Friday, January 3rd, 2014

Friday, January 3rd, 2014 

FSP (Family School Partnership) 

 Coffee with the Principal

Friday, January 3rd at 7:45 am ~ Please join us for "Coffee with the Principal". This is a continuation of our monthly opportunities to enjoy conversation and a cup of coffee with Principal Betsy Dinger.  You will find out what's happening at the Middle School, ask questions and meet other parents/guardians in a casual, small-group setting. 

This meeting starts at 7:45 am in the Middle School Auditorium.

LATE START DAY THURSDAY 12/12/13 - 9:45 AM -- 2:20 PM

Thursday is a late start day--so sleep in!  School is in session 9:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.

Family Outreach of Amherst - Valley Gives 12/12/13

            
Family Outreach of Amherst (FOA) is excited to be participating in Valley Gives Day on 12/12 this year! As you may know, FOA has a new partnership with the Amherst schools and opened a satellite office at the family center located in the Amherst Regional Middle School. Our caseworkers work with families from every school in the district who may have issues with housing, food insecurity, or other problems that could keep a student from reaching their full potential.

FOA receives NO FUNDING from the school district and relies on our generous community to continue to do this important work. Making a donation will allow FOA to keep our caseworkers helping families become strong and thrive.

Valley Gives Day, 12/12/13, will be an exciting day--be sure to keep an eye out for email and Facebook updates. If you haven't already, please like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHDFOA
Here is the link to the FOA Valley Gives page: http://valleygives.razoo.com/story/Familyoutreachofamherst
Join us on 12/12/13!

Teen Ski and Snowboard Program at Berkshire East Resort

Grades 7-12. Join us this January for 5 weeks of skiing and snowboarding fun on the slopes of the Berkshire East Resort in Claremont, MA! A variety of trails make the program suitable for a range of abilities. Transportation by Coach bus.    Jan. 9-Feb. 6 (make-up dates Feb. 13, 17) 2:20-8:30 pm    Program cost: Ski/ Snowboard (rentals): $299 Group Lessons: $100    Rentals for Program: Skis: $100 Snowbard: $110

Not a school-sponsored event. To register, go to www.lsse.org or call 413-259-3065.

Report Cards Sent Home Last Friday

Report cards were sent home with students At the end of the school day last Friday.  Check those backpacks if you have not seen one!

AEF & Valley Gives - Tomorrow 12.12.13!

Valley Gives, an online day of giving for hundreds of nonprofits throughout the Pioneer Valley, organized by the Community Foundation of Western MA will take place all day on 12/12/13. Thanks to you, last year AEF raised funds vital to our grant making. We were also lucky to earn special prize money from the Community Foundation for having so many donors! In fact, we earned $20,000! AEF supports students and teachers in every school in the district by providing grant funding for projects and programs that make learning enriching, innovative, relevant, and fun. Give online here.

Holiday Schedule

Dec. 23 - Jan 1 - Holiday Recess: No School

Jan. 2 - School Re-opens: 7:45 am

YEARBOOK PRE-ORDER SALE - Last day 12/20

ARMS Yearbooks went on sale this month. The pre-order period is December 1st through December 20th. It is important to reserve yearbooks at this time because the number of yearbooks published will be basedon the number of pre-orders received. There is only ONE printing. Reserved yearbooks are distributed in Advisories in June. We generally order a small percentage over what is reserved so that there are a limited number of unreserved yearbooks available for sale in June at a higher price.

Students will be bringing order forms home next month. Please read these carefully as there are a number of options for reserving books. Please return completed order forms with payment to student advisors by the preorder deadline: December 20th.

YEARBOOK SPONSORS
A doncation form can be used to purchase a yearbook as a gift for a particular student, or to make a donation to the gift fund and become an ARMS Yearbook Sponsor. The form is at the end of this post.  A donation in any amount is greatly appreciated and will enable students who could not otherwise afford it to enjoy the memories of a school yearbook. Yearbook sponsors are listed by name in the ARMS Yearbook,
unless you ask to be kept anonymous. Thank you kindly for your support and generosity!

SUBMISSIONS TO YEARBOOK
ARMS Yearbook solicits creative work from students each year: artwork, photos, poetry… Please encourage your children to submit any original work that they would like to be considered for the 2013-14 ARMS Yearbook. Also, if you have photos from school events, like sports meets or performances, that you would like to share, please email (jpeg attachments only) to atosict@arps.org.

7th Grade Chorus - 12/14 at Center for Extended Care

Students need to meet at 1:30.  The Center for Extended Care is  across from Big Y.

Friday 12/13 Winter Social is CANCELLED

Please note that the Winter Social scheduled for Friday, December 13, has been cancelled.

Winter Clothing Share-No Evening Hours

Due to inclement weather, the Winter Clothing Share's evening hours scheduled for tonight, Monday, December 9, are cancelled.  The share will be open from 7:30 am - 2:30 pm on Tuesday in the ARMS main lobby.  Thank you.

Warm Winter Clothing Share: call for volunteers!

