• Welcome Back To School, District Letter

      August 2023 Dear Frontier & Union #38 Families, Welcome back to a new school year! It’s that time of year when our summer winds down, and we gear up for back-to-school. We begin to get ready for new classrooms, new friends, and new experiences, which, as we all know, can bring mixed emotions. I know that I am excited to return to the bustle of our buildings and I want to welcome you to the 23-24 school year!    At this time, I want to extend my gratitude for your ongoing support and  involvement in our educational community. We also have had  tremendous community support for the district’s capital-building projects. I am proud to share, that this summer our buildings received new flooring, bathroom upgrades, air conditioning expansion, new high-efficiency boilers, and the reconstruction of the tennis courts at Frontier. School facilities are a vital community asset and we continue to focus on future-proofing as much as we can.   The state has committed to continue the free meals program for all students for this school year (pending an expected governor’s approval).   We ask that families who qualify as low-income still take a moment to fill out paperwork, as this information is vital to how our school receives funding from the state and federal government.   In our classrooms, we are making adjustments to our curriculum with the addition of several new resources.  In grades K-6, we are introducing a new English Language Arts program that is aligned with the latest research on how students learn to read.  In grades K-2, students learn foundational reading skills through the UFLI curriculum.  In grades K-6, all students will use the EL Language Arts curriculum, which supports all state standards for reading, writing, and speaking. The elementary schools have also chosen their next mathematics curriculum (Bridges K-5, Illustrative Math in grade 6), which will be piloted in several classrooms starting this year. All elementary schools continue implementing Responsive Classroom, an approach to building community, handling conflicts, difficulties, and developing social skills. At the secondary level, continued implementation of the Restorative Practices model supports the development of similar skills. At the secondary level new guidelines released by the state for civics engagement will impact the social studies curriculum. Students in grades 8 and 12 currently participate in a civics action project. The focus for social studies and science is shifting to increased hands-on learning experiences. Enrollment in the Innovation Pathways programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Health Care and Social Assistance continues to grow. Planning is underway to expand student choices in the Pathways programs, future pathways will include areas such as Criminal Justice and Business. Antiracism and equity work continue to be a focus in the district.  This fall, the recently completed Equity Audit will be presented at the joint school committee meeting on September 28, 2023. We are looking forward to developing a comprehensive plan based on this report.   As we embark on a new school year, thank you again for your continued support and partnership. We are excited to welcome our students back to school and look forward to working together to create an inclusive educational community. Families will receive school-specific information from building principals in the coming days/week. Enjoy the closing weeks of summer, Darius Modestow,  Superintendent

    Tuesday, Aug 08 2023

  • CMSi Equity Audit

      January 2023  Dear Frontier and Union #38 Families,  Just as the new year is a time for individuals to reflect and to plan ways to improve themselves, self-examination and goal-setting for continued improvement are valuable for organizations, including school districts. A key goal for the Frontier Regional/Union 38 school district is to provide every one of our students with equitable access to a high quality education. To help us achieve this goal, we are beginning a comprehensive study of equity in our schools to determine what is or isn’t working in order to better serve our students.   We have invited Curriculum Management Solutions, Inc. (CMSi), an organization with more than 40 years' experience, to perform an audit of equity in our schools. This spring, CMSi auditors will evaluate how our school district defines expectations to ensure equity and equality in our treatment of, and services to, students. The audit report will provide an independent, unbiased and objective review of what systems we have in place to support equity in our schools. The auditors' findings will give us valuable feedback regarding the status of equity and equal access for students in our district. The audit process involves data collection and analysis, surveys, interviews, and site visits to all five of our schools during the third week in March. Families will be invited to participate in the audit process by completing a survey that I will send to you in the coming weeks and/or meeting with a member of the audit team for an interview. Upon completion, the audit findings and recommendations will be shared publicly and used to improve our practices.    I am looking forward to the audit process and welcome the findings and recommendations it will produce. I will be in contact with you soon to share the family survey and let you know how to request an interview with an auditor. I hope that you will be able to make the time to respond to the survey questions so that we can hear what is important to you.  Wishing all of you a healthy and happy 2023. Darius Modestow, Superintendent 

    Sunday, Jan 08 2023

  • free, virtual speaker series for parents and caregiv...

    Dear Parents and Caregivers, We wanted to share this free, virtual speaker series with our parent and caregiver community.  The district has been working with bryt for two years now, and in the past, these resources have been useful. Happy New Year, Sarah Mitchell & Lara Ramsey Curriculum Directors Parents Learning with Parents (PLP) FREE   Virtual Speaker Series for ALL CAREGIVERS of students in K-12 The bryt Family Engagement Team warmly invites you to participate in our Live Monthly Caregiver Speaker Series Learn from community members with expertise in areas most requested by parents. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW: Parents/caregivers are  not on camera  -- only the speaker is  Parents/caregivers have the option of typing questions into chat Need additional supports? check out our Family Support Resources  and  free weekly virtual support groups Parents Learning with Parents (PLP) FREE Virtual Speaker Series for ALL CAREGIVERS of students in K-12 2022-2023 SCHEDULE. All events will be recorded, each link wil take you to the recording of that event.  January 18th, 7pm           Parenting While Grieving. Helping yourself and                                 your child cope with grief and the grieving process. Speaker: Dr. Jessica Griffin, PysD. Executive Director of   the UMASS Children Trauma Training Center                     Link:  https://youtu.be/QyLQyZhYs0c    February 8th, 7pm      Adolescent Substance use- what every parent needs to know about substances, use, and how to support kids.  Speakers:  Lisa Blanchard, Chief Clinical Officer of Spectrum Health services                     Link:  https://youtu.be/dme0495hwtU   March 15th, 7pm       Ready [or not] to Launch:  Preparing for your Child’s  post-high school chapter Speakers:  TBD                     Link:  https://youtu.be/8zCDIg18V6k   April 26th, 7pm           Parenting Kids and Teens on the Spectrum                     Speakers: TBD                     Link:  https://youtu.be/lE_vNaSXJ2k   May 10th, 7pm           What Your LGBTQIA++ child most needs from you Speakers:  TBD                     Link:  https://youtu.be/IVyEldgzLXU  

    Tuesday, Jan 03 2023

  • Weather Related School Closure Information Letter

        Hello, Frontier & Union #38 Elementary School Families, First report of snow has hit the airways (or internet…).  Below are our my guidelines and an explanation of how weather-related decisions are made.   Feedback on this now annual announcement has been very positive as families find it helpful to understand the decision-making process. Guidelines for weather delays or closures: School closure decisions will be made as early as possible. On the morning of a weather closure or delay, I will do my best to have the decision made by 5:15 am with a robocall and email sent out by 5:30 am. I will also continue the practice of notifying our community the night before a day that we know will have at least a two-hour delayed opening with the understanding that there may be a morning update that leads to closure.  I have heard a lot of positive feedback on this practice as it allows families to begin planning on an interrupted schedule. If a school opening delay occurs, it will be a  2-hour  delayed opening.  How school closure decisions are made:   The Superintendent of Schools ultimately makes the decision to close or delay school due to inclement weather.  However, I consult with others, including the town road crews, to make the most informed decision possible.   During a storm, I will be in direct contact with each Highway Superintendent of the four towns to learn about the current conditions of the road and their capacity to keep roads safe for bus and car travel. I review the weather using multiple weather websites and news outlets and confer with other area superintendents on their analysis of the weather and the impact on travel to the schools. Our four towns and extended community of teacher residents and school choice families cover hundreds of miles of roads with large elevation ranges and a variety of surfaces from asphalt to graded dirt.  I will do my best to make the appropriate decision for school delay or closure,  However, if your situation conflicts with the district decision, please rely on your own judgment to keep you and your family safe.  Cold Weather Days: To stay consistent in cold weather decisions, I reference the following scale: Using NORA’s  wind chill safety chart  for cold weather.   Cold Weather Advisory  At -15 to -24 degrees, including windchill.   The school will open as normal or delayed school opening if on the colder end of the scale, with warmer temperatures expected by mid-morning.   Cold Weather Warning  At -25 degrees, including windchill  That's when we would close schools or delay if conditions are to improve drastically in the AM. Additional thoughts for families on weather events: Families should prepare a contingency plan in the event that there may be a need for a sudden early dismissal after the students are already at school. This doesn’t happen often, but it is best to have a plan for how your family will handle this situation. Parents of high school drivers or soon-to-be drivers:  Please talk to your children about driving in winter conditions.   School delays are designed to create time to properly clean cars of snow and ice and drive with more caution.   It is also a common practice among families not to allow younger drivers to have car privileges during or after winter weather events. Additionally, the high school suspends senior lunch driving privileges if road conditions are poor during lunch periods.   I wish everyone a safe and wonderful winter season! -Darius Modestow,   Superintendent 

