Update on Elementary School Building Project and Related Topics

The PGO would like our school community to stay informed about the progress towards addressing elementary school building issues and making capital improvements. 

The dialogue surrounding the Amherst Elementary School Building Project surfaced multiple enrollment challenges facing the district.  

On June 14, 2017, the Amherst School Committee voted to form the Enrollment Working Group (EWG), which includes community members, families, and staff members, to investigate challenges and develop potential suggestions for consideration of the Superintendent. The EWG decided to form five subgroups: Socio-Economic Balance, Special Education Programs, Declining Enrollment, Preschool Access, and Dual Language Immersion.  

After working summer 2017 through winter 2018, the EWG subgroups each reported their findings to the Superintendent and Amherst School Committee. At the March 14, 2018 Amherst School Committee meeting, Superintendent Morris presented his formal response to the EWG findings. Information regarding the work of the EWG, it’s subgroups’ findings, and the Superintendent’s response can be found here.
The resulting work on exploring Dual Language Programming can be found in the link. Click here for an excellent production by Amherst Media on "Window into ARPS: Dual Language Program Presentation," hosted by Superintendent Michael Morris. 

Snow Delay/Cancellation Determination Process

message from Dr. Michael Morris, Superintendent of Schools

Amherst, Pelham, and the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts

Dear ARPS Community:

Given the high level of interest in how weather-related delay and cancellation decisions are made, I thought it would be helpful to share the process that we use.

First, I would like to acknowledge the large impact that a change in schedule imposes on families. I fully understand how a snow day, delay, or early release schedule has many unintended consequences on family and working life for those in the ARPS community. Our transportation system involves a network of four separate bus companies who transport students aged 3-21 in three counties, eight separate school districts, in a wide range of towns where the weather and road conditions are very different.

Transportation Organization

We have a complex system of drivers/bus companies that, surprisingly, optimizes our finances and operations. Some of our buses and vans are owned by the district and are driven by ARPS employees. We also utilize the Five-Star Bus Company for routes in Amherst and Pelham. Our Regional routes in Shutesbury and Leverett are covered by the Kuzmeskus Bus Company; they also manage the routes for the Shutesbury and Leverett Elementary Schools, which are autonomous districts with their own separate School Committees and a shared Superintendent, Jennifer Haggerty (who also manages the elementary schools for the towns of New Salem, Wendell, and Erving). Finally, we utilize the Vanpool company to transport students with specialized transportation needs and we also provide transportation support for students attending multiple vocational schools across three counties in the area, which each have their own Board of Trustees and Superintendents.

Our Towns

A frequent response on either a day when a weather related delay/cancellation has occurred (or has not occurred) is that a different call should have been made based on the weather in a specific location. I want to acknowledge these responses as fully appropriate and reasonable.  

For instance, on the snow day on March 8, all locations and roads in the Town of Amherst were cleared in time for a two-hour delay to be appropriate. However, the road conditions in several other towns were not safe for travel as per their Highway Departments. Likewise, community members from towns with higher elevations and more dirt roads have expressed concerns about the road conditions near them on days when we have not canceled or delayed the opening of school.

The reality is that on any given day, winter weather varies widely between the four towns of the Region. The range in snowfall amounts from the highest elevations in Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury are often quite different from those in lower elevations in Amherst. We try to do our best to balance the different weather and road conditions across the four towns of the Region when making these decisions. We do our best to make the best decision for all of our students with the information we have at about 5:00 AM, which usually (but not always) predicts what the conditions will be several hours later.

The Process

Our Transportation Coordinator, local DPW/Highway Departments, Shutesbury/Leverett Superintendent Haggerty, and myself are in contact about weather forecasts the day before any winter weather event. If there is high certainty on the forecast, we have attempted to inform the community of delays/cancellations the night prior if at all possible. When it is not possible, this same group begins communicating at 4:45 in the morning about current conditions. If we cannot receive assurances about the safety of bus travel to all four towns in our Region by the time buses are scheduled to depart to pick up our secondary school students, we assess whether a delay or cancellation is warranted. If the reports we receive indicate that the roads will not support safe transportation by 8:30 AM (when our Regional buses depart on days when we have two-hour delays), we cancel school. Student and bus safety is the primary factor in the decision-making process.

