Recognitions:

Earl McGraw Uplift Award Recipients - We are proud to recognize Turners Falls High School junior, David Stowe, and Facilities staff member, Scott Curtis, as this year’s Semester 1 recipients of the Earl McGraw Uplift Award. David and Scott shine as positive, kind, and supportive individuals in our school community. They both exemplify the qualities of former Assistant Principal Earl McGraw. We are so thankful for all that David and Scott do each day to help make everyone around them smile.

Hillcrest Elementary Staff Working with Interns - One UMass graduate student is working with ESL teacher, Lea Wulfkuhle. Two UMass undergraduate students are working in first grade with Kristy Smith and Sarah Johnson. And there are two GCC nursing students working with Jazmin Miller in the Health Office.

Sixth Grade “Penny Wars” Fundraiser - Students and staff across Gill Elementary School competed this past week in a Penny Wars challenge and raised $2,200 in one week to support the sixth grade for their culminating Gill Field Trip. The previous record was smashed by $600!!

Gill “100 Mile Club” Recognitions - Over half of the students at Gill Elementary are participating in the 100 Mile Club challenge. Students walk a measured distance at the school and keep track of their distances. One quarter of the students participating have walked over 25 miles so far, and five students are approaching close to 60 miles!

High School Facilitator Trainers - We would like to extend our gratitude to Jessica Vachula-Curtis and Faith Klumb for their training of a group of students on the "I'm Not Racist...Am I?" film. When we screen the film in March these students will have viewed and discussed the film in order to be supportive of their peers in their Advisory and act alongside staff as facilitators of the follow-up discussions. Jess and Faith put in a lot of time planning the student training and engaging these student leaders in this work.

Weekly COVID Public Health Report COVID Data - February 10, 2022:

Town/City- Risk Status Cases Last 14 days % Positive Tests

Bernardston 40 11.46

Erving 27 11.91

Gill 25 13.04

Greenfield 303 10.95

Leverett 14 3.94

Montague 134 12.66

Northfield 50 6.32

Orange 134 22.90

Sunderland 45 5.48

Warwick 7 9.18

Wendell 7 6.57

State 60,674 6.48

Update from State/Commissioner/COVID Safety Protocols:

• The CDC ranks the risk of transmission for counties across the country in one of 4 categories: Low, Moderate, Substantial or High. Franklin County has been rated as HIGH risk of transmission by the CDC, as of Monday, February 7.

• DESE’s mask mandate in schools remains in effect until February 28. The district mask expectations will need to be reviewed and replaced, as a result of the state’s announcement to remove the statewide mandate and remand the decision for masking in school to local districts. A letter that outlines the district’s approach to replacing our district mask expectations is available here.

Calling all girls in grades 3-5! The Girls on the Run spring season is about to begin! Practices will be held at Sheffield on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning March 22, from 3:30-5:00. For more information, see this flyer and visit the Girls on the Run website to register.

• The Friends of Sheffield Gear Store is open once again, offering families and friends an opportunity to purchase Sheffield swag! Visit the online store from now until Friday, February 18, to make a purchase! Contact friendsofsheffield@gmail.com with questions or to arrange for alternative pickup.

• Friends of Sheffield are also leading an effort to supply the items on the Sheffield reading wish list as well as the wish lists for all schools. If you'd like to help them, please check out those lists. If you are a teacher who would like to create a wish list for your classroom, please contact friendsofsheffield@gmail.com.

• The Turners Falls Thunder Music Boosters are seeking members! The group's purpose is to raise and apportion funds to support the music department. Find more information and sign up here.

• Tuesday, Feb. 15 - School Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Feb. 16 - Early Release Day

• Wednesday, Feb. 16 - Gill School Council, 3:30 p.m. - Remote

• Wednesday, Feb. 16 - Friends of Sheffield, 4:00 p.m. - Remote

• Feb. 21-25 - February Recess – No School

• Contact Information for Each School

• GMRSD COVID Information: Find all the district COVID information on this webpage, which includes details on upcoming vaccine clinics, COVID resources, testing, safety protocols, and COVID reporting.

• GMRSD Family Engagement Webpage: Information and resources for families, updated frequently by our Family Engagement Coordinator, Stacey Langknecht.

• School Lunch Menus

• 2021-2022 School Year Calendar