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Theme–Starry Night
Here are the Homecoming Guidelines for ARHS students in grades 9-12. Please share with your child:
*All tickets are coded to match the student who bought it, this must match when entering the dance (tickets are non-transferable). The dance is open to ARHS students only. No ARMS or guests from other schools are permitted to attend.
*This is not a formal/semi-formal dance
*Students will be admitted to the Dance between 7-8PM at the cafeteria/library entrance
*No one may enter after 8PM
*Lost tickets will need to be repurchased
*Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable
*Every student entering the dance will be screened with a breathalyzer.
*Students unwilling to submit to the screening will not be admitted.
*Students who test positive for alcohol will be supervised until a parent/guardian picks them up. School policies around substance use/possession will be enforced.
*Students will be asked to resubmit to an alcohol screening during the dance if there is any reasonable suspicion that they are under the influence.
*Students may not leave or re-enter the dance.
*All bags brought into the dance will be searched.
*Students are expected to follow all rules outlined in the ARHS student handbook.
These rules are put in place to help ensure a fun, safe, and healthy environment for students.
See the
The Senior Class Council is looking for parent volunteers to help set up decorations for this year’s Homecoming Dance between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20 (the night before the dance). The goal is to finish the entire set-up before Saturday, so any help is welcome!
Decoration donations are also welcome for drop-off on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Keep in mind this year’s theme is “Starry Night”.
If you are interested, please email mpineroj@gmail.com.
Date and time: October 25 at 7:30 pm
Google Meet, link here: https://meet.google.com/xph-kaak-dps
Hope to see you all there, and please forward this information to anyone on your individual PGO who would like to attend and advertise in your newsletters.
Please make sure to check ArbiterLive for any updates to the athletic webpage.
Next Thursday, October 26th at 7 pm in the ARHS auditorium will be the Symphony Band, Jazz, and Orchestra Combined Concert.
The Amherst Regional Public Schools Friends of Performing Arts (FPA) is a nonprofit organization of parents, guardians, and community members committed to providing high-quality education in the performing arts at Amherst Regional Public Schools.
Oct. 21: Homecoming (7-0 p.m.)
Oct. 22: Last day to retrieve mums and asters from North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market
Oct. 26: Concert at the HS auditorium (7 p.m.)
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Please join the PGO’s Coffee with the Principal on Thursday, October 19th, 6:30pm – 8pm in the ARHS library. Principal Talib Sadiq will be discussing the new phone policy and the end of Valedictorians in 2026. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
All parents and guardians are welcome!
The Senior Class Council is looking for parent volunteers to help set up decorations for this year’s Homecoming Dance between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20 (the night before the dance). The goal is to finish the entire set-up before Saturday, so any help is welcome!
Decoration donations are also welcome for drop-off on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Keep in mind this year’s theme is “Starry Night”.
If you are interested, please email mpineroj@gmail.com.
If your senior student was accepted into the National Honor Society, please send a $25.00 check or cash to pay the club fee. Make the check payable to ARHS.
If your student is on free or reduced lunch, the fee is waived but they need to communicate with the club advisor.
Thank you
Susana Brena
NHS Club advisor
Note from the PGO: National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.
Your purchase from North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market will support the PGO.
Each Mum and Aster is in 9-inch pots and your choice of available colors. Each Mum and Aster will be priced at $8.00, and the PGO will receive 50% of each sale. With your support and donation, the PGO can help fund field trips, art supplies, ice cream socials, guest speakers, and more! Help us reach our goal
Click here to order your plants. (Details are given on the site; note that after you make your donation, you have until Oct. 22 to retrieve your mums and asters.)
You should receive an email receipt from MightyCause, and that is what you show at the Sugar Shack to pick up your flowers.”
Winter sports registration is now open! Please use this link to view more information and to register. Once registered more information will be sent out by the coach at a later date. The coaches’ directory and more information can be found on the athletic webpage. In addition, to learn more about winter sports join us during our winter sports night on 11/16/23 at 6PM in the high school gymnasium. The first date of the winter season is Monday, November 27, 2023.
Also, please make sure an up-to-date physical is in with our school nurse, Robin Suprenant. Robbin’s email is suprenantr@arps.org.
Victoria Dawson
Director of Athletics
Please make sure to check ArbiterLive for any updates to the athletic webpage.
Oct. 14: PSAT at ARHS
Oct. 19: Coffee with the Principal
Oct. 21: Homecoming
Oct. 22: Last day to retrieve mums and asters from North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market
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We are happy to introduce two more PGO members who will be working with us this year, Arina Beg and Heather Anderson. We are still looking for a few more guardians or parents, especially those with current 9th or 10th graders since most of us will “graduate” this year. Please read below to learn a little bit about Arina and Heather. Heather was also kind enough to speak to those of us who are hesitant to get involved because of the many demands on our time, so we encourage you to see what she had to say on this topic. And finally, please remember that the PGO is here for ALL of us, to enhance communication between families and the school, so reach out whenever you have a question, or to find out more about what the PGO entails: arhspgonews@gmail.com.