All decisions are made by 5:30 AM, because we know such decisions impact families in significant ways and some of our employees need to leave at that time to get to work. We update our automated phone line with delay/cancellation information (362-1898), contact local media outlets (22News and Western Mass News), and update the ARPS website (www.arps.org) with this information.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about weather-related transportation concerns. We appreciate your patience and understanding of the process that is required when making weather-related decisions in a geographically diverse and expansive region and with a complex network of transportation providers.

A Window into ARPS featuring Ms. Chamberlain!

In a recent episode of A Window into ARPS, Superintendent Michael Morris speaks with two beloved ARPS educators, Fort River Principal Diane Chamberlain and Crocker Farm Principal Derek Shea, about the culture of teaching at their elementary schools. Don't miss it! Both principals share several anecdotes highlighting the exciting work and play that our youngest learners experience each day. 

In A Window into ARPS, Amherst Regional Public School Superintendent Mike Morris introduces the new and veteran educators within the ARPS system. Episodes are archived at Amherst Media.

ARPS Notice Regarding Temporary Protected Status for El Salvadorian Immigrants

[On] January 8 it was announced that federal Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be ended for El Salvadorian immigrants beginning in 2019. Many members of our community immigrated from El Salvador under TPS. These are valued individuals who enrich our ARPS community in countless ways.

Since the announcement that TPS will be ending, we have heard from families who are concerned about their children’s status in our district. We want to ensure families that, consistent with our past practice, our core beliefs, and established law, we will continue to enroll and serve every child living in our district who chooses to attend our schools, without regard to their immigration status.

The case law on this topic is very clear and can be found in the United States Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe from 1982. Stemming from that decision, federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education states that:

All children in the United States are entitled to equal access to a basic public elementary and secondary education regardless of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or the status of their parents/guardians.

Nothing in yesterday’s announcement alters our policy of providing equal access to all students or our commitment to providing all children with the academic and emotional support that will allow them to flourish and become contributing members of our community.

Sincerely,

Michael Morris

Superintendent of Schools

Jean Fay

Amherst-Pelham Education Association President

Memo from Superintendent Morris regarding Homework during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

November 3, 2017

Dear Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Families and Staff:

As you know, students are expected to complete a significant amount of work outside of the school day and throughout the school year. We are committed to maintaining high expectations for our students, and we celebrate the many ways they achieve and succeed. However, we also recognize that there are times during the school year that students should be able to rest and recharge.

After deep consideration of the issue and consultation with our principals, as well as feedback from last year’s similar decision and from other districts that have taken similar measures, I have decided that no homework or professional work will be given, completed, or required by students and teachers over the Thanksgiving or the Winter Break. Long range projects will not have a due date of November 27th or January 2, respectively. Moreover, while daily reading is always recommended, it should be based on the choice of the student or family, not based on an assigned reading or text.

For our students' benefit, it is important that we recognize that these two breaks are used for not only religious or cultural observances and holiday celebrations, but also as a brief reprieve from the continuous academic assignments of the school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Morris
Superintendent of Schools

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Estimadas Familias y Personal de Amherst, Pelham y Regionales Amherst-Pelham:

Como saben, se espera que los estudiantes completen una cantidad significativa de trabajo fuera del día escolar y durante el año escolar. Estamos comprometidos en mantener altas expectativas para nuestros estudiantes, y celebramos las muchas formas en que logran y tienen éxito. Sin embargo, también reconocemos que hay momentos durante el año escolar en que los estudiantes deberían poder descansar y recargar energías.

