GMRSD Supt's October 2026 Update

Every October, schools and communities across the nation unite for National Bullying Prevention Month. Founded in 2006, this month-long campaign serves as a crucial reminder that every student deserves a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive without fear of harassment or isolation.

Bullying is not a simple "rite of passage". According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately one in five students experiences bullying during their school years. Whether it takes the form of verbal harassment, physical intimidation, social exclusion, or cyberbullying, the impact reaches deep into a student’s academic success, self-esteem, and emotional well-being.

Preventing bullying is not a single annual lesson—it requires an active, everyday commitment from students, educators, parents, and community members working together.

What We Are Doing in Our Schools

GMRSD is dedicated to cultivating a positive climate rooted in respect and belonging. Throughout October—and across the entire school year—our campuses participate in several proactive initiatives:

• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Classroom Lessons: Age-appropriate workshops focus on empathy, managing emotions, resolving conflicts peacefully, and understanding the power of inclusive language.

  
  

• Upstander Training: This year we will empower students to move from passive bystanders to active upstanders. Students learn safe, effective strategies to intervene or seek help when they witness unfair treatment.

  
  

• Unity Day (October 21): Staff and students are encouraged to wear orange as a visible, collective statement against bullying and in support of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

  
  

• Anonymous Reporting Channels: We maintain clear, easily accessible reporting tools for students and families to report bullying behaviors or online safety concerns confidentially.

• GMRSD Bullying Prevention Plan

• GMRSD Bullying Incident Reporting Form

How Families Can Help at Home

A school’s anti-bullying efforts are strongest when reinforced at home. Here are practical ways families can support bullying prevention:

1. Keep Communication Open: Talk regularly with your children about their day, social dynamics, and online activities. Ask open-ended questions like, "Who did you sit with at lunch today?" or "Have you seen anyone being left out lately?"

   
   

2. Watch for Warning Signs: Changes in school attendance, unexplainable loss of belongings, sudden drops in grades, or shifts in mood and sleeping habits can indicate a child is experiencing bullying or distress.

   
   

3. Teach Digital Citizenship: Discuss cyberbullying and online safety. Encourage your child to report hurtful comments, avoid forwarding harmful messages, and keep devices out of bedrooms during late hours.

   
   

4. Model Inclusive Behavior: Children look to adults for how to navigate differences. Emphasize kindness, perspective-taking, and respect in everyday family conversations.

   
   

Moving Forward Together

Bullying prevention is about more than addressing negative behaviors—it is about actively creating a culture where inclusion and compassion are the norm. When students feel seen, heard, and valued, they excel both academically and personally.

If you ever have concerns regarding bullying or safety at your child's school, please reach out directly to your building principal, school counselor, or district safety team. Together, we can ensure every classroom, hallway, and playground in our district remains a place of safety and opportunity for all.

On Wednesday, October 7th, Gill Elementary laced up their sneakers and strapped on their helmets for Bike, Walk, & Scoot to School Day! Students and families gathered along North Cross Road in the crisp morning fog to kick off the day together. Walkers led the procession with bicyclists following closely behind as the group traveled down Boyle Road. It was an energizing, healthy, and fun start to the day for everyone involved!

Early literacy is the bedrock upon which all future learning is built, making it one of the most vital investments a public school system can make. When young students learn to read by third grade, they transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn"—a pivotal point that directly impacts their comprehension, confidence, and academic success across every subject. Strong foundational literacy skills foster critical thinking, bridge equity gaps, and instill a lifelong love of learning.

In June, 2026, Governor Maura Healey signed the Act Relative to Teacher Preparation and Student Literacy legislation designed to improve student literacy. This legislation requires school districts to adopt evidence-based reading curriculum and instructional materials and practices. GMRSD is already in line with meeting the obligations of this legislation with its adoption of UFLI and Word Origins as evidence-based foundational skills and morphology curriculum districtwide in grades K-8 to directly address reading skill gaps and improve students’ decoding abilities, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

We encourage everyone to also join us on Thursday, October 15, 2026 from 5:30-6:30 pm at Hillcrest Elementary School as we celebrate a districtwide Literacy Night. We look forward to seeing you there!

