)
B.A. Music, M. Ed. Elementary and Music Education
Music Teacher
Band Member/Leader
Neil Hartwick
Neil Hartwick (posthumous, Music Educator 1966-1982)
Batavia CSD and Brockport CSD Music Educator
NYSSMA Adjudicator
Organizer of the Batavia High Jazz Ensemble and Batavia Pageant of Bands
Deborah Russell Silverstein (Class of 1977)
Deborah Russell Silverstein
Passionate Music Educator
Flutist
Church Musician
The ceremony is open to the public and free to attend.
The Batavia City School District proudly announces that Batavia High School has been named a School of Excellence for the 2023-2024 academic year by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). c
This prestigious recognition, awarded to schools where at least 75% of varsity teams qualify for and receive the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete team award, highlights the exceptional academic and athletic achievements of Batavia's student-athletes across 25 varsity teams.
Superintendent Jason Smith expressed pride in the accomplishment, "This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, who excel not just in their sports but in the classroom as well. It reflects our district's commitment to fostering well-rounded individuals who prioritize both academic and athletic excellence. Moreover, this achievement shines a positive light on our entire Batavia community, showcasing the caliber of students we nurture and the supportive environment we've cultivated together."
Joel Reed, the newly appointed Director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics for Batavia City School District, shared his excitement about joining a district with such high standard, "I'm thrilled to be joining a school community where the students and coaching staff have set such a high bar for excellence. This achievement is impressive, and I look forward to working with everyone to continue this tradition of success both in academics and athletics. As we move forward, our goal is to not only maintain this standard but to inspire even more of our student-athletes to strive for this level of academic achievement. We encourage all our students to embrace the scholar-athlete mindset and reach for excellence in everything they do."
According to NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas, "The efforts made by student-athletes in the classroom are paramount to their success in the athletic arena and beyond their high school days." He added, "We are proud of those who put in the work as 'student' and 'athlete,' as well as the growth in both of School of Excellence and Distinction recognition."
NYSPHSAA reports that the number of schools earning the School of Excellence Award has increased from 219 in the 2022-2023 school year to 226 in 2023-2024, indicating a growing commitment to academic excellence among student-athletes across the state.
Batavia High School will receive a commemorative award at the local athletic director workshop this fall, recognizing this significant achievement.
BND United Hockey is excited to announce its Pickleball Tournament, scheduled for Sunday, August 18. The event will take place at Batavia High School, located at 260 State St., Batavia on the tennis courts.
The tournament will feature two sessions:
AM Flight: 9 a.m. - Noon
PM Flight: 1 - 4 p.m. (if needed)
This fun, non-sanctioned event is designed to bring pickleball enthusiasts together while supporting the BND United Hockey program. The cost to participate is $20 per person or $40 per team, with a doubles format.
Participants will enjoy a hot dog, water, outdoor games (cornhole, can jam, ping pong), and music. For those who need a doubles partner, arrangements will be made.
To register, please contact John Kirkwood at jkusa1989@gmail.com. Indicate your preferred session or your availability for either. Registration fees can be paid via check made out to BND United Hockey, Venmo @John-Kirkwood-13, or cash on the day of the event.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams in each flight, and the tournament will help raise funds for the upcoming hockey season.
For more information, please contact John Kirkwood at the email address above.
The Batavia City School District is proud to acknowledge the Batavia High School students who received awards and recognition at our recent 2023-2024 BHS Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 13, at the Frank E. Owen Auditorium at Batavia High School.
"I am incredibly proud to congratulate our BHS students on their outstanding achievements this year," said BHS Principal Jennifer Wesp. “Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off, and it is an honor to see them recognized. To our seniors, the Class of 2024 - you have reached a significant milestone, and we hope these achievements serve as a catalyst for your future success. Congratulations again to all our students!"
101 students were honored at the event, with our seniors receiving a combined $83,725 in monetary awards and scholarships. Members of the junior and sophomore classes were also recognized with non-monetary awards.