Después de una profunda consideración del tema y consulta con nuestros directores, así como los comentarios de la decisión similar del año pasado y de otros distritos que han tomado medidas similares, he decidido que a los estudiantes y maestros no se le dará, ni se le requerirá completar tarea o trabajo profesional durante el receso de Día de Acción de Gracias o en las vacaciones de invierno. Los proyectos de largo alcance no tendrán una fecha de vencimiento del 27 de noviembre o el 2 de enero, respectivamente. Además, aunque siempre se recomienda la lectura diaria, debe basarse en la elección del alumno o de la familia, no en función de una lectura o texto asignado.

Para el beneficio de nuestros estudiantes, es importante que reconozcamos que estos dos
descansos se utilizan no solo para las celebraciones religiosas o culturales y las celebraciones festivas, sino también como un breve respiro de las tareas académicas continuas del año escolar.

Sinceramente,

Dr. Michael Morris
Superintendente de Escuelas

Statement from Dr. Michael Morris

On Tuesday, October 10, 2017 Dr. Morris was named Superintendent of Schools. Here is a statement he released after this appointment:

"It has been a privilege to have spent my educational career in our districts working on behalf of the children of Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury, and I am honored that I have been allowed to continue that work as the Superintendent of Schools. I want to thank the members of the School Committee for developing an open and thoughtful process in making this decision and for affording me this opportunity. The support of the School Committees, the outstanding Amherst Regional Public Schools faculty and staff, and the broader community has been invaluable during my time as Interim Superintendent. I look forward to continuing to build on those strong working relationships as we move forward with our vital work to support our communities’ most valuable resource—our children. Thank you again to the School Committee for showing your confidence in me in the vote for my appointment as well as over the past 13 months; I am excited for the journey ahead that we will travel, together, for the betterment of our students, families, staff, and community."

"A Window Into ARPS" with Superintendent Michael Morris and Amherst Media

Looking for some in depth perspective on what's happening in our schools? "A Window into ARPS" with Dr. Michael Morris is an excellent program on Amherst Media that covers a wide range of interesting topics! Here are recent episodes:

In the premiere episode of A Window into ARPS, Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Morris introduced two new District Office staff members: Doreen Cunningham, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Human Resources, and Ryan Harb, Food Services Director.

Meet two new ARPS professionals Waleska Santiago-Centeno, Crocker Farm Librarian, and Allison Estes-Browne, 5th grade teacher at Wildwood, in this episode.

Meet two new District Office staff members Tim Sheehan, District Curriculum Coordinator, and Dionne "DW" Walker-McCraven, High School Support & Intervention Specialist, in this September episode.

Meet ARPS Regional Principals Mark Jackson and Dr. Patty Bode in the most recent episode.

Community Feedback Wanted about Consideration of Superintendent Appointment

Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and Union 26 Committee Statement on Consideration of Permanent Appointment of Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Morris

The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and Union 26 School Committee voted at their September 6th meeting to consider the appointment of Interim Superintendent Michael Morris to the post of permanent Superintendent of Schools.

“At the end of the summer, the chairs learned that Interim Superintendent Morris had reconsidered his interest in being a candidate to be permanent superintendent,” said Eric Nakajima, Chair of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee. “Given his strong track record as Interim superintendent, the committees felt it worth exploring his appointment through a process that offers extensive opportunities for public discussion and input.”

"Many community members, educators and staff have approached us in recent months to express their interest in our discussion of this topic, and to express their support for Dr. Morris's work this past year," said Anastasia Ordonez, Chair of the Union 26 School Committee. "He's worked hard for our district and shown an ability to deftly manage district budgets, community needs, and student achievement. We're looking forward to formally considering his candidacy."

The committees have scheduled a discussion to officially consider the appointment at the September 26th joint Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and Union 26 meeting with a vote anticipated at either that meeting or on October 10th. The Committees expressed a strong interest in robust public engagement and input into the decision prior to taking that vote. Interim Superintendent Michael Morris will make a presentation at the September 26th meeting that will respond, in part, to questions submitted by the public and the school committees.