In accordance with Federal law, IDEA and Massachusetts law 603 CMR 28.00, the Gill-Montague Regional School District provides special education and related services programs designed to meet the needs of children, ages 3-21 years old, who are attending not only public schools, but also those who are in home education programs, homeless, migrant, in foster care, attend private schools in the towns of Gill or Montague or outside of our district towns, at private expense, and whose parents/ legal guardians reside within the district as well as students.

Gill Montague provides all children with an opportunity to participate in the public schools programs using a continuous and systematic effort to identify children in need of special education and related services. This is accomplished by quarterly outreach throughout each school year to area private and public schools, daycare centers, preschools, community support organizations, health and medical centers, and those groups from which promotion or transfer of students in need of special education may be expected, or which would include students in need of special education.

The Gill Montague Regional School District will arrange for the provision and evaluation of all students, ages 3-21 years old, who are unable to progress effectively in a regular program due to a suspected disability consisting of a developmental delay or an intellectual, sensory, neurological, emotional, communication, physical, specific learning, or health impairment or combination thereof. The use of tiered interventions or screening tools may not be used to delay or deny a full and individualized evaluation of a child suspected of having a disability as required under 34 C.F.R. 300.111 and 300.301. An evaluation of a student may be conducted at the same time as a student receives tiered interventions and support. All programs and services are offered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, and disability.

Early Intervention: The Gill-Montague Regional School District is committed to identifying children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services for three and four year-olds. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s development and would like to have him/her screened, please call Cynthia Sheehy, Early Childhood Coordinator, at (413) 863-9526 for more information.

If you suspect that your child may need an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services, you may request an evaluation, at no cost, at your neighborhood / district school. Please contact your child’s neighborhood school using the contact information listed below to learn more about referring your child for an evaluation.

Hillcrest Elementary School 413-863-9526

Sheffield Elementary School 413-863-9326

Gill Elementary School 413-863-3255

Great Falls Middle School 413-863-7300

Turners Falls High School 413-863-7200

Gill-Montague Regional School District Office of Pupil Services 413-863-7507

There are people in every school community who make a difference every day—often quietly, often without seeking recognition, and always with the well-being of children and families at heart. Jimena De Pareja is one of those extraordinary people.

It is with tremendous pride that we celebrate Jimena’s recent recognition by State Senator Jo Comerford and the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, who honored her with a Latino Excellence Award for her transformative leadership and service to our community.

While this award is a wonderful acknowledgment of Jimena’s contributions, those of us in the Gill-Montague Regional School District know that her impact cannot be captured by a certificate or an evening of recognition. We see it every day.

For 14 years, Jimena has served as a bridge between our schools and Hispanic families, helping parents navigate unfamiliar systems, understand their children’s educational opportunities and advocate for their children—particularly when navigating special education. She helps families find their way, makes sure they feel heard, and reminds them that they have a partner in their children’s schools.

And Jimena does so much more.

Having moved to Turners Falls from Ecuador 26 years ago, she understands firsthand what it means to build a new life and find a sense of belonging in a community. For 12 years, through her work with the Heartwing Center, she supported newly arrived families and children with tutoring, translation, driver's license preparation, food, clothing, and countless other forms of practical and personal assistance.

But perhaps what makes Jimena most special is the heart she brings to this work.

She sees possibility in young people. She believes in families. She understands that sometimes what a child or parent needs most is someone who will listen, help them navigate a challenge, celebrate their accomplishments, and encourage them to take the next step.

Her commitment extends particularly to young people and women who have experienced discrimination or domestic violence. Through leadership and empowerment opportunities, Jimena helps others recognize their own strength and imagine possibilities for their futures.

As Superintendent, I am especially grateful for the way Jimena strengthens our entire school community. She helps families feel that they belong. She helps students believe that they can succeed. And she helps all of us better understand the richness and strength that comes from the diversity of our community.

Senator Comerford’s recognition of Jimena is a wonderful reflection of the work she has done throughout the Pioneer Valley. But for the students, parents, educators, and families of Gill-Montague, Jimena’s greatest honors are the relationships she has built, the barriers she has helped families overcome, and the young people she has encouraged to dream a little bigger.

Jimena, thank you for showing up—with compassion, courage, energy, and an enormous heart—for our children and families. We are incredibly fortunate to have you as part of the Gill-Montague family.

Please join me in congratulating Jimena on this very well-deserved recognition and, even more importantly, in celebrating the remarkable difference she makes in the lives of so many people every single day.

