School Committee Meeting - August 4, 2020 @ 3:00 PM
Public viewing of the School Committee Meeting on Tuesday, August 4th, will be available on the Agawam YouTube Live Stream at https://bit.ly/APSYouTube
Agawam School Department Listening Session
The Agawam School Department will conduct a Listening Session on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. regarding the reopening of schools.
Location: virtual meeting
Per Governor Baker’s order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A sec. 20, the public will not be allowed to access this remote meeting. The meeting will be conducted in a virtual setting, fully remote via teleconferencing, and adhering to the practice of social distancing.
The meeting will be accessible to the community at the following link:
Dial-in Number (425) 436-6358
Access Number 789-188
School Committee Workshop July 28th @ 3:00 PM
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Jul 28, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 928 1747 3930
Passcode: 194505
Good Afternoon
This is just confirmation that our SC Workshop today at 3 p.m. at the Senior Center has been canceled and rescheduled to next Tuesday, July 28th, at 3 p.m. at the Senior Center. The workshop will be a Zoom meeting, so no one will be in attendance at the Senior Center. The public will be allowed to view and listen to the discussion via Zoom.
Reopening APS Survey
Hello!
If you have not received the Survey regarding the reopening of Agawam Public Schools In the emails that went out, please take some time to answer the following questions:
Thank you for your help and patience as we all work together towards reopening safely for all involved!
Reopening of Massachusetts Schools
Below is a link to the guidelines being provided by DESE on the reopening of Public Schools in Massachusetts. If you have any questions, please send an email to reopeningschools@agawamed.org
On June 17, 2020, Comcast announced an extension of the below-listed Internet Essentials Policies through the end of 2020:
Extended Internet Essentials 2 Months of Free Internet Service for New Customers through the end of 2020:
Individuals or families looking to sign up for Internet Essentials can go to: www.internetessentials.com using any web-connected device, including mobile phones. The accessible website also includes the option to video chat with customer service agents in American Sign Language. In addition, there are two dedicated phone numbers 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
Internet Essentials Offers Amnesty to Households with Debt Less than One Year through the end of 2020:
Comcast extended its policy of offering amnesty to low-income households who would otherwise qualify for Internet Essentials but have a past due balance that is less than a year old. During this unprecedented time, applicants who sign up through the end of 2020 and have an outstanding bill to Comcast are now eligible for the program. Comcast will offer amnesty for that debt for the purpose of connecting to Internet Essentials, so long as the customer meets all the other eligibility criteria.
Food Resources for Agawam Families
SummerEats is a free app that shows nearby Summer Eats sites where Massachusetts kids and teens can receive free meals during the summer. Anyone 18 and under can visit a site and receive a meal free of charge, no registration or ID needed — just drop in! Meals are provided through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), funded through the USDA, an equal opportunity employer and provider.
The next administration of the SAT is planned to be held on Saturday, August 29th at Agawam High School. The administration of the SAT is dependent on what phase of reopening the state of Massachusetts is in due to COVID-19, and we must adhere to state health guidelines.
More information will be provided once the testing day approaches and we know the guidelines we will have to follow to ensure safety. The number of students per testing room will be minimized to comply with state guidelines as well. Students should arrive through the main entrance at the front of the school by 7:30 am. Students must bring a printed copy of their admission ticket, photo ID, calculator, and pencils. Students are not allowed to wear hats into the testing site.
A Letter from the Superintendent
Good Evening,
Please read this letter to the Agawam Community from the Superintendent about recent events in the media. Click to read the Letter
Pandemic-EBT Resources for Families
Need help with using a P-EBT Card?
Families whose students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch started to receive P-EBT cards in the mail on Friday, May 29, and many are having trouble activating their card. Please share the following information from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) with families:
How to Activate (PIN) a P-EBT Card
You will need the letter DTA sent you in the mail to activate the card.
The Massachusetts EBT vendor was not able to change the automated prompts you hear when you call to PIN a card, and unfortunately, some of the automated instructions are inaccurate for P-EBT cards. Instead, please follow the steps below:
Call the EBT card phone number on the back of your P-EBT card: 800-997-2555.
Enter your P-EBT card number (it is an 18-digit number).
You will then be prompted incorrectly to enter the last four digits of your Social Security number. Do not enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. For the P-EBT cards, you must enter the last four digits of your child's case number that was provided on the DTA letter you received in the mail.
Then enter your child's date of birth using a two-digit month, two-digit day, and four-digit year (example: 04/06/2005).
