Winter Session Youth Programs

Not a School Sponsored Event

Amherst Historical Society’s 4th Annual Ski Sale

SKI AND WINTER GEAR SALE: 2-Day Pop Up Ski Shop new and used gear on Friday, January 3rd, 5-8:30 pm and Saturday, January 4, 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, at the Pacific (Masonic) Lodge, located at 99 Main Street, Amherst.  Fourth Annual Ski Sale offers great discounts for the beginner skater to the expert skier, all in adult and youth sizes. Experts will be on hand to help with sizing and selection. All proceeds benefit for the Amherst Historical Society. Questions, email Bonnie at amhersthistory@gmail.com.

CONSIGN YOUR GENTLY USED WINTER GEAR- Equipment accepted only on Thursday, January 2, from 5:30-7:30 pm at Pacific Lodge, 99 Main Street, Amherst. Outgrown your skis or winter gear? Bring in your gently used gear to sell on consignment during the 2-Day Pop Up Ski Shop.  The seller sets the price and if sold, receives forty percent of the sale price for their used equipment. Donations also accepted. Contact Bonnie at amhersthistory@gmail.com for more details.

Want to have first look at the merchandise? Contact Bonnie about volunteering to help unload ski gear on January 2nd.

Not a school-sponsored event

Amherst Youth Basketball League

Not a school-sponsored event

Enjoy the Holidays!

Happy Holidays dear ARMS community! 

Sincere warm wishes of Love, Health and Peace and the best 2020 for all!

Felices Fiestas querida comunidad ARMS!

Sinceros y calidos deseos de Amor, Salud y Paz y el mejor 2020 para todos!

Your ARMS PGO team

Please contact us to help in nice fun activities!

LSSE needs your input

Amherst Leisure Services & Supplemental Education (LSSE) is working on a new strategic plan! The plan will be based on a shared community vision that sets priorities and prepares us for the future.

If you live in or around Amherst, we want to hear from you about which community recreation and education programs you value most, and how we can better meet you and your family's needs. This survey is for anybody in the greater Amherst area who is interested in athletics, fitness or education programs. It doesn't matter if you've participated in programs or activities offered by LSSE in the past. 

The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete, and is completely anonymous. Please fill it out for yourself and your household, including any children under the age of 18. Youth ages 18 and up are encouraged to fill out their own survey.

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2F2019_Amherst_LSSE_Survey&data=01%7C01%7Cbilzb%40amherstma.gov%7C07cea5f607094202982508d778c2ab52%7C5817fd9a09da4a03a3a2e680501e2c52%7C0&sdata=0MP3Eiffik3P4mAaIK0swsRrixRKLrTtplRDzqOuXwo%3D&reserved=0

Not a school-sponsored event

Florence Bank Customers' Choice Community Grants

Florence Bank is donating $100,000 to local non-profit organizations in it's Annual Customers' Choice Community Grants Program, and you decide who gets the money! Florence Bank customers click here to vote for the Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO (ARPS PGO), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization consisting of the PGOs for Crocker Farm, Wildwood, the Amherst Middle School, & the Amherst High School.  Be sure to vote before December 31st to make your vote count.

Not a school-sponsored event

UMass Employees Can Contribute to ARMS via UMACC Program

Do you work at UMass? Do you want an easy way to make a contribution to the Amherst Regional Middle School PGO and help our schools?

The annual UMass-Amherst Community Campaign (UMACC) is underway. The UMACC program lets UMass employees donate to charitable organizations via paycheck, as little as $1 per pay period.

The Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization consisting of the PGOs for Crocker Farm, Wildwood, the Amherst Regional Middle School, & the Amherst High School. The APRS PGO UMACC number is 15250.

UMass employees can signup with their their UMass NetID at http://www.umass.edu/umacc/login Please consider signing up today. Every donation makes a difference! Thank you for your support.

AFD Toys for Tots collection

Amherst Fire Stations – Holiday Toy Collection Sites

From now until December 15th, the Amherst Fire Department will be a collection site for the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program. The Central Fire Station located at 68 North Pleasant Street and the North Station, located at 603 East Pleasant Street will accept new, unwrapped toys between the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

Members of the Marine Corps will then distribute the toys to children in our area. Without this program, many children would go without gifts this holiday season. 

Thank you, 

-Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson

Not a school-sponsored event

Warm Winter Clothing Share

Lighting of the Merry Maple - an Amherst Tradition!

