ARHS PGO Parent News

Dear Parents and Guardians:

If you have been following news reports, you know that many areas of the country have been hit with the flu. While we have not seen a significant increase in absences due to illness, I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to keep our students healthy. We are keeping traffic areas especially clean and sanitized as well as encouraging hand washing and sanitizing. We will, of course, need your help in fighting the flu as well. You can help by following some of the helpful hints in the attached flyer.

Parents and students need to know the signs of the flu (a fever of 100 degrees or higher, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and feeling very tired) and report those symptoms when calling in to report an absence. Students reporting those symptoms should stay at home to recover and remain at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (without fever-reducing medicines).

We are asking that all parents assist us with the reporting and, most importantly, keeping ill students at home until they are well. Along with good hygiene, these are the most important steps we can take to help keep students well during the flu season.

We are doing everything we can to help keep students healthy, but we need your help in keeping hands clean, keeping ill students at home and getting students vaccinated when possible. Free doses of the flu vaccine are still available through the Amherst Health Department. Arrangements to receive the vaccine can be made by contacting Jennifer Brown, Public Health Nurse, at 413-259-3241 or brownj@amherstma.org.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the nurse in your child’s school or your healthcare provider.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Morris

Superintendent of Schools
flu_guide_parents_spA guide for parents(1)

The Amherst Police Department will be conducting a training on Monday February 12th from 6:30-9:30 pm in the High School Gymnasium. It will take place after all athletic events have ended. Please do not be alarmed if you see police vehicles at the High School before and during this time!

Spring Sports registration is now open! It closes on March 5, 2018

Please mark your calendar for our Spring Sports Informational Night, Tuesday, March 13th @ 6:30 p.m. This evening is for both athletes and their parents/guardians. Everyone will meet briefly in the high school gymnasium and then go to a sport specific classroom. This will give everyone a chance to meet the coaches, ask questions, find out about tryouts and go over rules & expectations.

6:30 p.m. – Whole Group Meeting in the High School Gymnasium

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Individual Team Meetings in assigned classrooms

Hope you can join us!

Reminders –

Check with the health room about your child’s clearance to play.
Spring sports start March 19th.

Students from Kanegasaki, Japan have been coming to Amherst for over 25 years, and this year will mark the second year of High School participation, and Host Families are needed March 21-25. This cultural exchange program has been the core of the long standing relationship that has linked our two Sister Cities. If your family is interested in hosting, please pick up an application from Mr. Kropf in room 225 at the High School (kropfa@arps.org) or Ms. Boyd, Guidance Counselor at the Middle School (boydd@arps.org).

The Jones Library proudly announces Madeleine Blais and the Amherst Regional High School Theater Program as winners of the Fifth Annual Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement. A gala event, the Sammys, will take place on April 26, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. at the Mead Art Museum on the Amherst College campus to recognize and celebrate the award winners.

Now celebrating its 5th year, the Sammys is Amherst’s signature event honoring the community’s remarkable and vibrant literary heritage. The evening will feature a lively awards presentation, food and drink provided by local artisans, and live music. Past events have been remarkably successful, with more than 200 community members gathering each year to honor Cammie McGovern and Arthur Kinney in 2017, Polly Longsworth and Aaron Lansky in 2016, Julius Lester and Pat & Peter Schneider in 2015, and Norton Juster and Amherst Books in 2014. Proceeds from the Sammys provide considerable support to the Jones Library and its branches.

This year, the Sammy for local literary achievement will be presented to Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author Madeleine Blais, of the University of Massachusetts journalism department. Her book about Amherst Regional High School’s 1995 state champion girls’ basketball team, In These Girls, Hope Is a Muscle, was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and named one of the Top 100 sports books of the 20th Century by ESPN. Ms. Blais’s other books include The Heart Is an Instrument: Portraits in Journalism; Uphill Walkers: Portrait of a Family; and her well-reviewed new book, To the New Owners, an evocative memoir about her family’s deep connection with Martha’s Vineyard.

The Sammy for significant contribution to Amherst’s literary culture will be presented to the Amherst Regional High School Theater Program, currently being led by John Bechtold. At ARHS’s Theater Department, students have the opportunity to take coursework in both the academic and practical applications of theater, participate in acting classes, write new works, direct plays, and work on the design of lighting, sound, and set plans for productions. Illustrious alumnae can be seen in many venues, from professional stages (playwright Annie Baker ’98, actor Libby Woodbridge ’05) to Hollywood (screenwriter/director Tom Bezucha ’82, actor Erik Mabius ’86, playwright Madeleine George ’92).The ARHS Theater Company was recognized by American Theatre magazine in 2012 for its innovative staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In keeping with tradition, The Sammys is honored to feature the work of a local artist. Illustrator Micha Archer, whose most recent book is Daniel Finds a Poem, has donated her talents to the Sammys. Working with oil, watercolors, pen and ink, and collage, Archer creates vibrantly layered pieces from various materials that jump off the page to inspire the imagination. Attendees purchasing tickets at the $100 and above level will receive a signed and numbered print of Archer’s work.

About the Jones Library

The Jones Library’s mission is to serve and inspire people of all ages and from all walks of life by providing multicultural resources for lifelong learning. An Amherst treasure, the Jones Library contributes to the educational and cultural landscape of the area. The Library provides adult, family, and children’s programs to the public, as well as heavily used community meeting rooms. The availability of resources to all, partnerships with area organizations, and numerous community events ensure that the Library receives more than 250,000 visits every year.

About the Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement

The Sammys are named for Samuel Minot Jones, the Library’s first benefactor and namesake. Jones contributed the initial funding for the endowment that continues to provide a portion of the Library budget annually. The Sammys are our way of honoring the legacy of Jones’s commitment to the community.

Over the past 4 years, the Sammys have brought in over $100,000 in support for the Jones, Munson, and North Amherst Libraries. All proceeds from the awards ceremony will be used to support Library collections, purchasing materials in all formats and for all ages. Budget constraints this year mean that philanthropic dollars are even more critical for buying the Library materials on which our community depends.

Sammys tickets are available and can be purchased at the Jones Library or online at www.joneslibrary.org/sammys. Tickets will be offered at $60, $100, $150 and $200, allowing people to choose their level of support for the Library’s collections.

For information on sponsoring this event or to volunteer, please contact Sharon Sharry at sharrys@joneslibrary.org

From Principal Jackson: Please only park in the spaces designated for people with disabilities if you have an appropriate sticker. Thank you.

Hello Juniors,

Just a few things…

1.  The registration deadline for the March 10 SAT is Friday, February 9, one week from today.  Many of you should take that test after doing some good preparation.  There is still time to do that.
2. If you have a documented learning disability and use accommodations at school, you should apply to the testing companies to get accommodations for the SAT and ACT. Look at the Naviance links list for forms to complete and information about applying for accommodations. This must be done at least two months in advance of any test date. For the SAT, you must have accommodations before you register for a test, and for the ACT. You must register for the test before you apply for accommodations!
3.  Think about potential conflicts with your usual activities and plan your first-round testing dates.  The SAT dates are March 10, May 5 and June 2.  The ACT dates are April 14 and June 9.    Potential conflict for some of you –the senior prom will be on June 1.  Not a good idea to take an important test the next day!
4. It’s time to schedule your junior college meeting.  First, you must complete a survey in Naviance so I can learn something about you before we meet.  You opened your Naviance account last year for the Personality-type inventory in your advisory.  We were supposed to have an advisory dedicated to re-introducing you to Naviance on January 4.  Unfortunately, that was a snow day.  The lesson will now take place on March 8.  You will need to do some discovering on your own before then.

The Naviance address is: connection.naviance.com/Amherst

If you don’t remember your username, try your arps.org address.  Try your customary passwords.  If you still cannot get in, see Mrs. Cappelli in Guidance or Mrs. Tracy in 309 for help.

Under About Me/Surveys to Take, you will find the Junior Questionnaire for College Conference.  Please complete it and then seem Mrs. Cappelli in the Guidance Office to make the appointment for your junior college meeting.

If you do it soon, you will not need to wait very long.  If you wait a few weeks to make the appointment, there may not be one available until April.  After-school times fill first.

Myra Ross

ARHS College Advisor

ARHS will host an information session at 7 pm on February 6th in the high school library to share the details of our 2018-2019 Chinese language program.

For further information, please contact Ericka Alschuler, Interim Assistant Principal, at 362-1714

Leslie Lomasson, school librarian at Amherst Regional High School, is a recipient of the 2018 Massachusetts School Library Association Peggy Hallisey Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates Ms. Lomasson’s exemplary commitment to the service of students and 21st century learning and to the advancement of school libraries.

Ms. Lomasson will be honored on Sunday, March 25, 2018 during the MSLA Awards Banquet at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. This awards dinner is a part of the MSLA Annual Conference, “Future Ready.”

Congratulations, Ms. Lomasson!

