Superintendent's Messages for 2026-2027
Superintendent's Messages for 2026-2027
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Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
What a wonderful first week back in the Hive! Our buildings are once again filled with the energy of students learning, laughing, reconnecting with friends and settling into new routines. Thank you to our families and staff for helping make the start of the 2026–2027 school year such a positive one. We are excited for all that lies ahead and grateful to begin another year together as a community. Go Bees!
Today we also pause to remember September 11, 2001. This year marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a milestone that invites us to remember the lives lost, honor the courage and service of so many and reflect on the importance of coming together as a community. That same spirit of togetherness is at the heart of what we do each day in B’ville.
I have a few announcements to share with you today:
Curriculum Nights:
Curriculum nights at our schools will be held over the next three weeks. These evenings are a wonderful opportunity for families to meet teachers, learn more about the year ahead and better understand how they can support their children’s learning. I encourage all of our families to make every effort to attend their school’s curriculum night and connect with the educators who will be working alongside your children this year.
2026 NYSSMA All-State Performing Ensemble:
We are proud to announce that the following Baldwinsville students have been selected for the prestigious 2026 NYSSMA All-State Performing Ensemble, which will be held December 3-6, 2026 in Rochester.
- Christian Almeida - Mixed Chorus - Tenor 1
- Chace Brumbaugh - Alternate - Tuba
- Jaxon Brundin - Alternate - Snare Drum
- Jefferson Esek - Alternate - Tenor 2
- Tyler Morgan - Alternate - Cello
- Liam Pallotta - Alternate - Snare Drum
- Rowan Reinagel - Alternate - Alto 2
- Levi Williams - Alternate - Snare Drum
Transportation
Regular dismissal times for secondary students will resume Monday, September 14, 2026. Thank you for helping us make the first week of school as smooth and successful as possible.
Calendar Reminder:
There is no school for all students on Monday, September 21st for a Superintendent’s Conference Day.
Let’s Go Bees!
Our Bees are back in action. Good luck to all student-athletes with games this weekend. You can check out our athletic schedule on our website. Good luck to our Marching Bees as they prepare for the first competition of the season, which will be held on Saturday, September 12th at Jordan-Elbridge.
Please continue to check ParentSquare, your email and our website at www.bville.org, for important updates. As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Go Bees!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph M. DeBarbieri
Superintendent of Schools -
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
As we begin a new school year, I want to welcome our students back to the Hive and remind them of what makes being a Bee so special. A new school year brings new opportunities, new challenges and new goals. It is a chance for our students to learn something new, discover a new passion, build new friendships and challenge themselves to grow.
As we look ahead, I want every student to strive for excellence, but not someone else’s definition of excellence. I want them to strive for their own. Excellence does not look the same for everyone. Not every student will finish the year with a gold medal, a championship ring, a prestigious award or a standing ovation. We are not all running the same race and our goals will be different. What matters is that each student continues to move forward, improve and grow.
For one student, success may mean earning a high grade or mastering a difficult concept. For another, it may mean stepping onto a stage, making a team, creating something new or finding the courage to ask for help. Sometimes the moments that make us most proud are the ones that happen quietly, when we see a child overcome something difficult, take a chance on themselves or become more confident than they were before.
Every challenge our students face will be different, but the opportunity is the same: to learn, to improve and to rise to whatever comes their way.
Throughout this school year, I hope our students set goals that challenge them and allow us to celebrate their progress along the way. When they face a setback, I hope they use it as an opportunity to learn. When something feels difficult, I hope they keep going. And when they succeed, I hope they take a moment to recognize how far they have come.
Our goal as Bees is not simply to be the best. It is to be better than we were yesterday. It is to continue learning, growing and supporting one another along the way. Excellence comes in many forms and every step forward matters.
I am excited to see what the 2026-2027 school year holds for our students. As we look forward to the opportunities ahead, we also know that a successful school year begins with a successful start.
With that in mind, we want to share a few important reminders and updates with our families as we prepare for the first week of school.
