Important Dates to Remember

Get those calendar's out, March is a busy month…

Next Week is Week 2

Monday, March 1- Coffee with the Principal

Wednesday, March 6th- Chorus 7 Concert 

Friday, March 8- Trimester 2 Ends/ Early Release Day/ Teacher Appreciation Luncheon  

Monday, March 11- Regional Curriculum Day- No School 

Tuesday, March 12- MCAS Practice

Wednesday, March 13- National Latin Exam

Wednesday, March 13- Hrade 8 Parent Guardian Night at HS 

Thursday, March 14th- team Quabbin Parent Teacher Conferences 

Thursday, March 14- Late Start Day

Friday, March 15- Team Quabbin and Swift River Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday, March 15- Shakespear & Co performances ffor 8th grade students

Friday, March 15- Ides of March Social- Sponsored by the Yearbook Club

Friday, March 15^th- Parent Social in the Library

Saturday, March 16^th- Amherst Monte Carlo Night

Monday, March 18-Team Quabbin and Swift River Parent/ Teacher Conferences 

Monday, March 18- Symphony Band and Band 8 Concert 

Tuesday, March 19- 7th Grade MCAS - ELA Composition

Tuesday, March 19- Team Metacometand Swift River Parent/ Teacher Conferences 

Wednesday, March 20- Team Metacometand and River Parent/ Teacher Conferences 

Thursday, March 21-7th and 8th Grade MCAS - ELA Composition

Thursday, March 21- School Council Meeting

Thursday, March 21- Philharmonica and Orchestra 8 Concert

Friday, May 3- ARMS FSP 1st Annual Frisbee Golf Fundraiser

ARMS FSP Teacher Appreciation Luncheon- Last Call For Donations

Only 1 week to go until the  Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.  On March 8th (early release day), we will pamper the people who make ARMS such a fabulous place.  

To sign up to prepare a dish or help the day of events visit  https://armsteacherlunch.bringit.bz/sheets/2856.  
Monetary donations can be left in the office marked “ARMS TA Luncheon”.  

For more information, please contact Laura Wear at l.wear@comcast.net

Monte Carlo Night Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets are now available for the 9th Annual Amherst Monte Carlo Night! Monte Carlo Night is a fantastic night of fun -- food from the area's best restaurants, live music, a raffle, casino games and fun with friends and community members -- all for the low price of $25. All money raised supports Amherst Regional HS Athletics. This year Monte Carlo Night is on Saturday, March 16, at Valentine Hall, Amherst College. Doors open at 6:30pm. 


Tickets can be purchased from ARHS athletes or at Cushman Market (491 Pine St.), AJ Hastings (45 S Pleasant St.), Hampshire Athletic Club (90 Gatehouse Rd.), or Jones Group Realtors (Triangle Street) in Amherst. 

School Regionalization Forum - Amherst

Amherst Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) Forum
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013, 10 am
ARHS Library 

The RSDPB is a 12-member committee consisting of representatives from Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury who have been meeting and gathering information as a first step as these four towns explore the possibility of creating a regional school district that includes the elementary schools. 


At next Saturday's forum, RSDPB members will meet with Amherst residents to provide information about this process and gather feedback on the Report to Our Communities and the consultants' findings presented at a February 2nd four town forum regarding regionalization. 

Then, On March 9th, the RSDPB is expected to vote on whether or not to move forward in exploring a preK-12 or preK-6 region for elementary schools. If the RSDPB votes to continue explorations, residents in all four towns would eventually have to approve any elementary region.

For more info:
Go to http://RegionalSchoolPlanning.com for materials from the Report to Our Communities, including reports from the four town regionalization forum. 
  

Go to http://amherstmedia.org/meetings under Miscellaneous for cable rebroadcast times of the four town 2/2/13 regionalization forum.  The forum and consultants' presentations can also be viewed on-demand at 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FVds_f3Tc4&feature=youtu.be

Community Skate to Support 6th Grade Graduation at Crocker Farm

Spring ahead with a late winter skate and bake sale!

This event is open to the public.

Admission is $4 per child, $6 per adult.  Skate rental is $4.

Mullins Community Ice Rink at UMass

Sunday, March 10, 2013
11:30 AM -1:20 PM (please note this is the first day of daylight savings)

All admission proceeds benefit the CF 6^th grade graduation fund.

For more information, please contact Rachel at rcl20@verizon.net

FSP Coffee with the Principal

FSP Coffee with the Principal

Friday, March 1st  ~ Please join us for FSP Coffee with the Principal. This is an opportunity to enjoy conversation and a morning 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. The meeting starts at 7:45 a.m. in the auditorium.

