By MACKENZIE ISSLER Recorder Staff
[ Originally published on: Friday, February 05, 2010 ]
GREENFIELD -- The Greenfield High School has been recognized as one of this year's ''America's Best High Schools,'' according to a recent issue of U.S. News & World Report.
''I am delighted about anything that brings positive recognition to the Greenfield schools,'' interim Superintendent Susan Hollins said Thursday about the news.
Greenfield has earned a bronze medal and was the only high school in Franklin County to be recognized this year. Forty-one schools in Massachusetts received awards this year.
The first-ever list of ''America's Best High Schools'' was in 2008, when Pioneer Valley Regional School received a bronze. Last year, Ralph C. Mahar earned a silver.
''We have a fine faculty who are very committed to every student … That has been a tradition of Greenfield High School for many years,'' said Hollins.
More to do at school: Greenfield's extended day program continues with state's OK on grant
By MACKENZIE ISSLER Recorder Staff
[ Originally published on: Thursday, September 10, 2009 ]
GREENFIELD -- It is now official. For the third year, Newton School and the middle school will continue to offer longer days with more programs, as the school department's application for the Expanded Learning Time grant was approved again by the state.
The school department will receive $817,700 to support the two ELT schools, said state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesman JC Considine. Considine said the department is in the process of finalizing the grant now.
When school started in Greenfield last week, both Newton and the middle school kept their extended days, even though they didn't have official word from the state. The students at the two schools have extended days from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
''I think it is fabulous,'' said interim Superintendent Susan Hollins when hearing the news. ''We are delighted.''
She said the two schools are now in the third year of the extended day, and said, over the past few years, the schools have been figuring out the best way to use the grant by offering more classes and creating community partnerships.
The grant funds academic advancement and enrichment activities.
At the middle school, some of the programs funded by the grant are woodworking, band, yoga, African drumming and singing, Asian studies, soccer, field hockey, mask making and theater.
Eighth-graders step up:
Students pleased with high school spot By MACKENZIE ISSLER Recorder Staff
[ Originally published on: Friday, September 4, 2009 ]
photo: Recorder/Peter MacDonald
Science teacher Angie Ruggeri works with students
on the phases of the moon at the Eighth Grade (Academy at Greenfield High School).
GREENFIELD -- 'The food is a lot better!'
That was the answer that PC blurted out when a small group of eighth-graders were asked what they thought about their first two days at the high school.
'I like the pizza & it doesn't look like plastic,' said classmate OH, with a grin and chuckle.
The food wasn't the only thing that made the top of a list of favorites for six of the students who this year are located in a high school wing rather than in the Greenfield Middle School.
The 108 students are now housed on a second-floor wing at the school, which has been dubbed the Eighth Grade Academy.
Having more electives and sports to choose from was also a highlight for many of the 13-year-olds.
VB is taking cooking and Spanish. She said she likes learning the foreign language because she 'gets to learn it more and learn it now.'
Some other electives the small group of students are taking are film studies, French and band.
'I'm really happy learning under Mr. Calcari,' said JH. Paul Calcari is the music director at the high school.
JH, who has played the alto saxophone for three years, says he likes the fact that he is in the marching band because it helps him release energy. He admitted that he is not a big fan of traditional sports.
'I never had the hand-eye coordination for sports,' he joked.
JYW was keen on the fact that he and his peers have been treated like adults. 'They don't treat us like little kids & it makes us feel better about ourselves,' he said.
he students also commented on how they liked the new classrooms, teachers, desks and chairs.
GMS tech lab set to reopen By MACKENZIE ISSLER Recorder Staff
[ Originally published on: Thursday, September 3, 2009 ]
GREENFIELD -- Shooting a model rocket off may seem like a mindless task, but Greenfield Middle School teacher George ''Chip'' Bull knows better.
Bull spent much of his summer working to reopen a shuttered math/technology lab, which will now provide students with hands-on lessons in areas like space technology, pneumatics, hydraulics and aerodynamics.
Part of the space technology lesson is a virtual rocket building program, where the students have to calculate the performance of their rocket design using data from the simulation.
''This is a way to turn math into fun and show them the value of math,'' said Bull.
There are 15 stations in all, where two students work at once at each of the stations.
The lab equipment was purchased in 2000 for $250,000 during the middle school renovation. It operated until 2005 and was mothballed due to lack of funding for an instructor, materials and supplies, said Bull.
''I am one of the few people who remember how cool this could be,'' he said, as he gave a visitor a tour of the classroom on the first floor in the school.
Last fall, Bull said, he contacted interim Superintendent Susan Hollins to see if there was any way to reopen the lab.
Back to school: Greenfield's students resume classes today, with some changes By MACKENZIE ISSLER Recorder Staff
[ Originally published on: Thursday, September 2, 2009 ]
Photo: Recorder/Peter MacDonald
Karen Lunt works on a welcome sign in the library at Four Corners School in Greenfield.
GREENFIELD -- As the town's eighth-graders begin the school year today, they will be moving to the high school a year earlier than their predecessors, and into their own 'academy.'
Also, after being closed for a year, Four Corners School is back in business and will welcome some of the town's pupils in kindergarten through Grade 3.
Today, Greenfield's students go back to school, and this year, like the last, is marked by several changes.
The eighth-graders have moved to the high school, and in anticipation of their arrival, some of the classrooms on the second floor of the school were given a facelift this summer.
The eighth-grade had been housed at the middle school on Federal Street. Last year, some of the fourth grade classes moved to the middle school. So, now, the middle school has grades 4-7.
The refurbished second-floor wing of the high school has been dubbed the Eighth Grade Academy.
More kindergarten classes set for Greenfield By MACKENZIE ISSLER Recorder Staff
[ Originally published on: Saturday, August 29, 2009 ]
GREENFIELD -- With rising enrollment, the Greenfield elementary schools are planning to have two more kindergarten classes this year.
Interim Superintendent Susan Hollins said there were five classes last year, with 120 students. On Aug. 21, the school department had 137 students enrolled, with time still left for students to register.
Hollins said there will definitely be two classes at each of the three elementary schools: Newton, Federal Street and the newly reopened Four Corners. There may be a third class at Newton.
''Looking at the number of kindergarten students this year, it seems there are more children moving into the district,'' said Hollins, when asked what she feels are the main reasons for increase.
