GRINSPOON AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2010

The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District proudly announces recipients of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award for 2010.

COLLEGE NIGHT

It’s that time of year again when the Minnechaug Regional High School Guidance Department will host “College Night for Middle School Parents”.

SCHOOL CHOICE

The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District will accept students in the
following grade levels for the 2010-2011 school year.

NEXT YEAR'S SCHOOL CALENDAR APPROVED

The 2010 - 2011 School Calendar that the School Committee approved at the February 9th meeting.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2010-2011 YEAR

Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District Kindergarten registration will be held at Green Meadows School in Hampden on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, and at Mile Tree School in Wilbraham on Tuesday, March 2, and Wednesday, March 3, 2010, by appointment only.

BUDGET ROUNDTABLE GROUP MEETING

The Budget Roundtable Group will meet in the Media Center at Minnechaug on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Superintendent Martin O’Shea is pleased to announce that Daniel D. Roy, Assistant Principal at Quaboag Regional Middle/High School in Warren, Massachusetts, will become the new Principal at Wilbraham Middle School.

PAY FOR LUNCH ONLINE

Exciting news from the Food Service department! You will now have the ability to pre-pay for your child’s lunches online.

CHAT SESSIONS ON NEW HIGH SCHOOL

Superintendent of Schools, Marty O’Shea, announced that two “Superintendent Chat Sessions” have been scheduled to continue discussions about the new Minnechaug Regional High School building project.

PUBLIC FORUMS ON NEW HIGH SCHOOL

School Committee Chairman, Peter Salerno, and Superintendent, Marty O’Shea, announced that two public forums have been scheduled to discuss the new Minnechaug Regional High School building project. Katherine Craven, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, is planning to attend the forum on Wednesday, September 23rd, which is taking place at Minnechaug Regional High School at 7:00 p.m.

PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS TO THE NATION'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Beginning tomorrow, many HWRSD teachers will begin showing the address from President Barack Obama to the schoolchildren of the United States. In this speech, the President encourages young people to set goals, take personal responsibility for their education and believe in their ability to achieve.

July 29, 2009 MSBA NARRATIVE SUMMARY ON THE MRHS BUILDING PROJECT

Recommendation: That the Executive Director is authorized to enter into a Project Scope and Budget Agreement and a Project Funding Agreement with the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District to build a new Minnechaug Regional High School under the MSBA Model School Pilot Program.

HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT APPROVED BY MSBA

State Treasurer Timothy Cahill, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and Katherine Craven, the MSBA Executive Director, announced today that the MSBA Board voted to approve the proposed construction of a new Minnechaug Regional High School in the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District under the MSBA’s Model School Pilot Program.

NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS APPOINTED

On behalf of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee, we are pleased to announce the appointment of M. Martin O’Shea as our new Superintendent of Schools.

SWINE FLU INFORMATION

As you know, swine flu has started appearing in the United States. This is a constantly changing issue and I know you’ll be getting more information daily on your televisions, radios and websites.

INFORMATIONAL POWER POINT ON NEW HIGH SCHOOL

Visit the Minnechaug Building Project page to see the newest information in a Power Point.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR ON HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING STATUS

I am very pleased to announce this evening that the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District has reached a tentative agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority as to the future of Minnechaug Regional High School.

BUDGET PRESENTATION SCHEDULED

As you know, this has been a difficult budget season impacted by the national economy. The administrative team and I have worked hard over the last three months to develop a budget ...

SCHOOL LUNCH INCREASE

The School Committee recently approved an increase in the price of elementary school lunches

VISION 2020

What will schools be like in the future? What will our children need to succeed? How do we get there from here?

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES VISIT TWO MODEL SCHOOLS

Thank you for visiting our website to view the MSBA's two proposed model high schools. Both schools represent exciting opportunities for a new Minnechaug.

MINNECHAUG PROJECT INFORMATION

The following is a press release from the MSBA, as well as comments from the Chairman of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee.

MINNECHAUG PROJECT INFORMATION

The Minnechaug Project: Educating for the 21st Century

MINNECHAUG PROJECT UPDATE

In December 2007, the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) was informed that the Minnechaug building project was selected by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to be one of 83 projects statewide to be considered for further study. Of the projects selected, we are among 49 schools classified as either in need of replacement, major renovation or having additional space needs. The MSBA will decide in the coming months whether to approve funds for Minnechaug, and whether those funds will be to replace or extensively renovate the school.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM CHANGES

The HWRSD is making changes to our Early Childhood Programs for the 2008/2009 school year

UPDATE ON THE MINNECHAUG BUILDING PROJECT

You may have read in the newspaper that the Minnechaug building project was selected by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to be one of 83 projects statewide to be considered for further study. Of the projects selected, we are among 49 schools classified as either in need of replacement, major renovation or having additional space needs.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Included in this letter is the schedule in case school is delayed. There is also a list of communication sites that will host our announcement for cancellations and delays. Please remember that delays can be either 90 minutes or 2 hours long.

MEDICAL INFORMATION

Recently the media has reported concerns about methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA (pronounced mersa). . Our nursing staff is well aware of the medical protocols and they are prepared to monitor any cases that appear in our school community.

JOB POSTINGS

More jobs are being posted

LIST SERV

I thought that I would try to use our list serve again, since we are gaining users every day.

UPDATE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES

As noted in previous letters and articles, we are writing today to update you on recent actions taken concerning safety and security measures in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District.

DARE CURRICULUM REVIEWED

A review of HWRSD's elementary and middle school curriculum and programs related to drug, alcohol, and violence prevention education has been conducted.

UPDATE ON HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT

There is new information available regarding the Minnechaug building project.

REGION-ON-CALL PRESS CONFERENCE

The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee takes pride in its efforts over the past several years, addressing the most important challenges of school safety and security. We have made significant advances in improving our district’s capacity for Emergency Response and Crisis Management, but we also know that there is always more work to do.

SCHOOL SAFETY

The incidents of school violence in the past few weeks have given us pause and concern regarding the ongoing challenge of safety in our schools. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee prides itself on the actions that our Committee and the Superintendent of Schools have taken over the past several years to insure a more secure school environment.

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Hampden Wilbraham SEPAC is an organization that provides support and networking for parents with children who have special needs, disabilities or learning disorders.

DISTRICT WELLNESS POLICY

The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District promotes healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning environment.

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY REPORT RELEASED

This week the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) released its “Needs Survey Report” concerning the conditions of locally owned public school facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

STUDY DONE REGARDING NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO MINNECHAUG HIGH SCHOOL

Information about the need to improve Minnechaug Regional High School can be found in the Feasibility Study for Minnechaug Improvements, a report from Dore & Whittier Architects, Inc.

THE FUTURE OF MINNECHAUG

The Hampden Wilbraham Regional School Committee is starting the process of raising community awareness concerning the future of Minnechaug Regional High School.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee Vice-Chair Scott Chapman announced that the Regional School Committee met in Executive Session this evening to review the District’s school safety initiative.  In attendance at the meeting were Wilbraham Police Chief Allen Stratton and Hampden Police Chief Doug Mellis.