ARHS PGO Parent News

Welcome to the 4th newsletter of 2024/2025! This newsletter is sent out every week to all the email addresses listed for parents/guardians of current ARHS students. You can also see the archived posts at the PGO website. The newsletter also posts to our Facebook page; if you FOLLOW that page, you will also see occasional time-sensitive updates that we post between newsletters.

The PGO newsletter is meant to be your one-stop shop for all ARHS-related news. We collect communications that go out from the school and district during the week, and we also accept announcements from the community for any events that are free and of potential interest to ARHS students and their families. You can email us here!

You may unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom of the newsletter. We do not have a way to automatically unsubscribe families whose students have graduated, so if you no longer have a student at ARHS, please help us stay within our account limits by unsubscribing yourself.

If someone else forwarded you this newsletter and you want to subscribe, there is a link at the side of the newsletter.

Help our schools live up to their promise of equity and opportunity for all – join SEAC today!

We all want our schools to provide the same opportunities for all students regardless of race, wealth, gender, ability, and background – but we know from years of data that this only happens when we take specific, intentional action to address disparities. Join SEAC and help us act against the rising inequities we are seeing in our middle and high schools.

What is SEAC?
SEAC is a subcommittee of the Amherst Regional School Committee made up of parents, students, staff, community and school committee members. Our mission is to improve academic access for every Amherst middle and high school student regardless of racial, cultural, religious, gender, ability, and socio-economic status. Our areas of focus include reducing academic and discipline disparities and increasing the culture and climate of welcome and inclusion in our schools.

What role can you play in making a difference in our school community?
Come to our next meeting on Wednesday September 25, 2024 @ 5:30pm in the Amherst Regional High School Library. Email SEAC Chair Bridget Hynes hynesb@arps.org with questions or for more information.

We are in the process of getting this year’s School Site Council (SSC) started at ARHS. The SSC will work on the School Improvement Plan (SIP), and ways to increase student and family engagement at ARHS. We will be meeting once a month for an hour. The day and time will be determined after the SSC is formed.

Our SSC will have between 9-15 members. Ideally, there will be 3-5 representatives from three categories: school personnel, students, and parents/guardians of currently enrolled students. If needed, the PGO will organize the election for the parent representatives, and I will organize the election of the school personnel and students.

Please contact me at sadiqt@arps.org or 413-362-1700 if you are interested in joining the SSC or have any questions. Thank you.

Take care,
Talib Sadiq

A number of students, parents and guardians have asked about the ARHS phone policy. Here it is:

Students must put their phones on Airplane mode and place them in the phone caddy BEFORE the bell rings. AirPods or other headphones should be put away. Students can keep their smartwatches unless it becomes a distraction during class. If the teacher determines that a smartwatch is a distraction, the smartwatch must also be put in the caddy for the entire class.

Once there, the phone must stay in the caddy for the entire class period. If you do not put a phone in the caddy, we will confirm you do not have a phone with your family.

If a student violates the phone policy during class, their name will be sent to the Main Office. If it is the 2nd time or more, the student will have to turn their phone in at the Main Office during the next passing period.

Consequences for students using phones during class, or in the hallways during class:

• 1st Time – The student is sent to the Main Office, and the student’s family will be contacted. The student keeps their phone.
• 2nd Time – Student is sent to the Main Office to turn in their phone until the end of the day when the student can pick up their phone. Their family will be contacted.
• 3rd Time – The student is sent to the Main Office to turn in their phone. Family/Caregiver must retrieve the device from the Main Office.
  • 4th Time & Beyond – The student is sent to the Main Office to turn in their phone. Family/Caregiver must retrieve the device. The student may also be suspended or participate in Saturday morning community service as well.
    
    You can view the ARHS 2024-2025 Student/Family Handbook here!

All parents and guardians of Amherst Regional High School students are welcome to join the ARHS Parent Guardian Organization (PGO). We are a DBA of the Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization, a 501c3 Massachusetts Charity. Our mission is to promote communication and understanding among families, staff and the Amherst Area Community; to foster a spirit of collaboration by providing a forum for participation and the exchange of information and ideas; and to provide financial assistance where needed to enrich the academic and overall experience of all students.