To help everyone stay warm this winter, the Amherst School parent and guardian organizations are collecting winter clothing for distribution to school and community families.  We need volunteers to help with matching donations to distribution requests and keeping stock in order, in the ARMS lobby on

Monday, December 9th, 11:00 AM -5:30 PM, and

Tuesday, December 10th, 7:30 AM -2:00 PM

Any amount of time you’re able to give is appreciated.
Come share with us in this special event of giving during the holiday season!

To sign up, please contact Becky at beckydemling@yahoo.com.

PGO & Lions Club Warm Winter Clothing Share - Check out how easy it is to donate!

Friday, December 6th, 2013

Friday, December 6th, 2013 

FSP (Family School Partnership) 

 Coffee with the Principal

Friday, December 6th at 7:45 am ~ Please join us for "Coffee with the Principal". This is a continuation of our monthly opportunities to enjoy conversation and a cup of coffee with Principal Betsy Dinger.  You will find out what's happening at the Middle School, ask questions and meet other parents/guardians in a casual, small-group setting. 

This meeting starts at 7:45 am in the Middle School Auditorium.

The Mobile Dentist - 2 Easy Steps for Parents - Form due by 12/20

Students were handed Enrollment Forms this week in Advisory 

to bring home for review. 

            The ARPS Family Center is partnering with The Mobile Dentist to provide dental care to our district families of Amherst. Smile Programs…the mobile dentists are innovative, on-site, school based, dental outreach providers. Their mission is to bring state of the art, dental care to those students in need in the most comfortable and effective way possible.

                   2 Easy Steps For Parents For The Dental Program

1. Fill out the form completely.
2. Turn the form back to the main office by:  December 20^th 2013
3. 
   

Many children sadly find themselves without easy and affordable access to necessary dental care. Smile Programs…the mobile dentists utilize locally licensed dentists and hygienists, employing the latest technology in portable equipment, to provide all services directly at your school. Our imaginative program sets up conveniently in your classroom, auditorium, gym or other suitable locale and transforms it into a fully functional “dental office” for the day. At all times, your staff and students are minimally inconvenienced by our highly efficient delivery model.

For those students without Medicaid or private insurance and lacking sufficient funds for a subsidized fee, Smile Programs...the mobile dentists provides generous grant-assistance. NO CHILD IS EVER TURNED AWAY for lack of resources.

                       AMHERST DISTRICT SCHEDULING UPDATE:

Amherst Regional Middle School         Thursday, January 17th, 2014

WARM WINTER CLOTHES SHARE-DROP OFF 11/20-12/06 IN LOBBY * DISTRIBUTION 12/09 & 12/10

Thursday is an early dismissal day; No school Friday

 MS/HS HALF DAY - STUDENTS ARE RELEASED AT 11:55 A.M. - NO LUNCH IS SERVED.

Date and Time	Nov 21 2013
Description	The schedule for Thursday is: Advisory - 7:45-8:03 B1 - 8:08-9:00 D1 - 9:05-9:57 E1 - 10:02-10:54 G1 - 10:59-11:55

There is no school on Friday, November 22 for a K-12 curriculum day.  Enjoy your long weekend!

8th Grade Band & 7th Grade Orchestra Concert Thursday Night with Bake Sale

The 8th grade band and 7th grade orchestra will hold their first concert of the school year on Thursday, November 21st at 7:30 PM in the ARMS auditorium.  Students performing in the concert must be there by 6:55 PM.  

Band parents will be holding a Bake Sale at tomorrow night's 8th Grade Band & Orchestra concert.  They will be selling goodies before the concert in the auditorium foyer, during Intermission and after the show.  (Band parents can still sign up on the Volunteer Spot online donation form that was sent out earlier this week requesting donations & shift sign ups).

All proceeds from the sale benefit the Middle School Band Fund that is used to buy new music, funds the purchase of reeds and other supplies, pays for buses for band field trips and district auditions and helps to cover scholarships & financial assistance to students who need it.

Any goodies folks can bring, shifts they can work, or items they can buy on Thursday night are greatly appreciated!  We'll have baked goods for sale, fruit, coffee, tea, cocoa & cold drinks for folks to enjoy.  

Reminder- A Magical Night of Giving Ticket Order Forms Due Wednesday!

Help the FSP raise money to support mini grants at ARMS!  

Order forms are due by the end of school on Wednesday.  

Tickets will be sent home on Thursday, November 21st with your child.  

Checks should be made out to the ARMS FSP.  Thank you for your support!

Teen Ski and Snowboard Program at Berkshire East Resort

Grades 7-12. Join us this January for 5 weeks of skiing and snowboarding fun on the slopes of the Berkshire East Resort in Claremont, MA! A variety of trails make the program suitable for a range of abilities. Transportation by Coach bus.

  

Jan. 9-Feb. 6 (make-up dates Feb. 13, 17)

2:20-8:30 pm

  

Program cost:

Ski/ Snowboard (rentals): $299

Group Lessons: $100

  

Rentals for Program:

Skis: $100

Snowbard: $110

La Clínica del PEI 21 de noviembre de 2013

El Consejo Asesor de Padres de Educación Especial

(En inglés SEPAC)

Familias ayudando Familias!

