Middle School Team Wins First Place in Regional MathCounts Competition

February 10, 2024

Press Release

Contact: Richard Alcorn

info@pvcics.org

 

PVCICS Middle School Students Win First Place in MathCounts Regional Competition

 

February 10, 2024 - The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) middle school MathCounts team won first place in the western Massachusetts/Connecticut Valley regional competition held on February 10.  PVCICS has consistently placed in the top performing schools in the MathCounts competitions. 

 

The MathCounts team consists of middle school students in grades 6 through 8, who met after school with a faculty advisor throughout the school year to play math games, solve puzzles, and work through math problems together.  “Our students worked hard and we’re very proud of their achievements,” said Kathleen Wang, Principal, “we appreciate their teamwork.”

 

PVCICS is a tuition-free regional public charter school located in Hadley, Massachusetts,

which enrolls almost 560 K-12th grade students from nearly 30 communities in the Pioneer

Valley. PVCICS prepares students for academic and personal success through rigorous study in English and Mandarin Chinese. The school's goal is to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCICS is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma Programme.

 

MathCounts is a nationwide organization that aims to cultivate interest and ambition in math among students of all ages. The MathCounts curricula are designed to foster a group ethic and encourage collaboration among students. The national program has two facets: the Club Program, which provides resources for schools to start their own math enrichment clubs, and the Competition Program, a “bee style” mathematics competition for middle school students.

 

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Tiered Focused Monitoring Update - Final Report

March 6, 2024

Press Release

Contact: Richard Alcorn

info@pvcics.org

TIERED FOCUSED MONITORING UPDATE

February 28 - The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) released their Final Report from the Tiered Focused Monitoring Review conducted in December 2023. This review covered special education and civil rights. There were no findings cited and the report is available by clicking here.

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Tiered Focused Monitoring Notice

October 26, 2023

Press Release

Contact: Richard Alcorn

info@pvcics.org

 

TIERED FOCUSED MONITORING NOTICE

 

October 26, 2023 - On December 6, 2023 and December 7, 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS). The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

 

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations. 

Parents and other individuals may call Michelle Hennessy-Kowalchek, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (413) 314-6709 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

 

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the PVCICS with a report with information about areas in which the PVCICS meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the PVCICS requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.

PVCICS is a tuition-free regional public charter school located in Hadley, Massachusetts,

which enrolls almost 560 K-12th grade students from nearly 30 communities in the Pioneer

Valley. PVCICS prepares students for academic and personal success through rigorous study in English and Mandarin Chinese. The school's goal is to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCICS is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma Programme.

 

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS - OPERABLE WINDOWS RENOVATIONS

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

OPERABLE WINDOWS RENOVATIONS

PIONEER VALLEY CHINESE IMMERSION CHARTER SCHOOL

317 RUSSELL STREET

HADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS 01035

Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Educational Foundation, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids for the Operable Windows Renovations at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, 317 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035. The work involves the replacement of specific existing insulated glazing units with new awning type units in existing aluminum storefront framing. Estimated construction cost is fifteen thousand dollars ($ 15,000). No prequalification is required. However, completion of the included reference form is required demonstrating previous experience similar in nature. Bidder selection, procedures and contract awards shall be in conformity with M.G.L. Chapter 149 Section 44A-H. State mandated prevailing wage rates must be paid according to M.G.L. Chapter 149 sections 26-27H. Digital copies of the drawings and specifications may be obtained by emailing requests to the office of Roy S. Brown Architects at 85rsba@gmail.com after Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10:00 am. Paper copies of the drawings and specifications may be ordered via the office of Roy S. Brown Architects, 85 Chilson Road, Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095, after Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10:00 am. Allow three days for paper copies to be printed. Paper copies of these documents may be ordered with a certified check, money order, or cash deposit of forty ($40) dollars made payable to Roy Brown. This deposit is refundable upon return of said documents in good condition not later than ten (10) days after the opening of the bids. A non-refundable shipping and handling fee of twenty ($20) dollars made payable to Roy Brown, will be charged for each set of documents requested by mail. Bidding documents requested by mail will be shipped via the United States Postal Service only. A project walk-thru is planned for Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 3:30 pm. Social distancing and face coverings will be required. All other COVID-19 protocols required at the time of the walk-thru will also be enforced. Bids will be accepted from eligible bidders digitally (only), and shall be emailed to the office of Roy S. Brown Architects at 85rsba@gmail.com until 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at which time they shall be publicly opened and read aloud. The time of receipt of bids will be determined by the architect’s email provider. A bid security is not required. The Awarding Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, should it be deemed in the public interest to do so.

