Category Archives: Parent News

In an effort to streamline responses, the Town of Amherst has set up a phone line and email address for our community members to share concerns and questions regarding COVID-19. Staff will monitor and direct the calls and emails accordingly. … Continue reading →

What are the upcoming 2020 election dates? The State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 1st. View sample ballots The State (Presidential) Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3rd Polls will be open from 7:00am – 8:00pm … Continue reading →

Thanks to a kind donation, Summit View Learning is able to offer free high quality math instruction to 5-10 motivated ARPS students whose families qualify for free/reduced lunch. Sessions are 1 hour long, take place virtually, and will be scheduled … Continue reading →

This Saturday at 10 AM – 11 AM Olympia Place The ARPS District will be holding an information session in the Olympia Oaks area at 10AM on Saturday, August 15th. Only residents of Olympia Oaks and Village Park apartments and … Continue reading →

There will be two virtual Town Hall meeting sessions on Monday, August 17th to discuss the district reopening plan that was submitted to DESE. The first session will focus on secondary students and the second session will focus on elementary … Continue reading →

Copy/pasted from the 8.13.20 Joint ASC, PSC & RSC Agenda Packet.pdf Overview of Metrics for September 2020  ✓ Fewer than 70 New Cases per 100,000 people (over seven day period in Hampshire/Franklin Counties*)  ✓ Less than 3% Percent Positive Testing … Continue reading →

ARPS released a draft remote learning daily schedule: (From the Fall 2020 Planning website- https://sites.google.com/arps.org/school-return-fall2020/families?authuser=0) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jeO0_TH4Y0FAm-jBtKN40DnhA4APdnHm/view Draft ARHS Remote Schedule Teacher Planning7:30 – 9:00● Meetings with students, by appointment● Family Collaboration and Communication A-Period9:00 – 10:20● Combination of synchronous & … Continue reading →

Please Note: ARHS Students-SATs scheduled for 8.29.20 are canceled.  On 8/13/20, the Amherst and Amherst Regional School Committees voted to approve a new 2020-2021 School Calendar. Changes from the online version are listed below. Aug 15- Fall 2020 Info Session … Continue reading →

What are the upcoming 2020 election dates? The State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 1st. View sample ballots The State (Presidential) Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3rd Polls will be open from 7:00am – 8:00pm … Continue reading →

The Fiddler’s Pantry at Amherst South Congregational Church is once again raising funds for local nonprofits, including the Amherst Survival Center, at their 9th Annual Chicken BBQ on Tuesday, Aug 18. It is contactless take out only. They are following … Continue reading →

August 8th at 10 AM – 11 AM Hosted by Amherst Regional Public Schools The ARPS District will be holding an information session to discuss the ARPS Fall 2020 reopening plan. in the green area at Southpoint at 10 AM … Continue reading →

Join ARPS on Wednesday, August 12th for an information session with local medical professionals who will provide evidence based information around COVID-19. This will be an interactive live-stream event. To have the best chance at having your question(s) answered, we … Continue reading →

The District has created an FAQ regarding school opening.  It can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tum92k8L_buI6EhK9_rchoqqb3KRkyI-/view

The Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees voted last night, August 6th to approve the submission of the fall 2020 plan to DESE. I have attached this document to this email.  The ARPS School Reopening Plan is being translated and … Continue reading →

Please Note: ARHS Students-SATs scheduled for 8.29.20 are canceled.  Aug 8- Info Session at Southpoint 10 AM Aug 12- Covid-19 Info Session with local medical professionals Aug 15- Fall 2020 Info Session for Olympia Oaks and Village Park Residents 10 … Continue reading →

Hey, Stop & Shop Shoppers – Great news! ARHS is once again participating in Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards fundraising program, which launches on August 7. Join over 2,400 ARHS parents, staff and alumni and help the ARHS PGO … Continue reading →

Summer meals are continuing in August and families can access grab and go meals at more than 800 sites in Massachusetts! Some may be eligible for additional support through programs like SNAP and WIC, or through other local food resources, … Continue reading →

