Category Archives: Parent News

Dear Teachers and Staff of Amherst Schools and Amherst Community Members:                         The Amherst Human Rights Commission has as its prime purpose to promote a community of mutual respect and to honor our diversity. We strive to promote attitudes of … Continue reading →

Whole Children’s Wild Goose Chase is an annual 5K, kids’ carnival, and family fun races for all ages and abilities. Race events include a chip-timed 5K race and 1 mile run/walk/roll, as well as a slew of kids’ races. The … Continue reading →

Amherst, MA – An opportunity to learn about hummingbirds near and far comes to the Jones Library in a presentation by local naturalist John Root.  Please join us in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library at 7 pm on … Continue reading →

This has been an outstanding year for Amherst Regional High School’s JETS Engineering Club. The club entered nine teams (68 students, grades 9-12) into the national Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAM+S) and won Best in State at … Continue reading →

It’s a busy time for ARHS theater.  Here are a few upcoming events of note: 1) The ARHS and Northampton Theater programs are teaming up with composer Jenny Giering and Eggtooth Productions to take part in a national day of … Continue reading →

The Amherst Public Schools are exploring the possibility of starting a Spanish/English Dual Language Program in one of our elementary schools, beginning in Kindergarten in the Fall of 2019. Additionally, we are exploring adding another Building Blocks program to another … Continue reading →

With the move to a fall Community Kickoff Day and multiple student-initiated and student-led advisory lessons focused on dialogue, we will no longer have a Dialogue Day in the spring.  May 10 will be a regular advisory day.

Please join the SEPAC for a three part series of informational evening seminars. These presentations will provide students, families and school staff with valuable information for future planning and will assist in transitioning students from school to adult life. All … Continue reading →

April 16 – 20 – Spring Recess- No school April 26-28 – Melancholy Play, 7:30 PM May 1 – Chorale Concert, South Congregational Church, 7 PM May 2 – Symphonic Orchestra Chamber Concert, 7 PM May 5 – SAT at … Continue reading →

iCan Shine is a non-profit organization that teaches individuals with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheel bicycle through it’s iCan Bike program.  This five-day camp, requiring riders to attend only one 75-minute session per day, is taking place August 12th … Continue reading →

The Town of Amherst Groff Park Committee will host a Groff Park Community Forum on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Cafeteria at Crocker Farm Elementary School, 280 West Street. Residents are invited to comment on concept … Continue reading →

The Sene-Gambian Scholars Program at Amherst Regional High School will share experiences from its recent exchange trip to Senegal and The Gambia on Tuesday, April 10, at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. The program is free and open … Continue reading →

Good Morning: Yesterday, during the last period of the day, a pipe burst in the second floor boys bathroom, which cause some commotion. Our custodial crew did a terrific job cleaning up the considerable amount of water in the hallway … Continue reading →

Saturday, April 7th — 7:00 pm — ARHS Auditorium The Green Street Brew, a local adult acapella group that includes ARHS math teacher Geoff Friedman and ARHS staff Andrea Dustin – under the direction of our very own Todd Fruth … Continue reading →

Please consider joining in the 35 year-old tradition of throwing a safe Party for the Graduating Seniors and their invited guests. EVENT PLANNING MEETING: Date: Monday, April 9th Time: 7-8 PM Place: ARHS Room 114 Who: Parents and Guardians of … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Mary Gorman, a paraeducator at ARHS, who was recently invited to speak about her upcoming nonfiction book about the Andersonville Raiders at the National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia on November 10, 2018.  Mary is the … Continue reading →

Please join us for a three part series of informational evening seminars. These presentations will provide students, families and school staff with valuable information for future planning and will assist in transitioning students from school to adult life. All presentations … Continue reading →

Come to a Gospel Choir Concert to benefit Amherst A Better Chance (ABC) on Tuesday, April 10th at 7:30 PM at Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst. The concert starts at 7:30 PM and features the Amherst Area Gospel Choir, the Amherst … Continue reading →

When: April 12, 2018 5:45 pm-7:30 pm Where: ARHS Library RSVP requested* In honor of Autism Awareness Month, SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) and the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools have teamed up to host an Autism Awareness Night. Current high … Continue reading →

The Fifth Annual Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement will honor the Amherst Regional High School Theater Program, led by John Bechtold and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author Madeleine Blais. The gala event, the “Sammys”, will take place on … Continue reading →

July 9, 2018 – August 3, 2018 The Summer School Registration is now open. Information can be found at: http://www.arps.org/resources/summer_school_program Please note that Breakfast and Lunch are included at no-cost for all students who enroll in Summer School for at … Continue reading →

Food! Music! Theater! Competition!! A celebration of Government and Politics. Join the League of Women Voters of Amherst for the Second Annual Civics Fest on April 6, 2018, starting at 7 p.m. in the Amherst Regional High School auditorium. Once again, … Continue reading →

April 29th 2018marks the 8th annual Daffodil Run in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County! This family friendly community event held at Kendrick Park in downtown Amherst offers participants a 5k walk/run or 10k run option. Participants … Continue reading →

Whole Children’s Wild Goose Chase is an annual 5K, kids’ carnival, and family fun races for all ages and abilities. Race events include a chip-timed 5K race and 1 mile run/walk/roll, as well as a slew of kids’ races. The … Continue reading →

SATURDAY, APRIL 14th 10 AM – 4 PM TOWN COMMON Join us for a day of family fun, education and entertainment. The Sustainability Festival is in its ninth year and is bigger and better than ever! There is literally something for everyone … Continue reading →

