Author Archives: Becky

Good Day ARHS Families,  We are currently planning for the 2021-2022 year at ARHS. We would like your input to help inform our plans. Please respond to this brief survey. All information is confidential. Thank you,

Dear ARHS Families, Every two years, the Strategic Prevention Initiative for Families and Youth (SPIFFY) administers the Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) Survey to all 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in Hampshire County. The PNA survey measures substance abuse and … Continue reading →

Sports for the spring season is now open!  High School Sports Being OfferedAll programs listed below must  register under high school registration. Middle School Sports Being OfferedAll programs listed below must  register under  middle school registration.  Baseball (8th-12th grade)Boys lacrosse … Continue reading →

Yearbook pre-orders are only open until APRIL 1ST. Order yours now at arps.picaboo.com! If you are a senior and are having trouble affording a yearbook, contact Miss Garrity. Families and staff can submit “parent ads” to thank or congratulate students, … Continue reading →

We have a brand new scholarship- The Mitchell Family First Gen Scholarship is available for students who are the first in their family to attend college. Address this in your essay. Use the ARHS Scholarship Application to apply by April … Continue reading →

The ARHS Theater Company is proud to announce AUDITIONS for both THE SOUND OF MUSIC, this year’s musical – and our annual STUDENT-WRITTEN PLAY FESTIVAL!  Both productions will be done entirely outdoors and with COVID-safety protocols in mind.  One audition … Continue reading →

Dear Fellow Parents/ Guardians of the Class of 2021, You are invited to a Virtual Planning Meeting on Monday, March 29 at 7:00 PM.   The goal of this meeting is to share ideas and get feedback on specific non-school … Continue reading →

On Tuesday, March 23rd the Regional School Committee unanimously passed the following statement: Dear ARPS Families, We mourn alongside our Asian, and Asian American community. Although the most recent surge of anti-Asian violence is elevated from the pandemic and fomented … Continue reading →

The STAMP test is one of the assessments to qualify students for the Seal of Biliteracy. If your student is planning to take the STAMP test this year and you are not already registered, or if you are unsure about … Continue reading →

Apr 1: Deadline to Pre-order the 2021 Yearbook Apr 2: Good Friday (No School—Budgetary Reasons)  Apr 7: Amherst Art for Clean Action Energy Deadline Apr 14: PreK-12 Early Release (12:00 secondary/1:20 elementary)  Apr 16: Q3 Ends Apr 19-23: Spring Break  … Continue reading →

Join us for our first virtual teen trivia event this Saturday, March 27th from 3 to 4pm. The theme is “Disney” so all those years watching Disney movies as a little one can finally pay off! There will be prizes … Continue reading →

Jones Library is pleased to offer two webinars with local educator Tiffany Jewell in April — one for teens ages 11-17 and one for parents, educators, and caregivers. All registrants to either webinar will receive a free copy of Tiffany … Continue reading →

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library celebrates its ninth On the Same Page community reading program by joining with the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA) and 40 other organizations and businesses in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties in the National … Continue reading →

I’m hoping to publish a senior athletic showcase section in the newsletter at the end of this year. I am looking for student-athletes who plan to attend college next year and continue to participate in athletics. If you are one of … Continue reading →

On Tuesday, ARHS Administration presented a 4×4 Block schedule that will be used for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. The presentation can be viewed (slides 2-10: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16AVDntYxyVSIJxvcQs-b1JPnm7-94f6i/view?usp=sharing The Admin Team will be sharing additional information and providing opportunity for community input … Continue reading →

The ARHS PGO Coffee with the Counselors is scheduled for Wednesday March 24th 6:30pm-7:30pm.  The discussion topic will be ” How the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the mental health of adolescents”. Karen Peters, Sherry Balzano and  Lisa Zephyr will be … Continue reading →

Yearbook pre-orders are only open until APRIL 1ST. Order yours now! If you are a senior and are having trouble affording a yearbook, contact Miss Garrity. Families and staff can submit “parent ads” to thank or congratulate students, staff, or … Continue reading →

Need money for college? Find over 50 great scholarship opportunities in the Scholarship Book! Keep an eye on emails from Miss Garrity as well for scholarship updates. Don’t forget to tell us when you are accepted into colleges! Log it … Continue reading →

Summit Academy and the Town of Amherst are looking for a few students who are interested in helping create a video/slideshow for a special collaboration project beginning in the next few days. We are looking for students that can start … Continue reading →

Reminder that Friday, March 12 is the last day for students to order or cancel AP exams.  Orders and cancellations must be completed by noon on that day.  For ARHS Updates/Changes/Information regarding the AP exams, please open the following link: … Continue reading →

The Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees voted on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 to approve a plan to change the school start times for the 2021-22 school year, so that elementary schools will start after 8:00 AM and secondary … Continue reading →

Mar 17: All Teachers Curriculum/Work Day (No School) ; Yearbook photo opportunity at ARHS Mar 24: PreK-12 Early Release (12:00 secondary/1:20 elementary)  Mar 24: Coffee with the Counselors (6:30pm) Apr 1: Deadline to Pre-order the 2021 Yearbook Apr 2: Good Friday … Continue reading →

The Future Health Leaders Network is a group of UMASS students offering free virtual tutoring via the Jones Library. They’re available to help with homework, study prep, or general college advice on Thursdays from 4-6pm. It’s a free, drop-in session … Continue reading →

Great summer opportunity for current 10th and 11th graders:  Includes tuition and cost of books.    In the Great Jewish Books Summer Program, students read, discuss, argue about, and fall in love with modern Jewish literature.  The 2021 program will … Continue reading →

