Here's an online link to the latest edition of The Graphic , the ARHS Student Newspaper, dated January 14, 2010. http://www.arps.org/hs/News/Graphic/ This is the first year that our family subscribed to The Graphic and I highly recommend it. There is a lot of ARHS news in this paper! If you are interested in getting a subscription contact advisor Chris Herland herlandc@arps.org

Don't forget that there is a late start this coming Thursday, Feb 11. School starts at 10 am. Enjoy your extra few minutes with your teen!  (Like you'll see them out from their bed covers....)

Believe it or not the spring sports season is right around the corner!

Registration night is Tuesday Feb 23rd from 5 - 6:30 pm in the ARHS cafeteria. All registration forms are on-line. You can sign up now and start the registration process

The ARHS Senior Party will be held following graduation on June 4, 2010. This event has been a tradition at ARHS since 1984! 

We are counting on all parents and guardians to help make this a safe, fun, and memorable celebration for the Class of 2010!
The Senior Party is not a school-sponsored event. Although the administration is supportive of the event, they are not involved in the planning or financing in any way. The party is a gift to the seniors from the senior and junior parents and guardians who make it happen through donations and volunteering.

We are seeking volunteers to co-chair the committees. It's fun! (Each committee will then have its own set of volunteers; now we are seeking folks who will take full responsibility for one area of the party.) The time commitment is minimal - monthly meetings beginning in February and then with a bit more frequency in the weeks leading up to the event. Each committee will receive a binder with all the details necessary to make their part of the event a success.
Please look at the list below and let us know if you would be willing to participate as a co-chair of one of the committees. Pair up with a friend or we can help find a second co-chair if necessary.

Thank you,
Carol Friedman (Carolbf@aol.com) and Rosalie Eisen (rosalieeisen@aol.com), Sr. Party Co-Chairs

Business Solicitation - solicit financial/equipment donations from area businesses

Food Solicitation - solicit food/beverage donations from area businesses & restaurants

Volunteer Recruitment - help find parents/guardians to work on each committee

Entertainment - music, games, etc.

Junior Parent Food Pickup - pickup donated food and deliver to party location

Food Serving - manage the setup and replenishment of food and drinks throughout the party

Event Setup - setup the venue according to plan

Please join us at The Pub this Monday night for Crocker Farm Neighborhood Night! all you have to do is enjoy an evening eating out with friends from the Crocker Farm community. Simply tell your server that you are there to support Crocker Farm and The Pub will donate 20% of your bill back to the PGO for our playground fund! Anyone can come- the more the merrier!

Questions?  Contact the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com Hope to see your there!

A group of students from ARHS are going to Guatemala City through Opportunities for Communities, Inc. (OFC) over February break to participate in a community service project.

The students are collecting the following to donate to the Guatemalan people that they will be working with. Donations can be new or used.
*Soccer balls and cleats (Look for cleats in your basement!)
*A good (not old and tired) laptop computer
*Tools, hand or power (hammers, tape measures with feet and meters, drill bits, drills, etc)
*School supplies (notebooks, etc)
*Thumb drives (Please erase old files before donating!)

Please contact Julia Rossen, dancingjewel9@comcast.net by Feb. 12 if you have any of the items to contribute. Also, there will be a box in the ARHS Main Office marked "Guatemala Trip Donations". THANKS!

Tuesday, February, 2nd at 6:30pm the Regional School Committee will host a public budget hearing at the Town Room in Amherst Town Hall.
Bottom line, there will be cuts, (an override will only reduce the cuts).

Please join the discussion about next year's budget priorities. What do you think should be cut next year? All community input is welcome.

Support ARHS Athletics at Buffalo Wild Wings!
On Sunday 1/31, between 4:00 and 8;00 pm Buffalo Wild Wings at the Hampshire Mall will donate 20% of your meals bill to ARHS althletics!

There will be lots of free prizes as well, including lift tickets and other items from Mt. Snow. Also - come cheer on the ARHS coaches in the first ever Hurricane Coaches Blazin' Challenge (that's 12 Blazin' Wings in 4 minutes!)

So come on, it's the end of the weekend, we know you didn't want to cook anyway!

Support ARHS Athletics

Monte Carlo Night - March 13!

As you probably know, the athletics budget at the regional level is being cut yet again.  More and more the funding for ARHS sports is coming through fundraising. 
So...
Get your tickets now for MONTE CARLO NIGHT! Saturday, March 13, at Valentine Hall on the Amherst College Campus.

This adults only event is a fabulous chance to get out of the house, see your friends, gamble (with funny money), dance, and more. You are not required to dress formally, although some people do take the opportunity to put on the black tie and gown!
It really is one of the best events in Amherst!  To find out more, and get your tickets, go here: http://www.amherstmontecarlo.com/

The Parent Center would like to highlight ARHS students who are doing community service work in our new column called "Good Works!". We know there are lots of kids out there doing amazing things, and we want to hear about them and share their stories.

