GREENFIELD — After a few exceptionally challenging years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, students and administrators at Greenfield High School were eager for a fresh start this week in a school year that brings new technology and a social-emotional learning curriculum.
“I’m really excited,” said Javion Williams, 13, as he left Greenfield High School on Wednesday, marking the first day of classes for kindergarten through high school students in the district. “I’m in a lot of new classes, which means new people and new friends.”
As students left the building Wednesday morning, Principal Derek Morrison welcomed back familiar faces, gauging their excitement for a new year of academics. He said the early dismissal for the first day was “a nice way to get (students) acclimated to their schedule … and back into the swing of things.”
“Every year has its own challenges, and things you look forward to,” he said, noting that hiring was key over the summer, with certain positions — such as instructional assistants and a Spanish teacher — still to be filled. “We put in a lot of work over the summer. … At some point, you’re like, ‘Let’s get this going, let’s bring the kids in.’”
One thing, in particular, the district worked on over the summer, he said, was the development of a social-emotional learning curriculum, one that will be followed by all Greenfield public schools during advisory periods.
Morrison, who started in the role in January, said he’s happy to begin the year under more normal circumstances.
Unlike last year, which began with a mask policy, masks will be optional this year — something student Giomaris Collazo, 14, is excited about. Overall, she said she feels good about the start of a new school year and new classes.
Regarding new technology coming to Greenfield High School, Morrison said he’s looking forward to working with Yondr representatives in September to implement the magnetic cellphone pouches where students’ phones will be locked during the day as a way to mitigate distractions in the classroom. The program wasn’t rolled out on Wednesday, however, and is expected to start in two weeks.
Superintendent Christine DeBarge, who ordered the pouches, previously said the start-up cost is about $16,000, which would cover students at the middle and high school levels. After that, the reoccurring cost is about $12,000 per year, depending on student enrollment. The pouches are created by Yondr, headquartered in San Francisco.
“We’ve exchanged questions and answers over the summer (with parents),” Morrison explained. “It’s not cellphone jail. It’s kind of like a seatbelt. Kids are going to get used to it; we’re going to get used to it as parents and teachers. … The biggest priority is reestablishing focus. (Cellphone-related distraction) came out of the scope of being able to manage.”
Javion, who had questions as to how the cellphone pouches would be implemented, said he didn’t agree with the district’s use of the $16,000 to buy the pouches.
“It’s my property,” he said. “There are a lot of other things they could have done with that money.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.
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