MONTAGUE — The Turners Falls High School senior class of 57 students celebrated their tight-knit relationship before their last, first day of school on Thursday.
As is tradition, the Class of 2026 gathered for Senior Sunrise, where students could get a free breakfast and use senior-themed props to take photos while reconnecting with each other after being apart over the summer.
Two seniors, Clara Guidaboni of Erving and Tobias Wilson-Hill of Greenfield, say they’ve known many of their classmates since elementary school.
In March 2020, as sixth graders, the pandemic shifted them to virtual learning until they returned to school in the eighth grade. While they were always a close group, coming back to school in-person helped bring them together.
“I think after we came back, we were looking for connection, because we were alone for two years,” Wilson-Hill reflected.
Additionally, staffing changes during that time were difficult for students, especially in math, when Wilson-Hill said the class fell behind in that area of education. Through it all, Guidaboni and Wilson-Hill say their whole class remained close.
Similarly, Michael Waite feels the class connection between each person, which he thinks makes them a unique group. This ability to be close-knit is something Waite owes to the separation of their class during the pandemic.
“Coming back in eighth grade after seeing nobody really helped connect us all, especially then going into freshman year,” he said. “I think that really helped everyone get to know each other, because I think we all wanted to be more social.”
This relationship is evident beyond the students’ perspective.
Music teacher and Class of 2026 advisor Alyssa Comeau began teaching at the district in the fall of 2020, when the now-seniors were entering seventh grade. Although they were all learning virtually, she felt the students were gracious, enthusiastic and kind.
“They came from the perspective of, ‘I’ve just got to get through and I’ll make it,’ and they did, and because of that, they’re strong and they are flexible,” she said.
As the class advisor, Comeau has watched the seniors grow up, with fond memories exemplifying the class. For one, the classes participate in “Hallway Wars,” where each class decorates the school halls. Following a loss one year, “they came back with vengeance the next year and took first place.”
“I think that’s one of the moments that was really cool and inspiring,” Comeau said.
New at school
Before the start of the 2025-2026 school year, administrators have been working to fill vacant staff positions.
Since the start of the summer, the district’s staffing has shifted, with some employees leaving and others being reassigned. Former Superintendent Brian Beck resigned and interim Superintendent Tari Thomas was hired on a year-long contract as the district searches for a permanent superintendent. Additionally, former middle school and high school Principal Shawn Rickan resigned, effective Aug. 1.
Returning to the district for two days of the week is School Resource Officer Dan Miner with comfort dog Mack. Last winter, Miner was reassigned to full-time service at the Montague Police Department amid staffing shortages, and his position was cut during the most recent school budget season. An agreement between the Police Department and school district allows for Miner to be in school two days of the week, and when staffing permits at the Police Department.
Thomas explained that to fill the positions of head principal, middle school assistant principal and high school assistant principal, staff were reassigned. In June, the district chose to reorganize these administrative positions to include a head principal and two assistant principals for the middle and high school to help run the office more smoothly.
Loren Messina, then assistant principal, is now the head principal, filling the position previously held by Rickan. She said the school is working to enhance school culture with staff and student connection, and after the first day of school, this goal is being realized.
“I went around and spoke with the staff, and they said the kids had a great first day,” she said.
Physical education teacher Adam Graves is now the assistant high school principal, stepping into a non-teaching role for the first time in his 12 years at the district.
“What we’re looking for is really strong stability in our middle and high schools,” Thomas said about Messina, who has relationships already built with staff, students and families. “This is the third principal that they’ve had in three years, and it made sense to me to transfer Loren to the position, to just increase that stability.”
Graves said this is an opportunity to lend a hand and try something new in this time of staff turnover.
“Let’s give it a shot and see what we’ve got,” he said of the opportunity.
Messina said Thursday afternoon that all vacant positions for teaching and non-teaching staff, except for one middle school math teacher and some instructional assistants, have been filled. This includes special education positions, and Messina said she’s excited about the talent the new and returning staff are bringing to the district. She explained that internal hiring for candidates like Graves was done to forward the goal of achieving stability by retaining experienced and well-known staff.
The district is also working to stabilize special education and general education courses.
“We’re working around the clock,” Thomas said, adding, “I want highly qualified candidates, and substitutes if I have to have them in positions until we get just the right people in the places they need to be.”
Although she’s only here for one year, Thomas has been working on her entry plan to orient herself with the staff and students, and help in the hiring process. She said she’s had a chance to meet with students and staff, and encouraged staff before the start of the year to connect with students so they are eager to be at school.
“I really challenge them to think about every kid, every day,” she said, “and find ways to make relationships so they want to be in school, that they want to learn, that they’re eager to run into the building in the morning, and we almost have to push them out the door in the afternoon.”