The honorees included:
Elijah Abdella, Senior
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
US Air Force Math & Science Award
Zoey Arroyo, Senior
Kelly Deneka Memorial Scholarship
Alan Audelo, Senior
Adelaide R. Kenny Award
Andrew Beal, Senior
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Eleanor Treiber Arts Award
Glenn S. Loomis Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Emma Bigsby, Senior
American History Award
Dr. Edith Ryan-Catherine Long Memorial Award
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
GCC Advanced Studies: Semifinalist for the Outstanding Scholar Award for Excellence in World Language
John M. Secord Jr. Memorial Award
NYS Academic Excellence
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Walter Delbridge Memorial Award
Lilyana Burke, Senior
Class of 2020 Award
Community All Stars
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Philip Reake Memorial Award
Student Government Award
Ayden Carlson, Senior
Eleanor Treiber Arts Award
Julia Clark, Senior
Dominic F. Valle, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
GCC Advanced Studies: Outstanding Scholar Award for Excellence in Social Science
Rob O'Geen Memorial Art Award
Cassidy Crawford, Senior
Batavia Rotary Presidential Scholarship Finalist
Eleanor Treiber Arts Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award
Matthew Doeringer, Senior
AP Science Award
Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club Scholarship
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Frank Innes Memorial Award
Kenneth Hay Memorial Scholarship
NYS Academic Excellence
Quincy Jones Musicianship Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Cassie Ernst, Senior
James R. Owen Memorial Scholarship
Prudence Favaloro, Senior
ATOP Scholarship
Kelly Deneka Memorial Scholarship
Ryan Fazio, Senior
Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club Scholarship
Batavia Lions Club Scholarship
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Glenn S. Loomis Scholarship
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Seamus Fisher, Senior
NYS Comptroller Achievement Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Carolynn Flint, Senior
Eleanor Treiber Arts Award
Mekhi Fortes, Senior
Frank Innes Memorial Award
Leilani Maria Frias, Senior
Community Diversity & Inclusion All-Star
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Triple "C" Award
Sophie Fryer, Senior
Batavia Music Boosters Winterguard Award
Abrianna Gabriel, Senior
Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club Scholarship
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
NYS Comptroller Achievement Award
Addison Glynn, Senior
Batavia Music Boosters Annual Award
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Owen Halpin, Senior
Michael R. Houseknect Memorial Scholarship
Lillian Horgan, Senior
Burk Family Scholarship for Trade Education
Aleeza Idrees, Senior
Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club Scholarship
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Genesee County Medical Association Award
Kiwanis Richard Rung Citizenship Award
NYS Academic Excellence
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Ayla Kelsey, Senior
Class of 1986, Michael A. Tenebruso Memorial Award
Kaelee Kelso, Senior
Batavia Music Boosters Annual Award
Alex Kingston, Senior
Knights of Pythias Achievement Award
Orion Lama, Senior
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Nicholas Martinucci, Senior
American History Award
Batavia Lions Club Scholarship
Batavia Rotary Presidential Scholarship Finalist
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
John M. Secord Jr. Memorial Award
Mary Delbridge Memorial Citizenship Award
NYS Academic Excellence
Semper Fidelis Marine Corp Music Award
Student Government Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Kirstin Mattice, Senior
Batavia Teacher's Association Scholarship
Roger Medley, Polish Falcons Scholarship
Freya Mellander, Senior
Batavia Winterguard Scholarship
John Philip Sousa Bank Award
Natalie Walker Owen Foreign Language Scholarship
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Eli Michalak, Senior
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
NYS Comptroller Achievement Award
Sophia Minuto, Senior
Batavia Lions Club Art Roth Award
Batavia Rotary Club Memorial Presidential Scholarship
Class of 1965 Freedom Award
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
GCC Advanced Studies: Semifinalist for the Outstanding Scholar Award for Excellence in English
Student Government Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Sophia Moore, Senior
NYS Comptroller Achievement Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Giana Mruczek, Senior
GCC Advanced Studies: Semifinalist for the Outstanding Scholar Award for Excellence in Social Science
Julie Grazioplene-Hahn Memorial Scholarship
Roger Medley, Polish Falcons Scholarship
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
US Navy Inspirational Leadership Award
Michael Nardone, Senior
Angelo J. Branciforte Scholarship Award
Brennen Pedersen, Senior
Ann Robertson Memorial Scholarship
Julia Preston, Senior
Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club Scholarship
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Genesee County Medical Association Award
Vietnam Veterans of America, Dana Fry Scholarship
Parris Price, Senior
Community Wellness All-Star
Frank Innes Memorial Award
Student Government Award
Cyaundra Quezada, Senior
Burk Family Scholarship for Arts
The Korzelius Scholarship
Liliana Showler, Senior
NYS Comptroller Achievement Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Donavin Solis, Senior
AP Chemistry Achievement Award
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
US Air Force Math & Science Award
Harrison Southall, Senior
Dean Richmond Award
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Ben Sputore, Senior
Frank Innes Memorial Award
Anna Stevens, Senior
GCC Advanced Studies: Semifinalist for the Outstanding Scholar Award for Excellence in Social Science
Tori Swinarski, Senior
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award
Anna Varland, Senior
Batavia Business & Professional Women's Club Scholarship
Batavia Rotary Presidential Scholarship Finalist
Burk Family Scholarship - Dorothy Alice Pratt Memorial Award
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Esther VanDetta Memorial Scholarship
Kay Dean Memorial Scholarship
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Lily Wagner, Senior
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Walter Delbridge Memorial Award
Isabella Walsh, Senior
Batavia Rotary Presidential Scholarship Finalist
Dr. Paul Stomper Science Pin
Robert Hunt Memorial Scholarship
Sports Medicine Award
Katelyn Witherow, Senior
Frank E. Owen Music Educator Award
Peyton Woeller, Senior
NYS Academic Excellence
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
Triple "C" Award
Quinn Woeller, Senior
Summa Cum Laude-Presidential Outstanding Academic Award
US Navy Outstanding Scholar Award
Ava Anderson, Junior
John M. Secord Jr. Memorial Medal in Mathematics (Silver)
Notre Dame Club of Rochester Junior of the Year Nominee
RIT Humanities & Social Sciences Award
Social Studies Achievement Award
Cameron Baiocco, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Makayla Balonek, Junior
Alfred University Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering Award
Madeline Bellamy, Junior
