Agawam Public Schools

Help Agawam beat West Springfield and win a $500 donation for the Agawam Municipal Scholarship Fund! In an effort to reduce the amount of textiles entering our waste stream and supporting Hartsprings Foundation’s mission of financially supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Hartsprings will be sponsoring the friendly competition. The community that collects the most textiles in weight will win a $500 donation to a program within their community. Residents and supporters of the Town of Agawam can donate their bagged or boxed used clothing, linens, hats, shoes, belts, towels, curtains, drapes, and other cloth items is two ways. Schedule a FREE at home pickup from Hartsprings Visit www.donatehartsprings.org Collection days will be scheduled for either Tuesday, October 11th or Tuesday October 25th. Attend the towns Textile Drop Off Day Department of Public Works, 1000 Suffield Street Saturday, October 22nd 10am - 2pm (no appointment needed)

Back-to-School

Agawam Special Services is looking for hard working, energetic people to join our team. To apply for one of our Teacher or Paraprofessional positions go to SchoolSpring.com.

Food Service Updates September Menus are now posted! Each student will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch this school year! Kindergarten Snacks, $1.00, and milk, $.50, are an additional charge regardless of a students meal status. All families are highly encouraged to complete the school meals application this year even though meals are free to all. Having an approved meals application on file provides benefits outside of school meals to many students and families. Families can apply online using the TITAN Family Portal, https://family.titank12.com/XRBWSD. Applications can also be found online, printed, and returned to school with your student. Please email Liz Moulton, emoulton@agawamed.org with any questions.

June Menus have been posted to each schools website. Please note that each school has their own lunch menu this month and there are some variations.

Today was character day at RPS. Here is Ms. Barnett and Ms. Schibi dressed as characters from the book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.”

​Hello Homeschool Parents. Please join us for our May Homeschool Meetup. This virtual meeting is being held to help any parent or representative of a child living in Agawam, Ma who is homeschooled and need information and tools to help the children they are educating. Homeschool Meet-Up May 31, 2022 4pm-5pm Virtual Meeting meet.google.com/pma-xwtp-kmw

COVID PROTOCOLS IN OUR SCHOOLS There have been a lot of questions regarding COVID protocols in schools as of late. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Public Health updated their joint guidance for schools on March 3, 2022. The guidance can be found here https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/protocols/protocols.pdf. Please note, Agawam is using the NEW version of Protocol B, as we are no longer maintaining contact tracing in schools or Test and Stay in our schools. If you have any questions, you can contact your school nurse or Central Office.

Agawam’s Family Resource Center Presents: The Power of Community Webinar Series: RESILIENCY FOR THE LONG HAUL Register at: https://forms.gle/Bh6XrGBd7dZkcpg56

Agawam School District offers MINDFULNESS TOOLS AVAILABLE TO YOUR FAMILY! Download the Inner Explorer HOME NOW! https://innerexplorer.org/homeapp/

Starting Monday, February 28th, masks are optional for individuals in Agawam Public Schools and on school buses.

Congratulations to our First Year Winner - Michael Costello.

Congratulations to Sable Johnson, Jahnna Kazak, Jillian Despard, Caitlyn Powers and Michael Costello who have been selected by Agawam Public Schools as the 2022 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award Winners. They will be honored on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Sable Johnson is an English Teacher at Agawam High School. Sable always puts students first in everything that she does. She challenges them academically and supports them in their social emotional well-being. Jahnna Kazak is an English Teacher at Agawam Junior High School. She is an amazing, hardworking teacher. She creates engaging lessons for her students. Jillian Despard is a Special Education Teacher in the Connections Program at the Robert G. Doering Middle School. Jillian pursued this teaching position due to her belief in, and commitment to, social-emotional learning. Caitlyn Powers is a Kindergarten Teacher at Granger Elementary School. She is an amazing colleague and friend. She continuously goes above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly in all Kindergarten Classrooms at Granger School. Michael Costello is a Science Teacher at the Agawam Junior High School. He is our First Year Teacher Winner. His easy-going and relaxed, yet highly competent and professional demeanor is both rare and admirable.

Effective Monday, February 28, the DESE mask requirement will be lifted in schools statewide. After consultation with the Agawam Health Department and AEA leadership. Agawam Public Schools will continue to follow the DESE-DPH Guidance and Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios. Therefore, as of February 28th, face masks in school buildings will be optional, with a few exceptions. Masking will continue to be required on all school buses, per federal order. Masking in Health offices is still required. Students and Staff that have tested positive for COVID-19 wishing to return to school after the 5 days of home isolation must be masked on days 6-10. As always, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, will be supported in that choice. We are hopeful that all of our school community members- staff, students, and parents will respect individual choices so that our schools are supportive environments for everyone.

March Menus are now posted on each school's website. March 7-11 is National School Breakfast week. Watch for updates on how students can help us celebrate!

Join the Family Resource Center for The Growing Gratitude and Generosity Program! Open to 3rd and 4th graders and their parent(s)/caregiver(s). Register at https://forms.gle/qoQpcx2LY2XRD61A8

National School Counseling Week 2022

​The Agawam Parent Advisory Council invites you to attend its 2022 Virtual Basic Rights Workshop on March 9, 2022 at 6:30pm. This workshop, presented by Educational Advocate, Karen Mowry, is open to all parents, caregivers, transitional age students, friends, and family members. For more information contact PAC President, Kerri O'Connor @ 413-575-3582. Registration Link​: https://fcsn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lduqqqz4tGNZqtDtGEooQ0lbtHOJm2LHN

Due to the weather forecast, Agawam Public Schools will be closed on Friday, February 4th.

Please join the Agawam Public Schools Department of Special Services for our Homeschool Meet-Up. Any Parent or Representative of a child living in Agawam who is homeschooled is welcomed to join us on February 15, 2022 between 4pm-5pm for a Virtual Meeting. Use this link: meet.google.com/ixv-ubkz-hyc For more information please call the Special Services office at 413-821-0540.