Exams for the second trimester courses will take place next week. The exam schedule is as follows:

Block B - Wednesday, Mar. 6

Blocks A and E - Thursday, Mar. 7

Blocks C ad D - Mar. 8 followed by an early dismissal

Get some sleep!

So just a heads up for your teen drivers - ARHS has announced in today's morning announcement that vehicles without current parking permits, parked in designated school parking areas, will be towed. Vehicle towing and pick up information will be available in the Main Office and the Deans Office. So if you've got a driving teen, you might want to make sure they got a Parking Permit!

A letter went out to parents to explain the advisory concept mandated by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, as well as the ARHS proposal to meet this expectation. This will require a modification to our current bell schedule. Next year we will remain in a trimester schedule, but each period will meet for 68 minutes and on Advisory days all classes will meet for approximately one hour. The links below will allow you to access the letter explaining the proposed change and the new 2013-2014 Bell Schedule.

Two new courses are to be offered in 2013-14. The first is Art History, which is an academic course taught through the Art Dept. Students will examine the link between artistic production and historical events; how history shapes art and how art can shape history. 2-D or 3-D Art is a prerequisite.

The second offering is Advanced Printmaking, a course for students who have taken Printmaking and want to explore advanced level techniques. Students will work with relief block printing, stencil and intaglio techniques but using higher level techniques and more professional quality materials. Printmaking is a prerequisite.

College Advisor, Myra Ross, recommends an article entitled, "Too Good To Be True?" recently published on the Admission Game Blog. It addresses the unsolicited mailings from a range of organizations informing students of thier nomination to be included in a special honor society or to attend summer leadership programs. Be wary of subscribing to special academic programs/camps for high school students on college or university campuses. Making choices simply to impress admission committees will come across as gratuitous resume building. If you choose such a program, do so because it has particular meaning to you—it represents an investment in you and your personal growth. See the full article here http://www.theadmissiongame.com/blog/archives/819

ARHS sophomore, Taj-Amir Torres, was named The Republican's Athlete of the Week on Feb. 23rd. He won the Division II State Title in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.48 seconds for the Hurricanes Boys Indoor Track team. To put this in perspective, his time of 6.48 seconds is the second fastest time in the state and the fourth best in New England this season! Congrats!

Parents of Seniors! How are your student's local scholarships apps going!!?? Absolute deadline to email them to scholarships@arps.org is April 1st. Mrs. Ross sent an email in mid-February with the list of scholarships and all the instructions. Your student can also find them on Naviance in the document library. What an easy way to maybe get some money!!

Need a taste of Spring? The Smith College Botanical Gardens is hosting the Spring Bulb Show from Saturday, March 2 - 17, 2013 at the Lyman Plant House from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily and Friday evenings, March 8 & 15, 4:00 to 8:00 pm. This event is free and open to the general public.

On The Same Page - Amherst is designed to bring the local community together, reading the same book and encouraging discussion and communication about the book and the themes it contains. Alan Goodman, Professor of Biological Anthropology at Hampshire College, will lead a discussion on the meaning of race after a screening of Race: The Power of an Illusion - The House We Live In, a documentary that explores how the concept of race developed and its implications in our society. Jones Library Woodbury Room, 7 PM

There will be a showing of the movie "Genetic Roulette" followed by a discussion led by organic farmer and GMO activist Ed Stockman. Ed Stockman is a biologist (B.S. & M.S.), organic farmer, former NOFA/Mass organic extension educator and an anti-GMO educator. He gives GMO presentations throughout New England, and runs Summit Farm in Plainfield, MA. Jones Library Woodbury Room 1:30 - 4:30 PM

The Jones Library has selected this book for an Amherst community read & they have invited Junot Diaz to come speak in the ARMS auditorium on the evening of March 11th. "Encapsulating Dominican-American history, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Waoopens our eyes to an astonishing vision of the contemporary American experience and explores the endless human capacity to persevere—and risk it all—in the name of love". Free tickets for this event are available at the Jones Library, limited to 2 tickets per person.

Screen Test 2: A Movie Trivia Bee to benefit the Amherst Cinema on Sunday, March 10th at 3pm at the Academy of Music in Noho . Please join hosts, John Hodgman and Bill Dwight, for an afternoon of film trivia and fun. 24 teams of three will vie for honors and prizes, challenged by movie trivia questions on categories ranging from film stars to book adaptations. Last year’s winning team the Mr. DeMilles will be back to defend their title! Everyone can get in on the competition during the audience participation round! Tickets $10 each. Please click here to purchase your tickets to Screen Test 2: Movie Trivia Madness 2013. Don't wait, it sold out early last year!

Spend a Semester in Maine.This is an opportunity for 10th grade girls. Coastal Studies for Girls is dedicated to those with a love for learning and discovery, an adventurous spirit and a desire for challenge. Our Semester School continues to offer an extraordinary 16 week semester for 10th grade girls to live and learn in Maine. . The priority deadline to apply for Fall 2013 or Spring 2014 is March 15, 2013. More info at: http://www.coastalstudiesforgirls.org/

The Regional School District Planning Board consisting of representatives from Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury has scheduled a forum in each of the four towns to gather feedback and facilitate further discussion about possible regionalization. Beginning on February 27 through March 2, each town’s three-person Regional School District Planning Committee will host a forum for residents to provide feedback in advance of a recommendation by the RSDPB: The remaining forums are March 2 in Pelham at 10:00 am in Ramsdell Room of the Pelham Library Complex, and March 2 in Amherst at 10:00 am at ARHS Library.
More information at: https://sites.google.com/site/regionalschoolplanning/meetings-events/com...

Please join us on Wednesday, Feb. 27th for what is sure to be a helpful and informative evening hosted by the ARHS PGO. Assistant Principal Miki Gromacki will be reviewing the course registration process and the academic pathways available for all grade levels. Simon Leutz, Department Head of Social Studies and Dane Marr, Department Head of English will join us and highlight the wide variety of electives available to students. Coffee and refreshments will be served. This is a timely presentation which will assist you and your student in making excellent course choices. We hope to see you there! ARHS Library, 7pm.