Our school district is gearing up to host a comprehensive District Review this week and next conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This routine evaluation provides an invaluable opportunity to celebrate our ongoing progress, assess our educational programs, and gain key insights that will guide our continuous improvement.

What is the DESE District Review?

The DESE District Review is a standard evaluation designed to assess how well our district's systems, policies, and practices support student achievement and well-being. During the review process, a team of experienced educators and administrators will examine six core areas:

• Leadership and Governance: District strategy, school committee oversight, and collaborative decision-making.

• Curriculum and Instruction: Alignment with state standards, instructional quality, and learning supports.

• Assessment: How we track, analyze, and use student performance data to drive instruction.

• Human Resources and Professional Development: Educator support, recruitment, and professional growth.

• Student Support: Systems for social-emotional learning, inclusive education, and family engagement.

• Financial and Asset Management: Budgeting, resource allocation, and facility maintenance.

Thank You to Our Community

A successful review relies on authentic input from every corner of our educational community. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone participating in interviews, focus groups, and site visits:

• Our Principals and Directors: Thank you for your steadfast leadership, dedicated coordination, and daily efforts in guiding our schools and key programs.

• Our Teachers and School Staff: Thank you for taking time out of your busy days to share your classroom insights, expertise, and commitment to student success.

• Our Parents and Families: We appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and help us strengthen family-school partnerships.

• Our Students: Thank you for sharing your voices and perspectives on what makes our schools a great place to learn.

• Our School Committee Members: Thank you for your governance leadership, dedication, and long-term vision for our district.

• Our Town Administrators and Local Officials: We appreciate your ongoing collaboration and commitment to supporting municipal-school partnerships.

Next Steps and What to Expect

Following their site visits and interviews, the DESE review team will synthesize their observations, document reviews, and interview findings into a final report. Once completed, this report will be shared with the School Committee and made available to our entire community. We look forward to using the findings to build upon our strengths and continue raising the standard of education for all our students.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support during this important milestone for our schools.

We had a blast celebrating Latin Heritage Month in the kitchen last week. The lunch line was buzzing over our bean and cheese pupusas served alongside fresh cilantro lime rice and Mexican-style coleslaw.

Proud of our crew for keeping things fresh, fun, and flavorful for our students!

Students at Gill Elementary stepped into the shoes of medical researchers last week during an engaging hands-on lesson in Amplify Science!

Guided by teacher Ms. Gobeil, students took on the role of medical trainees tasked with solving a real-world mystery: determining why a young patient has been experiencing unusually low energy levels. To help ground the lesson, Ms. Gobeil kicked off the session with a foundational mini-lesson on cell structure, giving students the context they needed to analyze human biology effectively.

Armed with their new knowledge, students made initial claims about the patient's condition before diving into an interactive metabolism computer simulation. Working through the software, they tested their hypotheses, observed how nutrients interact with body systems at a cellular level, and gathered evidence to support their final medical reports.

The lesson was a fantastic display of critical thinking and scientific inquiry. We look forward to seeing what our future doctors and scientists discover as the unit continues!

Dear Gill-Montague Regional School Staff, October 2, 2026

We are writing to notify you of a data security incident involving information maintained by the Gill-Montague Regional School District through Frontline Education. On October 1, 2026, the District was notified that certain information maintained within a Frontline information system may have been accessed without authorization. This breach has occurred for a number of districts in Western Massachusetts. Upon receiving this notification, the District promptly began working with Frontline to understand the incident, determine the information potentially involved, and who was affected.

Based on the information currently available, the categories of information that may have been involved include:

• Social Security numbers;

• Email addresses; and/or

• Mailing addresses.

At this time, we have no evidence that the information has been misused. Frontline has also reported that it is not aware of any misuse of the data as a result of this incident. However, because we take the security and privacy of employee information seriously, we are notifying you so that you can take appropriate precautions.

Steps We Are Taking

The District is taking the following steps in response to the incident:

• Working directly with Frontline to understand the scope and circumstances of the incident and to ensure appropriate remedial measures are implemented.

• Reviewing the District's agreements and legal rights concerning the protection of employee information.

• Coordinating with legal counsel and appropriate authorities regarding applicable federal and state notification requirements.

• Evaluating and implementing additional safeguards designed to further protect employee information.

Frontline has reported that it investigated the incident with the assistance of an independent cybersecurity firm, remediated the vulnerability, engaged with law enforcement, and implemented enhanced security controls, monitoring, and security alerting and response capabilities.

