Drury Students Earn Over 700 College Credits

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Following the completion of the first full year of the Drury-MCLA Early College Program, more than 120 Drury High School students earned over 700 college credits, a value of $317,000, while still attending high school.
 
North Adams Public Schools (NAPS) will continue their partnership in the Early College initiative with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) into the 2024-2025 school year.
 
This academic collaboration, formally approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2023, granted Early College designation to Drury High School. The initiative aims to provide equitable access to higher education for high school students at no cost.
 
Drury High School offers a "wall-to-wall" Early College Program that supports students in their Early College coursework through the provision of essential wraparound services such as textbooks, transportation, tutoring, and a range of additional non-academic supports. 
 
Students who participated in the Early College Program during the 2023-2024 school year were awarded college credits for courses taken on both the Drury and MCLA campuses, with 97.6 percent of participating students fully completing college-level coursework. All 700+ college credits students earned through this program are transferable throughout any of the Massachusetts state colleges or universities and represent significant financial savings and a head start on their post-secondary education and career paths.
 
Dr. Tim Callahan, Assistant Superintendent for the North Adams Public Schools, indicated the value of this program for the community.
 
"With the number of free college credits earned by our hard-working students, families in North Adams have collectively saved over $317,000 in college tuition and fees this year through the Early College program, and that makes a college degree more accessible for our young learners after they complete high school."
 
"We are deeply dedicated to the success of our students through the partnership between Drury High School and MCLA," said Kate Cyr, Drury's Early College Coordinator. "This program, provided at no cost to Drury students or their families, ensures that every student has the opportunity to succeed without barriers that come with accessing higher education."
 
The 2024-2025 Drury-MCLA Early College Program looks to expand college course offerings to more students in grades 9-12 with eight college courses hosted on the Drury campus and 10 additional courses at the MCLA campus.

Tags: Drury High,   MCLA,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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