UMass String Day Scheduled for March 3, 2013

Since our first STRING DAY in 2005, UMass has been inviting string players from all over MA and beyond to come and join us for a fun filled day of music making with the string faculty and students at UMass.

For Senior Participants, it includes mini-lectures by string faculty Elizabeth Chang (VIOLIN), Kathryn Lockwood (VIOLA), Astrid Schween (CELLO) and Salvatore Macchia (BASS); a chamber music reading session (Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn) and an “Opus 2” rehearsal / performance of Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances. 

For the Intermediate and Junior Participants: sectionals, rehearsals and a performance of "Opus 3" and "Opus 4" of fun repertoire such as "Gargoyles", "Marcato", "Ragtime" and Mozart.

Current UMass students are heavily involved in STRING DAY and they will be sitting alongside each STRING DAY participant in chamber music readings, Opus 2, and leading the sectionals and sitting with participants in Opus 3 and Opus 4. 

After lunch, the concert begins. All participants will be involved as well as a special performance by UMass' "Opus One" of Schoenberg's "Verklate Nacht".

Parents are welcome to come for the 1:30pm performance.

The day begins at 9am and ends at 3pm with raffle prizes.

Please join us for the next STRING DAY - Sunday March 3rd, 2013.  Additional details and registration information can be found at http://www.umass.edu/stringday/

Host Families Needed

We still need several families, especially those with boys, who would be interested in hosting a group of Japanese high school students from the Happy Science Academy from 3/22 through 3/28. This school sends students every March and they are a joy to have; my 7th grader still keeps in touch with the students we have hosted. Each family needs to provide meals and a place to sleep; a separate room is not necessary. We are looking for families who can host 2 students for that time period, receiving a stipend of $30/day. During the day the students will be shadowing ARHS students, going to Boston and learning about life in Amherst. It's a great opportunity for both the students and Amherst families. 

For more information please contact Diane Caraker at Dianec711@comcast.net. Becky's mom, 7th grade, Teacher Guide, PeopleLink (nonprofit) exchange program.)

Agenda for FSP Meeting Agenda on Monday, Feb 4th

7:00 PM   Call to order / Introductions

7:05 PM-   Current Projects:

·         Treasurer’s Report

·         Directory

·         Mini Grant Request- PBIS and Shakespeare Program

7:25 PM - Future Planning:

·         Parents Social

·         Teacher Appreciation Lunch

·         Teacher Recognition

·         March/April Family Game Night

·         Club Night

·         Ultimate Tournament Fundraiser

·         Water Bottles Fundraiser

7:50 PM – Questions and Answers

8:00 PM - Adjourn

ARMS Penny Wars

Amherst Regional Middle School students will be raising money for water projects in Africa, the week of January 28th through February 1st. Two years ago our middle school students generously raised nearly 4,600 dollars.  That money funded a Peace Corps supervised water project in Togo. Parents and guardians certainly may help us by reminding their children to bring their spare change to school if they would like and are able to make a donation. Parents and guardians may also make a direct donation to this effort by sending a check to the middle school and Jennifer Jensen, chair of the social studies department.

Dates to know

Next week is week 1.

The next Late Start day is Thursday, February 14th.  

There is No School February 18- 22 due to Winter Recess.

Smith and Franklin Vocation School Visits

Because of the late start on Tuesday, January 29, the field trip to Smith Vocational has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 7th. We will still be leaving ARMS at 9:30 and returning at 11:30. Dress warm that day, we will be outside during part of our tour of the campus. The trip to Franklin Tech will still happen as planned on Monday, February 11th.

LSSE Youth on Broadway

Not a school of FSP sponsored event.
Clink on the image to enlarge.
For more information about LSSE offerings, please visit  http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=311