Good Morning Everyone,
Welcome back to the first day of school! Over the next few weeks, we are going to move forward with a focus upon teaching and learning with purpose. As the Superintendent of Schools, I am asking everyone to please to stay positive, supportive, understanding; and most of all, flexible throughout this fall.
Shared Community Values: Since my arrival the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District, we have always emphasized the need to be respectful, responsible, and ready to learn! As we begin the new school year, we need everyone working together to model these values.
As well, through our districtwide work with TNTP, we have established a very clear set of Shared Community Expectations, which include but are not limited to:
- Put grade-level, high-quality material in front of all students.
- Ensure the students do the work and the thinking
- Promote deep engagement in the learning through speaking, writing, and other performance tasks
- Hold high expectations for all students and believe they can meet grade-level standards
Enrollment: Our enrollment for September 2022 as a regional school district has gone up from last year from 1,408 to 1,463 at this time. As of this morning, David Prouty High School is 383; Knox Trail Middle School is 386; Wire Village School is 424; and East Brookfield Elementary is 244 - of which 112 students enrolled for fall in our Cubs Corner Preschool.
Personnel: Presently, we are looking for a World Language Teacher (Spanish) at Knox Trail Middle School as well as a long-term substitute in middle school science.
Fall 2022 COVID-19 Guidance: DESE and DPH issued a joint memo with COVID information for the upcoming school year aligned with the new CDC guidance released last week. This upcoming school year, districts and schools should focus their COVID mitigation strategies towards vulnerable and symptomatic individuals, while minimizing the need for more restrictive districtwide COVID policies.
The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. Districts and schools are reminded that there is no longer any statewide masking mandate in schools (other than school health offices) and there is no testing requirement for schools. As always, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice. DESE concluded their statewide testing program in the spring and have provided schools and districts with information about how they can purchase face masks and testing kits, if they choose to do so. DESE will continue to support school districts throughout the year with our Rapid Response Call-in Center - with any questions or concerns.
Safety Drills: Please note that we will begin right away this school year with a number of drills to practice safety procedures for all of our administration, faculty, staff and students - to ensure that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency… In brief, we plan to hold fire drills in each of our schools over the first few days of school; and soon, we will have bus evacuations, lockdowns and more taking place in partnership with our local and state officials from throughout the region. Safety and security of our school is essential and is incumbent upon everyone to dot heir part; please continue to partner with us and support us in keeping everyone safe within our regional schools.
Get Involved! David Prouty High School and Knox Trail Middle School offer a variety of extra-curricular opportunities for our young people, and we want them to get involved and become and active part of our traditions in sports, music and the arts to name just a few... To learn more about the extra-curricular opportunities at Knox Trail Middle School and David Prouty High School, contact the main office of each school.
We also have a number of opportunities for you through our parent organizations that partner and support us more directly in the PAWS and PIE groups of Wire Village and East Brookfield Elementary Schools, respectively. David Prouty High School also offers Advisory Groups for their Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, which include: Early Childhood, Business/Marketing, Environmental Science and Technology, and Criminal Justice. As well, our Athletic Boosters and Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) remain quite active and supportive of our work as a district, and is always looking for parents/families to join them in the many events they hold each year. Please take some time for yourself and come out and join one of our parent organizations/groups this year.
High School Building Project Update: Our High School Building Committee (SBC) has been hard at work over the summer months and has not missed a beat – spreading the word about our proposed “Addition/Renovation” of David Prouty. Please take time to learn more about our project by going to the dphsbuilding.com website or by attending one of our weekly meetings. Also, please save the following dates:
Special Town Meetings:
- September 13, 2022: East Brookfield Special Town Meeting at 7:00 pm to be held at East Brookfield Elementary School, 410 East Main Street, East Brookfield, MA 01515.
- September 14, 2022: Spencer Special Town Meeting at 7:00 pm to be held at David Prouty High School’s McDonough Gymnasium, 302 Main Street, Spencer, MA 01562.
- October 4, 2022: Special Election (8:00 am–8:00 pm); East Brookfield Town Hall, 122 Connie Mack Drive, East Brookfield, MA 01515.
- October 4, 2022: Special Election (8:00 am–8:00 pm); Spencer Memorial Town Hall, 157 Main Street, Spencer, MA 01562.
Special Elections:
- October 4, 2022: Special Election (8:00 am–8:00 pm); East Brookfield Town Hall, 122 Connie Mack Drive, East Brookfield, MA 01515.
- October 4, 2022: Special Election (8:00 am–8:00 pm); Spencer Memorial Town Hall, 157 Main Street, Spencer, MA 01562.
It is sure to be an outstanding year ahead for our regional school district and all of our staff and students. On behalf of all of us, I thank you for your continued partnership and support of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District! I look forward to learning from, and with, all of you in the new school year ahead. @ChooseSEBRSD #ChasingExcellence4All #AllMeansAll
Sincerely Yours,
Paul S. Haughey, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District