Dear Bloomfield School Community,

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and had a great week settling back in. It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up the first week of December. This month is always full of activity, so I wanted to share a few upcoming dates and highlight some of the many great things happening in our schools.

Our fall sports season has come to a close, and winter sports are now underway. We have 137 student-athletes competing across a variety of programs this season. Athletic schedules can be found on our website under the Student or Parent Resources tabs.

On Thursday, our Elementary students treated us to a terrific Winter Band and Chorus Concert. Their talent continues to impress, and we are deeply grateful for the dedication of our music educators who prepare our students so well. Events like these are wonderful reminders of how music brings our school community together.

Looking ahead, our Middle/High School Band and Chorus Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, and our Winter Jazz Concert is scheduled for Monday, December 15th at 7:00 p.m., also in the Performing Arts Center.

This Sunday, December 7th at 10:00 a.m., Ty Naffziger will represent Bloomfield at the NYSSMA Conference All-State Festival. Ty will perform alongside vocalists from across New York State at the Eastman Kodak Theatre. This is the first time a Bloomfield student has been selected for an All-State choral ensemble, an outstanding achievement that reflects Ty’s hard work as well as the commitment of our music educators.

Our Middle School Student Council also shared their appreciation for our teachers and staff this week. They offered a sweet thank-you for everyone’s “commit-mint, encourage-mint, invest-mint, and involve-mint,” along with mints for the entire staff.

One advantage of being a smaller school district is that our staff truly get to know each student. This was evident recently in Mr. Everly’s Middle School social studies class. While teaching the abstract topic of imperialism, he wove students’ personal interests directly into the lesson—using one student’s passion for drawing to illustrate the concept, and incorporating other students’ interests, from favorite animals to TV franchises. This approach made the content relatable and meaningful while still elevating it within the context of U.S. history.

Our Elementary School safety patrol team members created a recognition system to acknowledge peers who demonstrate the Bloomfield’s values of being kind, safe, respectful, and responsible during arrival and dismissal. The fifth-grade team members are actively encouraging classmates and letting them know when they see these positive behaviors.

Thank you to M/HS physical education teacher Kayla Murray, who trained our administrators in CPR and AED response. Her efforts help ensure our District Leadership Team is prepared to act quickly and confidently in an emergency.

We also appreciate our Elementary School Physical Education Department for encouraging students to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. From providing sleds for recess to organizing the Turkey Trot before Thanksgiving Break, they create so many fun and healthy opportunities for our students.

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to our Buildings and Grounds crew, cleaners, and custodians. This time of year, they are exceptionally busy plowing parking lots, clearing and salting sidewalks, mopping up salt inside, and preparing spaces for concerts and athletic events. Their hard work keeps our schools safe, clean, and running smoothly, and we are truly grateful.

Finally, several High School students who attended the World Savvy Change-maker event hosted at W-FL BOCES made presentations to our Elementary and Middle/High School staffs about their experience. They offered thoughtful reflections on what has supported their learning and areas they believe can help all students grow.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We’re proud to celebrate the incredible things happening in our District. Please remember to let us know if you have any questions or ever need anything.

Andy Doell

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Picture of the Week: High School students share about their experiences and takeaways from their attendance at the World SAVVY Changemaker event.