Arina says, “My name is Arina Beg, I’m from Maryland and just moved to Massachusetts 2 years ago from Saudi Arabia. I have 2 sons: one will be a Junior at UMass, and my youngest son Abdullah Sherwani is a senior at ARHS.” Arina reached out to us after coming to a PGO coffee last spring–be on the lookout for these informal events, which are a great way to connect with other parents and guardians while you learn about things going on at the school.
Heather writes, “I am a single mother who raised a daughter (now in her 20’s) through Crocker Farm, ARMS, and the ARHS, and am now raising an 11th grade son and a 9th grade son who are members of the ARHS community. While I have raised my children as an involved parent in their immediate schools in many ways, I have not before now, involved myself in groups or committees associated with the district. Having watched the schools operate from a sideline view, I am realizing even more now, that my experiences and my voice cannot be heard if I remain silent. After meeting to have a conversation with PGO members Kate and Susan to learn about what being a member means, and learning that the time commitment is less than I initially thought, I am excited and look forward to joining the PGO.”
Help the PGO support our ARHS community by purchasing a Mum and/or Aster from our local partner, the North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market.
Each Mum and Aster is in 9-inch pots and your choice of available colors. Each Mum and Aster will be priced at $8.00, and the PGO will receive 50% of each sale. With your support and donation, the PGO can help fund field trips, art supplies, ice cream socials, guest speakers, and more! Help us reach our goal
Click here to order your plants. (Details are given on the site; note that after you make your donation, you have until Oct. 22 to retrieve your mums and asters.)
You should receive an email receipt from MightyCause, and that is what you show at the Sugar Shack to pick up your flowers.”
Note from the PGO: National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States
Starting October 2023, our school’s health staff will begin a health screening called SBIRT. SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. SBIRT is used to screen for alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, and other drug use. This health screening is required by Massachusetts law.
Students in grade 9 will take part in this screening which takes about 5-10 minutes. School health staff will have one-on-one conversations with students to talk about how to support their overall health, safety, and success in school. If the student needs more assessment or support, health staff may work with the student and/or their parent/guardian.
A parent/guardian or the student may opt out of this screening. Please contact the ARHS nurse office if you would like to opt your student out of this screening program.
This year, 600 seniors will be awarded $2 million in scholarships. Students can apply HERE. The student needs to have an active account.
TIMELINE:
September 18, 2023: Application opens
November 30, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (ET): Submission deadline
March 2024: Applicants receive notifications
April 2024: Trailblazing Leadership Week, All-expense paid trip to DC for top 25 scholarship finalists and their advisers
If your senior student was accepted into the National Honor Society, please send a $25.00 check or cash to pay the club fee. Make the check payable to ARHS. If your student is on free or reduced lunch, the fee is waived but they need to communicate with the club advisor.
Thank you
Susana Brena
NHS Club advisor
MPAC’s first meeting of the year was held in person on September 27, 2023, at Fort River School. It was attended by several families. Dinner was catered by El Comalito restaurant in Amherst. Among other topics, there was a presentation on the Biliteracy programs that help strengthen students’ language skills. If your child is interested in the Seal of Biliteracy contact the ARHS Biliteracy Coordinator Oumy Cissé, cisseo@arps.org.
For the full meeting report, click HERE.
The next MPAC meeting will take place on November 8th.
Oct 9: No school (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
Oct 14: PSAT at ARHS
Oct. 22: Last day to retrieve mums and asters from North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market
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Starting October 2023, our school’s health staff will begin a health screening called SBIRT. SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. SBIRT is used to screen for alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, and other drug use. This health screening is required by Massachusetts law.
Students in grade 9 will take part in this screening which takes about 5-10 minutes. School health staff will have one-on-one conversations with students to talk about how to support their overall health, safety, and success in school. If the student needs more assessment or support, health staff may work with the student and/or their parent/guardian.
A parent/guardian or the student may opt out of this screening. Please contact the ARHS nurse office if you would like to opt your student out of this screening program.
Help the PGO support our ARHS community by purchasing a Mum and/or Aster from our local partner, the North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market. Each Mum and Aster is in 9-inch pots and your choice of available colors. Each Mum and Aster will be priced at $8.00, and the PGO will receive 50% of each sale. With your support and donation, the PGO can help fund field trips, art supplies, ice cream socials, guest speakers, and more!
Click here to order your plants. (Details are given on the site; note that after you make your donation, you have until Oct. 22 to retrieve your mums and asters.)
Did you know that, when you donate goods to the Baystate Textiles bins by the ARHS parking lot, you help raise money for the PGO’s activities at ARHS? Please see the flyer below for more information about this program, including which items are accepted in the bins. (Note that everything must be bagged; please do not leave items outside the bins, which are emptied regularly but occasionally fill up.)