The Committees plan extended public comment periods at the beginning of both the September 12th and September 26th school committee meetings to be held at the Amherst Regional High School Library beginning at 6:30 PM.

Please provide the School Committee feedback on the potential appointment of Dr. Morris as permanent Superintendent. We welcome your questions or topics that may be included in a future presentation by Dr. Morris on September 26. The deadline for submissions is September 19. Please email schoolcommittee@arps.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Comité de la Escuela Regional de Amherst-Pelham y Unión 26 Declaración del Comité sobre la Consideración de la Nombramiento Permanente del Superintendente Interino Dr. Michael Morris

El Comité Escolar Regional de Amherst-Pelham y el Comité Escolar de la Unión 26 votaron en su reunión del 6 de septiembre para considerar el nombramiento del Superintendente Interino Michael Morris al puesto de Superintendente de Escuelas Permanente.

"Al final del verano, los presidentes de comités escolares se enteraron que el superintendente interino Morris había cambiado de opinión y estaba interesado en ser candidato superintendente permanente", dijo Eric Nakajima, Presidente del Comité Escolar Regional de Amherst-Pelham. "Dado su sólido historial como Superintendente Interino, los comités consideraron que valía la pena explorar su nombramiento a través de un proceso que ofrece amplias oportunidades para la discusión pública y el aporte".

"Muchos miembros de la comunidad, educadores y el personal se han acercado a nosotros en los últimos meses para expresar su interés en nuestra discusión de este tema, y para expresar su apoyo a la obra del Dr. Morris el año pasado", dijo Anastasia Ordonez, Presidenta del Comité Escolar de la Unión 26. "Ha trabajado duro para nuestro distrito y ha demostrado su habilidad para manejar hábilmente los presupuestos del distrito, las necesidades de la comunidad y el logro de los estudiantes, y estamos deseando considerar formalmente su candidatura".

Los comités han programado una discusión para considerar oficialmente el nombramiento en conjunto el Comité Escolar Regional Amherst-Pelham y la Unión 26 en la reunión del 26 de septiembre con una votación anticipada ya sea en esa reunión o en la del 10 de octubre. Los Comités expresaron un gran interés en una participación pública sólida y contribución en la decisión antes de tomar esa votación. El superintendente interino Michael Morris hará una presentación en la reunión del 26 de septiembre que responderá, en parte, a las preguntas presentadas por el público y los comités escolares.

Los comités planifican extender los periodos de comentarios públicos al comienzo de las reuniones de comité escolar los días 12 de septiembre y 26 de septiembre, que se llevarán a cabo en la Biblioteca de la Escuela Regional de Amherst comenzando a las 6:30 PM.

Proporcione al Comité Escolar comentarios sobre la posible designación del Dr. Morris como Superintendente Permanente. Damos la bienvenida a sus preguntas o temas que pueden ser incluidos en una presentación futura por el Dr. Morris el 26 de septiembre. La fecha límite para las presentaciones es el 19 de septiembre. Por favor envíe un correo electrónico a schoolcommittee@arps.org.

Fort River Building Site/Feasibility Study 2nd Listening Session on September 11

Please join the Amherst School Committee and Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Morris on September 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM in the Amherst Regional High School Library to share your ideas and learn more about The Fort River Building & Site Feasibility Study, School Building Committee.

In May 2017, Amherst Town Meeting appropriated funds to conduct a feasibility study about the Fort River Elementary School building and site. Please attend the listening sessions to learn more about the feasibility study process and the responsibilities of the School Building Committee (the body charged with overseeing the feasibility study), share your ideas about membership and public engagement, and ask your questions.

This will be the second session. The first session took place on Thursday August 8th, 2017 at 6:00 pm in the Town Room. The PGO is not hosting this event but rather is helping to promote it to the community. We hope to see you there!

