ARHS PGO Parent News

In January 2019, we will begin the search for a principal to lead the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School. The position will be advertised over the next few weeks in local, regional and national newspapers and journals. A Committee is being formed, which will include students, staff and parents/guardians, to interview and suggest finalists. Dr. Miki Gromacki, ARHS Interim Principal, Dr. Marta Guevara, Director of Student and Family Engagement, Dr. Faye Brady, Director of Student Services, and Tim Sheehan, Curriculum Coordinator, will also serve on the Committee.  As Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity and Human Resources for the district, Doreen Cunningham will lead this Committee.

If you are interested in participating, please email Sasha Figueroa at FigueroaS@arps.org no later than Tuesday, January 15, 2019 to inform us of your interest.

In addition, the district would like your thoughts about the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and the qualities and characteristics you would like to see in a new leader. Please take a few moments to complete the following survey. Responses are due no later than Friday, December 14, 2018 to allow time for review prior to the beginning of the search.

Estimado personal y padres / tutores de la Escuela Superior Regional Amherst-Pelham:

En enero de 2019, comenzaremos la búsqueda de un director para dirigir la Escuela Superior Regional Amherst-Pelham. El puesto se publicará en las próximas semanas en periódicos y revistas locales, regionales y nacionales. Se está formando un comité, que incluirá estudiantes, personal y padres / tutores, para entrevistar y sugerir finalistas. La Dra. Miki Gromacki, Directora Interina de ARHS, la Dra. Marta Guevara, Directora de Participación Estudiantil y Familiar, la Dra. Faye Brady, Directora de Servicios Estudiantiles, y Tim Sheehan, Coordinador de Currículo, también formarán parte del Comité. Mientras que la Superintendente Asistente de Diversidad, Equidad y Recursos Humanos para el distrito, Doreen Cunningham dirigirá este Comité.

Si está interesado en participar, envíe un correo electrónico a Sasha Figueroa a FigueroaS@arps.org a más tardar el martes 15 de enero de 2019 para informarnos de su interés.

Además, al distrito le gustaría conocer su opinión sobre la Escuela Superior Regional Amherst-Pelham y las cualidades y características que le gustaría ver en un nuevo líder. Por favor, tómese unos minutos para completar la siguiente encuesta. Las respuestas deben presentarse a más tardar el viernes, 14 de diciembre de 2018 para que haya tiempo de revisión antes del inicio de la búsqueda.

Do you or someone you know bank at Florence Bank? If so, you can help support the Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO – which the ARHS PGO is a member of, through their Customers’ Choice Community Grants program. Last year we were awarded over $1,400 – not bad for our second year! Voting ends soon, so click here to vote.

1. The deadline for listing colleges with January 15 deadlines is December 14. Please don’t miss these deadlines. If you need to add a college after these dates, you can, but please tell a Guidance secretary so we can be sure we know about it.
2. The UMass regular decision deadline is Tuesday, January 15. Deadline for all credentials (including official test scores) is Friday, February 1. Most of you should apply.
3.  It’s not too early to take action regarding financial aid. The FAFSA and CSS Profile (required by many private colleges) are online. Talk to your parents about completing the required forms by your first financial aid deadline. Remember, it is not necessarily the same date as a college’s application deadline. Some FAFSA deadlines are in January. Many are on February 1. UMass’s deadline is March 1. All financial aid forms must be completed by the colleges’ deadlines. Late filings often mean less or even no financial aid.

Dec 14 – Hodie Benefit Concert (featuring Hurricane Singers) 7:30pm — Buckley Recital Hall on the Amherst College campus.

Dec 19 – Combined Concert 7PM

Dec 24-Jan 1 – Winter Break

Jan 4-6 – Cabaret

Jan 14 – 18- Exams

Jan 17- Early Dismissal

Jan 18- Early Dismissal

Jan 21- No School- MLK Jr Day

Jan 22- No School- Teacher Curriculum Day

Jan 24- PGO Coffee with the ARHS Administration

Jan 31- Chorale Lasagna Dinner

Amherst Community Connections offers housing assistance to residents of the Pioneer Valley. The agency is located at 236 Pleasant Street in Amherst.

Amherst Community Connections (ACC) provides information/ referrals, case management, outreach and advocacy services to vulnerable individuals and families in the Pioneer Valley community. We help them secure immediate relief as they plan for and achieve long-term stability. We walk alongside, support and guide people to improve their quality of life by helping them access basic resources: housing, food, income, healthcare.

They also offer advocacy. Areas of advocacy include housing move-in costs, food stamp/fuel assistance applications, debt/credit issues, mediation with a landlord or utility company, and many other topics of interest.

The agency offers a one stop resource center at the Jones Library every Tuesday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The latest ARHS Theater Production is The Laramie Project- a full-scale immersive adaptation of the award-winning play.  Performed in theaters all over the world – and many high schools in America – the show focuses on the residents of Laramie, Wyoming in the months following Matthew Shepard’s killing in 1998.

The Theater Company and SAGA invite you to our original, site-specific staging around the rooms and halls of ARHS as you meet the residents of Laramie – and piece together the story of the town.  Shows start at 7:30 this Thursday  -Saturday. Tickets are $5 for all students and are available online at by clicking here or at the door

Did you know you can purchase a season ticket to attend our sporting events?  These make great gifts, or just purchase one for yourself.  Adults – $42 and Seniors/Students – $30.