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The recently resurrected ski club at Hoosac Valley High has more than a dozen participants this year.

Hoosac Valley Ski And Snowboarding Club Returns

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — There may not be any snow for the cross country skiers, but the Hoosac Valley High School ski and snowboarding club has found luck on higher ground. 

For the past three weeks, Hoosac Valley snow enthusiasts have made their way up to Berkshire East in Charlemont.

Club organizer and physical education teacher Jason Sniezek said he wanted to bring the program back to give students more sports options.

"I wanted to start it up to give kids something different to do during the winter," Sniezek said. "Basically, all they have is basketball."

He said it has been nearly 12 years since the school has hosted a ski program.

"Luckily this year the principal was on board with it, and I just organized it and we ended up 14 kids this year," he said. "Hopefully we can grow next year."

Sniezek said the students pay for their ski time and Berkshire East provides them with discounts, even on rentals and lessons.

They get free range of the mountain, but he has no interest in becoming more than a club.

"It's just a casual outing. The kids are on their own on the mountain, and they can go ski and snowboard and we meet back up at 8," he said. "It’s just a good social outing and all around fun. ... The kids are having a blast."


Tags: ACRSD,   Hoosac Valley,   skiing,   

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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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