ARHS rising ninth graders (current 8th graders) and their families are invited to a course registration night at Amherst Regional High School on March 18 beginning at 6:15 p.m. with a Special Education information session. A group session with Principal Gene Jones, Department Heads, and Assistant Principal Talib Sadiq will be held from 7:00-7:25, followed by course sessions, by department, from 7:30-8:45. School officials will be on hand from 7:30-8:45 to answer questions about registration, athletics, special education and high school transition.
For any rising 7-12 grade student interested in taking courses in Chinese language, there will also be an information session at the high school on March 18. You can attend to learn more about the array of Chinese courses offered, including Advanced Placement Chinese and an advanced course in Chinese literature and culture. The session will take place at 6:15 in room 151.

This year, the annual Gospel Choir Concert to benefit Amherst A Better Chance (ABC) is on Tuesday, March 31st, at Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst. The concert starts at 7:30 PM and features the Amherst Area Gospel Choir, the Amherst Regional High School Hurricane Singers, and the Hampshire Young People’s Chorus. Concert-goers are also invited to a welcome reception with light refreshments from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. in the room adjacent to the Sanctuary at Grace Church. The reception will include the opportunity to meet the Amherst A Better Chance Scholars and Resident Directors and to congratulate this year’s ABC Local Hero Award recipient Mary Custard.

Amherst Regional High School Dean of Students Mary Custard is so deserving of this year’s Local Hero Award. Ms Custard is a long-time beloved and well-respected member of the ARHS community. A tireless advocate for all students, Mary’s long-time association with Amherst A Better Chance demonstrates just how deep and authentic her commitment is both to issues of social justice and to the young people who are so deserving of our support. Mary is the unofficial cheerleader for Amherst ABC. She attends all events and creates photo records of each. Her posts on social media promote the ABC story on a regular basis. When Mary Custard is needed, at any time and in any way, she is a dependable and devoted presence at the ABC House.

A Donation of $20 (or more!) from each concert-goer will be gratefully accepted, but all who wish to celebrate the ABC Program through gospel music are most welcome. Donations can be made on-line at http://www.amherstabetterchance.org or at the concert on March 31st.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

The Massachusetts League of Women Voters is sponsoring a Teen Voting Rights Challenge open to all high school students, Answer the question “Should 16-year-olds have the right to vote?” in a 30 second video and you could win $500. Go to http://www.lwvma.org for more information and to upload your video.

ARHS is proud to present Spring Awakening, March 12-14!  The brilliant Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2007 comes to the ARHS stage, featuring the work of over 120 of our incredible students.  Based on the 1891 play of the same name, Spring Awakening is a cautionary tale about what happens when adults fail to support and educate teenagers in their emerging adulthood.  Featuring a gorgeous production design and thrilling alt-rock score – all run by our students – it will be an electric, memorable show.

This week on As Schools Match Wits, Amherst Regional Public Schools High faces off against The MacDuffie School. Catch the match this Saturday (2/29) at 7pm, only onWGBY. https://wgby.org/asmw

The 2020-2021 School Calendar has been approved by the School Committee.

Key information about the 2020-2021 School Year calendar:

School will start on Wednesday, September 2 for students in grades 1-12 and will be a half-day.  Preschool and Kindergarten start on Tuesday, September 8, 2019.

There will be no school on the day before Thanksgiving.

The projected last day of school, including five snow days, is June 25, 2021.  One weekday is deducted for each snow day not used, with the earliest possible last day of school being June 18, 2021.

Please note that schools are required to provide 180 days of instruction.  While the five snow days built into the calendar are typically adequate to cover closures, any days schools must be closed beyond that must be made-up per Massachusetts Department of Education regulations.  Whenever possible, such days are added to the end of the school year.

Spring Registration is open for both the middle and high school. Please visit
https://www.familyid.com/amherst-pelham-regional-schools/high-school-spring-sports-2020-3 to get your student athlete registered. If you are having difficulties registering, please contact Family ID at 888-800-5583 or contact the athletic office at 413-362-1746.  For more info on registation, click here.

Spring Sports Night is on March 9, 2020 in the ARHS Gym from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Spring Season starts on Monday March 16, 2020.

Go Hurricanes!