La Clínica del PEI

Cuando: El 21 de noviembre de 2013

Dónde: Escuela Superior, Amherst Regional High School, Salón 13

Hora: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Un PEI para Mi Hijo: Todos los niños con discapacidad que reciben los servicios de educación especial deben tener un Programa Educativo Individualizado (PEI). Este taller guiará a los padres paso a paso a través del desarrollo, incluyendo como articular una visión, usando evaluaciones para escribir objetivos cuantificables, además de medir el progreso de su niño. Durante la última hora tendremos una mesa redonda con voluntarios defensores de la educación. Este taller está disponible en portugués y español.

Auspiciado por: El Consejo Asesor de Padres de Educación Especial de Amherst-Pelham (en inglés SEPAC) y la Federación de Niños con Necesidades Especiales

SEPAC IEP Clinic 11/21

Amherst-Pelham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Families helping Families!

IEP Clinic

When: November, 21st, 2013

Where: Amherst Regional High School, Room 13

Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm

An IEP for My Child: Every child with a disability who receives special education services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This workshop takes parents step-by-step through IEP development, including how to articulate a vision, using evaluations to write measurable goals, and measuring their child’s progress. The last hour will have round table discussion with volunteer Educational Advocates. This workshop is also available in Spanish and Portuguese. 

Sponsored by: Amherst-Pelham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and the Federation for Children with Special Needs

A Magical Night of Giving Fundraiser!

Look in your student's backpack Tuesday for information on this new fundraiser to support the mini grant program at ARMS!

Coming Soon- Winter Clothing Share at Amherst Middle and Elementary Schools

Reminder- Late start day Thursday, Nov. 7th!

Just a reminder that tomorrow is a late start day.   The school day for students begins at 9:45 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m..  Buses run approximately two hours later than usual.

Monday Evening 6pm

Monday Evening 6pm 

FSP (Family School Partnership) 

 Coffee with the Principal

Monday, November 4th at 6pm! ~ Please join us for "Coffee with the Principal". This is a continuation of our monthly opportunities to enjoy conversation and a cup of coffee with Principal Betsy Dinger.  You will find out what's happening at the Middle School, ask questions and meet other parents/guardians in a casual, small-group setting. 

This meeting starts at 6pm in the Middle School Professional Development Room.

Amherst College SPLASH - Nov. 16th

Amherst College Splash is a biannual one-day learning event for middle and high school students.This popular SPLASH! program is being offered again at Amherst College on Saturday, November 16th from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m.  This program is open to all 6th-12th graders. More information can be found at https://amherstsplash.learningu.org/learn/Splash/2013_Fall/catalog

Register for Winter Sports - Deadline 11/15

Winter sports registration deadline in November 15 . Ensure a smooth start to your winter season by registering, mailing in your payment and checking in with the school nurse regarding your sports physical.

Scarecrows for Sale - ARMS Leo Club

The ARMS Leo Club is creating and selling scarecrows to raise money for a DaVinci sight machine for visually-impaired students and staff. The scarecrows are $10 and available through the month of November. Please contactodonovand1@arps.org for more information. The ARMS Leo Club is a branch of the Amherst Lions Club and a strong partner with our public schools and community.

Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday 2am

Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night rnight!

Amherst Boys Scouts Open House-11/05

This is Robert Ryan, parent volunteer from Boy Scouts Troop 500 in Amherst, which my son Ben is involved with and which meets weekly at the South Congregational Church in South Amherst.  Please include the following announcement in your newsletter.

Boy Scouts Troop 500 Amherst Open House for prospective scouts (grades 5-12; ages 11-17) and their familiesTuesday, Nov. 5 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, Amherst.  Troop activities are organized and run by the boys, including weekly meetings, monthly campouts, and projects in the community.  Our Scouts learn practical outdoor skills and develop leadership skills while having a lot of fun.  For more information, contact Scoutmaster Michelle Chandler at (413) 256-5412.


Please let me know if this language works for you.  Thanks very much for your time!

Robert Ryan
120 Cottage Street Amherst

(copied from informational email)

FSP Parent/ Guardian Social This Friday

After you drop your student off at the UNICEF Social  this Friday, November 1st, head on upstairs to the Library and join the FSP Board for light refreshments and casual conversation.  The parents social will be from 7 - 9 pm, same as the student social.  All are welcome.

7th Grade Math Informational Meeting - Monday, 10/28 at 7:00 p.m.

This is a reminder that there will be an informational meeting regarding 7^th grade Math at ARMS in the ARMS library. The meeting is an opportunity for parents/guardians to learn about Big Ideas Math, the new standards-based math textbooks we are using, and the design of our 7^th grade math program in general. This is a repeat of the informational meeting that was held on 10/7. Information about the plan for next year’s 8^th grade math courses will be discussed at informational meetings in the spring.

WINTER SPORTS - Online registration is open! Deadline 11/15

Girls Alpine Skiing, Intramural Basketball & Intramural Futsal are all available as after school activities this winter!  Online registration is open.  Please register early to avoid delays in your participation.  Check with the health room on your sports clearance.  Be sure your participation fee is received before the registration deadline:  November 15th.

7th grade pie fundraiser order forms are now due!

If your 7th grader has already submitted a form, thank you!  If your 7th grader still has a form to return, please be sure that your he/she brings it in to Advisory on Monday.

We have already raised several hundred dollars that will go directly to the 7th grade teams.  Please help us increase our total!

