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.