Sunday, January 28, 2018

Updates from Principal Patty

The ARMS Staff members send a multitude of thanks to the PGO and all the parents and guardians who hosted the "Beach Party Social" on Friday night. More than 100 students attended and had a wonderful time. We also thank the dozens of sorority & fraternity students from UMASS who helped to chaperone. There was something for everyone - the art room was open - the twister games were in motion - chess - ping-pong and dancing, dancing, dancing with our beloved Mr. Hunter as DJ. Thank you.


First semester Report Cards will be sent home through US postal mail on February 5th. These report cards reflect the evaluation of your student's learning and academic achievement from the first half of the school year when marks closed on January 19. Keep a lookout in your mail box for report card delivery. 

As second semester begins, Principal Bode wants to thank all ARMS families, students, staff and community members the many contributions that made the month of January dynamic and inspiring in our teaching and learning - as illustrated in these posts. 


The ARMS Geographic Bee on January 9th was a demonstration of students intense focus and concentration. Our social studies teachers provided an academically rigorous competition in a nurturing supportive environment.



Throughout the month January, the drama class students in Ms. Bonifaz's room performed poetry and short plays. Our beloved kitchen staff members from our cafeteria even made time to come see their brilliant performances.



On January 12 every ARMS student added two footprints to an all-school project to symbolically demonstrate our collective commitment to carrying on the work of the Civil Rights Movement in 4' tall letters to formulate our message: "We Must Keep Moving!" comprised of all of our footprints and hand-written, individual messages about our personal dedication to help better our world, and our collective commitment to work together in solidarity.



Throughout our study, recognition, remembrance and commemoration of the life of Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr we made connections from the historical Civil Rights Movement to contemporary issues which inspire us to make social change. Our all-school assembly on January 12 was highlighted by the performance of Hip Hop Literacies by students from our after school Vela program.



Celebration of Dance evening on Fri Jan 12th - our 7th grade dance students joined the high school students on the high school stage to share their learning and enthusiasm! We are excited to announce our dance teacher, Tracy Vernon will be expanding our fledgling dance program to include 8th grade classes next year!




Senator Ed Markey visited ARMS on Sunday, January 28th to speak at a Community Town Hall Meeting which focused on immigration rights. ARMS art students prepared a welcome sign in front of which the Senator was interviewed for Channel 22 news.


Our ARMS 8th grade chorus members performed to open the Jan 28th Town Hall Meeting for Senator Markey and presented an ARMS t-shirt to each US Senator Ed Markey and Massachusetts State Representative Solomon Goldstein-Rose.

Mark Your Calendars

  • Feb. 7: Early Dismissal
  • Feb. 19-23: Winter Break

ARMS Educator Award – Call for Nominations! Due Feb. 28

We are now taking nominations for the 2018 ARMS Educator Award

Nominations will be accepted from ARMS and ARHS parents and guardians, ARMS and ARHS students, and any ARMS staff members. The award is open to all educators and staff at ARMS, including teachers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, specialists, special education educators, nurse and counseling staff, custodial staff, librarians, office administrators and other support staff (with the exclusion of the principal and assistant principals).

WinterFest Amherst, Feb. 3-10

WinterFest Amherst (February 3-10, 2018) is the largest winter festival in Western Mass, featuring over 40 events including music, food, sports, recreation and community activities.

Among this year’s highlights are 10 events on the first day, including a Luminaria, sponsored by the Amherst BID, on the Town Common. Among other highlights are: the WinterFest Ice Hockey Challenge Cup, 5K Indoor Run, Men and Women’s Amateur Basketball, Food Demonstrations, Nature Hikes, Lectures and Discussions, Figure Skating, Winter Crafts for Kids, Painting for Children, Live Music, Winter Farmers’ Market, Movies and more.

WinterFest concludes on Feb. 10, with fireworks, beauty queens, and more at the Grand Finale at the Cherry Hill Golf Course.