If you did not receive a blue order form, or if you have any questions, the team contacts are: Ms. Sullivan-Flynn (Sullivan-flynnh@arps.org) for Team X, Mr. L-R (Lawrence-riddellM@arps.org) for Team Y and Ms. Jensen (Jensenj@arps.org)  for Team Z.  

Basic Rights In Special Education Workshop - 10/29

Amherst Regional Middle School at the Professional Development Center
10/29/2013 6:45pm to 9:00pm
Sponsored by Amherst-Pelham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and the Federation for Children with Special Needs

An introduction to family rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts Special Education Law and No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Everyone is welcome to attend for free.

• Learn how to be effective partners with the school

• Determine eligibility for special education

• Plan, make decisions and monitor student progress in school

Taller de Derechos Básicos-los Individuos con Discapacidades 10/29

En la escuela intermedia, Amherst Regional Middle School, Professional Development Center
10/29/2013 6:45pm a 9:00pm
Auspiciado por Amherst-Pelham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) y el Federation for Children with Special Needs

Una introducción a los derechos y responsabilidades de la familia bajo el Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Legislación Educativa para los Individuos con Discapacidades), Massachusetts Special Education Law (La Ley de Educación Especial en Massachusetts) y No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Todos están invitados a asistir, la presentación es gratis. 

• Aprenda a como asociarse eficientemente con la escuela.
• Determinar elegibilidad para educación especial
• Planifique, tome decisiones y monitoree el progreso del estudiante en la escuela

7th Grade Math Meeting Monday, October 28

Home Stay Families Needed

We have 47 high school kids coming from Koriyo High School in Japan from November 10-November 13. You will be responsible for housing them, feeding them and bringing them to a study center in Amherst for them to go to Boston on the 12th.

These are wonderful, helpful, polite kids who are greatly looking forward to coming to America. This is a wonderful way for families who have hosted before to host again, and also for families who have though about it but not committed due to the time frame. This is a short stay, and you will be paid a stipend of $20/day. You do not need an extra bedroom, just a bed. 

Please e-mail me if you are interested or have any more questions. Thank you! DianeCarakerDianec711@comcast.net or CarakerD@arps.org

Calling All Girls! Join Rachel Simmons, Total Girl Expert and Author

Join Rachel Simmons, total girl expert and author of books like Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl after school to be silly, work on friendships, learn some leadership skills, and have a ton of fun! Sound up your alley? Sign up in the main office and try it out! Registration closes November 1^st; this group is limited to 20 girls.

Sounds Cool! When is it?

Thursdays: 2:30-3:30

November: 7^th, 14^th, 21^st

^{December: 5th, 12th, 19th}

Have any questions?

Talk to Ms. Green in the main office at 362-1800 or shoot us an email at Rachel@rachelsimmons.com

Celebra el Mes de Latino Heritage-Oct. 24

Celebra el Mes de Latino Heritage - Jueves 24 de octubre 2013 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. En la Escuela Elemental Crocker Farm Disfruta de la música latina, baile y comida! Los invitamos a todos a traer un plato preferido para compartir.

Latino Heritage Celebration - Oct. 24

The Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools will host a Latino Heritage Celebration on at Crocker Farm Elementary School. Enjoy Latin music, dancing & food! We encourage everyone to bring a favorite dish to share.

UNICEF SOCIAL for ARMS Students - 11/01

Friday, November 1, 7:00-9:00 PM

Pay at the door…FEE: $4.00

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

The objective of the SOCIAL is to provide a safe environment for ARMS students to socialize and participate in activities such as games, dancing to a DJ, and more. The financial benefit will go to UNICEF and the Art Club. If the ticket price presents a hardship, students may go to the guidance office to receive a ticket; these requests will be confidential.

Parent/Guardian Support Needed! We know it is important to respect the Middle School Students’ need for independence, and we know that  students will resist the idea of their parents/guardians attending the social. We have devised a system to utilize parent chaperones, which respects the student’s independence. We assign parent chaperones to the hallways, as monitors at doors and collecting money, while we utilize faculty and staff inside the cafeteria (dance floor). Please respectfully tell your youngster that we cannot hold the social without Parent/Guardian support, and that you do not want the social to be cancelled due to lack of chaperones. Please email Tara Kuzmeskus at kuzmeskust@arps.org or call the school 362-1800 to sign up to be a chaperone.

HEALTH and SAFETY GUIDELINES for the SOCIAL:

Parents/Guardians please review with your youngster.

Health and safety is a priority at all ARMS events. For that reason, we are uncompromising about these guidelines. Students who do not comply will have their parent/guardian phoned to take them home.

-The use or possession of drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other controlled substances is not tolerated at any ARMS event.

-All coats, purses and backpacks must be left behind the counter at the door.

-The social is from 7:00-9:00; for safety reasons students will not be permitted to leave the building until 9:00 PM.

-The social is for Amherst Regional Middle School students ONLY. We are sorry we cannot allow guests from other schools to attend: not even ARHS.

-Unsafe behavior or physical aggression is not acceptable. Dancing is great as long as it is appropriate.

-The social ends at 9:00. All Parents/Guardians should please BE IN THE PARKING LOT PROMPTLY AT 9:00! We advise against allowing students to “go into town” to hang out! Please support our health and safety efforts by picking up your student on time! Do not wait for them to call you! Please be waiting at 9:00.