A public hearing has just been announced for An Act responding to the COVID-19 emergency by instituting a moratorium of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. Hearing details: The Education Committee will accept testimony via email only until Monday, August 10 … Continue reading →

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 →

Dear ARPS Community: I am pleased to inform you that Talib Sadiq has been appointed Interim Principal of ARHS for the 2020-2021 school year.  Mr. Sadiq has served as Assistant Principal at ARHS for the past two years, prior to … Continue reading →

ARPS School Nutrition has partnered with the Town of Amherst to inform people about the 2020 Census We will be offering FREE suppers on Fridays for rest of the summer, thanks to a grant from the Amherst Complete Count Committee … Continue reading →

The District has created a website full of information about the Fall 2020 Planning process. It contains survey results, planning guidance and meeting dates. https://sites.google.com/arps.org/school-return-fall2020/home?authuser=0

Dear Parent, We know students are anxious about how the coronavirus crisis will affect their college application process, including taking the SAT. We’re committed to giving students as many chances as we can to show their strengths to colleges, while … Continue reading →

1.    Complete a Vote by Mail Application; or use the pre-addressed paper application card that you may have received in the mail.  2.    Deliver your application to your Town’s Town Clerk or return the pre-addressed paper application card that you may … Continue reading →

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday, August 15, 2020, 9 AM to Noon Fort River School 70 South East Street,  Amherst, MA PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED · Open to all Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury & Hadley residents.  · Preregister between 7/6/20 and 8/7/20. … Continue reading →

JOINT Meeting of the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees 6:00 PM Monday, July 20, 2020 Virtual Meeting NOTES: This meeting will be shown via live-stream http://161.77.57.225/CablecastPublicSite/watch/2?channel=2 and on Amherst Media (Channel 15) Members of the public who would … Continue reading →

On July 22nd from 11:00am-3:00pm students can pick up items they left in their locker and can drop off books and Chromebooks that they have at home. Students should enter through the gym entrance and wear masks.  Also, for students in … Continue reading →

Four workshop sessions for seniors in the Class of 2021 in late July which will focus on several pieces of the College Admissions Pie! Tuesday – July 21st – Building Your College List – Target, Reach & Likely School  9am-10:00am … Continue reading →

Did you know that ARPS maintains a website complete with all COVID-19 Communications and a listing of resources for the community. It can be found at: http://www.arps.org/district/news/covid-19-communication-resources

The Amherst Survival Center- 138 Sunderland Road, Amherst Onsite services open from 12-3PM M/T/TH/F Free hot lunch. Free produce and bread. Free monthly full grocery shop- onsite pantry open, plus curbside pickup and delivery options. The Food Pantry is available … Continue reading →

The 2020 Census self response rate in Amherst is currently at 62.5%. We need this number to be much higher to ensure a complete count. Amherst is also at a very high risk of undercounting our young children, according to … Continue reading →

Dear ARHS Families, This year was filled with many unexpected events that gave me a chance to reassess my priorities and reflect on what is truly important in my life. As a result of these reflections,  I have decided it … Continue reading →

This Thursday, July 2, 2020 Join the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committees on Thursday, July 9 for a discussion of priorities for opening of school in the fall. ARPS staff, parents/guardians and community members are welcome! There will … Continue reading →

On Tuesday, July 15th and Tuesday July 22nd from 11:00am-3:00pm students can pick up items they left in their locker and can drop off books and Chromebooks that they have at home. Students should enter through the gym entrance and … Continue reading →

Four workshop sessions for seniors in the Class of 2021 in late July which will focus on several pieces of the College Admissions Pie! Tuesday – July 21st – Building Your College List – Target, Reach & Likely School  9am-10:00am … Continue reading →

Dear Parent, If your child took an AP® Exam this year, they’ll get access to their AP scores between Wednesday, July 15, and Friday, July 17, depending on their location. Scores will be released at 8 a.m. ET on the … 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 →

We are thrilled to announce that we will continue serving FREE MEALS to ALL children 0-18 through August 28! If you’ve been receiving these meals at our 7 sites, please continue as usual. If you haven’t been receiving meals, please … 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 →