Important Dates to Remember

Monday, February 25- School Council Meeting

Tuesday, February 26- Chorus 8 - Concert

Wednesday, February 27- Grade 6 Special Education Parent/Guardian Meeting

Wednesday, February 27- Grade 6 Parent/Guardian Math Meeting

Friday, March 1- - FSP Coffee

Wednesday, March 6- Chorus 7 - Concert

Friday, March 8- Trimester 2 Ends/ Early Release Day/ Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

Friday, May 3- ARMS FSP 1^st Annual Frisbee Golf Fundraiser

ARMS FSP Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

It’s time to treat our amazing ARMS teachers to a buffet luncheon!  On March 8^th (early release day), we will pamper the people who make ARMS such a fabulous place.  Monetary donations can be left in the office marked “ARMS TA Luncheon”.   To sign up to prepare a dish or help the day of events visit  https://armsteacherlunch.bringit.bz/sheets/2856.   

For more information, please contact Laura Wear at l.wear@comcast.net

Weight of the Nation Showing This Thursday

The community is invited to attend a free screening of The Weight of the Nation on February 28 at 7 pm at the ARHS Auditorium.  Learn more about this important documentary which examines the facts and myths of nutrition, obesity and fitness in American society.

Monte Carlo Night Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets are now available for the 9th Annual Amherst Monte Carlo Night! Monte Carlo Night is a fantastic night of fun -- food from the area's best restaurants, live music, a raffle, casino games and fun with friends and community members -- all for the low price of $25. All money raised supports Amherst Regional HS Athletics. This year Monte Carlo Night is on Saturday, March 16, at Valentine Hall, Amherst College. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased from ARHS athletes or at Cushman Market (491 Pine St.), AJ Hastings (45 S Pleasant St.), Hampshire Athletic Club (90 Gatehouse Rd.), or Jones Group Realtors (Triangle Street) in Amherst. Go Hurricanes!

Monte Carlo Night also needs helpers. To sign up for a fun filled night of help, please go to the helper sign up link here. 

Amherst Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) Forum

The Amherst Forum is this Saturday, March 2nd, 2013, 10 am in the ARHS Library

The RSDPB is a 12-member committee consisting of representatives from Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury who have been meeting and gathering information as a first step as these four towns explore the possibility of creating a regional school district that includes the elementary schools.


At next Saturday's forum, RSDPB members will meet with Amherst residents to provide information about this process and gather feedback on the Report to Our Communities and the consultants' findings presented at a February 2nd four town forum regarding regionalization.

Then, On March 9th, the RSDPB is expected to vote on whether or not to move forward in exploring a preK-12 or preK-6 region for elementary schools. If the RSDPB votes to continue explorations, residents in all four towns would eventually have to approve any elementary region.

For more info:
Go to http://RegionalSchoolPlanning.com for materials from the Report to Our Communities, including reports from the four town regionalization forum.
 

Go to http://amherstmedia.org/meetings under Miscellaneous for cable rebroadcast times of the four town 2/2/13 regionalization forum.   The forum and consultants' presentations can also be viewed on-demand at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FVds_f3Tc4&feature=youtu.be

Here is the schedule of all the RDSPB upcoming forums:
Amherst: Saturday, March 2, 10 am in Amherst Regional High School Library
Shutesbury: Wednesday Feb. 27, 6:30 pm at Shutesbury Elementary School
Leverett: Thursday Feb. 28, 6:30 pm at Leverett Elementary School
Pelham: Saturday March 2, 10 am in Ramsdell Room of Pelham Library Complex 

Regional School District Planning Board Will Revise Reported Financial Assessment Figures

The financial consultant working with the Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) is reviewing his findings in response to questions and comments from the RSDPB and the public.  The report is part of a process whereby the RSDPB is considering whether to recommend that a new region for elementary schools (through grade 6) replace the separate town-based districts in Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury.  The consultant has identified the need to adjust the possible distribution of education costs to towns for a new educational Region.  Other changes may be made before a new report is issued.

The financial consultant, Mark Abrahams, projected that the towns would collectively pay less to support their elementary schools as a region than with the current structure.  Adjusting the distribution of costs will affect how savings are distributed and how each town would be affected by the change to a regional elementary district. The adjustment is needed to correctly reflect the enrollment numbers in the PK-12 estimated assessments.