ARMS CHORUS 2013 FUNDRAISER - Order by 10/21

The ARMS Chorus fundraiser is used to raise money to offset the cost of the end of the year Chorus fieldtrip to Boston.

The Chorus traditionally spends a day in Boston going to Quincy Market and then off to see a show.
Over the past few years, the Chorus has gone to see either: Blue Man Group or Shear Madness

The Coffee and Hot Chocolate will be purchased from:

Java Coffee, The Pierce Brothers Group

And the Mug will be purchased from:

Print Associates

We will be selling:
Hurricane Blend Decaf - $13.00
Fogbuster - $12.00
Hot Chocolate - $10.00
15 oz. Travel Mug with the MS Chorus Logo - $10.00

Order by: October 21

To order items you may contact:
David Ranen
ranend@arps.org
362-1961
You may pay for the items when they come in.
You will pick them up at the MS.

Mister G's Halloween Fiesta - 10/27 at Academy of Music Theatre

Popular, international children’s music artist and local hero Mister G hosts a one-of-a-kind Halloween costume party.  The event will double as a CD release concert for his new, bilingual album, Chocolalala, which blends Latin rhythms, traditional instruments, and uniquely catchy songwriting.

Winner of a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Chocolalala is currently on the Grammy ballot for the Best Children’s Album of 2012.  Inspired by Mister G’s concert tours throughout Latin America, the album spans a wide range of musical styles from bossa nova to ska, funk to folk, rap to pop. Chocolalala features captivating Latin rhythms and melodies, world-class musicians and the voices of Pioneer Valley bilingual families.  In addition to writing and singing the songs, Mister G played acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, tres and percussion.

After 20 years as a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter playing for grown-ups, Ben Gundersheimer (aka Mister G) began performing for children in 2009. A graduate of Amherst College and the M.Ed program at Smith College, Ben was dubbed “Mister G” by his former elementary school students.  The first CD release concert for Chocolalala was held at the National Zoo in Washington, DC to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mister G will also perform songs from his 2011 award-winning CD BUGS, called “irresistible” by People Magazine and chosen as one of the best children’s albums of the year by Parents’ Magazine.

Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Academy of Music Theatre

274 Main Street

Northampton, MA 01060

Phone: (413) 584-9032 ext105

Website: www.mistergsongs.com

E-Mail: boxoffice@academyofmusictheatre.com

Eat Pizza for Breakfast, wear your funkiest, scariest costume and come ready rock. ¡Bailamos

Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Academy of Music Theatre
274 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 584-9032 ext105
Website: www.mistergsongs.com
E-Mail: boxoffice@academyofmusictheatre.com

Haunted Museaum at Amherst College 10/26

Come to the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College on Saturday, October 26, from 11 am to 3 pm, to visit “The Haunted Museum” This family-friendly event will feature the spookier parts of Amherst College’s art collection and provide a fun-filled afternoon of seasonal activities for children of all ages. The Mead Docents, an energetic group of college student volunteer guides, will lead the Halloween-themed celebrations, offering “candlelit” tours of the museum’s galleries and scavenger hunts that promise to challenge visitors’ mystery-solving skills. The Docents will also offer interactive art-making projects, including mask making, face painting, and a Jack-O-Lantern carving workshop. Local apple cider and doughnuts will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

What's New in World Languages

French 1A: Mme Coby and Mme Dorrie’s students are able to introduce themselves, ask others’ names, and say what their nationality is and where they are from. They can spell in French, and count up to 1,000. They can ask how others are feeling, and tell how they are feeling. In Mme Coby’s classes, students have begun working on time and have memorized a café dialogue between Stephanie and her friend Jean-Paul. In Mme Dorrie’s class, students will write and perform a puppet play for their Unit 1 speaking assessment, after which they will begin the lesson on time. Towards the end of the month, students will learn about La Toussaint (All Saints Day) that is celebrated in France.

French 1B: Mme Coby’s students are learning how to talk about their personal possessions and where objects are located. The students are able to spend several minutes each week describing a painting – what is going on, who is in the painting, what the weather is like and where people and objects are in relationship to each other – all in French. BRAVO!

Many of the French students have begun thinking about challenge projects for the first trimester. Some have already chosen to create works of art based on French culture. Others are making alphabet or number books. And still others are working on musical or cooking projects. We are all looking forward to seeing the fascinating way our peers choose to challenge themselves.  ON Y VA!

Spanish 1A: Señora Dorrie’s Spanish 1A students are also learning numbers, and about greeting rituals among Hispanic populations. Did you know that a handshake is often accompanied by a squeeze of the upper arm with the left hand, and that close friends often greet with an abrazo (hug) and pats on the back? Students in Spanish can also ask and tell their names, and can address people both formally and informally. Students are working on writing and performing a puppet play for their speaking assessment. Towards the end of the month, students will learn about Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) that is celebrated in Mexico and by Mexican-Americans.

