A Better Chance (ABC) Fall Foliage Walk

The ABC Fall Foliage Walk and 5K Run is coming up on October 17th. This fundraiser combines a beautiful day outdoors, an opportunity to generate funds that help our A Better Chance (ABC) scholars, and the chance to come together to show our support for this valuable project. You can print the registration form here or register at the A Better Chance website. If you can’t make it, but want to help anyway, please consider a donation.

ARPS PGO Fall Public Meeting

ARPS PGO

Fall Public Meeting Notice

The Amherst Regional Public Schools Parent Guardian Organization (ARPS PGO) is a Registered 501c3 Massachusetts Charity encompassing the individual PGOs of the Amherst Regional High and Middle Schools, Crocker Farm and Wildwood Elementary.

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. 

Our Fall Public Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 from 4:00 PM – 5:20 PM in the Crocker Farm Lobby. 

Agenda

- Introductions
- Approval of Spring Meeting Minutes
- Voting on new representatives and officers
-  Fall Filings/ Paperwork
-  Paypal on Websites
-  Processing Large Donations/ Matching Gifts Protocol
-  Grant Writing Protocol
-Valley Gives, Giving Tuesday, Whole Foods & future other joint fundraising opportunities
- Sales Tax Exemption Use
- Other new business

 

Upcoming Public Forums on Regionalization, School Consolidation, & More

The Amherst schools are asking some big questions right now about what our schools for the near & longer-term future? Should the three Amherst elementary schools be consolidated into two? Should the MS & HS be combined into one building? & does Amherst want to extend the current regional district for MS & HS (which includes Pelham, Leverett, & Shutesbury) to the elementary schools as well?

There are a number of upcoming public forums to discuss each of these topics, & ARPS families & community members are invited to attend. Childcare will be available at all the upcoming public forums and listening sessions, & transportation & translation services are available upon request (by calling 362-1823).  The first forums will be held Tues, Sept 29th, at 3:30 & 7:00 pm at the ARMS auditorium, & will discuss the Wildwood building study & possible elementary school configuration. The forum will be recorded & will play later through Amherst Media for those who cannot attend in person. More information about the Wildwood/elementary reconfiguration study & these other topics, including documents with the most Frequently Answered Questions and the district's answers, is available on the school district's web site, www.arps.org.

Click to enlarge

Also, recently, a League of Women's Voters (LWV) member Joan Temkin hosted Superintendent Maria Geryk, Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris, & ARPS Human Resources Director Kathryn Mazur in a televised discussion about the possible MS-HS consolidation & the possible elementary school consolidation.  The 40 minute program was produced by Amherst Media and the recording can be viewed here.
For answers to frequently asked questions, please use the following links:

Wildwood Building Project FAQ Document

7-12 Consolidation FAQ Document

Welcome!

Welcome to the ARMS PGO Blog!

¡Bienvenido/a al Blog PGO de la Escuela Intermedia Regional Amherst!

Each Friday we will share important school information to keep you informed about the goings on at Amherst Regional Middle School! If you do not want to receive the blog, please email us at: armspgo@gmail.com in order to opt out of the blog.

¡Cada viernes compartiremos información importante sobre la escuela para mantenerte informado/a sobre lo que está sucediendo en la Escuela Intermedia Regional Amherst!  Si no deseas recibir este blog, por favor envíanos un email a: armspgo@gmail.com para eliminarte del blog.

We look forward to another productive year at the Middle School, and we hope you will become an active member of the PGO. Our next meeting is Tuesday, October 13th

at 6:30 in the ARMS library. If you can’t make the meeting but want to volunteer, please email us to let us know.

Esperamos tener otro año productivo en la Escuela Intermedia, y que te conviertas en un miembro activo del PGO.  Nuestra próxima reunión es el martes, 13 de octubre, a las 6:30 pm en la biblioteca ARMS.  Si no puedes asistir pero quieres ser voluntario/a, por favor envíanos un email y déjanos saber.    

You can also donate to the PGO to help support our mini-grant program, supply MCAS snacks for students, or contribute to the ARMS Educator Award.

También puedes donar al PGO para apoyar nuestro programa de mini-becas, el suplido MCAS de meriendas para estudiantes, o contribuir al Premio Educador ARMS.

Lastly, we hope that you will take a few minutes to register with Stop & Shop and Target—these stores will donate a portion of your purchase to the Principal’s Discretionary Fund (which goes to school supplies.) You can do that byclicking on the links below:

Finalmente, esperamos que tomes unos minutos para registrarte en Stop&Shop y Target – estas tiendas donarán una porción de tu compra al Fondo Discrecional del Principal (el cual se usa para suplidos escolares).  Puedes registrate en los siguientes links:

Stop & Shop: http://stopandshop.com/savings-and-rewards/rewards-

program/aplus/

Target: https://www-secure.target.com/redcard/tcoe/school-details-2014

Family Fun at ARHS Homecoming tomorrow!

ARHS Homecoming is this Saturday, September 26, starting at 1:00 pm. 

Girls’ and boys’ sports will be on display, along with barbecue, and a lot of family-friendly activities. ***All children twelve and under, wearing an Amherst youth sport jersey, accompanied by a paying adult will get in at no charge. ***

For more information, see the attached flyer. If you have any questions, please contact Rich Ferro, the ARHS Athletic Director.

A day-long series of games in nearly all sports starting at 1:00pm and ending with a 6:30 pm game under the lights against NORTHAMPTON

Schedule of Games and Events

• Northampton HS vs. ARHS Varsity & ARMS Field Hockey – 1:00pm
• Eaglebrook vs. ARHS Boys Freshman Soccer – 1:00 pm
• Northampton vs. ARHS Girls Varsity & JV Soccer – 3:00 pm
• Westfield HS vs. JV Volleyball – 3:00 pm
• Westfield HS vs. Varsity Volleyball – 4:00 pm
• Monson vs. ARHS Boys Varsity – 5:00 pm
• Northampton HS vs. ARHS Boys Varsity Football – 6:30 pm

Included in Admission: Face painting – 3-point contest – Obstacle course – Hula hoops – Field games – Mini-clinics – Rotten apple slingshot 3 – 4pm – Amherst Fire Truck Tours 2-4pm

Additional $$ Activities: ARHS Apparel to purchase – Dunk Tank – Concessions (cotton candy, popcorn, burgers / dogs / sausage), and more!

All Day Tickets – Adults $7, Seniors / Students $5

Just joining for football? Football Admission Only Adults $5, Seniors / Students $3

ARHS-Homecoming-2015-Poster

Mark your calendars

ARMS Picture Day - Wednesday, September 30

PGO Coffee with Principal Mendonsa - Friday, October 2 - MS Cafeteria - 7:45-8:45 a.m.

Smiles Dentist at ARMS - Wednesday, October 7

Columbus Day - Monday, October 12 - School is Closed

Early Release Day - Wednesday, October 21 - ​Students will be dismissed at 12 noon.  Lunches will be served prior to dismissal.

Early Release Day - ​Wednesday, November 4​ - Students will be dismissed at 12 noon.  Lunches will be served prior to dismissal.

​Picture Retake Day - Wednesday, November 4

ARPS Athletic Equipment Swap

FREE Athletic Equipment Swap for K-12th Grade Families

Saturday, October 3rd, 9 am-noon,  ARHS Back Gym, 21 Mattoon Street

All families are welcome to come & take whatever they need.

* Equipment donations being accepted through October 3rd

* Donation collection box in the Crocker Farm lobby through October 2nd

Equipment swap being coordinated by Fort River parent Christine St. Laurent.  Please contact cwstlaurent@gmail.com for more info or with any questions.