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.

News From Our Principal

Happy Fall! We are off to the start of a great school year. The classes of 2018 and 2019 are fully engaged in middle school life. As I walk around the school, I see students writing poetry, students and teachers struggling to understand concepts such as privilege and injustice, students observing the environment to learn how to really notice and hypothesize, and students making music together. Watching students challenge themselves and grow is amazing!

It has been great to meet many of you at events including Open House, Team Breakfasts, and the Principal Coffee which includes a visit to our weekly Class Meeting. We are hoping to have many more opportunities to have families join us here in school. Middle school staff and the PGO are currently working to identify topics for a series of parent workshops throughout the year. A workshop on Internet Safety and Cyber bullying is currently being developed by Family Center staff. We will send out information when the date has been set. If you have additional thoughts about topics to examine, please email Becky Demling, co-chair of the PGO, or me with your ideas.

I would like to share a bit more information about our new district resource, the Family Center. The Family Center staff has a wealth of information about community events and community resources. Community members can drop in or schedule an appointment to ask questions or explore the resource library. In addition, Family Center staff is designing parent education presentations as well as community gathering events to help build connections within our community. Finally, the Family Center is also the location of the Steps to Success program which is designed to focus upon helping families gain access to what they need to support the educational
success of their children. The Family Center is located just down the hall from the ARMS office. I encourage you to drop in to share ideas, ask questions, or gather resources about topics related to raising children in our community.

I also want to encourage you to review the new “allergy aware” school guidelines. The Amherst, Pelham and the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts will now become "allergy aware" schools. Families and personnel are respectfully asked to refrain from
bringing nuts or foods processed with nuts in lunches and snacks. We have many students with serious nut allergies who are at risk of anaphylactic shock due to cross contamination (ie: a student eats nuts, then plays on equipment and the nut oils are transferred...later a
student with a nut allergy comes in contact with the same equipment and suffers a reaction). Please help the school keep all students healthy.

As we settle into the routines of the year, I would like to share some reminders
- Please remember to visit PowerSchool with your child to review progress from time to time. If you have not picked up a login and
password yet, you can stop by the main office with a picture ID to get one. Checking progress together is a great way to begin
discussions with kids about what is going well and areas in which they might need help but were not sure how to ask.
- Progress reports will be coming out the week of October 21st. Parents/Guardians who have received their parent portal information and signed up for electronic notification, will receive a notification electronically when their child’s progress report is available to be viewed. Parents/Guardians who have not signed up for electronic notifications, will receive their child’s progress report in the mail.
- Seventh grade parent/guardian conferences are start October 21 for Team M&M (Y), October 25 for Team Titan (Z) and October 28 for Team Norwottuck (X). If you have not signed up for a team conference, be sure to contact the main office at 362-1850.
- Afterschool clubs have begun. Please ask your child to share their experiences in clubs so far. It is not too late to sign up for many of our clubs if your child has not yet done so.
- Just a final note to emphasize how important it is for students to attend school consistently. Remember that tardies and absences are not excused unless a student is late for religious reasons or they are sick. Oversleeping, missing the bus, traveling, etc. are not
excused absences. For complete details on the absentee and tardy policies, please see the student handbook.

As we settle into the routines of the year, we hope you will stay actively involved here at ARMS. Thanks for sharing your fabulous children with us. Have a great month!

Betsy Dinger
(From October Newsletter)

Parent/Guardian Conferences Information

Dear Parents/Guardians of Seventh Grade Students:

Every year, after spending two months getting to know our 7th graders, we schedule parent/guardian conferences with all ARMS 7th grade families.  Our goals are to share what we've learned and plan together how to maximize each student's success for the rest of 7th grade and into 8th.

Please plan to schedule your 20 minute conference during the week that your student's team has conferences.  A team teacher from your student's team will bring information from each of the 4 team class teachers to share at the conference. 