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Fire Station Open House

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Storytelling with Mia Cabana, Jones Library’s Head of Youth Services at Amherst Books

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Wagon Rides at Town Common with Muddy Brook Farm

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Lighting of the Merry Maple

5:15 PM

UMass Minuteman Marching Band & Santa Arrive

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Visit with Santa at the Amherst History Museum

Not a school-sponsored event

Amherst Capital Projects Listening Sessions

The Amherst Town Council will hold two more Listening Sessions to collect comments from the public on the need for four major capital investments facing the Town and to provide guidance to the Town Council in setting priorities.  Members of the School Committee and Jones Library Trustees have assisted in development of the information for these sessions and will be present at each session.

The Listening Sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

• Monday, December 9th at 3:30 p.m. at Fort River Elementary School, Library

• Monday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m. at Wildwood Elementary School, Library

The Town has a clear need to make significant investments These investments could happen through new construction, extensive renovation, or addressing only major repairs.

The goal of the Listening Sessions is to provide the Town Council with insights and opinions from the community that will help inform its planning for and funding significant investments in four major capital projects –elementary school(s) (Fort River Elementary School and Wildwood Elementary School), Department of Public Works facility, Fire/Emergency Medical Services headquarters, and the Jones Library.

The Listening Sessions will be facilitated and structured to provide basic information to the public and offer the opportunity for members of the public to participate in small group discussions that will ensure wide, active participation of all involved. The Town website will also have a dedicated place to view the relevant materials and provide comments (coming soon).

The Town Council and staff will be listening, taking notes, and giving careful consideration to all comments. Please join your fellow residents to helping to shape how these four investment decisions are made.

Questions? Email townmanager@amherstma.gov or towncouncil@amherstma.gov

If any accommodations are needed, please contact the Town Managers Office at 413-259-3002. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the scheduled meeting.

Not as school-sponsored event

Massachusetts Book Awards Holiday Dozen

The Massachusetts Book Awards Holiday Dozen

Valley Edition

Celebrate the coming holiday season in the very best way with signed books for everyone on your gift list.  Join us in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 7, 2019 for this Valley author event, coordinated by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.  Doors will open at 1:30 pm for book browsing and sales.

There will be fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for adults, young adults, and middle graders, plus picture books for the kids. The authors will be on hand to sign their books and chat with readers both old and new.  

Participating authors are Heather Abel, Noy Holland, Sabina Murray, George H. Colt, Anne Fadiman, Lisa Brooks, Ilan Stavans, Dara Weir, Ellen Dore Watson, Jane Yolen, Natasha Lowe, and Richard Michelson.

This special literary event is co-sponsored by State Representatives Mindy Domb, Natalie Blais, and Lindsay Sabadosa, coordinated by Massachusetts Center for the Book, and hosted by the Jones Library.  Free and open to the public.  

Not a school-sponsored event

Holidays at Hogsmeade (aka The Jones Library)

Not a school-sponsored event

Amherst State of the Town Address

Please join us for our State of the Town Address on Thursday, December 12th at 6:00 PM at the Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium.

Town Council President Lynn Griesemer and Town Manager Paul Bockelman will deliver the address. Please see below for full program.

State of the Town:

Town Council President Lynn Griesemer and Town Manager Paul Bockelman

Remarks:

• Senator Jo Comerford
• Representative Mindy Domb
• School Committee Chair Anastasia Ordonez
• Library Board of Trustees Chair Austin Sarat

Ceremonial Swearing-In: New and Promoted Police Officers and Firefighters

Entertainment: Amherst Regional High School Performers

Not a school-sponsored event

Warm Winter Coat & Clothing Share

Winter Coat &

Clothing Share

To help everyone stay warm this winter, the Parent and Guardian Organizations (PGOs) of our schools and the ARPS Family Center are collecting winter coats, jackets, and other outdoor winter clothing for distribution to ARPS students and community families. 

ALL SIZES ARE NEEDED (infant to extra large)

coats * jackets * snow pants * snow boots

hats * mittens * gloves

scarves * snowsuits

Donations in clean and good condition can be dropped off in the boxes at the Middle School in the lobby before December 1.  Items will be available through the ARPS Family Center on school days, while supplies last.  Leftover items will be donated to the Amherst Survival Center.

LSSE Winter Program Guide is now available

Click Here for the Winter 2019-20 Program Guide

Not a school-sponsored event

ARMS PGO Meeting Wednesday 11:30 at The Works Cafe, Amherst

The next ARMS PGO meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 20, 11:30 am in The Works. Please join us for updates, and to help plan activities for NEXT year!