University of Rochester Bausch and Lomb Science Award
Abigail Bestine, Junior
Alfred University "Outside of Ordinary" Scholars Award
Aubrey Bisher, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Allison Bisnett, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Kylee Brennan, Junior
Elmira College Key Award
Lila Callan, Junior
RIT Women in STEM Award
Jeremiah Childs, Junior
RIT Business & Leadership Award
Allison Debo, Junior
RIT Art & Design Award
Maddison Dennis, Junior
Student Sage Award
Nicole Doeringer, Junior
RIT Science & Math Award
Lillian Emerson, Junior
University of Rochester Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award
Kahler Evans, Junior
AP Chemistry Achievement Award
Clarkson University HS Achievement Award
Will Fulton, Junior
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal Program
Grant Gahagan, Junior
Alfred State - Pioneer Leaders Award - 4 yr degree
Cameron Garofalo, Junior
AP Chemistry Achievement Award
LeMoyne College Heights Award
Sam Grillo, Junior
AP Chemistry Achievement Award
RIT Computing Award
Faith Guiste, Junior
Marist College Greystone Technology Award
Ava Higgins, Junior
Elmira College Key Award
Kelsey Kirkwood, Junior
University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award
Abbigayle Leone, Junior
Keuka College George H. Ball Community Achievement Award
Nathan Michael, Junior
Harvard Prize Book
Alexandra Morrill, Junior
University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology
Jameson Motyka, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Madeline Ohlson, Junior
Outstanding Artist of the Year Award
Mia Pellegrino, Junior
LeMoyne College Heights Award
Jake Phillips, Junior
St. Lawrence Book Award
Makenzie Rich, Junior
Lulu Westbrook Griffin/Frances Willard Award
Kayla Richenberg, Junior
Student Sage Award
Campbell Riley, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Isabelle Scott, Junior
Keuka College George H. Ball Community Achievement Award
Bridget Taggart, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Trevor Tryon, Junior
Clarkson University HS Leadership Award
Alyssa Turner, Junior
Alfred State - Pioneer Leaders Award - 2 yr degree
Madilyn Underhill, Junior
Keuka College George H. Ball Community Achievement Award
Payton Vickery, Junior
Chatham University's Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award
Matthew Wittmeyer, Junior
St. Bonaventure University Bonnie Scholarship Award
Allyson Wormley, Junior
Keuka College George H. Ball Community Achievement Award
Aaden Calletto, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Drew Stevens, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Dominic Southall, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Helaina Staley, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Ava Darling, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Gretchen Redder, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Landon Hamilton, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Ben Chen, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Anthony LeCointe-Naegely, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
Isaac Varland, Sophomore
Chemistry Achievement Award
The Batavia High School Class of 2024 graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m., at VanDetta Stadium.
The Batavia High School Class of 1984 is thrilled to announce their 40th reunion celebration! Mark your calendars for an evening filled with memories, laughter, and fun on Saturday, August 24 from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Mingle and Reconnect with Old Friends
Alumni and guests are invited to gather for an informal get-together at the Terry Hills Golf Course & Banquet Facility 5122 Clinton Street in Batavia. This relaxed atmosphere is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with classmates, reminisce about old times, and create new memories.
Delicious Food and Drinks
Throughout the evening, enjoy a generous spread of hearty hors d'oeuvres complemented by a cash bar. Your ticket price of $30 includes food and one drink (house draft beer, house wine, or house liquor).
RSVP and Stay Connected
We encourage everyone from the Class of 1984 to attend this special event! To RSVP go to BHS Class of ’84 Reunion on Facebook where you can venmo your payment, user name BHS Class of 84 Batavia. If you do not have a Venmo account, checks will be accepted payable to “BHS Class of 84 Batavia NY”. Please mail to: Kelly J. Bermingham, 8276 Park Road, Batavia.
To update your contact information, or ask any questions, please reach out to:
Coach Matt Shay providing shooting instruction during basketball camp in 2022. FIle photo by Howard Owens.
Press Release:
Basketball enthusiasts seeking to enhance their skills and elevate their game are invited to participate in the annual Three Season Basketball Training Camp. Led by renowned coaches, the camp offers comprehensive instruction aimed at honing fundamental skills and tactical understanding.
Value & Repetition Distinguished by its commitment to excellence, Three Season Basketball Training Camp provides campers with over 30 hours of intensive basketball instruction spread across a 5-week period. This extended duration allows for a focused approach to skill development, in contrast to the brief, condensed schedules typical of other camps, which often span only 3-4 consecutive days.
Dates and Cost The camp will run from July 8 through August 9, offering participants an extensive opportunity to refine their abilities under expert guidance. Enrollment is $350, with a discounted rate of $175 available for additional siblings. Teams seeking group discounts are encouraged to contact Coach Brasky directly.
Directed by Coach Buddy Brasky Under the tutelage of Coach Buddy Brasky, the Batavia basketball program has enjoyed a remarkable record of success over the past two decades. With 13 league titles, 6 sectional championships, and multiple appearances in the state semifinals, Coach Brasky's leadership has consistently propelled his teams to excellence. Recognized as Section V Coach of the Year on seven occasions, as well as earning numerous other coaching accolades, Coach Brasky's track record speaks volumes about his coaching prowess and commitment to player development.
Assistant Director: Coach Matt Shay Coach Brasky is assisted by Coach Matt Shay, whose tenure at Pembroke High School has seen significant achievements, including multiple division titles and sectional final appearances. Coach Shay's dedication to his craft has been acknowledged through multiple Coach of the Year awards, reflecting his impact on the basketball landscape within the region.
Notable Camp Alumni The Three Season Basketball Training Camp boasts an impressive roster of alumni who have gone on to achieve success both on and off the court. Among them are standout players like Tyson Totten, Cole Harding, Cayden Pfalzer, and Jeff Redband whose accomplishments serve as a testament to the camp's ability to nurture talent and foster growth.
Session Details The camp is divided into two sessions catering to different age groups and skill levels:
Session 1 (Starts July 8): Boys entering 10th-12th grade
Session 2 (Starts July 9): Boys entering 7th-9th grade
Sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 12:30 pm, with an additional session on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for Session 1 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Session 2.
Three Season Basketball Training Camp represents an unparalleled opportunity for aspiring basketball players to refine their skills, learn from accomplished coaches, and take their game to the next level. Join us this summer and embark on a journey of growth, excellence, and camaraderie on the court.
Reality Check advocates Sophia Biniaszewski, Trinnity Whatle and Judith Newton use a selfie frame to tell Big Tobacco what they think about their products and marketing. Submitted photo.
Press Release:
Last week, Abbi Leone and Judith Newton, both juniors at Batavia High School, as well as Attica High School ninth graders Sophia Biniaszewski and Trinnity Whatle, joined more than fifty youths and advocates from nine national organizations to protest Altria Group, Inc.’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
These advocates held a demonstration outside Altria’s Washington, D.C. office, while several youth activists had proxy tickets to directly address Altria’s executives and ask questions during the virtual shareholders’ meeting.
“I’m so proud of Abbi, Judith, Sophia, and Trinnity for fighting against the manipulative tactics the tobacco industry uses to target them,” said Brittany Bozzer, Youth Coordinator at Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming (TF-GOW). “Now that they have shared their voice in Washington, D.C., they plan to continue to address the challenges of tobacco use in their communities back home, as well as mobilize their peers to take action.”
This year marks the ninth consecutive year that Mobilize Against Tobacco Lies (MATL), a collaborative of youth programs and national partners, gathered to expose and fight back against the tobacco giant’s lies.
Reality Check youth from across New York State rallied with a coalition of tobacco control youth programs and national partners including Dover Youth to Youth of New Hampshire, Wisconsin FACT, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Traditional Tobacco Voices, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Corporate Accountability, Counter Tools, Center for Black Health and Equity and Truth Initiative.
Altria and its Philip Morris subsidiary sell the number one most popular cigarette brand among kids, Marlboro, and its John Middleton subsidiary sells one of the most popular cigar brands among kids, Black and Mild. Altria has a long history of targeting kids and other vulnerable groups with its products and invested in Juul at the height of the youth e-cigarette epidemic.
Altria claims to be “moving beyond smoking,” but the truth is that they make most of their revenue from cigarettes and fight real efforts to reduce smoking – such as bans on menthol cigarettes.
Despite Altria and the tobacco industry’s efforts, the United States has made great progress in reducing youth smoking. However, the latest government survey shows that 2.8 million U.S middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including 2.13 million who use e-cigarettes.
Reality Check is a teen-led, adult-run program that seeks to prevent and decrease tobacco use among young people throughout New York State.
For more information about Reality Check, visit realitycheckofny.org.
BHS Production Club presents "Footloose the Musical" this weekend, running at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Batavia High School, 260 State St., Batavia. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Amidst the stress of rehearsals, learning lines and choreography, and directing 34 people with varied levels of experience, there were welcomed moments of levity tucked into the tension for everyone taking part in “Footloose the Musical,” Director Caryn Wood says.
Take, for example, Batavia High School senior Ephraim Hanna, who is playing the character Willard Hewitt.
“Just in general, the student that plays Willard is hilarious. In personality, the student himself is very calm and quiet. And a little bit reserved and shy. And then when he goes on stage, he's absolutely hilarious,” Wood said during rehearsals Thursday at the high school. “And the kids aren’t used to doing southern or like country bumpkin-type accents. And so, one of the students who plays Reverend Shaw Moore (student actor Peyton Woeller) has to say the word creek and, of course, pronounces it crick. And a lot of the cast laughs. They think it’s hilarious because they're just not accustomed to that.”
BHS Production Club plans to present the fun and laughter — plus a whole lot of music and dancing — at the Frank E. Owen Auditorium stage at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at BHS, 260 State St., Batavia.
Based on the movie made in 1984, this musical “bursts onto the live stage with dynamic new songs” and celebrates the exhilaration of youth, wisdom of listening to one another and the power of forgiveness, according to its promotional description.
The story is about Ren McCormack, a city kid who loves dancing as a form of escaping the stresses of life, and he and his mom end up moving to Bomont, a small southern town where Rev. Shaw Moore just effectively banned the activity. Ren and Willard end up befriending one another as Ren also gradually builds relationships with others as they discover they may have more similarities than differences.
With the title of “Footloose,” it might go without saying that this show includes a lot of fancy footwork, from jazz and lyrical to country line dancing to tap influences. However, it really also means “a lot of choreography and a lot of intense, long dance rehearsals,” Wood said.
Dance instructor and choreographer Denise Leblanc-Chatt returned again for what has become a longtime relationship of providing her experience and expertise so that students can envelop those lessons and deliver them onto the stage.
“The kids have no dance experience. And this is a very physical thing for them that they are not accustomed to,” Wood said. “And they have done an excellent job rising to the challenge to bring a ton of energy to this dance-heavy show.”
They have been learning dance steps and practicing since the end of December for about two hours at a time for two to three days a week and for even longer as it grew closer to show time, she said.
LeBlanc-Chatt owns and is head instructor at The Dancing Place Dance Academy in Batavia and has studied the art for the past 50 years.
“She’s a phenomenal choreographer and dance teacher, and we are lucky to have her,” Wood said. “She does an excellent job of making non-dancers look impeccably energetic on stage.”
So, most definitely, learning the dance routines in and of itself was a major challenge, she said. But there are always other hurdles to consider, especially when you’ve got a mix of more versed actors and newcomers, which was true of many of the freshmen, sophomore and some junior novice actors, she said.