AP Exam Sign-Up has begun. The binder is in the Guidance office at Ms. Cappelli’s desk. Please submit payment of $95/exam, preferably by check, at the time of registration. Include your name and the exam for which you are registering in the check’s memo. The deadline to register is March 9th.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Join Amherst Education Foundation as we honor the nine principals of our school district: Mark Jackson, David Slovin, Patty Bode, Diane Chamberlain, Nick Yaffe, Derek Shea, Lisa Desjarlais, Margot Lacey, and Jackie Mendonsa!

All nine principals will be in attendance. Come celebrate the leaders of our high schools, middle school, and elementary schools.

We hope you will join us for dinner, festivities, trivia, and more:

March 17

6-9pm

Student Union Ballroom at UMass

Here is the link to ticket sales: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aef-celebrates-champions-for-our-schools-tickets-41920686903

All proceeds from the event will go to AEF and the grants we give to educators.

We hope to see you there!

WinterFest Amherst, Feb. 3-10, 2018, is the largest winter festival in Western Mass, featuring over 40 events including music, food, sports, recreation and community activities. [see note above] Among this year’s highlights are 10 events on the first day, including a Luminaria, sponsored by the Amherst BID, on the Town Common. Among other highlights are: the WinterFest Ice Hockey Challenge Cup, 5K Indoor Run, Men and Women’s Amateur Basketball, Food Demonstrations, Nature Hikes, Lectures and Discussions, Figure Skating, Winter Crafts for Kids, Painting for Children, Live Music, Winter Farmers’ Market, Movies and more. WinterFest concludes on Feb. 10, with fireworks, beauty queens, and more at the Grand Finale at the Cherry Hill Golf Course.

Check event details at WinterFest Amherst Events Schedule

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and DIAL/SELF are co-hosting an information and application station for young people interested in joining the AmeriCorps team on Saturday, February 3 from 10 am – 12 noon in the Amherst Room of the Jones Library.

Are you passionate about youth empowerment, education, the arts, and social justice? The DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Program (DSAP) seeks inspired leaders to join the upcoming 2018-19 service term! For 10 months, DSAP members serve full-time to create positive youth development opportunities in schools and local agencies throughout the Pioneer Valley. Interested in learning more? Come meet with current and former AmeriCorps members to hear about their experiences. The initial application deadline is February 15th.

Free and open to the public. For more information about this event, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223. For more information or to apply online, please visit http://www.dialself.org/americorps.html
Posted on January 22, 2018 by Jennifer
Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and DIAL/SELF are co-hosting an information and application station for young people interested in joining the AmeriCorps team on Saturday, February 3 from 10 am – 12 noon in the Amherst Room of the Jones Library.

Are you passionate about youth empowerment, education, the arts, and social justice? The DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Program (DSAP) seeks inspired leaders to join the upcoming 2018-19 service term! For 10 months, DSAP members serve full-time to create positive youth development opportunities in schools and local agencies throughout the Pioneer Valley. Interested in learning more? Come meet with current and former AmeriCorps members to hear about their experiences. The initial application deadline is February 15th.

Free and open to the public. For more information about this event, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223. For more information or to apply online, please visit http://www.dialself.org/americorps.html

Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room for the next event in this ongoing film and discussion series that may educate, touch your heart, and inspire you to action to help dismantle racism.

In this December 2017 TED talk, Dr. Atyia Martin examines the intersections of racism and climate change. She proposes ways for us to scrutinize bias in ourselves, our workplaces, and our social groups. Dr. Martin is the new Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Boston. Under her leadership, Boston will focus on advancing racial equity as the foundation of the Resilience Strategy process. After the screening and discussion, work will continue in small working groups to advance anti-racism action projects that have been undertaken.

Free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and Coming Together. More information about Coming Together can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

Are you a UMass employee? Did you know that UMass employees can donate to the ARHS PGO (via the ARPS PGO- a non-profit that encompasses the PGOS from ARHS, ARMS, Crocker Farm and Wildwood) through the UMass Amherst Community Campaign?
There is still time! But do not wait long since the deadline is January 31st!

You can choose the amount, and if you opt for payroll deductions, you can split it among several payrolls.

Here are the instructions on that site:

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

IF YOU GAVE ONLINE LAST YEAR the organizations you gave to will already
be in your Donation Basket.

STEP 1: Find the charitable organization(s) that you wish to donate to.
Click “Add to My Donation Basket.” If “Add to My Donation Basket” does
not appear, please Log In first. [2]

STEP 2: Go to Give Now [3] to complete your donation.

Choose Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization.

https://www.umass.edu/umacc/ch aritable-organizations?combine =amherst+&Did you know=All&field_cause_tid=All

Spring Sports registration begins February 1st and closes on March 5, 2018

Please mark your calendar for our Spring Sports Informational Night, Tuesday, March 13th @ 6:30 p.m. This evening is for both athletes and their parents/guardians. Everyone will meet briefly in the high school gymnasium and then go to a sport specific classroom. This will give everyone a chance to meet the coaches, ask questions, find out about tryouts and go over rules & expectations.

6:30 p.m. – Whole Group Meeting in the High School Gymnasium

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Individual Team Meetings in assigned classrooms

Hope you can join us!

Reminders –

Check with the health room about your child’s clearance to play.
Spring sports start March 19th.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year. This information is from the CDC (Center for Disease Control).

Signs and Symptoms of Flu

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms that usually start suddenly, not gradually:

• Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (very tired)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than in adults.

How Flu Spreads

• Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Period of Contagiousness

• You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Although people with the flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins, some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others with flu viruses for an even longer time.

Onset of Symptoms

The time from when a person is exposed to flu virus and infected to when symptoms begin is about 1 to 4 days, with an average of about 2 days.

Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

PLEASE READ: If your child develops symptoms of the flu, PLEASE keep them home from school. They must be fever free without the use of medication (Tylenol or Ibuprofen) for 24 hours before their return to school. If they have had diarrhea or vomiting, they must be free of this for 24 hours before they return to school. Remind your children to cover their cough and wash their hands.   Contact your child’s health care provider with any questions or concerns.

2018 Fall Anticipated SAT Dates                               

August 25, 2018  definite
October 6, 2018
November 3, 2018
December 1, 2018

2018 Fall ACT Dates
September 8, 2018
October 27, 2018
December 8, 2018

• Students on free/reduced lunch can get SAT fee waivers through the late registration period. For the ACT, they must pay late fee, but registration fee is waived through late registration.
• Photos must be uploaded as part of SAT and ACT registration.
• Registration for SAT Online “waitlist status” begins after late registration and continues until five days before test date.
• ACT Online registration for “stand-by” testing begins after late registration and continues until eight days before test date.
• Both waitlist and stand-by have large extra fees and no guarantees!
• All test dates are Saturdays.
• Multiple choice scores released before essay scores.

Click here to download a pdf: 2018 schedule of important events for juniors

WinterFest Amherst, Feb. 3-10, 2018, is the largest winter festival in Western Mass, featuring over 40 events including music, food, sports, recreation and community activities. [see note above] Among this year’s highlights are 10 events on the first day, including a Luminaria, sponsored by the Amherst BID, on the Town Common. Among other highlights are: the WinterFest Ice Hockey Challenge Cup, 5K Indoor Run, Men and Women’s Amateur Basketball, Food Demonstrations, Nature Hikes, Lectures and Discussions, Figure Skating, Winter Crafts for Kids, Painting for Children, Live Music, Winter Farmers’ Market, Movies and more. WinterFest concludes on Feb. 10, with fireworks, beauty queens, and more at the Grand Finale at the Cherry Hill Golf Course.

Check event details at WinterFest Amherst Events Schedule

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and branches will be offering an amnesty period from January 9 – 31, 2017 for library patrons who return overdue library materials.  Library patrons are encouraged to bring a non-perishable, non-expired food donation for the Amherst Survival Center when they return overdue library materials during this time.

“This is a great opportunity for patrons with long-overdue library materials to get those items back to the library without having to pay the fines that are accumulating,” says Amy Anaya, Head of Borrower Services at the Jones Library.  It’s important to note that the amnesty applies only to items that are being returned during this time.  It will not be possible to forgive existing overdue fines on items that have already been returned, or for billed or lost items.

The food collected will support the work of the Amherst Survival Center, a local service agency that assists many in our community in meeting their basic needs.

For further information about returning overdue items, please contact Amy Anaya at 413/259-3132.

Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room for the next event in this ongoing film and discussion series that may educate, touch your heart, and inspire you to action to help dismantle racism.

In this December 2017 TED talk, Dr. Atyia Martin examines the intersections of racism and climate change. She proposes ways for us to scrutinize bias in ourselves, our workplaces, and our social groups. Dr. Martin is the new Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Boston. Under her leadership, Boston will focus on advancing racial equity as the foundation of the Resilience Strategy process. After the screening and discussion, work will continue in small working groups to advance anti-racism action projects that have been undertaken.

Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and Coming Together.  More information about Coming Together can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and DIAL/SELF are co-hosting an information and application station for young people interested in joining the AmeriCorps team on Saturday, February 3 from 10 am – 12 noon in the Amherst Room of the Jones Library.