Early Dismissal for Secondary Students
To help support a smooth and efficient student dismissal process during the first week of school, secondary students in grades 6-12 at Ray Middle School, Durgee Jr. High School, and C.W. Baker High School will be dismissed early from Tuesday, September 8 through Friday, September 11, 2026.
Dismissal times will be:
- Baker High School: 1:50 p.m.
- Durgee Jr. High School: 2:10 p.m.
- Ray Middle School: 1:50 p.m. (Parent pick-up will remain at 2:30 p.m.)
This temporary adjustment will allow our school buses additional time to return to our elementary schools so they can begin PK-5 dismissal at approximately 3:15 p.m.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during the first few days of school as our students, families, bus drivers and staff get reacquainted with routes, schedules and procedures.
Regular dismissal times for secondary students will resume Monday, September 14, 2026. Thank you for helping us make the first week of school as smooth and successful as possible.
Required Forms
Two required forms for all families are available on ParentSquare. Please review and complete the following, if you haven’t already:
Back-to-School Questions
Our Back-to-School Quick Reference Guide is available on the homepage of our website. The guide includes helpful information about required forms, school supply lists, and other back-to-school details.
If you have questions about the Quick Reference Guide, website, The Hive or the District Calendar, please contact us at support@bville.org.
As we head into Labor Day weekend, I want to take a moment to recognize the many people whose hard work helps make our schools and our community stronger. This year, that work is especially visible across our campuses as construction crews, tradespeople and project teams continue building new spaces and improving the places where our students learn, grow and thrive.
Just as our students will spend this year building their knowledge, confidence and character, these dedicated workers are helping us build the future of our schools. Their work is a reminder that meaningful progress takes time, effort and a commitment to doing things well.
On behalf of our students, families and staff, thank you to everyone who is working to build, improve and care for our Hive. We are grateful for the many hands and countless hours that help make Baldwinsville a place where our students can continue to grow and achieve.
I wish all of our families a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. We look forward to welcoming our students back to the Hive on Tuesday, September 8.
Go Bees!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph M. DeBarbieri
Superintendent of Schools -
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
The 2026-2027 school year is almost here! We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to the Hive on Tuesday, September 8th, and kicking off another great year together.
As we prepare for the first week of school, we want to share a few important reminders and updates with our families:
Early Dismissal for Secondary Students
To help support a smooth and efficient student dismissal process during the first week of school, secondary students in grades 6-12 at Ray Middle School, Durgee Jr. High School, and C.W. Baker High School will be dismissed early from Tuesday, September 8 through Friday, September 11, 2026.
Dismissal times will be:
- Baker High School: 1:50 p.m.
- Durgee Jr. High School: 2:10 p.m.
- Ray Middle School: 1:50 p.m. (Parent pick-up will remain at 2:30 p.m.)
This temporary adjustment will allow our school buses additional time to return to our elementary schools so they can begin PK-5 dismissal at approximately 3:15 p.m.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during the first few days of school as our students, families, bus drivers and staff get reacquainted with routes, schedules and procedures.
Regular dismissal times for secondary students will resume Monday, September 14, 2026. Thank you for helping us make the first week of school as smooth and successful as possible.
Public Notices
The Back-to-School edition of The Hive was mailed to district families last week. This publication includes important forms, notices, and information for the 2026-2027 school year, so please take a few minutes to review it.
The Hive is also available on our website.
In addition, two required forms for all families were shared through ParentSquare on Wednesday. Please review and complete the following:
Parents and guardians will also find opt-out forms available through ParentSquare.
Back-to-School Questions
Our Back-to-School Quick Reference Guide is available on the homepage of our website. The guide includes helpful information about required forms, school supply lists, and other back-to-school details.
If you have questions about the Quick Reference Guide, website, The Hive or the District Calendar, please contact us at support@bville.org.
We are counting down the days until we welcome our students back to the Hive on Tuesday, September 8, 2026!