Our meetings are scheduled for the third Sunday of each month at 6:30pm at a location to be announced. The next meeting will be Sunday, Sept. 22. Join us and get involved! If you would like more information please send us an email: arhspgonews@gmail.com.

Read more here, for a comprehensive FAQ on ARPS Sports!

Join the Amherst community for the 11th Annual Block Party on Thursday, September 19 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on North Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst. This beloved community event promises an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration of all things Amherst.

The Annual Block Party is a cherished tradition, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to our dynamic downtown. This year’s event will feature an exciting lineup of live music and performances, showcasing local talent and captivating acts. Attendees can look forward to aerialists, acrobats, stilt walkers, jugglers, and a variety of street performers that will delight audiences of all ages.

In addition to the entertainment, local restaurants and retailers will line both sides of North Pleasant Street. Downtown Amherst boasts a diverse array of dining options and unique shops and services, making it the perfect destination for a night out. Whether you’re enjoying a meal, discovering a new favorite store, or simply soaking in the lively atmosphere, there’s something for everyone at the Block Party. Read more here!

*Space is limited. Registration will be open until capacity has been reached. Read more here.

Haga clic AQUI para ver los artículos del boletín en español.

Welcome to the THIRD newsletter of 2024/2025! This newsletter is sent out every week to all the email addresses listed for parents/guardians of current ARHS students. You can also see the archived posts at the PGO website. The newsletter also posts to our Facebook page; if you FOLLOW that page, you will also see occasional time-sensitive updates that we post between newsletters.

The PGO newsletter is meant to be your one-stop shop for all ARHS-related news. We collect communications that go out from the school and district during the week, and we also accept announcements from the community for any events that are free and of potential interest to ARHS students and their families. You can email us here!

You may unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom of the newsletter. We do not have a way to automatically unsubscribe families whose students have graduated, so if you no longer have a student at ARHS, please help us stay within our account limits by unsubscribing yourself.

If someone else forwarded you this newsletter and you want to subscribe, there is a link at the side of the newsletter.

The ARHS Community lost a beloved student in September 2022. You are invited to gather in an annual day of remembrance on Saturday, September 14.

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9th Grade Parents/Guardians and New Parents/Guardians: Welcome to your FIRST NEWSLETTER of 2024/2025! This newsletter is sent out every week to all the email addresses listed for parents/guardians of current ARHS students. You can also see the archived posts at the PGO website. The newsletter also posts to our Facebook page; if you FOLLOW that page, you will also see occasional time-sensitive updates that we post between newsletters.

The PGO newsletter is meant to be your one-stop shop for all ARHS-related news. We collect communications that go out from the school and district during the week, and we also accept announcements from the community for any events that are free and of potential interest to ARHS students and their families. You can email us here!

You may unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom of the newsletter. We do not have a way to automatically unsubscribe families whose students have graduated, so if you no longer have a student at ARHS (or if this is being sent to 2 email addresses for the same person), please help us stay within our account limits by unsubscribing yourself. If someone else forwarded you the newsletter and you want to subscribe, there is a link at the side of the newsletter.

The Class of 2028 is about to embark on a very exciting journey, and we, the class advisors, will make every effort to make their four years memorable. To start, we will be ordering class shirts so students can proudly participate in our ARHS Spirit Fridays. The cost of these shirts will be $15 and orders will be taken until Friday, September 6th at 3pm.  All payments must be received by Wednesday, September 11th.  We will place the order on the 12th in hopes of having them in by October 1st. You can send payments to the Main Office ATTN: Sherry Balzano, Class of 2028 Advisor. Checks may be made payable to the ARHS Class of 2028. If you would like to donate over this amount to help ensure every Class of 2028 student receives a shirt, you are welcome. Please note that all donations are tax-deductible. All donations will be used for Class of 2028 activities.

Order your student’s shirt here: Class 2028 TShirt Order Form. If you have any questions, please contact Sherry Balzano and Lisa Sulikowski, ‘28 class advisors via by phone 413.362.1700 or email balzanos@arps.org and sulikowskim@arps.org. 

There has been much in recent news related to mosquito-borne illness – West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the risk for both EEE and WNV in Amherst is low. 

