By CHRIS LARABEEStaff WriterNORTHFIELD — As schools kicked off around the valley this week, Pioneer Valley Regional School District students likely saw the biggest change among schools.The district implemented the use of magnetic Yondr pouches to curb cellphone use among students this summer and kicked off the initiative on Thursday, as students received their pouches and locked up their devices.Superintendent Patricia Kinsella said this school year is all about making deep investments into students in the district and policies like the Yondr pouches, as well as several new classes and the piloting of a new math curriculum in the elementary schools are all included.“My first three years in the district were focused, by necessity, on operations, including our financial systems. We have made great strides in those areas as demonstrated by recently reaching contract agreements with both unions,” Kinsella said. “Our next area of focus is our most important, and that’s teaching and learning.”At the middle and high school, students will have the opportunity to take three new classes, which are all focused on arts and writing. Middle school students will have the chance to take a language through art class, which explores the connection between literature and visual art, while high school students can take classes dedicated to theater and creative writing.“Our teachers are trying to meet student needs and interests,” Kinsella said. “Folks in the area are well-acquainted with Pioneer’s excellent athletics programs, these new courses are another way to strengthen our academic and arts programming.”At Bernardston and Northfield elementary schools, the district is piloting a new math curriculum in partnership with Mount Holyoke College, which Kinsella said will be providing “extensive professional development in math.”She added the program is about “deepening our educators’ own mathematical understanding” and the implementation of a math interventionist, a new position in the district, will be a “key player.”On the administrative side, the district has also welcomed two new principals for the 2024-25 school year in Bernardston Elementary School Principal Sarah Burstein and Pioneer Principal Annie Scanlan-Emigh.Burstein joins the district after serving as Hillcrest Elementary School’s principal for a decade in the Gill-Montague Regional School District, while Scanlan-Emigh was recruited to lead Pioneer after serving as the assistant principal at Michael E. Smith Middle School in South Hadley.“Pioneer is a school that has a ton of things that are just beginning, and in public schools, you don’t get that opportunity very often,” Scanlan-Emigh said in a May interview. “I really value small schools and understand … the unique set of opportunities and challenges that exist when everyone is taking on multiple roles.”“Our district is so fortunate to welcome two seasoned, highly-regarded school administrators,” Kinsella added. “Both Annie and Sarah have quickly established themselves as valued, high-performing members of our team. I am so excited to support their leadership.”Kinsella also highlighted other, more long-term initiatives that will likely take significant steps this year.The Massachusetts School Building Authority accepted the district’s letter of interest to explore visions laid out in Pioneer’s facilities master plan and will move forward with a site visit in September. Pioneer is also continuing its work in exploring a child care program and has moved to re-initiate talks about a potential move of the sixth grade up to the high school.Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.