“I also think that any time you're working with students, especially students who don't have a lot of performance experience but want to be involved, you're really training them physically and emotionally, to deep dive into characters and what are their characters' motivations? Why are they doing this? What are they feeling? What is their physical appearance right now? Making fully well-rounded, fully fleshed-out characters can also be a challenge for a new performer,” she said. “Our cast is made up of kids that had been performing for several years and done a couple of shows a year, and kids where this is their very first show.”
Most of the characters are high school kids, along with some parents, school administrators, and a restaurant owner. Costumes are street clothes, but they had to be plentiful, with characters needing five or six different costumes throughout the show, Wood said.
If you’re at all familiar with the original movie, you will “definitely hear and see all of those people,” she said. And then some.
“There’s also a lot of additional music and dance numbers added to make it a full musical. I think that the musical version of Footloose stays really true to the original movie but also pulls in influences to make a broader range of shows where it doesn't have to be set in the 80s; it is applicable in its message at any time period. It will always work, and it's very transferable and very, very entertaining, very upbeat and positive and can be explosive with energy at various points,” she said. “Overall, I feel like the message is of healing and forgiveness, definitely forgiveness. I think that there's some characters who are struggling with forgiving themselves and other people for tragic events in their past. And that message of forgiveness and healing through music and dance and relationships is a powerful one. And I think the kids are doing a fantastic job relaying that message.”
Advance sale tickets are $10.50 online, $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults at the door.
Rocco Pellegrino, standing at left, takes part of a Veterans Day ceremony Thursday morning at Batavia High School. The event included the school's chorus, band and string ensemble, fellow veterans and guest speaker Stephen Hawley. Photo by Joanne Beck
Looking at the short row of veterans seated at the front of the Frank Owens auditorium Thursday morning, one might come to a conclusion that Air Force veteran Lurando Mata had already realized: the pool is decreasing.
Mata and the other servicemen attended the annual Veterans Day ceremony hosted by Batavia High School. With each passing year, especially for older veterans of World War II and others of decades ago, those who were in the military are no longer here to share their stories.
Mata has lost a couple of buddies to COVID, he said, and his circle of comrades is definitely “shrinking.”
Yet he continues to attend the high school event, which this year included a talk by state Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, patriotic songs performed by the chorus, band and string groups, and recognition of veterans in the audience.
For Mata, his reason was simple as to why he wanted to be there.
“I’m involved in the community,” the 71-year-old said. “I volunteer for Crossroads and Care-a-van, we do events for people.”
As a Native American veteran — his tribe is based in Monterey, California — Mata has experienced hate and judgment, and he just keeps pressing on. He grew up in Washington State and was drafted while in college.
He served in the U.S. Army and in the Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam War, working first on helicopters and then on tanks in corrosion control.
He was with about a half dozen others who were asked to stand when their signature song for the Armed Forces was played.
High School Principal Jenni Wesp welcomed and introduced each segment of the program, seeming awestruck with emotion at one point.
“Wow, it’s giving you all the feels,” she said.
Rocco Pellegrino, who attends every year at the request of his two granddaughters and grandson, stood up during the Navy anthem.
“I come every year,” he said, putting his hand to his heart. “It hits right there. It’s very emotional.It just brings you back, you know. When I was in the service, it takes me back to when my brother served in Vietnam, he was in the infantry, and it was very trying moments, you know. “
Pellegrino, who came to Batavia from Italy when he was 10, wasn’t certain whether today’s youth can fully appreciate what this day is all about.
Rocco Pellegrino of Batavia, a U.S. Navy veteran. Photo by Joanne Beck
“I don’t think the kids really understand what we went through,” he said. “A lot of us were drafted. Some of us volunteered. My brother came back from Vietnam, and he says, ‘Rocco, whatever you do, if you get drafted, join the Air Force or the Navy, and see if you could stay out of ‘Nam.”
He was drafted and joined the Navy. It was “the best thing I ever did,” he said, “like they say, it made a man out of you.”
He was based in San Diego and enrolled in dental technician school, where he had the threat of being sent to Vietnam hanging over his head if he flunked out. “They put the fear of God in you,” he said.
“So it was up to you to make it, and then I came here to the East Coast. I was aboard the ship the USS Puget Sound for a year and a half. That was a destroyer tender,” he said.
State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, talks to students, school district and community members and fellow veterans Thursday morning during a Veterans Day event at Batavia High School. Photo by Joanne Beck
It’s the stories of those like Pellegrino and Mata that are important, Hawley said. He encouraged audience members to thank family members who serve or have served and ask them about their experiences.
“I’m sure many of you have grown up with family members, parents, grandparents, moms, dads, aunts, and uncles who served as well. I'd encourage you, when you go home later today, to take some time, to first thank them for their service and talk to them. And most importantly, in everyday life, but on Veterans Day especially, when you're talking to a veteran, listen to them, listen to what they have to say. Because, hopefully, they're speaking from their heart and from their minds,” Hawley said. “And we need to remember why we're able to assemble here today, free to exchange ideas and free to speak freedom of speech. So please thank a veteran for their service. Not only can their stories inspire us, but veterans also carry an incredible ability to work hard and to contribute to their community right here in Genesee County and right here in Batavia.
“We have one of the largest populations of veterans in all of New York State. And we can see that hard-working, determined spirit out in our own backyards,” he said. “This is the thing that makes Veterans Day so special; it isn't just about remembering the past. It’s about recognizing the heroes that are around us today. And every day.”