¡Saludos de la Señora García! It was very nice to see so many of you at Open House. The students in both levels are now settled into the routine of learning español. Spanish 1A classes have mastered the components of the calendar, including days, months, numbers and holidays. They have moved on to telling time in Spanish, which can be challenging to many, especially when looking at an analog clock. I have offered extra help, but support at home would be appreciated. I will only require that they can tell time with a digital format, but the skill of reading analog time is beneficial to all. This month, students will continue with the introductory unit, and will soon be singing Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas y Pies (Head, Shoulders . . .). They love to sing in Spanish!

The Spanish 1B students are now wrapping up their review. As a culminating project, they will create skits together including the grammatical concepts and vocabulary they learned last year. Next week, we start a new unit, and everyone should have a book soon. They will learn family vocabulary first, and we will be using famous art works to practice descriptions.

News from Social Studies

Social Studies 7 – Students will be finishing up their research this week, then creating a visual representation (Prezi, PPT, Brochure) to show and present their understanding of the Five Themes of Geography using a city of their choice. After Five Themes, we will begin our second unit of the year where we investigate the environment using Southwest Asia and Northern Africa as a case study.

Social studies is collaborating with the English department as it begins its unit on Character and Environment to create a valuable transfer of content and skills in content areas. The students just experienced a wonderful presentation from Professor Max Page to develop a deeper understanding of New Orleans before they begin Ninth Ward in English and the study of Environment in Social Studies. Should you have knowledge in these areas and wish to share your expertise with students, please contact us?

Social Studies 8 - Eighth Grade students have been exploring the types, advantages and disadvantages and usefulness of historical evidence, as part of the Inquiry Unit. Each team opened the unit by asking students to share and discuss the wide range of sources of evidence we rely on to construct an understanding of past events. Students will then practice using the evidence of "historical archaeology" (artifacts and documents) to make inferences about  historical events. Our culminating projects will apply historical inquiry methods to case studies.

News From Science

Science 7 – Most of last month’s crayfish have found their way to happy new homes, and the few remaining are settling in nicely as classroom pets. In class, students are finishing up the Nature of Science unit, and moving into our study of Ecology. The interesting organism for this month is the Sebastiania seed, otherwise known as the Jumping Bean. Ask your student what makes it jump! By the end of the month, all 7th grade students will have designed and run a controlled experiment to test various hypotheses about factors that affect the jumping rate, so they will have some evidence from independent research to back up their claims.

All the 7th grade teams have been taking fall field trips, so students are getting some field experience looking at the relationships and structure of ecosystems, from small to large. By the end of the month, we will be wrapping up the Ecology unit, and taking our first big unit exam. Students should be checking their ring binders and folders every weekend to make sure their science papers are organized and complete.

Science 8 – In 8th grade science, our tables were paired up almost every day with all sorts of crazy measurement labs. These labs led to using the balances to measure mass and spring scales to measure weights of a variety of objects. We also found the volume of objects by direct and indirect measurement—Barbie went swimming in a graduated cylinder! At the end of class, we found ourselves all standing around a table trying to balance a giant binder with action figures and weights. These partner labs have been complemented with the occasional individual

assessment to see how we’re progressing on our own, varying from a worksheet to using specific tools to measure mass, weight, and volume. We’re also getting LOTS of practice with the metric system, applying different measurements to all kinds of things around the room, and converting millimeters to centimeters, kilograms to grams, and so on, in daily worksheets and activities.

Written by Owen Price and Luke Sedor-Protti.

News from Engllish

English 7 – Seventh grade English has been enjoying the glorious onset of autumn in our region by
celebrating with poetry. All grade students have been putting the finishing touches on their poetry collections and reflecting on the descriptive power of observation through figurative language. Here are some examples of our seventh grade students' lovely verse:

A red leaf
Already?
So soon?
People blame me for
Stealing summer
For starting school
I am just too weak
To resist a new coat
It's Red.
The giant trees
Drop their leaves, almost from the sky
Little butterflies and bees
Prepare to say goodbye
The bitter wind begins to spin
But all the trees stand tall
No one to let them in
From the briskness of the fall
The yellow flower
Standing tall and strong
Almost as strong as a soldier
The yellow flower
Dry-blossomed
but shriveling
And prickly from the sun.
The brightness from the flower
Hurting your eyes
Does it make you want to cry?

As we say goodbye for now to poetry, we are preparing to read Jewell Parker Rhodes' Ninth Ward, a lovely and lyrical book set in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. To prepare us for understanding the book's rich context, seventh grade students were lucky enough to listen to a fascinating presentation by Max Page, professor or Art, Architecture, and History at UMass. Our students were a terrific audience for Max as they learned about New Orleans' challenges and areas of strength, and exactly what made 2005's hurricane so catastrophic. We are eager to be diving into a rich novel with our students this month!

English 8 – During the next two weeks, eighth grade students will conclude their study of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the unit, our analytical focus has been rooted in the Enduring Understanding: Speaking out effectively against injustice creates empowerment and can spark change on many levels. Students have now seen how some characters actively stood up against the pervasive intolerance in Maycomb’s community. Our upcoming assessment asks students to write essays which demonstrate their understanding of the connection between the novel and our enduring understanding.

The second phase of this unit is dedicated to speaking out through effective writing and speaking skills. We will examine famous examples of speeches to determine what effective speech sounds like, and analyze the thetorical techniques writers use to convey meaning and make images come alive in the minds of their audience members. Students will identify issues of injustice which they feel strongly about. After researching the issue and how it impacts people, we will begin crafting and refining speeches, which will be delivered to an audience in ELA classes. This is a powerful unit, and we look forward to hearing students’ outstanding oratory!