Spring Sport Night Flyers

March 2- MCAS ELA Retest

March 3- ARPS SEPAC School Avoidance Parenting Workshop 2

March 4- Early Release; MCAS ELA Retake

March 5- MCAS ELA Retest

March 6- MCAS Retest Math

March 9- Spring Sports Night

March 12-15- ARHS Musical

March 16- Spring Sports Season Begins

March 19- Combined Chorus Concert

March 25- Early Release

Zine Club @ Jones Library

Tuesday, March 3rd  from 5:30-7:30 pm

This month at Zine Club we’ll be experimenting with collages using the ‘mirroring’ technique. You’re also welcome to work on personal projects. Come for all or part of this session, hang out, cut up old books and magazines, and make fun analog art. With permission, artwork will be copied and collected into a JonesLibTeens zine! All materials provided. Zine Club is held the first Tuesday evening of each month. For ages 11-17. For more information, email teens@joneslibrary.org or call 413-259-3091.

Early Release Teen Lounge @ Jones Library

Wednesday, March 4th  from 12:30-3:30 pm

School’s out early and you’re looking for somewhere to hang? Come to our special Early Release Teen Lounge in the Woodbury Room. We’ll be screening anime and have some yummy Japanese snacks to try. For ages 11-17. For more information, email teens@joneslibrary.org or call 413-259-3091.

Teen Advisory Board (TAB) @ Jones Library

Sunday, March 8th  from 2:00-3:00 pm

Come voice your opinions on what you want to see happening at your library! At this month’s TAB meeting we will be planning and making decorations for our next After-Hours Laser Tag event. There will be snacks and good vibes! For ages 11-17. For more information, email teens@joneslibrary.org or call 413-259-3091.

Do you have a jar full of pennies taking up space on your shelf? Please donate them to the ARHS Sene-Gambian Scholars, who are collecting loose change to help a village in Senegal.

You can drop off your contribution in the school office or e-mail pennimanb@arps.org for pickup. You can also donate online at the group’s GoFundMe page: http://gf.me/u/xkdx2u. Thank you for your support!

The SEPAC will hold a Behavior Intervention Techniques Workshop on February 27th from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in the ARMS Professional Development Center.

The Behavior Intervention Techniques Workshop is an opportunity for families to learn about effective prevention and intervention strategies that ARPS staff use when working with students who may exhibit challenging behaviors. This class is designed to be
positive, supportive, and highly interactive. It addresses topics such as functional alternatives to challenging behaviors, safe and therapeutic prevention and management of behavioral crises and the reduction of the likelihood of those behaviors in the
future.

Please RSVP to: sepac@arps.org We can offer interpreter service if requested in advance.

Parents and guardians are invited to a workshop on the hazards of vaping and how to prevent it on Monday, February 24, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the ARMS Library.

Presented by: Melinda Calianos, Program Coordinator, Hampshire Franklin Tobacco-Free Community Partnership and Jill Conselino, ARPS Nurse Manager

For more information, please see the Vaping flyers

Amherst Ballet is hosting a free Belly Dance Workshop led by Sharon Arslanian (former Chair of Dance Department at GCC) as the second of its World Dance Workshop series. The dance workshop will be preceded by a short lecture on Middle Eastern dance and followed by a reception featuring Middle Eastern cuisine.

Date and Time: Saturday, February 29, 2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Amherst Ballet (29 Strong Street, Amherst)

For more information, visit www.amherstballet.org, email info@amherstballet.org, or call (413)549-1555.

The SEPAC meeting that was scheduled for last Friday was cancelled due to the 2 hour school delay at the middle and high schools. It will be held instead this Friday, February 14, 9-10:30am, at the Middle School ETA Conference Room. Hope you can join us.

DINNER DANCE TO SUPPORT THE ARTS

Tickets can be purchased at: Eventbrite

Congratulations to the ARHS Science Olympiad team! They achieved 10th place total and multiple medals in the Brown University Invitational, which hosted over 40 teams from around the nation.

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

The ARHS online school store to purchase gear is now open. Use the promo code GRANDOPENING20 to receive 25% off your order. This offer expires on 2/29/20! The link to the school store is provided below and can also be accessed through ARHS Athletics web-page.

Link to School Store:
http://sideline.bsnsports.com/…/amherst-regional-high-school

Are you a Junior or Senior who may be interested in attending Springfield Technical Community College or Holyoke Community College and want to learn more? If so, we are taking a field trip to tour both campuses and learn about admissions, services, programs, etc. The trip will take place on Friday, 3/13/20. Pizza and water will be served for lunch or you can bring a cold lunch. Permission slips can be picked up in the guidance office and need to be returned to Ms. Garrity in Guidance right before break on  FRIDAY, February 14, THE LATEST.

