Parent Center News

Up close with English Teacher Ms. Kristen Iverson

Barry — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:42:52 -0500

Written by ARHS student Zoe Langsdale

A high school student may walk into their english classroom on the first day of class and see their teacher, Ms. Iverson, as just another normal, middle-aged, woman teacher. However, she is anything but that. As an undergraduate with a major in literature at Occidental College in California, Kristen Iverson didn't even have a thought about teaching in her mind. That is, until she moved off campus and started to tutor some of the kids in the neighborhood. This is where she fell in love with teaching. She then went to San Francisco State University to earn her teaching credentials and from there got her first real teaching job at Berkeley High School. "It's lower pay, but there's always more of a guarantee for jobs" Iverson noted about teaching. But what's more important to her is the energy and excitement of the kids, "I hated my high school experience and couldn't wait to leave. I decided to teach to make kids truly enjoy learning so they wouldn't have those same experiences I did."

When asked what she liked most about teaching, Iverson responded at once with "the energy of the students", followed quickly by the talk during class about "outrageous, magical and extravagant things", epiphanies of kids, and great literature. She also spoke highly of teaching at Amherst Regional High School. "The privileges kids here have are amazing. The fact that kids can take novel-based, college-level classes is incredible" Iverson stated glowingly. She also noted that the kids at ARHS are the best part of the community and "their high level of enthusiasm, excitement, and rebelliousness is inspirational."

I have had the honor of being in her class, and can honestly say that this normal-looking, middle-aged woman is sincerely special--it's obvious how much she enjoys her job. "Watching even one kid light-up and get a new idea about something they're reading or talking about makes me remember how much I really love what I do."

Parent Workshop - The Emotional Life of Teen Girls - Feb 9th

Margot — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:13:14 -0500

Got Teens? Get the facts. Join us in the ARHS Library this Thursday at 7 pm with teen parenting expert and acclaimed author Evelyn Resh, who will address the topic, The Emotional Life of Teen Girls.

Evelyn is the author of The Secret Lives of Teen Girls: What Your Mother Wouldn’t Talk About But Your Daughter Needs to Know (Hay House). Resh lectures, writes and conducts workshops on the topics of parenting teen girls. She is candid in her approach to the importance of comprehensive sexuality education and mentoring for teen girls. Through her experience as a certified nurse-midwife who has cared for teen girls and women of all ages for over 20 years as well as her personal experience as the mother of a teenage daughter she will help guide us through the emotional lives of teen girls. Join us for this presentation, part of a series planned by the ARHS School Council for parents and guardian.

Late Start - Next Thursday 2/9

Margot — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:02:16 -0500

Don't forget that there is a late start this coming Thursday, Feb 9th. School starts at 10 am. Enjoy those extra few hours of sleep kids!

ARHS Students Well Represented at MMEA

Colleen Osten — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:26:21 -0500

On Saturday, January 14, the MMEA (Massachusetts Music Educators Association) Western District Senior Music Festival was held at the UMass Fine Arts Center. This spectacular event features choral, jazz, orchestra and band performances by high school students from throughout Western Massachusetts. Students are chosen to participate through a competitive audition process, and then are required to attend all day rehearsals in order to prepare for the concert. Amherst Regional High School was well-represented at the event with over 30 talented singers and musicians. Congratulations to our students and our performing arts teachers!

Black Out Bullying!

Colleen Osten — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:09:22 -0500

It was great to see so many students standing up against bullying, by wearing black last Wednesday. The action was in support of Black Out Bullying Day, an initiative from the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council, and organized at ARHS by the School Climate Control group. You make a difference!

Reach Out and Read Book Drive - An appeal from Emma Biggs

Colleen Osten — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:14:33 -0500

Emma is coordinating a book drive this month for Reach Out and Read, a national program which promotes early literacy and school readiness,by giving new books to children in pediatric exam rooms.