Veteran Lurando Mata, right, stands to be recognized during the Navy anthem Thursday at Batavia High School. Photo by Joanne Beck
Jamie Masters, in black shorts at right, instructs the Batavia High Unified Bowling team during a practice session at Mancuso Bowling Center. At left is Assistant Coach John Kirkwood. Photos by Mike Pettinella.
More and more students in the Genesee Region are finding their athletic niche by participating in Unified Bowling, a component of the Special Olympics Unified Sports program.
About two dozen schools – including Batavia, Pavilion, Le Roy and Perry -- are participating in the Section V Unified Bowling League this season.
Matches get underway this coming week, with the Batavia team opening against Churchville-Chili at Spencerport Bowl and the Perry team taking on the combined Pavilion/Le Roy squad at Perry Bowling Center. Both of those matches are set for 4 p.m. Tuesday.
What makes Unified Bowling (and Unified Sports, in general) unique is that it combines students with intellectual disabilities and students without intellectual disabilities to produce interscholastic sports teams for practice sessions and competition.
“It’s all about creating a team atmosphere,” said Jamie Masters, the first-year head coach of the Batavia squad. “Whether they have disabilities or not, they're all working together as a team.”
She said that the matches consist of three games, with two games of doubles competition and the last game as a team competition. Local bowling centers scheduled to host matches over the next several weeks are Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Le Roy Legion Lanes and Perry Bowling Center.
Masters, a physical therapist for the Batavia City School District, said the program also aims to increase friendship both on the playing field – or lanes, in this case – and in school.
“A goal is to build camaraderie in the school, such as sitting with each other during lunch or having conversations during the school day. It’s goes beyond bowling,” she said.
The Unified Sports initiative fosters inclusive activity as a way to tear down stereotypes and build relationships, while providing students with and without intellectual disabilities the chance to take on leadership roles in their schools and the community. Specific campaigns tied to the program include Fans in the Stands, Pledge and Plunge and the R-word Campaign.
According to the Special Olympics, more than 8,300 schools across the United States take part in Unified Sports.
Batavia – Lena Boris, Andy Burton, Jennifer Ewert, Aleigha Frith, Kaelee Kelso, Max Kongmany, Esayas Reinhardt, Aiden Bellavia, Landon Hamilton, Jayla Odom, Price Parris, Rahmeto Reinhardt, Lylianalynn Santos-Baez, Benjamin Sputore and Marisha Tucholski. Coach: Jamie Masters. Assistant Coach: John Kirkwood. Volunteer assistant: Ryan Hamilton.
Pavilion/Le Roy – Carter Blaisdell, Alex Boldt, Case Cummins, Chris Doody, Corina Dunn, Jackson Fix, Merritt Holly, Hudson Klein, James Kingsbury, Jordin Kreutz, Adam Leitten, Dannielle Morehead, Alaina Powers, Morgan Powers, Arianna Pray, Reilly Powers, Landon Stoddard, Andrew Strollo, Mia Strollo, Joey Vernaccini, Makayla Washburn and Zoe Washburn. Coach: Michelle Milligan. Assistant Coach:PJ Puccio.
Perry – Hunter Clark, Todd Claud, Ashlee Davenport, Alexandra Faryna, Dominik Forrester, Nicolas Gutierrez, Hunter Henchen, Mason Herman, Olivia Herman, Kiara Hughes, Peyton Lyke-Scott, Koleden Osborne, James Shearman, Bryce Tallman, Landon Warner, Sawyer West, Victoria Wilson. Coach: Kris Goodell.
Batavia High senior Ben Sputore delivers the ball during the Unified Bowling practice session. Sputore recently rolled a 300 game in USBC-certified competition at Mancuso Bowling Center.
A Batavia High School senior turns over the soil at the Batavia Community Garden this week during Make a Difference Day activities. Photo submitted by Irene Hickey.
Batavia Community Garden committee members welcomed nine Batavia High School seniors Friday to help with various landscaping tasks as part of this year's 24th annual Make a Difference Day.
Tracy Grover of the high school College Career Center led the group of students for their community service project, garden helper and photographer Irene Hickey said.
Students were on hand to help garden members with end of the season work. A laundry list of tasks was led and coordinated by RaeAnn Engler, Garden Committee chairperson, at the garden on MacArthur Drive alongside the high school.
Those chores included turning over the soil in the beds, putting the art panels into storage for the winter, relocating the compost within the garden, caging apple trees cutting back milkweed and thorny black raspberries (ouch!), and general weeding.
This enthusiastic crew worked from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., breaking at noon for a quick lunch under the tent.
"The morning was cool and damp with on and off drizzle. Luckily the rain held off until the bulk of the work was done," Hickey said. "Many, Many thanks to our work crew from the High School. The garden community appreciates your willingness to lend a hand and your spirit of service. We couldn’t have done it without you!"
Jennifer Wesp, new Batavia HS principal. Photo by Joanne Beck.
Restoration seems to be a common thread in Jennifer Wesp’s life, from her work in education to upcycling estate furniture and even giving rescued dogs a new lease on life as the Batavia City Schools administrator has sewn all of those passions together in her personal and professional endeavors.
She’s been easing her way in as the new high school principal, touring the community, meeting people, observing and absorbing her new environment and learning the values of Batavia, she said. While at the same time, she wants to understand the school climate, survey staff, and especially get to know the kids, she said.
