News of the week

Over the past two weeks, four of our five schools welcomed families during a series of Open House events. Families of students at Swift River Elementary School, Chestnut Hill Community School, Jabish Brook Middle School, and Belchertown High School were able to tour the schools and meet our administrators and teachers. Cold Spring School will host their Open House on October 3rd at 6:00 p.m.

Representative Denise Andrews came to visit Belchertown High School on Friday, September 21st. Last week was Mass Harvest Week, highlighting the use of locally grown produce in schools. Ann Marie Beaupre, our Food Service Director, has partnered with Cold Spring Orchard in Belchertown and a farm in Hadley to bring fresh fruit and vegetables into our school lunch program. Representative Andrews is running for the seat that will represent parts of Belchertown, when we will be part of a new legislative district, in January. She was most impressed with the school, our staff and students, and enjoyed a healthy lunch including fresh items from local farms.

On Friday, September 21st, we bid farewell to Patricia Susen, Director of Special Education. Ms. Susen has taken a position with the Oxford, MA Public Schools. We wish her well in her new position. The position has been posted and advertised. The Personnel and Policy Subcommittee of the School Committee has set a search process in motion to find a permanent replacement, which has been redefined as a Director of Student Support Services. An interim Director has been selected, Patricia Stevens. Ms. Stevens is a retired superintendent from the Granby Public Schools, and has extensive experience as a Director of Special Education.

On Saturday, September 29th, we will officially dedicate the tennis courts at Belchertown High School in memory of Marilyn Higgins, beloved physical education teacher, and tennis and girls' soccer coach, who passed away in January after a courageous battle against cancer. The dedication will take place at 10:00 a.m. by the entrance to the tennis courts next to the high school. The community is welcome to join us, along with Marilyn's family, as we honor her legacy to our district.