Conference Dates:

Team Norwottuck (X) – Monday, October 28; Tuesday, October 29; Wednesday, October 30; Thursday, October 31

Team M&M (Y) – Monday, October 21; Wednesday, October 23; Thursday, October 24; Friday, October 25

Team Titan (Z) – Friday, October 25; Monday, October 28; Tuesday, October 29;Friday, November 1

If you have not signed up for a conference, please call the main office (362-1850) or email Sue Battistoni at battistonis@arps.org.  If you send an email, please give dates and times that you are available.  Sue will send you back a confirmation of the day and time you are scheduled.

Our goal is to meet with all seventh grade families. 

Implementación de Pautas Alrededor de las Escuelas Que Son Consientes de Alergias

Usted a lo mejor ya recibió una carta en referencia de la implementación de pautas alrededor de las escuelas que son consientes de alergias, en las cuales respetuosamente se les pide a las familias y al personal que por favor se abstengan de traer productos de nueces adentro de las escuelas. En respuesta a la reacción de familias y miembros de la comunidad demoraremos en implementar este cambio hasta Lunes, el 28 de Octubre. Esto le dará  tiempo adicional a las familias para que hagan ajustes mientras planean su menu, mientras hacemos cambios esenciales para apoyar la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes que tienen alergias fatales. Esta fecha también coincida con la primera de cuatro asambleas que presentara a Kyle Dine, educador de alergias alimenticias y músico, que mejoraran el entendimiento de nuestros estudiantes acerca del impacto de alergias alimenticias. Nosotros Apreciamos su entendimiento y apoyo.

Superintendente Maria Geryk.

Directrices De Alergias Potencialmente Mortales

1. ¿La restricción de traer alimentos o productos con nueces se aplican tanto a los estudiantes
como al personal?
Sí. Estamos pidiendo que nadie traiga alimentos o productos con nueces.

2. ¿Por qué son nueces y productos de nueces las únicas restricciones?
La alergia al maní (cacahuete) es una de las alergias alimentarias más comunes. El maní puede
causar una reacción alérgica grave y potencialmente mortal (anafilaxia). Alergia al maní parece estar
en aumento. Las investigaciones indican que el número de niños en los EE.UU. con una alergia al
maní se triplicó entre 1997 y 2008. Esta es la razón porque el maní (aunque técnicamente una
legumbre) se incluye en esta restricción.

3.  ¿Esta restricción incluye los productos transformados en una instalación que procesa
productos de nueces?
No. Usted verá información sobre esto en los paquetes de alimentos, sin embargo, nuestra petición
es que nadie traiga las nueces reales o productos de nueces a las escuelas. Evitar el contacto con los
nueces es nuestra meta.

4.  ¿Se aplica esta restricción a meriendas, así como en el almuerzo?
Sí. El riesgo de la contaminación cruzada es muy alta. Si una persona come un producto de nuez y
luego toca un pomo de puerta u otra área común en la clase, una persona con una alergia a las nueces
que luego toque ese pomo puede estar en riesgo de una reacción alérgica.

5.  ¿Se aplica esta restricción a actividades de antes y después de la escuela también?
Sí. Esto también se aplica en los autobuses y en las excursiones.

6.  ¿La restricción de nueces y productos de nueces incluyen celebraciones y días especiales?
Si.

7.  Mi hijo comúnmente come un emparedado de mantequilla de maní para el almuerzo. ¿Qué Existen una serie de sustituciones comunes pero uno que a muchos niños les gusta es la mantequilla de girasol. Es importante leer las etiquetas cuidadosamente para obtener información más específica
para determinar si el producto es sin nueces.

8.  ¿Puedo estar seguro de que nadie va a tener alimentos con nueces o productos en las escuelas?
No. No estamos prohibiendo las nueces, pero estamos solicitando muy fuertemente que todo el
mundo acate la directriz de no traer nueces o productos con nueces a las escuelas. Es por eso que
estamos considerando las escuelas como "conscientes a la alergia." Si usted o su hijo tienen una
alergia mortal a algún alimento, se recomienda que usted siga todas las medidas de seguridad
personal que utiliza habitualmente.

