Who said the kids get to have all the fun? Here's the Parent Center's guide to local parent fun this week...

Okkerville River - Wednesday 10/8 8pm - Pearl Street
Americana Pop, which means good harmonies and a banjo. Really engaging group of fellas.

Boston Celtics - Wednesday 10/8 7pm - Mullins Center
That's right the Celts vs. Sixers here in Amherst. Why drive to Boston when you can walk to the Mullins Center?

Erin Mckeown - Saturday 10/10 7pm - Iron Horse
McKeown plays an awesome guitar with a sound from the 40s & 50s updated to the new Millennium. She's great.

A Tribute to Robert Altman - Various Dates/Times Academy of Music
Oct. 10: 6 p.m., MASH; 9 p.m., Feelies
concert. Oct. 11: 2 p.m., Brewster McCloud; 4 p.m., 3 Women; 7 p.m.,
Nashville; 10 p.m., The Player. Oct. 12: 2 p.m., A Wedding; 4:30,
Thieves Like Us; 7 p.m., McCabe and Mrs. Miller; 9:30, The Long
Goodbye. Oct. 13: 3:30, Short Cuts; 7 p.m., MASH. Oct. 10,, Academy of
Music, 274 Main St., Northampton. $7 individual films; $30 pass.
587-1247.

They Might Be Giants - Friday 10/24 8pm
The Calvin
If you came of age in the 80s, you know these guys!

As many parents are aware, the budget crisis facing our school district in the coming years is dire. Last weekend, several board members of the non-profit Amherst Education Foundation (AEF), and Glenda Cresto, the new principal of the Middle School (ARMS), met to discuss critical issues facing ARMS and the district as a whole. Now in its 15th year, AEF’s mission is to enhance academic excellence for all students in the public schools of Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury. Over the last two years, AEF has contributed over $85,000 to the schools, and plans are underway to dramatically increase this amount to meet the needs of the district’s students in the increasingly limited budget environment.

AEF is entering its next phase of strategic planning in order to establish a reliable source of long-term funding for the Amherst Regional Public Schools. AEF’s development and strategic planning committees are working to create an even more powerful funding mechanism that provides significant support for teachers and students on a consistent basis.

Last spring several members of AEF met with former School Superintendent Jere Hochman to begin this planning process. His suggestions included funding for professional development for teachers. The meeting with Glenda Cresto was the second in a series of meetings to gather information on the district’s most pressing needs. Ms. Cresto’s suggestions included funding long-term programs with 3- to 5-year commitments. One such initiative is a teacher mentoring program which would improve the teacher turnover rate.

In the coming months, AEF will meet with (or survey) principals, teachers, parents, the local business community, town management, and others. Dr. Hochman and Ms. Cresto’s ideas, combined with those that will be gathered this fall, will create a new roadmap for AEF for funding public schools in the district.

Amherst High has a student activities director. Her name is Sherry Balzano. If your student is new or looking for ways to make friends and become more involved at ARHS contact Sherry. She will be happy to meet with your student and discuss the range of clubs and opportunities at ARHS.

* Student Activities Director
* 362-1793
* email: balzanos@arps.org

The minutes from the January 16 meeting are attached.

Minutes from the December 12 meeting are attached.

School has started and your child seems to be doing fine. However, six weeks into the semester your child comes to you asking for help with science homework. You would love to help, but you don’t understand the material either. In another case your child comes home saying that she failed her history quiz. What should you do? It is important to act soon and not wait until problems progress further. The following are steps that you can take to help your child academically.

Communicate with the teacher
The first step is to email or leave a voice mail for your child’s teacher. Teachers will respond within 48 hours. Often just voicing your concerns and providing information on how your child learns best will make a difference. The school administrators encourage parents to communicate with their child’s teacher. Teachers stay after school until at least 3 pm each day and are usually available to help students. However, since teachers sometimes have staff meetings or other commitments it is best to check ahead.

Encourage your child to setup a study group with other students
Ask teachers about the possibility of using class time for setting up study groups so that students can exchange contact information and determine a time to meet. Some teachers encourage study groups and give extra credit to students that participate in them.

