School Committee members Laura Wood and Cynthia Brule hold plaques with Principal Tara Barnes on Wednesday morning.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The school community on Wednesday marked its 100th day of in-person learning with a small parade and the presentation thanking students and staff for their perseverance.
One hundred days in school wouldn't normally be something to celebrate. But being inside a classroom in this particular year has been anything but normal.
Clarksburg's elementary grades along with its fellow schools in the Northern Berkshire School Union — Gabriel Abbott in Florida, Emma Miller in Savoy, and Rowe Elementary — have been able to operate in person in the midst of the pandemic while larger communities have been forced into hybrid or remote learning. In January, the three smaller Northern Berkshire schools were among only 20 in the state that were fully in person.
"We are so proud of the staff and the students and all of our community that helped us to get here to 100 days in person and we just couldn't have done it without all of the town without all of the administration without everybody's support," said Principal Tara Barnes after each grade marched up the driveway from the gym and back into the schools to cheers. "There are so many people from your community that came out this morning to cheer for you, because you've made it 100 days."
A 100 days balloon sign with apple and school bus, from Alluring Balloon Creations in Adams, was situated at the front of the school. Some of the children boasted paper glasses made to look like "100" and the sixth grade counted off their steps to 100.
Teachers dressed to show their age at 100 — canes, walkers, shawls and gray wigs. "Look how much your teachers have changed," shouted Barnes, shaking her cane.
The School Committee presented the plaque over the new public address system once the children were back in their classrooms. The round wooden sign, made by School Committee member Cynthia Brule's niece, a school graduate, reads "Clarksburg Elementary School, home of our heroes, with deepest gratitude, Clarksburg School Committee."
Circling the sign are the words citizenship, perseverance, responsibility, respect and integrity.
School officials were joined by members of the Select Board, Town Administrator Rebecca Stone and state police.
Clarksburg returned to school for Grades kindergarten through 5 in September; Grades 6, 7 and 8 have been in hybrid mode because of space issues. The school community has been tight on social distancing, masking and sanitation. Access to the school building is limited and the ventilation system upgraded and air purification filters installed.
The school closed the week of March 9, 2020, when the first Berkshire County case of COVID-19 emerged in the town and spent the rest of that year remote as schools across the state were shut down the following week.
Grades kindergarten through 5 returned to the building on Sept. 14, gradually transitioning to full days beginning on Oct. 5.
"I think it's been a great effort by the whole community working together, from the students to the families, staff, administration, the town leaders," said Superintendent of Schools John Franzoni. "Everyone worked hard in this last year to make sure that we could have in-person learning, and we're very proud of the fact that Clarksburg has been open for in-person learning for 100 days this year with no transmissions in our school. And that's due to all the effort by everybody to follow the safety guidelines and keep everybody in our town in our school safe."
The middle school has continued in hybrid but Franzoni said those three grades should be back fully in person by the end of March to comply with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's push to have all or most students in school by April.
"We've had good conversations and plans, and the plan will be that for the last trimester of the school year, it will be K through 8 in Clarksburg full-day, in-person, just like the other three NBSU schools," he said. "We're excited about that. It's best for the kids and we've proven that we can do it safely."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Beverly Gans Marks 60 Years & Counting in the Pittsfield Schools
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools recognized Beverly Gans for her 60 years of service with the district with a lunch and crystal plaque on Friday. Gans will mark 40 years as secretary to principal at Taconic High School in June.
"It's been a wonderful experience, and I wouldn't trade it … I've seen generations go through," she said. "I've seen kids go through, I've seen their kids go through, I've seen their grandkids go through … it's just been a wonderful life for me to have this,"
Her former students will come back to the school surprised to see the secretary they connected with years prior.
The students, staff, and administration are what make this school great, she said.
"I bleed green and gold," Grans said. Last year on her 77th birthday, the faculty bought her green and gold Nike sneakers that she wears every Friday.
She has become a pillar of the district over the last six decades, so much so that even district leaders look up to her.
"Most people come to me for anything and everything, even in the district. I mean, there's so many new people. I mean, most of the secretaries today, I don't even know them," Gans said.
Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more
On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more
Pittsfield High's Matt Dupuis and Lee's Bella Kotek Sunday completed a Berkshire County sweep at the State Bowling Championships at Bowlero.
click for more
Emily Holian’s strike to open the 10th frame of the Wildcats’ second game against Worcester Tech all but assured Lee a team title at Bowlero Chicopee.
click for more
Hoosac struggled to get into rhythm on the offensive end until Joey McGovern got the 3-ball working. McGovern finished the game with 21 points including a triple in the fourth quarter that cemented him in the record books. It took him nearly the whole game but he was able to join the 1,000-point... click for more
Pittsfield High's Eliza Mullen won state title and in the giant slalom and slalom, winning the former discipline by 1.6 seconds and the latter by nearly 2.7 seconds.
click for more