If you know a student volunteer, please have him or her contact us at shalini@iam-bc.com

Here's a completely random listing of things for aging parents to do this weekend...click on any of the colored text for links!

Tim Erickson - Friday 1/29 7pm @ Iron Horse (Noho) - Wildwood dad Tim Erickson is a famous guy (Cordelia's Dad and Cold Mountain Soundtrack to name a few projects) and an amazing musician. Really, that Cold Mountain Soundtrack is one of the most beautiful recordings in history.  A great way to spend a Friday night with a local Amherst dad.

Soulive - Friday 1/29 7pm @ Pearl Street (Noho) - We saw these guys at SxSW a few years back and they can bring it.  Serious funk jazz outfit.

Sweeney Todd - Friday & Saturday 1/29-30 @ Buckley Recital Hall Amherst College (Amherst) - The demon barber of Fleet Street lets loose with the song at AC in this whacky musical that only the Brits could write...

American Ballet Theater - Friday 1/29 8pm @ Mount Holyoke Studio Theater (South Hadley) - Selections from Swan Lake and Le Corsaire.

ARHS Sports Tag Sale - Saturday 1/30 8am-1pm @ ARHS - Come out and find cool stuff you can use and support ARHS sports!

The Elusive - Saturday 1/30 6:30pm @ The Black Sheep - Support this singer-songwriter duo of ARHS Juniors Kate Spurgin and Allie Kelly.  Their harmonies are those of the angels, and their songwriting not too shabby either!

Amherst Contra Dance - Saturday 1/30 7:30pm @ Muson Library (Amherst) - Come and throw some moves - if you don't know how they'll teach ya.  Always a good, friendly time with excellent musicians!

Hot Day at the Zoo & Appalachian Still - Saturday 1/30 7pm @ Iron Horse (Noho) - A couple of awesome local bluegrass bands.

Mamma Mia! - Saturday 1/30 7:30 @ Academy of Music (Noho) - They're showing the movie as an Audience sing-a-long for the whole movie!  It's like Rocky Horror but for the ABBA set...

Gypsy Wranglers - Sunday 11am-1pm @ The Black Sheep - Stalwarts.  

Rusty Belle - Sunday 11am - 1pm @ Amherst Coffee - Awesome, laid back acoustic American music.

ARHS Athletics Night at Buffalo Wild Wings - Sunday 1/31 4pm-8pm @ Buffalo Wild Wings (At the Mall) - It's ARHS Athletics Night - they will be donating 20% of all they take in to ARHS sports.  So come on, it's Sunday, you didn't want to cook anyway....

UMass Juggling Club - Wednesdays 5-7pm @ Boyden Gym at UMass - All ages and all levels.  C'mon now, you've always really wanted to learn to juggle more than your schedule, haven't you?  Haven't you?  Admit it.  You're not getting any younger....now's the time!

Yes -Monday 2/8 8pm @ The Calvin (Noho) - Yes you aging parents, it's Yes!  You remember them, you were 16 and doing something or another that you shouldn't have been on the floor of the Boston Garden...well, you can relive those times on Monday at The Calvin!

Parent and student volunteers are needed to help FARPA (Friends of Amherst Regional Performing Arts) for the tag sale fund raiser this weekend. We need parent and student volunteers to:

1. Set up the wind ensemble/symphony band tag sale booth on Friday Jan 29 from 6-9 at ARHS Cafeteria.

2. Sell in two hour shifts on Sat. Jan 30th (8-10, 10-12, 12 – 1 & cleanup)

3. Break down booth, pack leftovers and take to the dump or local charities (salvation army, survival center, etc) on Sat. Jan. 30th at 1-1:30 pm.

If you can help please contact Alice Morse, 413-256-0480 abnm@comcast.net or just show up at the times listed above.  Thanks!

Well you might have noticed the wonderful Teen Yoga program we mentioned last week. One tiny, bitsy problem though...we forgot to give you the contact info...so da-da, here it is...

Your teenies can sign up at www.yogacenteramherst.com, 413-256-0604, or contact Karen Miscall Bannon -- karen@sageandspirit.net -- if they have any questions! Thanks and sorry about that...

The good news is that we get to use this awesome yoga photo again...anyone out in the ARHS community that can do that?

Calling all Amherst residents...

We need your help building a new playground at Crocker Farm! Our existing equipment is almost 20 years old, in bad shape, and many components are broken. The landscaping needs to be updated to adhere to legal codes and provide basic safety. There is simply not enough equipment to meet the physical needs of the school.

The proposed new playground for Crocker Farm is a lively outdoor space which will better support Crocker Farm's growing student body. It also will be a destination play area for the greater Amherst community. Playgrounds encourage children to develop strong social skills, understanding of spatial concepts, and appreciation for physical activity.
With redistricting, it is more important than ever to create a play space that meets the physical needs of a expanding school.

