Local News

Four Corners student fundraiser helps ailing children

Posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Joshua Solomon, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 1/8/2019
Link: Complete Article

GREENFIELD — The thought was simple: “Where would we feel like our donations would have the biggest impact?” The first year, the money went to the Dakin Humane Society, assisting the needs of animals in the Pioneer Valley. This past year, the money went to Berkshire Family and Children, helping out with the homeless of… [Read More]

Gill-Montague school system seeks ways to address civil rights concerns

Posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Melina Bourdeau, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 1/8/2019
Link: Complete Article

TURNERS FALLS – The Gill-Montague School District has the right policies and procedures in place concerning civil rights violations in its secondary schools, although in some instances staff haven’t followed them when they are stretched thin, Superintendent Michael Sullivan told the school committee Tuesday night. His analysis and a conversation about it with the committee… [Read More]

Sunderland school gets adaptive tricycle

Posted on Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Domenic Poli, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 12/19/2018
Link: Complete Article

SUNDERLAND — Jessica Callahan made an observation as a class of kindergartners and their educators strolled down a hallway at Sunderland Elementary School. “This would be anxiety for him,” she said. “He would probably stand in the corner until everybody passed. Whereas on the bike, he’s able to just continue. That’s because he’s thinking about… [Read More]

Elementary School In Berkshires Revamps Culture With Trauma In Mind

Posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Karen Brown, www.nepr.net
Date: 12/14/2018
Link: Complete Article

Other than its bucolic setting in the Berkshire mountains, Lee Elementary seems like any other public school. Case in point: On a recent morning, as children were scuttling to classes, stuffing their backpacks in their lockers, the loudspeaker announced the day’s taco-salad lunch and reminded students to apply for the talent show. But around the building,… [Read More]

Juuling in school: E-cigarette use prevalent among local youth

Posted on Tuesday, November 13th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 11/13/2018
Link: Complete Article

NORTHAMPTON — Over the last decade, middle and high school students have been smoking cigarettes less — rates have dropped significantly since 2011. The bad news is that a new vice is on the rise with young people: Juuling. If you don’t know what that is, you’re not alone. Juul is a brand of e-cigarette that vaporizes a… [Read More]

PVRS students walk out in support of transgendered individuals

Posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Max Marcus, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 11/6/2018
Link: Complete Article

NORTHFIELD — Ninety-three students walked out of class at Pioneer Valley Regional School Tuesday morning and stood in the rain to show support for transgender people, while the state voted on Question 3, a referendum on a law against discriminating on the basis of gender identity. “Let them be what they want to be!” said seventh-grader Emily… [Read More]

Rural School Aid awarded to local districts

Posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 11/6/2018
Link: Complete Article

DALTON – State Sen. Adam G. Hinds and state education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced that 33 rural school districts will receive part of a new $1.5 million appropriation to help cash-strapped rural schools in sparsely populated communities. In Franklin County, the largest aid sums went to Ralph C. Mahar, Mohawk Trail and Pioneer Valley regional school… [Read More]

Smith Academy principal leaving for bigger school

Posted on Thursday, November 1st, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 10/31/2018
Link: Complete Article

HATFIELD – Andrew Berrios is leaving his position as principal of Smith Academy for a job as a middle school principal in Connecticut. “There’s nothing negative to say about here and why I’m leaving,” Berrios said of the decision. “It’s strictly for growth.” With over a thousand students, John F. Kennedy Middle School in Enfield, Connecticut is much larger than Smith… [Read More]

Raising the bar: Belchertown elementary school to provide piano education to all students

Posted on Monday, October 29th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Jacquelyn Voghel, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: October 28, 2018
Link: Complete Article

BELCHERTOWN — A new piano lab set to be installed at Swift River Elementary School will provide all students with a basic piano education by the time they finish third grade. The collegiate level piano lab, which is planned to open at the school in February, will include 12 Yamaha Clavinova CLP-635 pianos. The pianos… [Read More]

Crocker Farm teacher awarded 2018 Roger L. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award

Posted on Friday, October 26th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Lauren Mattone, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 10/25/2018
Link: Complete Article

AMHERST — On Tuesday afternoon, Crocker Farm Elementary third grade teacher Lauren Mattone pointed to three photos on the board: a forest, a beach and a landscape. You just arrived here and this is what you see, she tells her students. “What do you think?” she asks the group. As part of a social studies… [Read More]