News From Math

Math 7/Math Flex - Students in Math 7 and Math 7 Flex have been working hard finishing up on working with integers. Students learned how to add, subtract, multiply and divide negative and positive integers. Students also learned the concepts behind these operations and various real-life application problems that can be solved using integers. Presently, students are working with rational numbers, also known as fractions and decimals. This unit corresponds to Big Ideas! Math Chapter 2. In class, students will engage in some hands-on discovery learning, balanced with some directly taught teacher instruction and practice. Next up, all students will work on some algebra standards in a unit on algebraic expressions and equations.

Math 8 - In Math 8, we are just completing our second unit of the year, which revolved around the
language of algebra and telling stories through expressions and equations. In the process, we reviewed two of the most important concepts for simplifying and solving, the distributive property and CLT (no, it’s not a sandwich!) Coming up next, students will be working with solving more complex equations using algebraic steps.

Algebra – Algebra students are also finishing up work in our second unit of the year. They have been solving literal equations and working with a great variety of rate problems (fondly known as D=rt problems). They are being challenged to communicate very clearly as they do their work about the meaning of their variables, as well as making the correct interpretation of their results and being able to check their own answers. On the horizon is Unit #3 which is all about functions.

News From Chorus

Both the MS Grade 7 & Grade 8 Chorus are busily preparing music for the year’s first round of concerts. Please make sure the dates are listed on your family calendar. Please refer to the Chorus Handbook for Concert Dates and Concert Dress that parents/guardians received the beginning of the school year. Please remember that if you need financial help securing proper concert clothing contact Mr. Ranen at ranend@arps.org

Grade 8 Chorus
The students in Grade 8 Chorus have had a busy October. The Chorus represented the Middle School at this year’s ARHS Performing Arts Department Gala Night. This is the first time a Middle School ensemble has taken part in this annual event.

The Grade 8 Chorus also sang the National Anthem for the home opener of the Springfield Falcons game. The Falcons are an American Hockey League affiliate of an NHL team. The Falcons are celebrating their 20th anniversary season this year so it was a lot of fun to be a part of the celebration.

Each Chorus class begins with vocal warm-ups. This is kind of like calisthenics for the voice to prevent strain. This is followed by a “Minute for Notes”. During this time, work is done on the board to reinforce sight reading skills both melodic and rhythmic. Students are learning about the different types of notes/rests and their values as well as how to clap them in different rhythmic arrangements

The Chorus is still in need of boxes of tissues as colds have now begun. If you are able to donate a box just send it in to school with your child.

Vocal Care
If your child is complaining of a sore or scratchy throat a couple of great remedies are:
-Gargling with salt water (the water should be heated to a tolerable temperature)
-Hot water in a mug with a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon added.

Smith Vocational School Presentations - 10/25

The Smith Vocational High School will be doing a presentation to any interested student at ARMS about the educational programs that their school offers. In order to attend the presentation, students need to
sign up in the front office before the day of the presentation. If there are any questions, please email
Denise Boyd at boydd@arps.org or call 362-1838.

Smith Vocational School

Date: Friday, October 25th

Time: 8:05 a.m.

Place: Cafeteria

ARMS Library News

Popular fiction gets a lot of attention in the media and on bestseller lists, but many readers prefer non-fiction. The following list of titles includes a wide variety of subject matter. All of these books were published in 2013 and are available in our middle school library.

American R&B: Gospel grooves, Funky Drummers, and Soul Power, by Aaron Mendelson.
This book examines the lives and contributions to the R&B movement of singers like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Beyoncé.

Becoming Ben Franklin: How a Candle-Maker's Son Helped Light the Flame of Liberty, by Russell Freedman. This introduction to the life of young Benjamin Franklin describes how, as a rebellious teen in 1732, he ran away from his family and a Boston apprenticeship to Philadelphia, and how throughout subsequent decades he rose to become a distinguished statesman, renowned author and world-famous scientist.

Black Holes, by Jim Whiting.
This title provides an examination of the science behind the astronomical phenomena known as black holes, including relevant theories and history-making discoveries as well as topics of current and future research.

The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible on Schindler's List by Leon Leyson ; with Marilyn J. Harran and Elisabeth B. Leyson. This is the memoir of Leon Leyson, who was a young teen when sympathetic factory-owner Oskar Schindler--and his now -famous list—helped Leon survive the Holocaust.

Che Guevara: You Win or You Die by Stuart A. Kallen.This biography is the story of Che Guevara, an international icon and admired revolutionary, who was killed in 1967 in a tiny village in the Bolivian jungle.

Kennedy's Last Days: The Assassination that Defined a Generation by Bill O'Reilly.
A historical narrative of the events surrounding the death of the 35th president is set against the backdrop of an escalating Cold War and describes the many political challenges Kennedy was facing before his assassination, in an account that also describes Lee Harvey Oswald's story and the events surrounding his death.