    Tuesday, Nov 15 2022

  • Join Our Antiracism & Equity Committee

      Parent, Faculty & Community Invitation to Join the Antiracism and Equity Committee  September 16,  2022 Dear Frontier Families and Community, This year we are beginning our third year of focused antiracism and equity work to make our schools an inclusive space for all students. Our Antiracism and Equity Committee (A&E Committee), which began in the fall of 2020, is a central part of this work. The A&E Committee comes together during the school year to learn about curriculum; engage our community; assist in the design of policy; and propose ideas related to school culture.  The committee is always interested in adding new members to the group and hearing the voices of our community. In order to increase participation and representation this year, our A & E committee has two participation options.  The first option is to become a full working group member. In this role, you will work with other committee members and serve on one of our sub-committees. There are four full committee meetings scheduled for this year, as well as some smaller meetings based on which subcommittee you join. The second option is to become a supporting member. Committee members who choose this option will receive A&E committee updates and can attend meetings when their schedule allows. Each A&E committee meeting is broken into two parts: the full committee meets for 45 minutes, followed by a 45-minute subcommittee meeting; as a supporting member, you would attend the first 45 minutes. I am pleased to announce our continued partnership with Romney Associates. They will continue to help guide us in our work and provide leadership coaching to the administrative team. The first meeting of the A & E committee will take place on  Wednesday, October 12th, at 3:30 pm.  The meetings will continue to be virtual to accommodate the schedules of our members.  Please sign up if you are interested in participating this year.  If you served last year, please also sign up and forward this note to others who may be interested.  You may click on the link below to sign up or email  jennifer.shumway@frsu38.org .  We will send a confirmation email next week to those who have signed up.  Sincerely, Darius Modestow, Superintendent

    Friday, Sep 16 2022

  • Superintendent Welcome Back Letter 2022

      August 15, 2022 Dear Families: I am delighted to  welcome our students and families to  the 2022/23 school year starting on Tuesday, August 30th .     While the world is experiencing a great deal of turmoil and division, one place where communities come together is our public schools. I am grateful for the partnership with you, our families, which enable our schools to continue to thrive during these unsettling times. Together with our teachers, staff, and administrative team, I look forward to the year ahead with optimism and renewed energy. Letters with specific information about your child’s school will be coming from each building principal.  The following are updates and news from the district. This summer, the district made a number   of repairs, updates, and improvements to our five school buildings in addition to the regular cleaning and repair schedule. These projects were possible thanks to funding from a number of different sources and the support of our whole community. We have a new district website.  FRSU38 Website  where you can find daily announcements about school activities, schedule changes, weather delays, and other school-related information. We encourage you to check the site regularly. The new website also connects to  Parent Square ,  the primary communication platform for the district. We introduced this software last year, and families are now automatically signed up as part of the registration process (if you provide an email address). Please take a moment to explore the settings under  “My Account”  to customize how and when you receive announcements and other information. One helpful feature of Parent Square is the announcement history feature. So, if your household is anything like mine, you can go back to your Parent Square account to answer questions like.   “Where and when are they going on that field trip?”   New District Administrators:   I am pleased to introduce the following new district administrators: Dr. Lara Ramsey, Director of Elementary Education, replacing the retired Kim McCarthy  Cara Chandler, Nurse Leader    Meg Burch, our former district nurse leader, has taken the new role of Regional School Nurse Consultant serving Franklin and Berkshire Counties.  Curriculum and Instruction:  As always, curriculum and instruction are at the center of what we do. This year we will focus on taking the wealth of new curricula and instructional models teachers used during the disrupted pandemic years and refining our resources through professional development.  The professional development will examine curricular continuity and alignment as well as the effectiveness of reaching all learners.   Continued Commitment to Equity for all:  The district will continue to provide our educators with professional development on topics related to antiracism, equity, social emotional learning and supporting our students as they navigate the world. Our Antiracism and Equity Committee will continue to support this work and is open to new members, more information will be provided in a future email.   In addition, we are looking forward to our participation in an equity audit in the spring of 2023. The audit will be performed by Curriculum Management Solutions Inc. The feedback will be a valuable tool as we move forward in this work.  Health and COVID Update.  We continue to follow the recommendations of our local health boards and will maintain the current COVID precautions put in place at the end of the 2021/22 school year.  This includes optional masking, required masking following a mandatory 5-day quarantine for a student who tests positive for COVID, and symptomatic testing by the school nurse. However, at this time, the state is no longer supporting the implementation of pool testing or providing home test kits. Nurse Chandler and the nursing team will continue to update the community on positive COVID cases in our schools and support family needs for this and other health issues. Additional information will be forthcoming from Nurse Chandler. As we begin again, I wish all of you a wonderful school year. Sincerely, Darius Modestow, Superintendent

    Monday, Aug 15 2022

  • Great News! School Lunch will be served at no cost t...