The Department of Public Health actively maintains a website with WNV and EEE risk maps that are updated daily. The Town of Amherst recommends that you check these regularly to be aware of risk levels throughout the state.The Town of Amherst recommends that you check these regularly to be aware of risk levels throughout the state.

Recommendations for areas where the risk is low are:

• Know your risk and be prepared
• Check the DPH risk page regularly
• Repair screens on windows and doors
• Be aware of stagnant water on your property (e.g., unused swimming pools) and clean up to get rid of mosquito breeding sites
• Use EPA-approved insect repellents containing DEET
• Wear long sleeves and long pants and socks when outside from dusk to dawn
• Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens

Local Monitoring: The Amherst Public Health Department is actively monitoring mosquito populations in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District (PVMCD). As of August 17th, there were no West Nile virus-positive mosquito samples detected in Amherst or Hampshire County, although there were some mosquito positive samples in the Pioneer Valley. All of the PVMCD reports from the current season can be viewed here.

Questions? Contact the Amherst Public Health Department by emailing publichealth@amherstma.gov or calling 413.259.3077.

Haga clic AQUI para ver los artículos del boletín en español.

Happy First Day of High School for the 2024/2025 school year. This newsletter is sent out every week to all the email addresses listed for parents/guardians of current ARHS students. You can also see the archived posts at the PGO website. The newsletter also posts to our Facebook page; if you FOLLOW that page, you will also see occasional time-sensitive updates that we post between newsletters.

The PGO newsletter is meant to be your one-stop shop for all ARHS-related news. We collect communications that go out from the school and district during the week, and we also accept announcements from the community for any events that are free and of potential interest to ARHS students and their families.

You may unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom of the newsletter. We do not have a way to automatically unsubscribe families whose students have graduated, so if you no longer have a student at ARHS (or if this is being sent to 2 email addresses for the same person), please help us stay within our account limits by unsubscribing yourself. If someone else forwarded you the newsletter and you want to subscribe, there is a link at the side of the newsletter.

Please fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/wnb95mpv to let us know
you plan to come– not required but appreciated –and if you would like an
interpreter at the meeting. If you have any questions, please contact
clementsa@arps.org

Complete este formulario: https://tinyurl.com/wnb95mpv para informarnos
si planea asistir (no es obligatorio, pero se agradece) y si va a necesitar un
intérprete durante la reunión. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con
clementsa@arps.org

请填写此表格: https://tinyurl.com/wnb95mpv 让我们知道您计划参加
(非必需但会非常感激)并请告知我们您在会议中是否需要翻译服务。如果
您有任何问题请联系 clementsa@arps.org

여기에서 계속 تابع هنا ここに続く continúa aquí Continued here

Aug 25 (TODAY!) Back to School Celebration
Aug 26: First Day of School—Half-Day
Sept 2: Labor Day (no school)

Haga clic AQUI para ver los artículos del boletín en español.

The ARHS PGO Newsletter will be on hiatus until roughly mid-August, when we will return with start-of-school announcements. You can still follow our Facebook page for any additional announcements that come in over summer vacation.

If your student(s) graduated from ARHS, and you don’t have another student in the school next year, please remove yourself from the mailing list going forward by clicking on the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of this newsletter. (We have a limited mail chimp account, so taking graduating families off the mailing list allows us to add the new 9th grade families.)

If you have a student in the class of 2025, you received an email invitation from Ms. Cuffee-Gray to sign up in SCOIR, which is the system students use to coordinate college applications. Here is a link to the Class of 2025 college application checklist she shared with you.

The ARHS PGO raises funds all year to support activities in the school. Thanks to all of you who dropped off old textiles, donated used sneakers, and participated in the various fundraisers we offered this year. We used those funds to support community-building activities like the fall ice cream social and the staff appreciation lunch. Thank you also to everyone who gave their time to bring treats to the staff or to help put on the staff appreciation lunch.

Our fundraising also allowed us to give out over $8,000 this year in grants to students and staff at ARHS. Those grants funded field trips for clubs and classes, guest speakers, and student projects, helping the staff provide experiences for ARHS students that would not be possible within the limits of school funding. Our final thank you is to everyone who submitted grant proposals this year–it was always a treat to see the range of things going on in the school!