AMHERST — Enhancing the elementary garden program by incorporating anti-racism curricula, establishing a restorative justice program at Summit Academy, and creating a high school virtual tutoring center for math and science are among projects being supported by the Amherst Education Foundation.
The $30,000 in excellence grants for the 2021-2022 school year will benefit students throughout the Amherst public schools, including those from Amherst, Shutesbury, Leverett and Pelham.
“Public schools are the building blocks of a community, and now more than ever they need the community’s support,” said Youssef Fadel, the foundation’s president, in a statement.
At the three Amherst elementary schools and Pelham Elementary School, $3,795 will go to Jennifer Reese for the garden program to collaborate with the ethnic studies team to use outdoor spaces for exploring anti-racism curricula.
At Wildwood, $3,200 will be used to buy a playground picture communication board that will increasae the accessibility of the school’s recreational area and will be designed to promote socialization between children with different communication abilities. This includes those in the Intensive Learning Center at the school.
Summit Academy is getting $3,505 for three to five staff members to attend trainings through the Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk University. These staff members will then form a planning team to create a restorative justice program.
A STEM Virtual Tutoring Center will be at the high school through use of $10,500, allowing students access to math and science tutoring outside school. There will be a combination of paid tutors as well as community volunteers for the individual and small group tutoring sessions.
Also at the high school, $9,000 will go for an AmeriCorps member to serve so-called “Tier 2” students with tutoring and mentorship.
Lynn Gray, president of the directors for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, will complete her term through the end of the year, even after a promotion that is taking her from being general manager at Hampshire Mall in Hadley to the same position at Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.
In a message to chamber members, Gray wrote, “while my address may have changed, my commitment remains steadfast in supporting the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.”
Chamber Executive Director Claudia Pazmany expressed thanks to Gray for all the assistance given during the pandemic.
“Together, we are better as a result of working with her and a better chamber for you. We will continue to strive to do our very best knowing Lynn helped build such a dynamic team.”
Maps of all sorts, including McArthur Maps, Hobo-Dyer Maps and world population maps, were given away this week as Bob Abramms, the owner of ODT, is retiring after selling his company to a global peace activist.
Located on North Prospect Street, ODT has been the exclusive publisher and distributor in North America of what are known as the Peters Projection Maps, which show land masses of correct size, and can change the perception of Eurocentric centuries-old maps that depict Africa and Greenland as equals. They were once featured on an episode of the televisions series “West Wing.”
ODT began as a management consulting and human resources company focused on cultural diversity, morphing into a company focused on geography and media literacy, with maps making up more than 70% of its business.
Mexcalito Taco Bar opened this week at 17 Kellogg Ave., following a ribbon-cutting sponsored by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. The restaurant features tacos with soft handmade tortillas, salsas and guacamole and fresh, traditional Mexican ingredients.
WEDNESDAY: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., virtual via Zoom.
THURSDAY: Community Safety Working Group, 5:30 p.m., virtual via Zoom.