Amherst, MA – We all know the ditty “Lizzie Borden took an ax….” but few people know the actual facts! Join us for Lizzie Borden: The Mystery Continues, an event to be presented by Christopher Daly and hosted by the Jones … Continue reading →

Hello, I hope this message finds all of you doing well. We wanted to inform you about some of the things that are going on with the high school.  As many of you may know, the School Committee passed a … Continue reading →

Dear Families: Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how … Continue reading →

There have 2 joint meetings of the Amherst, Pelham, and Regional School Committees coming up on Tuesday & Wednesday. Among the topics on Tuesday, they will vote on the proposed school start time change, hear about pooled testing for COVID-19, … Continue reading →

Class of 2021 Parents, please remind your Seniors they are all invited to a virtual senior meeting on February 26th at 9:00am! You will hear from administrators and other adult leaders regarding prom, graduation, scholarships, senior exemption etc. You will … Continue reading →

Sports registration for the ‘floating season’ is closing on Feb 28! ARPS will be offering ‘indoor track’ (practices only; 9th-12th grade), football (9th-12th grade) and swimming (7th-12th grade). Please note that ‘indoor track’ will be mostly outdoors unless using the … Continue reading →

All Students are invited to Submit a play to the 36th Annual Student-Written Play Festival!  We accept all kinds of scripts from all kinds of students for a slate of 10 and 1-minute plays to be performed live this spring.  … Continue reading →

Feb 26: Virtual senior class meeting 9:00am Feb 28: Deadline to Register for Floating Season Sports Mar 1: Floating Sports Season Begins Mar 17: All Teachers Curriculum/Work Day (No School)  Mar 24: PreK-12 Early Release (12:00 secondary/1:20 elementary)  Apr 2: … Continue reading →

Want some extra help with homework or preparing for exams? Students from the Future Health Leaders Network of UMass Amherst are available Thursdays in March from 4 to 6 pm to assist high school students with homework help and test … Continue reading →

A virtual job fair and career expo for high school students and young adults 14 to 24 years of age in Franklin, Hampshire County, and the North Quabbin region.  One note: Students are not required to attend the orientation in … Continue reading →

DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps is collaborating with Community Action Youth Programs to bring the annual YELO Forum, 3/31/21 from 4-6pm. YELO = Youth Engage Legislators & Officials. This year will be a virtual forum. Youth and DSAP members will lead an interactive … Continue reading →

The City of Northampton and Town of Amherst join forces to distribute up to 5,000 vaccinations per week   On Tuesday  it was announced that the Northampton Health Department has been approved as the lead community in a regional collaboration with … Continue reading →

Saturday, March 6, 2021 Join us to discuss possible financing options for  the four major building projects in Town. The four projects are the $36.3 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library, for which the town is responsible for … Continue reading →

Come join us and learn some basic German in six differently themed 45-minute interactive virtual sessions. We’ll listen to music, learn about sustainability, explore food culture, and much more. WHAT: basic German in a fun virtual setting WHEN: Tuesdays 4.00-4.45 … Continue reading →

There is no school next week. Have a safe, restful break.

If you do not have your books and materials needed for Semester 2 yet, please let ARHS know if you plan on coming to the school to get them Friday, during your lunch break or after school. Or if you … Continue reading →

Amherst hockey lost to Greenfield Saturday 4 to 2, they face Southwick today at 3pm. The girls basketball team had their first loss on the road losing to Chicopee by three, they turned things back around, winning their next on … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Helen Dalton, ARHS junior, for being awarded the ‘Best in Category Award’ for Editorial Cartoon sponsored by the Herb Block Foundation in the Region of Massachusetts. Helen’s work was judged best in the state after receiving a Gold … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Sofie Montti and Ruthie Weinbaum, who were accepted into the Massachusetts All-State Chorus! They scored high enough on their video auditions that they will now be participating in a virtual choral piece conducted by Dr. Jeffery Redding, 2019 … Continue reading →

The Amherst Hurricanes Athletic Boosters is having its next meeting via Zoom on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 5:00pm. Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89683277314pwd=MG94dGpQMGpsSVoxbnVxYitQYVMvZz09 Meeting ID: 896 8327 7314 Passcode: GoCanes Call: 1 646 876 9923  Meeting ID: 896 8327 7314  Password: … Continue reading →

Seniors you are invited to a virtual senior meeting on February 26th at 9:00am! You will hear from administrators and other adult leaders regarding prom, graduation, scholarships, senior exemption etc. You will also have the opportunity to network with some … Continue reading →

Are you interested in publishing your artwork or creative writing, and are you passionate about environmental action? If so, consider submitting your art masterpieces to the Amherst Art for Clean Energy student anthology, co-created by Amherst Sunrise and Amherst Regional … Continue reading →

If you are interested in working in this field and can commit to the program  during the month of June, please email me, Deidre Cuffee-Gray (cuffee-grayd@arps.org) with your interest. Here’s the link that will take you to more information about … Continue reading →

Feb 15-19: Winter Break  Feb 18: Amherst Hurricanes Athletic Boosters Meeting 5PM via Zoom Feb 24: PreK-12 Early Release (12:00 secondary/1:20 elementary)  Feb 26: Senior Class Council Meeting 9AM Feb 28: Deadline to Register for Floating Season Sports Mar 1: … Continue reading →

Friday, February 12th from 3:00 – 4:00 pmTeen Lounge at Jones Library is going virtual! We’re joining up with the teen departments at Chicopee and Forbes libraries to offer a virtual teen lounge for area teens ages 13-18 on our … Continue reading →