Allergy Aware Schools Guidelines Update

You may have already received a letter regarding the District’s implementation of allergy aware schools guidelines which respectfully requests that family and staff refrain from bringing nuts or nut products into the schools.  In response to feedback from families and community members, we will delay implementation until Monday, October 28.  This will allow families additional time to make adjustments in their menu planning as we make this essential change to support the safety of students who have life-threatening allergies.  This date also coincides with the first of four student assemblies featuring Kyle Dine, food allergy educator and musician, which will enhance students’ understanding of the impact of food allergies.  We appreciate your understanding and support.

Maria Geryk, Superintendent

(Reposted from email)


Life Threatening Allergy Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions  
1.  Does the restriction about bringing in foods with nuts or nut products apply to both students
Yes. We are asking that no one bring in foods with nuts or nut products.   

2.   Why is the restriction only on nuts and nut products?
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. Peanuts can cause a severe, potentially fatal, allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Allergy to peanuts appears to be on the rise. Research indicates that the number of children in the U.S. with a peanut allergy tripled between 1997 and
2008. This is why peanuts (although technically a legume) are included in this restriction.

3.  Does this restriction include products processed in a facility that processes nut products? 
No. You will see information regarding this on food packages; however, our request is that no one
brings in actual nuts or nut products into the schools. Avoidance of contact with nuts is our goal.

4.  Does this restriction apply to snacks as well as at lunch?
Yes. The risk for cross-contamination is very high. If one person eats a nut product and then
touches a doorknob or another common area in the classroom, a person with a nut allergy who then
touches that item may be at risk of an allergic reaction.

5.  Does this restriction apply to before- and after-school activities as well?
Yes. This also applies to when on buses and on field trips.

6.  Does the restriction on nuts and nut products include special celebrations and holidays? 
Yes,

7.  My child usually eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. What are we to do? 
There are a number of common substitutions but one that many children like is Sunflower butter. It
is important to read the manufacturer labels carefully for more specific information to see if the

8.  Can I be certain that no one will ever have foods with nuts or nut products in the schools?
No. We are not banning nuts, but rather strongly requesting that everyone abide by the guideline not
to bring nuts or nut products into the schools. That is why we are considering the schools to be
“allergy aware.” If you or your child has a life threatening food allergy, we recommend that you
continue all personal safety measures that you typically use.

9th Annual Trivia Bee Thursday Oct. 24th 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Amherst Middle School Auditorium

Come enjoy the 19th Annual Trivia Bee Thursday October 24th 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Amherst Middle School Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30pm for a fun evening that includes over 100 players in costumes, raffle prizes (UMass Basketball and Hockey tickets, Fine Arts Center tickets and more) plus refreshments, an audience trivia game and prizes. Admission is free with donations benefiting Amherst area public schools. Questions? contact Clare Bertrand 413-531-4235 clarebertrand@gmail.com

Register for Winter Sports - Starts Monday, 10/14

Winter sports registration starts October 14th. 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.

Click here to register.

Reuse Rally: Costumes, Craft Supplies, & Scary Stuff - Oct. 19

A Halloween costume and art/craft supply swap will be held at Smith Vocational High School on October 19.  Donations from the public will be collected from 5-7 pm on Friday, 10/18 and from 8:30-9:30 am Saturday morning, and material will be shared with the public between 9am-12pm Saturday.  In addition, two materials the U.S. typically throws away in “scary” quantities will be collected for reuse and recycling on Saturday from 9am-12pm only: expanded polystyrene foam (EPS, commonly referred to as Styrofoam®) and bulky rigid plastic (BRP) items. A free “Take It or Leave It” swap area will encourage reuse of BRP items.

