Dear Barker Central School Community,

As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the successes and milestones we’ve reached this fall and share some exciting updates and upcoming events for our students and families. It’s been a busy and productive time at Barker Central School District, and I’m grateful for the continued support and involvement of our entire community.

We kicked off the year with a fantastic Homecoming celebration that brought our students, staff, and families together. From dress-up days and pep rallies to the parade, games, and dance, it was truly a celebration of Barker pride. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Student Council, class officers, advisors, staff, families, and local organizations such as the Somerset Police Department and Barker Fire Department for making this event so special. It’s moments like these that remind us all of the strong sense of community we share.

This year, we’ve also introduced a revamped Student of the Month program. Focused on recognizing students who exemplify the values from our District’s Strategic Plan, this new initiative allows teachers, department teams, and staff from all areas of the school to nominate students who embody our core principles. I’d like to thank the Grain House for generously donating pizza for the students and the PTO and Barker Lions Club for providing “Be a Bulldog” t-shirts for our honorees. It’s always a joy to celebrate our students in meaningful ways.

As we moved into the Thanksgiving season, we embraced the spirit of giving through multiple food and gift drives. Pratt Elementary hosted its annual “Boat Load of Good” food drive for the local pantry, while the Junior High and High School Student Councils collected food and turkey donations. Additionally, the EClub organized an Operation Christmas Child gift drive, and our own Barker Holiday Gift Drive will help spread cheer during the holiday season. We are proud of how our students and families continue to demonstrate generosity, showing the true heart of our community.

Pratt Elementary celebrated the end of Trimester 1 with a series of fun events. These include a live concert by Glenn Colton, the Holiday Follies competition, dress-up days, and Breakfast with Santa—with a live performance from our talented High School dance class. These events provided a wonderful opportunity for students to be a part of an audience, participate in friendly competition, and celebrate all of the successes and hard work from the first trimester.

I also want to update you on our ongoing efforts to gather feedback from our community regarding the Code of Conduct, specifically around our cell phone and dress code policies. We recently conducted a survey to gather input from students, staff, and parents, and we are carefully reviewing the responses. The majority of participants preferred to keep the current policies in place, though there were valuable suggestions for adjustments, particularly concerning cell phone use and dress code flexibility. We are forming a committee made up of students, parents, staff, and Board members to further explore these suggestions and ensure that any changes we make align with the needs of our students while maintaining a safe and equitable learning environment. Your voice matters, and we will continue to involve stakeholders as we move forward with this important work.

Looking ahead to January, our High School students will be preparing for the mid-year Regents Exams. In the spring, our students in grades 3-8 will participate in the NYS ELA and Math Exams, and our 5th and 8th graders will take the NYS Science Exam. These exams are an important part of their academic journey, and we are confident they will continue to rise to the challenge. We know our students are prepared, and we will continue to support them as they approach these assessments.

Finally, I want to thank all of our parents, staff, and community members for your continued partnership in supporting our students. We could not do this important work without you. As we enter the holiday season, I encourage you to take time to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished together and enjoy the moments of joy and connection with your families.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Micaela M. Love, Ed.D.
mlove@barkercsd.net
716-795-3832