ARHS PGO Parent News

The Art Department at Amherst Regional High School is proud to present AR[T]HS 2020, an exhibit of outstanding student artwork from the 2019-2020 school year. This juried exhibit – now in its 12th year – includes work from all of the Art Department’s areas of study: Foundations of Art, Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Digital Photography, and Advanced Studio Art. AR[T]HS 2020 includes both work done at school as well as work completed via distance learning. The show can be seen using this link: AR[T]HS 2020

Traditionally held at the Eli Marsh Gallery at Amherst College, the coronavirus crisis made an onsite exhibit impossible this year, necessitating the move to a virtual show. We know how difficult this spring has been for all of our students, especially the senior class. The impact on the Art Department has been no exception. We are so very sorry that our student artists did not get to experience seeing their work exhibited in a beautiful gallery space with a festive opening reception this year. 

Please enjoy this year’s fabulous exhibit and appreciate all the love, labor, and creativity that went into each of these works, and to so many others not in the show – including works abandoned in progress with our sudden departure from school and final assignments never begun that students were looking forward to doing.

We sincerely hope to see you all in person at next year’s opening!

The ARHS Art Department: Jeff Stauder, Hannah Hartl, Ben Sears, & Lee Larcheveque

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This letter is to update you on the planning underway for summer special education instruction and services for your child(ren) for this upcoming summer.

Last week, on May 21st & 22nd you received messages from our office with a form to complete about summer offerings we are planning. 

We now have information from the Public Health Director of Amherst that based on the CDC guidelines it is not advisable to hold summer programming in the schools. The resources, training and protocols that would need to be put into place to prevent the spread of COVDI-19 is not possible before the start of summer programming.  For this reason, summer services will continue as remote services.

As indicated on the form you received, we need your response Friday, May 29th. If you have not had an opportunity to respond yet, please click here to access the form:  Special Education Summer Services Response.

We did receive some questions and wanted to answer those here so you have the information needed to send in what instruction and/or services you want your child to receive this summer.  Here are some answers to questions that we are receiving:

We do need you to complete this form to let us know if you child will be accessing instruction or services this summer.

– Summer services are being offered to all students with IEPs this summer regardless of whether or not ESY (Extended School Year) is in the IEP.  Our decision to offer summer services for all students with IEPs is to address the challenges faced by many during this time of school closure.  Specifics are:

– If your child has not previously had extended school year services because the Team did not find that your child substantially regresses during the summer months.

– Despite that fact, the District is offering services over this summer as a result of the Mandatory School Closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The District believes that such services could assist your child as he/she transitions into the next grade after having experienced a disrupted 2019-2020 school year.

– If your child has had extended school year services in prior school years because the Team found your child substantially regresses during the summer months.

– While the Team may not have had the opportunity to make that determination this year as a result of the Mandatory School Closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the District is offering your child services over this summer.  The extended school year services that are being offered are more than those offered in the past because the District believes that this amount of services not only will prevent substantial regression for your child but  could also assist your child as he/she transitions into the next grade after having experienced a disrupted 2019-2020 school year.

We thank you for your partnership always and especially during this time.  Our Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) has been in routine contact with us and we are also hearing directly from some families.  Your input and suggestions continually help us while we walk this journey with the health, safety, and best interests of your children in the forefront of our decision making.

Wishing you all our very best. 

Hoping you all stay well.

Faye Brady

Director of Student Services

JoAnn Smith

Student Services Administrator

Subject: Registration for college essay boot camp (w/ action item for you)

Hi ARHS Juniors!

This June, we’re excited to offer students the chance to join a one-week college essay boot camp delivered by Ethan Sawyer, AKA the College Essay Guy.

ARHS students can join his summer essay boot camp from June 1st – 5th at no cost.

Quick info on College Essay Guy:

Ethan wrote the current bestselling book on the personal statement, College Essay Essentials

He’s well-regarded in the college admissions field and is considered one of the go-to resources on college essays

His website has hundreds of free resources for applying to college

He has a cool podcast!

This syllabus maps out what Ethan will cover during the boot camp.

This 1-minute trailer gives a sneak peek into the boot camp and the Choose Your Own Adventure Essay Tool:

And yes, Ethan’s five-year-old daughter painted two of his fingernails Carolina blue.

Can’t make the boot camp? Session recordings will be available to all who sign up. 

Here’s how to register for the boot camp:

A.) Go to this registration page.

B.) Enter your name and email.

C.) You’re done! Put the date and time in your calendar, and keep an eye on your email with next steps and instructions for accessing the live webinar.

The live boot camp sessions will be held on June 1st, 3rd, and 5th. You can join for either the 10:00-11:30am Pacific Time session OR 4:00-5:30pm Pacific Time session (whichever fits your schedule).

Thinking of you all,

Your Friendly Neighborhood College and Career Advisor

Sincerely, 
Your Friendly Neighborhood College and Career Counselor, Deidre Cuffee-Gray

ARHS Counselours have created a website full of resources for parents and caregivers of our high school students. In it you will find the contact information of all of the counselors in the school as well as links to resources and materials on parenting strategies, managing stress, mindfulness, coping skills, and fun family activities. 

Check it out at: https://sites.google.com/arps.org/arhs-parent-resources/home

Is your household doing any online shopping through Amazon? Did you know you can earn money for the ARHS PGO with each Amazon purchase. Enroll in this passive fundraising to earn money for the Amherst/Amherst Regional School PGOs while you shop!

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/46-4510327 and Amazon donates to Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization.

To select our as your permanent charity, go to https://smile.amazon.com/ Click Your Account -> Your Amazon Smile -> Change Charity button. Search for “Amherst Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization” -> Click Select.

Class of 2020!

I didn’t have the opportunity to see you this week as you pick up diploma folders, don and doff cap and gowns, line up your decorated cars, strike a fabulous pose, and dance through your awsome Class of 2020 signs on the Commons.

Sadly, a significant back injury is slowing me down.  That reality doesn’t make me any less greatlful for having had the opportunity to have met you this year. You have made my first year at ARHS a delight. I have truly had fun working with you.

If you get stuck along you know you can email your school counselors, Ms, Garrity, Ms. Tracy and/or me. if you end up in a pickle find us. We care for you and, in these extraordinary circumstances in this era of COVID 19 the entire ARHS school community is rooting for you. Do not ever hesitate to come back and ask for help.

Here’s a poem my advisor stuck in my sweaty palm nearly thrity eight years ago at my own high school graduation somewhere off in Connecticut. It’s in my office. Just doesn’t get old…

Arguably, it was a guy named Max Ehrmann wrote it. But that is actually up for debate…

No matter what, if you hold on to a line or two for the rest of your life, you’ll do okay.

Be Well.

With  Great Care,

Your Friendly Neighborhood College & Career Advisor – Ms. Cuffee-Gray 

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Senior activities culminate on June 5th

On Friday, June 5th our community will celebrate our 2020 ARHS Graduates with a parent sponsored Senior Car Parade at 3:00 PM – 4:40 PM.

1. Professional photographs will be available to purchase at the following address:

Commencement Photos/GradImages

1348 Main StreetTewksbury, MA  01876

978-851-5924

www.gradimages.com 

2.  By 1pm on Friday, June 5th the link to livestream the ceremony for people who cannot access Amherst Media will be available on the Amherst Public Schools website and on the Amherst Media website and Facebook Page.   The link to access the ceremony on local channel 15 is http://161.77.57.225/CablecastPublicSite/watch/2?channel=2