What happens when a 4th grader sits down with her former preschool teacher to talk about growing up in Batavia?

In this episode of Kids These Days, Superintendent Tom Kim introduces us to Shae (a 4th grader at J.B. Nelson Elementary) and Pam Foelske (director of Batavia Nursery School).

Shae and Pam share how much the town has grown, debate whether "old Batavia" or "new Batavia" is better, and explore why Batavia's sense of close-knit community hasn't changed.

Ultimately, this conversation shows us how education, extracurriculars, and district investments exist to foster the lifelong connections we find in Batavia.

On this episode of Kids These Days, Liz Mcalpin is reunited with her former fifth-grade student, Kim Nolasco.

Now in middle school and thriving, Kim is confronting the differences between elementary school and middle school, the challenges and opportunities that come with being bilingual, and the possibility of achieving her aspiration of one day being a police officer.

But what happens when things get hard? From navigating the awkwardness of raising your hand in front of a classroom crush to breaking massive obstacles down into small, manageable goals, Kim reveals her practical playbook for facing adversity head-on.

Kids These Days is a podcast from Batavia Public School District 101, produced in partnership with Area Code: Batavia. New episodes every month.

For more information about all the great things BPS101 is doing, sign up for our newsletter.

To contact us about the episode or recommend a future guest, email us at [email protected].

In our premiere episode of Kids These Days, BPS 101 Superintendent Tom Kim brings together two Batavians from very different chapters of life for an unscripted conversation about what it means to plan for the future.

High school senior Kush Adhvaryu is joined by Craig Foltos, lifelong resident and owner of Foltos Tonsorial Parlor, to discuss the potential of a career in finance, how their generations get their news, and the generational divide around "work-life balance".

From the influence of favorite teachers to the importance of building community connections, this episode explores the "Portrait of a Graduate" in action and what happens when we take the time to slow down and learn from one another.

Kids These Days is a podcast from Batavia Public School District 101, produced in partnership with Area Code: Batavia. New episodes every month.

For more information about all the great things BPS101 is doing, sign up for our newsletter.

To contact us about the episode or recommend a future guest, email us at [email protected].

Kids These Days brings together long-time Batavia residents and current students for real, unscripted conversations.

Hosted by Superintendent Tom Kim and produced in partnership with Area Code: Batavia, the show aims to bridge the gap between generations. By sitting down to talk—about school, work, and life in Batavia—we’re moving past stereotypes to get to know our younger neighbors.

The gap between the Batavia we remember and the one students are navigating today might not be as wide as you think.