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News at Poet Seat School 

Friday, April 6, 2007, the Poet Seat "gang" – staff and students will be spending the day at Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in Leverett, MA. Highly trained instructors will guide them through the low ropes course, and those who are more daring might accept the challenge of attempting the high ropes course. This activity is intended to foster trust, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and self-esteem. It is also an opportunity for staff and students to work together and have fun outdoors!

After spring vacation, Beth Epstein, an artist from the community will work with the Poet Seat students on a project entitled Dragon Art: Where East Meets West. This grant-funded project will incorporate art techniques, Asian culture, mindfulness and community service.

source: http://www.winning-science-fair-projects.com/graphics/winninglayout.gif

The science of learning
GHS fair winners head to regionals

The Recorder
Thursday, March 1, 2007, p.2
By DIANE BRONCACCIO

GREENFIELD — “If we have healthy trees, we have better air quality,” 11th-graders CB and MH wrote in their science fair project for Greenfield High School.

When they learned the town Department of Public Works has a list of requests for tree-plantings, the two students went to several sites in town, testing the soil to determine what kind of trees would most readily adapt to the pH and to the nitrogen content of the soil.

Working with Greenfield Tree Warden Paul Newell and with Carolyn McClellan, chairwoman of the Greening of Greenfield committee, they measured below the topsoil to determine the soil quality, then made suggestions about which kind of trees would fare best at that site.

“We chose this project because we knew it would directly affect our town, and the beauty of it, and the healthy air and healthy trees,” she said.

“Tough Trees in Tough Surroundings” was one of 72 projects in this year’s Greenfield Science Fair. Altogether, 120 students — nearly one-fourth of the entire student body — made projects for this year’s fair.

Ninth-grader AT was also thinking about her hometown when she created her project, which was to measure particulate matter in the air, at different parts of town. Her exhibit is one of 12 that will go on to be displayed at the Regional Science Fair, on March 9, held at the College of Liberal Arts in North Adams.

“A lot of students were very interested in doing this,” said John Kudukey, chairman of the high school’s science department. “Over the years, students realize it’s an important and interesting event, and they can go on to the state level, where the awards are much greater.”

Those students who win prizes at the regional fair will be invited to compete against students from all over the state in the Massachusetts Science Fair, to be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in early May.

The Greenfield science projects were evaluated by 17 judges, which included teachers, student teachers from the University of Massachusetts, Greenfield Community College professors and others.

The following projects and students are eligible for the regional competition:

• KB and KA: “What Method of Hygiene is Most Effective for Killing Common Bacteria in Contact Lens Cases?”

• DVT and JW: “The Effect of Temperature on the Strength of Metal Adhesive Epoxy.”

• SB and MM: “Shock Absorption Testing of Field Hockey Sticks.”

• SK and AR: “Antibiotic Resistance in E.coli.”

• CC: “Steel Hardness vs. Flexibility.”

• NM: “Which Kills More Bacteria, Hand Sanitizer or Soap?”

• KV: “Vitamin C in Juices.”

• MB: “The Effects of Magnets on Plant Growth.”

• AC and JM: “Are We Boring You?”

• IK and VK: “What Material Insolates the Best?”

• AW: “Growing Plants with a Growing Sport.”

• CM and ZS: “Burning Calories: Comparing Actual and Advertised Calorie Values."

• KAand IU: “Ways to Purify Water.”

You can reach Diane Broncaccio at: dbronc@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 277

Newton School aiming for extended day program

The Recorder
Tuesday, February 27, 2007, p.3
By DIANE BRONCACCIO

GREENFIELD - Along with the Greenfield Middle School, Newton School is also working on an extended day plan that may qualify the elementary school for a $1,300-per-pupil grant, enriching the school's curriculum and extending the school day there.

The state Department of Education program is called "School Redesign: Expanding Learning Time to Support Student Success," and is in its second year.

The purpose of the longer school day is to offer students more time for challenging, research-based learning experiences, provide more instruction in math, literacy, science and other core subjects. Another goal is to add enrichment programs, such as performing arts and athletics, while increasing time for teacher planning and development.

Greenfield schools received a $15,000 planning grant to help in planning the curriculum for a longer school day, according to the state Department of Education Web site.

According to the education department, at least 60 percent of the grant money available will go to school districts where at least 25 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Other eligibility criteria for the competitive grant are: districts where a high percentage of students do poorly on MCAS tests; plans that show the greatest potential for districtwide impact; and districts with intentional plans to work with outside organizations, including community-based agencies, child-care organizations and colleges.

