Public Notice
March 21, 2023 @ 6:00 PM –
     Public Hearing on FY24 Budget. Click here.

________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release

During the week of April 24^th 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Farmington River Regional School District.

The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.  In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.  Parents and other individuals may call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Monitoring Chairperson, Sandra Hanig, at (413) 413-6707 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements. Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the District requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.

Michael A. Saporito – Director of Student Service, 413 269 4466

Dragon Eggs Incentive Focusing First on Kindness Off to a Great Start
The Dragon Eggs school-wide incentive program, which focuses on promoting kindness among students, is off to a fantastic start! Since its launch, students across all grades have eagerly participated in this program, displaying remarkable levels of kindness towards one another. Catching students being kind as a part of the Dragon Eggs Program has been incredibly successful, with teachers and staff reporting numerous examples of students going out of their way to help others. We are thrilled to see our students actively seeking out opportunities to be kind and compassionate toward each other. The program has not only created a positive and inclusive school environment, but it has also encouraged our students to become better citizens, showing kindness and compassion towards everyone they encounter. It is truly heartwarming to see our students embodying these values and making a difference in their community.

Dragon Tube Assembly and School-wide Initiative Focus on Kindness and Grit
Our new school-wide behavior and academic incentive program is an exciting initiative that will motivate and inspire our students to achieve their best. Students can earn dragon eggs by exhibiting behaviors that we focus on to improve character and academic achievement. We will be focusing on “Caught Being Kind” and “Great Grit” first. The goal is to fill the “dragon tube” with dragon eggs. This program is designed to be fun, engaging, and rewarding for all students, creating a positive and dynamic learning environment. The collective efforts of our students and achieving school-wide goals will earn exciting rewards, individual recognition, and special events and activities for the whole school each time the dragon tube is filled. With this program in place, our school community will be buzzing with excitement and energy as students work hard to meet and exceed the expectations set out for them. We can’t wait to see our students embrace this program and reach new heights of success!

Thank You to our Incredible PTA
On behalf of the entire school community, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your generous donation of a new book for every student during Read Across America Week. Your kindness will make a significant impact on our students and their love for reading. The gift of a new book not only provides students with new and exciting stories to explore but also encourages them to continue to read and grow their literacy skills. Your dedication to our school and its students is truly remarkable, and we are honored to have such a supportive and caring PTA. Your donation has not only enriched our school community, but it will make a lasting impact on the lives of our students.

PreK News
March came in like a lion in EarlyK. The children delighted in making their lion/lamb mask (their choice) to welcome in our new month! We all hope March goes out like a lamb!

A Special Visit From Officer Messina & Archer
We would like to thank Officer Messina and Archer for their special visit to our classroom. We greatly appreciate that you were interested in hearing our essays about the importance of training service dogs inspired by two Scholastic Magazine articles “A Hero’s Best Friend” and “Training Time”. Thank you for your specific feedback regarding our wonderful written work, emphasizing the importance of having strong writing skills in our future careers, and being willing to participate in so many photo shoots during your visit. We are over the moon that it went well and look forward to more visits in the near future!  🐾

Art
An Art Exhibit is being set up in the main entrance hallway of oil paintings done by participants of Art Club, along with “Assemblage” Mystery Box pieces created by 4-6th grade artists.  The next time you are in the building, be sure to stop and enjoy these wonderful masterpieces. 

Student Council Update
At the last Student Council Meeting, officers discussed the possibility of one more fun after school event before the end of the school year.  The two most popular ideas were hosting an end of the year dance or having a “hide and seek” tournament.  Both activities would be scheduled for June and would require the help of parent volunteers/chaperones.  The logistics of both ideas will be discussed further and one final event will be chosen by the officers before the end of March.  If any parents would be interested in helping organize the last event/activity in June, please contact Laura Catullo at lcatullo@frrsd.org

Counselors Corner:
This week the classes have been learning and focusing on integrity! This big word was new for some of our students, and for others they knew exactly what it meant. While all of us are familiar with honesty and truth telling, integrity takes us to the next level. What would you do if no one was watching? Would you make the  same choice as if someone was? During the integrity unit the students will continue to learn about honesty and integrity, personal choices and perseverance. Many students this week began learning about this through role plays and different scenarios discussed. They also have been and will continue to attach their emotions to their discussions, and how it feels to do the right thing if someone is watching or not.

PE Fun
Students had an opportunity this week to try out a new piece of equipment – the “Spooner Board”!