Recently, I travelled to Greenfield Community College with MTRS School Committee Chair, Martha Thurber, Hawlemont School Committee Chair, Ellie Van Iderstine, and others from our committees and community to advocate for our districts at the Massachusetts Joint House Ways and Means Committee public hearing on the state budget. See the event recording and the Greenfield Recorder article for coverage. We feel fortunate to have legislators like our very own State Representative Natalie Blais standing beside us in the fight for equity in public education funding especially for rural districts like ours. Thanks to those who joined our efforts and for being the catalysts for change in how our public schools are funded! What happens here matters. What we make happen here matters even more.

Our districts produce intelligent, thoughtful and motivated students. Right now our seniors are receiving acceptances from colleges, allowing them to dream a little bigger. As a community of learners, we are now planning and prepping for standardized tests, the Celebration of Learning on March 27th, and the many activities springtime holds. Projects - like budget work and shepherding the sustainability initiative - generate long to-do lists but offer a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

I invite you to be part of the plans and projects happening right now that will lead us into a stronger future. The more community members engaged with district planning, the richer the product. Your voice and participation offer insight resulting in decisions that better fit the needs of this community. As you read through this issue of the S’Update, please consider the opportunities presented and become a change-maker for our districts by taking on a volunteer opportunity, attending an event, or simply being better informed.

Our students and teachers are getting ready to welcome you to the district's annual Celebration of Learning. Please save the date of Wednesday, March 27th from 4pm to 6pm. We invite you to attend and bring others who may be interested in seeing the work of Mohawk Trail Regional students first-hand. You'll see, hear, feel, and experience the products of their recent work as you tour the gym, hallways, auditorium and library.

We offer a special invitation to 5th and 6th grade district families to come specifically to see our middle school wing abuzz with teachers, students, demonstrations and more!

Other perks include free dinner from Foxtown Diner and desserts from local bakeries, the chance to win raffle prizes, and a book giveaway - all made possible thanks to the efforts of the Mary Lyon Foundation.

We hope you attend to truly get a sense of what it means to be a Trailblazer!

Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12) is working with the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School Districts to conduct an ongoing study and analysis of the two districts as they seek ways to ensure their long-term sustainability. The project, branded as 2districts8towns, encompasses the Western Massachusetts towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, and Shelburne.

The purpose of the study is to identify the best options for providing a high-quality education that prepares students for future success in college, career, and life while considering educational and fiscal opportunities, challenges, and options. Like many rural areas across the Northeast, the region faces challenges associated with declining enrollment, rising operational costs, relatively flat state aid, and increasing student needs. The study builds upon previous data collection.

“Our communities care deeply about our schools and want the best possible education for our youth,” said Sheryl Stanton, superintendent of Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Regional School Districts. “I’m proud of the work the community has done over the last two decades and am excited and hopeful about identifying the best possible options for a sustainable future for our districts through the BERK12 study.”

The first stage of work focuses on collecting data on current educational programming, enrollment, fiscal conditions, and building infrastructure. Additionally, over the next few months, BERK12 consultants will engage with the community by meeting with teachers and administrators, students, school committees, select boards/finance committees, family members, and community members to provide an overview of the project plan and gather their perspectives about the districts and schools. (See the BSE section below for a brief update from the first Community Engagement Session.)

Following the data collection and community engagement efforts, BERK12 will present potential operating models that offer a more sustainable future for the schools and member towns. These models will then be presented and discussed in community settings throughout the eight towns. By early 2025, BERK12 will generate a final report that identifies preferred models for moving forward and recommended next steps.

A steering committee has been formed to provide ongoing guidance and oversee the work. The committee is currently assembling advisory teams in the areas of community outreach, educational quality, and finance. Community members interested in serving on advisory teams can submit their names through the website (2districts8towns.org).

BERK12 has launched social media profiles that may be found on Facebook and Instagram. Please “like” and “follow” to receive the latest updates on BERK12’s work in identifying the best options and opportunities for providing high quality, sustainable education for students in the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional school districts.

