Schools

Sunnyside Child Care center finds new home in Northampton

Friday, May 24, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — A former “doggie day care” is getting upgraded to provide a learning environment for a whole new species. Sunnyside Child Care center is breaking ground next week for its new, permanent location at 557 Easthampton Road, the home of the former Dances With Dogs pet care center. Campus expansion plans at Smith College, Sunnyside’s current location, required the demolition of the school building at the end of Paradise … 0

Local lawmakers seek to lessen choice’s impact on sending schools

Friday, May 24, 2013

School choice and charter school options affect western Massachusetts communities differently than they do in the eastern part of the state, and local legislators are filing bills that aim to correct the imbalance. This year, John Scibak, D-South Hadley, and Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, filed three bills seeking to make alterations to educational option programs. Meanwhile, in Boston, the Legislature’s educational committee is being … 0

Bridge Street School 4th-grader Elizabeth Watts draws, Wednesday, alongside classmate Finn Puckett, 8, at the school. The Watts family, who are from Holyoke, have chosen to attend Bridge Street School in Northampton.

SARAH CROSBY

Options help families find schools that meet needs

Friday, May 24, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — When Mark Watts’ oldest daughter reached school age five years ago, he and wife Deborah Miller wanted to enroll Pippa in public school. Some of the other families in their Holyoke Highlands neighborhood were sending their children to private schools, but the Watts-Miller family didn’t like that option. Still, with Holyoke … 2

Cities & Towns »

Read our local coverage for
a specific town

Local Photography »

Cody Baglow, left, and Jonathan Traester of Amherst celebrate after Amherst scores Friday against Northampton during a lacrosse game at Northampton High School.

SARAH CROSBY

Amherst eliminates rival Northampton from playoff contention

Craig Murdock, Bridge Street School physical education teacher, and second grader C.J. Ryznic take a lap around the playground during recess Wednesday as part of the "Feelin' Good" walking program. Many students run the first two laps for one "punch" on their mile marker card. Twenty punches fills the card and marks five miles completed.
KEVIN GUTTING

Running buddies

About 350 people attended the annual Health and Safety Fair held Thursday at the Northampton Senior Center. The event offered information about the services and resources — including respite, adult day programs, and in-home care — that are available in this area. Those who attended were also able to learn about specific health conditions; here, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School student Paige Petersen of Huntington, 16, checks a blood pressure reading for Janice Cromack of Hadley.

SARAH CROSBY

Getting a checkup

Other Local News

Northampton High School vice principal Bryan Lombardi named one of three finalists for principal

Friday, May 10, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — An associate principal at Northampton High School, an assistant principal in Springfield, and an administrator at a New Hampshire high school are the three finalists in the search for a new Northampton High principal. Bryan Lombardi, NHS associate principal since 2007, Kevin M. Lalime, assistant principal … 0

Northampton School Committee to rule in June on later high school start time

Thursday, May 9, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — For the first time in the five-year-long debate over a later start time at Northampton High School, the School Committee took a vote Thursday on a specific plan for a later school bell. By a vote of 4-6, members rejected a motion to approve the recommendation … 0

Hatfield Elementary students Jacob Yagodzinski and Maisy Dyer run cross-gym sprints during a BOKS (Build Our Kids' Success) program before school Tuesday.
KEVIN GUTTING

Program helps Hatfield students jump-start morning

Thursday, May 9, 2013

HATFIELD — It’s not often elementary school students ask to go to school early. For parents with children at Hatfield Elementary School however, this request may become increasingly commonplace. This spring, Hatfield Elementary School incorporated a 10-week physical … 0

Study committee recommends moving Northampton High School start time from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — The latest proposal for changing the start time at Northampton High School would push the school bell back from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., under a plan supporters say would not increase costs or change schedules at city middle and elementary schools. A 10-member study committee … 0

Last September, 39 years after he would have graduated high school, Bill Dwight earned his high school equivalency credential, or G.E.D. (General Education Development), from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The framed certificate hangs in his office at the Media Education Foundation in Northampton where he is Social Media Coordinator.
KEVIN GUTTING

City Council President William Dwight finally gets his diploma

Friday, May 17, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — William H. Dwight has had many titles over the years: city councilor, nonprofit board member, radio show host, movie store clerk, and perhaps most intriguingly, pheasant farm crew foreman. Now the City Council president can add … 0

A group of children dig into a pile of sand during a groundbreaking ceremony for additions and renovations to the Anne T. Dunphy School Wednesday in Williamsburg.
JERREY ROBERTS

New Dunphy School breaks ground in Williamsburg

Thursday, May 16, 2013

WILLIAMSBURG — Dozens of students with shovels and yellow hard hats joined local and state officials Wednesday for an official ground-breaking ceremony at the Anne T. Dunphy School. Under increasingly threatening skies, officials addressed the large crowd of … 0

State helps Deerfield Academy borrow $15 million for expansion of arts center

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

DEERFIELD — With state help, Deerfield Academy will be able to borrow $15 million to build two new additions to its Center of the Arts building on campus. This week, MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, helped the independent high school secure the money through a bond … 0

Amherst teen connects with leaders in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

AMHERST — During a three-day leadership conference in Washington, D.C., Deerfield Academy junior Tara Murty got to meet Vice President Joe Biden, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and award-winning actress Kate Hudson. It was all part … 0

Northampton Honors Art 4 seniors, from left, Sara Moss-Horwitz, Allie Martineau, Zach Senchuk, Lila Hartwell, Jojo Renard, Leah Tompkins and Margaux Paine are completing several murals in the high school rest rooms. This is in the boys third floor rest room.
KEVIN GUTTING

Necessary art

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

… 0

GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Anne Marie Bettencourt, right, and Daniel Zukergood, co-wrote "Teaching in the Real World" in 2008.

Anne Marie Bettencourt of Hatfield state Teacher of Year

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

HATFIELD — Hatfield resident and Springfield Central High School English teacher Anne Marie Bettencourt has been named the 2013 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Bettencourt is the 52nd recipient of this award and automatically becomes the state’s candidate … 0

Don't Miss This

Schools

Sunnyside Child Care center finds new home in Northampton

Teen taste in footwear focus of downtown mural in Amherst

Sunnyside Child Care center finds new home in Northampton

Tuukka Rask, Bruins eliminate Rangers with win in Game 5

Red Sox rally with four eighth-inning runs to beat Indians

Editorial: What makes a downtown?

Clare Higgins: Enough of political dynasties. We're a democracy, after all

Chutney tacos? You betcha! Top chefs offer up fresh takes on taco night

Lou & Lucy’s Leftovers: There’s more than one way to cook an asparagus

Art People: Bruce Watson | satirist, biographer

Williston alum Rafael Cortina wins Student Academy Award