Click here for the flyer in Spanish
Click here for the flyer in English

ARPS Superintendent Message About Charlottesville and Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

from the Office of the Superintendent:

Dear ARPS Families:

Given the recent events in Charlottesville, VA, we wanted to reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our school community.  Our policies and practices center around providing a safe, supportive environment for all students, staff, families, and community members.  

Undoubtedly, the events of recent weeks will be on many of our students’ minds as they reenter the routines of the school year next week.  Our talented staff will be attentive to those needs and will provide the necessary support, guidance, and sensitivity that will promote the smooth re-entry of students to the upcoming school year.  If you feel that your child would benefit from additional support, please reach out to your child’s school counselor and/or principal.

Please be on the lookout for information about an upcoming parent/guardian event that we are co-sponsoring with the organization Embrace Race.  The event will focus on providing a space for dialogue and connection concerning the role parents/guardians play in supporting their children’s responses to, and experiences of, recent national events.

Sincerely,

Michael Morris, Interim Superintendent and Doreen Cunningham, Assistant Superintendent for Diversity, Equity, and Human Resources

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Estimadas Familias de ARPS:

Dado los recientes eventos en Charlottesville, VA, queríamos reafirmar nuestro compromiso inequívoco con la equidad, la diversidad y la inclusión en nuestra comunidad escolar. Nuestras políticas y prácticas se centran en proporcionar un ambiente seguro y de apoyo para todos los estudiantes, el personal, las familias y los miembros de la comunidad.

Sin lugar a dudas, los acontecimientos de las últimas semanas estarán en muchas de las mentes de nuestros estudiantes al volver a entrar en las rutinas del año escolar la próxima semana. Nuestro talentoso personal estará atento a esas necesidades y proporcionará el apoyo, la orientación y la sensibilidad necesarios para promover el regreso sin problemas de los estudiantes al próximo año escolar. Si usted siente que su hijo/a se beneficiaría de apoyo adicional, por favor, comuníquese con el Consejero/a de la escuela de su niño/a y / o el/la Principal.

Esté atento a la información sobre un próximo evento de padres / tutores que estamos co-patrocinamos con la organización Embrace Race. El evento se centrará en proporcionar un espacio para el diálogo y la conexión sobre el papel que los padres o tutores desempeñan en apoyar las respuestas de sus hijos y las experiencias de eventos nacionales recientes.

Sinceramente,

Michael Morris, Superintendente Interino y Doreen Cunningham, Superintendente Asistente de Diversidad, Equidad y Rec. Hum.

SEPAC Presents Post-Building Project Presentation on May 24

SEPAC invites you to take part in the upcoming Post-Building Project Presentation with Interim Superintendent, Dr. Mike Morris. All are welcome.

Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Time: 5:00 -6:30pm

Location: Amherst Regional Middle School, Professional Development Center

RSVP: sepac@arps.org or 413-687-4255

Please see the attached flyer for additional information.

Post-Building Project Presentation from Superintendent Morris

Dr. Morris has visited all three elementary schools to share thoughts and listen to feedback about the elementary building project and future steps.  If you missed these public meetings the Powerpoint presentation is available here.  

On Wednesday, May 3, Amherst Town Meeting approved funding for a Feasibility Study of the Fort River School and site. Click here for local news coverage. 

Post-Building Project Presentation by Dr. Morris

Thank you to everyone who attended the presentation by Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Morris last Friday morning. About 40 people attended on short notice - what a fabulous turnout! The PGO is grateful to have had the opportunity to host Dr. Morris and Ms. Hazzard, Chair of the Amherst School Committee, for this timely and in depth discussion of such an important topic.

If you missed the presentation it will be given again at the other elementary schools this Friday, May 5. The Crocker Farm PGO will host Dr. Morris from 9-10 am at Crocker Farm School, and the Wildwood PGO will host from 12-1pm in the Green Room at Wildwood. Families are welcome to attend either session.

Dr. Morris wants as many families to hear this presentation as possible. He will share information on challenges faced by our district, including (1) Financial, (2) Enrollment, and (3) Infrastructure, and looks forward to listening to your concerns and hearing your suggestions.