As future dates come up, it is our hope that families (and students) and community members join in the conversations. Here's a look at the calendar of opportunities:

March 21, 5:30p: 2D8T Steering Committee (90 minutes)

March 26, 7:00p: Plainfield Selectboard meeting - in person

March 27, 4-6p: Celebration of Learning (MT, have a table)

April 9, Time TBD: Colrain School Community Meeting

April 11, Time TBD: Sanderson School Community Meeting (Virtual)

April 24, 2p Faculty/Staff Meeting (Virtual)

April 24, 6p. Mohawk Trail MS/HS Community Meeting

April 25, Time TBD: Hawlemont School Community Meeting

Please note that BERK12 will have a table at MT's Celebration of Learning on Wednesday, March 27th from 4pm to 6pm for more informal conversation about the project.

The 2districts8towns.com website provides past and current presentations and reports, a full schedule of upcoming community engagement meetings, a list of steering committee members, a way to sign up to volunteer, and other relevant project information. For more information visit www.2districts8towns.org or contact project manager H. Jake Eberwein, jeberwein@gmail.com.

Over February break, 23 Mohawk Trail district students in grades 3 through 6 attended acceleration academies in which math was expertly taught by our own educators. Hawlemont offered an additional opportunity focused on literacy and welcomed 14 students to their programs. It was a week focused on building self confidence and skills while addressing regression in student learning that we sometimes see during school bsreak. Students also had fun as they made connections with peers from different district schools. Thanks to the students, families, and staff who made a commitment to learning by taking advantage of these programs. Another acceleration academy will run during April break. Invitations will be sent in March. As always, caregivers can work to keep student skills sharp by playing math games and reading together for 15 minutes a day.

Pre-school and Kindergarten Enrollment Dates Set for 2024-2025 School Year

The dates for enrollment in our pre-school and Kindergarten programs are set! If you, a friend, neighbor, or co-worker have a child age 3 as of August 31, we welcome their registration. Please plan to provide the child’s birth certificate, proof of residency, lead test, and immunization list. For questions, contact Amy Socquet, Early Childhood Coordinator, at 413-625-6194 or asocquet@mtrsd.org.

The district is again offering a five-day-a-week summer program for summer 2024, hosted at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary. This program is open to all students currently enrolled in the Mohawk Trail Regional School District in grades K-6. Activities include tutoring coupled with recreational activities including crafts, water play, sports, etc.

The program will run from Monday, July 8th to Friday, August 2nd. Hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm, and there is a half day option. Students will be offered free lunch and breakfast daily at BSE.

If your child qualifies for tutoring, the tutoring portion is free for all invited students. The full day program costs $200 per week, per child. There will be a reduced rate for families that qualify for free and reduced lunch. PLEASE NOTE: A $100 deposit per student is required to reserve space in the full day program. Enrollment paperwork and a deposit for each child must be submitted by April 1st and balance paid in full by June 1st.

Payments may be made via Unipay, (https://unipaygold.unibank.com/default.aspx) by searching "Mohawk Trail RSD" and then click on Mohawk Trail Summer Programs, or checks can be made payable to MTRSD - please write "Mohawk Trail Summer Program" in the memo field.

To enroll your student, use this LINK to access the form.

March 1, 2024, Greenfield Recorder

GREENFIELD — At the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ fiscal year 2025 state budget hearing on Friday, the focus was on statewide education and local aid. At the regional level, though, legislators, school officials and community members from up and down the Pioneer Valley honed in on one of the most important local education issues: rural school funding.

Elementary student/teacher conferences are coming up! Make sure you have signed up with your student's teacher and your conference date and time are on your calendar. Thank you!

Thanks to Civics teachers Catherine Glennon, Brennan Tierney and Bethany Basal for organizing a Civic Action learning week at MTRS for March 11-15 which coincided with Massachusetts Civic Learning Week.

• Friday March 8th teachers were asked to share about the ways that we all as individuals are involved and the things we love about our communities.

• All week long, through morning announcements, the Civics team shared quotations about community and civic engagement along with suggestions for participation in daily challenges.

• On Thursday, March 14th, 8th and 10th graders had an In-School Field Trip. From a panel of 9th and 11th graders, they learned tips and tricks for choosing topics and getting started on their Civic Action Projects.

• On Wednesday, March 13th during Professional Development, teacher Catherine Glennon presented to staff about integrating our local history and related opportunities into curriculum and interdisciplinary projects.

• To expand the Civic Learning footprint beyond the official week, teacher Brennan Tierney has organized an event on March 25 for 8th and 10th grade students to meet, hear from, and work with local government and MA State Representative Natalie Blais.