Just a gentle reminder that when you request recommendations for summer opportunities and or scholarships, it is important that you give teachers and guidance counselors a minimum of 14 days notice to write for you. Please allow your recommenders the opportunities to do their very best writing about how great you by giving them the time to write. Requests that give 1 or 2 days to write do not have to be honored. Help us support you – please plan ahead

On January 16, which was an exam day at ARHS, there was a two-hour delay due to weather conditions.  As a result, ARMS and ARHS swapped the usual ARHS exam-day early dismissal for a late start.  Some students and staff provided feedback in the days after the change that they preferred the late start for exams. To gather more information, the Superintendent sent a short survey to all ARMS and ARHS staff, students and parents/guardians last week to see whether they prefer a late start or an early release on exam days.  They had an excellent response rate of 589 respondents, 233 of whom were students!  The results were interesting, with 62% of students expressing a preference to keep the current system of a regular start time and early dismissal on exam days rather than switching to a late start.

Based on the feedback received through the survey, ARPS will not be making any change to the schedules for exam days at this time. They thank everyone who took time to complete the survey so quickly when it was emailed out.  Your input is extremely valuable any time we consider changes designed to improve our students’ educational experience.

An annual a cappella concert to benefit Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals. A free-will donation will be accepted at the door.

Featuring the Amherst High Hurricane Singers, Longmeadow High Swedish Fish, Chill Harmonics, Mount Holyoke Nice Shoes, Umass S#Arp Attitude and Smith College Groove, Vibes, Noteables, Smiffenpoofs, Blackappella and Smithereens.

Smith College Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Helen Hills Hills Chapel, 123 Elm Street, Northampton at 7PM on Saturday, February 15th.

Friday, February 21 from 5:30–6:30 pm

There’s no Teen Lounge this week due to school hang out on Friday for a special after-hours laser tag session. We’ll form teams and have some fun activities to do while you wait your turn to play. Explore the dark lower level while running around having a blast! Please note that after-hours access is through the back garden entrance. Please pre-register to reserve your spot: teens@joneslibrary.org or 413-259-3091

Save the Date- Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. at Converse Hall on the Amherst College campus to recognize and celebrate the award winners.

The ARHS online school store to purchase gear is now open. Use the promo code GRANDOPENING20 to receive 25% off your order. This offer expires on 2/29/20! The link to the school store is provided below and can also be accessed through ARHS Athletics web-page.

Link to School Store:
http://sideline.bsnsports.com/…/amherst-regional-high-school

Please join us at our next meeting, Friday, February 7, 9-10:30am, at Summit Academy which is co-located with the high school. We will discuss privacy regulations and district practices and how these affect SEPAC’s outreach efforts, how they affect community building among families, and how they affect parents’ efforts to support their students’ social connections. We will also discuss bullying.

At our last meeting, we discussed the potential of 6th graders moving to the middle school. We also discussed the results of the 2019 Special Education Survey by the Public Consulting Group. The full report can be found here and a summary will be attached to the January meeting minutes when they are posted.

Also note that a Parenting Strategies and Support Workshop on the topic of School Avoidance will be held February 4 (TONIGHT!) and March 3. Come to either or both sessions. See attached flyer.

As always, you can send an email to sepac@arps.org with meeting agenda suggestions.

Sincerely,

Heather Sheldon and Catherine Lodge, SEPAC Co-Presidents

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

FEBRUARY 10, 2020

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

FEBRUARY 12, 2020

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

On Thursday, February 13th, the Hurricane Singers will be teaming up with Symphonic Orchestra to offer an evening of small-group music. It will take place at 7 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amherst.  All are invited to attend.

Several musicians from ARHS auditioned for the All-State Music Festival. We are pleased to announce that 7 students have been selected to participate in the festival! They will travel to Boston March 5-7 to rehearse and perform alongside other top musicians in the state in a concert at Symphony Hall. Congratulations and a GREAT SHOUT OUT to the following students:

Nadav Berkman

Eli Kayser-Hirsh

Alex Harvey-Arnold

Seo-Ho Lee

Khalila Lord-Arond

Hannah Sirard

Ruthie Weinbaum

Congratulations to this year’s statewide Scholastic Writing Winners, who submitted in the categories of flash fiction, poetry, personal essay or memoir, and humor, and won the following prizes:

Gold Key: Kabir Narayanan and Rohini Narayanan

Silver Key: Lucy Anderson, Kabir Narayanan, and Rohini Narayanan 

Honorable Mention: Kabir Narayanan

ARHS is currently seeking students who would like to be involved in a filmmaking project over February Break.  ARHS students will write and produce a short film about the impact of Social Media on teens. Professional filmmakers and Health professionals will support this project.  The project is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and students will receive a $200 stipend at the completion of the project. Meetings will be at ARHS. f you are interested, the first meeting is February 11 at 2:30pm in Room 114. You must be available to work all of February break. Please see Assistant Principal Gromacki and fill out an application form at www.bit.ly/ARHSsocial  Space is limited so fill out an application today!

