AMHERST — A foundational skills reading program, known as Magnetic Foundations, is being piloted by eight teachers in the four Amherst and Pelham elementary schools as the focus of an elementary literacy curriculum review this school year.

Mary Kiely, the district’s curriculum administrator, and Stephanie Joyce, the Title I coordinator, recently gave the Amherst School Committee an overview of the K-2 foundational skills program that aims to promote phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and writing.

Kiely said improving literacy is a current priority, and that the initial focus is on the youngest children because of the “outsize impact” of effective reading instruction that occurs before age 8. Prioritizing reading follows the adoption of the new math curriculum, iReady Classroom Math K-5, which is in its second year of implementation.

Last spring, a district review committee selected Magnetic Foundations, from Curriculum Associates, which is working toward development of a complete core literacy program and was the highest rated foundational skills reading program. This pilot is to be extended to more K-2 classrooms, and next year a complementary curriculum, Ready Reading Toolbox, will be used in grades 3-6.

Kiely said that none of the complete core early literacy curricular programs available were aligned with the district’s priorities and needs, so the right fit hasn’t yet been found, though the goal is to have one adopted for the 2025-2026 school year. Issues with some of the programs examined included representations that were too cartoonish or that programs that demanded excessive time commitment, such as three hours per day of instruction.

Kiely said the problem with the current reading and writing curriculum is that it is not evidence based.

“Beyond that, it does not teach structured literacy in any way shape or form,” Joyce added.

Joyce said the schools are also piloting Think SRSD Writing, also known as Self-Regulated Strategy Development. An impressive aspect of the program is the flexibility it encourages to use these skills in science, social studies and reading, she said. The program is expected to be used in all K-6 classrooms next year, based on its success in K-2 classrooms.

Cohousing open house

Cherry Hill Cohousing in Amherst and Village Hill Cohousing in Northampton are marking “Celebrate National Cohousing Open House Day: Promoting an Innovative Model of Sustainable Neighborhoods” on Saturday.

Tours and children’s activities at the Amherst site, on Pulpit Hill Road, are from 2 to 5 p.m., while on Olander Drive in Northampton they take place from 1 to 3 p.m.

The day is sponsored by the Cohousing Association of the United States, which promotes the benefits of intentional, collaborative housing development where neighbors play together, cook for one another, help each other with child-rearing and share tools. Common property is managed and maintained by community members.

Since Cherry Hill, the first co-housing community in the state, was completed 30 years ago, more than 180 other communities have been established across the country.

Cherry Hill is currently seeking one family for a vacant house and additional ones for a waiting pool, while Village Hill also maintains a pool of interested people.

Hurricane Singers perform

South Congregational Church, 1066 South East St., is presenting the Amherst Regional High School Hurricane Singers in concert Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The free concert, with free-will donations, takes place annually, but this year is part of the church’s 200th Anniversary Celebration Arts and Social Justice Series.

Featured will be a compilation of music that the ensemble, taught and directed by Todd Fruth, learned throughout the semester, with several genres of music including gospel, folk, pop and more traditional choral pieces.

For more information, contact Eugenia Collins at 413-253-2977 or email office@amherstsouthchurch.org.

Cambodians in Amherst

To kick off an Amherst Historical Society exhibit marking 45 years of Cambodians in Amherst, Amherst Cinema is screening “Rebuilding the Temple: Cambodians in America” on Wednesday at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion.

Claudia Levin and Lawrence R. Hott, the producers/ directors of the film, Sokhen Mao, a Cambodian community member, and Mick O’Connor, who is directing the exhibit, will talk.

Presentation of the oral histories, photos, art and archived footage begins May 11 at the Amherst History Museum.

Cuppa Joe with CRESS director

Town Manager Paul Bockelman will be at the Bangs Community Center’s Large Activity Room on May 10 from 8:30 to 10 a.m., joined by Camille Theriaque, the director of the town’s Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service.

Theriaque started April 8 in the position overseeing the department that focuses on addressing social service needs. As a firefighter with the Holyoke Fire Department, Theriaque rose to the rank of lieutenant, the city’s first woman in that role. Theriaque most recently worked as a licensed clinician at the Behavioral Health Network’s Program for Assertive Community Treatment program.

The Cuppa Joe event offers the public an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and offer praise on municipal topics.

Meetings

MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; War Memorial Pool planning public meeting, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.