Author Archives: Mare

Several people have reached out to request additional information about the Phasing-In Models before they complete the survey sent out to the ARPS community yesterday.  For more details, please see the Powerpoint that was presented to the School Committees on … Continue reading →

To assist in planning for fall 2020, we are asking members of the ARPS community to share your thoughts about three potential “phase-in” models for opening schools for in-person instruction.  To complete the survey, please visit the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XKVFBN7 .  The … Continue reading →

There will be a joint Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees meeting on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. https://www.amherstma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=21683

The 2020 Census helps decide how much money our community will get for schools, childcare and early learning, health insurance and medical care, early intervention and home visiting programs, food assistance, foster care, housing assistance, and public transport.  Amherst uses … Continue reading →

Amherst Board of Health Emergency Order: Face Masks/Coverings in Part of the Town The Board of Health for the Town of Amherst has issued an emergency order making the wearing of face masks or face coverings in part of the … Continue reading →

The Town of Amherst and the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund announce the availability of short‐term emergency rental assistance available for Amherst renters experiencing a loss or reduction of income due to COVID‐19. Rental assistance is available for up … Continue reading →

We made it! The school year officially is over! Mare and Becky, the editors at the ARHS PGO Parent News, want to wish each of you, and your families, a safe, happy and healthy summer. Normally, this would be our … Continue reading →

We know everyone is missing their friends and colleagues, and that includes our teachers and staff, who have dealt with a lot with the quick switch to distance learning this spring.  School may be remote but the annual end of … Continue reading →

.  ARPS IS staff will be collecting school issued Chromebooks at the front entrance of the high school Monday June 22nd and Tuesday June 23nd. Please plan to return your device at that time if you are not participating in … Continue reading →

Hello ARHS sophomores and juniors! This summer is a great time to prepare for SAT and ACT standardized testing. Members of the ARHS community, equipped with experience and success in these exams, are eager to help guide you through this … Continue reading →

Hello Rising Seniors- You have negotiated a school year with a tremendous amount of upheaval both in terms of COVID 19, the George Floyd, Breonna Taylor (and countless others) protests and soul searching around Black Lives Matter, and negotiating physical … Continue reading →

Due to the overwhelming demand and our desire to not turn any student away from summer school, we are adding a section of PE during Session 2 to accommodate students wishing to also take a morning class. It will still run … Continue reading →

There is a joint meeting of the Amherst, Pelham, and Region School Committees on Thursday, June 25 at 6:30pm. It will be broadcast live on Amherst Media as well as streaming on: http://161.77.57.225/CablecastPublicSite/watch/2?channel=2 The meeting will begin the critical planning and … Continue reading →

Town of Amherst Virtual Juneteenth Celebration “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of … Continue reading →

Many of us have been seriously spring cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recycle your old and tattered clothes, shoes, and linens and the Amherst PGOs can earn money — at no cost to you. Bay State Textiles collects used clothing and … Continue reading →

Dear Jones Library Patron, Thank you so much for your patience and for holding onto your library materials during these last 3 months. We’ve missed you. We are happy to report that we are READY FOR YOU TO RETURN YOUR … Continue reading →

Thursday, June 25, is the anniversary of Massachusetts ratifying women’s right to vote!!!  In commemoration the League of Women Voters is sponsoring a walk, at noon on this day, from Kendrick Park to the Amherst Town Hall.  Anyone and everyone … Continue reading →

Deerfield Academy Summer Arts Camp (DASAC) has shifted to a virtual camp this summer – and we’ve got a few spots left!  Serving Valley teens and pre-teens for 30 years, DASAC is a progressive, wacky, and joyous summer program for the … Continue reading →

Friday, June 5, 2020 beginning at 3:15 PM Seniors and your families are invited to decorate their vehicle and join their classmates for a celebratory pre-graduation parade through the streets of Amherst. Please depart from your elementary school at the … Continue reading →

At 6:00 PM today, the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony and parade will be available on: Amherst Media – channel stream for channel 15. http://161.77.57.225/CablecastPublicSite/watch/2?channel=2 YouTube link: https://youtu.be/st8RTR6EFjQ

If you signed up for the Personal Statement Boot Camp and haven’t heard back, here’s what you need below: If you didn’t sign up but want to work on your essay, register at this link and use the information below. The week … Continue reading →

This webinar is for parents and family members of young people with an intellectual or developmental disability, and provides an overview of the legal consequences of reaching the age of emancipation at 18. Discussion will include a description of the … Continue reading →

Class of 2021, First of all, I want to acknowledge that we are in the midst of a pandemic, Distance Learning 2.0, physical distancing, and political and personal unrest in this nation are a lot weighing on our collective psyches. … Continue reading →

We hope you are all staying healthy and are getting ready for summer. With so much uncertainty surrounding camps, school and activities for kids, we couldn’t wait to share these super fun virtual options with you! Whether your kids are … Continue reading →

The Amherst Regional Middle School Educator Award for 2019-20 will be awarded to English teacher Ben Levy. The award, given by the Amherst Regional Middle School Parent Guardian Organization (ARMS PGO), is based on three main criteria: student support, collaboration … Continue reading →

Dear Parents/Guardians, While ARPS waits for a determination from Governor Baker regarding the opening of schools during the summer, the District has been working on both options of remote summer services or school-based services as a result of the opening … Continue reading →