Are you a Junior or Senior who may be interested in attending Springfield Technical Community College or Holyoke Community College and want to learn more? If so, we are taking a field trip to tour both campuses and learn about admissions, services, programs, etc. The trip will take place on Friday, 3/13/20. Pizza and water will be served for lunch or you can bring a cold lunch. Permission slips can be picked up in the guidance office and need to be returned to Ms. Garrity in Guidance right before break on  FRIDAY, February 14, THE LATEST.

1.Can you hear your Friendly Neighborhood College and Career Counselor Weeping about Naviance? Two notes for you. 

A.  Password Reset – As of January 27th, Naviance reset the passwords for passwords that didn’t meet new criteria. Use the “reset password” button. Cut and paste the temporary password and make sure there are no extra spaces! then make a new password.

B. Awesome Messages in Spam – Some of Ms. Cuffee-Gray’s emails are being remanded to Spam folders.  You’re missing out on important information. Grrrrrr! Go in your Spam folders and unblock Naviance messages.

2. Are colleges that you applied to contacting you for transcripts and/or mid-year transcripts? When you look on Naviance are your transcripts listed as “Delivered”? Sometimes colleges send this notification because they are waiting for Semester grades even though your Initial Transcript has been sent. Because our semester has just ended, we will send semester grades when teachers have submitted final grades, and they have been verified in mid-February. This is true at most US high schools that operate on semester calendars. If you need a transcript for a different matter, or a college is insisting that the transcript be sent now (we cannot), please check in with Ms. Garrity. She is the person that can give transcripts.

3. Two Important Local Scholarships. DO NOT MISS!  There is an essay required for both scholarships. Come to the Writing Center after school on Mondays to get support. You must request transcript on Naviance A MINIMUM OF TEN DAYS BEFORE THE DEADLINE (your last minute stress will not be our be our last minute stress – take care of your business in a timely manner).

A. Community Foundation of Western MA is a great area scholarship for college bound students. Do not miss this one. https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/62004-Community-Foundation-Of-Western-Massachusetts

B. HCC gives away $200,000 in scholarships every year. Sometimes not enough HCC students apply and that money gets left on the table. If you are considering HCC, YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP. https://www.hcc.edu/alumni-and-friends/the-hcc-foundation/scholarships

4. Recommendations. Just a gentle reminder that when you request recommendations for summer opportunities and or scholarships, it is important that you give teachers and guidance counselors a minimum of 14 days notice to write for you. Please allow your recommenders the opportunities to do their very best writing about how great you by giving them the time to write. Requests that give 1 or 2 days to write do not have to be honored. Help us support you – please plan ahead.

Class of 2021 Families,

My name is Deidre Cuffee-Gray and I am the new College and Career Advisor here at ARHS. Beginning Friday, January 31st I will be visiting social studies classes to provide an overview of the “Life After ARHS” college and career planning process here (students who are not in junior social studies will be pulled for small group discussions next week).

I am very much  looking forward to meeting you and your juniors this spring!

Juniors will go home with a “Class of 2021 Junior Life After ARHS Planning Handbook” once they meet with me in social studies class. We will also upload a .pdf for you to access the handbook online on February 4th. The handbook has helpful information and a calendar for you and your junior to do some meaningful planning this spring. Juniors will be introduced to Naviance, the college and career planning information system that we utilize when I meet with them. Please encourage your junior to freely explore the site to research careers and colleges.

Parents and guardians were sent their registration codes last year, we will re-send notification through Naviance next week. Please take time to complete the Parent/Guardian Survey for the Class of 2021, this will help both me and your students’ guidance counselor get to know your student(s) better.  If you have an older ARHS graduate, you will have to contact Crystal Garrity, the ARHS Guidance Secretary to reset your account. (Access the survey in Naviance – About Me>Surveys>Surveys Not Started). You can phone her at 413 362-1720, or email at garrityc@arps.org.

Juniors and their families are strongly encouraged to schedule a Junior Life after ARHS Family College and Career Planning with me this spring. We will meet to discuss your junior’s deeper preferences for college and career, and create a plan of action. Beginning February 3rd students who have completed their “Life After ARHS Survey for Class of 2021 (54 Qs)” will be permitted to schedule a meeting (meetings will start the week prior to February Break). Additionally, we will be hosting a College & Career Planning Roundtable on February 26th from 6-8pm in order to provide you with face-to-face general information about the process. A link to RSVP for the event will be in Naviance soon.

If your junior is considering applying Early Decision or Early Action (we can discuss if that makes sense when we meet), we strongly encourage them to set up an appointment for a college recommendation meeting with their guidance counselor or me (if assigned to Deidre Cuffee-Gray) in April or May.

This is an exciting time for you and your junior. It can also be a nerve wracking time as well. Please work with the ARHS College & Career Planning Team to help your junior to BREATHE and de-escalate the panic of this time (or rouse them from their slumber). We are here to provide reasoned, healthy and thoughtful support.

It is not quite spring yet, but the days are getting longer. Consider visiting colleges in the area (there are many great colleges and universities very close to us) or further afield during February or April break. 

Sincerely,

Your Friendly Neighborhood College and Career Counselor – Deidre Cuffee-Gray

Feb 7- SEPAC Meeting 9-10:30 AM @ Summit Academy

Feb 10- S1 Grades

Feb 12- Coffee with the Assistant Principal 7PM ARHS Library

Feb 13- Combined Hurricane Singers/ Symphonic Orchestra Concern 7 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church

Feb 14- ARPS FPA Valentines Day Gala

Feb 14- GCC Field Trip

Feb 17-21- No School (February Vacation)

March 2- MCAS ELA Retest

March 3- ARPS SEPAC School Avoidance Parenting Workshop 2

March 4- Early Release; MCAS ELA Retake

March 5- MCAS ELA Retest

March 6- MCAS Retest Math

March 12-15- ARHS Musical

March 19- Combined Chorus Concert

Marsh 25- Early Release

Looking Back to Move Forward Flyer

For more information, please visit: https://www.amherstma.gov/3506/Winter-Fest

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Location
Pathlight Café, 41 Russell St., Hadley, MA
in the Family Empowerment/Whole Children/Pathlight building

RSVP
RSVPs are not required but appreciated! Call 413-585-8010 or email familyempowerment@pathlightgroup.org

Come learn from the wisdom of other parents and share your experiences with people who are going through similar life stages. Let’s learn from each other as we do the hard work of creating support systems for our loved ones, our families, and ourselves.

This month the focus will be Transition issues (ages 14-22). Our conversations and interests at this meeting will help us decide which topic to address next.

Parents of all ages are welcome to attend, including your friends and extended family members.

Do your student love to read and discuss amazing books? Are you interested in learning more about Jewish literature? If so, apply to the Great Jewish Books summer program at Hampshire College for rising high school juniors and seniors, held from July 26-31. You’ll read selections from important works of modern and contemporary Jewish literature and consider how they speak to the current day. Every single admitted participant receives a scholarship for the full cost of tuition, room, board, books, and special events!!! It’s an amazing experience, open to all, including “Jewish students, people with multiple heritages, people of color, LGBTQ+ participants, and non-Jewish participants. Anyone who has an interest in Jewish literature and culture is welcome to apply!” Applications due March 9,2020.  https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/educational-programs/great-jewish-books-summer-program/about See Ms. Barber-Just in 172 with questions!

You are invited to participate in our 5th annual Career Day Advisory on Thursday, March 5th to share your career path story with our 10th and 11th grade students. Participating in our Career Day Advisory requires only a one-hour commitment, from 10:10 a.m to 11:10 a.m.  During your visit, you will be stationed in a classroom with another speaker and will be asked to speak for 10-15 minutes to a group of students who have signed up in advance to hear your presentation. They will then have time to ask questions.

To confirm your participation in our Career Day Advisory, please reply by email to Talib Sadiq sadiqt@arps.org and/or Judi Dellamarco dellamarcoj@arps.org,  or call 362-1714 by Friday, January 31st. Please include your name, job title/profession, place of employment, and contact information.  Further details about the event will be sent to participants in mid February.

Respectfully,

Talib Sadiq, Assistant Principal

Deidre Cuffee-Gray, College Advisor

cc: Gene Jones,  Principal

JANUARY 31, 2020

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

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FEBRUARY 4, 2020

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FEBRUARY 8, 2020