In the report issued on February 2, Abrahams presented two methodologies for distributing these costs via an annual assessment.  He then estimated assessments for both of them for a new preK-6 region, which would be additional to the current 7-12 region, and for a possible region that would include all grades, PK-12.  The actual assessment method would be recommended by the RSDPB and adopted by the towns if a regional school district is created.  One of the allocation methods uses the average enrollment from each town for the last five years.  The other model, known as the statutory assessment method, considers community wealth in its calculations.  The enrollment average is the assessment model currently used for the Amherst Regional School system, which includes grades 7-12. 

Planning Board Chair Andrew Steinberg explained that projections are estimates and a snapshot based upon what is known and assumed at the time it is produced.  Abrahams found an error in the use of enrollment numbers and the revised report will reflect that adjustment.  Steinberg said that he appreciates Abrahams’ diligence in continuing to examine the estimate and providing this updated information for the communities.  “The board will sponsor forums in each town before March 3 and participants in the forums will have a more informed discussion with the most accurate financial projections as a result of Mr. Abrahams’ diligence.”  He went on to explain that as the Board continues to consider regionalization of elementary schools, inevitably new factors and assumptions will need to be considered and integrated into an evolving financial analysis.

On March 9 the RSDPB will decide whether a regional approach will be beneficial, educationally and financially.  If the RSDPB reaches that conclusion, it will consider additional questions such as how to structure a School Committee that fairly represents all four towns and how residents and parents in each town can participate in decisions affecting the elementary schools in their communities.  The RSDPB would then present a proposal to voters at elections in November 2013.

More information can be found at the RSDPB website - www.RegionalSchoolPlanning.com.

CONTACT:

Andrew Steinberg

Chair, Regional School District Planning Board

steinberg_a@msn.com 

Hitching Post Road, Amherst

413-549-6826

Elaine Puleo

Vice Chair, Regional School District Planning Board

empuleo@gmail.com

Baker Road, Shutesbury, MA

(413) 259-1979

Missoula Children’s Theatre’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Auditions

Auditions will be held for the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) musical production of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Monday, February 25th at the Amherst Middle School Cafeteria from 4:15pm to 6:15pm. All those auditioning should arrive at 4:00 and plan to stay for the full two hours. Some of those cast in the show will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the auditions.

If you’ve loved the classic story, you’ll be delighted by this fresh and cheerful new production! Among the roles to be cast are Snow White, Queen, seven Dwarfs, her Forest Friends, Black Forest Creatures, a Magic Mirror, Bats, Henchmen and the King.  Students from Kindergarten age to 12^th grade are encouraged to audition.  No advance preparation is necessary.  Assistant Directors will also be cast to aid in rehearsals throughout the week, and to take on essential backstage responsibilities. There are 50-60 roles available, with parts in every age group. This is a group audition, and no advance preparation is necessary--though a smile always helps! There is a $5 Registration Fee for all those who are cast (waivers available).

The Missoula Children’s Theatre touring productions are complete with costumes, scenery, props and makeup. The MCT Tour Actor/Directors will conduct rehearsals throughout the week from 4:00-8:30 Monday, February 25th – Friday, March 1^st. Not everyone will need to be present at every rehearsal.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS will be presented on Saturday, March 2nd at 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm in the Amherst Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students under 18 and seniors.

For more information, go to “Children’s Theatre” at ALSCT.org, or call Susan at 413-461-6722. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS—Join us for a magical time in the forest!

ARMS Teacher Appreciation Luncheon- Call for Volunteers

The ARMS Teacher Appreciation luncheon is being held on Friday, March 8th.  (Please note that this is an early release date for our middle school students.)

This event is an opportunity for all of us to show the teachers and staff at ARMS how much we appreciate them--and we need your help!  We ask that you consider donating a dish of your choosing AND donating some of your time for advanced preparations or helping out the day of the event.
You can find a sign up list at:

https://armsteacherlunch.bringit.bz/sheets/2856

We expect about 100 guests, including all teachers and staff.  Dishes should each serve 6 to 8 guests.  If you are able, please consider signing up for multiple tasks.  If you are unable to cook or volunteer your time but would still like to help, we can accept monetary donations to be put towards the cost of goods.  Monetary donations may be left in the school office for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

I will send a follow up email with more specific instructions for volunteers closer to the day of the event.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact Laura with any questions at: l.wear@comcast.net  Thank you so much for your help!

Last Day to Sign Up to be a Host Family

PeopleLink still needs several families, especially those with boys, who would be interested in hosting a group of Japanese high school students from the Happy Science Academy from 3/22 through 3/28. This school sends students every March and they are a joy to have; my 7th grader still keeps in touch with the students we have hosted. Each family needs to provide meals and a place to sleep; a separate room is not necessary. We are looking for families who can host 2 students for that time period, receiving a stipend of $30/day. During the day the students will be shadowing ARHS students, going to Boston and learning about life in Amherst. It's a great opportunity for both the students and Amherst families. For more information please contact Diane Caraker at Dianec711@comcast.net.   Becky's mom, 7th grade, Teacher Guide, PeopleLink (nonprofit) exchange program.)