Community Café:
Please join us for our first Community Café of the 2026-2027 school year, which will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1st at Durgee Junior High School in the cafeteria. Participants will learn how to get the most out of school communications. Guests will gather in small groups as we share ideas, perspectives and light refreshments. Registration is required. We hope you can join us as we explore questions that matter, build relationships and share our knowledge and ideas to help build, educate and empower our students!
Please continue to check ParentSquare and our website, www.bville.org, for updates. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Enjoy these final days of summer and the last full week of summer break! We’ll see you back in the hive soon!
Go Bees!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph M. DeBarbieri
Superintendent of Schools -
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
The 2026-2027 class lists, schedules and teacher assignments for students will be available in the Parent Portal of SchoolTool on Friday, August 21.
We encourage families to log in to SchoolTool today to ensure you have the correct username and password. Please access SchoolTool using the link on the district website at www.bville.org.
If you have trouble accessing your SchoolTool account, please contact your child’s school. If you need a SchoolTool password reset, you may email support@bville.org from the email address we have on file. Please include:
- Your name
- Your student’s name
- Your phone number on file
A password reset will then be generated for you.
If you need to update your contact information or have not accessed your SchoolTool account in the past, please contact your child’s school for assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to scheduled maintenance on Friday, August 21, SchoolTool will be unavailable beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21, for approximately three hours.
Bus Information
Bus information for the 2026-2027 school year will be posted in the MyRide K-12 app on Friday, August 21.
If this is your first time using the MyRide K-12 app, you will need your child’s student ID number, which can be found in your SchoolTool Parent Portal.
Instructions for setting up and using the MyRide K-12 app are available on the district website. If you have questions, please email transportation-office@bville.org.
We look forward to welcoming our students back for the 2026-2027 school year on Tuesday, September 8th!
Go Bees!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph M. DeBarbieri
Superintendent of Schools -
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
I hope you are all enjoying a relaxing summer. For many families, this season is an opportunity to slow down, spend time together and create lasting memories before another exciting school year begins.
Although our classrooms are quiet for the season, there is still plenty of activity happening across our district. If you've been on our main campus recently, you've likely seen the tremendous progress taking place at C.W. Baker High School, where construction continues on our new gymnasium and swimming pool. Renovation work is also moving forward at Durgee Junior High School and Ray Middle School. Be sure to visit our website and social media pages to see the latest construction updates and photos.
We remain incredibly thankful for our community's continued support as we invest in our schools. These projects will provide safer, more modern learning environments and enhanced spaces for our students, staff and community for years to come.
Today marks the final day of our Building Upon Success Summer Enrichment Camps. Over the past two weeks, students have enjoyed engaging learning experiences, created new friendships and had plenty of fun along the way. Thank you to the dedicated teachers and staff members whose hard work made this summer’s camp such a rewarding experience. Our Extended School Year and reading programs will continue for two more weeks. Students are having a wonderful summer of learning. We invite you to visit our Facebook page to see photos highlighting the excitement from our summer programs.
While students are enjoying their break, our faculty and staff are hard at work preparing for another outstanding school year. We are excited to welcome students back on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Later in August, you will receive the district calendar and the latest edition of The Hive in the mail. Please take a few moments to review the newsletter, as it contains important information, required notices, and forms for the 2026-2027 school year.
As the first day of school approaches, please be on the lookout for important updates via ParentSquare and email from your child’s school and from me as we prepare for opening day. The 2026-2027 class lists, schedules, and teacher assignments for students will be available in the Parent Portal and bus information will be posted in the MyRide K-12 App on Friday, August 21st.
Helping every student begin the school year ready to succeed remains one of our highest priorities. Through our partnerships with community organizations, we are once again offering resources to support families as they prepare for the new school year. Information about requesting school supplies, vaccination clinics, and free back-to-school haircuts is available on our website. By working together, we can remove barriers, ease the transition back to school, and ensure every Baldwinsville student walks through our doors feeling prepared, confident and ready to learn.
I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer and make lasting memories with family and friends. Have a wonderful August, and we look forward to seeing everyone in September.
Go Bees!
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph M. DeBarbieri
Superintendent of Schools