Save the Date

The week after vacation will be week 2 schedule.

Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19- Spring Recess

Tuesday, April 23- Grade 6 Students Shadow Day by Elem. School - Middle School

Thursday, April 25- Grade 6 Shadow Day by Elem. School - Middle School

Tuesday, April 30- Grade 6 Students Shadow Day by Elem. School - Middle School

Thursday, May 2- Grade 6 Shadow Day by Elem. School - Middle School

Friday, May 3- FSP Coffee

Friday, May 3- FSP Frisbee Golf Tournament

Tuesday, May 7- MCAS Math - Grades 7 and 8

Thursday, May 9- Late Start Day

Friday, May 10- MCAS Math - Grades 7 and 8

Tuesday, May 14- MCAS Science/Technoloby - Grade 8 Only

Thursday, May 16- MCAS Science/Technology - Grade 8 Only

Monday, May 20- MAP Testing - Grade 7

Tuesday, May 21- MAP Testing - Grade 8

Tuesday, May 21- Rushing Rivers Field Trip - Team Evergreen

Wednesday, May 22- Rushing River Field Trip - Greylock

Thursday, May 23- Rushing River Field Trip - Team Frost

Monday, May 27- Memorial Day - School is Closed

Tuesday, May 28- Rushing River Field Trip - Grade 8

Wednesday, May 29- MAP Testing - Grade 7

Wednesday, May 29- Rushing River Field Trip - Grade 8

Thursday, May 30- MAP Testing - Grade 8

Friday, May 31- Rushing River Field Trip - Grade 8

Wednesday, June 5- Chorus 7 and Chorus 8 - Concert

***AMHERST INVITATIONAL ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT***

Saturday May 4^th from  9:30am to 5pm & Sunday May 5th 8:30am to 5pm.   Come watch over 30 teams from across the USA compete in the oldest and most prestigious high school ultimate tournament in the world in Amherst, the birthplace of Ultimate.  One of the most beautiful sports on earth!  Located at  ARHS/ARMS/UMass Ultimate Fields in Amherst.  Free admission and awesome layouts!  More information at http://www.facebook.com/amherstinvitational

***AMHERST EDUCATION FOUNDATION 2013 EXCELLENCE GRANTS***

Systemic Academic Support for Incoming High School Students - $20,000

Grantee:  Mark Jackson, Principal, Amherst Regional High School

What is It?  This grant will enable our high school to implement a consistent set of practices to support academic success for all incoming 9^th-graders.

What Does the Grant Fund?  The grant will fund teacher work sessions during the summer and the school year to implement a common set of support practices in three areas: (1) reading complex texts, (2) planning and managing workload (“executive function”), and (3) providing effective feedback in a diverse context

The Take-Away:  With a common set of supports for all incoming 9^th-graders, our high school can maintain high expectations while giving all students the tools they need to meet them.

Robotics is Elementary - $13,800.

Grantee: Kathryn Runyan, Instructional Technology Teacher, Wildwood Elementary School, and colleagues in Leverett and Shutesbury

What is It? This grant will purchase Lego NXT Mindstorm kits and site licenses for all six elementary schools in Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the engineering process, programming, and teamwork.

What Does the Grant Fund? Sixth-grade teachers in each school will receive kits and training to extend learning through hands-on projects tied to the Massachusetts science and technology/engineering standards.  They will also develop Lego Robotics Recess Clubs for additional, in-school access.

The Take-Away:  AEF is putting LEGO robotics technology in the hands of all 6^th-grade teachers and students, to learn science and engineering in a fun, hands-on way.

Family University - $4,000

Grantee: Marta Guevara, APRS Director of Student Achievement and Accountability

What Is It? This grant will support a series of monthly family-engagement discussions for approximately 65 Spanish-speaking, immigrant families who are newcomers to our K-12 school districts, based on a model by Harvard researchers Karen Mapp and Ronald Ferguson.

What Does the Grant Fund? The Family University series will consist of six community-based sessions on topics such as what children are learning in schools, parent/guardian advocacy, and parenting skills. The series will be offered twice during the school year – once during the day and once during the evening, to accommodate different schedules. AEF funds will support participant meals and logistical costs, while the district will support staffing.

The Take-Away:  This program reaches into the community to welcome some of our most vulnerable families as engaged participants in their children’s schools.

Photosynthesis in Action - $11,225.

Grantees:  James Fownes & Nicholas Shaw, ARHS Science Teachers

What Is It? This grant will purchase new technology for high school science classes (Labquest 2 handheld data interfaces, sensors, biochambers, and charging stations) that will enable students to visualize, measure, and graph photosynthesis in real time.

What Does the Grant Fund? With this new, hands-on technology, all students will be able to see, measure, and understand this fundamental biological process.  Lab exercises using this technology will be built into the required Ecology and Environmental Science curriculum; the equipment will be used in subsequent biology classes as well.

The Take-Away:  AEF is supporting cutting-edge technology for our high school students, making science more hands-on, more real, and more fun.

***UMASS LIONS CLUB / AMHERST REGIONAL LEO CLUB  SPAGHETTI SUPPER***

(All you can eat!)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013

AMHERST VFW, 457 Main Street

Doors Open at 5 PM

Adults: $8 Students: $5 Children Under 6: FREE!!

All Proceeds to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Contact Information: Natalie Onacki nonacki@student.umass.edu

Victoria Legge vlegge@student.umass.edu

***Save the Date: African American Achievement Night***

You are cordially invited to attend the 2nd Annual African American Achievement Night.  

This much anticipated community celebration is scheduled for May 8 at 6:30pm in the Amherst Regional High School Auditorium (21 Mattoon Street).

District administrators, faculty, staff, students, families and community members will gather to celebrate the academic, extracurricular, musical, athletic, and community service accomplishments of students in grades K-12.  Music, dance and spoken word performances will enhance the event.

We look forward to seeing you at this wonderful community event.