arps update (october 13, 2017) update (october 20, 2017).pdf · - picture my immigration story...

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October 20, 2017 A Message from Michael Morris, Superintendent of Schools ARPS Update October is Disability Awareness Month, and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council is doing great work in building awareness in our schools. Over the course of the month, they are placing lawn signs at each of the schools highlighting important facts about people living with a variety of differences. When I visited Fort River on Thursday, I was greeted by these signs that can help students understand that they are not alone, no matter what challenges they may face. Thank you to SEPAC for helping raise awareness for all of us. Last week, Dr. Marta Guevara, Director of Student and Family Engagement, and I met with Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Health Director Julie Federman to plan a community event in support of those who may be relocating to our area from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. We anticipate that many families will come to the area with a range of needs, from help with concrete things such as health and housing, to help dealing with emotional trauma. On November 2, the community is invited to come together in a planning session from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School library. We want to plan, as a community, how we can best support our new neighbors who will be relocating to our area, either temporarily or permanently. The event is co-sponsored by the Town of Amherst and the Amherst Public Schools. For more information about the event, or if you know of a family with school-aged children that plans to relocate to Amherst, Pelham, Leverett or Shutesbury, please contact Dr. Guevara at 362-1871 or [email protected] so we can be ready to welcome them when they arrive. Amherst Education Foundation (AEF) provides an incredible amount of support to the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Schools every year through their Excellence Grants program. AEF Excellence grants have been used to fund learning experiences at all grade levels, which simply could not happen without their financial support. For the 2017-2018 school year, AEF awarded $30,230 in grants, funding the following: - ARHS Wellness Improvement Grant of $6,000 to funds PE curriculum revisions and equipment upgrades to attract a wider range of students and create a culture of health. - Fractions Facilitation Course for Elementary Math Coaches Grant of $7,230 to addresses disparities in fraction ability, serving students across elementary schools. - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration stories through pictures, stories, and song. - Undoing Racism Grant of $7,000 to pay for training for 20 teachers across the District to facilitate dialogue and to develop Racial Equity Professional Learning Communities across elementary schools. Next Thursday, October 26 is the annual AEF Trivia Bee, which is their largest fundraiser of the year. I want to encourage everyone to attend this extraordinary, family-friendly event, either as a member of a trivia team or as a spectator. Either way, you're in for a treat! AEF is still looking for adult and youth teams to compete, and you can sign up by contacting one of the Trivia Bee Co-Chairs, Meg Rosa at [email protected] or Ken LeBlond at [email protected] deadline to register as a player is October 23. On Tuesday, October 24, immigrants and allies are invited to a Know Your Rights event at the Jones Library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Please see the flyer later in this newsletter for more information about this important event. Have a great weekend, Superintendent

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Page 1: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration

O ctober 20 , 20 17

A Message f rom Michael Morr is, Super int endent of Schools

A RPS Up date

October is Disability Awareness Month, and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council is doing great work in building awareness in our schools. Over the course of the month, they are placing lawn signs at each of the schools highlighting important facts about people living with a variety of differences. When I visited Fort River on

Thursday, I was greeted by these signs that can help students understand that they are not alone, no matter what challenges they may face. Thank you to SEPAC for helping raise awareness for all of us.

Last week, Dr. Marta Guevara, Director of Student and Family Engagement, and I met with Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Health Director Julie Federman to plan a community event in support of those who may be relocating to our area from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. We anticipate that many families will come to the area with a range of needs, from help with concrete things such as health and housing, to help dealing with emotional trauma. On November 2, the community is invited to come together in a planning session from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School library. We want to plan, as a community, how we can best support our new neighbors who will be relocating to our area, either temporarily or permanently. The event is co-sponsored by the Town of Amherst and the Amherst Public Schools. For more information about the event, or if you know of a family with school-aged children that plans to relocate to Amherst, Pelham, Leverett or Shutesbury, please contact Dr. Guevara at 362-1871 or [email protected] so we can be ready to welcome them when they arrive.