Are you passionate about youth empowerment, education, the arts, and social justice? The DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Program (DSAP) seeks inspired leaders to join the upcoming 2018-19 service term! For 10 months, DSAP members serve full-time to create positive youth development opportunities in schools and local agencies throughout the Pioneer Valley. Interested in learning more? Come meet with current and former AmeriCorps members to hear about their experiences. The initial application deadline is February 15^th.

 Free and open to the public.  For more information about this event, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.  For more information or to apply online, please visit www.dialself.org/americorps.html

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 – 17th, 2018 at the Cambridge War Memorial.

iCan Shine is a non-profit organization that collaborates with local individuals to host camps in their communities.  This camp is being hosted by students Nina Katz-Christy and Zaida Block in collaboration with the Cambridge Recreation Department.

iCan Shine uses adapted equipment, trained professionals and volunteers. With 75 minutes of instruction over five days, over 80% of riders learn to ride a conventional bicycle independently by the end of camp.  

To be eligible to enroll, riders must be at least eight years old, have a disability and be able to walk without an assistive device such as a walker or cane.  Riders must be able to side-step quickly to both sides.  Riders must have a minimum inseam measurement of 20 inches and weigh no more than 220 pounds.

To register a rider or for more information, please visit https://icanshine.org/ican-bike-cambridge-ma/ and don’t hesitate to email us at icanbikecambridgema@gmail.com with any questions.

On Thursday, January 25th at 7 pm, please join us in the ARHS library to hear an update on the implementation of the Interactive Math Program[IMP]. High school administrators and math teachers will present.

This event is sponsored by the ARHS PGO. Refreshments provided.

Principal Mark Jackson would like parents to be aware of the following information:

Education Express is a Family Program to help our local schools get FREE, much needed supplies & equipment!

PLUS,

• Everyone can participate! Do you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or even neighbors? You can support their school by signing up for Education Express.
• And from February 1 through April 25, 2018, for every 500 Education Express Points earned, you get a GOLD COIN!
• Just shop our stores and look for the participating items marked with the Education Express logo. Each item will have a point value and savings on top of that!
• Through previous Big Y Education Express programs, together we’ve given our local schools approximately $14 Million Dollars of much-needed supplies and equipment. 

Students from Kanegasaki, Japan have been coming to Amherst for over 25 years, and this year will mark the second year of High School participation, and Host Families are needed March 21-25. This cultural exchange program has been the core of the long standing relationship that has linked our two Sister Cities.

If your family is interested in hosting, please pick up an application from Mr. Kropf in room 225 at the High School (kropfa@arps.org) or Ms. Boyd, Guidance Counselor at the Middle School (boydd@arps.org).

Seniors – Representatives from community colleges are coming soon to ARHS for Decision Days.  If you are considering attending STCC, HCC or GCC, sign up for a time slot to meet with the Admissions counselor who will be here.  Be sure to complete the online, free, no essay application before your appointment, and add the college(s) to your Naviance account.   You will leave as an accepted student with all of the information you will need.  The schedule is: January 30 – STCC, February 6 – GCC, February 7 – HCC.  See your counselor or Mrs. Cappelli in 101 or Mrs. Tracy in 309 if you need help.

 Also, you will need to take the ACCUPLACER test which will be give here at ARHS on Thursday, Feb. 8th and again on Tuesday, Feb.13 at 2:30

Thank you everyone who participated in the district logo survey that was released on December 1st. We received over 900 responses many of which contained very helpful comments. We have redesigned the logo according to the feedback we received  and have come up with three final options. Please participate in this Final ARPS District Logo Survey. The most chosen image from this survey will become the new district logo.

The survey will close today, January 19th at 12:00 pm.

Thank you again for sharing your feedback.

Buenas tardes,

Gracias a todos los que participaron en la encuesta de logotipo del distrito que se lanzó el 1 de diciembre. Recibimos más de 900 respuestas, y muchas comentarios muy útiles. Hemos rediseñado el logotipo de acuerdo con los comentarios que recibimos y hemos presentado tres opciones finales. Por favor participa en esto Encuesta final del logotipo del distrito ARPS . La imagen más elegida de esta encuesta se convertirá en el nuevo logotipo del distrito.

La encuesta se cerrará el viernes, 19 de enero a las 12:00 p.m.

Gracias de nuevo por compartir tus comentarios.

January 22 – No School – Teacher Curriculum Day

January 23 – Semester 2 Begins

January 25 – Coffee with Principal Mark Jackson

February 7 – Early Release Day

February 12- S1 Grades Distributed

February 15 – Course Registration Coffee with Assistant Principal Ericka Alschuler

February 15 – Symphonic Orchestra Concert: 7pm in auditorium

February 19 – 23 – Winter Break

In order to finalize our Chinese language offerings for next year, we are inviting rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students and prospective upperclass transfer students to schedule a placement meeting with Yiping Yan, our Chinese language teacher.

Meetings can be scheduled by emailing Ms. Yan at yany@arps.org. Meetings will be scheduled after school between January 8 and January 19.

We will then host an information session at 7 pm on February 6th in the high school library to share the details of our 2018-2019 Chinese language program.

For further information, please contact Ericka Alschuler, Interim Assistant Principal, at 362-1714

The Athletic Department is sponsoring an eight week conditioning program for anyone who wants to get into shape for spring sports. This is a good opportunity to get a jump on the competition. If you wait until the season starts it’s too late. The program will focus on the following areas: flexibility, mobility, strength, endurance, speed, and mental preparation. The program will be Monday through Thursday fro m 3:15 until 4:30. Participants will be given a workout for Friday and Saturday to do on their own.

The program will consist of running, hills, dynamic stretching, static stretching, cardio, and weight lifting.

Please come to an informational meeting Tuesday, January 9th in Room 112 at the High School @ 3 p.m. if your child(ren) are interested in finding out more about the program.

Register through FamilyID.  Registration will be open today through January 19th.

Register for:

Monday/ Wednesday session 

and/or

Tuesday/Thursday session  

The full fee cost of the program is $57, reduced lunch fee is $31 and free lunch fee is $26.   You can mail or drop off a check or pay online at   https://unipaygold.uniban k.com/Default.aspx?customerid= 1211

Register here https://www.familyid.com/ organizations/search?query=amh erst 

Please make sure you have listed all of your colleges with January 15 application deadlines in Naviance. UMASS Amherst is one of these schools. Don’t forget you must also list the colleges in your Common Application (when applicable), and request that a transcript be sent to them in Naviance. Due to the holiday on Monday, all January 15 apps must be processed before the end of the day on Friday. If you have any questions or need help, please see Mrs. Tracy in room 309 or Mrs. Cappelli in the Guidance Office.

Representatives from community colleges are coming soon to ARHS for Decision Days. If you are considering attending STCC, HCC or GCC, sign up for a time slot to meet with the Admissions counselor who will be here. Be sure to complete the online, free, no essay application before your appointment, and add the college(s) to your Naviance account. You will leave as an accepted student with all of the information you will need. The schedule is: January 30 – STCC, February 6 – GCC, February 7 – HCC. See your counselor or Mrs. Cappelli in 101 or Mrs. Tracy in 309 if you need help.

Also, you will need to take the ACCUPLACER test which will be give here at ARHS on Thursday, Feb. 8th and again on Tuesday, Feb.13 at 2:30

January 9, 2018

Yesterday, January 8, it was announced that federal Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be ended for El Salvadorian immigrants beginning in 2019.  Many members of our community immigrated from El Salvador under TPS.  These are valued individuals who enrich our ARPS community in countless ways.

Since the announcement that TPS will be ending, we have heard from families who are concerned about their children’s status in our district.  We want to ensure families that, consistent with our past practice, our core beliefs, and established law, we will continue to enroll and serve every child living in our district who chooses to attend our schools, without regard to their immigration status.

The case law on this topic is very clear and can be found in the United States Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe from 1982.  Stemming from that decision, federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education states that:

All children in the United States are entitled to equal access to a basic public elementary and secondary education regardless of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or the status of their parents/guardians.

Nothing in yesterday’s announcement alters our policy of providing equal access to all students or our commitment to providing all children with the academic and emotional support that will allow them to flourish and become contributing members of our community.

Sincerely,

Michael Morris                                   Jean Fay

Superintendent of Schools                Amherst-Pelham Education Association President

Hello Juniors,

1.  It’s time for me to start helping juniors think about plans for after graduation.  About 90% of you will go on to either a two-year or a four-year college.  The task of deciding where you will go, and what your goals are requires some thought.  You will need to gather a lot of information and then make your decision by May 1 of your senior year.  The next fifteen months or so will be exciting, full of discovery and growth, and yes, a little stress.  The next chapter after high school is your movie TO DESIGN.  I hope you will be very involved in creating it.  There will be a number of informational programs for you to attend and a lot of information for you to read.  The more you take the lead in this process, the more rewarding and less stressful it will be.

2.  The ARHS College Handbook for Juniors, with the orange cover, will be distributed in your Advisory on Tuesday, January 23.  Unfortunately, the snow day postponed the introductory lesson about Naviance and the distribution of the handbook, which contains a great deal of college admissions information for you to read and digest.  Share it with your parents/guardians.

3. Detach the back cover of the handbook and hang it somewhere you will see it.  It has test- registration deadlines and a chronological list of important dates for juniors, including test dates and deadlines and evening college presentations at ARHS.  It’s a good idea to transfer those dates to your personal calendar ASAP.

4. The junior year is about research and exploration of ideas and options.  The senior year is about narrowing down and taking action.  Don’t be a senior before you are one.  Approach your college search with an open mind and excitement about possibilities.  Investigate many different kinds of schools including some you have not heard of before.  Do college searches in Naviance and through College Board Big Future; go to college websites; look through college guidebooks; read the college advertising brochures that are flooding your mailbox.  Colleges work hard to create those materials and if the college looks appealing to you, it just might actually appeal to you.  Avoid the temptation to look only at reach and name-brand schools.  You are looking for colleges that are a good fit for you, and that you can afford to attend.  .  I know from experience that many students change their minds many times throughout this process and end up in a very different place from where they were when they started.  It’s important to look around!

5. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of visiting colleges.  You get much better information if you visit, and more importantly, many colleges use demonstrated interest as a criterion for admission.  If the college is two hours away or closer, they will wonder why you didn’t come to visit.  Start local, over February vacation.  If you are a high-achieving girl, you really should check out Smith and Mount Holyoke.  They are wonderful schools, with very good financial aid.

6. There will be a large college fair at the Big E in West Springfield on Monday, April 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  the fair is a great place to get a lot of ideas and information.

7. You used Naviance last year for the Personality-type Inventory, “Do What You Are.”  If you missed that and have not opened your Naviance account (at connection.naviance.com/Amherst), do so ASAP.  If you need to register for the first time, see Mrs. Cappelli in the guidance Office.  Go to the site on your own and look around, particularly at the college search feature and at Method Test Prep to prepare for the SAT and ACT.  (find the link on your Naviance home page).

8. A Naviance registration code for each of your parents/guardians was e-mailed to the e-mail address they put on their emergency contact sheet.  Tell them to e-mail Mrs. Cappelli at cappellic@arps.org if they need help getting into Naviance.

9.  Please complete your Junior Questionnaire for College Conference, which is accessible “under “About Me” on your Naviance home page.  You must complete it before making your junior appointment with me.  It’s a good idea to meet with me both in your junior and senior years so we can develop and tweak your plan.  See Mrs. Cappelli beginning on Tuesday, January 23 for appointments beginning in February.

10. Plan your spring ACT/SAT testing schedule early.  Check for athletic and music/theatre conflicts.  Register for the tests you plan to take.  Be sure not to miss the registration deadlines because late fees are steep!

11. Students on free/reduced lunch should get test fee waivers from Mrs. Cappelli.  Full SAT waivers can be used until the end of the late registration period.  The ACT will accept a fee waiver in the late registration period, but you will be expected to pay the late fee.

•  Qualified students are entitled to two SAT waivers, two ACT waivers and two SAT subject test date waivers while in high school.
• The registration deadline for the March 10 SAT is Friday, February 9.
• There will also be SAT dates on May 5, June 2, and August 25.
• The ACT is an equal, alternative test.  Many students prefer it.  If you would like to take the ACT also or instead, you can do so on February 10.  The registration deadline is January 12 with late registration available until January 19.
• The ACT is also scheduled for April 14, June 9, and July 14.
• There will be three dates for each test next fall, so you can re-take the test you like better.
• To register you will need to upload an appropriate photo.  Look for that information in the handbook or find it online at collegeboard.org or at actstudent.org in the registration section.

12. It’s a good idea to prepare for standardized tests.  By not preparing you are not showing colleges your best.  It could be said that you are just throwing away almost $50 Or one of your two available fee waivers!  See the handbook section on preparing for Standardized tests for free and low-cost ideas.  Spend some time with the free test-prep programs, for the SAT at satpractice.org or khanacademy.org/sat or for either test using the “Method Test Prep” program in Naviance.

13. We will do a Naviance presentation for your parents/guardians on the evening of Thursday, February 1 at 7:00, in the ARHS library.  Tell them to mark their calendars.

I’m looking forward to meeting with you about the next chapter in your formal education.

Sincerely,

Myra Ross

College Advisor

The 34th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast of Amherst will be held this Saturday, the 13th January 2018 at the Amherst regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

The Featured Speaker will be Storyteller ONAWUMI JEAN MOSS

Northampton Area Pediatrics Parenting Workshop

Marijuana and Vaping: Are They Really Harmless?

Parents and teens are welcome to come hear a presentation and open discussion on these two subjects. Among the topics covered will be: how does THC effect the developing brain, what are the current medical uses of marijuana in the pediatric population, what are the latest vaping devices, what do we know and what don’t we know about the health consequences of vaping.

Presenters will be Jonathan Schwab, M.D., Medical Director of Northampton Area Pediatrics and Melinda Calianos, Director of Hampshire Franklin Tobacco Free Community Partnership.

New time (for this workshop only)!
Sunday, January 21st
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
193 Locust St., Northampton
RSVP by calling 413-517-2226 or email contactus@napeds.com

Parenting workshops are open to the community and free of charge.

Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater, now in its 25th year, brings Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the classic “tale as old as time” to Bowker Auditorium on the UMass Campus, Amherst, Massachusetts in January 2018! This full-scale, live production brings lavish sets and costumes, a full live orchestra, and a remarkable cast together in a gorgeous singing, dancing extravaganza! Great for the whole family–come be our guest!

8 shows- January 11th – 20th!  To purchase tickets online, click here.

Tuesday January 16, 2018, 7 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst
121 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, Mass

Join members of UUSA’s Green Sanctuary Committee to view the film, Chasing Coral. This is a beautiful and informative movie about climate change. Coral reefs are an integral part of the ocean’s ecosystem, and are dying at an unprecedented rate due to warming oceans. The filming includes gorgeous underwater photography and stories of scientists gathering real data in the ocean, which can be a peaceful or a stormy field site. It is a great way to be newly inspired to continue the process of trying to work against climate change. Free movie followed by discussion and a Skype Q&A with Dr. James Porter, one of the leads in the documentary.

It’s a Great Time to Return Overdue Library Materials!

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and branches will be offering an amnesty period from January 9 – 31, 2017 for library patrons who return overdue library materials.  Library patrons are encouraged to bring a non-perishable, non-expired food donation for the Amherst Survival Center when they return overdue library materials during this time.

“This is a great opportunity for patrons with long-overdue library materials to get those items back to the library without having to pay the fines that are accumulating,” says Amy Anaya, Head of Borrower Services at the Jones Library.  It’s important to note that the amnesty applies only to items that are being returned during this time.  It will not be possible to forgive existing overdue fines on items that have already been returned, or for billed or lost items.

The food collected will support the work of the Amherst Survival Center, a local service agency that assists many in our community in meeting their basic needs.

For further information about returning overdue items, please contact Amy Anaya at 413/259-3132.

Come listen to your favorite 80s songs, sing along, and win some prizes!  The Amherst Survival Center is hosting 80’s Musical Bingo Night at the High Horse in downtown Amherst.  Instead of calling numbers, we’ll be playing soundbites from 80’s songs. Once you know the song, find it on your game card and the first person to BINGO wins!

Prizes will be awarded for every round, for best 80’s hair (optional), for best 80’s attire (optional), and for 80’s trivia experts! Additional raffle opportunities!

EVENT DETAILS

When:  Thursday, January 18, 5:30 to 8:30 pm (1^st game starts at 6pm)

Where:  High Horse, 24 North Pleasant Street, Amherst (upstairs)

Tickets: $20.00 for 4 games and can be purchased online using the form below.

Tickets will be sold at the door, and can also be purchased in advance at:

• the Amherst Survival Center,
• AJ Hastings, and
• High Horse

All tickets will be held at the door.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase

80’s attire and 80’s hair optional

All proceeds benefit the Amherst Survival Center’s programs.

Questions: Contact Lisa Queenin, Development Coordinator, by e-mail at lisa@amherstsurvival.org or by phone at 549-3968 ext 108.

The mission of the Amherst Survival Center is to connect residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties to food, clothing (and household items), healthcare, wellness, and community, primarily through volunteer efforts.

Audition for the Second Annual Valley’s Got Talent, an amateur talent competition for all ages to be help on March 25,2018!

Auditions will be held on Monday February 12, 2018 at the Bangs Community Center from 5:30pm-8:00pm. The Audition Snow Date is February 13, 2018.

Where: 70 Boltwood Walk in Amherst MA – Bangs Community Center

Applications/Info: Senior Center Website

1st Prize: $1000 2nd Prize: $500 3rd Prize: $250

Show Date: Sunday March 24, 2018 2pm-4pm at Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College

-Winners determined by a panel of judges-

Questions? 413-813-7042 or valleysgottalentcompetition@gmail.com

Click Here for Event Flyer

Click Here for Audition Application