Thursday News Brief
Written by WBTA STAFF on December 5, 2024
John Kennedy Intermediate Named One of America’s Best Elementary Schools
The Batavia City School District announced, that the John Kennedy Intermediate School has been named as one of America’s best elementary schools by U.S. News and World Report.
U.S. News and World Report ranked schools based on their student’s proficiencies in mathematics and reading, along with results on state assessment tests. The rankings included more than 47,000 public elementary schools across the country, and socioeconomic demographics were considered in the assessments. John Kennedy Intermediate School ranked in the top 40% of elementary schools in New York State.
Batavia City School District Superintendent Jason Smith said, “Our students, teachers, staff, and families work together to create an outstanding learning environment, and this honor reflects their collective dedication to educational excellence. We are incredibly proud of the John Kennedy community.”
Genesee County Youth Bureau Announces “Caught Being Good” Program
The Genesee County Youth Bureau announced their new “Caught Being Good” program that is designed to enhance the ability of School Resource Officers to build positive relationships with students.
Alexander Middle-High School, Batavia Middle and Batavia High Schools, Byron-Bergen Jr/Sr High School, Elba Jr/Sr High School, Pavilion Jr/Sr High School, Pembroke Intermediate and Pembroke Jr/Sr High School, Oakfield-Alabama Middle-High School, St. Paul Lutheran, and GV BOCES have all adopted the program. With the program, students who are caught doing good deeds will be rewarded for their behavior. School Resource Officers will give students a voucher for good deeds that can be redeemed at local businesses such as Sweet Ally’s, Applebees, Chap’s Elba Diner, Northside Deli, Alabama Holley Farms, the McCarthy Ice Arena, and several more.
Any schools in Genesee County that are not currently enrolled in the program may contact the Genesee County Youth Bureau to enroll.
Celebrate Agriculture Dinner Tickets are on Sale Now
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce announced, that tickets are on sale for the 20th Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner.
This annual event celebrates agriculture which is the #1 industry in Genesee County. With over 430 farms in the county on over 175,000 acres of land, the agriculture industry had a net cash income of over $100,000,000 in 2022 per the United States Department of Agriculture. The Celebrate Agriculture Dinner will feature a meal using only locally sourced food and products from Genesee County Farms and agriculture businesses. You don’t need to be a farmer to attend the dinner, it’s open to the public.
The event will occur on March 15th at 6 pm at the Alexander Fire Hall. Tickets are on sale at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce in Batavia for $30 each or a table of 10 for $275. All tickets must be purchased by February 21st.
