From the desk of Superintendent Mark McQueen
October is here, and with it comes a season of reflection, gratitude, and celebration in Bay District Schools. As the holidays draw closer, our campuses are buzzing with activity, not just in the classroom, but also through the many ways we recognize the people and traditions that enrich our community.
Early in the month, our schools will celebrate National Custodian Appreciation Day. Custodians are often the unsung heroes of education, arriving before the first bell rings and staying long after the last student leaves. They make sure our classrooms, cafeterias, and hallways are safe, clean, and welcoming, and we are proud to pause and shine a spotlight on their essential work.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and our schools will be awash in pink as students and staff unite to honor survivors, support those still fighting, and remember loved ones we’ve lost. These moments of awareness remind us that schools are more than academic institutions; they are communities of care.
Later in the month, we’ll observe National School Bus Safety Week, an important reminder of the critical role our bus drivers and transportation staff play in safely getting thousands of students to and from school every single day. It’s also a chance to reinforce important safety lessons with families and children as they ride, walk, or drive near school buses.
And finally, as a coastal community deeply connected to our military, we are proud to join the nation in marking the 250th birthday of the United States Navy. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the strength and sacrifice of the men and women who safeguard our freedoms, many of whom call Bay County home.
As we look toward the holiday season, October offers us a chance to come together, to celebrate the values of service, resilience, and unity that make our schools and our community so strong. A unity that will help us to put the “A” back in Bay…together.
RSS
