Category Archives: Parent News

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 →

Unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties with the original return to in-person survey emailed to families earlier this week. Please take a few minutes to fill out the updated survey, even if you filled out the other one. The deadline … Continue reading →

Last Tuesday, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) sent out the Guidance on Implementing In-Person Learning Requirements document. In that document, they issued dates for elementary and middle schools to return to full in-person learning. Below is the … Continue reading →

1.  What is the choice I am being asked to make? Families have the option of continuing with distance learning or shifting to an in-person model. Your choice for the spring semester can be different than your choice made in the … Continue reading →

 (Up to 5 Days/Week Determined by DESE Guidance due by April 2021)  7:30-9:00 Teacher Prep and Planning(IEP & 504 Meetings scheduled during this block) 9:00-10:20 A-Block 10:30-11:50 B-Block 11:50-12:20–COHORT A–Students stay in B Block for LunchCOHORT B–Students have Directed Study  … Continue reading →

Dear ARPS Families: Please read the following joint statement from ARPS, the Amherst Town Manager and the the Town of Amherst Human Rights Commission Chair regarding violence and bigotry targeting Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. ARPS/Amherst Statement

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 →

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 in … Continue reading →

Final voting for Superlatives has started! Cast your final votes by March 22nd at 3:30pm! 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 … Continue reading →

The Environmental Action Club has partnered with an organization called Tree-Plenish to plant trees in the Amherst community! Our goal is 230 trees, which will offset the school’s yearly paper consumption. THE NEXT 40 TREES ARE FREE. If you or … 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 →

Mar 22: Deadline to submit Return to School Survey 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 (No School—Budgetary Reasons)  Apr … Continue reading →

Sunrise Amherst is collaborating with students from Amherst Regional High School on the Amherst Art for Clean Energy anthology project, which compiles written and visual art inspired by nature and environmental action, made by Amherst students and residents ages 5-18. … 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 →

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 →

GenQ is a social and support group for queer, trans, and nonbinary youth ages 14-21. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, their programming has shifted from twice a week, in person, to an online drop in-style setting. Recently, this group has … 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 →

We need your help! The ARHS PGO is an all-volunteer organization, and all ARHS parents and guardians are members. Most of the officers have graduating seniors, so please consider stepping up NOW to learn the ropes and take over next … Continue reading →

The 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 the counselors speaking at the coffee. … Continue reading →

Check in with the College and Career Advisor – Fifteen Minutes of FUN!!! – link Looking for employment, still thinking about a GAP Year, did Harvard blow it? Feel free to set a time to check in and think more … 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 →

The winter season has come to an end. All teams did a wonderful job following the necessary guidelines in order to make the most of their season. I want to thank all my coaches, staff and parent volunteers who made … Continue reading →

ARPS SEPAC is now taking NOMINATIONS FOR STARS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION!! The Recognition of Excellence in Special Education is an important way for the community to thank those who through dedication, creativity, patience, and determination help students receiving special education … Continue reading →

The Environmental Action Club has partnered with an organization called Tree-Plenish to plant trees in the Amherst community! Our goal is 230 trees, which will offset the school’s yearly paper consumption. THE NEXT 40 TREES ARE FREE. If you or … Continue reading →

Mar 17: All Teachers Curriculum/Work Day (No School)  Mar 24: PreK-12 Early Release (12:00 secondary/1:20 elementary)  Mar 24: Coffee with the Counselors (6:30pm) Apr 2: Good Friday (No School—Budgetary Reasons)  Apr 7: Amherst Art for Clean Action Energy Deadline Apr … 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 →