Mark Your Calendars

Jan 12- ARMS Geography Bee

Jan 13- Early Release Day- Noon dismissal

Jan 14- ARMS Geography bee- Snow Date

Jan 18- No School- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan 22- Quarter 2 and Semester 1 Classes End

Feb 3- Term 2 Progress Reports Available on Parent Portal

ARPS Attendance Policy

The ARPS District would like to ensure that all parents and guardians are aware of the district attendance guidelines.  The policy and guidelines can be read here: ATTENDANCELETTER

Town Manager Search- Community Forums

The Town of Amherst is hosting 3 community forums scheduled to solicit community opinion on what skills, experience and attributes Amherst should be looking for in its next Town Manager.
These forums are scheduled on the following dates & times:
Tuesday January 19  3pm- 5pm & 7pm- 9pm in the Town Room (Town Hall)
Wednesday, January 20 9am- 11am in the Woodbury Room (Jones Library)
The forums will be facilitated by Executive Recruiter Bernie Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates.

LSSE Presents: Mary Poppins

Tickets are on sale now for Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater’s performances of Mary Poppins at Bowker Auditorium. Performances will be: Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 pm (general admission); Friday, January 15 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, January 16 at 1:00 pm; Sunday, January 17 at 1:00 pm; Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 pm; Friday, January 22 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, January 23 at 1:00 pm; Saturday, January 23 at 7:30 pm; and Sunday, January 24 at 1:00 pm.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for students/seniors and $10 for children age 10 and under. For the general admission seating on January 14, 2015, tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children age 10 and under. There is a $1.75 processing fee per ticket.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the LSSE office in the Bangs Community Center; through amherstma.gov/948/Community-Theater; or by calling LSSE at 413-259-3065.

Film Screening & Discussion: Cracking the Codes – The System of Racial Inequality

 Join us on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room for a screening of Cracking the Codes – The System of Racial Inequality.  This is the next event in a film & discussion series which began in the fall of 2014 and continues to look at issues of race.  A facilitated discussion will be held after the screening.

This film from Shakti Butler asks America to talk about the causes and consequences of systemic inequity. Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity features stories from racial justice leaders and others of many different racial backgrounds. Van Jones says, “Cracking the Codes challenges us to build a world that works for everyone.”

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 The Coming Together Project.  More information about The Coming Together Project can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

Voter Registration Info from the LWV

Did you know that voters must be 18 by election day (not necessarily by the day they register), and of course they must be U.S. citizens.

Other useful information:
If you have an ID issued by the Mass Registry of Motor Vehicles (e.g., a drivers license), you can now register on line.  Visit www.sec.state.ma.us and click the "Massachusetts Register to Vote Online" button to access the online application system.  (You can also update your address or change your party affiliation here if you are already registered.)  If you don't have the appropriate ID, you can still get a form here to print, sign and deliver to the Town Clerk's office (of the town where you reside, preferably, for your students from surrounding areas such as Pelham, Leverett or Shutesbury.)  Of course, those offices also have registration forms.
In this state, you may vote in the primary elections even if you have not registered in a party.  If you register in a party you can only get the ballot of that party.  If not, you can choose your ballot on election day.
Important dates:
February 10:  Last day to register to vote in the Presidential primary election on March 1.  If you will be 18, this will be an exciting election for your first time out!
March 9:  Last day to register to vote in the March 29 Town Election for Amherst residents.  (Surrounding towns do not have local elections this time of year.)  In addition to candidates for Town offices and Town meeting, there is also at least one ballot initiative in this election, to form a committee to review and possibly revise the Town Charter.
August 19:  Last day to register to vote in the primary election on September 8 (for offices other than President--federal, state, and perhaps district or local, depending on where you live.)
October 19:  Last day to register to vote in the general election on November 8 (for President, other federal, state and local offices and state ballot measures.)
For more information, please visit the Amherst Town Clerk's site at https://www.amherstma.gov/81/Voter-Information.

Oscars Movie Series at the Jones Library

Get in the mood for this year’s Academy Awards, which will air on February 28, by joining us for this film series at the Jones Library. This four week series will feature some of the films that were in the running for one of the Academy Awards last year.
Join us in the Woodbury Room at 6:30 pm for this Tuesday evening film series, which will begin on January 19 and end on February 9, 2016. For the program of specific film titles, pick up a flyer on your next visit to the library or visit our website for complete movie titles and ratings information at http://www.joneslibrary.org.

This film series is possible thanks to the Friends of the Jones Libraries. Free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.