EASTHAMPTON - A proposed concussion policy that puts the city schools in line with new state regulations is on track to be approved by the School Committee Feb. 27. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the policy on its first reading Feb. 13.

The new rules are designed to prevent student athletes who have suffered concussions from returning to play too soon. Research has shown that young athletes who continue playing before their brains have fully healed are vulnerable to serious neurological damage.

The new policy contains guidelines that coaches and students must follow when an athlete sustains a head injury. At the beginning of each sport season, athletes must complete a concussion history form that will be used for tracking purposes. Following a concussion, an athlete must have a "return to play" form signed by a physician or other health practitioner before being allowed to rejoin their sport. Schools must also provide annual training on concussions for student athletes and parents.

Fundraising for Easthampton High School's 1st place We the People civics team got a boost last week with $2,500 donations from Easthampton Savings Bank and Florence Savings Bank, $250 from the Easthampton Rotary Club and $100 from the office of state Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley. The team needs to raise $12,000 by the end of the month so they can represent Massachusetts at the We the People nationals in Washington, D.C., in April.

Scibak and state Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield, attended a School Committee ceremony honoring the team on Feb. 13. The lawmakers read proclamations lauding the students' efforts and wishing them luck at the nationals. Mayor Michael Tautznik presented team members with certificates of achievement from the city.

"The Easthampton community has been unbelievably supportive," said high school history teacher and team leader Kelley Brown. "We take seriously our responsibility to represent this city in an honorable way."

Schools teams up with bears

Organizers of the city's second Bear Fest are reaching out to area schools through a new Kids Committee that has been planning children's events and school activities. This year for the first time, schoolchildren in Westhampton and Southampton will be designing 18-inch bears for the June public art festival, along with their peers in Easthampton.

"We're very excited about being included," said Lucille Dalton, chairwoman of the Parent-Teacher Organization at the William Norris Elementary School in Southampton. "This really pulls our communities together."

Earlier this month, the Norris School hosted a Bingo and Bears Book Night as a fundraiser for Bear Fest, Dalton said. Norris students are also participating in a youth T-shirt design contest for the festival. The winning design will be announced at a Cub Crafts Day event scheduled for Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eastworks.

Next week, 52 tabletop bears will be arriving in classrooms in all three local towns for students to design over the coming months.

'Puzzle of Parenting'

The next in a series of free "Puzzle of Parenting" workshops hosted by the Collaborative for Educational Services will be held March 6 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the South Hadley Public Library on Bardwell Street. The "Parent as Advocate" workshop will describe how parents can advocate for their children in schools and other settings. The series is being offered through May to parents and guardians of young children in Easthampton and six other local towns. Free childcare is provided. For details, visit www.collborative.org/early-childhood/parents or call 586-4998.

Barbara Solow can be reached at BSolow@gazettenet.com.