School officials believe Greenfield Middle School and Newton school are good candidates for the Expanding Learning Time initiative. The schools receiving the award are to be announced to school districts near the end of April. Other local schools that have received planning grants for Expanding Learning Time, according to the state, are: Hawlemont ($4,500), Rowe Elementary School ($4,500) and Ralph C. Mahar ($10,000).

On Thursday evening, Superintendent Joseph Ruscio III recommended to the School Committee closing Green River School. When asked why he didn't recommend closing Newton, Ruscio said the Expanding Learning Time grant was one reason why Newton's closing was not recommended, along with other grants that the school has received for its "Reading First" program and other literacy initiatives. Also, Ruscio said, the elementary school has more classroom space than Green River, which would allow for more flexibility if school enrollment should increase.

"However," he added, "we are going to look at the request by the (School Committee) to review the data and see what it would mean if Newton was closed instead." He said administrators would also look at whether it will be possible to transfer grant programs from one school to another.

Under the current school-grade configuration, Ruscio anticipates the following enrollments for the coming school year: Federal Street School, 256; Four Corners, 270; Green River, 122; Newton, 191; Greenfield Middle School, 403 and Greenfield High School, 481.

If the fifth-grade is moved to the middle school and Green River is closed, these school enrollments are expected: Federal Street, 243; Four Corners, 258; Newton, 197; Greenfield Middle School (grades 5 through 8), 544; and Greenfield High School, 481.

You can reach Diane Broncaccio at: dbronc@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 277.

Honor roll: Greenfield names top teachers

The Recorder
Tuesday, February 27, 2007, p.5
By DIANE BRONCACCIO

Greenfield - For four teachers who go "above and beyond" their duties everyday, Greenfield superintendent Joseph Ruscio III went out of his way Monday morning, surprising them in their classrooms with balloons and engraved plaques proclaiming them this year's Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching award winners.

"I think I was able to surprise every one of them," he said, after walking into their schools with the news.

The Greenfield teachers are among 146 teachers throughout the Pioneer Valley to be honored for their commitment and impact on children in their schools. They are: Nancy Alan of Greenfield High School; George "Chip" Bull of Greenfield Middle School; Carol Reddy of Four Corners School; and Maureen Barisano of Newton School. ...

The Franklin County teachers and their guests, along with Hampshire county teachers, will be honored with a celebratory dinner at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on May 3. They also will receive a $500 prize ($100 to be used in their classrooms), membership to a local YMCA, an invitation for a year's membership in the WGBY Channel 57 Technology Program, a letter of commendation from the governor and other gifts.

Greenfield High School language teacher Nancy Alan has been an educator for at least 30 years, according to Principal Nancy Athas. Besides earning respect and administration from her students, Alan "develops a love of the language for most," says the letter.

"Every year for the past four years, she has put in her retirement papers and, because she loves her job, has rescinded them," Athas wrote: "She is an organized and dedicated teacher who often works early mornings and into the early evening."

Maureen Barisano received a First Year excellence in teaching award for her work as a kindergarten teacher at Newton Elementary School. According to Principal Mary Lou DiBella, Barisano worked as a teacher's aide at the school for several years and, in preparation for her teaching job, voluntarily participated in all trainings available to teachers at Newton.

"She got the award because she goes above and beyond," DiBella said. "She works well with the parents. She pays very close attention to the children. She exemplifies what a kindergarten teacher should bring to the classroom."

Carol Reddy, who teaches second grade at Four corners Elementary School, "surpasses excellence in teaching practices," according to Principal Gail Healy.

Reddy has developed grants that have helped the school. "She has enormous enthusiasm and optimism for students and staff," said Healy. "I consider her a model teacher."

George "Chip" Bull contributes to the quality of education, according to a group of peers who nominated him for the honor.

"He captures (students') attention with drama, technology-rich presentations and relevant content. Chip's students are eager to come to school each day to discover what surprises are in store for them," says the nomination letter. "His students develop a genuine love for things such as geography, current events, literature and technology through his example."

Bull often arrives by 6 a.m. and stays until about 5 p.m., the letter says. "We honestly can't think of a faculty member at our school who is more respected by his peers, students, and parents."…

The 5-year-old award used to be known as the Harold Grinspoon Award, but the name of the award has been changed as more sponsors have joined the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation to support it. Area sponsors include: the Grinspoon Foundation; Channing Bete Co.; Southworth Paper Co.; Workers Credit union of Athol, area YMCAs; Springfield Republican; Country Bank; and the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House.

You can reach Diane Broncaccio at: dbronc@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 277

Warning lifted for GHS curriculum

The Recorder
Saturday, February 24, 2007, p.3
By DIANE BRONCACCIO

GREENFIELD - The commission that accredits New England high schools has taken Greenfield High School off warning status for curriculum standards and has voted to continue the school's accreditation, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Ruscio III told the School Committee this week.

"This is good news," said Ruscio, who credits raised expectations for student performance and the hard work of the school's staff and faculty for curriculum improvements over the last two years. "This is one more step on the train of progress for Greenfield Public Schools," he said.

While acknowledging the school has made progress, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges said the school is still on warning status for professional staffing levels and "community resources," a category that includes the structural inadequacies of the high school building itself. Those issues are to be addressed in a Special Progress Report that school officials must submit by Nov. 1.

The school was placed on warning status in 2004, after an accreditation team visited the school. "Due to extensive budget cuts, teachers lack updated resources in order to implement the curriculum," the 59-page report noted. "Textbooks are shared, teachers purchase their own supplies and materials."

That report noted that several courses had been eliminated and that staffing was not sufficient for the full curriculum.

But in a letter to high school Principal Nancy Athas this week, the association's Commission on Public Secondary Schools commended the school for the following improvements:

• The large number of students who have accessed the newly re-established technical education program; the Virtual High School, which is an online program that gives students access to courses taught by teachers all over the country; internships for students and other electives.
• The re-instatement of curriculum coordinators to work with teachers and make improvements in the school's curriculum.
• The reopening of, or addition, of advanced placement honors and elective courses.
• The use of MCAS data, along with the school's raised academic expectations, to make decisions affecting curriculum.
• The hiring of a consultant to work with administrators regarding school improvement plans and curriculum design.
• And school building improvements, which included enclosure of exposed wiring, repair of cracked windows and roof replacement.

The commission also praised the school for the improved scores of students on the MCAS tests; integrating technology into instruction; its partnerships with the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Greenfield Community College. Also commended was the acquisition of a dropout prevention grant and "the detailed and thoughtful approach the school has taken to addressing the follow-up reports."

In November, school officials are expected to submit a progress report that gives an update on staffing levels, the adequacy of the high school library/media center, and the results of the school's feasibility study, which concerns plans for renovation or replacement of the 50-year-old building.

You can reach Diane Broncaccio at: dbronc@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 277

Federal Street School
Art Gallery Opening

Adapted from article in
The Recorder
Thursday, January 25, 2007, p.5
By Recorder Staff

MONET WOULD HAVE BEEN PLEASED BY SUCH A TURNOUT!

Over 100 families showed up to celebrate the student art on display at the official opening of the Federal Street Art Gallery on Thursday evening, January 25th.

Special appreciation goes to FSS Art Teacher, Ms. Jan Atamian, for the time and energy she dedicated to creating the show - and for the daily inspiration she provides while introducing our children to the visual arts.

Student Gallery Guides were on hand proudly discussing their works and accepting the praise of the enthusiastic audience.

GREENFIELD- The Federal Street School's new Art Gallery had its opening on Thursday, January 25, 2007, where parents and children gathered to admire their children's work, and hear a talk about "The Fine Art of Parenting" afterward.

School Principal Elizabeth Musgrave converted the school connector hallway into a permanent display space for schoolchildren's artwork and writings.

Besides providing an opportunity for guest to view students' work, Musgrave said she hoped children would take the time to see what their classmates are doing as well.

She said she plans to have rotating shows of student art, with occasional art shows of children's work from other schools -- or even other parts of the world.

She said the 280 children go through the hallway daily, en route to the cafeteria or the gymnasium. "This is a wonderful way of making a large space, that could be impersonal, friendly, and inviting," she said.

This beautiful artwork is clearly a pigment of their imagination!

A display of colors as bright as the rays of summer!

Science clubs get $800,000 infusion

DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff

Thursday, January 11, 2007

GREENFIELD - Thanks to an $800,000 National Science Foundation grant, children in Franklin County schools will soon be doing scientific research with their teachers and with environmental research scientists in a new after-school program called the Franklin County Research Academies for Young Scientists (STEM RAYS).

