Sunday, May 13, 2018

Mark Your Calendars

  • May 28: Memorial Day
  • June 21: Last Day of School (ARMS has had five snow days in 2017-2018 counting March 13th. The last day of school is currently June 21.
View ARPS 2017-18 Calendar

Our Immigration Stories photo-text exhibit at ARMS Tuesday, May 15

Please join us for our reception of Our Immigration Stories photo-text exhibit at ARMS Tuesday, May 15 from 5:30-7:00! Student presentations, artwork, writing, refreshments and a gathering of the extended "ARMS Family!" In the Cafeteria, Library and Main Lobby-Gallery! Supported by a grant from the Amherst Education Foundation.



LSSE Summer Sports Camps

SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SIGN UP FOR OUR 2018 SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS WITH AMAZING INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF!
  • BASEBALL
  • BASKETBALL
    • DENNIS JACKSON’S BASKETBALL CAMPS (FOOTLOCKER & BLUECHIP)
    • COMPLETE PLAYER
    • COED BASKETBALL
  • ULTIMATE
  • TENNIS
  • FLAG FOOTBALL
  • VOLLEYBALL
  • LACROSSE (BOYS CAMP AND GIRLS CAMP)
  • FIELD HOCKEY
  • GOLF
  • SOCCER
Sign up and register today at www.LSSE.org or (413)259-3065
For more information please reach out to our SPORTS DIRECTOR: Chris Johnson (413)259-3144 or johnsonc@amherstma.gov


Summer Ultimate League of Amherst

Join us for another exciting summer of Ultimate Frisbee. This league is geared for people who want to enjoy the thrill and excitement of ultimate Frisbee, regardless of experience level. All levels of ability will be welcomed to join. All players will be assigned their own team in this fun and competitive league!

Time and Location: All Sessions start at 6:00 PM at Plum Brook Recreational Area

835301 Junior SULA Price: $39

TUESDAYS, June 26th—August 7th
  • Session A, Activities for Kids (Ages 7-8)
  • Session B, Elementary Division (Ages 9-11)
  • Session C, Middle School Division (Ages 12-14)

835300 Adult SULA Price: $45
Session A
  • Recreational Co-Ed (Ages 14+)
  • Thursdays, June 21st—August 9th
Session B
  • Competitive Co-Ed (Ages 15+)
  • Wednesdays, June 20th—August 8th
Session C
  • Women Only (Ages 13+)
  • Mondays, June 18th—August 6th


2018 Sugarloaf Youth Track League

Ages: 6-14
Dates: Thursday 5/24, 5/31, 6/7 and Friday 6/15, 6/22, 6/29
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Amherst Regional High School Track
Price: $49

Description: Boys and girls of all abilities will be placed on a team and can compete in both relay and individual events. Family and friends of all ages are invited to cheer on athletes! Non-team member children who are present are invited to compete in a 100 meter dash each night. There is an organizational meeting to group teams, meet coaches, and run an informal series of practice races on May 24th. Entries may be closed before this date if maximum number of participants is reached, so sign up ASAP!

For more info please visit our website

Contact Sydney Henthorn, Sugarloaf Track League Director at shenthorn20@gmail.com or Chris Johnson, Sports Director at LSSE, (413) 259-3144 johnsonc@amherstma.gov




Not a school sponsored event

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Planning meeting for 8th grade picnic and social, Wed, May 9, 6:30 pm

We will be having a planning meeting for the 8th grade end of the year picnic (all day, Thursday June 14) and social (Friday evening, June 15) this Wednesday, May 9, at 6:30 pm at the middle school (probably in the library – there will be signs!). These are great traditions at the middle school and an important part of sending our kids off to high school. But they only work with lots of parent input and support. Please try and join us if you can – I promise it won’t be very long!

Even if you are a 7th grade parent, this is a great opportunity to get involved at the end of the year. We’ve traditionally relied heavily on 7th grade parents for planning and chaperoning these activities – plus it’s good practice for next year.

If you have any questions – or would like to be involved in planning, but can’t make the meeting, please email us at armspgo@gmail.com.

Thank you,
The ARMS PGO

Mark Your Calendars

  • May 28: Memorial Day
  • June 21: Last Day of School (ARMS has had five snow days in 2017-2018 counting March 13th. The last day of school is currently June 21.

View ARPS 2017-18 Calendar

ARMS PGO Online Store is OPEN! Order by May 20

Just in time for spring, we will be re-opening our popular online Amherst merchandise store for three weeks only. The store will open on Monday, April 30 and close on Sunday, May 20.  We’ve got lots of summery items, including t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, caps, and more, plus the wintertime favorites  of sweatshirts, scarves and jackets.  Act now to get all the latest Amherst merchandise for your student (or yourself!). The items make great graduation gifts for 8th graders moving on to high school. 

View flyer for more information: ARMS PGO Store Flyer
To place your order, visit: https://amherstregionalmiddleschool.itemorder.com


SPONSOR the 2017-2018 ARMS YEARBOOK

Many thanks to the families, friends and local businesses who are sponsoring the’ 17-‘18 ARMS Yearbook.  Your donations are greatly appreciated and go towards gift books for students who could not otherwise afford a yearbook.  There is still time to contribute.  Please use the form attached to this newsletter if you would like to be an ARMS Yearbook Sponsor. If you have any questions or comments, please let Amy know at amysweeting@yahoo.com

Click to view/print sponsorship form


…   Give a gift of memories  …

The ARMS Yearbook staff is once again hard at work organizing fund-raisers and soliciting donations for the 2017-2018 ARMS Yearbook.