Dave Downs provides some excellent tips on getting all that clutter at home under control in this informational and entertaining program at the Jones Library in Amherst at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Why do Americans have too many possessions?  How … Continue reading →

On Thursday, January 26,2018, the ARHS PGO sponsored an evening meeting meeting where the ARHS math teachers and administrators updated the community on our implementation of the Massachusetts State Frameworks using the Interactive Math Program (IMP). The evening doubled as … Continue reading →

Please consider joining in the 35 year-old tradition of throwing a safe Party for the Graduating Seniors and their invited guests. EVENT PLANNING MEETING: Date: Monday, April 9th Time: 7-8 PM Place: ARHS Room 114 Who: Parents and Guardians of all grade … Continue reading →

July 9, 2018 – August 3, 2018 The Summer School Registration is now open. Information can be found at: http://www.arps.org/resources/summer_school_program Please note that Breakfast and Lunch are included at no-cost for all students who enroll in Summer School for at least one … Continue reading →

Saturday, April 7th — 7:00 pm — ARHS Auditorium The Green Street Brew, a local adult acapella group that includes ARHS math teacher Geoff Friedman and ARHS staff Andrea Dustin – under the direction of our very own Todd Fruth – presents … Continue reading →

When: April 12, 2018  5:45 pm-7:30 pm Where:  ARHS Library RSVP requested* In honor of Autism Awareness Month, SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee)  and the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools have teamed up to host an Autism Awareness Night. Current high … Continue reading →

For Seniors: April 2 – ARHS Scholarship Application Deadline April 5 – MEFA “after the Acceptance” program about comparing financial aid awards and making college decisions May 1 – FAFSA filing deadline for eligibility for Mass grant, available only to … Continue reading →

April 4 – Early Release April 6 – Blood Drive April 7 – Local Vocal Chord Bowl, 7 PM April 9 – P2 Grades Distributed April 10 – Regional School Committee Meeting 6:30 PM April 11 – Wind Ensemble Chamber … Continue reading →

Teenagers Are Sexting — Now What? https://nyti.ms/2Gi6oxk Additionally, the Berkshire County DA’s Office published the following on sexting: What is Sexting? “Sexting” is the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photos, or images via cell phone, computer, or … Continue reading →

Please consider joining in the 35-year-old tradition of throwing a safe Party for the Graduating Seniors and their invited guests. EVENT PLANNING KICK-OFF MEETING Date: Wednesday, March 28th Time: 6-7 PM Place: ARHS Room 146 Who: Parents and Guardians of all grade … Continue reading →

This week, the ARPS PGO was awarded a Community Choice Grant of $1413.00 from Florence Bank.  The money will be used to support PGO initiatives within our member schools. Thank you to all who voted for us. Congrats to the … Continue reading →

Catalina Yang and Emilio Levins Page, both in Latin 4 this year, submitted entries into the Classical Association of New England’s annual Writing Contest, and they won second and third place (respectively) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for their entries. … Continue reading →

The Annual Black Scholars Rising event will be held on Friday, May 18th from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Middle School Auditorium with a reception to follow in the Middle School Cafeteria.  Would you mind including that on your calendars and share … Continue reading →

A clothing drive will be held on 4/27-4/28.  The PGO funded a grant for materials to host a clothing drive. Donations boxes will be available in the school.

Dave Downs provides some excellent tips on getting all that clutter at home under control in this informational and entertaining program at the Jones Library in Amherst at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Why do Americans have too many possessions?  How … Continue reading →

Amherst’s biggest election in many years is this Tuesday. You will have the opportunity to choose whether Amherst will continue with it’s current form of government or choose a new one. Whichever you support, be sure to VOTE THIS TUESDAY! … Continue reading →

Now accepting applications for the WO’s 2018 concerto competition. Applications due April 9thand auditions on April 22nd! Each year, the Windham Orchestra hosts a concerto competition for high school age musicians, and 2018 marks the 32nd year of this event. The competition is … Continue reading →

There will be a food drive on Election Day (Tuesday, March 27) in Amherst from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.  Food Drive Barrels will be located at every polling place.  Please contribute canned goods and personal care items.  Following are the … Continue reading →

With regret, the Jones Library announces that the final author event in the On the Same Page – Amherst series, featuring Jill Lepore, must be postponed.  This author event, previously scheduled for Monday, March 26, 2018 at 7 pm will not be … Continue reading →

Principal Mark Jackson discusses the March 14 vigil and student walkout. To listen to the podcasr, click here.

Attention Juniors/Seniors! Emails went out to your school email if you have met the eligibility requirement, with the most recent report card, to apply for membership in the National Honor Society. If you are new to NHS, you are invited … Continue reading →

Dear ARHS Parents and Guardians, I’d like to provide the community with a brief update on today’s student walkout. At 10 am, I would estimate that approximately several hundred students gathered in our west parking lot. They were joined by … Continue reading →

In the spring of 2017 Amherst Town Meeting voted to move forward with a feasibility study of the Fort River Elementary School. The goals of the study are to evaluate the site and building in order to determine what are … Continue reading →

Dear ARPS Community: Given the high level of interest in how weather-related delay and cancellation decisions are made, I thought it would be helpful to share the process that we use. First, I would like to acknowledge the large impact that a … Continue reading →

Amazon is tripling the donation amount to 1.5% when customers make their first eligible smile.amazon.com purchase from March 12 – 31. This is a great opportunity to increase Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization’s AmazonSmile if you use smile.amazon.com. For additional details about the … Continue reading →