Mohawk Trail Regional School District is officially approved for $24,934 in funding after submitting a proposal to Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region to integrate local history across the Curriculum a success for Massachusetts educators and learners!

This exciting initiative is sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Program, coordinated by Waynesburg University.

Led by high school teacher, Catherine Glennon, our Teaching with Primary Sources project, Civic Engagement in Any Subject: Integrating Local Primary Sources Across the Curriculum, seeks to engage students in their communities by helping teachers across subject areas learn about our local history, identify relevant curricular connections, and develop or modify projects that integrate primary documents.

Our project will work with teachers in our district and across the region, to identify areas of connection with content in different disciplines, learn about using primary sources in inquiry based projects, and provide the time, resources, and support to implement these projects with their students.

On Monday night, about 30 community members gathered in the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School cafeteria for the first Community Engagement Session to take on 5 questions proposed by BERK12 hosts Jake Eberwein and Mary Nash. The questions helped attendees consider strengths, weaknesses, the things the districts can't live without, things they'd like to see happen, and the ultimate vision for our districts in 10 years.

As future dates come up, it is our hope that families (and students) and community members join in the conversations. Here's a look at the calendar of opportunities:

March 21, 5:30p: 2D8T Steering Committee (90 minutes)

March 26, 7:00p: Plainfield Selectboard meeting - in person

March 27, 4-6p: Celebration of Learning (MT, have a table)

April 9, Time TBD: Colrain School Community Meeting

April 11, Time TBD: Sanderson School Community Meeting (Virtual)

April 24, 2p Faculty/Staff Meeting (Virtual)

April 24, 6p. Mohawk Trail MS/HS Community Meeting

April 25, Time TBD: Hawlemont School Community Meeting

Please note that BERK12 will have a table at MT's Celebration of Learning on Wednesday, March 27th from 4pm to 6pm for more informal conversation about the project.

For more background on the project or to volunteer for a role, please visit www.2districts8towns.org.

See the latest updates here: https://static1.squarespace.com/.../2D8TUpdate-March2024.pdf

Volunteers needed!! At Colrain Central We’re looking for parents, grandparents, caregivers, or members of the community to be guest readers during our upcoming Family Reading Night on May 10. Volunteers will read a favorite children’s book or two to a gathering of Colrain families. Please consider volunteering and share the joy of reading to children! The event will take place right after our Student Art Show (5:00-6:00), from 6:00-7:30 (reading sessions are about 15 minutes each). Please contact Jennifer Martin at jmartin@mtrsd.org if you would like to sign up.

CALL FOR BOOK DONATIONS!! Another fun aspect of our Family Reading Night is our FREE book swap for all ages! We’re looking for donations of gently-used books for children AND adults. Boxes will be in the front hallway and by the back door, or your child could bring donations to Ms. Martin’s room. Clear out those shelves!

Recently first graders practiced glued sounds, like -ing, -onk, and -unk, using different body motions and voices. Whole body practice helps us to internalize the patterns. (Try it!) Fifth graders are multiplying fractions and demonstrating their understanding by drawing them in different ways. Kindergarteners have been traveling the world learning about different countries while second graders wrote about which symbols, like the American flag, are important to them.

Students celebrated another all-school GRIT reward with chocolate chip pancakes, whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries, and real maple syrup thanks to a local family. (Hawlemont students love their love lunch but this one was a chart topper!)

Animals are taking center stage at Sanderson Academy in the preschool and third grade classrooms. Preschoolers are loving their veterinary-themed learning center. They have been making appointments for pet check ups and visiting the vet’s office if their pet is hurt or sick. Third graders have been following and cheering for their mushers as they make their way down the Iditarod trail. This real-world learning is meaningful for the students as they practice reading text and charts to learn about their musher’s standings. The combination of athleticism, sportsmanship, knowledge, grit, and love for the dogs that it takes to successfully run in the Iditarod is awe-inspiring. Feel free to follow along at home on the free website, Iditarod.com.

First and fifth graders are focusing on science with special attention on the sky. First graders enjoyed an activity that taught waxing and waning of the moon using chocolate sandwich cookies. Talk about a delicious way to learn! Fifth graders collected a wealth of information to share with the class as they shared their projects of models of the phases of the moon, a sundial, light boxes with constellations and demonstrations about rotation and revolution.