ATTENTION 6th GRADE FAMILIES!

Your help is needed! Please sign up for tasks and events related to 6th grade graduation. We need EVERYONE's help to make this a day for our 6th graders to remember.

Graduation needs include Class Gift Coordinator, Decorations Coordinators and Volunteers, Food Coordinators and Volunteers, Slide Show/Photography  Experts, Invitation and Program Graphic  Designer(s), and "Pound the Pavement" Parents willing to solicit donations from community businesses and supporters.

Click here to volunteer for Graduation Activities 

SAVE THE DATE!!!! 

Car Wash and Bake Sale on Saturday, May 2nd 

HELP WANTED for the 6th Grade Car Wash and Bake Sale - Saturday, May 2, 9am-12pm at Fort River School (rain date Sunday, May 3). 

We need Coordinators, Car Wash volunteers, Bake Sale volunteers,  and donated items for the car wash. Kids will sign up for shifts at school. 

We are also asking for ALL families to bring an item for a bake sale table (no sign up necessary). Finally, we STRONGLY encourage you to plan to get your car washed by our expert and well-supervised automotive detailers! Thanks in advance!

Click here to volunteer for the 6th Grade FUNdraising Car Wash and Bake Sale

Questions? Please contact your Classroom Parent or our generous 6th Grade Event Coordinators, Catherine M. or Tammy R.

5th Annual Daffodil Fun Run: April 26th

Jones Library Film Screening & Discussion Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People

Join us on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 7 pm in the Woodbury Room for a screening of Reel Bad Arabs, the seventh in a film & discussion series which looks at issues of race.  A facilitated discussion will be held after the screening.

Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People explores a long line of degrading images of Arabs in film, offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images, their development at key points in U.S. history, and why they matter so much today.  Acclaimed author Dr. Jack Shaheen shows how the persistence of these images over time has served to naturalize prejudicial attitudes toward Arabs and Arab culture, in the process reinforcing a narrow view of individual Arabs and the effects of specific US domestic and international policies on their lives.

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 The Coming Together Project.  More information about The Coming Together Project can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

SAVE THE DATE! AEF Spring Sprint May 9th

SAVE THE DATE!!!! 

Amherst Education Foundation (www.amhersteducationfoundation.org) is non-profit organization committed to promoting students’ educational equity, supporting diversity, stimulating excellence, and mobilizing broad community support for the public schools of Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury. Each year, AEF raises money from the community to support strategic initiatives in our schools. One of our biggest fundraisers is the Spring Sprint. This year is the 5th Annual AEF Spring Sprint, which will be held on Saturday, May 9th at 10:00 am. The Spring Sprint includes a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile fun run for kids 12 and under. 

New for this year - all races will be held on the exciting Amherst Regional High School cross country course. For more information, and to register, visit https://www.runreg.com/5568 before May 1st. The first 100 registrants will receive an awesome AEF tote bag! See you at the Sprint!

4th Annual African American Achievement Awards

All Are Welcome!

4th Annual African American Achievement Awards Night

Thursday, May 7

Amherst Regional High School Auditorium

21 Mattoon Street

6pm

Parents/guardians, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend this special event honoring students who identify as African American or Black in the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Public Schools. Awards will be presented to students in Grades PreK-12 who have made accomplishments in the areas of academics, leadership, community service, fine & performing arts and athletics. The evening will also feature music, dance and spoken word performances and a special ceremony to honor the ARHS Seniors who will graduate in June. 

If you would like to nominate a student, please complete the nomination form and return by April 1.  Please direct all questions to Kimberly Stender 413-362-1825 or stenderk@arps.org.

African American Achievement Awards Night

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Amherst Regional High School Auditorium

21 Mattoon Street

6pm

African American Achievement Awards Night was initiated in 2012 to honor all students who identify as African American or Black who perform to their greatest individual abilities. African American Achievement Awards Night provides an opportunity for the communityto celebrate student success.  Students in Grades PreK-12 can be recognized for academic, leadership, fine & performing arts, athletic and community serviceaccomplishments. 

ARPS staff, parents/guardians and community members are encouraged to nominate students currently enrolled in Grades PreK-12 at Crocker Farm, Fort River, Pelham and Wildwood Elementary Schools and Amherst Regional Middle and High Schools. 

In addition, ARHS seniors graduating in June will be honored in a special recognition kente stole ceremony. 

Students, families, school staff and community members are invited to attend the celebration on Thursday, May 7.

______________________________________________________________________________

African American Achievement Awards Night Nomination Form 

Nomination deadline: April 1

Student’s First & Last Name:_____________________________________________________

Student’s Current School & Grade:_______________________________________________

Nomination Categories & Descriptions  

(please circle those that apply to student)

Academic Achievement: student consistently demonstrates excellence in studies

         

Academic Dedication & Effort: student demonstrates diligence, perseverance & determination in class 

Leadership: student embodies positive leadership skills in school & community organizations

Community Service: student demonstrates commitment to community or social justice projects

Fine & Performing Arts: student demonstrates passion for music, song, drama, writing, poetry, art & stagecraft      

         

Athletics: student demonstrates positive sportsmanship & physical skill on school team and in PE class          

Nominator’s name :___________________________________________________________

Phone:_________________________________     Email:_______________________________________________

Nomination deadline: April 1

Send completed forms to:

Kimberly Stender    Office of the Superintendent     170 Chestnut St.     Amherst, MA  01002 

Please direct questions to Kimberly Stender at 413-362-1825 or stenderk@arps.org

One Drop of Love Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 pm

Amherst Together presents

One Drop of Love

Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m.

Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium

Admission is free and open to the public

Please see attached press release and promo flyer.

AMHERST– Amherst Together presents One Drop of Love on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium.

Produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, this extraordinary one-woman show by Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni incorporates filmed images, photographs and animation to tell the story of how the notion of race came to be in the United States and how it affected her relationship with her father. To tell her story, DiGiovanni travels back in time to the first US census in 1790, to cities across the United States, and to West and East Africa, where both father and daughter spent time in search of their racial roots.

An award-winning actor, producer and educator, Cox DiGiovanni has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR as a spokesperson on using the arts to explore racial identity. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and has designed curricula for and taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world. She has been honored with the Peace Corps’ Franklin H. Williams Award and with Peace Corps Fellows and Hollywood Foreign Press Association scholarships. She holds a bachelor of arts in Spanish and education, a master of arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and a master of fine arts in television, film and theater.  DiGiovanni developed “One Drop of Love” as the thesis project for her Master of Fine Arts degree in film, television, and theater from California State University Los Angeles. DiGiovanni, who appeared in the Academy Award-winning film “Argo,” is also the co-creator, co-producer, and co-host of the award-winning weekly podcast Mixed Chicks Chat, and co-founder and co-producer of the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival.

“There are many different kinds of conversations occurring in our community regarding identity,” says Carol Ross. “Not everything is black or white, literally and figuratively.  What Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni brings to the table is a moving and insightful microscope to our belief that there is such a thing as race and how the assignment of identity plays out in destructive ways that impact each and every one of us. This is a critical component that often gets missed in our attempts to dismantle this social construct.”

About Amherst Together

Amherst Together is a creativity hub for advancing community, collaboration, equity and inclusion in Amherst. Through collective impact, Amherst Together will continue to evolve as an organizing infrastructure for effective community engagement, connecting people, ideas, and resources for building sustainable progress in everyday social practices.For more information, please visit amhersttogether.org. 

Follow Amherst Together on Instagram at instagram.com/amhersttogetheror on Twitter at twitter.com/amhersttogether.

AMHERST TOGETHER | 170 Chestnut Street | Amherst, MA 01002 | 413.362.1820

Media contact: Carol Ross, rossc@amhersttogether.org, 413.362.1820

2015 Eyes Are The Window Digital Poetry Exhibition

In Celebration of National Poetry Month, Amherst Together and the Amherst Public Art Commission presents the 2015 Eyes Are The Window Digital Poetry Exhibition

 

Submissions are now being accepted through April 30, 2015

 

 

AMHERST – Submissions are now being accepted for the 2015 Eyes Are The Window Digital Poetry Exhibition, sponsored by Amherst Together and the Amherst Public Art Commission. Poets of all ages are welcome to participate. Submissions will be accepted from through April 30, 2015.

 

Boltwood Poem Windows is a public artwork, installed in the exterior wall of the headhouse of the Boltwood Walk parking garage in 2002. The artist, Ritsuko Taho, collaborated with architects and engineers to create urban sculptural installations, using public art to encourage community participation within her installations. Funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and The Amherst Cultural Council, the poems were originally presented character by character in green liquid crystal in five digital display windows. Today, the poems will be programmed remotely and displayed on mini iPads, which were installed behind the garage windows in January, 2015. The purpose remains for audience interaction and inspiration to be part of the art work.

 

“Revitalizing Ritsuko’s poem windows is one great way to engage our community in a deeper reflection of identity,” says Carol Ross, Director of Amherst Together. “My hope is that a diversity of expression in poetry will give us a glimpse of who we are here in Amherst.”

 

The theme this year is identity. Inspired by Shakespeare’s quote, “The eyes are the window to the soul”, poets are asked to answer the question, “When I look into your eyes, what will I see?”. For information on how to submit, visit amhersttogether.org/eyesarethewindow.  Poem drop boxes will also be available at Jones Library through April 30. The first five (5) poems selected for exhibition will be announced in May. Another 125 poems will be selected and displayed in rotation through March 2016.

 

About Amherst Together

Amherst Together is a creativity hub for advancing community, collaboration, equity and inclusion in Amherst. Through collective impact, Amherst Together will continue to evolve as an organizing infrastructure for effective community engagement, connecting people, ideas, and resources for building sustainable progress in everyday social practices. For more information, please visit amhersttogether.org. 

 

About Public Art Commission

The Amherst Public Art Commission fosters a greater community awareness of the interaction with public art, and through public art, promotes cultural diversity and an improved quality of life for Amherst's citizens. For more information, please visit www.amherstma.gov/1212/Public-Art-Commission

 

Follow Amherst Together on Instagram at instagram.com/amhersttogether or on Twitter at twitter.com/AmherstTogether.

 

AMHERST TOGETHER | 170 Chestnut Street | Amherst, MA 01002 | 413.362.1820

 

Media contact:

Carol Ross, 

rossc@amhersttogether.org,

413.362.1820

Rene Theberge, 

renetheberge@comcast.net,

413.575.8123

Crocker Farm PGO Coffee to meet School Committee Candidates

A special invitation from the Crocker Farm PGO ...

All three candidates for School Committee will attend a special PGO coffee on Friday, March 27, from 8:50-9:50 am at Crocker Farm, in the CF community room. The Crocker Farm PGO has extended a special invitation for parents/guardians of children of any of the Amherst elementary schools to attend. The PGO coffee and our discussion with the candidates will focus on the elementary schools. This is a great opportunity for families to learn more about the candidates in an informal setting, & hear more about their ideas for our schools.

Music Lovers! Don't Miss this Incredible Event!

Dr. Seuss Birthday Extravaganza: THANK YOU!

Today was good, Today was fun. Thank you, thank you, EVERYONE!  

Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who made last Thursday’s Dr. Seuss Birthday Extravaganza so much fun for all the families who came out to enjoy the games and the Seussical treats. And let’s all take off our red and white striped hats to Deb Christakos for her splendiferous splendidness in organizing the event.

4th Annual African American Achievement Awards: Nominations Wanted

All Are Welcome!

 

4th Annual African American Achievement Awards Night

Thursday, May 7

Amherst Regional High School Auditorium

21 Mattoon Street

6pm

 

Parents/guardians, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend this special event honoring students who identify as African American or Black in the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Public Schools. Awards will be presented to students in Grades PreK-12 who have made accomplishments in the areas of academics, leadership, community service, fine & performing arts and athletics. The evening will also feature music, dance and spoken word performances and a special ceremony to honor the ARHS Seniors who will graduate in June. 

If you would like to nominate a student, please complete the nomination form and return by April 1.  Please direct all questions to Kimberly Stender 413-362-1825 or stenderk@arps.org.

 

 

African American Achievement Awards Night

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Amherst Regional High School Auditorium

21 Mattoon Street

6pm

 

African American Achievement Awards Night was initiated in 2012 to honor all students who identify as African American or Black who perform to their greatest individual abilities. African American Achievement Awards Night provides an opportunity for the communityto celebrate student success.  Students in Grades PreK-12 can be recognized for academic, leadership, fine & performing arts, athletic and community serviceaccomplishments. 

 

ARPS staff, parents/guardians and community members are encouraged to nominate students currently enrolled in Grades PreK-12 at Crocker Farm, Fort River, Pelham and Wildwood Elementary Schools and Amherst Regional Middle and High Schools. 

 

In addition, ARHS seniors graduating in June will be honored in a special recognition kente stole ceremony. 

 

Students, families, school staff and community members are invited to attend the celebration on Thursday, May 7.

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

African American Achievement Awards Night Nomination Form 

Nomination deadline: April 1

 

Student’s First & Last Name:_____________________________________________________________________

Student’s Current School & Grade:________________________________________________________________

 

Nomination Categories & Descriptions  

(please circle those that apply to student)

 

Academic Achievement: student consistently demonstrates excellence in studies

         

Academic Dedication & Effort: student demonstrates diligence, perseverance & determination in class 

 

Leadership: student embodies positive leadership skills in school & community organizations

 

Community Service: student demonstrates commitment to community or social justice projects

 

Fine & Performing Arts: student demonstrates passion for music, song, drama, writing, poetry, art & stagecraft      

         

Athletics: student demonstrates positive sportsmanship & physical skill on school team and in PE class          

 

 

 

Nominator’s name :_____________________________________________________________________________

Phone:_________________________________     Email:_______________________________________________

 

 

Nomination deadline: April 1

Send completed forms to:

Kimberly Stender    Office of the Superintendent     170 Chestnut St.     Amherst, MA  01002 

Please direct questions to Kimberly Stender at 413-362-1825 or stenderk@arps.org

 

Lift Every Voice Singers: New Members Wanted

Dr. Ampiah-Bonney, a parent of students in our schools, directs the acclaimed Lift Every Voice Singers, and encourages new members to join. This group rehearses in March and April and performs at African American Achievement Awards Night.

Exciting Happenings at the ARPS Family Center!

The 2015 Winter Newsletter from the ARPS Family Center is attached below. Learn more at www.arps.org/families 

AEF Spring Sprint on May 9th

SAVE THE DATE!!!! 

Amherst Education Foundation (www.amhersteducationfoundation.org) is non-profit organization committed to promoting students’ educational equity, supporting diversity, stimulating excellence, and mobilizing broad community support for the public schools of Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury. Each year, AEF raises money from the community to support strategic initiatives in our schools. One of our biggest fundraisers is the Spring Sprint. This year is the 5th Annual AEF Spring Sprint, which will be held on Saturday, May 9th at 10:00 am. The Spring Sprint includes a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile fun run for kids 12 and under. New for this year - all races will be held on the exciting Amherst Regional High School cross country course. For more information, and to register, visit https://www.runreg.com/5568 before May 1st.The first 100 registrants will receive an awesome AEF tote bag! See you at the Sprint!

Race, Invisibility, and Hyper-visibility at the Jones

Panel Discussion:

Race, Invisibility, and Hyper-visibility

 

Join us on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 7 pm in the Woodbury Room for a panel discussion entitled “Race, Invisibility and Hyper-visibility”, which will explore issues of race as experienced by people from our own community.   

A multi-racial panel of local people will speak from their experiences growing up in, and/or living in, Amherst.  They will share personal stories about being invisible and being hyper-visible, and will engage the audience in thinking about race in the Amherst area.  This will be a rare opportunity to learn how others experience the racial situation in our community.  The panelists include Janaya Collins, Amina Jordan, Victor Nuñez Ortiz, Josh Odam, and David Ke.

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

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