Notification and Identity Protection Services

Frontline will:

• Notify affected individuals directly through email and U.S. mail, with substitute notice through its website and a press release.

• Handle required state attorney general notifications.

• Offer affected individuals two years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through TransUnion at no cost.

• Cover the costs of these services and its notification process.

Enrollment instructions will be included in the individual notice provided by Frontline. Please review that notice carefully for information about accessing these services.

Security Freeze and Fraud Alert Information:

• You have the right to place a security freeze on your consumer credit report. A security freeze is designed to prevent new creditors from accessing your credit report without your authorization. There is no charge to place, lift, or remove a security freeze.

• You may also request a fraud alert from a nationwide consumer reporting agency. Information concerning how to request a security freeze or fraud alert is available from the consumer reporting agencies.

• You also have the right to obtain a police report concerning the incident, where applicable. We encourage you to remain vigilant by reviewing account statements and monitoring your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. If you identify activity that you believe may be fraudulent, you should promptly contact the appropriate financial institution, consumer reporting agency, or law-enforcement agency.

Contact Information:

Frontline has established a dedicated call center to answer questions about the cybersecurity event as well as the TransUnion services that they are offering to you. If you have any questions, please call the TransUnion call center at 1-833-516-8792, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, excluding major U.S. holidays.

We regret any concern this incident may cause. Protecting the confidentiality and security of employee information is important to the Gill Montague Regional School District, and we will continue to take appropriate steps in response to this matter.

Sincerely,

Tari N. Thomas

Interim Superintendent of Schools

Town Administrator Walter Ramsey has detailed a proposed $1.75 million funding authorization for the Sheffield Elementary School Feasibility Study and Schematic Design phase. Last week, the Montague Selectboard unanimously voted to support the request and officially placed it on the Warrant for the upcoming Special Town Meeting on October 28th.

What Is the Feasibility Study?

The Gill-Montague Regional School District is currently in an MSBA Eligibility Period that runs through January 26, 2027. Authorizing these funds allows the district to keep moving forward.

The study will thoroughly evaluate facility needs and explore options for the future, including:

• Renovating existing facilities or adding additions

• Building a new school facility

• Consolidating Sheffield Elementary (grades 2–5) and Hillcrest Elementary (PreK–1) into a single, unified PreK–5 school

Budget & State Support

The $1.75 million authorization cap covers key preliminary phases:

• $1.2M – Design and architecture team

• $400,000 – Owner’s Project Manager (OPM)

• $100,000 – Site and environmental testing

• $50,000 – Project contingency

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State Reimbursement: The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is anticipated to reimburse approximately 76% (~$1.33 million) of eligible expenses, bringing the estimated net local share down to roughly $420,000.

Important Note: No Construction Commitment

Approving this feasibility study funds planning and design only. It does not commit the town to a construction project. Any future building or renovation plan will require a separate cost assessment, community review, and Town Meeting vote.

Next Steps & How to Stay Informed

• VOTE: Residents will vote on the feasibility study funding at the Special Town Meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

• STAY UPDATED: Community members can review project documents, presentation materials, and updates anytime via the Town’s online Public Information Clearinghouse.

Turners Falls High School truly shone during our recent Cultural Night! Heartfelt thanks to everyone who put in the hard work, cooked amazing dishes, and helped us celebrate the rich diversity that makes our school community thrive. Check out a few highlights from the evening below!

Gill Elementary School recently welcomed a vibrant new addition to its grounds: a handcrafted wolf mosaic donated by local Ashfield artist Robert Markey.

Inspired by the school’s mascot, the tile artwork celebrates community, teamwork, and school spirit. Markey, known for his public art projects worldwide, generously created and installed the piece to inspire students and enrich the school environment.

The next time you visit Gill Elementary, be sure to stop by and admire this wonderful gift from a talented local neighbor!

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.

Cheryl McKinney, Instructional Assistant at Hillcrest

Dylan Reynolds, Instructional Assistant at Sheffield

Sara Lacy, Instructional Assistant at Hillcrest

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!

We are looking for Instructional Assistants at all levels, an EL teacher, a custodian, substitute custodians and more!

https://www.gmrsd.org/human-resources

35 Crocker Avenue,

Turners Falls, MA 01376

Email: tari.thomas@gmrsd.org
Website: www.gmrsd.org