Weight of a Nation Screening at ARHS

On February 28th at 7:00 PM, the community is invited to attend a FREE screening of HBO’s award-wining documentary, The Weight of the Nation. Three years in the making, this film examines the facts and myths of nutrition, obesity and fitness in American society. It describes how the strong forces at work in our society are causing children to consume too many calories and expend too little energy; tackling subjects from school lunches to the decline of physical education, the demise of school recess and the marketing of unhealthy food to children. The screening will encompass Part 1 Consequences and Part 3 Children in Crisis.

Doors open 6:30 PM Amherst Regional HS Auditorium 21 Mattoon Street, Amherst
For more info contact stenderk@arps.org or visit hbo.com/theweightofthenation

UMass String Day Scheduled for March 3, 2013

Since our first STRING DAY in 2005, UMass has been inviting string players from all over MA and beyond to come and join us for a fun filled day of music making with the string faculty and students at UMass.

For Senior Participants, it includes mini-lectures by string faculty Elizabeth Chang (VIOLIN), Kathryn Lockwood (VIOLA), Astrid Schween (CELLO) and Salvatore Macchia (BASS); a chamber music reading session (Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn) and an “Opus 2” rehearsal / performance of Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances.
For the Intermediate and Junior Participants: sectionals, rehearsals and a performance of "Opus 3" and "Opus 4" of fun repertoire such as "Gargoyles", "Marcato", "Ragtime" and Mozart.

Current UMass students are heavily involved in STRING DAY and they will be sitting alongside each STRING DAY participant in chamber music readings, Opus 2, and leading the sectionals and sitting with participants in Opus 3 and Opus 4.
After lunch, the concert begins. All participants will be involved as well as a special performance by UMass' "Opus One" of Schoenberg's "Verklate Nacht".

Parents are welcome to come for the 1:30pm performance.
The day begins at 9am and ends at 3pm with raffle prizes.
Please join us for the next STRING DAY - Sunday March 3rd, 2013.  Additional details and registration information can be found athttp://www.umass.edu/stringday/

Next Week

Next Week is Week 2 Schedule.

This Thursday is a late start day.

ARMS Teacher Appreciation Lunch Call for Volunteers

Hello Parents and Guardians of ARMS' Students:

On behalf of the ARMS Family School Partnership, I am contacting you regarding the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.  The luncheon is being held on Friday, March 8th.  (Please note that this is an early release date for our middle school students.) 

This event is an opportunity for all of us to show the teachers and staff at ARMS how much we appreciate them--and we need your help!  We ask that you consider donating a dish of your choosing AND donating some of your time for advanced preparations or helping out the day of the event.   You can find a sign up list at:

http://armsteacherlunch.bringit.bz/public/11db7e

We expect about 100 guests, including all teachers and staff.  Dishes should each serve 6 to 8 guests.  If you are able, please consider signing up for multiple tasks.  If you are unable to cook or volunteer your time but would still like to help, we can accept monetary donations to be put towards the cost of goods.  Monetary donations may be left in the school office for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

I will send a follow up email with more specific instructions for volunteers closer to the day of the event.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any questions at: l.wear@comcast.net

Thank you so mush for your help!

Best,

Laura  (Mom to Lily Wear, Team Evergreen)

RSDBP Community Forum - Amherst

Date: 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 7:00pm

Place: 

ARHS Library

Description:

The RSDPB has scheduled a forum in each of the four towns to gather feedback and facilitate further discussion. Beginning on February 13 through March 2, each town’s three-person Regional School District Planning Committee will host a forum for residents to provide feedback in advance of a recommendation by the RSDPB.

Contact:

For more information, ask questions or share comments please email regionalschoolplanningboard@googlegroups.com.

Weight of A Nation Screening

The Wellness Committee of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools is pleased to announce the screening of the highly-acclaimed, four-part HBO documentary, The Weight of the Nation. The film examines the facts and myths of nutrition, obesity and fitness in American society. 

This event is scheduled for February, 28 at 7pm at the Amherst Regional High School Auditorium (21 Mattoon Street, Amherst).  This event is FREE and the public is invited to attend.

The screening will encompass Part 1 Consequences and Part 3 Children in Crisis. Information about the film can be found at www.hbo.com/theweightofthenation.

