We are the Parent/ Guardian Organization for the Amherst Regional Middle School. We strive to create a supportive and welcoming community for students, their families, teachers and administration by hosting events, organizing programs that foster a productive and positive environment; be a resource for information and engagement; and funding academic and ARMS community initiatives. Contact the PGO at armspgo@gmail.com
Friday, February 27, 2015
PGO Meeting Tues. Mar 3 about Staff Appreciation Luncheon
The March PGO meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6:30 PM at the home of Laura Wear, 143 Lincoln Avenue. All are welcome and wine and snacks will be served as we put together a few preparations for the upcoming Staff Appreciation Luncheon (to be held March 18th.) Parking on Lincoln Ave is especially tight with the snow piles. Please car pool, park on Amity St., or email Laura to reserve a few available spots in neighbor’s driveways l.wear@comcast.net
March coffee with Principal Maria Mendonsa
Meet the Amherst Regional Middle School Principal Thursday March 7
The Amherst Regional Middle School Parent Guardian Organization and
the Leverett Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization invite you to:
the Leverett Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization invite you to:
Coffee with the ARMS Principal Marisa Mendonsa
Thursday, March 5th at 7:00 pm
in the
Leverett Elementary School Library
85 Montague Road, Leverett
Thursday, March 5th at 7:00 pm
in the
Leverett Elementary School Library
85 Montague Road, Leverett
WRITING TO RAISE Writing Retreat
WRITING TO RAISE TM
Theme: Raising Our Children and Growing Ourselves
Writing Retreat
We all have stories to tell and the ARMS PGO invites you to join us at this on-going mini writing retreat to share yours.
Thursday Evenings from 6:30 to 8:00
(Come to one, a few or all)
(Come to one, a few or all)
Dates: March 5 and 19
April 2, 16 and 30
May 14 and 28
April 2, 16 and 30
May 14 and 28
Amherst Regional Middle School Library
170 Chestnut Street, Amherst – 2nd Floor
170 Chestnut Street, Amherst – 2nd Floor
Goals:
- Connect parents and create a supportive, compassionate community in which to share stories
- Provide time for writing and light instruction to sharpen writing skills, hopefully inspiring participants to reflect and write more
- Promote intercultural understanding and exchanges by telling authentic, diverse stories
- Share contemporary American culture, values and day-to-day life with our counter-parts in China (and elsewhere) by publishing an anthology available on-line.
- Generate funds to support ARMS teacher and student initiatives from publication sales
Description
Open to anyone who has stories about family, children, parenthood and growth, this series of 90-minute Parent/Guardian writing sessions (held in the ARMS library) is designed to provide a space and time for parents who want to write and share their family stories.
Invited to kick-off the series is Corinne Demas, Mount Holyoke Professor and published author of her memoir Eleven Stories High: Growing up in Stuyvesant Town, 1948 – 1968. Professor Demas will talk about the writing process, share tips on how to make stories engaging and how to speak in our own authentic voice.
The final product will be an anthology of participant submissions. Space permitting, contributing to the anthology is open to anyone who is interested in submitting an article about family life, parenthood, home literacy practices, community culture, raising children, etc. The hope is to as inclusive as possible however neither participation nor submission guarantees inclusion in the anthology publication. Workshop organizers will make the determination as to compilation selection with professional guidance.
An English version of the anthology will be sold to English-speaking community. The English-Chinese version of the book will be sold to Chinese readers in the forms of ibook, ebook and print texts. The money gained from sales will be used to benefit the middle school community.
Structure of a Writing Group Meeting
6:30 - 6:40 pm Humanize the space via social time
6:40 - 7:00 pm Pre-writing talk
7:00 - 7:45 pm Intensive writing
7:45 - 8:00 pm Wrap-up discussion
- The first ten minutes is for parents to connect and update one another on progress.
- The next 20 minutes consists of a pre-write activity: a brief talk given by invited speaker, group members sharing about writing, parenting, cultural awareness, adolescence development, or a collaborative talk about some selected books, articles and videos. It may also include brainstorming activities, writing exercises, sharing pieces, discussing writing prompts or images, etc.
- Writing is the main task. It will last 45 to 50 minutes.
- Wrap up activity may be a go-around touch base, group member(s) sharing writing, or a discussion about some issues, concerns, difficulties.
Important dates in MARCH
Wednesday, March 4 – Chorus 8/Band 8/Orchestra 8 Concert – MS Auditorium – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 5 – PGO Coffee with Principal Mendonsa – The meeting will be held this month at Leverett Elementary School from 7-8 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11 – Smiles Dental Van will be at ARMS. Please be sure that you have turned in your Smiles dental form by Wednesday, March 4.
Wednesday, March 11 – Chorus 7/Band7/Orchestra 7 Concert – MS Auditorium – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 12 – Early Release Day – Students will be dismissed at 12 noon. Lunches will be served on this date.
