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Date: 11/2/2021
AGAWAM – The Agawam School Committee discussed the “Start With Hello” program at the junior high school and heard a food service update at its Oct. 12 meeting.
Superintendent Sheila Hoffman explained that the “Start with Hello Program” is about bringing kids back into buildings, rebuilding communities and recognizing how people are establishing relationships within the school community.
Agawam Junior High School Principal Norman Robbins and adjustment counselor Amy DiStefano presented this program to the School Committee. Robbins said they are happy to have students back, but they have realized that 18 months without some of them in the building showed that they need to work to reestablish relationships and rebuild community.
“This is a program we started right after [the school shooting at] Sandy Hook happened in 2012 and it’s part of the Sandy Hook Promise,” said Robbins. “We kind of just added our own flavor to it.”
DiStefano said the “Start with Hello Program” is a program the school has done every year since.
“It’s really a weekly reminder that we pull kids in for an assembly and talk to them on how it’s OK to experience loneliness and what you can do if you’re feeling lonely – especially after the past two years.”
During the weekly assemblies, DiStefano said, students learn about what loneliness looks like both in themselves and others, along with an understanding of social isolation.
“We give them the power to connect again, by reminding them that all they have to do is see someone alone, reach out and help, and that it can start with a simple hello.”
She went on to say that each year, a theme week takes place that focuses on reconnection and coming together. For instance, during the first week of the school year, students were out gardening and documenting kind things that they had done for others.
DiStefano said this year, they were extremely excited to bring back extracurricular clubs. Some of the clubs offered at the junior high include Drama Club, Science Club, French Club and Kindness Club. All the clubs can be viewed on the Agawam Junior High School website at www.agawamed.org/o/ajh/article/546569. Anyone is welcome to join at any given time.
DiStefano said the Kindness Club will be hosting a “World Kindness Day” event in November and a “Inclusive Schools Week” in December. The spring semester will also have a variety of events, with a few months currently left open so that the schools can see what is needed to be done.
“We’re really excited to come up with ways to just let these kids feel that we are now a safety net for them and we’re back, and they can be safe and happy,” said DiStefano.
Following this presentation, Hoffman recognized the teams and individuals that were scheduled to be inducted into the Agawam High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 24.
The teams to be inducted are the 1966 football team, which extended Agawam’s three-year streak of wins to 26-0; the 1970 baseball team, which won Agawam’s first outright championship of the Valley League; and the 1996 girls track team, which won that sport’s first Western Massachusetts championship.
Individuals to be inducted include Len Charest, Venita (Giles) Early, Doug Janik, Amy Mantha, Rich Nacewicz, Brian Rheault and Mayor William Sapelli.
Additionally, Hoffman informed meeting participants that on Oct. 12, the Test and Stay Program began at Robinson Park School.
“At this time, eligible staff and students are those who identified as close contacts from school and who are not exempt from testing in quarantining protocols. We will continue to provide you with updates on the protocols as it evolves,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman also introduced Liz Moulton, the schools’ food service director, who has recently begun her second year. She explained that Moulton experienced challenges and had to adjust over the past year, such as offering remote meals when students were using the remote/hybrid model.
Moulton said, “We’re adjusting with COVID-19. Breakfast and lunch look much more similar to students this year than they did last year. Last year they saw a lot of meals in containers and meals in bags. This year it looks more familiar to them.”
She shared that the items are being prepared in a more traditional way, the menus are more similar and all the staff is wearing masks and staying as far apart as possible.
Under the Seamless Summer Option offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Moulton said that all breakfast and lunches are free to students until the end of the school year.
“Families should continue to turn in or submit free meals applications. Even though lunch is free, the application and the status that comes along with it allows families to qualify for fuel assistance or P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer) benefits,” said Moulton.
For families that have not received a letter informing them that their child is eligible for free meals, she asked that they submit an application. Applications are accepted at any time.
Moulton said has observed a rapid increase of students who are benefitting from free breakfast and lunch, and believes it is beneficial for meals to be offered to everyone.
Regarding food delivery, shortages and ordering, Moulton reported that their managers are doing an “incredible” job in ordering as far out as they can store. Currently, they are placing orders three weeks in advance. With seven schools to buy for, ordering certain items has become more difficult and has forced Moulton and her team to look for alternative options. Nonetheless, she assured that all students are receiving quality meals and have a variety to choose from.
“I think that everyone in Agawam, especially your cafeteria workers, are really working hard to find solutions,” stated Moulton.
In addition, the Agawam cafeterias now have a new point-of-sale system known as TITAN. This program is web-based and allows for family sharing. Moulton explained that all the cafeterias have received new terminals and there is a new family portal for online payments. She plans to send out more information on this toward the end of the month. All the breakfast and lunch menus can be viewed online at www.agawamed.org.