We have an ambitious goal of raising $40,000 to have a new playground installed this summer. Please help us reach this goal by donating today! Donations can be made online at crockerfarmpgo@blogspot.com or mailed to: Crocker Farm PGO - 280 West Street - Amherst, MA 01002 - ATTN: Playground
Please note: CF is not a 503(c)3. For more information, please contact Becky at 230-3306 or email the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support! Crocker Farm PGO

Check out Amherst Leisure Services awesome family-friendly production "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Several ARHS students have prominent roles, and these shows are always a blast.

Bowker Auditorium UMASS 7:30pm Fri 1/22, 2pm and 7:30pm Sat 1/23, and 2pm Sun 1/24. Tickets available at the door or through Leisure Services office.

Did you know that Amherst Regional high school has a Nordic ski program? You can help support it - by skiing.

Each Wednesday this month and next, the program is presenting all-comers sprint races at Northfield Mountain. Snow permitting, the races start at 3:30pm.
These are true sprints, The course is just one-kilometer long, a flat loop in the field between Route 63 and the Northfield Mountain main building. The races are sorted by age groups and heats, with the top two finishers in each heat advancing to a final round, while there's a consolation round for everyone else.

Register in advance at
http://nordicsprint.eventbrite.com/
or on race day by 3 p.m. at the ski center. Entry fee is $5 ($3 with a Northfield Mountain pass), or sign up for the whole series for $30 ($18 with pass).
Technique will alternate between classic on the first and third Wednesday and freestyle on the second and fourth. This week's races are the second in the series.

For more information, call Northfield Mountain at 800-859-2960 or visit

www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/ccski.asp

The ARHS Science Department invites the community to visit our website at:

http://www.arps.org/hs/Academics/Science/Home/main/

There is a special section on 9th grade Science!

3 Study Halls or 2?  6 Languages or 3?  25 kids in a class or 30?

Join Principal Jackson for an update on the State of the Budget of both the middle and high school. Join us for the discussion!
Wednesday, January 27th from 7-8pm
in the ARHS Library

The League of Women Voters in Amherst is sponsoring an update of the town's emergency planning.

What if a major disaster took place in Amherst? Maybe a tornado or an ice storm or a calamitous fire. Would the town be prepared to deal with it? Join town manager Larry Shaffer and assistant fire chief Mike Zlogar, director of emergency preparedness on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 pm in the Town Room, Amherst Town Hall, as they give an update on the status of emergency planning in Amherst. Questions from the audience will also be responded to. The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served at 7 pm and the program will begin at 7:30. For information call 253-0633.

Does your teen have the mid-winter blues?  Exams getting them down?  Need a good meditative stretch?

Really, there's nothing like giving the soul a good workout after the school day.  It really sets you up for the evening!

Yes, Teen Yoga with Karen has started again! The winter session runs on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:14 through Feb 24th. Sign up on-line, or drop-in for $12.

Did you hear about the disasterous 7.0 earthquake in Haiti?  Do you want to help???

Kenny On, Jessie Duda, Alex Light, and Cora Hirshfield are collecting any gently used clothes and shoes to bring down with them to Haiti in February. Please deposit donations in the box in the ARHS lobby or the entrance to the library.

ARHS Middle School & High School Budget Meeting
Wednesday, January 27th from 7 -8 PM in the ARHS Library

Principal Mark Jackson will present the latest budget information for the middle and high school. Join us for the discussion. By collectively becoming informed, we as a community can begin to discuss how to maintain outstanding schools in the face of a long line of budget cuts over the past years.

Discussion topics wil include:

* Examples of acute & chronic illnesses in children
* Educational impact on childhood, including:
* Disease-specific effects
* Medication and/or treatment side-effects
* Absenteeism
* Indirect Implications
* School Re-entry
* Critical Transition Periods

There will also be a discussion of the role of the school in supporting the children and possible accomodations to include on a 504 or IEP.

Date: Thursday 1/21
Time: 6-8:30pm
Where: Professional Development Center, ARMS

When: Saturday, January 30, 2010
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(snow date Sunday, Jan 31)
(Set up Friday, January 29 from 6-9 p.m.)

Where: ARHS Cafeteria

What: a flea market-type tag sale, with lots of used items, raffle tickets, ARHS gear, food and other stuff for sale.  We are beginning to receive donations from the community which will be divided among the clubs/teams that sign up.  Last year, boys ultimate made $500+ and girls ultimate made $600+ and they hope to make much more this year.  

Why: to help ARHS teams and clubs raise money to fund their various
activities.  Because it will be FUN!!!!!

Questions:  Tiina Booth - bootht@arps.org

This winter and spring the ARHS Parent Center will be hosting meetings with ARHS Department Heads. This will be an opportunity for parents to ask questions about curriculum and course offerings at ARHS. Hope to see you there!

* Jan 21, Thursday, 7-8 pm, room 13, Kristen Iverson, English Curriculum

* Feb 26, Fri, 12-1 pm, room 13, Simon Leutz, Social Studies Curriculum

* March 18, Thursday, 7-8 pm, room 13, Kathy Fidler, Math Curriculum

* May 20, Thursday, 7-8 pm, room 13, Mary McCarthy, Science Curriculum