Books will be distributed at the Holyoke Health Center which serves some of the poorest children in the state. New and gently used books can be left in the marked box in the ARHS lobby. Picture books for ages 1-5, and books written in Spanish are most helpful. Cash donations to purchase new books can be left in the front office c/o Ms. Shea. Checks payable to Holyoke Health Center - Reach Out and Read. Thank You! biggse1@arps.org

Upcoming Home Sports Events

Margot — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:36:04 -0500

Fri. Feb 3 - TONIGHT!
5:30PM Boys JVA Basketball vs. Commerce High
7:00PM Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Commerce High

Mon. Feb 6
4:00PM Boys JVB Basketball vs. Westfield High

Tues. Feb 7
5:30PM Girls JVA Basketball vs. Chicopee Comp High
7:00PM Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Chicopee Comp High

Thurs. Feb 9
5:30PM Boys JVA Basketball vs. East Longmeadow
7:00PM Boys Varsity Basketball vs. East Longmeadow
7:30PM Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Greenfield

Big E College Fair on March 4th - Pre-register

Margot — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:04:48 -0500

Online registration is now available for the Springfield National College Fair at the Big E on Sunday, March 4th. Hours are Sunday 1-4 pm at Eastern States Exposition in the Young Building, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield,MA

Log onto www.gotomyncf.com to register. Students who register and bring their barcode printout with them to the Fair will not have to fill out information cards on site! Registration will be available on-site but avoid the long lines and register online before you arrive. REGISTER NOW!

For a listing of schools attending go to: www.nacacnet.org

Artist-for-Change Project Reception on Feb 10th

Margot — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:36:51 -0500

Youth Action Coalition’s Arts-for-Change Project presents “Who Are ‘We the People’?” an exhibition of digital and analog photography, sculpture, and film, in which youth have made striking observations on what it means to be a citizen of their town, their country, and the world.

The exhibition is organized in two parts. The East Gallery will feature photographic works by the members of GirlsEyeView Ware, GirlsEyeView Amherst and E’town Rising; the West Gallery will host a collaborative sculpture/video installation as well as individual works created by Get Up Get Down and Video Vanguards. It will run from February 3rd through February 29th. There will be many works by ARPS students! The exhibit opens with an Arts Night Out reception on Friday, February 10th, from 5-7pm. Also join us for our annual fundraiser, "Lights, Camera, Youth Action!" on Sunday, February 12th, from 3-5 pm. To RSVP call 413.253.2158.

Mark Your Calendars

Margot — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:45:06 -0500

Feb 11 - Princeton Review Assessment - 9 - 1 pm, ARHS

Feb 11 - Winterfest 2012 - 1- 6 pm, Cherry Hill Golf Course

Feb 13 - Parent/Guardian Cafe - 7 pm, ARMS

Feb 14 - Hurricanes Singers Concert - 7:30, Auditorium

Feb 16 - Naviance Assembly for Junior Parents/Guardians -7 pm, Library

Feb 17 - Brown Bag with Principal Jackson - Noon, Room 13

Feb 20-24 - Winter Vacation

WARNING - False National Honor Society Acceptance Letters

Colleen Osten — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:20:02 -0500

Many students have received an "acceptance" letter to an honor organization whose name is very similar to the National Honor Society. This includes a request for $60 for your student to join. This is NOT from ARHS, or any organization associated with the local NHS chapter. This organization buys address lists from the PSAT and SAT and other testing groups and sends out these letters based on PSAT scores.
ARHS has no association with this organization, nor do we ever give out student information from the local National Honor Society chapter. Acceptance letters from our chapter have not been sent to any student. If you have any questions about this, please contact Kathy McCarthy at mccarthyk@arps.org or 413-362-1545

Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club Needs Volunteers for the Jones 10 Mile Run

Colleen Osten — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:09:12 -0500

Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club (SMAC) is hosting the Jones 10 Mile run and is looking for volunteers in the registration area, along the route, and at the finish line. If you can help, contact Coach Gould (gouldc@arps.org). What are the benefits? 1. 'Canes team solidarity 2. You get to see great runners in competition. 3. It's FUN!! http://www.sugarloafmac.org/

$25,000 AMHERST ROTARY COMMUNITY GRANT

Margot — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:14:43 -0500

The Rotary Club of Amherst is accepting applications from local non-profitorganizations and government agencies for the third annual Amherst RotaryCommunity Grant, in the amount of $25,000. This grant will be awarded on acompetitive basis to fund a single project that will provide an importantand sustainable improvement to the quality of life in our community. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than February 28, 2012.