We ask the members of our community for donations of any amount, to help offset yearbook costs (both partially and completely) for students whose families have financial hardships.

Each year our goal is to provide a yearbook for every student who wants one, regardless of their economic status.  We need your help to succeed!

Please consider becoming a Yearbook Sponsor by completing the form below and returning it to the Middle School Main Office with your donation.

Sponsors are acknowledged with a special dedication in the yearbook. You may also use the form to buy a yearbook as a gift for a specific student.  Yearbook gifts cost $20.

With many thanks for your generosity and support!

Transition planning process for Youth with IEPs (one session remains)

Three part series of informational evening seminars. These presentations will provide students, families and school staff with valuable information for future planning and will assist in transitioning students from school to adult life.

All presentations will begin at 6:30pm and will be held at Amherst Regional High School. All are welcome to attend these free information sessions. Please RSVP to sepac@arps.org or 413-687-4255.

Session 1: April 25th, 2018 Wednesday: Intro to the Transition Planning Process
An overview of the transition planning process for youth with disabilities ages 14-22 on IEPs. Will also include some tools for creating a vision for after high school. Presented by Leslie Leslie from the Federation of Children with Special Needs. Held in ARHS library.

Session 2: May 2nd, 2018 Wednesday: ABCs of Adult Agencies
An opportunity to hear from and to meet with representatives of some of the adult agencies in our state, including the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), and others. Come find out what kinds of services and supports are available after high school and what you and your student need to do to apply for them. Held in ARHS cafeteria.

Session 3: May 9th, 2018 Wednesday: Family to Family
Families with a range of experiences and perspectives will share details of their students’ journeys into adulthood and discuss how and why they and their children made the choices that they did. There will be plenty of time to meet with panelists and ask questions. Be prepared to laugh a little and learn a lot! Held in ARHS library.

Sessions offered by: Amherst Regional Public Schools, Federation for Children with Special Needs and Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC).

Nominations Open for Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards, Due May 18

Dear Teachers and Staff of Amherst Schools and Amherst Community Members: 

The Amherst Human Rights Commission has as its prime purpose to promote a community of mutual respect and to honor our diversity. We strive to promote attitudes of compassion and concern for all of our neighbors. To encourage these values, we offer the Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards, an annual celebration of Amherst-area youth. 2018 represents the 13th year of these awards!

It is the Commission’s intent to identify and celebrate local youth who have demonstrated acts of kindness, unselfishness, social courage and/or community service within their families, schools or community. Please help us by nominating a young person you have observed displaying exceptional kindness or consideration in the past year.

Groups of young people may also be nominated to share an award. We strive to recognize children and teens across the spectrum of age groups and schools, including those who do not live in Amherst but who attend any school in town.

Nominations may be submitted through May 18, 2018, to humanrights@amherstma.gov or to the Commission c/o Deborah Radway, Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst MA 01002. 

The Human Rights Commission will celebrate this year’s Heroes at its annual community picnic on Sunday, June 3rd from 10am-1pm at Mill River Recreation Area. We will alert nominators and award recipients prior to the event so they can make plans to attend. We hope you will join us!

Yours truly,
Matthew Charity, Sidonio Ferreira, Emily Boutilier, Elizabeth Cahn, Sovann Malis-Loeung, Sophia Maldonado and Tristan Whalen

The Amherst Human Rights Commission


Not a school sponsored event

Upcoming Events @ Jones Library

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

Hummingbirds of the World, MAY 10

An opportunity to learn about hummingbirds near and far comes to the Jones Library in a presentation by local naturalist John Root. Please join us in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library at 7 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

This presentation is a visual one that features spectacular images of hummingbirds from around the world. Topics discussed include myths and legends about hummingbirds in different cultures, special adaptations for flight, co-evolution of hummingbirds and the flowers that they visit, courtship and nesting behavior, and migration. Information about attracting hummingbirds with feeders and hummingbird gardens is also presented. Comments and questions are welcome throughout the program.

This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.


Film & Discussion Series: Imperial Dreams, MAY 15

Join us on Tuesday, May 15, 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.

Join us for a screening of this 2017 film entitled Imperial Dreams. A young father and reformed gangster returns home from jail eager to care for his son, Daytona, and become a writer. Crime, poverty, and a flawed system threaten his plans in this fictional but realistic drama. There will be a brief discussion of the film following the screening.

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/.


Not a school sponsored event

Whole Children Wild Goose Chase 5K, May 20

Get ready to run, walk, waddle, and roll! The Whole Children's 4th Annual Wild Goose Chase 5K, Family Fun Runs, & Kids' Carnivalis just a few weeks away! Join this wonderful day of inclusive, family-friendly fun for all ages and abilities, all to support the programs of Whole Children.

Registration that includes a FREE kids t-shirt is now closed. There will be some t-shirts available for purchase the day of the event.

Carnival events include horse-drawn wagon rides by Muddy Brook Drafts, hula hooping with HoopJoy, yo-yoing with A2Z Science & Learning Store, face-painting, games, and much more. Free entry to Look Park is also included for first 100 families to register!

Food provided by the Holyoke Hummus Company, Chill Out, and The Dogfather, plus live music by The Expandable Brass Band. 

Check out the course at viewtherace.com/massachusetts/wild-goose-chase-5k

To learn more about Whole Children, visit: https://www.wholechildren.org







Not a school sponsored event