Contact your child’s guidance counselor
This is especially important if your child is in danger of failing, having trouble in more than one course or not “clicking” with or understanding a particular teacher. The guidance counselor can set up a case conference with you, the teacher, and your child and facilitate a discussion to address the particular learning style of your child. The counselor can also direct you to other academic support resources. If your child is on an IEP, your child’s liaison should be contacted instead of the counselor.

Use extra help resources available through the school
Math/ Science and English Study Center This resource is available during the day in Rooms 133 and 135 and is staffed by a paraprofessional and student tutors. Students can get a pass to go to these centers for help during study halls and lunches.

After School Study Center Tutor A tutor is available to the library Monday through Thursday until 4 PM to help students.

College Student Tutors On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, students from UMass and Amherst College are in the library after school until 4 pm to provide help with most subjects. High School students do not need an appointment, but can just drop in and ask for help.

Tutor Book The guidance department maintains a book of available tutors by subject area. Each tutor submits a resume and passes a CORI check. These tutors charge a fee and must be contacted directly.

Prep Academy This program is for 9th graders that have been identified as needing extra support. Contact your child’s guidance counselor for more information.

Project Challenge This mentoring program is for sophomores and juniors who are interested in challenging themselves by taking more rigorous course work. Participating students meet one period a day all year with their mentor and a small group of peers to work on class assignments and developing strategies and skills for achieving academic success. Students enroll in this program for the next year. Contact your guidance counselor for more information

A late bus is available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at approximately 3:45 p.m. to take students home. It services all of the towns in the regional school district.

The minutes from the November 14 meeting are attached.

The minutes from the October 10 meeting are attached.

The minutes from the September 19 meeting are attached.

Voters rejected a $2.5 million Proposition 2½ override by a 53-47 percent Tuesday, a margin of 267 votes.

According to the unofficial vote count, 2,383 voted yes and 2,650 said no, with a turnout of 31.46 percent.

More: http://www.amherstbulletin.com/story/id/927204660022/

To see cuts in the regional schools next year:

http://www.arps.org/BudgetInformation/RegionalBudget/FY08cutsandadds.htm

*ThisThursday, April 26th *there will be an *Informational Meeting about the Proposed Override* *and Three-Year Amherst Plan***** at 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.

This meeting will feature a panel of Town officials presenting information about the Amherst Plan and about the different budget cut scenarios that will result from the override vote either passing or not passing on May 1st. The panel includes Jere Hochman (Superintendent of Schools), Larry Shaffer (Town Manager), Bonnie Isman (Library Director), Kay Moran (Finance Committee), and John Musante (Town Finance Director).

A question and answer session will follow the informational presentations.

This meeting has been organized by the Amherst Plan Committee. The evening is designed as an informational meeting, not an advocacy meeting. All are welcome.

A Workshop for Parents/Guardians
Are the Messages You're Giving Your Kids Effective?

• Learn Healthy Messages to Give Our Kids Around Substance Abuse
• Understand the real data in the Amherst area around use
• Find Out about Family Contracts

March 22, 2007 7:30pm
ARHS Library

Local data shows that when parents communicate a no-use message to their kids they're more likely to delay first use and more likely to use less when they do start to drink.

Lauri Turkovsky, Ed.D. has been in the field of Public Health for 17 years. She specializes in translating the prevention science research in to practical suggestions for practitioners such as teachers, coalition members and parents. Dr. Turkovsky is the Sr. Prevention Science Coordinator at the Western Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities where she’s been for the past eight years. Before then she worked at University Health Services, UMass, as a sexuality specialist and as an adolescent specialist in the HIV/AIDS prevention division of two county health departments in the Seattle, Washington area. Lauri has presented to many parent audiences about what parents really need to know to help their teens navigate adolescence as safely as possible.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council Parent Workshops are planned: March 14 and April 25

*March 14th Basic Rights Workshop for families with children with Special Needs*

We will be co sponsoring this with the Belchertown Special Education Parent Advisory council.
Location: Chestnut Hill Community School library, Belchertown Time: 6:30-8:30 PM
This is a very informative workshop for parents to attend. The laws are always changing and it is important to have an understanding of the laws to better advocate for your child. You will always learn something and feel more confident about what your role can be for your child.