Richard Alcorn, Executive Director

Middle and High School Students Win Top Places in Cool Science Competition

June 2021 - PVCICS middle and high school students submitted artwork to the Cool Science competition this spring. PVCICS had a 9th and 10th grade student winner and a 6th grade middle school honorable mention.

The Cool Science competition challenges students to express learning about science concepts through artwork. The winning artwork is displayed on public transit in Massachusetts. This year’s Challenge Questions for students were:

  • What did you learn about extreme weather and climate that you want to teach adults?

  • Why is a weakening Polar Vortex causing wild ups and downs in winter temperatures?

  • How will our lives change as weather becomes more severe?

Students had to draw a picture that answered these questions. To see the artwork and read the artist’s statements, see https://www.coolscience.net/worcester-honorees-20202021.

For more information about Cool Science see https://www.coolscience.net/our-purpose .

PVCICS High School Ranked #2 in Massachusetts by US News and World Report

April 27, 2021 - PVCICS’s high school was ranked #2 in Massachusetts by the lastest US News and World Report. Here’s links to the Boston Globe article and US News and World Report webpages:

​https://www.boston.com/news/education/2021/04/27/best-massachusetts-high-schools-us-news-world-report-2021-rankings

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/massachusetts

Middle and High School Students Win Top Places in National Chinese Vlog Competition

March 18, 2021 - Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) middle and high school students were awarded the top places in the National Chinese Vlog Competition.   See link

https://chineseflagship.hunter.cuny.edu/index.php?op=vlogWinner

Note: PVCICS’s elementarty students did not submit entries in this competition.

 

Notice of Tiered Focused Monitoring Review

January 27, 2021 PRESS RELEASE

 

During the week of March 8, 2021 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School. The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

 

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations. 

Parents and other individuals may call Marc Oldenburg, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338- 6703 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

 

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School with a report with information about areas in which the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.

 

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Notice to Bidders Summer 2020 Renovations

NOTICE TO BIDDERS SUMMER 2020 RENOVATIONS

PIONEER VALLEY CHINESE IMMERSION CHARTER SCHOOL

317 RUSSELL STREET HADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS 01035

Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Educational Foundation, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids for the Summer 2020 Renovations at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, 317 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035.

The work involves the installation of drywall partitions, doors and frames, window, suspended ceilings, flooring, lighting and electrical, HVAC, and fire protection. Estimated construction cost is eighty-five thousand dollars ($ 85,000). No prequalification is required.

Bidder selection, procedures and contract awards shall be in conformity with M.G.L. Chapter 149 Section 44A-H. State mandated prevailing wage rates must be paid according to M.G.L. Chapter 149 sections 26-27H.

Digital copies of the drawings and specifications may be obtained by emailing requests to the office of Roy S. Brown Architects at rsba85@yahoo.com after Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 2:00 pm. Paper copies of the drawings and specifications may be ordered via the office of Roy S. Brown Architects, 85 Chilson Road, Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095, after Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 2:00 pm. Allow three days for paper copies to be printed. Paper copies of these documents may be ordered with a certified check, money order, or cash deposit of fifty ($50) dollars made payable to Roy Brown. This deposit is refundable upon return of said documents in good condition not later than ten (10) days after the opening of the bids. A non-refundable shipping and handling fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars made payable to Roy Brown, will be charged for each set of documents requested by mail. Bidding documents requested by mail will be shipped via the United States Postal Service only.