Small children are welcome.

Dr. Michael Morris Appointed Interim Superintendent for 2017-2018 School Year

Eric Nakajima, Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee Chair, and Anastasia Ordonez, Union 26 School Committee Chair, are pleased to announce that the committees have voted to extend the appointment of Dr. Michael Morris as Interim Superintendent of the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Schools for the 2017-2018 school year.  The unanimous vote of both committees occurred at a joint meeting held on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, and the vote is contingent upon successful contract negotiations between Dr. Morris and the School Committees. 

A 16-year veteran in the districts, Morris began his work in the district as a 5th and 6th grade teacher at Fort River Elementary School. He then became the principal of Crocker Farm Elementary School before moving into district administration first as Director of Evaluation and Assessment and then as Assistant Superintendent.  Morris was appointed Interim Superintendent in September 2016.

“The committee is grateful to Dr. Morris for his steady leadership over the past year,” said Eric Nakajima, “he is a gifted educational leader and we are looking forward to a full academic year in which he can work with us, the staff and community to advance our mission of educational excellence for all students.”

Dr. Morris holds a Bachelor's degree from Amherst College, a Master's and CAGS from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Doctoral degree from Boston College. His work on Educator Evaluation has been profiled as one of the four exemplary districts in the state by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He has also presented at statewide conferences on a variety of topics for the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Elementary Principals' Association, DESE's Spring Convening on Educator Evaluation, as well as others. 

“I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve as Interim Superintendent and to work collaboratively with the School Committees and the outstanding faculty and staff of our districts on behalf of our students,” Morris stated.  “I look forward to continuing that work for another year.” 

"Teachers, parents, staff and community leaders have repeatedly expressed their enthusiastic support for Dr. Morris's work so far, and I'm pleased that the Committees voted to have him continue as Interim Superintendent for the next academic year," said Ms. Ordonez. "Dr. Morris is a steady and collaborative leader who is committed to the excellence of all our students, and we are grateful for his many years of service to this community and school district."

Transgender Students Rights Unchanged

from the Office of the Superintendent:

Transgender students in the Amherst-Regional Public School Districts will not see any change in their protected rights based on the revocation of a federal directive regarding locker rooms and restrooms.

Massachusetts law, guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, established District practices, and local bylaws permit pupils to use facilities consistent with one’s gender identity.

Our schools will remain welcoming and inclusive places for all students.

Superintendent Search Consultant Outreach Meetings POSTPONED

from ARPS Central office:

Due to a winter storm forecast for Monday that may impact travel, Dr. Michael Rush, Superintendent Search Consultant, has moved the dates of next week’s focus groups to Wednesday, January 25 and Thursday, January 26.  He and the district want to ensure that as many stakeholders as possible have an opportunity to share their thoughts about what qualities, skills, and experience the School Committees should consider as they seek a permanent Superintendent of Schools.   

Although the date and some meeting locations are changed, the meeting times for each constituency group are unchanged. Parents and guardians are now scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25th in the Amherst Regional Middle School Library. The full schedule of meetings is attached.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Focus Groups Schedule 

Debido a una tormenta de invierno pronosticada para el lunes que puede afectar en los viajes, el Dr. Michael Rush, Consultor de Búsqueda del Superintendente, ha movido las fechas de los grupos de enfoque de la próxima semana para el miércoles, 25 de enero y jueves, 26 de enero. Tanto el como el distrito desean asegurar que el mayor número de participantes posible tengan la oportunidad de compartir sus pensamientos acerca de las cualidades, habilidades y experiencia que los Comités Escolares deben considerar cuando buscan un Superintendente de Escuelas permanente. 

A pesar de que la fecha y algunos lugares de reunión cambiaran, los horarios de reunión para cada grupo de electores no se han modificado.  Se adjunta el calendario completo de reuniones. Los padres y encargados están programados para las 6:30 p.m. el miércoles, 25 de enero en la Biblioteca de la Escuela Intermedia Regional de Amherst.