*April 25th, 7-9 PM, College is it Possible? How to ensure that college is an option for your child with Disabilities.*

Speaker: Maureen Conroy, Director of Office for Students with Disabilities and Deaf Services at Holyoke Community College
Location: ARMS library Time: 7-9 PM
Another great workshop, which is very motivating about the choices available to all children for college and what we as parents can do along the way to ensure that college will be a choice for them if they want it. Come regardless of the age of your child, it is never to early to hear this information. College needs to be in your long range goals for your child, if you want it to be a option for them.

The 2007/2008 budget cuts will have disastrous effects on the quality of education in the Amherst public schools!

COME TO THE SAVE OUR SCHOOLS RALLY.

When: Thursday, February 1st, 7-8 pm
Where: Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium, 170 Chestnut St.

FIND OUT:

* How bad the problem is
* How we got here
* What you can do about it

This is the one meeting that you need to attend!

More: http://saveamherstschools.org/

AMHERST DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY GRANT - COMMUNITY MEETING

JANUARY 29th, 2007
7:00 PM Monday
Pole Room
Bangs Community Center
Amherst, MA

Presentation by Jeff Harness, Director, Western Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities.

Jeff has been researching how the Amherst Community Partnership worked or did not work, and will be presenting his results, as well as discussing whether or not it makes sense to apply for a similar grant again. See link to agenda below as well a Jeff's report.

This is an important meeting to attend if you want to voice your support for funding the schools!

The Budget Coordinating Group, a town committee, is sponsoring an informational forum to seek public participation and to share some of the dilemmas faced by the Boards and Committees responsible for shaping the budget that is sent to Town Meeting in the spring.

More: http://www.amherstma.gov/whatsnew/view_item.asp?id=550

INTERNET SAFETY AND SAVVY - GET AN IMPORTANT GLIMPSE INTO THE ONLINE LIVES OF ARMS AND ARHS STUDENTS!

WHEN: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH AT 7:30 PM

WHERE: THE AMHERST REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY

The ARHS Parent Center will be sponsoring a workshop for parents and guardians titled "Internet Safety and Savvy" teen's safety while surfing the Web, as well as posting to such sites as MySpace and UTube.

Cynthia Boyle, Director of Community Education and Outreach for the Northwest District Attorney's Office, and an expert in this field, will conduct the workshop. Ms. Boyle is very up to date on the sites that are popular with ARHS students and other teens. This workshop will offer you an important glimpse into the online lives of ARMS and ARHS students.

Other topics covered will include: social networking sites, cyber bullying, Internet lingo, online gaming, instant messaging, chat rooms, and bash boards. Online safety tips and family contracts regarding Internet use will also be discussed as important tools for keeping our young people safe while online now and in the future.

THIS COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKSHOP YOU EVER ATTEND.

Information Processing: How can you help your child?
January 17th, 7-9 PM ARMS Library

Come learn the factors that influence learning as well as typical methods to accommodate for student learning differences. This parent workshop will give and overview of the world of information processing: and will touch on the impact on skill acquisition, remediation strategies, and accommodations. Our guest speaker will be April Minor. All are welcome!

This workshop is offered by The Amherst Regional Special Education Parent Advisory Council (ARPS SEPAC formerly known as Sped PAC or PAC)

For questions call Gail at 256-0023 or amherstpelhamspedpac@comcast.net

Date: Wednesday, February 7th, 2006
Place: The Lone Wolf
Time: 6:00
Cost: $18.00 per person

Speakers: Nutritionist, Claire Norton, Nutritionist Caren Weiner & Director of Health Education at Amherst College, Denise McGoldrick

All You Can Eat Buffet Dinner

Reservation, with payment, is required – Checks, made payable to ARHS Athletics, should be sent to the Athletic Director’s Office.

This evening is open to staff, parents, coaches & the public.

Questions: Call - Pam White ~ 362-1746 whitep@arps.org

RESERVATION DEADLINE: Thursday, February 1st, 2007

(Financial assistance is available.)