Dear BFA Community:
Yesterday morning as I made my rounds to various classrooms, I walked into our Counseling Center to give Mrs. Hodgeman a hard time about the picture she posted of me at the previous day’s Interact - Red Cross Blood Drive. While she reminded me I did not sign a “no media” form, we quickly went into discussing the important role some students are currently taking. Mrs. Hodgeman spoke on how our young workforce has had to take over roles previously held by those 60 and older. The Red Cross has relied on retirees to make daytime blood drives work but given they are now the most vulnerable demographic with Covid-19 concerns, these important drives would be unlikely if today’s youth did not immediately assume these leadership roles. This reminded me of the deep importance of continuing to allow our students to lead, and believing, as I do, that the future is truly in good hands. The past week or so provided many examples of this.
Halloween is a tradition that has some dark undertones that are always put back in the shadows with the outward positive exuberance that dressing up and trick-or-treating brings. That joy that many of us have felt as both kids and parents of kids looked to be largely lost this year. Thanks to many of our BFA students, dozens of local kids were able to have some semblance of Halloween. Last Saturday, our BFA kids spent their Saturday at Taylor Park to see that community kids could have a safe environment to wear their costumes, receive some candy, and interact with one another.
Another problem our restrictive new world has helped create is with some students struggling to make sense of their academics once they fall behind. During a virtual meeting this Friday morning, I listened as one of our seniors proposed a solution. She is working to create a peer tutoring system that works within current safety guidelines. Her proposal, which she also shared with me in writing, will be in place for the second semester and offer multiple opportunities for struggling students to be more successful. While our Proficiency-based Instructional Coach, Mrs. Rico will help coordinate this, it will rely upon our students to lead and succeed. That combination is why I am confident it will succeed.
Lastly, for this week, the many students who comprise our Student Council, Athletic Council, National Honor Society, and Interact Club combined their talents and leadership to make Spirit Week a success by lending even greater importance to the week. Students and staff brought in boxed food during a Cereal Drive, while cash and toiletries are also being collected. All of these items will be donated to the community for distribution.
With so many lamenting about today’s government leadership, at all levels, I try to remind all who will listen that we need to increase youth leadership if we want a strong and healthy world. That is why we must continue to place our trust in today’s youth and give them opportunities to lead whenever possible. Our future does depend on it.
Brett Blanchard
Photos and More Information
A big thank you to BFA Students that donated blood on October 28th at the city hall. Quincy Fournier has organized 4 blood drives during this pandemic after the Red Cross asked Interact to recruit teens to replace the core volunteers (typically aged 60-80) during the pandemic.
Sophomores-23
Juniors-42
Seniors-40 Juniors Win!!
BFA Spirit!! Photos from Green and Gold Days