“To meet the kids, that was my favorite part. So I'm trying to be very present. I hope that I give that sense of I'm approachable, that I'm warm, that I'm open. I'm trying to be everywhere and responsive,” Wesp said during an interview with The Batavian. “So I feel that kids have been very graceful and kind to me, but it's important to know who they are. So I'm doing things like looking through old yearbooks, trying to make the connections between that beautiful face I see in the hallway and their name, right, because they're not always ready to tell me their name. And I just want them to feel important and connected. So that's a lot of my messaging and the things that I've been doing, you know, one-on-one with them as well as large spaces like class meetings and things like that.”
That may not seem so officially restorative in nature, but Wesp is about getting to know people, “where their baseline is, what they’re really strong at,” which in turn allows her to work with them on “shaping a culture of a building.” After all, what does restorative mean? To be curative, therapeutic, antidotal, healthful and recuperative.
“Because I know it’s a lot, but I think that the most important piece of my job is relationship building, actively listening to the values to be aligned, to make sure that the choices and decisions I’m making as the leader are the decisions that reflect what the community is expecting from the high school, and what the families and the students need from the high school,” she said.
Wesp has a strength in social-emotional learning, she said, which has been a key buzzphrase since COVID.
So what does it mean for her to put a focus on social and emotional elements for kids in school? “So I think everybody has most mental health needs that we need to attend to every person, right? And I don't know that sometimes our society actually helps us to prioritize that. And then I think after COVID, there were so many different feelings and experiences, and then life just kind of went back to normal, and the new normal doesn't feel the same. So in schools, I think what happened is kids just had a disruption. And there was also probably a lot of fear that was kind of just in their bodies, right? Even if they talked about it or didn't talk about it, because it was a very different experience.” She said. “So I think for schools, we talk about 21st Century skills all the time, which is really like what a kid needs when they leave us. And post-COVID, And not even just COVID, I am honestly just going to say the state of where we are, kids can't learn if their needs aren't being met. So what it looks like in schools now is helping our people who've been trained extensively in academics and trained extensively in those other pieces to also have the tools to meet the kids where they're at. So if they're coming in, and a lot of things are on their plate, they can't just sit down and perform academically.”
The education system has had to make room for some adjustments, she said, such as Mental Health Mondays once a month to take a pause and allow kids the opportunity to engage in some mental health support, social-emotional circles, and breaks from “that academic pressure and be able to build a culture that is connective in their space.”
“So I think it is a buzzword, but I think it's the smaller pieces that we intentionally build in that make the difference with our mental health,” she said.
Five or seven years ago, mental health issues seemed more obvious and visible, she said. Now it’s not always so visible.
“But if you check in with those kids and you have those systems where kids can still have a voice no matter who they are, if they’re the talker, that’s great, they’ll always give you their voice,” she said. “If they’re a quiet kid, what’s our mechanism in school to give them that ability to know that we care, we hear them?”
What do you think is the greatest need of this student population? “I would say emotional regulation … if they're having a moment where they're frustrated, they're struggling to get to that baseline again. So they kind of use the wrong words; they choose the wrong actions,” she said. “And it's really because their emotions are all over the place. And they haven't learned those skills and those strategies to manage them appropriately.”
How do you help them with that? “Nowadays, we have all of that stuff that comes in their brains from social-emotional, I mean, from social media, you know, the different things that go on in society now. So I think schools have more of a charge recently to kind of dig into that, how do we teach the kids to manage those situations, because they happen more often,” she said. “And they're coming to school less prepared. And, you know, I don't want to say it's because families don't do their job. I think families try to do an excellent job and meet kids where they can. But I also think a lot of our families are working double, right, they are single families, and maybe they have all of these other pieces on their plates. So in order to meet those needs for their own children, they're battling a bunch of stuff. So I think we have to work in partnership with them.
“And I think we're taking more time to come to the table with kids to make them teachable moments as opposed to, you're just in trouble.”
Aside from all of her academic prowess, Wesp enjoys a good dose of estate sale shopping and working on resin paintings and upcycling furniture at her home in Gates. She also cares for her three rescues: Ringo, a Greater Swiss Mountain dog, a new Pyrenees Newfoundland mix, and Roxxi and Calliope, a pit bull.
She visits her daughter Jade in Chicago a couple of times a year and otherwise sees her here in Western New York and hosts her dad Walter for occasional visits in Batavia, where he lived for some time while living with his grandmother and attending John Kennedy Elementary. Wesp’s son Jacob passed away.
“My son had mental health needs. So as a parent, I wanted to, you know, learn and grow,” she said. “And I wanted to understand, not only from the parent perspective, because I pursued things in that regard to learn my role as a parent, but I also wanted to understand the role of the professionals that he was going to bump into in his school systems, and things like that.”
Wesp pursued teaching, with 15 years working with special education and at-risk youth, and is now in her sixth year as an administrator.
Batavia High School has revised its in-school suspension to offer an alternative to suspension option, and “we’re working to make that a bigger program,” she said.
“So you know, if they were in a fight, we didn't just want them to know they couldn't fight, we wanted them to understand what happens in the real world, like when you're at the mall, and you're mad, and you punch somebody in the face, right? So we have learning around that. Also, those student reflection pieces. So we're in the admin team, in the process of trying to figure out ways to make that a much more robust, restorative program,” she said. “So you're still in an in-school suspension. So you're not really not suspended. What you are that's different is you have teachable, learning pieces that are expected in terms of you living through your consequences. So it's not just you're in trouble. It's that, hey, this wasn't a great choice that you made. But really, this is impacting you. And here's the reasons and the learning we want you to have, so you don't do this again.”
