New school year, new building for Greenfield Center School
By Mary Byrne
Recorder Staff Writer
Originally Published 9/8/2021
GREENFIELD — Students and staff of the Greenfield Center School had more than just the first day of school to celebrate on Wednesday morning.
“It’s a total dream come true,” said Head of School Isabel “Charlie” Spencer, greeting students as they entered the new school building at 739 Bernardston Road.
Construction on the 23,678-square-foot building began in July 2020 with the expected completion by summer 2021. The 30-acre property, once home to a veterinary practice at 741 Bernardston Road, offers the students and teachers more space than at its Montague City Road campus, which was recently sold to architect David Zaccheo.
“We’re going from two aging buildings on a 2-acre campus to one larger building that we designed on a 30-acre campus,” Spencer said previously of the $10.5 million project. “It’s a big change and an exciting time for the school.”
Each class will have two learning spaces on campus: their indoor classroom space with an attached breakout space, and their forest classroom space. The mixed kindergarten and first-grade classes are full-time forest programs, with their indoor classrooms available during extreme weather or for special projects.
“Last year, we were between 80 to 100% outdoors,” Spencer said on Wednesday morning, noting COVID-19 health safety precautions. “To come back and be on a new campus, and be indoors more, is completely down to the fact our HVAC system and windows allow for it.”
Mela Schaffer, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, said she thought the new building looked almost like a museum.
“The wood — it looks kind of modern,” she said.
Other students, eager to be back with their friends, said they were excited for the new school year to begin.
“I think the building is really cool,” said Mille Strom, who was about to start her first day of third grade. “I’m pretty excited.”
Reiter Kaczmarek, 10, was also eager to begin the year in a new building.
“I’m super excited,” said Kaczmarek, who was most excited for the new lockers, which are larger than at the former Center School location.
The private school, which educates students in preschool through eighth grade, is also celebrating 40 years this year, having opened in 1981 near Foster’s Supermarket. It moved to Montague City Road in 1989.
“The school is 40 years old,” said Terry Kayne, chair of the board of directors. “Every change is done to further the mission.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne
