News&Notes from the Superintendent
~ Dr. Beth Regulbuto
Good Evening SBRSD Families,
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” - Plutarch
Please find below this week’s updates & events happening in our District ~
The Budget & Other School Business
The District-wide Newsletter – Budget Edition – done by members of the Community Outreach & Advocacy Subcommittee and Administration is on its way to your mailbox! The objective is to ensure that all community members know how their investment in their schools is being used prior to casting a vote at their respective town meetings! The Budget Meeting Tour starts in Monterey on Saturday, May 4th at 9:30 am for the first Town Meeting.
Many organizations including the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) and the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools (MARS) continued their advocacy efforts and sent alerts on education funding amendments which received a remarkable response from our legislators to sign on as co-signors, but unfortunately, they were all denied in Consolidated Amendment A. So now, it is off to the Senate! We will keep you updated.
There is still time to continue our advocacy efforts with the goal of ensuring our students, staff, faculty, and families receive our fair share of funding to continue to provide excellence in education for all students!
To review the documentation presented at the hearing, please see the District website at https://www.sbrsd.org/documents/district/budgets/fy25-budget/567699 .
Student Voice
The Superintendent Student Advisory Councils met last week, and these groups continue to be amazing! The students met with our Community Partner, Will Conklin of Greenagers, to learn about the organization and to think about ways the District and Greenagers can work together to provide opportunities to learn, to improve our schools, and to take care of the environment.
We have some subcommittees formed with initial plans to improve the courtyards on the Sheffield Campus and the creation and management of a community vegetable and flower garden. This is just the beginning of the ideas and possibilities for these groups to take on next!
Transcend Grant Initiative
Our Transcend partners were in District on Friday, April 26th, to visit our Early College program in person. It was a wonderful day for the team that included visiting an Early College Class being taught at Mt. Everett, a student panel, and a visit to the Simon’s Rock campus. Once there, the team was also able to speak with students about their experiences so far, tour classrooms including lab spaces, and view the Future Fair – a showcase of college and career opportunities for the next phase of their journey after school.
The Transcend team will incorporate their learning from their visit into a work proposal for next year for discussion over the coming months!
More information about this incredible community focused initiative is here at https://www.sbrsd.org/page/transcend-partnership.
New Marlborough Central
Over the past month, NMC’s Pre-K through 2nd grade classes participated in a two-day residency with Aaron and Rachel from MAPS (Music-Art-Puppets-Sound). All of the classes worked collaboratively on an interactive art project that is now hanging from a shared bulletin board. The students learned about seeds and what they need to grow, how they are pollinated, and the different parts of plants. Each class used a variety of mediums to create a display that the students could play with, and use to act out roots growing out of seeds, flowers blooming, and vines spreading.
During the time with MAPS, the students danced, painted, created prints, made their own music, and even used flour as a glue to make large seeds. They also weeded and planted seeds in the garden bed near the school. The goal is to use the marigolds and other plants that were planted next fall when MAPS returns for an 8-week residency with all students in the NMC school.
South Egremont School
Earth Day Science
Mrs. Sue's Pre-K class celebrated Earth Day with a fizzy science experiment!
The children used eyedroppers to squirt colorful vinegar onto baking soda in round pans. It was green and blue vinegar, just like the Earth's land and oceans! They watched and listened with excitement as the mixture fizzed and bubbled, turning the white baking soda into a blue and green landscape.
Once the fizzing stopped, it was time to explore! The children carefully touched the creation, feeling how cool and soft it was. They shared what it reminded them of, with answers like sand and playdough. This activity was a fun way to celebrate Earth Day, and it also connected with what they're learning about their five senses!
Early College Forensic Science
This semester some of our Early College students at Mount Everett enrolled in a Forensic Science Lab! Students recently participated in a fingerprinting activity that took place at the Simon's Rock campus and had tons of fun!
Upcoming Events
This week there are so many remarkable things happening in our schools, and you are always welcome to join us and check them out!
Please note that the academic calendar has been approved by the School Committee for the 2024-2025 school year and can be found at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2415/sbrsd/4190085/24-25_Academic_Calendar.pdf
This week’s events include many sports games and matches, 9th Grade Field Trip to Simon’s Rock, 8th Grade Orientation to High School tonight, South Egremont and NMC Field Trip to White Memorial Conservation Center, “Addicted to Nicotine” Parent Presentation in the Mt. Everett Library on Wednesday and Student/Family Prom Meeting in TACPAC, PACE Seniors Field Trip, Grade 3-5 Writing Workshop, NHS Field Trip, Prom Family Meeting, Vocational Students Field Trip, Grade 5 Field Trip to Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Grade 8 Field Trip to Boston, Berkshire Health Coalition, Berkshire Art Center After School, Girl Scouts, and the Special Olympics at MMRHS on May 1st just to name a few!
Please check the event calendar regularly as it will keep you up to date as will the weekly notes from the Principals.
Mount Everett Early College
On Friday, April 26th, the College Experience Class (juniors and seniors) and the entire 10th grade attended the Future Fair at Simon's Rock! There were speaking events, booths, games, and food. The 10th grade also looked over the 2025 Mount Everett Program of Studies and started the process of signing up for classes.
Interested in learning more about our Early College program? Visit our website!
Innovation Pathways
Innovation Pathways offers opportunities for students to explore cutting-edge technology and in-demand fields! The program emphasizes real-world skills through career-focused experiential learning. Participants connect with industry mentors, go on field trips, get set up with internships in their areas of interest, and more!
Mount Everett currently offers two technical pathways in Advanced Manufacturing and Information Technology.
To learn more about our Innovation Career Pathways please use the links below! To express interest in learning more about Innovation Pathways please use our form - Expression of Interest Form
Contact the Superintendent
Please feel free to reach out with questions or concerns as I welcome the opportunity to hear from you.
Best,
~ Dr. Beth Regulbuto, Superintendent of Schools