For application materials and more information, pleasesee www.AmherstRotaryClub.org.

Later Start Time Community Forums

Margot — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:45:30 -0500

Students, parents, guardians, and residents from Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett are invited to attend these informational meetings. ARMS Principal Mike Hayes will facilitate the community discussions.

The last forum is this Tuesday, February 7 from 7 to 9pm at ARMSl (Auditorium)

Doctor for a Day

Margot — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:40:14 -0500

The "High School Doctor For a Day" Program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to witness the practice of medicine firsthand and observe successful physicians who will be your mentors. Application packets for serious juniors or seniors are available in the Guidance Office. The application deadline is February 17. You will need 2 reference letters so start early!

LSSE - Driver's Ed Course - Feb. Vacation Week

Margot — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:30:29 -0500

The Amherst LSSE Department offers a fully certified driver's education course for those age 15 years and nine months to adults. The complete driving course, taught by United Driving School, includes regulation classroom instruction, which prepares new drivers for the road test. Observation time and driving time are also included.The Driver's Education Certificate is issued when the full course is completed. A $300 deposit is due to LSSE at registration. In addition $365 or payment plan is due to the instruction for driving/observation.The course will be held Feb. 20-24 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bangs Center. To register or for information call 259-3065 or visit: www.lsse.org

Math Competition on Feb. 7th - Sign Up TODAY

Margot — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:04:18 -0500

It’s time to sign up for the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) that will take place on Tuesday, February 7th, E period. There are two levels of the math contest, one for 9th and 10th graders will experience in Algebra 1 and Geometry and one for any student with experience in Algebra 2 and beyond. For details and to sign-up see your math teacher or come to the math office room 221. The deadline for signing up is TODAY.

Thanks to Amherst Police Dept.

Margot — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:59:58 -0500

The ARHS Nordic Ski Team would like to thank Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone and the Amherst Police Department for supporting the purchase of hi-visibility safety vests through the US Department of Justice Byrne Grant. These vests are worn by team members as they roller ski and run during dry land (no snow) training sessions so they are visible to cars at dusk

Carson Marshall on NPR's From the Top

Margot — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:57:49 -0500

ARHS senior Carson Marshall will be performing on From the Top, National Public Radio’s showcase of the country’s top young musicians. The show will tape on Saturday, February 4 in Boston and air on WFCR on Sunday, February 26. Tickets are still available for the taping. Congratulations to Carson for achieving this national recognition of his talent. Get tickets at: http://store.fromthetop.org/product_p/ftttix0204.htm

News From Guidance

Margot — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:54:23 -0500

News For Juniors: Hey Juniors - Do you want to find out whether the SAT or ACT would represent you better to colleges? Take the FREE Princeton Review Assessment, a hybrid of the two tests, here at ARHS on Saturday, February 11th from 9:00-1:00. Sign up in the Guidance Office.

More News for Juniors:
It’s time to sign up for the March 10th SATs here at ARHS. There will be other SATs on May 5 and June 2. Be sure to plan to use one of those dates for the reasoning test and also think about taking some subject tests this spring. Fee waivers are available for students on free/reduced lunch. See a Guidance secretary for more information. Don’t wait until next fall to begin your testing.

News for Seniors:
If you are planning to attend GCC or HCC next year, you should meet with their Admissions representatives here at ARHS to apply. HCC is coming on Tuesday, February 7, and GCC is coming on Thursday, February 9. All appointments will be during the lunch period. Sign up in the Guidance Office ASAP.