About

Sunderland Elementary is part of the Union#38 School District working closely with Conway Grammar, Deerfield Elementary, and Whately Elementary.

Union#38 Schools offer full-day preschool prgrams for three and four year old children.  The early childhood classroom is an integrated program for both special needs children and their typically developing peer partners.  The program offers educational therapies such as speech/language; occupational, and physical therapy; screening and assessment; and parent support services.  Our preschool program meets the accreditation standards set by the National Associate for the Education of Young Children.

Sunderland Elementary School also provides services to children from preschool through sixth grade with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The goal is to provide intensive early intervention and ongoing, high quality programming in accordance with each student’s Individual Education Plan. The services promote each student’s inclusion in regular education classes to the fullest extent possible. Deerfield uses a strong interdisciplinary team approach with regular meetings to maintain communication with staff, school personnel and families. Specialty services include: Contemporary Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Assistive Technology (communication devices, computer software, high and low tech adapted equipment), Occupational Therapy (Sensory Integration Certified), Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, as well as access to an Inclusion Specialist, Registered Nurse, School Psychologist and Adaptive Physical Education Teacher.

Other programs include instrumental music, where students are eligible to participate in group lessons on string instruments in grades 3-6 and band instruments in grades 5-6. The thirty minute lessons are free of charge and scheduled during the school day in consultation with the classroom teachers. In September, the music teachers demonstrate the instruments and distribute information on how and where to rent an instrument. Concerts are scheduled through the year, culminating in a combined performance by the four Union 38 schools in the spring (held at Frontier Regional).

In an effort to provide the best education to our students, the curriculum in the Union#38 Schools, based on Common Core established by the Massachusetts Department of Education, is continually examined and revised by teachers and staff. Current research and strategies about best practices in teaching and learning are considered. The Union#38 schools currently have teacher-authored curriculum guides in the areas of Language Arts, Spelling, Science, and Mathematics. These guides outline overall instructional goals, as well as, specific grade level skills for students.

A school community is a set of relationships: among children, among school staff, among family members, and community members. In the Union#38 Schools community, these relationships are valued, supported and nurtured. We believe that these relationships are more likely to flourish when community building becomes an explicit part of what we do each day with children. Clearly, the more children feel that their school community cares about them, and meets their needs, the more likely they will feel a part of the community, to practice the very values that the school promotes, and to thrive as learners.