ARMS PGO Agenda

• Principals meeting recap
• Treasurer report
• Fundraiser report
• Committees update & planning
• Zero Waste project
• Upcoming events: Winter Beach party (January), Staff Appreciation (March), Educator
  Award (April), 8 th Grade Picnic & Social (June). 
• Other business
• Next meeting in January 2020? 
• ................................................................

La próxima reunión de la escuela ARMS PGO tendrá lugar el miercoles, 20 de Noviembre en The Works. Por favor acompáñenos para recibir actualizaciones y ayudar a planear las actividades para el año nuevo!

• Informe sobre reunión con los directores 
• Informe de tesorero
• Informe de recaudacion de fondos
• Actualización y planificacion de actividades de Comités 
• Proyecto 'Basura Cero'
• Otros asuntos
• Proxima reunion en Enero 2020

For more information and announcements from the ARMS PGO, follow our blog at: http://armspgo.blogspot.com/. Your donations helps the PGO! THANKS!

Winter Sports Registration Open

AMHERST-PELHAM Regional SCHOOLs are happy to offer the following sports for the Winter 2019-2020 Season.

• Boy Alpine Skiing – Grades 7-12
• Girls Alpine Skiing – Grades 7-12
• Ice Hockey – Grades 8-12
• Girls Indoor Track – Grades 7-12
• Boys Nordic Skiing – Grades 7-12
• Girls Nordic Skiing – Grades 7-12
• Boys Swimming and Diving – Grades 7-12
• Girls Swimming and Diving – Grades 7-12

Register at https://www.familyid.com/programs/high-school-winter-sports-2019-2020

This Friday: Teen Lounge at the Jones Library

Not a school-sponsored event

Free Indian Dance Workshop Saturday, Nov 16

Learn about Indian Culture, Experience Indian Dance, and Enjoy Indian Cuisine at Amherst Ballet!

Amherst Ballet is hosting a free Indian Dance Workshop led by Ms. Monica Bhowmik as the first of its World Dance Workshop series. The workshop will start with a short lecture on Indian culture and dance by Prof. Ranjanaa Devi, the former director of the Asian Arts and Culture Program of Fine Arts Center, UMass. At the end of the workshop, participants will be treated to a reception featuring Indian cuisine.

Date and Time: Saturday, November 16  2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Amherst Ballet (29 Strong Street, Amherst)

For more information, visit www.amherstballet.org, email info@amherstballet.org, or call (413)549-1555.

Not a school-sponsored event

Take a Break from Cooking!

The Sene-Gambian Scholars Program is offering West African take-out meals again this fall to provide scholarships for the spring exchange trip to Senegal and The Gambia. Place your order online by November 12 at tinyurl.com/WestAfricanMeals or contact one of the following Sene-Gambian Scholars. If you have questions, please e-mail advisor Bruce Penniman at pennimanb@arps.org. 

To view the order form, click here

Florence Savings Bank Customer's Choice Community Grants

Support the ARPS PGO

Each year, Florence Bank gives away $100,000 to community non-profits through its Community Choice grants program. Florence Bank customers vote for the non-profit of their choice & all non-profits getting at least 50 votes receive a grant.  The non-profits receiving the most votes can get up to $5,000.

In past years, the ARPS PGO has received close to 100 votes & over $1,400 per year. Yay!  The grant money went towards classroom support, special projects, field trips & more.

This year, the PGOs of the ARPS PGO (Crocker Farm, Wildwood, Amherst Middle School, & Amherst High School) are campaigning jointly again to maximize our votes & see if we can get even more. Every vote helps.
** Each Florence Bank account holder is eligible to vote once for the community organization of their choice. **
** The ARPS PGO is urging people to vote for the “Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO”, the name of our joint non-profit. **

There are 2 easy ways to vote:
(1) Online – Visit https://www.florencebank.com/vote to cast a vote online for the “Amherst Regional Public Schools PGO”.
(2) Paper Ballot (attached).  Ballots are also available at any Florence Bank location.  Ballots should be submitted at the bank or turned in to the PGO.

Voting is open until December 31st. Thank you for your support!

