On Tuesday, April 30th from 7AM to 8PM, the polls are open for the Special State Primary Election for Senator in Congress (to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Kerry). Voters in both parties are scheduled to pick the nominees, with the general election scheduled for June 25. Don't forget!

On Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm, Join Hilltown Families for a Saturday morning of volunteering together with your family to be held at Leeds Elementary School. Hilltown Families will be offering seven volunteer stations for families to participate in hands-on service projects for ALL AGES that support animal welfare organizations, conservation efforts and food security. Find out more about this free event and preregister at www.HilltownFamilies.org. Space is limited and all participating families must preregister.

We invite you to participate in the third annual Daffodil Fun Run on April 28, 2013! The Daffodil Fun Run is a 5k road race (run/walk) in Amherst that raises funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, a program of the Center for Human Development. The event is held each year at the beginning of Spring, when the daffodils are in full bloom.

Start time is 11:30 am at Kendrick Park (across from Bertucci's). You can also pick up your packet at the event beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Registration is limiting to 1,500 people. Please register early to ensure that you can participate! https://www.runreg.com/Net/3369

Adults: $27, Students $20, Children (12 and under): $12
Day-of registration only if space is available: Adults: $30, Students $23, Children (12 and under) $15

College support services for students with special needs: A Panel featuring representatives from colleges with special programs. Recommended for all grades. Bring your questions. This Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 pm in the ARHS Library.

A great workshop about the choices available to all students for college and what we as parents can do along the way to ensure that college will be a choice for them, if they so choose. Come, regardless of the age of your child, it is never to early to hear this information.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has selected the Chris Gould, coach of the ARHS Boy's Outdoor Track program as one of their 2013 MIAA Coach of the Year Award recipients. Chris will be recognized at the Third Annual MIAA Coach of the Year Banquet on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Congratulations Coach Gould!

Students! The English Department will be hosting a Student Poetry Reading on May 9th. All are welcome to participate! Come and read your own poems. Just send us your poems to sign up. We will be accepting entries until April 26th. Poems should take no longer than 4 minutes to read out loud. If you would like to take part or if you have any questions, email MarrD, LevyB, and MeadCIntern.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino have announced the formation of The One Fund Boston, Inc. to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013.

Find out more here.

The upcoming Amherst Education Foundation (AEF) Spring Sprint is an ideal opportunity to launch a fundraising campaign for your ARHS team or club. The best part of this idea is the double impact this coordination has. Your team/club's registration fees help AEF in their mission to have a positive impact on our district schools, and the pledges you obtain for participating can benefit your cause. May 18th at Wildwood School. For question or to register, email melindatebbetts@gmail.com

Attention Senior Parents/Guardians! Early in April you received the first mailing for ARHS Project Graduation 2013 (formerly known as Senior Party). Thank you to those who have already responded, but we need participation from as many families as possible!!! The mailing was on blue paper to insure that it stands out, even once it gets tossed into the large pile of mail on the kitchen table or the desk! Please take a moment to read it, and if you're able, to send in your contribution as soon as possible. Without parent/guardian contributions, this event CANNOT happen for our seniors. There are suggesed donation levels, but send whatever makes sense for your family. Also remember that EVERY senior is invited and welcome to attend regardless of their family's ability to contribute. Again, please take care of this as soon as possible! And thank you!

Representatives from approximately 100 colleges will visit ARHS every fall. Students and parents are welcome. The Guidance Dept. will post the list in Naviance early next fall and, also, on the bulletin board in Guidance. Mark the colleges that interest you under Colleges/"Colleges I Am Thinking About" in Naviance. Reminders will be sent (via Naviance) to students who have indicated interest in schools that will visit. You should pick up a pink pass in the Guidance Office before the class you want to leave to show your teacher to get out of that class. You get 3 freebies, then they count as absences. You can select the Colleges right now in Naviance. We will try to post this information again in the fall.

It's back! Did you know the Amherst Farmers' Market has been running for over 40 years! It is widely known as one of the best places for local food, fun, music and community. It offers a diverse selection; shoppers continually rave about how completely they can shop from their local farm neighbors at the market. Every Saturday in Amherst Center from April 20th thru November, 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

They accept SNAP/EBT, debit and credit cards!

The UMass Amherst Pre-College Summer Design Academy provides an opportunity for high school students interested in architecture, landscape architecture, urban or interior design the opportunity to experience the profession and see firsthand the kinds of activities that take place in a university design program. The Design Academy's interactive educational experiences include design exercises, hands-on building and model-making
activities, a visit to an architecture office and a construction project as well as lectures, discussions, and campus tours.

Les Misérables is 2 hours and forty minutes of singing and it is the most ambitious production to date. Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater has decided to move up their auditions to May 2nd-6th (see below) to assemble an extraordinary cast. Audition dates and times for teenagers (13 and up*) and adults are:

Thursday, May 2 - 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm
Friday, May 3 - 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm
Saturday, May 4 - 10:00 am to 12:15 pm & 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm
(and 5:00 pm to 7:15 pm if needed)
Sunday, May 5 - 10:00 am to 1:15 pm
Callbacks will be on Monday, May 6th - 6:00-9:00 pm at the Bangs Center

Call 413-259-3065 to schedule your audition!

*You must be 13 years old as of May 2, 2013 to audition in this round. Audition dates for children (13 and younger) will be in September 2013.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors - The Center for Environmental Civics is offering summer institutes with a focus on environmental issues and advocacy. They take place at Amherst College this summer - July 8-12 and Smith College July 22-26. See a video of last year on http://vimeo.com/52469823. There’s a flyer with more info on the Guidance Office bulletin board.

Remember how fun PEI's 3v3 soccer tournament was? Join us again for a great cause! This Sunday, April 21st, join the Peruvian Education Initiative for a 5K on a modified version of the Amherst College Cross Country course. Various prizes will go to the top finishers and each participant is entered into a raffle for a special prize. $15 All proceeds go to funding the secondary school tuition of three Peruvian students living in a shantytown outside of Lima. Please visit https://www.runreg.com/Net/3543 to register! Use coupon code MERCEDESALSO to get student pricing. Day of Registration starting at 10AM, Race/Walk: 11AM, Start at Bottom of Memorial Hill on Amherst College (near Baseball Field). Hope you can make it!