Amherst Education Foundation (AEF) provides an incredible amount of support to the Amherst, Pelham and Regional Schools every year through their Excellence Grants program. AEF Excellence grants have been used to fund learning experiences at all grade

levels, which simply could not happen without their financial support. For the 2017-2018 school year, AEF awarded $30,230 in grants, funding the following:

- ARHS Wellness Im provem ent Grant of $6,000 to funds PE curriculum revisions and equipment upgrades to attract a wider range of students and create a culture of health.

- Fract ions Facil i t at ion Course for Elem ent ary Mat h Coaches Grant of $7,230 to addresses disparities in fraction ability, serving students across elementary schools.

- Pict ure My Im m igrat ion St ory Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration stories through pictures, stories, and song.

- Undoing Racism Grant of $7,000 to pay for training for 20 teachers across the District to facilitate dialogue and to develop Racial Equity Professional Learning Communities across elementary schools.

Next Thursday, October 26 is the annual AEF Trivia Bee, which is their largest fundraiser of the year. I want to encourage everyone to attend this extraordinary, family-friendly event, either as a member of a trivia team or as a spectator. Either way, you're in for a treat! AEF is still looking for adult and youth teams to compete, and

you can sign up by contacting one of the Trivia Bee Co-Chairs, Meg Rosa at [email protected] or Ken LeBlond at [email protected] deadline to register as a player is October 23.

On Tuesday, October 24, immigrants and allies are invited to a Know Your Rights event at the Jones Library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Please see the flyer later in this newsletter for more information about this important event.

Have a great weekend,

Superintendent

Page 2: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration

Updat e f rom t he Am herst School Com m it t ee Chair and Vice-Chair

The Amherst School Committee is pleased to announce the membership of the School Building Committee for the Fort River Building and Site Feasibility Study. At our Tuesday, October 17th meeting, we randomly selected four at-large community members to serve on this 12-member committee. We would sincerely like to thank all those who submitted applications, and to those community members, educators, administrators, and town employees who will be offering their time and service to do the important work of this committee going forward.

The selection process went as follows:

- All completed applications were numbered and names were removed.- These numbered applications were shared with all School Committee members via email.- The Chair and Vice-Chair reviewed the numbered applications and sorted them according to the positions for

which they applied, which included:- Community Member with Green Energy Expertise and Architectural Background-At-Large

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver- At-Large Community Member #1- At-Large Community Member #2

- The Chair and Vice-Chair shared all complete applications and the categories with the Committee; final selections were made randomly during the public Committee meeting on Tuesday.

The Committee publicly committed to having a minimum of 50% of the voting membership of the School Building Committee be composed of women and persons of color. Applications were considered accordingly based on the optional self-identification of applicants.

The final School Building Committee is as follows:

- Eric Nakajima, Amherst School Committee Representative- Diane Chamberlain, Fort River Principal- TBD, Green Design/Architectural Representative- Heather Sheldon, SEPAC Representative- Jonathan Salvon, Fort River PGO Representative- Irene Dujovne, Parent-at-Large- Allison Page, Community Member-at-Large- Maria Kopicki, Community Member-at-Large- Claire McGinnis, Town Finance Representative- Jean Fay, ARPS Staff Member- Nicole Singer, Fort River Teacher- TBD, Facilit ies Director- Dr. Michael Morris, Superintendent (ex-officio member)

We appreciate the range of experience and expertise represented in this group and look forward to working together on behalf of our schools.

Questions or comments for the School Committee can be emailed to: [email protected]. Visit www.arps.org for posted meetings, agendas, and meeting minutes.

Phoebe Hazzard, Chair Anastasia Ordonez, Vice-Chair

Page 3: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration
Page 4: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration
Page 5: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration
Page 6: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration
Page 7: ARPS Update (October 13, 2017) Update (October 20, 2017).pdf · - Picture My Immigration Story Grant of $10,000 to fund student research and storytelling of their family immigration