GMRSD Supt's September 2026 Update
Gill-Montague Regional School District
Honoring History, Culture, and Community
Every year from September 15 to October 15, our school district joins the nation in celebrating National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans.
Why Mid-September? The observance starts on September 15 to align with the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, followed shortly by Mexico (Sept. 16), Chile (Sept. 18), and Día de la Raza/Indigenous Peoples' Day (Oct. 12).
District Celebrations
Classrooms & Libraries: Curated book displays, read-alouds, and social studies lessons highlighting notable historical and contemporary figures.
Arts & Music: Exploration of traditional and modern folk music, dance, murals, and poetry across grade levels.
School Menus: Special cafeteria offerings featuring traditional dishes and flavors from across Latin America.
Ways to Celebrate at Home
Read: Borrow books by Latinx authors like Pam Muñoz Ryan, Yuyi Morales, or Elizabeth Acevedo from the local library.
Cook: Prepare regional recipes together, such as pupusas, empanadas, or arepas.
Listen & Watch: Explore music genres like salsa, cumbia, or mariachi, or watch family-friendly cultural documentaries.
Engage: Attend local community heritage festivals and museum exhibits.
While this month provides a dedicated space for celebration, our district remains committed to inclusivity, equity, and representation all year long.
Given the recent news coverage regarding the PROTECT Act earlier this month, I want to provide you with an update on this new legislation and policy requirement for school district in the Commonwealth.
The Bottom Line
The newly signed Massachusetts PROTECT Act (effective ahead of the 2026–2027 school year) prohibits federal immigration agents from making civil arrests on school or childcare grounds without a judge-signed judicial warrant.
What This Means for GMRSD
Our daily operations do not change. The PROTECT Act simply formalizes across Massachusetts the exact protocols we already have in place, making them mandatory statewide expectations and requiring school committees to formally adopt matching policies (see attached model policy).
Reminder of Our Existing Standard Protocols:
Warrants Required: Civil law enforcement (including ICE) may not access non-public areas or make civil arrests without a judge-signed judicial warrant.
Designated Contacts: Staff must direct any unexpected visits or requests from civil law enforcement straight to our designated administration leads.
On-Site Response: If agents arrive, designated staff verify credentials and judge-signed warrants, contact legal counsel, document the interaction, and protect private student/family data.
Family Privacy & Notice: We maintain established plans to notify impacted families while protecting individual student privacy.
Our existing procedures already meet all requirements set for September 1, 2026 and the model policy will be brought to the School Committee on September 8th. We appreciate everyone's ongoing commitment to these protocols. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
As we settle into the school year, we want to highlight an important district-wide health and safety priority: maintaining scent-free environments across all our campuses.
While a quick spritz of perfume, a scented lotion, or an air freshener might feel like a pleasant addition to the morning routine, these fragrant products can pose serious, unseen risks inside our classrooms.
Why We Are Scent-Free
Many students and staff members live with health conditions that make them highly sensitive to synthetic fragrances. Chemical compounds in perfumed items can easily circulate through shared ventilation systems, causing severe allergic or physiological reactions.
Asthma and Respiratory Distress: Fragrances are a leading environmental trigger for asthma attacks, causing sudden airway tightness, coughing, and wheezing.
Severe Migraines: Strong scents can instantly trigger debilitating chemical-induced headaches, making it impossible for students or teachers to focus.
Allergic Reactions: Exposure frequently leads to itchy eyes, skin rashes, sinus congestion, and dizziness.
Learning Disruptions: When a student suffers a flare-up, they miss vital instructional time in the nurse’s office or need to be picked up early.
By removing these triggers, we ensure that every hallway, classroom, and gym remains an accessible space where everyone can learn and work without risking their physical health.
How You Can Help
Creating a scent-free district requires a community effort. We ask families, students, and staff to make a few simple adjustments before stepping onto school grounds:
Skip the Spritz: Avoid applying perfumes, colognes, body sprays, or scented aftershaves on school days.
Check Personal Care Products: Opt for fragrance-free or unscented versions of daily items like hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorants, and hair gels.
Keep Classrooms Fresh Naturally: Teachers and volunteers should refrain from using plug-in air fresheners, scented diffusers, or essential oils in classrooms.
Laundry Awareness: Consider using unscented laundry detergents and dryer sheets for clothes worn to school.
We greatly appreciate your partnership in making our district a healthy, inclusive, and safe environment for every breath taken throughout the day.
Reading is the foundation for all future learning, and our district is fully committed to ensuring every child learns to read with confidence. To support this goal, our schools are aligning with the K–3 Literacy Law—landmark legislation designed to mandate evidence-based reading instruction and give every student the tools they need to succeed from day one.
Here is a quick look at what the K–3 Literacy Law means for our classrooms, educators, and families:
Grounded in the Science of Reading: Under the new law, our early literacy instruction must be grounded in empirical research. Lessons focus directly on the core pillars of reading development: phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
High-Quality, Proven Materials: The K–3 Literacy Law prohibits outdated teaching methods, such as three-cueing or visual memorization. Instead, our district is adopting high-quality curricula approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to ensure systematic, proven instruction.
Universal Screening & Early Support: To ensure no child slips through the cracks, the law requires regular reading progress assessments and dyslexia screenings twice a year. If your child ever falls behind or needs extra support, we will reach out directly to partner with you on a tailored plan.
Empowering Our Educators: Great reading instruction starts with great teaching. The legislation provides dedicated funding for teacher preparation and ongoing professional development, ensuring our educators are equipped with the latest evidence-based literacy strategies.
By working together—at school and at home—we can ensure the K–3 Literacy Law helps every child foster a lifelong love of reading. Look out for further updates in your school's weekly announcements, and please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions!
National Custodial and Grounds Worker Appreciation Day is October 2nd, and it is time to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary staff who keep our schools safe, clean, and running smoothly every single day.
While much of their work happens before the first bell rings and long after the last bus departs, the impact of our custodial, maintenance, and grounds teams is felt every time we step onto our campuses.
What They Do for Our District
Keeping Our Spaces Safe & Clean: From disinfected classrooms to spotless hallways, our custodial staff creates a healthy environment where students can focus on learning.
Maintaining Our Facilities: Our maintenance technicians work tirelessly behind the scenes—fixing heating and cooling systems, repairing infrastructure, and keeping facilities operating safely.
Upkeeping Our Grounds: From manicured athletic fields to safe pathways during inclement weather, our grounds crew takes immense pride in making our school exteriors welcoming and secure.
How You Can Show Your Gratitude on October 2nd
Have Students Write Cards: A simple, handwritten thank-you note or drawing from a student means the world to our staff.
Say It in Person: Take a moment to say a warm "thank you" when you see a team member in the hallway or on the school grounds.
Keep Spaces Tidy: Help out by encouraging students to pick up after themselves in the cafeteria, classrooms, and playgrounds.
Please join us in celebrating these invaluable team members. We are deeply grateful for their hard work, dedication, and pride in our school community!
Fashionable Denim at Senior Sunrise!
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Welcome! We are glad you are here, adding a different perspective and new optimism to our mission to prepare every single one of our students, exceedingly well, for higher learning in the 21st century.
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Employment Information and Job Postings
We are always looking for qualified faculty and staff to serve our students and make a positive contribution to our schools. If you have the qualifications we are looking for, we invite you to complete the employment application. We look forward to hearing from you!
Tari N. Thomas, Interim Superintendent
35 Crocker Avenue,
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Email: tari.thomas@gmrsd.org
Website: www.gmrsd.org