Role of Parents in Supporting Their Children's Achievements- 10/15 @ noon at UMass

The UMass Center for Research on Families presents Jacquelynne Eccles, Ph.D., McKeachie/Pintrich Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Michigan, her lecture on “The Role of Parents in Supporting Their Children's Achievements” will be this Tuesday, October 15th at 12:00 p.m in the 
Cape Cod Lounge, Student Union at UMass. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Eccles has conducted research on a wide variety of topics including gender-role socialization, teacher expectancies, classroom influences on student motivation, and social development in the family and school context. Her work has been honored by several prestigious awards including the Kurt Lewin Memorial Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She is a member of the National Academy of Education a World Scholar at the University of London, and Visiting Professor at the University of Tubingen, Germany. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
For more information contact: http://www.umass.edu/family

Reminder: Thursday is a late start day!

Just a reminder that tomorrow, THURSDAY, October 10th is a late start day.  The school day for students begins at 9:45 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m., to allow time for teachers to work on curriculum and school-wide issues. On Late Arrival Days, buses run approximately two hours later than usual and the school follows a special schedule.

FSP/PGO Meeting Tonight!

Please join the board-elect for the first FSP/PGO meeting of the year.  Come be a part of establishing group goals and priorities and learn about on-going and future projects.  We will be joined by Principal Betsy Dinger.

Tonight, Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Time: 7 - 8 PM

Location:  ARMS Library

Agenda:  

Welcome/ Introductions

What is the FSP:

Mission

Communication

Who is the FSP:

Description of positions

Vote in New Officer-s Co-Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary

Ways to get involved

·        Committee Roles

·        Power Hour Coordinator

·        Team Liaison

·        Hospitality Coordinator

Introduction Exercise to Establish Community Goals for 2013-2014

Budget / Fundraising Update

·   

Organizational Update

·        501c Collaboration

·        Mission Statement and Bi-Laws presentation

Activities Update

·        Directory Update

·        Parent Social- October 25th

Future Planning:

·        Parent Information Sessions

Other Business

Adjourn

You Belong! 8th Grade Parents: Your help is requested by Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Partnering with                           

Amherst Regional Middle School

Dear ARMS 8^th Grade Families:

Welcome back to school!  This fall we have a new program called You Belong! for our 8^th grade students which will take place on Monday, November 4^th for Team Evergreen, Tuesday, November 5^th for Team Greylock and on Wednesday November 6^th for Team Frost.

The You Belong! Program will take place in the ARMS gym.  It will be a full day event, beginning at 8:00 am and going until dismissal at 2:20. There will be a break for lunch at the regular 8^th grade lunch time.

The You Belong! Program:

Breaks down social and culture barriers. Increases peer advocacy. Increases ability to communicate honestly about difficult and challenging issues.

Reduces bullying, teasing and stereotyping. Increases sense of belonging, value and self-esteem. Increases healthy emotional expression.

True heroism is trusting what is in one’s heart enough to step out and let it be seen.

Please find a full description of the program on the next sheet.

The cost of this event is not in the school budget, so we are asking each 8^th grade family to contribute what they can now.  We hope you will see this as an opportunity to support and recognize the great importance of helping our 8^th graders become an emotionally strong and supportive group.  This program will give them the skills and the bonds to take them successfully through to their high school graduation. 

The cost for each student in this program is $25.   We are asking that each family contribute what they can to support You Belong!  Please consider an additional donation of what you can afford ($25, $50, $100) to help support scholarships.  Please send in cash or check (made out to ARMS) along with the completed detached form to your student's advisory teacher by Tuesday, October 15^th.   

GREAT NEWS!! The Amherst Rotary Club has given ARMS $500 dollars to help us get started!

For more information you may contact:  Rebecca Fricke (parent volunteer) rebfricke@gmail.com or Mike Malone (Assistant Principal) malonem@arps.org . 

Thank you so much for your support --

Rebecca Fricke

(Please detach and return with your contribution and permission slip)

Student's name:  _____________________________________   Team: _______________________________

Please check the following:

__ Yes!  I can support the 8th grade year-end activities.  Enclosed is my contribution of:

__ $5                     __ $15                   __ $25                   __ $50                   __ $75           ____ $100  ___ other

__ I would like to request a scholarship for You Belong!

Parent’s Name: _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

 Synopsis 

You Belong!