Please make sure to check ArbiterLive for any updates to the athletic webpage.
Sept 29: Early Release
Oct 9: No school (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
Oct 14: PSAT at ARHS
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Thursday, Sept. 28 is the ARHS Open House, where parents and guardians can meet their students’ teachers and learn about their classes for the year. Click here for a flyer with all the details. Note that there is an opportunity at the end of the evening for you to meet your students’ teachers for their second semester classes.
This is a reminder about the dismissal process. We encourage all families to send their child/children in with a note the day of their dismissal. If your child needs to be dismissed early, please send them in the morning with a note. They will stop by the main office and receive a pink pass to show their teacher at the time of their dismissal.
If your child signs out with out having a note this is considered an “Unexcused Dismissal”. We do not accept phone calls as a form of dismissal.
In case of an emergency you are welcome to email arhsoffice@arps.org a dismissal notes.
If your child is coming in tardy they should bring a note with them; do not call the absence line. If your child is going to be out the whole school day you should call the absence line at 413-362-1718. The Attendance Secretary has 48 hours (2 school days) to process all notes and adjust attendance accordingly.
Late Buses will be provided to High School and Middle School Students this year.
Late Buses will be provided Tuesday and Thursdays.
Click here for bus route maps: North and South.
For any question please reach out to the approciate school.
Amherst Regional High School- 413-362-1700
Amherst Regional Middle School- 413-362-1850
Please make sure to check ArbiterLive for any updates to the athletic webpage.
Sept 25: Yom Kippur (no school)
Sept 28: ARHS Open House
Sept 29: Early Release
Oct 14: PSAT at ARHS
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Thursday, Sept. 28 is the ARHS Open House, where parents and guardians can meet their students’ teachers and learn about their classes for the year. Click here for a flyer with all the details. Note that there is an opportunity at the end of the evening for you to meet your students’ teachers for their second semester classes.
Do you speak a language other than English at home? Are you the parent or guardian of an ElL or former ELL student? The Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC) is a chance to connect with other parents. Click here for a flyer about their first meeting on Sept. 27.
Here is the link with the information and registration flyer for PSATs, which will be offered to 10th and 11th grade ARHS students on Saturday, October 14. This information was sent to 10th and 11th grade families through parent square and to all 10th and 11th grade student emails. If you have any questions, please contact Judi DellaMarco.
Help the PGO support our ARHS community by purchasing a Mum and/or Aster from our local partner, the North Hadley Sugar Shack & Market. Each Mum and Aster is in 9-inch pots and your choice of available colors. Each Mum and Aster will be priced at $8.00, and the PGO will receive 50% of each sale. With your support and donation, the PGO can help fund field trips, art supplies, ice cream socials, guest speakers, and more!
Click here to order your plants. (Details are given on the site; note that after you make your donation, you have until Oct. 22 to retrieve your mums and asters.)
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announces its 23rd annual essay/multimedia contest. This year’s theme is, “How can you use social media to positively affect sportsmanship in your school?” Interested students can see all the contest details here. Submission deadline is October 11.
For this fundraiser, the Sene-Gambian Scholars Program is partnering with South Congregational Church, which shares its superb kitchen. Proceeds will support Sene-Gambian Scholars exchange trip scholarships as well as the Amherst Survival Center and the Food Bank of Western Mass. If you have questions about the event, please e-mail Mary Custard at custardm@arps.org.
ORDER ONLINE at tinyurl.com/SGSmeals (uses PayPal, but no account is required) or DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM at tinyurl.com/SGSflyer and send it to the school office. The deadline is Monday, September 18. Order before we sell out!
Sept 16: Mid-Autumn Festival
Sept 18: Deadline for Sene-Gambian scholars fundraiser
Sept 19: Picture Day
Sept 21: Amherst Block Party
Sept 25: Yom Kippur (no school)
Sept 28: ARHS Open House
Sept 29: Early Release
Oct 14: PSAT at ARHS
Please make sure to check ArbiterLive for any updates to the athletic webpage.
See the Amherst Regional dancers and other performers at this free event.
Amherst A Better Chance brings talented young men of color from educationally underserved school districts to be part of the Amherst community. The students live family-style with the Resident Directors in a home in downtown Amherst. An important part of the program is the host family weekend where scholars spend the first weekend of every month (6pm Friday – 6pm Sunday) during the academic year with their host family. The host family includes the scholar in normal family activities from a quiet evening at home to movies, sporting events and other family activities.
The only requirement to becoming a host family is an interest in welcoming a young man (Amherst ABC is male only) into your life and home and building a positive relationship with him. Families of all kinds and from towns all around the area have been successfully involved in the program since our inception over 50 years ago. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Rika Clement at rikaclem@hotmail.com. Thank you!
ARHS PGO Parent News 
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