Monday, September 12, 2016

ARHS Observes Concussion Awareness Week

thinktaylorNext week at ARHS is ThinkTaylor Concussion Awareness Week: A week-long event (September 12-16) in partnership with the MIAA to help raise awareness and provide education for concussion safety. Here are the many ways that student-athletes at the high school will be involved:

Wristbands & Educational Bag Tags – For every Varsity team – Student-athletes will wear wristbands during games next week. Bag tags will be attached to show support and to use the back as a reminder of concussion symptoms.

The #TTPLEDGE – Coaches and student-athletes are asked to make the pledge – to be EDUCATED on the signs & symptoms of concussions, to be HONEST with coaches, parents, teammates and teachers and to be SUPPORTIVE of anyone with a concussion.

Who is ThinkTaylor: ThinkTaylor was founded by former Major League Soccer all-star and current ESPN Lead Soccer Analyst, Taylor Twellman. Twellman retired from professional soccer in 2010, due to complications from multiple concussions. In 2008, Taylor suffered a concussion that many believe ended his storied career and as Twellman later realized, this brain injury was far more than a career-ending injury; rather, it was a life-changing event. ThinkTaylor is driven and dedicated to changing the culture in the world of concussions. As a leader in the social change for concussion safety, ThinkTaylor’s positive message emphasizing awareness, recognition, education and putting the health of kids first helps create positive social change and in return a safer, healthier and smarter environment. ThinkTaylor is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. More information can be found at http://www.thinktaylor.org

We have only one brain and it needs to last a lifetime.

We’re all in this together.

GO CANES!

PGO Coffee with the Principal THIS FRIDAY, September 16 at 9am


Please join your friends on Friday, September 16 at 9am for coffee, donuts, and informative conversation! 

PGO coffees with the Principal take place every month or two. The dates can be found on the PGO calendar which is on the right side of the blog home page. Some coffees may take place in the evening, depending upon community feedback. There will usually be a presentation for families and specifics will be available beforehand.

Your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are always welcome at PGO Coffees! Families with future Amherst Elementary school children are also welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you there!

Amherst Survival Center's Community Appreciation Breakfast on September 17



Please join us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary with our grateful appreciation to our community. Center programs are closed that day, but we're opening the Center for a free breakfast from 9am to 11am. Donations of non-perishable food items or personal care items will be gratefully accepted.


Amherst Poetry Festival September 15 - 17

News from the Jones Library ...


The Jones Library is so pleased to be a part of the Amherst Poetry Festival!  Produced by the Emily Dickinson Museum, Amherst Business Improvement District, Jones Library, and The Common, the Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon and the fourth annual Amherst Poetry Festival is a celebration of the poetic legacy of Emily Dickinson, the exceptional poetry community of western Massachusetts, and poets from around the world who will gather to share their work in the very place where Dickinson penned her immortal words.  

The Library will be providing a children's activity and some stories during the festival next Saturday, so look for us there!


Amherst-Pelham Education Association hosts Forum on Charter School Ballot Question on Wednesday, September 14

The Amherst-Pelham Education Association (APEA) is sponsoring a forum on Question 2 in the Crocker Farm cafeteria on Wednesday, September 14 at 6pm. The forum is open to the public and features speakers John Provost, Superintendent of Northampton Public Schools, and Barbara Madeloni, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA). The APEA and the MTA oppose Question 2

The question will appear on the November ballot in the state of Massachusetts as follows:

"Question 2. Charter School Expansion. The question, if approved, would let state education officials approve up to 12 new charter schools a year."

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Listening Workshop for Amherst Charter Commission on September 20th at 7pm at ARMS


please read this message from the Amherst Charter Commission ... 

The Amherst Charter Commission is holding a series of Listening Workshops to get input for our work on examining our current charter. We are trying to get feedback on our town government--what works and what doesn't--and we are looking for ideas for change! 

Please join us at our Listening Workshop on September 20th from 7-9pm at the Amherst Middle School!



Gardening Help Needed in the Library

Looking for a green thumb ... please read on for a message from our school librarian

​The library has about 13 wonderful plants that need immediate re-potting​, and then regular maintenance and care. Last June we lost all of our steady volunteers, (graduated to ARMS or moved away), including our indoor gardeners.

Can anyone help us short term with the re-potting and/or caring for them throughout the year? They did well with a visit every two weeks or so last year. We will put out a request for other library volunteers soon.

-- 
Frances Ludington
Librarian/LMS
Fort River School
413.362.1215
ludingtf@arps.org