Local News

HEC Academy holds graduation ceremony at Smith College

Posted on Friday, June 7th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 6/7/2019

Senator Jo Comerford (D) was the keynote commencement speaker at HEC Academy graduation services, held the morning of June 7th, 2019 at Smith College’s Sage Hall in Northampton. “Your education has been like a spark, and your job now is to turn that spark into a torch,” Comerford told the students. “Don’t let anybody tell… [Read More]

Mohawk Trail grads: On to something new and exciting

Posted on Monday, June 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Max Marcus, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 6/3/2019
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — The graduating class of 63 students filed into the gym to “Pomp and Circumstance” at Mohawk Trail Regional School’s commencement Sunday. Co-Principal Lynn Dole initiated the ceremony, and Salutatorian Jackson Hicks gave a speech focusing on learning to appreciate the present moment, with its apparent imperfections, despite the hopes and expectations for the… [Read More]

NHS graduating class makes itself heard

Posted on Monday, June 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Jacquelyn Voghel, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 6/2/2019
Link: Complete Article

NORTHAMPTON — From activism to academic achievements, the Northampton High School Class of 2019 has never sat quietly, speakers reflected Sunday afternoon. “When we felt unheard, we screamed louder,” class vice president Cailin Young said to the audience. “When we felt small, we became bigger together.” Around 220 graduates crossed the stage at Smith College’s… [Read More]

A cross-generational message Mahar graduates hear meaningful message from school’s namesake

Posted on Monday, June 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: David McLellan, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/31/2019
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE — It was at the Mahar Regional School graduation ceremony of 1962, when state Sen. Ralph C. Mahar, the school’s namesake, gave some words of advice to the graduating seniors: “May you always have faith in yourselves, whatever hardships may develop in the years ahead. May you be individuals in the sense that you… [Read More]

Memories to guide Smith Academy graduates into life’s next stage

Posted on Saturday, June 1st, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Michael Connors, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 6/1/2019
Link: Complete Article

HATFIELD — There are three main features of Smith Academy that Class of 2019 valedictorian Maia Seetal said she will always remember. The first, she said, were cheap $3 school lunches. The second, a water fountain in the school’s main lobby, which counted how many plastic bottles students saved when filling up reusable containers. “I… [Read More]

Franklin Tech graduates urged to ‘never settle’ at Friday ceremony

Posted on Saturday, June 1st, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Grace Bird, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/31/2019
Link: Complete Article

GREENFIELD — The crowd erupted for each one of Franklin County Technical School’s 122 graduates Friday as they headed to the stage to receive their diploma, marking the end of one chapter — and the start of a new one. Salutatorian Zackery Conway addressed the crowd, saying that while the graduates’ paths will diverge, everyone… [Read More]

Editorial: Graduation celebration commences in Valley

Posted on Friday, May 31st, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 5/30/2019
Link: Complete Article

One of our favorite graduations to cover each year is at Mount Tom Academy. The ceremony on the Holyoke Community College campus is always intimate because class sizes are small and graduates are excited and open about how overcoming struggles led them to this defining moment of their young lives. There’s something special about hearing… [Read More]

‘You’re braver than you believe’ Smith Voc sends 122 grads out into world

Posted on Friday, May 31st, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Bera Dunau, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 5/31/2019
Link: Complete Article

NORTHAMPTON — “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” These words, originally spoken by the wise and fictional bear Winnie the Pooh, were quoted by Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School valedictorian Alexandra West in her speech to her fellow graduates. Hundreds of people packed into John M. Greene… [Read More]

Franklin County Schools sign transportation joint purchase

Posted on Thursday, May 30th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: May 30, 2019

As the 2018-19 school year winds to a close, five Franklin County School Districts, led by school business managers, have worked together for a new joint transportation bid for services within their districts, that will begin July 1st. The current contract expires June 30, 2019. The newly signed agreement will be the third joint purchase… [Read More]

Franklin County teachers honored for appreciation week

Posted on Wednesday, May 29th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Grace Bird, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/28/2019
Link: Complete Article

Ten Franklin County educators have been honored with gift cards and radio announcements in time for May’s “teacher appreciation week.” The program is run by Emerson Insurance and Financial Services with WHAI and WPQV radio stations. Among Franklin County’s 10 honorees is Lauren Paquin, a fourth-grade teacher at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School. She has worked at… [Read More]