For more information, visit: map-ebt.org. Questions? Call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 800-645-8333.
These are public announcements from the Superintendent of Agawam Public Schools on the current state and status of COVID-19. This message is meant to show transparency with the district while we work with the Governor, Commissioner of Education, CDC, and Local Health Departments.
An Announcement from the Superintendent on Guidelines for Remote Learning from the Agawam Public Schools.
"Agawam Public Schools has been working to address remote learning and have developed Grade Level guidelines under the guidance of the Commissioner of Education for Massachusetts. The Commissioner's Guidelines are the framework for all Districts in Massachusetts and have been carefully developed to meet the needs of all children during the COVID-19 crisis. I urge all to take a close look at the Commissioner's Guidelines and the specific guidelines for your child's school.
As we continue to educate students to the best of our abilities, we will continue to refine remote learning to best meet the learning needs of ALL children. Please remember, remote learning is not Virtual Learning. Remote learning is a blend of various strategies for students to learn. Practical experiences off of computer screens are very important for overall learning.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We acknowledge this is a difficult time for families as we stay safe at home."
News from the Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley on Remote Learning - Read the Announcement
April Break Distance Learning Survey
The School Committee voted to utilize the April Vacation which was scheduled for April 20th - 24th to continue student learning. However, Patriots Day will be observed on Monday, April 20th. Please take this time to try and disconnect from screens/devices and enjoy the day off. The new weekly menus in Google Classrooms will be posted on Tuesday, April 21st. The school year is now projected to end on Friday, June 19, 2020.
Remote Learning Recommendations During COVID-19 School Closures
Following the Governor’s announcement that schools will not re-open before May 4, 2020, The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued additional guidance regarding district and school remote learning plans.
With the extension of this closure, we believe students, families, educators, and staff in all communities will benefit from the clarity of statewide recommendations as educators and others continue to support their students during this crisis.
Soon, I will provide you with a summary of the short set of guiding principles that were derived from the state and revised to fit the needs of the Agawam community in regards to remote learning over the next several weeks.
Remote learning cannot replace students’ experiences in school communities with their teachers, administrators, and support staff. We must all pull together – parents and caregivers, students, the community, and of course, our educators and staff – to help students continue their learning over this extended period.
As a school district, Agawam Public Schools will take the direction from the state and work to put forth more specific guidelines according to our contexts, capacities, and needs.
We will continue to issue guidance to support districts and schools in their implementation of remote learning, including specific recommendations related to students with disabilities, English learners, and high school students.
We are all working hard in this effort and appreciate your continued feedback, support and understanding.
Information on ALICE Training and Video are located in the Parents & Guardians section under Safety Information
Superintendent's Message
Welcome to the Agawam Public Schools website. Our school district is a wonderful place for families to grow and learn together. We are excited to be able to use this website to better communicate with students, parents, and the community-at-large.
The goal of this website is to keep our families and residents informed about the amazing things taking place in our eight schools. Because we are proud of our website, we are working diligently to improve how information important to all stakeholders is delivered. Consequently, we utilize an information system which allows us to highlight special programs and events. In addition, it provides access to the school calendar, sport schedules, and significant announcements. Moreover, we will continue to develop individual classroom and program web pages and to provide important links to other educational sites. Your patience, as we grow our website, is greatly appreciated.
Our district appreciates the assistance of volunteers and encourages parents/guardians to become members of our individual school Parent Teacher Organizations and School Improvement Councils. We also invite parents and guardians to attend our Back-To-School Nights, Parent-Teacher Conferences, sporting events, as well as special events held throughout the school year.
Whether or not you are able to volunteer or attend events in the district, we ask that you keep in contact with your child’s teacher and school principal. It is only by keeping the lines of communication open that we can continue to do what is in the best interest of the children placed in our care. We value your input and welcome your support of our schools.
Sincerely,
Steven P. Lemanski
Superintendent of Schools
Resources for Families & Students During Distance Learning:
Agawam Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources: Click Here
To Submit an IT Support Ticket for Your Device: Click Here
This is a resource dedicated to Students and Families within the area of Agawam and/or West Springfield - Read more Details
Agawam Public Schools Lunch Service
Monday - Pick up for Monday and Tuesday
Wednesday - Pick up for Wednesday and Thursday
Friday - Pick up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Staff Self-care Tools:
This is an ongoing list that is dedicated to helping educators (or all adults really) practice self-care and how to deal with stress at this emotional time for us all:
