1-15-16 Email and Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians:
Next Tuesday, January 19, the Amherst School Committee will vote on the grade configuration for the Amherst
Elementary School Building Project that will be used going forward. Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris and I
shared our official grade configuration recommendation with the Amherst School Committee this week, which is
to create a grades PreK-1 early childhood school at Crocker Farm and build a new grades 2-6 school that will
serve all Amherst students. This recommendation and the School Committee vote come after many months of
work, research, community input and careful consideration. I have included our recommendation, in its entirety,
in my attached newsletter. You can read the recommendations of the elementary principals, vice-principals, and
District Directors here.
I am also happy to share some wonderful news about an ARHS faculty member and student who are both being
honored by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day
celebration in Boston on February 5. What a wonderful achievement for both!
I hope you enjoy this long weekend as we remember and honor one of our nation’s greatest heroes, Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Have a great weekend!
Maria
Estimados Padres y Encargados,
El próximo martes, 19 de enero el Comité Escolar de Amherst votará sobre la configuración de grado para el
Proyecto de Escuela Elemental de Amherst que se utilizará en el futuro. Asistente del Superintendente Mike
Morris y yo compartimos nuestra recomendación de configuración de grado oficial con el Comité Escolar de
Amherst esta semana, que es la creación de un Pre-K-1 Escuela preescolar en Crocker Farm y construir una
Escuela Elemental para los grados 2 a 6 que servirá a todos los estudiantes de Amherst. Esta recomendación y la
votación del Comité Escolar vienen después de muchos meses de trabajo, la investigación, el aporte de la
comunidad y una cuidadosa consideración. He incluido nuestra recomendación, en su totalidad, en mi boletín
adjunto. Usted puede leer las recomendaciones de los directores de primaria, subdirectores y directores del
Distrito aquí. Usted puede leer las recomendaciones de los directores de primaria, subdirectores y directores del
Distrito aquí.
También estoy feliz de compartir algunas noticias maravillosas acerca de un miembro de la facultad de ARHS y
una estudiante, ambas siendo homenajeados por la Asociación Atlética Inter-escolar de Massachusetts en la
Celebración Deportiva del Día de Nacional de Niñas y Mujeres en Boston el 5 de febrero ¡Qué logro maravilloso
para ambos!
Espero que disfruten de este largo fin de semana medida que recordamos y honramos a uno de los más grandes
héroes de nuestra nación, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Que tengan un buen fin de semana!
Maria
Updat es f r om Su per i n t en den t M ar i a Ger yk
January 11-15, 2016
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Upcom ing
Event s
.
Tuesday, January 19
Amherst School Committee
ARHS Library @ 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 26
ARHSTeacher and St udent t o behonor ed by MIAA
On February 5, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic
Association (MIAA) is celebrating National Girls and Women in
Sports Day, a day that recognizes the positive influence of sports
participation on the lives of girls and women and the continuing
struggle for equality and access for women in sports. We are
pleased to announce that this year two members of the ARHS
community will be honored by the MIAA on that day.
Regional School Committee
ARHS Library @ 6:00 p.m.
TheLions Cl ub Needs Your Hel p!
Todd Cromack, Amherst Lions Club President,
needs your help to spread the word about a
problem that occurred at the Amherst Lions Club
Ski/ Skate Sale on January 8th. Unfortunately, all
credit card purchases made at the sale between 6
PM and 9 PM were not processed through Pay Pal
because the credit card machine malfunctioned.
No records of purchasers' names or contact
information were made by the volunteers who
worked the check-out station.
The Lions Club is hoping people who paid with
credit cards will come forward to pay for
equipment with cash/ check. Checks should be
payable to Amherst Lions. Please send checks to:
Denise O'Donovan
Amherst Middle School
170 Chestnut Street
Amherst, Mass. 01002
The money from this event is 100% distributed
back to ARPS and the community. This event was
not school-sponsored, but we ask that you help
since the Lions are such strong community
partners who support ARPS in many ways.
If you have questionsplease contact Todd
at tacromack@comcast.net.
Liz Haygood, Health and Physical
Education teacher, is a recipient of the
MIAA Women in Leadership Award.
Nominated by her colleagues, this
award recognizes Ms. Haygood as
someone who has:
- made a significant impact on the
lives of young girls and women;
- consistently served as a positive
role model for girls and women; and
- provided long-term service to the school in support of girls'
sports and athletics.
Sophie Fischer Frank, ARHS
Freshman, has been named the
second place winner in the MIAA
essay contest with the theme
"Leading the Way." Female student
athletes were encouraged to answer the question "What does
leading the way look like?" Ms. Fischer Frank's essay was praised
by the MIAA judges for its "quality, diversity and enthusiasm." Her
essay will be published on the MIAA website at www.miaa.net.
Both Ms. Haygood and Ms. Fischer Frank will be recognized at the
National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration at Faneuil Hall
in Boston on February 5. Congratulations to both for these
prestigious awards!