Igniting a generation of everyday heroes

There can seem to be a lot at stake when you are in middle school and high school. It can a place where you have to navigate so many things claiming to measure your value – your grades, relationships, affiliation with a particular group, where you live, the color of your skin or whom you are attracted to. When assumptions are made, it can be a place where appearances make the difference between fitting in or feeling isolated  or alone. Reputations can be made and broken in a matter of seconds with just the click of a button. The result is

that there can be so many formative feelings, questions, hopes and fears that feel like they must be kept hidden – things that feel so very real, yet lie just below the surface of what people allow to be seen and talked about.

But, what if you did not have to try to fit in? What if you could feel confident that if you shared who you really are – the self that you let few see – that it would be held with respect and care? What if you could step into the hallway of your school and know that you had a group of peers who knew the real you and had your back? What if you could be a part of creating a school where people knew they belonged?

“You Belong!” is a transformative program that engages students, teachers and community members in creating a vibrant culture of compassion, inclusion and support. Through a progression of dynamic group activities, thought provoking questioning, and transparent dialogue, participants co-create an environment of physical and emotional safety where the full and authentic expression of each person is welcomed and honored. During this process, participants deepen connections with self and others, resulting in increased personal confidence and compassion. Ignited by the four components of everyday heroism – vision, courage, vulnerability and action – participants emerge more emphatically rooted in their unique strengths, embodying actions that reflect their values and those of their community.

The You Belong! Program:

Breaks down social and culture barriers. Reduces bullying, teasing and stereotyping. Increases peer advocacy.

Increases sense of belonging, value and self-esteem.

Increases ability to communicate honestly about difficult and challenging issues. Increases healthy emotional expression.

True heroism is trusting what is in one’s heart enough to step out and let that be seen. Yes, there is risk, but think of what you are risking without this act. How can you truly belong if the real you has never been revealed. A community of belonging can be inspired by the action of just a few. How much more when it is an entire class of everyday heroes?

Program Outline:

The first half of the day is highly fun and active as participants engage in a series of energizing group activities, icebreakers and initiatives that serve to build rapport and trust amongst individuals. During this time, groups of 6-8 are formed and have the opportunity to develop group identity by generating a group name, cheer and handshake.

The transition to the second half of the day involves creating a physically and emotionally safe container through the dialogue addressing respect, attention and confidentiality. This results in the commitment to a set of norms that will help guide encounters throughout the rest of the day. During this time, students also learn particular communication tools such as “I” language and the framing of positive and negative statements.

The second half of the day leads participants through a progression of dialogues, reflections and sharing.  Activities focus on identifying personal strengths and vision, enabling participants to see their own unique value, and encouraging them to wield that value in an “on purpose” manner. The day ends with an opportunity for appreciation, gratitude and sharing within the entire class. Due to all that has been built up to this point, this can be by far the richest part of the day. The final component is a commitment ceremony allowing students to identify ways in which they will carry forward the spirit of what took place during this program.

Challenge by Choice: This program implements the philosophy of challenge by choice. We are most interested in encouraging participants to explore their true and authentic selves amidst their peers. We find that this happens best when participants engage in activities that allow them to step from the world of the known and familiar to that of new experiences and abilities. It is important for participants to recognize that this experience involves exploring personal boundaries and understanding how to identify where it is healthy to stretch one’s boundaries, as well as where it is important to hold fast to those boundaries for one’s physical and emotional safety. These boundaries will be different for each person and are ultimately for that individual to define. Our facilitators will always encourage participants to step outside their comfort-zone into the realm of the unknown where new learning and personal growth occurs. However, it is of vital importance that participants have the opportunity at any point to adjust their involvement in activity in such a way that they can still contribute to the process while maintaining their physical and emotional well-being.