STEM stands for "Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics," and the program will provide science research programs for Franklin County students in grades 4 to 8 in after-school and summer programs.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the lead partner in the project, which also includes Greenfield Community College, seven Franklin County school districts plus local businesses and informal science organizations.

The pilot phase, which began this month, offers after-school programs in elementary schools and science clubs in middle schools. After summer workshops for teachers and a science camp for middle-school students, about 24 teachers and 288 students will be involved when full-scale implementation begins in September.

Participating schools this semester are: Federal Street School in Greenfield; Shutesbury and Swift River elementary schools; Deerfield Elementary and Conway Grammar schools; Rowe, Bernardston, Warwick and Northfield elementary schools.

The Mohawk and Frontier regional middle schools are participating in the Grades 7 and 8 component.

But every public school in Franklin County is eligible to participate in the program, says UMass professor Allan Feldman, one of the principal investigators and a professor of science education. He said the proposal was written by himself, former GCC grant writer Dale Macleod, UMass professor Mort Sternheim and GCC environmental science professor Brian Adams. Sternheim and Adams are also principal investigators for the project.

Feldman said the proposal was developed last spring and that the grant was awarded on Dec. 1. Participating teachers attended weekend workshops last month.

Two pilot research programs that students will work on this spring are on arsenic in the environment, led by UMass chemist Julian Tyson; and Pioneer Valley Watershed studies, led by GCC's Brian Adams.

Next year's projects will include: weather detection and prediction; air quality, and bird studies.

Feldman said the project is funded through 2008, but coordinators are hoping to interest business or corporate sponsors in continuing the program beyond that.

"My part of the project is the education research question: How does this (participation in research) affect students and teachers in their interest and attitudes toward science?"

According to Mohawk student teacher Wayne Kermenski, the seventh- and eighth-graders in the ACE (After-Class Experience) Club will meet for the first time on Tuesday, to undertake research on Clesson Brook, which runs behind the school, and on the Deerfield River watershed. He said the project will involve how road salt affects the watershed. They may also be studying freshwater insects and other water-chemistry issues. So far, nine students are signed up, but the program has room for 12, he said.

"The (premise) of the program is that the students will be the scientists," he said. "They're not just there to participate. I'm going to guide them, but it's not me telling them what to do: It's them coming up with ideas. This is inquiry-based."

At Federal Street School in Greenfield, the 12 student participants will meet for the first time today with teacher Candace Fields, to begin testing for arsenic in water supplies - starting with the water coming from school drinking fountains.

"We're really excited about it," Principal Elizabeth Musgrave said. "We're excited about the whole concept of getting the kids to see themselves as scientists, collecting the data and doing real research."

At Shutesbury Elementary School, so many children wanted to participate in the program, designed for 12 students, that the school has enlisted parent volunteers to help with the 20 that have enrolled, said Principal Robert Mahler.

"We feel, we have the interest, why would we turn them down? We read about the shortage of scientists in this country. ... If we capture these kids' imagination, you never know what's going to ignite some kid's interest," Mahler said. "I'm thrilled that we're a part of this."

STEM RAYS research involves major concepts in the biological, physical and earth sciences, as well as significant ideas in engineering and technology.

It offers the students and their teachers opportunities to conduct authentic environmental research in close association with campus research communities of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) faculty, graduate students and undergraduates from UMass, GCC and Smith College. A research component will assess the effectiveness of the model and its impact on the participants.

"This connection to active research groups provides a richer experience for students than do science 'activities' that offer only a classroom-based experience," says Feldman. More information about the project is online at: http://www.umassk12.net/rays.

You can reach Diane Broncaccio at: dbronc@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 277.

On the map:
7th grader wins GMS geography bee

The Recorder
01/09/2007, p. 4

DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff

Greenfield- Greenfield Middle School's 11th annual Geography Bee was a nail-biter of a competition: first, as third place contenders NM and TP went round after round, and then later, as AH and TM vied for first place.

In the end, seventh-grader AH won first place, defeating TM by correctly answering that Greece is home to Mount Olympus. Besides winning a certificate and the Encyclopedia of Geography, AH wins a chance to compete statewide. If [he] takes a geography test and is among the top 100 students in the state, he'll go to Worcester for a statewide contest.