A project walk-thru is planned for Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 10:00 am. Social distancing and face coverings will be required. All other COVID-19 protocols required at the time of the walk-thru will also be enforced. Groups entering the building will be kept small in size. Multiple tours of the interior may be required, depending on the number of people attending the walk-thru. The Owner reserves the right to refuse entry into the facility.

Bids will be accepted from eligible bidders digitally (only), and shall be emailed to the office of Roy S. Brown Architects at rsba85@yahoo.com until 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at which time they shall be publicly opened and read aloud. The time of receipt of bids will be determined by the architect’s email provider. A bid security in the form of a bid bond, cash, or certified check in the amount of five percent (5%) of the value of the total bid price must accompany the bid. Bidders are responsible for ensuring bid securities in the form of cash or check arrive at the architect’s office prior to the bid deadline. Emailed copies of bid bonds are acceptable.

The Awarding Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, should it be deemed in the public interest to do so. Richard Alcorn, Executive Director

Middle School Students Win First Place in 2020 MathCounts Regional Competition

Middle School Students Win First Place in MathCounts Regional Competition

PVCICS Middle School Students Win First Place in MathCounts Regional Competition

February 1, 2020 - The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) middle school MathCounts team won first place in the western Massachusetts/Connecticut Valley regional competition held in Chicopee on February 1, 2020.  PVCICS has consistently placed in the top performing schools in the MathCounts competitions.  This is the second year the team has placed first in the regional competition and will head to the state competition on March 7, 2020.

The MathCounts team consists of middle school students in grades 6 through 8, who met after school with a faculty advisor throughout the school year to play math games, solve puzzles, and work through math problems together.  “We’re very proud of our students’ achievements,” said Richard Alcorn, Executive Director, “and congratulate the MathCounts team.”

PVCICS is a tuition-free regional public charter school located in Hadley, Massachusetts, which enrolls almost 500 K-12th grade students from nearly 30 communities in the Pioneer Valley. PVCICS prepares students for academic and personal success through rigorous study in English and Mandarin Chinese. The school's goal is to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCICS is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma Programme.

MathCounts is a nationwide organization that aims to cultivate interest and ambition in math among students of all ages. The MathCounts curricula are designed to foster a group ethic and encourage collaboration among students. The national program has two facets: the Club Program, which provides resources for schools to start their own math enrichment clubs, and the Competition Program, a “bee style” mathematics competition for middle school students.

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Middle School Students Score in Top 5 of 2019 MathCounts Regional Competition

Middle School Students Score in Top 5 of 2019 MathCounts Regional Competition

PVCICS Middle School Students Score in Top 5 of 2019 MathCounts Regional Competition

February 9, 2019 - The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) middle school MathCounts team scored in the top 5 teams in the western Massachusetts/Connecticut Valley regional competition held on February 9.  PVCICS has consistently placed in the top performing schools in the MathCounts competitions. 

The MathCounts team consists of middle school students in grades 6 through 8, who met after school with a faculty advisor throughout the school year to play math games, solve puzzles, and work through math problems together.  “We’re very proud of our students’ achievements,” said Richard Alcorn, Executive Director, “and congratulate the MathCounts team.”

PVCICS is a tuition-free regional public charter school located in Hadley, Massachusetts, which enrolls almost 500 K-12th grade students from nearly 30 communities in the Pioneer Valley. PVCICS prepares students for academic and personal success through rigorous study in English and Mandarin Chinese. The school's goal is to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCICS is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma Programme.

MathCounts is a nationwide organization that aims to cultivate interest and ambition in math among students of all ages. The MathCounts curricula are designed to foster a group ethic and encourage collaboration among students. The national program has two facets: the Club Program, which provides resources for schools to start their own math enrichment clubs, and the Competition Program, a “bee style” mathematics competition for middle school students.

Storytelling in action at Chinese charter school

Storytelling in action at Chinese charter school

By GRETA JOCHEM
Daily Hampshire Gazette, Staff Writer
April 11, 2019
HADLEY — “Once upon a time in China,” a first-grade Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School student told a gym full of parents and elementary school students one afternoon last week.

