The spring is full of great events recognizing our students. I was fortunate to attend our Jr. High Spring Concert, Sr. High Chorale and Singing Silhouettes Concert, Sr. High Band Concert, and our amazing Buzzin’ Bistro. Our students’ talent was on full display at each event. Kudos to our wonderful music and arts program for the great opportunities they provide to our students. On May 30, we recognized our students and student athletes at our annual Academic & Athletic Awards Night. I am so impressed with the success of our students in the classroom and in athletics. Also this year, we were proud to bring back FFA for students interested in agriculture. On May 29, we celebrated our first year with FFA Awards Night. This was the first FFA event in almost 50 years at Byron-Bergen. Thank-you to teacher Jeff Parnapy and our FFA students for putting this great event on.
On May 17, with the help of the New York State College Admissions Counseling Association (NYSACAC), Byron-Bergen hosted our annual Regional College Fair. Thirty-four schools, ranging from GCC to the University of Alabama, attended the event. The Jr. High gymnasium was filled with Byron-Bergen students from grades 9-11. We were also happy to invite high school students from Oakfield-Alabama, Batavia, Elba, Attica, Rochester Prep, Keshequa, and the WNY Tech Academy. This is the second year we have hosted this event and we hope to continue to expose students to all of the opportunities that exist after high school. It is great exposure for our school to be able to hold this type of event. A big thank you to our College and Career Counselor Rob Kaercher for being a key player in making this happen.
Our BOCES program offers a wide variety of opportunities for our 11th- and 12th-graders in fields such as graphic and culinary arts, building trades, cosmetology, health dimensions, and legal academy, just to name a few. One of my favorite events at the end of the year is attending the Open House for the Building Trades program. Byron-Bergen students in this program worked on building a brand new house from the ground up. This is authentic, applied learning at its best. I am so proud of the work these students accomplished. On June 5, I attended our BOCES Awards Night. We take great pride in partnering with our GVEP BOCES and providing these hands-on opportunities for our students. This was another wonderful night recognizing our students in these programs they thrive in.
We have had such a successful year in athletics! This includes multiple league titles, three sectional titles, a western regional title, and a runner up in the state finals, as well as multiple individual accolades. Of all the accomplishments by our student/athletes this year, the one I am most proud of is that we have 72 students being recognized as NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athletes. This is the true definition of being a student athlete.
One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is watching our seniors graduate. Over the last few months, we got to share many great moments with our seniors such as the Prom, our senior trip to Cleveland, senior breakfast, the third annual senior walk through the Elementary School, and of course, graduation. I’ve also had the privilege to watch our seniors during their exit projects and through senior interviews. I am confident they are ready to be successful as they leave Byron-Bergen and head into their chosen pathways. I have known many of these students for more than eight years. I am so proud of their growth and wish them the best of luck in the future. This senior class can also say, “Our futures look bright!”
Lastly, this school year has flown by. I am so lucky to work at a school that is as supportive as Byron-Bergen. Thank you to our community, families, our staff, but most of all our student body. I truly appreciate coming to work with the best of the best every day, and am honored to serve in my role as Principal of the Jr./Sr. High School. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 585-494-1220 ext. 2401, email me at [email protected], or stop in to see me. We are Byron-Bergen!