Rolling Green Fire Fund Still Seeking Donations

On January 21, several families with students at ARMS, Fort River and Crocker Farm lost everything they owned in a fire at the Rolling Green Apartments. The ARPS community wants to support these families in any way possible.   The most immediate way the community can help is with money donations in the form of personal checks or gift cards that can be used to purchase essentials.  If the families need donations of clothing, furniture, and other household items in the future, the ARPS community will be notified.

If you want to help immediately, please donate in one of the following ways:

Personal Checks:  Checks should be made payable to Rolling Green Fire Fund and delivered or mailed to Florence Savings Bank, 385 College Street, Amherst, MA. 

Gift Cards: Gift cards from any local grocery or department store should be delivered to either ARMS, Fort River or Crocker Farm for distribution. They can be dropped off at the Principal’s Office or, at ARMS, students can deliver them to their advisors. 

Thank you for your support and generosity!

UMass String Day Scheduled for March 3, 2013

Since our first STRING DAY in 2005, UMass has been inviting string players from all over MA and beyond to come and join us for a fun filled day of music making with the string faculty and students at UMass.

For Senior Participants, it includes mini-lectures by string faculty Elizabeth Chang (VIOLIN), Kathryn Lockwood (VIOLA), Astrid Schween (CELLO) and Salvatore Macchia (BASS); a chamber music reading session (Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn) and an “Opus 2” rehearsal / performance of Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances. 

For the Intermediate and Junior Participants: sectionals, rehearsals and a performance of "Opus 3" and "Opus 4" of fun repertoire such as "Gargoyles", "Marcato", "Ragtime" and Mozart.

Current UMass students are heavily involved in STRING DAY and they will be sitting alongside each STRING DAY participant in chamber music readings, Opus 2, and leading the sectionals and sitting with participants in Opus 3 and Opus 4. 

After lunch, the concert begins. All participants will be involved as well as a special performance by UMass' "Opus One" of Schoenberg's "Verklate Nacht".

Parents are welcome to come for the 1:30pm performance.

The day begins at 9am and ends at 3pm with raffle prizes.

Please join us for the next STRING DAY - Sunday March 3rd, 2013.  Additional details and registration information can be found at http://www.umass.edu/stringday/

Host Families Needed

We still need several families, especially those with boys, who would be interested in hosting a group of Japanese high school students from the Happy Science Academy from 3/22 through 3/28. This school sends students every March and they are a joy to have; my 7th grader still keeps in touch with the students we have hosted. Each family needs to provide meals and a place to sleep; a separate room is not necessary. We are looking for families who can host 2 students for that time period, receiving a stipend of $30/day. During the day the students will be shadowing ARHS students, going to Boston and learning about life in Amherst. It's a great opportunity for both the students and Amherst families. 

For more information please contact Diane Caraker at Dianec711@comcast.net. Becky's mom, 7th grade, Teacher Guide, PeopleLink (nonprofit) exchange program.)

Agenda for FSP Meeting Agenda on Monday, Feb 4th

7:00 PM   Call to order / Introductions

7:05 PM-   Current Projects:

·         Treasurer’s Report

·         Directory

·         Mini Grant Request- PBIS and Shakespeare Program

7:25 PM - Future Planning:

·         Parents Social

·         Teacher Appreciation Lunch

·         Teacher Recognition

·         March/April Family Game Night

·         Club Night

·         Ultimate Tournament Fundraiser

·         Water Bottles Fundraiser

7:50 PM – Questions and Answers

8:00 PM - Adjourn

ARMS Penny Wars

Amherst Regional Middle School students will be raising money for water projects in Africa, the week of January 28th through February 1st. Two years ago our middle school students generously raised nearly 4,600 dollars.  That money funded a Peace Corps supervised water project in Togo. Parents and guardians certainly may help us by reminding their children to bring their spare change to school if they would like and are able to make a donation. Parents and guardians may also make a direct donation to this effort by sending a check to the middle school and Jennifer Jensen, chair of the social studies department.

Dates to know

Next week is week 1.

The next Late Start day is Thursday, February 14th.  

There is No School February 18- 22 due to Winter Recess.

Smith and Franklin Vocation School Visits

Because of the late start on Tuesday, January 29, the field trip to Smith Vocational has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 7th. We will still be leaving ARMS at 9:30 and returning at 11:30. Dress warm that day, we will be outside during part of our tour of the campus. The trip to Franklin Tech will still happen as planned on Monday, February 11th.

LSSE Youth on Broadway

Not a school of FSP sponsored event.
Clink on the image to enlarge.
For more information about LSSE offerings, please visit  http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=311