But the real wonder was how quiet the filled middle school auditorium was as each contestant pondered, for instance, which state house Yosemite National Park (California), or the city located between Lake Ponchatrain and the Mississippi River (New Orleans).

The crowd issued a collective gasp whenever an answer was pronounced incorrectly, and they applauded students' efforts as they were eliminated from the rounds.

"They get more and more interested as the (bee) goes on," social studies teacher Jason Schneider remarked afterward.

"They all think it's kind of nerdy at first, but they all get into it. That's all they'll be talking about this afternoon."

TM, a sixth grader, took second place, and NM, an eight grader, took third place. Both received certificates and a world atlas.

Nine of the 10 finalists were grade-level winners, and each received a T-shirt. All prizes were donated by the school's Parent-Teacher Organization.

Schoolhouse rock:
School volunteers offer more than basics

The Recorder
12/30/2006 9:47:00 AM

DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff

GREENFIELD - An unused shop classroom at Greenfield Middle School is smokin' with the bass lines of rock songs "Smoke on the Water" and "More Than a Feeling," as several middle school students huddle with their electric guitars and drum sets in small groups and simultaneously jam.

The after-school meeting on Thursday was only the second time that several sixth- and seventh-graders have been able to get-together with their music mentor, middle school custodian Stephen Fleury.

For now, said Fleury, he's happy to see the students jam, to get used to playing music with each other, to explore the kind of music they like. Eventually, he'd like to see the young musicians form two separate bands.

"I was in a band in high school and when I was in the military," said Fleury. "It's good watching them react to one another. I always wanted to do something like this. I wish I'd had something like this when I was in high school."

Not everyone has his own instrument or amplifier, so Fleury, a guitarist, has brought in some of his own equipment for the students to try.

"I've wanted to do this for at least a year," said one student, who says he plays lead guitar as he introduces himself. And now that Fleury has volunteered to help the kids with advice, and a space in which to play, they can.

Fleury is one of several adults this fall who is giving some of his time and expertise to help students, through a new program called "Communities in Schools."

The "Communities in Schools" program was started by DIAL/SELF Teen Services, along with the Greenfield School Department and the Franklin Medical Center.

CIS is a school-community partnership that tries to help kids succeed in school by leveraging community resources to benefit Greenfield Middle School students. The GMS program is the first Communities in Schools effort in Massachusetts, and in fact the only CIS in New England, according to DIAL/SELF's Phil Ringwood, senior director of development and special projects.

Since October, students, faculty, and parents have given feedback about the kinds of services and programs they would like to see at the middle school. In response, volunteers have stepped forward to help with a number of projects.

Community Resource Coordinator Sarah Singer's role is to identify needs, and then to recruit community volunteers to meet those needs.

The first project tackled was to find enough volunteers to re-open the middle school library, closed when the librarian position was eliminated through budget cuts last year. Singer said about 12 volunteers have been working there since Nov. 6.

Another project is to have "guest readers" visit the school, read to the sixth-graders and discuss what they've read with the children. The first guest reader was Mayor Christine Forgey.

"Part of the idea was for them to get to know who she is, to have an interaction with someone of that standing, and to feel they are valued and interesting," Singer said.

A youth leader from Community Action's youth programs is leading a weekly after-school girl's group, which was started on Dec. 6.

In January, five community volunteers will start a program called "Owning Up," which Singer describes as an anti-bullying initiative, designed to foster a student's sense of self-worth and dignity.

The program also has a few volunteers who work one-to-one on reading skills with special education students who have transitioned into general classrooms, but who still need help with their reading skills.

"We could do a million things, if we had the volunteers," Singer said.

Other projects students would like to be involved with, if there were volunteers to coach them, include dance classes and a drama club, photography classes, music and arts, and intramural sports.

"The school would love to have performers come in for assemblies, but there is no money for performers," said Singer. "There are kids who would love to have a (school) chorus."

The local CIS effort began a year and a half ago. In response to the area's drop-out rates, nonprofit DIAL/SELF Teen Services began seeking a way to help local students succeed and stay in school. The agency became intrigued by the Communities in Schools model that began 30 years ago and operates successfully in 28 states, serving millions of children each day.

The Communities in Schools philosophy is that every child needs and deserves Five Basics: a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult; a safe place to learn and grow; a healthy start and a healthy future; a marketable skill to use upon graduation and a chance to give back to peers and community.

For more information, or to volunteer, call Singer at: (413) 834-8140