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BArT Trustee Pamela Johnson conducts a tour of the new facility.
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The new lunchroom at BArT replaces a space that once served as the school's cafeteria, gymnasium and auditorium.
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BArT Director Julia Bowen talks about the expansion project.
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Students, staff and guests gather in BArT's new gymnasium.
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The new stage already is in use as students practice a scene from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' on Wednesday morning.
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North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright attends Wednesday's ribbon-cutting.
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Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, watches Wednesday's event with a crowd of students in BArT's new gymnasium.
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BArT Principal April West introduces senior Trevon Tarrance.
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Pittsfield's Trevon Tarrance christens BArT's new stage.

Berkshire Arts & Tech School Unveils New Gym, Cafeteria

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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Cutting the purple ribbon to open BArT's brand-new addition on Wednesday morning.
ADAMS, Mass. — Jeannette Lambert of North Adams played a big part in Wednesday morning's ceremonies at the Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School.
 
Lambert did the honors of cutting the ceremonial ribbon as the school unveiled its $4.5 million, two-story addition to students, staff and invited guests.
 
But unlike most of the students shivering in the school's parking lot to watch the festivities, Lambert will not be spending a whole lot of time in that addition.
 
As a member of BArT's senior class, she'll be moving on in a few months. Still, Lambert had no mixed emotions about seeing her soon-to-be-alma-mater take a big step forward.
 
"There are 21 seniors and then the rest of the school," Lambert said. "I just look at it as: There are all those kids who get to use this space, and if it wasn't for this school, I wouldn't get to use a college next year.
 
"So I have nothing but positive feelings. And I do get to use it this year. We have our play going on in two or three weeks. I'm in that play. Other seniors are in that play.
 
"As much as we'd like to have that extra year to use it, we're so happy there are kids behind us for years who are never going to have to worry about not having a stage."
 
Or a gymnasium, or a cafeteria, or space to exercise or learn dance.
 
All those uses are accommodated in the addition that BArT officially opened on Tuesday.
 
After Lambert did the honors with the scissors, the party moved inside, where another BArT senior, Pittsfield's Trevon Tarrance, had the honor of giving the first public performance on the new stage.
 
Tarrance showed off his skills as a bucket drummer and then talked about how BArT's senior internship program is helping him grow his passion for music.
 
"I went to my first internship meeting yesterday," Tarrance said. "I'm going to intern at Mass MoCA. Up there, they have a very articulate music program, where I can learn what I want to do in order to pursue my career in college. I want to go for music theory and composition. I'd like to eventually become a music producer and have a double major in college in music production and business management."
 
Fostering those kinds of dreams is the aim of any school. At BArT, administrators had a dream to replace the "cafegymatorium" that the school had long since outgrown.
 
One of the school's founding trustees said the school's successful expansion is a good example for its students.
 
"I think we show great optimism without magical thinking," Pamela Johnson said. "It will come if you put the work in. That's the message we want to give the students."
 
The expansion was one project that was worth the work, BArT Principal April West said.
 
"I am so excited that we are at a point that the community suport we've received has given you a facility to showcase the talent that is dripping from your feet, from your fingers, from your tongues, for performance," West said. "To give you a space to breath and stretch during the day.
 
"You are the hardest working group of students that I have ever met. We demand so much from you, and you've deserved this space for so long. I'm so excited that we finally have it to give you."
 
And, BArT hopes the new space will be a gift for the community as well. The school is partnering with Main Street Stage to hold productions in the gym/auditorium. Johnson noted that the school potentially could be a polling station to replace the town garage.
 
The community is already invited to enjoy a couple of upcoming events at the school. On Wednesday, March 4, at 5 p.m., BArT will hold its Arts Showcase, with a gallery in the cafeteria and a showcase of dance, music and theater pieces. March 13-15, it will host a student production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
 
Some things in the addition remain to be done. The project was funded by a bond and $1 million in donations, without public money. And it was scaled back in order to stay within budget. But officials hope soon to add things like a synthetic gymnasium floor, a partition that will allow the 1,000 square foot stage to be used for classes while physical education classes use the gym, and telescopic seating in the gym.
 
It sounds like a lot more work, but Johnson did not seem daunted by the challenge.
 
"I didn't believe we could raise $1 million either," she said.

Tags: BArT,   ribbon cutting,   school project,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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