Not a school-sponsored event

LSSE Community Meeting Nov. 21 at 5:30pm

Amherst Leisure Services has partnered with the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute to carry out a recreational programming needs assessment and comprehensive strategic plan. The final plan will provide our department with a vision, mission and strategic direction for the next three to five years. Information gathered from the community will be a vital part of this process. Your participation via surveys and community-wide input gathering/visioning sessions is crucial. Please join us at the upcoming Community Meeting 

Not a school-sponsored event

Amherst Annual Election 11/5

Amherst will hold its Annual Town Election Tuesday, November 5th.

Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. 

 To view a sample ballot:  ​Sample Ballot

You can find your polling place here:  

 http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema//bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

Not a school-sponsored event

ARMS Movie Night Monday, Oct 28

Parents, please bring a dessert for Movie Night on Oct 28th

ARMS PGO Meeting, Wednesday, October 23 at 6:00 pm ARMS Library

ARMS PGO Agenda, 10/23/2019, ARMS Library @ 6:00pm  

• Volunteer roles
• Team parents 
• Treasurer report
• Newsletter/blog etc
• Stop & Shop A+Rewards program
• Zero Waste activity
• Other business
• Next meetings

The Zero Waste Activity

Please bring your reusable plastic, paper, other creations for show & tell, combine,share & learn!

Check ideas & actions!

Let's make ARMS free of trash!

Support ARMS, Stop & Shop A+ Rewards Program

The Stop and Shop A+ rewards program continues! 

School Rewards Program: 

September 6, 2019 – March 14, 2020

Customers register their Stop & Shop Card beginning August 3, 2018 and can support up to two schools.

To support ARMS, here are the simple steps to follow:

1. You need your 13-digit STOP & SHOP CARD number found on the back of the card
2. Visit www.stopandshop.com, click on SIGN IN (top right) to log on to your online account or click REGISTER to create your online account.
3. Once you are logged in to your account, click on My Account / Manage My Account / Rewards and Savings, and then select ARMS (ID 05171) for A+ Rewards

OR...You can call Consumer Affairs at 1-877-366-2668 and select Option #1.

If you have a STOP & SHOP CARD but do not know your 13-digit card number, call the STOP & SHOP CARD HOTLINE at 1-877-366-2668 and select Option #1. The representatives will be able to provide you your card number and register you for ARMS (ID 05171).

If you need a STOP & SHOP CARD, please visit your local store to obtain one or click here: I NEED A STOP & SHOP CARD.

If you selected to support ARMS last year you don't need to re-register, but older registrations may have expired.

By logging on you can switch your support from another school to ARMS.

You can select up to two schools to share your rewards points.

Once a card is registered, purchases made from all Stop & Shop stores will benefit ARMS, including purchases from stores in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island! Purchases on Peapod.com can also earn A+ School Rewards points! Just be sure to register your Stop & Shop Card on your Peapod account and be sure to register your card to ARMS (ID 05171). 

Please forward this email to relatives and friends, near and far, and encourage them to support our school by registering their cards.

Save the Date - 25th AEF Trivia Bee

Not a school-sponsored event

From the PGO Chair

Dear ARMS families,

Hope everybody is doing well & enjoying the beautiful Fall season!  Remember to check out our https://armspgo.blogspot.com

The PGO team had a very good evening at Open House. I'm very thankful to parents who stopped by, were interested about our work, signed up to help one way or another; also their children had ice cream, cookies and popcorn at our table.  So good to meet new parents! Good fun!

And welcome new volunteers! It's not too much work when we do it together. Can you help in the upcoming Movie Night, (any good movie suggestion?) the Winter Social coordination, the Staff Appreciation lunch, the Coat drive, or in the Educator Award committee, or as our Fundraiser coordinator?  We always have a nice warm conversation, refreshments and the good feeling we are doing our best for the school community.

Please let me know asap!!!!  One for all, all for one!

Muchas gracias & keep up the ARMS spirit!

- Laura McLeod

ARPS PGO Fall Meeting September 28

ARPS PGO Fall Public Meeting

September 28th at 3:00 PM

The Works- Downtown Amherst

Meeting Agenda

Introductions

Individual School Updates

Election of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Officers

Annual Taxes and State Filings 

Group Fundraisers: UMACC (United Way), Giving Tuesday, Florence Bank, Amazon Smile

Other Business not anticipated by the chair

Our mission is to support the education of children within our schools through fundraising, supplemental programming and volunteer efforts.  We help build community by fostering relationships among the schools, parents, teachers and staff.

The Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization (ARPS PGO) is a registered 501(c)3 Massachusetts charity

encompassing the individual PGOs of the Amherst Regional High and Middle Schools, Crocker Farm and Wildwood Elementary.