Penfield students present Puzzle Club video and Black Student Union activities at Feb. 11 board meeting

At the Penfield Central School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 11, students and advisors from Bay Trail Middle School and Penfield High School presented a recorded Puzzle Club piece and a joint overview of Black Student Union activities to the board and community.

Principal Sabine introduced the Bay Trail Puzzle Club and said the club meets weekly to build problem-solving and community skills; the group submitted a student-made video for the board to view. The board applauded the presentation after the video played.

Bay Trail Middle School’s Black Student Union advisors, Phyllis Blake and Shaquille Williams, and several student members described the club’s growth and outreach. Blake said she is the group’s lead advisor; Williams said he is a co-advisor. Student officers reported that Bay Trail’s BSU began in the 2023–24 school year with about 12 members and has grown to more than 20. The group said its work includes read-aloud visits to elementary schools and a Juneteenth program broadcast on VTTV.

At Penfield High School, BSU advisors Paige Fletcher, a social learning specialist, and Marion Mustafa George, director of student engagement and cultural relations, brought student representatives to describe high‑school BSU work. Shaniqua Miller, identified as BSU president, told the board, “We are here tonight on behalf of Black Student Union, to share more about what BSU is all about.” Deasia Andrews, identified as vice president, and other students described the group’s activities, including the Black History Month Takeover (student-created announcement slides and spirit week), read‑aloud visits to elementary schools, and an annual Juneteenth show.

Students described recent experiences outside the district, including an educational trip to Washington, D.C., and visits to historically Black colleges and universities. Multiple student speakers used words such as “family,” “safe place,” and “unity” to summarize what BSU means to members. The board thanked the students and advisors and invited them to return with future updates.

Attendance and staff acknowledged the role of advisors and district support for student clubs; board members offered public appreciation for the students’ presentations and noted the value of student-led outreach and cross-school programming.

The board had no additional questions for the student groups and released the students from the meeting to continue the remainder of the agenda.