As I write this update, we are preparing to salute and celebrate the Class of 2025 at graduation this weekend! Congratulations to not only our seniors who have bright futures ahead of them, but also to all of you who have helped shape, encourage, and support these students on their journey to cross the graduation stage! A sincere thank you to our entire faculty and staff, who have played such an integral role in their success. Well done, Blue Devil family!

Speaking of bright futures, it was a pleasure to attend a variety of moving-up days at our schools, and I thank our amazing principals and their incredible teams for the detailed planning that went into each of these events. Bravo and well done!

I have been presiding at graduations since my first stint as a superintendent in 2011, and the theme I strive to impart every year is one of persistence and perseverance—it is an essential life skill all of us need to be successful, and is such an important message for our students. I encourage you to partner with me in sharing this with your families, children, and loved ones. 

I draw this inspiration from one of my “heroes,” the great and beloved Buffalo Bills Coach Marv Levy. Many years ago, I came across his simple “Five Point Plan for Overcoming Adversity.” He would often use this approach to encourage his beloved Buffalo Bills to return again to yet another Super Bowl:

1) Feel bad: take in the feelings and don’t make any rash decisions.

2) Take responsibility: acknowledge one’s mistakes

3) Analyze the mistakes: figure out why they occurred

4) Create a new plan.

5) Execute the plan and expect success.

Simple, yet powerful, and it works across all areas: academics, athletics, arts and music, jobs, training, and more. 

As we prepare to enter the summer season, I encourage you to take some time and discuss with your children the “power of perseverance.” I have Marv’s Five Point Plan tacked on my office bulletin board, and have literally carried it with me along my 33-year educational journey.

Have a wonderful and safe summer, and make sure to visit some of our wonderful resources and gems in Batavia, such as the Richmond Memorial Library, GO-ART, Dwyer Stadium, the Batavia Peace Garden, and the Holland Land Office, or take a walk through the historic and beautiful Batavia Cemetery on Harvester Avenue.

Sincerely,

Jason A. Smith

Superintendent of Schools

jasonsmith@bataviacsd.org

585-343-2480, ext 1000

P.S. Please be on the lookout for a BCSD family survey next week in ParentSquare regarding the new “internet-enabled device ban,” now required in public schools in New York State. We look forward to hearing your feedback.