This week at SBRSD,
As the holiday season surrounds us with joy and warmth, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to each of you. Across the District, I’ve been inspired by the spirit of togetherness and generosity that defines our community.
As we approach the holiday break, I hope you have the opportunity to connect with friends and loved ones and take time to recharge for the new year ahead. Before we part for this well-deserved rest, I want to share my deep appreciation for all you do to make our District such a remarkable place to learn and grow.
To our students: You are at the heart of everything we do. You inspire all of us to give our very best each day – to support your growth and celebrate your unique talents. We are endlessly proud of you, whether you’re excelling in academics, performing beautiful music, creating stunning art, volunteering to help those in need, or persevering through challenges with courage and determination.
To our parents, guardians, and family members: You are your child’s first teacher, guide, and role model. Together, we are partners in your child’s educational journey, and we couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for everything you do – from volunteering at school events and supporting fundraisers to helping with homework and cheering on your student’s successes. Your unwavering support means the world to us and to your children.
To my colleagues: You light the way for our students, sparking curiosity, teaching lifelong skills, and fostering meaningful connections. From teachers and paraprofessionals to school counselors, custodians, and bus drivers, every one of you plays an essential role in helping our students thrive. I am honored to work alongside such a dedicated and talented team of professionals who make our District such a special place for all.
To our community partners: Southern Berkshire is known for its strong sense of collaboration and shared purpose. Whether you’re providing internships and apprenticeships to help students explore careers, donating warm clothing for families in need, volunteering your time in classrooms, or supporting innovative learning opportunities, your contributions make a real difference. Thank you for being a vital part of our District’s success.
To the entire Southern Berkshire Regional School District community: What we accomplish together truly transforms lives as our collective efforts prepare our students not only for success, but also for happiness and fulfillment in the years to come.
To all of you, I say thank you for being an integral part of this incredible community. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and restful holiday season filled with warmth, love, and new memories!
With gratitude,
~ Dr. B
Please find below this week’s updates & events happening in our District ~
At the last School Committee meeting the schedule for the Finance Subcommittee of the School Committee was reviewed and adopted. This meeting schedule has been posted to the website under FY26 Budget. As I mentioned last week, the work is underway to develop our proposal for the FY26 budget.
Also, I continue to participate in the Project 211 Strategy Sessions where we are working together with other Districts and the legislators to ensure the best outcomes for all learners in Massachusetts. Part of this work is to continue to advocate for the need to fully fund Rural Aid as well as for the formation of a Foundation Budget Formula Review Committee to examine and improve the equity of funding across the Commonwealth.
Here are some other important items to highlight:
Task Force Initiatives ~
- Improving Attendance Task Force – (Facilitators: Julie Steuernagle and Paul Sullivan, with support from Sandi Hubbard.)
- Follow up work in progress: In the process of developing a parent/family survey, exploring the use of Wayfinder which supports Social Emotional learning for students, obtaining student feedback, and creating data and fact sheets on progress with attendance. The next meeting will be scheduled to discuss progress on the initiatives that were defined from the topics of conversation above.
- Cell Phone Policy Task Force – (Facilitators: Jesse Carpenter and Charles Miller, with support from Julie Dolan.)
- The proposed policy was made available to the Task Force members for comments and feedback. Our next steps will be to share it out District-wide for feedback. Finally, when the Task Force has incorporated the input from all stakeholders, the proposed cell phone policy will be sent to the Policy Subcommittee for review and a vote to be recommended to the full School Committee.
To review the documentation presented at the SBRSD hearing, please see the District website at https://www.sbrsd.org/documents/district/budgets/fy25-budget/567699 .
The Superintendent Advisory Councils met last Friday to carry out their proposed ideas to spread kindness to many throughout the holiday season! Over 50 students took part in the session and crafted over 200 cards for Faculty and Staff as well as for community members and our School Committee as an expression of their appreciation and love for their teachers and our supportive school community. They wanted to make sure that everyone got a card as they didn’t want anyone to feel alone this holiday season!
Our Core Team meetings continue to happen weekly, and we had a fabulous Design Team meeting on December 11th! The Design Team worked through how their role has evolved from the Design Journey phase to the Implementation Phase and reviewed what action steps are next in this innovative work.
The website is updated so that members of the community can interact with all the happenings from the events we hold throughout the year! Next steps are planning for the Community Team meeting happening in January!
A link to the Transcend Partnership page can be found here - https://www.sbrsd.org/page/transcend-partnership
We encourage other members of our school community to join us in this work and share their thoughts and expertise as we continue our journey forward!
Congratulations wrestlers
UME & NMC explore farming & gardening
Berkshire Botanical Garden spent the last 6 weeks teaching UME & NMC students through their Farm & Garden program funded by the Eagle Fund! Students gained hands-on gardening experience using the garden beds located behind the school. They worked together to compost & plant a few garden beds full of garlic and onions for spring & summer harvests. Students also learned why composting was so important through “Dressing A Worm.” Arielle Coon, Schools Programs Manager for Berkshire Botanical Gardens chatted with students about what yummy fruits & vegetables they will be able to grow to provide the school's cafeteria. A favorite class activity was when students made their own butter while tasting herbs they could add. The help of the Eagle Fund Grant has funded the Farm & Garden Program.
Danny Day
"Eleventh and twelfth-grade students were privileged to attend 'Danny Day,' a film screening showcasing the short films of their peer, Danny Wilkinson. The program included three pieces: 'Don't Forget,' 'Should Shamus?,' and 'Hitchhiker.'"
Elementary Students Enjoying Reading
We love seeing our young students building a love for reading.
The elementary library has a new selection of books by visiting author, Jerry Pallotta!
