You're Invited!

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The Amherst Regional Public Schools are pleased to announce the First Day Welcome Party, a Back-to-School celebration for kids and the community that supports them, on Wednesday, September 1 from 6:00-7:30 pm on the Amherst Town Common.

Children and families are invited to bring a picnic dinner or snack and join their classmates and friends to enjoy a number of festivities. Activities are free and will include a performance by BOMBA, music, pony rides courtesy of Muddy Brook Farm, and more.

Free shuttle service will be provided between the Middle and High School parking lots and the Town Common. Or take the PVTA bus to the Town Common.

Then on On Thursday, September 2, the first day of school, parents are encouraged to join their children during First Day activities in the schools. Stay tuned for more info about activities at your child’s school!

Parent's Internet Safety Night

Internet 101: A Parent’s Guide to the Preteen’s Life Online Presented by Cindy Boyle

Where: Wildwood School Library

When: May 6, 2010, 6:30PM
The Internet's "super highway" runs right through the middle of our children's lives. It opens up a world of entertainment, communication and educational opportunities. However, it also allows direct access to people and Web sites that can expose kids to age-inappropriate content and risky social contacts. This workshop offers a glimpse into the online lives of young people. Participants in this workshop will become familiar with those web sites that are popular with the youth in our community.

Topics covered will include: social networking sites, online gaming, popular websites and “sexting”.

Cindy is a former Pittsfield police officer and a victim’s assistance advocate for Berkshire County. She is currently the Director of Community Education and Outreach at Northwestern District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. Cindy visited Wildwood School last year and presented to our fifth and sixth grade students about Internet Safety and Cyber-bullying. Cindy is a valuable resource for our staff and students in our anti-bullying effort.

The presentation is geared toward parents of 5th and 6th grade students. However, if you have younger children who are currently using social networking sites or email at home, please feel free to join us.

Coffee, refreshments and childcare will be provided by the Wildwood PTO.

Coffee With the Superintendent at ARMS, Friday March 19, 1:30pm

Meet the newly appointed Interim Superintendent of Schools Maria Geryk on Friday, March 19th at 1:30 pm in the Superintendent's Office at the Amherst Regional Middle School.  Take this opportunity to chat with the person who will continue the work of leading our schools.  Join us Friday to ask questions and hear more about her vision for the future of our district.  The entire community is welcome to this coffee co-hosted by the ARMS Family School Partnership.

Attention Families Moving to Wildwood Next Year

The Wildwood PTO invites all parents/guardians of children attending Wildwood next year (2010-2011) to meet at Rao's Coffee from 8:30-9:30 am on Wednesday January 20th.   Buy your own coffee and meet some new friends.  We want to start the dialogue going on ways to help all the kids & families transition to their new environment next year, whether that means a different building and/or different faces in the classroom.  This event is purely social, there will be no formal agenda. 

Fort River Fort River Family Redistricting Meeting Monday, 12/21 from 7-8:30pm.

An informational meeting for families of students currently attending Fort River will take place on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7pm at Fort River School.  A ConnectEd phone/email reminder will be going out to all families in English and Spanish later this week.

Info here:  http://www.arps.org/node/1064.

Fort River Fort River Family Redistricting Meeting Monday, 12/21 from 7-8:30pm.

An informational meeting for families of students currently attending Fort River will take place on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7pm.  I will post the location for this meeting as soon as possible!

Info here:  http://www.arps.org/node/1064.

Upcoming Community Workshops

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En español.

Coffee with Dr. Rodriguez at the Middle School

On Tuesday, December 15th from 12pm to 1pm, the ARMS Family School Partnership is hosting a Coffee with Superintendent Dr. Rodriguez. Topics will include goals for the middle school, the evaluation by the MS consultant, the MS principal search and the MS budget.  Dr. Rodriguez will also answer questions and take input from parents/guardians.  Everyone is welcome.  Hope to see you next Tuesday at noon in the Professional Development Center at the Middle School.

Internet Safety for our Children

Cindy Boyle, a community educator from the Northwest DA’s office, will be at our schools to facilitate a session with our 5th and 6th graders on Internet Safety. She will hold an evening session for parents of all elementary students on January 7th at 6:30 in the Mark’s Meadow auditorium. Her focus with our students will be Internet safety and cyberbullying.

Cindy is a former Pittsfield police officer and a victim’s assistance advocate for Berkshire County. She is currently the Director of Community Education and Outreach at Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Northampton, Massachusetts. Her primary responsibility is providing training to local elementary, middle, and high schools, community agencies, faith based organizations, and law enforcement agencies. Trainings topics include but are not limited to: internet safety, bullying/cyberbullying, suicide prevention and prevention of child sexual abuse. Additional duties include chairing the District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board, cultivating and coordinating relationships with community partners, and assisting in all aspects of planning and presenting conferences.

Please come join us for this informative evening.  There will time for questions and answers.

Educational Forum at ARMS: Social-Emotional Development in Early Adolescence

The Counselors at Amherst Regional Middle School will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle school. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the Family School Partnership Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome.

Upcoming School Events

Regional School Committee Meeting. Monday, March 2. 7:30pm. ARHS Library. The Regional School Committee will vote for the next Superintendent at this meeting. Please see below for more information. Amherst School Committee Meeting. Tuesday, March 3. 7:00pm. ARHS Cafeteria. Discussion of possible cuts to the elementary school budget. Agenda here. Coffee With the Principal. Friday, March 6, 8:30-9:30am. Fort River Cafeteria. Fort River Roasters by Deans Beans. Monday, March 9 . Orders Due (order deadline has been postponed from Friday 3/6). Forms here. Parent Council Meeting. Wed. March 18th, 6:30pm. Fort River Library. Stay tuned for more information on: School Reorganization/Budget Options Data Presentation. Date and time to be announced. Fort River Library. Note: Items in teal are sponsored by Fort River Parent Council.

Amherst Family Outreach Toy Drive

Amherst Family Outreach is sponsoring its 16th Annual Toy Drive. Catherine Davies' 6th grade class is organizing the toy drive at Fort River this year. Keep an eye out for their posters and flyers looking for new, unwrapped toys for the children in our community who are looking forward to a happy and healthy holiday season. The toys can be sent in with your children any day next week and they should bring them to Catherine Davies' classroom (G-4). We are hoping to make this the most successful drive ever!! If you have any questions you can contact Lynn Logan at lynnlogan@comcast.net or call 256-0232.

When Your Child is Anxious--Thursday May 29

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Amherst Regional Middle School Partnership

To all 6th and 7th Grade Parents! Please join us at the next ARMS Family School Partnership Meeting (Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization)

Thursday, May 22nd

Middle School Library 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Meet other middle school parents/guardians. Discuss opportunities for involvement in the Middle School. Discuss the 2008-2009 Middle School Directory. Refreshments provided. This is a great opportunity to become involved in your child's middle school experience! Hope to see you then. Regards, Kate Troast & Lise Cooley ARMS Family School Partnership(parents of 8th graders)

Meet the Middle School Principal Candidates

For those of you who have children who are/will be attending the Amherst Regional Middle School, here are some important dates!

Meet the Middle School Principal candidates (one each night)

Thursday, February 28 and Monday, March 3 at 7 pm in the Middle School Library.

The principal search committee and the Superintendent's office have selected three finalists for the principal position at ARMS beginning in July 2008. Each finalist will spend a day at ARMS meeting with students, faculty and administration. In the evening the community, particularly parent/guardians, are invited to meet the candidate, ask questions and give the superintendent feedback. Each candidate will meet the public at 7 PM in the Middle School Library.

Upcoming Events

Fort River Roasters/Deans Beans Coffee Orders Due. Fri., Feb. 1. Click here for form. 6th Grade Graduation Planning Meeting. Thurs. Feb. 7, 7:30pm. In the library. Parent Council Meeting. Monday, Feb. 11th, 8:30-9:30am. In the cafeteria. Coffee With a Principal. Fri. Feb. 15th, 8:30-9:15am. Please join Principal Vernon-Jones or Asst. Principal Lianne Suarez-Werlein for coffee, light breakfast foods and casual conversation in the cafeteria. Younger siblings are welcome to attend. In the cafeteria. Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon. Feb. 14-15. Grades 1-6. Click here for more information. Winter Recess. Feb. 18-22. No school. Original Artworks After-School Activity. Friday, Feb.29. Please note that this event has been postponed from its original date. Click here for more information. Beach Party. Wednesday, March 12th. Time to be announced. In the cafeteria. More info here. Book Swap. Week of March 18th. More info here. Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting. Wed. March 27th, 8:30am. In the library.

Family Dance Night at the Middle School

Come to a Family Dance Night at the Amherst Middle School

Friday, January 25th from 7 to 9 PM.

Join us for Salsa, Reggaeton & Merengue with music provided by

DJ Joey Acevedo of Noche Latina fame (the Iron Horse's weekly bash) Salsa lessons by Elizbeth Fernandez-O'Brien, dancer extraordinaire

Refreshments provided

Raffle and Cash Prize

$5 Tickets can be purchased at the door, $15 per family max.

This is a fundraiser for the 8th Grade Spanish students trip to New York.

In the Amherst Regional Middle School cafeteria

Please note that this is a family dance--not at drop-off event.

Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon

Dear Parent Council,

Once again I am asking for help during my Jump Rope For Heart Jumpathon on Feb. 14 and 15. Grades 1-6 will be participating, each class jumping for 45 minutes. (Click here for schedule.) Jump Rope For Heart is a nationwide educational event designed to promote exercise as a life-long activity. At the same time it raises money to support the vital research, community service and educational programs of the American Heart Association. Prizes are given for the donations that each student collects.
If possible, I will need at least 2 parent volunteers to help out with each session. If a parent can stay all morning or afternoon, that would be great. I need them to take the students’ collection envelopes, count up the money, and tally it for each class.
Thanks!

Yours in fitness,
Dianna Spaulding

Attention 6th Grade Parents/Guardians

Middle School Curriculum Choices and Consequences Thursday, January 17 7:00 PM in the Amherst Regional Middle School Library

Family Education Program on ARMS/ARHS curriculum choices. Middle school and the high school staff answer questions on how to help your student navigate the choices in the Amherst system.

Sample questions:

• Does my student have to do the 7th grade math extensions to do advanced science in High School?
• What does my student need to do in middle school to qualify for admission to Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School?
• How do students qualify to take Honors English in High School?

Invitation to Attend a Presentation by Superintendent Jere Hochman

Dear Amherst-Pelham Community: Businesses send out "annual reports." Politicians present the "State of the City" reports. Schools communicate routinely through teachers' weekly updates to parents, the principal's newsletter, student report cards, school and district testing report cards, presentations to the School Committees, and budget background information. On Wednesday, January 23, Superintendent Jere Hochman will present an overview of the Amherst-Pelham schools. This brief presentation will be followed by and important hour of dialogue about our school districts' MISSION and VALUES. What do YOU believe to be the most essential values our schools should characterize? What do YOU believe to be the mission of our public schools? It has been several years since our schools adopted a mission statement. I imagine if you ask several individuals within the schools what our mission is, they would respond "Every student, Every day!" That simple phrase is packed with meaning and understandings -- yet we must ask ourselves if there is consensus in its meaning and does it serve as a valued ends upon which we direct all means? Please join us on January 23! Meetings will occur in the Bangs Center at 1:00 p.m. and in the Middle School Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. Bring a friend! (Oh, and please do not park in the fire lanes). Sincerely, Jere Hochman