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Officer Samantha Morin is sworn in in September.

Adams Police Officer Commended for Life-Saving Actions

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ADAMS, Mass. — Police Officer Samantha Morin was recognized for her actions this past week that are said to have saved the life of a stabbing victim.
 
A letter of commendation from Police Sgt. Dylan Hicks to the Board of Selectmen was read aloud by Chairwoman Christine Hoyt on Tuesday. The letter referred to a stabbing incident in the town that occurred on Monday.
 
"This is my deepest and most profound admiration, that I must willingly and gladly write to the select board, a letter of commendation for officers Samantha Morin and request that she be formally recognized for her heroic actions on Nov. 23, 2020," Hoyt read. "As a police officer for the town of Adams, in the field training program, she responded to a call for service to the stabbing and provided extraordinary life-saving measures in the form of medical aid to the victim."
 
Morin was sworn in as an officer in September after having served in the Army and with U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
 
The assault was reported about 11:20 on Monday and Morin responded with Officers Travis Cunningham and Michael Rossi. They found the victim had been severely slashed with a knife and immediately rendered aid.
 
As a rookie officer, Morin showed a high level of poise and control over the situation and the "ability to perform under immense pressure and stress."
 
She applied the combat application tourniquet, or CAT, from her duty belt to the victim's upper arm to staunch the life-threatening loss of blood. She continued to provide aid while awaiting ambulance personnel and securing the scene.
 
After speaking to the training officer, Cunningham, Rossi, the emergency medical service and Berkshire Medical Center doctors, it was confirmed that Morin's action alone of applying a tourniquet preserved the victim's life.
 
"The failure to act or delayed action both definitely could have led to tragic outcome," Hoyt read.
 
Her exemplary actions reflected well on herself, the force and the town of Adams, Hicks wrote. 

Tags: Adams Police,   recognition event,   

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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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