Nos disculpamos por cualquier inconveniente.

ARPS Bumper Stickers - Show Your School Pride!

Superintendent Mike Morris ordered ARPS car bumper stickers for the community, as another way to show our Amherst pride. Stickers are available in English and Spanish.  

Show your pride! GO Canes!

Letter to the Community from Amherst/Northampton Superintendents

Letter to the Community

November 9, 2016

Dear Amherst-Pelham Regional and Northampton Communities:

Today, many students came to school expressing feelings about the Presidential Election in our similar school communities. Some indicated that they were in need of support or that they are concerned for their friends. In general, our response has been to provide instructional routines which benefit students; to reassure students that our districts do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, economic status, or ethnic background; and to provide additional support from our mental health teams. Additionally, our staff has facilitated dialogue and guided discussions about the election as students have raised the topic to make classrooms safe for all students to discuss their viewpoints regardless of their reaction to the election.

We are aware that there is a range of opinions and emotions from many individuals in our communities. Our talented staff will continue to be sensitive to students who express concerns about the election results and will partner with students and families to support them in whatever way is needed.

If you feel that your child would benefit from additional support or a check-in based on what you are seeing at home, please let your child’s teacher know and we will ensure that this support is offered. We are fully committed to maintaining our districts as safe places for all students to learn and interact with others in their school community.

A helpful video about talking to your children about the results can be found here: https://goo.gl/mYIdxL If you have any questions, please let us know.

Best,

Dr. Michael Morris                                     

Interim Superintendent                              

Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools            

Dr. John Provost

Superintendent

Northampton Public Schools

LAS ESCUELAS REGIONALES PÚBLICAS DE AMHERST 

9 de noviembre de 2016

Estimadas Comunidades de Regionales de Amherst-Pelham y Northampton:

En el día de hoy, muchos estudiantes llegaron a la escuela expresando sentimientos acerca de la elección presidencial en nuestras comunidades escolares similares. Algunos indicaron que estaban en necesidad de apoyo y / o que estaban preocupados por sus amigos. En general, nuestra respuesta ha sido proporcionar rutinas de instrucción que benefician a los estudiantes; para asegurarle a los estudiantes que nuestros distritos no toleran la discriminación por motivos de raza, color, sexo, identidad de género, religión, discapacidad, origen nacional, orientación sexual, situación económica, o el origen étnico; y para proporcionar apoyo adicional por parte de nuestros equipos de salud mental. Además, nuestro personal ha facilitado el diálogo y guiado discusiones acerca de las elecciones, ya que los estudiantes han planteado el tema de hacer aulas seguras donde todos los estudiantes puedan discutir sus puntos de vista, independientemente de su reacción a la elección.

Estamos conscientes de que hay una gama de opiniones y emociones de muchos individuos en nuestras comunidades. Nuestro talentoso personal continuará siendo sensible a los estudiantes que expresan sus preocupaciones acerca de los resultados de las elecciones, y se asociará con los estudiantes y las familias para apoyarlos de cualquier manera que se necesiten.

Si usted siente que su hijo/a se beneficiaría de apoyo adicional o de un chequeo basado en lo que está viendo en casa, por favor déjele saber al maestro de su hijo/a y nos aseguraremos de que este apoyo se ofrezca. Estamos totalmente comprometidos a mantener a nuestros distritos lugares seguros para que todos los estudiantes aprendan e interactúen con otros en su comunidad escolar.

Un video muy útil sobre cómo hablar con sus hijos acerca de los resultados que puede encontrar en: https://goo.gl/mYIdxL Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor háganoslo saber.

Los mejores deseos,

Dr. Michael Morris                                               

Superintendente Interino                                     

Escuelas Regionales de Amherst-Pelham

Dr. John Provost          

Superintendente  

Escuelas Públicas de Northampton