As a first-generation college student who experienced “a lot of bumps in the road” on her own life journey, Wesp has a deep appreciation for education and a love of learning “that was instilled in me from school,” she said.
“I was able to navigate and figure out as a young person that there were systems in place that could help to get me to college and to get me through college. So I think, in general, education has always been in my life for positives and negatives,” she said. “And it's the one-stop shop; everybody has to go to school, and everybody's got to be here for hours and hours and hours on end. So why not make it a place where kids get what they need.”
She hopes to see families during the next open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the high school.
The Batavia City School District is proud to announce that Batavia High School has earned high national and metro-area rankings on the 2023-2024 Best High Schools list from U.S. News and World Report.
Batavia High School earned a national ranking in the top 40% of U.S.-based public high schools out of nearly 18,000 schools. A top statistic included in the ranking was Batavia High School’s impressive 98% graduation rate, which is “well above state median.”
“We are elated and deeply honored once again to receive this recognition from U.S. News and World Report. Earning a place in the top 40% of high schools nationally is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence that our teachers, students, staff, and community collectively contribute to at Batavia High School. Keep up the great work!” Said Superintendent Jason Smith.
“I knew when I accepted the principal position at Batavia High School, I was stepping into a remarkable community, and this recognition from U.S. News and World Report is an excellent reminder,” said Principal Jenni Wesp.
“This achievement also highlights our unwavering focus on academic excellence and our drive to provide a nurturing yet challenging environment that prepares our students for the world beyond Batavia. This award is not a final destination but a milestone on our ongoing journey of educational innovation and continuous improvement.”
Batavia High School previously received this honor in 2022 and 2014.
According to U.S. News and World Report, “The 2023-2024 edition of Best High Schools includes a numerical ranking of nearly all public high schools nationwide. There are rankings within each state and within each census-designated metropolitan area that has three or more high schools, as well as the Best STEM Schools ranking and comprehensive Best Charter Schools and Best Magnet Schools rankings. Also published are rankings of high schools within each school district that has three or more high schools.”
Batavia High School Principal Jennifer Wesp greets students during the first day of school Wednesday. Photo by Howard Owens.
Jennifer Wesp had about a month to prepare for her first big day in welcoming students onto Batavia High School’s State Street campus Wednesday.
And prepared she was, anxiously waiting to greet them at 7:20 a.m.
“It was so exciting to see the students today. Manyteachers and support staff came in early in order to spend some connection time before the first bell. We even had a table set up by GSA where students and staff could choose to wear a name tag that states their preferred pronouns,” the newly hired principal said after a full day of meet-and-greets and ensuring all went well on this day of return after summer. “The air was filled with chatter and laughter. I was able to get into many classrooms throughout the day. Teachers had planned many activities that revolved around building community and getting to know each other. Overall, it was an amazing start to the year.”
While her predecessor, Paul Kesler, was over at John Kennedy Intermediate resuming his former role as principal, Wesp was doing what she enjoys after capping off August: celebrating the beginning of the new year and fresh starts, she said.
“As an administrator, you are always thinking about how you can create an environment that is welcoming and affirming for all. I think we are always thinking about short-term goals vs. long-term goals. They are both critically important for student success. This year, we have a theme with students: ‘Promoting the Independence Within,’” she said. “We will be digging into this at grade-level meetings and throughout the school year. We want to empower students to take ownership of their abilities and choices, and we understand that high school spans a large development range. It is our job to help students to become adults who are prepared for the 21st-Century world.”
Wesp was hired in July, and began August 1. She admits that it’s hard to talk about what she sees as the biggest change to the school’s environment: Paul Kesler’s absence. He is a beloved administrator who “ran an excellent program for many years at BHS,” she said, however, with his switch back to John Kennedy, “I feel that I have inherited a thriving building.”
“I would say the biggest change for BHS is the change in leadership and the need for staff and students to adapt,” she said. “I will say, though, even though it was only one day, they all really were welcoming and affirming to me. I would say we are off to a great start.”
Wesp has brought a fat portfolio of experience with her, having served as assistant principal at both Spencerport High School and Greece Odyssey Academy; and as a special education teacher in the Churchville-Chili and Greece Central School Districts.
She received both a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a Concentration in Elementary and Special Education and a Master of Science Degree in Inclusive Education from Nazareth College, and has a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Administration from the State University of New York College at Brockport.
Wesp also serves as an adjunct professor at Roberts Wesleyan College in the Pathways to Teaching Program, and, something Kesler can certainly appreciate, her father attended John Kennedy as a young boy.
Her future includes some settling in and learning more about “this fantastic community,” which of course should put some Blue Devils’ games on her fall calendar.
“In my short time, I have been extremely impressed with the dedication that the community has to its school and kids. There are so many incredible programs, partnerships, and opportunities for young people. One key goal is to build on our fertile foundation and get more students into the community through those opportunities. It sounds like we continue to build these opportunities, and I want to make sure that we keep a focus in this area to take full advantage,” she said. “Another area of focus is continuing to build upon our high-quality instructional practices in order to provide equal access to all of our learners. We know that social-emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching are paramount to students being able to access academic goals. Batavia High is an incredible school with a strong foundation, so we will just continue to build on that so we stay relevant and on the cutting edge of meeting students' needs.
As we look ahead to the new school year, I am eagerly anticipating working with our exceptional students, dedicated staff, and inspiring teachers. Together, we will make this year a remarkable journey of learning, growth, and success for all.”
Omar Hussain and Jessica Korzelius will return as assistant principals for the 2023-24 school year.
