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Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival Set for Saturday

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ADAMS, Mass. — Bowe Field will become a fantasy land this Saturday as the fourth annual Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival emerges from its magical realm. 
 
The locally organized "Whimsical Fantasy Celebrating the Arts" is a family friendly affair featuring artisans, vendors, music and lots of activities for young and old. The day will be packed with new entertainment and the Queen's Quest, plus the popular Faerie Village build. 
 
Attendees are more than welcome to come in fantasy costume but don't worry if you've left your wings behind — you can embellish a new pair at the fair. 
 
Meet the Faerie Queen and her court, participate art activities like painting dragon eggs and making magical slime or listen to original stories by local authors. The Robbins-Zust Marionette Family Theatre will entertain with classic tales and the day will end with a spectacular performance by Ravenbane's FireCraft. 
 
Entertainment for the day includes performances by the raucous pub band Three Pints Shy; mystical soundscapes created by Aura Shards; an ensemble of African and Caribbean drumming led by Aimee Gelinas; Celtic-inspired classical singer-songwriter Misty Posey; and accordion/banjo duo Slow Pony. Fire dancers from Ravenbane's will also have multiple shows throughout the day.
 
Food and beverage vendors will be onsite. The festival is also working with the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste district to make this a "zero waste event."
 
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; parking and main entrance is off Old Columbia Road. Look for the signs on Route 8.
 
The cost is free for children 5 and under, $4 for ages 6-12, and $10 for adults. Look for bookmarks at local libraries for $2 off admission or use the secret word "unicorn" for $1 off.
 
Sponsored by Berkshire Bank, Mountain One, Fox Tail Technologies and Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire and produced by the Adams Arts Advisory Board.

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Hoosac Valley Regional School District to Undergo Tiered Focused Monitoring Review

CHESHIRE, Mass. — During the week of Jan. 6, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring
Review of the Hoosac Valley Regional School District. 
 
This review is part of DESE's ongoing efforts to monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations concerning English Learner Education (ELE) programs.
 
The Tiered Focused Monitoring Review is a comprehensive process that examines various aspects of a district's ELE program. The review will focus on areas such as:
 
  • Student assessments for English learners
  • Identification and placement of English learners
  • Parent and community involvement
  • Curriculum and instructional practices
  • Student support services
  • Faculty, staff, and administration licensure requirements
  • Program planning, evaluation, and recordkeeping
 
The review is conducted every six years for each district and charter school to assess their adherence to relevant laws and ensure continuous improvement in serving English learners.
 
In addition to the onsite review, parent outreach is a critical component of the process. The Hoosac Valley Regional School District will distribute a survey to parents of students whose records will be
examined. The survey seeks feedback on key aspects of their child's English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and included in the final monitoring report.
 
Parents or community members who wish to participate further can request a telephone interview with the Review Chairperson, Samantha Kodak, by contacting her at Samantha.k.kodak@mass.gov.
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