The Kids' Guide to Magic Tricks by Steve Charney. Step-by-step instructions show how to perform a variety of illusions and entertaining magic tricks. Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin.
This dramatic account of the 1875 attempt to steal the 16th president's body describes how a counterfeiting ring plotted to
ransom Lincoln's body to secure the release of their imprisoned ringleader and how a fledgling Secret Service and an undercover agent conducted a daring election-night sting.

The Rebellious Colonists and the Causes of the American Revolution by Christopher Forest.
This illustrated book describes causes and events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Stronger than Steel:

Spider Silk DNA and the Quest for Better Bulletproof Vests, Sutures, and Parachute Rope by Bridget Heos; with photographs by Andy Comins. Learn how spider silk might be used to repair or replace human ligaments and bones, improve body armor or strengthen
parachute rope.

Cyber-Bullying - Please Help ARMS Prevent Cyber Bullying!

As the new school years gets underway, it’s wonderful to see students making new friends and renewing old friendships! For many kids this age, peers can be wonderful companions and support each other as they experiment with more independence. Social relations at this age can be complicated, too, and I’d like to address one way in which social behaviors can be hurtful: Cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying occurs when students are harassed on-line (or by mobile phone) by other young people. This can take the form of e-mails, texts, chats, personal quizzes, or photos/videos posted to make another person uncomfortable or to be hurtful. Young adolescents may participate in these activities without thinking about the full impact of their behavior. Sometimes they are attempting to fit in with a group of friends; at other times, what is viewed as a “joke” by the sender may be experienced as hurtful by the receiver. Many students have access to social media 24/7, and this can intensify the effects of cyber bullying behavior. Some social media sites (e.g. Facebook or Twitter) can be accessed via cell phones that are not smart phones.This constant access can make it very difficult to escape unkind peers, and can make a child’s life miserable!

If the school becomes aware of negative on-line activity that involves your child, we will alert you to it. If the behavior does not occur in school and does not impact students in the school setting, it is a family and law enforcement responsibility. When cyber bullying occurs within the building or impacts a student’s experience of school as being a safe and supportive environment, though, we will act swiftly to make sure that the behavior stops, and disciplinary consequences are likely. In extreme cases, there can be legal consequences as well.

As parents, you can help us keep our whole community safe. Please monitor your child’s cell phone and on-line activities! This is, of course, more easily said than done. Your child may protest that no other parent is doing this. Please be assured that you are not the only one! For children this age, this is appropriate parenting. You may also find that your child understands more than you do about social media sites, and may have already joined sites that you have never heard of. It is well worth taking the time to learn about these sites so that you can monitor. It may actually be a relief to your child to have their on-line and cell phone activities monitored--then, when something feels inappropriate or unsafe, they can blame you for their refusal to participate. See below for safety tips; a more extensive list of resources is available in the ARMS Student and Family Handbook.

News From the Nurse

A number of families received a telephone message and/or a letter requesting immunization information. The district exclusion date for those students who are not in compliance with Massachusetts Department of  Public Health school attendance immunization requirements will be in mid-November. Please check with Your physician if any immunizations are needed and arrange to have current documentation forwarded to ARMS nurse. Please call the nurse at (413) 362-1975 with any questions.

Homework Email Notification

The homework email has begun. If you have signed up to receive it and have not yet received any emails, please check your spam/junk folder or white list. We found that a number of emails are bouncing back as blocked. If you are still not receiving the homework via email, please contact Sue Adair at adairs@arps.org

Team Evergreen's Question of the Month--Win a Prize!

What is the elevation of Mount Sugar loaf in feet?

To answer this question, any student can write the answer on a piece of paper with their name on it give it to TeamEvergreen teacher. The first ten correct answers will earn a Starburst. What will the question be next month???

Dates to Remember

Thursday, October 17 – Band Field Trip

Monday, October 21; Wednesday, October 23; Thursday, October 24; Friday, October 25 – Team M&M (Y) Parent-Guardian/Team Teacher Conferences – If you have not scheduled your conference, please contact the main office at 362-1850.

Monday, October 21 – Team Greylock – Mike’s Amaizing Maze Field Trip

Tuesday, October 22 – Picture Retake Day

Friday, October 25; Monday, October 28; Tuesday, October 29; Friday, November 1 - Team Titan (Z)
Parent-Guardian/Team Teacher Conferences – If you have not scheduled your conference, please contact the main office at 362-1850.

Monday, October 28; Tuesday, October 29; Wednesday, October 30; Thursday, October 31 - Team
Norwottuck (X) Parent-Guardian/Team Teacher Conferences – If you have not scheduled your conference,
please contact the main office at 362-1850.

Friday, November 1 – UNICEF Social – MS Cafeteria – 7-9 p.m. – See details below

Sunday, November 3 – Daylight Savings Time Ends - Be sure to set you clocks back 1 hour.

Monday, November 4 – Quarter 2 Classes Begin

Monday, November 4 – You Belong – Team Evergreen

Monday, November 4 – FSP Coffee with Principal Dinger - 7:45-8:45 a.m. We will begin in the auditorium for the 8th Grade Class Meeting then at 8 a.m. we will move to the MS Conference Room

Tuesday, November 5 – You Belong – Team Greylock

Wednesday, November 6 – You Belong – Team Frost

Monday, November 11 – Veteran’s Day – School is closed.