Soup for Syria Events at ARMS

Oct 3^rd  Monday. ARMS will hold an all-school assembly 10:00-11:00 AM on Understanding the Syrian Refugee Experience. Featuring a visit and slide-talk from Barbara Abdeni Massaad, photographer of portraits in the book SOUP for SYRIA (see soupforsyria.com). See the CNN interview with Barbara Abdeni Massaad here. We are fortunate that Mr. Michel Moushabeck, publisher of Interlink books (and whose kids are alumni of Amherst schools ) is sponsoring this opportunity to have this world renown photographer at ARMS.  In the assembly, in addition to hearing Barbara's slide talk, some of our students will present their understandings, research and artistic expressions. We are doing some curriculum prep to help all our students engage in and understand the global situation that has created the crisis around Syrian families living in refuge.

Oct 6^th Thursday. Soup for Syria night in the ARMS Cafeteria 5:30-6:45 (so you can go to the high school Open House on time, if your have high school kids). Free to all ARMS families, and we will collect suggested donations.  Here’s how it works: many "soup cooks" are invited to cook a pot of soup,  making soup at home, bringing it to our kitchen and then we serve it to anybody who attends. Dinner will be free, and we will also collect suggested donations $  per bowl - just a suggestion - soup can be free to anybody. The book SOUP for SYRIA will be available for purchase that night too, to fundraise for the cause. Barbara Abdeni Massaad will give a talk and slide show during dinner, too. We will also have a brief film showing from SAMS (Syrian American Medical Relief) with a representative from SAMS. All proceeds support Syrian refugees through the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees).

If you want to help make soup, or eat soup, or clean up, or help host the event...contact PGO parents Josie DeAngelis <josiedeangelis3@gmail.com>

Mark Your Calendars

Sept 26th - 30th- Scholastic Book Fair
Sept 27th: Picture Day
Sept 29th: ARMS Open House 6:30 PM
Oct 6th: Soup for Syria Night at ARMS
Oct 10th: No school
Oct 19th: Early Release Day, 12:00 pm dismissal; Team 1 Progress Reports Issued
Oct 24th: SMILES Dentist At ARMS
Nov. 1st: Picture Retake Day
Nov 6^th: 9^th Grade Field Trip to UMass Fine Arts Center
Nov 7th: Quarter 2 Classes Begin
Nov 8th: All Teacher Curriculum Day- No School
Nov 9th: 7th Grade field trip to UMass Fine Arts Center
Nov 11th: Veteran's Day- No School
Nov 23^rd – Nov 25^th:  Thanksgiving Break (No School)

Free Youth Mental Health Training

A free Youth Mental Health First Aid training will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst (121 N. Pleasant St., Amherst) on October 7, 2016 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Registration is required, and those interested in registering should email FrickeDRE@gmail.com for registration information.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.  Identified on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, the training helps the public better identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses. about-mental-health-first-aid-1

Dr. Potee Community Presentation

Dr. Ruth Potee, chair of the Healthcare Solutions Committee of the Franklin County/North Quabbin Opioid Task Force, will speak at a community forum on brain development and teenage risk taking on Thursday, September 22nd at 7 PM in the ARHS Library.

Parents/guardians, grandparents, relatives and anyone who interacts with middle- and high school-aged students are urged to attend.  Attendees will gain insight into how the teen brain develops and functions, and how to apply this knowledge in daily interactions with teens.

This event is free and open to the public.

 

Childcare and light refreshments will be provided.  For more information or to sign up for childcare, please contact the ARHS Office at 362-1700.

 

This event is sponsored by the ARHS PGO in collaboration with ARHS, the Town of Amherst Health and Community Service Department, the SPIFFY Coalition.

Mark You Calendars

Sept 21st: Early Release Day, 12:00 pm dismissal
Sept 22nd: ARHS PGO presents An Evening with Dr. Ruth Potee; 7PM ARHS Library
Sept 26th - 30th- Scholastic Book Fair
Sept 27th: Picture Day
Sept 29th: ARMS Open House 6:30 PM
Oct 10th: No school
Oct 19th: Early Release Day, 12:00 pm dismissal; Team 1 Progress Reports Issued
Oct 24th: SMILES Dentist At ARMS
Nov. 1st: Picture Retake Day

Amherst Poetry Festival/ Emily DIchinson Poetry Marathon This Weekend

A one-day reading of all 1,789 of Emily Dickinson's poems, and a celebration of another of Amherst's great poets, James Tate. The inaugural Emily Dickinson Poetry Slam. An open mic, dozens of poets, two days of workshops, Doughnuts and Death, and, just for good measure, a Poemkémon scavenger hunt. 

The Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon and the fourth annual Amherst Poetry Festival return September 15-17. Produced by the Emily Dickinson Museum, Amherst Business Improvement District, Jones Library, and The Common, the festival is a celebration of the poetic legacy of Emily Dickinson, the exceptional poetry community of western Massachusetts, and poets from around the world who will gather to share their work in the very place where Dickinson penned her immortal words. Click here to see the full festival schedule.

The theme of this year's festival is "place," and it's one participants have interpreted in as many ways as a poet's imagination can run.

They Want to Hear From You!

The Charter Commission welcomes input from the residents of the Town about Amherst and its values about Town government.

During the upcoming months, there will be several opportunities to submit your comments, through public forums, hearings and meetings. A Working Group, consisting of Charter Commission members and members of the public is currently working on scheduling listening workshops throughout town to gather more input and thoughts from the public relating to specific areas and perspectives. The following dates represent just a portion of the listening workshops.

• September 20, 2016, 7-8 pm, Middle School Cafeteria (Schools perspective)
• October 3, 2016, 7-9 pm, Crocker Farm Cafeteria (Renter perspectives)
• October 19, 2016, 6:30-8:30 pm, Survival Center (Social and Human Services & Perspectives)
• October 27, 2016, 7-8 pm, Woodbury Room, Jones Library (Library User Perspectives)

You may also submit input in two other ways:

• Send an email to the entire Charter Commission by emailing charter@amherstma.gov.
• Complete the Public Input Form, by clicking here.