Hey Seniors! So, yes. This is my penultimate email from Naviance to you. Yup, next to last… I hope you are hanging in there and finishing up your last assignments, AP exams, and the like. You have weathered the final … Continue reading →

ARHS Graduation 2020 will be on 5/27.  Following is important information: Day 1 May 26 (Students MUST have a face covering to enter the building – No Exceptions) By alphabet and scheduled time Seniors will turn in Chromebooks and all … Continue reading →

Teacher Recommendation request period is May 18th – May 29th – early requests are not permitted Juniors will be notified of teachers’ decisions by June 5th Next year, most of you will prepare applications for colleges, technical schools, scholarships, jobs … Continue reading →

The ARPS SEPAC will meet on June 5, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. LIST OF TOPICS: ARPS Special Education Parent Advisory Council Meeting (SEPAC) Representing: Pelham Elementary, Amherst Elementary, and Amherst Regional Schools as well as students out … Continue reading →

May 25- Memorial Day May 26- Seniors Only-Return School Materials and get Cap and Gowns (As Scheduled) May 27- Senior Graduation Photos Taken (As Scheduled) June 5- Graduation Car Parade through Towns 3:00 PM – 4:40 PM (Not school sponsored) … Continue reading →

Gowns4Good connects graduation gowns to healthcare workers in need of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against COVID-19. http://www.gowns4good.net

Here is the updated list of area establishments that are open for business (as of 5/19): Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MSBFnv08nc7yap2TmBgmyLyUfzEwLixoc1updNS8jxU/edit

Are you in the Town of Amherst and in need of a mask for you or a family member? The Town-Wide Initiative:  Masks4All! can help! Call us at 413-259-3002 or fill out the quick form online at http://www.amherstma.gov/getinvolved The mission for … Continue reading →

Juniors and seniors majoring in mathematics from UMass Amherst’s Education Club and Math Teaching Club will be offering free drop- in math tutoring for Amherst High School students via  Zoom. Feel free to join with your friends for group tutoring … Continue reading →

May 4, 2020 Parents, We would like to thank all of you in the support that has been provided during this historic and unique time in the life of your child. The impact of this pandemic has prevented your child … Continue reading →

Staff made the following message for students on the Google Classroom https://youtu.be/w7o1fPhmst8   Preview YouTube video ARHS2020 We Miss You All!

This year’s AP Exams will be exclusively online.  Security protocals for the exams require all students worldwide to test at the same time. The College Board made other changes to this year’s exams, including changes to timing, format, and content … Continue reading →

Spring 2020 Meeting Tuesday, May 12, 7 PM via Zoom Now, more than ever, the performing arts at ARPS need your support!   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81187703566?pwd=TEM0M0VMYnorcWxLZWJvQzVCS2R2dz09 Meeting ID: 811 8770 3566  Password: 2Yb9PF Activities and accomplishments during our first two … Continue reading →

The Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards program annually honors Western Massachusetts educators and seeks to motivate teachers at all stages of their careers to aspire to excellence. The Amherst Regional Public School winners are: Kelsey Geer Amherst Regional School … Continue reading →

May 8- “Parenting During Anxious & Uncertain Times” video 2:15 PM May 11- May 22- AP Exams Administered Online May 12- Juniors: College Essay Writing Workshop –  2-3 pm May 12- ARPS Friends of the Performing Arts Spring 2020 Meeting- … Continue reading →

We’re in this together.  Support the COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far!  Dear Community, I hope you and yours are safe and well. For those of you who are grieving, my heart is … Continue reading →

Multi-Arts invites young people to participate in PROJECT EARTH,  and contribute in the creation of a play exploring Earth’s healing journey. The project will be a theater production with instrumental music to premiere in the summer of 2020. We will have FOUR meetings on Saturdays … Continue reading →

Today from 2:15-3:00 pm, the District will present our first YouTube live stream on the topic of Supporting Students’ Emotional Health and Wellbeing (PreK-12). Please join counselors Tara Luce, Crocker Farm, Hector Santos, ARMS, and Jaime Knox, Summit Academy, along … Continue reading →

The ARHS Library is one of the busiest places in our school, with an average of 182 students a day dropping by to study, conduct research, read, and connect with friends, teachers, and library staff on everything from academic projects and college … Continue reading →

In early April, the ARHS PGO joined with the other ARPS PGOs to organize a fundraiser to ensure that all Amherst and Amherst Regional public school students would have home wifi access during the school shutdown.  Thanks to the generosity … Continue reading →

There will be a virtual SEPAC meeting on 5/1/20 at 9:00 am.  The agenda will be:  Executive Board Meeting Agenda. Approve Minutes. Impacts of School Closure for Special Education (Questions encouraged). Delivery of services as outlined on IEP’s. Scheduling and logistics … Continue reading →

On Monday, April 27th at 6:30 PM, ARHS Principal Gene Jones will host a virtual Coffee with the Principal for families of 12th grade students.  The link to attend will be sent to all Class of 2020 parent/guardians via email. … Continue reading →

Dear Class of 2021, I can only imagine that the events connected to COVID 19 and your junior year are frustrating. Here is a brief update on opportunities to stay on top of the college planning process: Junior College/Life After … Continue reading →

Dear families, DESE, the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, is in regular contact with us to offer guidance about how to navigate special education during this period of closure.  Attached is a Letter to Families and a Family Resource … Continue reading →