Friday, March 13 – Teachers Curriculum/Workday – School is closed
ARHS Schedule, Regionalization Forum and More from Superintendent Maria Geryk
Dear Parents and Guardians:
I’m thrilled that we were able to have a full week of school with no weather cancellations or delays! I’m often asked what goes into the process for determining whether it’s safe to hold school and I’m happy to share that information. Click here for a humorous look at the process.
On Wednesday, February 25, ARHS administrators held the first public forum to share information about the high school schedule change currently in the planning stages for the 2016-2017 school year. If you were unable to attend, you can view the Powerpoint presentation here and a video of the full meeting is available here.
For the past three years, the Regional Agreement Working Group (RAWG) has studied the possibilities for expanding the current secondary region to include the elementary schools from the four towns. RAWG has presented their recommendation to the Regional School Committee which is responsible for next steps in the process. All parents and guardians are invited to a public forum on the topic of regionalization at 6:00 p.m. next Tuesday, March 3. The meeting is scheduled in the Town Room at Amherst Town Hall. You can read the full RAWG report to the Regional School Committee here.
Amherst Together has posted a video by Jose Rodriguez, inspired by the "If Only For A Second" campaign, that documents seven volunteers and seven youth artists as they discuss and attempt to represent those aspects of character worth aspiring to. Take a moment to view this inspiring video here.
We’re pleased that the Amherst Bulletin has begun publishing a series of commentaries about the schools. The first in the series, “Updating a Crucial School System Map,” can be found in today’s print edition or, along with an accompanying video, by visiting the commentary section of amherstbulletin.com.
Sincerely,
Maria Geryk, Superintendent of Schools
Estimados padres y tutores:
¡Estoy encantada de que hemos sido capaces de tener una semana completa de la escuela sin cancelaciones por mal tiempo o retrasos! A menudo me preguntan lo que entra en el proceso para determinar si es seguro para mantener la escuela abierta y estoy feliz de compartir esa información. Haga clic aquí para obtener una mirada humorística del proceso.
El miércoles, 25 de febrero, los administradores de ARHS tuvieron el primer foro público para compartir información sobre el cambio de horario de la escuela secundaria, que actualmente está en fase de planificación para el año escolar 2016-2017. Si usted no pudo asistir, se puede ver la presentación Powerpoint aquí y un video de la reunión completa está disponible aquí.
Durante los últimos tres años, el Grupo de Trabajo de Acuerdo Regional (RAWG) ha estudiado las posibilidades de expansión de la región secundaria actual para incluir las escuelas primarias de las cuatro ciudades. RAWG ha presentado su recomendación al Comité Regional de la Escuela que es responsable para los próximos pasos en el proceso. Todos los padres y tutores están invitados a un foro público sobre el tema de la regionalización a las 6:00 pm el próximo martes, 3 de marzo. La reunión está programada en la Habitación Town Room, en el Ayuntamiento de Amherst. Usted puede leer el informe completo de RAWG al Comité Regional de la Escuela aquí.
Amherst Juntos (Amherst Together) ha publicado un vídeo de José Rodríguez, inspirado por la campaña "Si sólo por un segundo", que documenta siete voluntarios y siete artistas jóvenes mientras discuten y tratan de representar a aquellos aspectos de carácter digno de aspirar. Tómese un momento para ver el vídeo inspirador aquí.
Estamos muy contentos de que el Boletín de Amherst (Amherst Bulletin) ha comenzado a publicar una serie de comentarios sobre las escuelas. El primero en la serie, "Actualización de un Mapa Crucial del Sistema de Escuela," se puede encontrar en la edición impresa de hoy o, junto con un video que lo acompaña, visitando la sección de comentarios de amherstbulletin.com.
Atentamente,
Maria Geryk, Superintendente de Escuelas
Series of Articles on MASSLIVE from Superintendent Maria Geryk
Dear Parents and Guardians:
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful break with your children.
I’m excited to announce that, over the next several days, the Springfield Republican is publishing a series of articles and accompanying videos about the schools on the MASSLIVE website. These articles were written by district administrators and showcase the district improvement plan and programs pertaining to curriculum, school climate, PBIS and equity. The first two articles have been posted, and we hope you’ll take a few moments to read the article and/or view the video. My article regarding the District Improvement Plan can be found here, and Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris’ article regarding instruction and rigor can be found here. Later today, Dr. Rhonda Cohen’s article and video Standards-Based Curricula: How Districts Enhance Learning for All Students will be posted. On Saturday, look for Ensuring Positive Classroom & School-wide Climate for All by Dr. Faye Brady.
Enjoy the rest of the winter break. We’re all looking forward to welcoming your children back to school on Monday!
Sincerely,
Maria Geryk, Superintendent of Schools
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