The microphone was passed down a line of first-graders who each read a line from a tale that explained the creation of four major rivers in China.

The story was one of several Chinese folktales told by students in first, second and third grade as part of a culminating event of the school’s two-month program with artist-in-residence Motoko Dworkin.

Dworkin, a storyteller who performs under the mononym “Motoko,” lives in Amherst and has done similar residences in other Massachusetts schools. She grew up in Osaka, Japan and, among other areas, focuses on Asian folktales. The artist has been featured on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and in the National Storytelling Festival, and her recordings have won awards including a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award from the Parents’ Choice Foundation.

Throughout February and March, she worked with the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion students, spending time in each class on storytelling-focused lessons. First-graders focused on dragon stories and second-graders looked at tales about love, the stars and the moon. Third-graders read a story about a trickster monkey, and then wrote their own pieces inspired by that tale — a few of which, like “The Mystery of the Dragon,” and “The Monkey Queen,” were read aloud at the recent event at the school in Hadley.

In addition to learning stories, first-grade students made colorful paper dragons and second-graders wrote poems about the stars and moon displayed in the school’s lobby.

“The point of this residency is to enhance their literary skills and cultivate cultural awareness through folktales,” Motoko said, adding that it will have language benefits, too. “It will make their language study more exciting,” she said.

Motoko’s residency was funded through Mass Cultural Council’s STARS residencies program, which funds programming by artists, scholars and scientists in schools.

In previous years, the STARS program has brought bookmaking and African drumming to the school, said Principal Kathleen Wang.

In addition to teaching language in the school, cultural education is also important, Wang said.

“Language and culture go hand in hand,” she said.

The residency was also a way to integrate arts into the curriculum, she added.

The folktales Motoko taught are part of Chinese culture. “Those are stories Chinese students would grow up with,” she explained.

Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com

Charter Renewed for One of State's Top Performing Schools (January 19, 2017)

Charter Renewed for One of State's Top Performing Schools (January 19, 2017)

 Now Accepting Applications for 2017-2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hadley, Mass—January 19, 2017—The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) today approved the charter renewal for the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS.)  Over the past ten years, the Hadley based K-12 public charter school has consistently produced excellent academic results who graduate highly proficient in English and Chinese. 

“We are very pleased the state has once again renewed our charter,” said Richard Alcorn, Executive Director of PVCICS.  “Since opening in 2007, we have been faithful to our charter and committed to educating children from the Pioneer Valley in both English and Mandarin.  Our goal has always been to maintain a rigorous curriculum which challenges our students every day as well as teaching them about the cultural intricacies of China. We appreciate the support we have received from the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education and Commissioner Chester.”

PVCICS is the only Chinese immersion public charter school in the state of Massachusetts, serving students from grades K-12 and offering the two year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in 11th and 12th grades. Students are immersed in learning Mandarin Chinese starting in kindergarten and are quickly proficient in what is considered one of the most difficult languages to master.  In 2015, PVCICS was one of only three schools in the U.S. to be awarded the prestigious Confucius Classroom of the Year Award.  The school consistently ranks at or near the top for MCAS testing in the state and is a Level 1 performing school.

“Not only are we proud of our students academics achievements, we are also committed to educating them about international topics through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme,” said Kathleen Wang, Principal of PVCICS.  “We prepare students for the rigors of collegiate level studies and hope they become global citizens with a better understanding of the world and its people.”

Students are accepted to PVCICS through a lottery system and come from 39 different cities and towns from throughout the Pioneer Valley.  As a public charter school, there is no tuition and it is accepting lottery applications for fall 2017 entry now.

For more information or to schedule a visit to PVCICS, please contact:

Darcie Fisher

Ellis Strategies, Inc.

darcie@ellisstrategies.com | 774-281-3506 

About the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Chartered by the Massachusetts Department of Education in 2007, the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) is a tuition-free, regional K-12 public charter school in Hadley, Massachusetts, that prepares students for academic and personal success through rigorous study in English and Mandarin Chinese. The school's goal is to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCICS is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma Programme.