    “School Meals for All” for the 2022-2023 school year, means that every student in MA who wants or needs a school breakfast or lunch will receive meals at no cost to their family. As of July 28, 2022 - Governor Baker signed into law a one-year extension of School Meals for All for the 2022-2023 school year. As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 State Budget, this extension makes Massachusetts the fifth state to guarantee access to free meals this coming school year. Universal free school meals in Massachusetts have been an enormous success over the past two school years. In March 2022, lunch participation was 42.3% higher for school lunch over pre-pandemic participation rates. Statewide this represented an additional 53,744 more students eating lunch daily when free from the barriers of the old rules of the National School Lunch Program. “This is a moment in time when all our eyes have been opened to the vast disparities faced by the children of Massachusetts when accessing the resources needed to be healthy and learn. While the road to equity is long and complex, this extension of School Meals for All is a straightforward and significant step in ensuring students are ready to learn next year,” said Erin McAleer, CEO and President of Project Bread. “On behalf of our partners, we thank our leaders in state government, especially Governor Baker, Senate President Karen Spilka, Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate Ways & Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues, House Ways & Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, Senate Education Chair Jason Lewis, House Education Chair Alice Peisch, and our legislative champions on this issue Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representative Andy Vargas.”

    Monday, Aug 01 2022

  • Covid Update #2 Recommending Students Wear Masks

      Covid Update (#2 This Week) Recommending Students Wear Masks Good Evening Frontier and Union #38  Families: This week's pool test results reflect the continuing increase of COVID-19 in our communities. The case numbers are highest at Frontier, Deerfield, and Conway Schools. See the latest positive cases on our  district dashboard . Given the increase, I am writing to provide you with some additional information, clarify our protocols related to cases and describe how we are addressing this spike in COVID-19. The  Centers for Disease Control  has elevated Franklin County’s COVID-19 Community Level to “high” and recommends that residents wear a mask while indoors in public, get vaccinated or boosted if eligible (use this link to register for the  May 20th COVID Vaccination Clinic ) and take additional virus precautions such as washing hands and remaining home when sick.  How our district is addressing this covid at this time . We recommend that students wear masks indoors . This is not a mandatory requirement, but given the increase in numbers there is a higher risk of transmission.  We will continue to support families' decisions around masking but will not discipline. students for not wearing a mask. In PK - 6 classrooms where we are aware of multiple cases, families will be notified by their building principal and students and staff will be strongly encouraged to wear masks as multiple cases increase the likelihood of spread within our classrooms.  As a reminder continue to : Keep children home if they are sick, even if they test negative for COVID. Notify the school if your child is home with COVID-19. If your child is a close contact because a member of your household is COVID positive they should mask at school for 10 days following exposure. Please contact your school if you are interested in signing up for an at home COVID testing kit. Thank you for your continued partnership to keep our community healthy. As the situation improves we will notify families of any changes.  Darius Modestow, Superintendent

    Thursday, May 12 2022

  • Covid 19 Update, A Reminder to be Vigilant

      Covid 19 Update, A Reminder to be Vigilant  Dear Frontier and Union #38 Community, As you are likely aware, there has been a rise in Covid cases in our county.  We would like to stress that while for many of us the risk of getting Covid seems manageable, there are many in our community who, for various reasons, are at greater risk.   The Schools would like to stress the following: Continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they have any symptoms or are not feeling well. Test if your child has any symptoms. The weekly tests provided by the school may be used for symptomatic testing.  If your child is a close contact in a community or household setting, they must wear a mask when returning to school regardless of vaccination status. Those who are vaccinated may continue to come to school as long as they have no symptoms and will need to wear a mask through day 10. If your child is unvaccinated they must remain home for at least five days and may return as long as they have no symptoms. As with those who are vaccinated a mask must be worn through day 10.  Questions about a case or close contact guidance can be directed to the school nurse or local public health nurse for your town.    The end of the school year is traditionally a time for many fun events and activities for the students. Let's work together to make sure everyone is able to participate by protecting our classmates and friends from preventable transmissions.   Stay Safe, Darius Modestow, Superintendent

    Sunday, May 08 2022

  • Teacher Awards

    Congratulations to our District’s 2022 Grinspoon Award Winners, they were recognized last night at a ceremony at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. We are so proud of Stacey Chapley and Maggie West .   To repeat part of Stacey's message last evening in a brief address to the audience.  I couldn’t have achieved this award without the support of my colleagues and friends! Stacey Chapley , Frontier HS Science  Maggie West ,  Conway 5th Grade    "Encourage, Lift, and strengthen one another." -Deborah Day

    Thursday, May 05 2022