WinterFest Amherst 2018

Film/Discussion: Racism & Climate Change Are About You, Feb. 8

AMHERST, MA - Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room for the next event in this ongoing film and discussion series that may educate, touch your heart, and inspire you to action to help dismantle racism.

In this December 2017 TED talk, Dr. Atyia Martin examines the intersections of racism and climate change. She proposes ways for us to scrutinize bias in ourselves, our workplaces, and our social groups. Dr. Martin is the new Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Boston. Under her leadership, Boston will focus on advancing racial equity as the foundation of the Resilience Strategy process. After the screening and discussion, work will continue in small working groups to advance anti-racism action projects that have been undertaken.

Free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223. 

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and Coming Together. More information about Coming Together can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

Save the Date: AEF Celebrates ARPS Principals, 3/17

Join Amherst Education Foundation for an evening of celebration, fun, and food as we honor the 9 principals of the Amherst Regional Public School District and community champion Florence Bank.

Our principal honorees are: Mark Jackson, Patty Bode, Diane Chamberlain, Derek Shea, Lisa Desjarlais, David Slovin, Margot Lacey, Jackie Mendonsa, and Nick Yaffe.

March 17, 2018 from 6-8pm. Doors open at 6:00pm with a cash bar followed by dinner and entertainment, including music and trivia. Proceeds support AEF-funded grants in our public schools.



Sunday, January 21, 2018

Mark Your Calendars

  • Jan 22: All Teachers Curriculum/ Work Day (No School)
  • Jan. 26: Winter Beach Party Social (7-9pm in the ARMS cafeteria)
  • Feb. 7: Early Dismissal
  • Feb. 19-23: Winter Break

Winter Beach Party!! This Friday, Feb. 26

It’s chilly outside, but it will be tropical at ARMS this week! The PGO is sponsoring a FREE Winter Beach Party for all ARMS students on Friday, January 26, from 7-9 pm in the ARMS cafeteria. 

 Admission is free, and we will provide free snacks and drink. Popsicles, anyone!? We’ll have music courtesy of Mr. Hunter, who is a teacher by day, DJ by night, as well as lots of beach-themed games, a beach photo booth, and an indoor “beach” with floats and lounge chairs. 

We really need parent volunteers to help make this event a success. If you can help with set-up, clean-up, or supervising the coat check and hallways, please sign-up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4baaab283-winter

ARMS Educator Award – Call for Nominations, due Feb. 28

We are now taking nominations for the 2018 ARMS Educator Award

Nominations will be accepted from ARMS and ARHS parents and guardians, ARMS and ARHS students, and any ARMS staff members.  The award is open to all educators and staff at ARMS, including teachers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, specialists, special education educators, nurse and counseling staff, custodial staff, librarians, office administrators and other support staff (with the exclusion of the principal and assistant principals).

To view and download nomination materials: click here

Nominations are due by February 28, 2018.  




Coffee with the Principal: Topic-IMP at ARHS

On Thursday, January 25th at 7 pm, please join us in the ARHS library to hear an update on the implementation of the Interactive Math Program [IMP]. High school administrators and math teachers will present. This might be of interest to 8th grade parents, in particular, as it is the math program they use at the HS.

This event is sponsored by the ARHS PGO. Refreshments provided.

Film & Discussion Series: Racism and Climate Change Are About You, Feb. 8

AMHERST, MA - Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room for the next event in this ongoing film and discussion series that may educate, touch your heart, and inspire you to action to help dismantle racism.

In this December 2017 TED talk, Dr. Atyia Martin examines the intersections of racism and climate change. She proposes ways for us to scrutinize bias in ourselves, our workplaces, and our social groups. Dr. Martin is the new Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Boston. Under her leadership, Boston will focus on advancing racial equity as the foundation of the Resilience Strategy process. After the screening and discussion, work will continue in small working groups to advance anti-racism action projects that have been undertaken.

Free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and Coming Together. More information about Coming Together can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/

Monday, January 15, 2018

Mark Your Calendars

Things to Know in January and February, 2018 - English and Spanish

View ARPS 2017-18 Calendar

Winter Beach Party!! Jan. 26

There may be snow outside, but it will be tropical at ARMS this week! The PGO is sponsoring a Winter Beach Party Social for all ARMS students on Friday, January 26, from 7-9 pm in the ARMS cafeteria.  Admission is free, and we will provide free snacks and drink. Popsicles, anyone!? We’ll have music courtesy of Mr. Hunter, who is a teacher by day, DJ by night, as well as lots of beach-themed games, a beach photo booth, and an indoor “beach” with floats and lounge chairs.

ARMS Educator Award – Call for Nominations!

We are now taking nominations for the 2018 ARMS Educator Award.

Nominations will be accepted from ARMS and ARHS parents and guardians, ARMS and ARHS students, and any ARMS staff members. The award is open to all educators and staff at ARMS, including teachers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, specialists, special education educators, nurse and counseling staff, custodial staff, librarians, office administrators and other support staff (with the exclusion of the principal and assistant principals).

Nominations are due by February 28, 2018.


Are you interested in Chinese language instruction at ARMS and ARHS?

In order to finalize our Chinese language offerings for next year, we are inviting rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students and prospective upper class transfer students to schedule a placement meeting with Yiping Yan, our Chinese language teacher.

Meetings can be scheduled by emailing Ms. Yan at yany@arps.org. Meetings will be scheduled after school between January 8 and January 19.

We will then host an information session at 7 pm on February 6th in the high school library to share the details of our 2018-2019 Chinese language program.

For further information, please contact Ericka Alschuler, Interim Assistant Principal, at 362-1714

Athletic Department Sponsored Conditioning Program


The Athletic Department is sponsoring an eight-week conditioning program for anyone who wants to get into shape for spring sports. This is a good opportunity to get a jump on the competition. If you wait until the season starts it’s too late. The program will focus on the following areas: flexibility, mobility, strength, endurance, speed, and mental preparation. The program will be Monday through Thursday from 3:15 until 4:30. Participants will be given a workout for Friday and Saturday to do on their own.

The program will consist of running, hills, dynamic stretching, static stretching, cardio, and weight lifting. Register for Monday/ Wednesday session and/or Tuesday/Thursday session. 

Register through FamilyID. Registration will be open today through January 19th.

The full fee cost of the program is $57, reduced lunch fee is $31 and free lunch fee is $26. You can mail or drop off a check or pay online at https://unipaygold.unibank.com

Coffee with the Principal (Topic - IMP at ARHS)

On Thursday, January 25th at 7 pm, please join us in the ARHS library to hear an update on the implementation of the Interactive Math Program (IMP). High school administrators and math teachers will present. This event may be of interest to 8th grade parents, in particular, as it is the math program they use at ARHS.

This event is sponsored by the ARHS PGO. Refreshments provided.

Reminders about Accessing School Delay and Cancellation Information

Delays or cancellations are posted first on our closing line at 362-1898 (with a goal of posting by 5:30 a.m.). Notification is made next to the local television stations. Delays are typically two-hours, although a one-hour delay can be called. With delays, students are expected to report the appropriate number of hours later than the regular school day and should plan to be at bus stops based on those times, as well.

Las demoras o cancelaciones se publican primero en nuestra línea de cierre en 362-1898 (con el objetivo de publicar antes de las 5:30 a.m.). La notificación se publica luego a las estaciones de televisión locales. Los retrasos suelen ser de (2) dos horas, aunque podría haber retrasos de solo (1) una hora. Con las demoras, se espera que el personal se reporte de acuerdo el número de horas de retraso a su jornada de trabajo regular. Por ende, si existiera un retraso de una hora, se reportará a su jornada de trabajo una hora más tarde, y no habrá cambios en su hora de salida.