Feb 15, 2018 - the Creation of Hip Hop to the fourth grade class. ... Pelham faculty & staff wore custom-made t-shir
A RPS U p d at e Feb r u ar y 16 , 20 18 A M essage f r om M ich ael M or r is, Su per in t en den t of Sch ools After undergoing a national Teaching Award. This search with many qualified and award, which is provided talented applicants, I am by the Harold Grinspoon pleased to announce that Foundation, "honors Diane Chamberlain has been Western Massachusetts named Principal of Fort River educators and seeks to Elementary School. Her motivate teachers at all appointment was stages of their careers to recommended by the vast aspire to excellence." This majority of Fort River staff and year 's honorees are: families who attended the - Tiffany Thibodeau, finalists?forums on February ARMS Math Teacher Principal Diane Chamberlain 9th. Ms. Chamberlain is in her - Richard Eckart, ARHS Math Teacher second year serving as the Interim Principal of Fort - Carissa Ackroyd, Fort River Teacher River and served as the Assistant Principal for the - Kelly Carlisle, Pelham Teacher school for three consecutive years prior to that. Congratulations to all four of these outstanding Before coming to Fort River, Ms. Chamberlain was an educators for this well-deserved honor! administrator at the secondary level and worked as a teacher in multiple On Tuesday, Pelham special education Elementary hosted settings. Ms. their African Chamberlain has a American Read-In Bachelor ?s and Day as part of their Master ?s degree in Black History Month English, a Master ?s activities. Channel degree in special 22 News reporter education, and a Tashanea Whitlow Certificate of was one of the Pelham faculty & staff wore custom-made t-shirts in honor of African American Read-In Day Advanced Graduate honored guests. She Studies in Educational Leadership. Feedback from the read the book When the Beat was Born:DJKool Herc and finalists?forums indicated that Ms. Chamberlain, the Creation of Hip Hop to the fourth grade class. This ?understands how to address the whole student and book by Laban Carrick Hill is a John Steptoe New has a vision for the future,? and "Fort River deserves Talent Award winner, one of two annual awards given her amazing leadership, vision and knowledge.? We by the Coretta Scott King Task Force. welcome Diane and congratulate her on her official Have a great February break, appointment as Principal of the Fort River Elementary School. I am also very pleased to announce this year 's recipients of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in
Superintendent
February 15, 2018 Dear ARPS Families and Staff: We are heartbroken for the students, families and staff of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida after learning of yet another tragic loss of life as a result of a school shooting.Even as we think of those in Florida, I am sure many members of our school community are asking two important questions: How safe are our ARPS schools? and How can we support our students as they learn more details about this most recent incident? The safety and well-being of our students and staff members is our first priority. Our long-standing and well-trained school and district safety teams, with partners from our local public safety agencies, meets regularly at both the school and district levels to plan and implement training and protocols to keep everyone safe and plan how to respond in the event of an incident/emergency. Parents or staff members with concerns about safety should feel free to contact building principals for school-specific questions. Helping to ensure that our students are emotionally safe in relation to news about the shooting is another important responsibility. Please refer to guidance from the American Psychological Association for useful and practical help http://www.apa.org/topics/violence/school-shooting.aspx and http://www.apa.org/centrodeapoyo/escolar.aspx(Spanish).Please reach out to any member of the administrative or guidance team if we can help support you in any way.W With respect,
Michael Morris Superintendent of Schools
In vit at ion f r om t h e Am h er st Sch ool Com m it t ee
Com e h ear Ph yllis Har dy of t h e M u lt ist at e Associat ion f or Bilin gu al Edu cat ion
At their February 5th meeting, the Amherst School Committee heard the fourth presentation by members of the Enrollment Working Group regarding creating a Spanish-English dual language program within the Amherst Public Schools. The subgroup shared their findings about the benefits of dual language study and bilingualism to all students. As part of their research, they conducted a survey of preschool and elementary parents about interest in a Spanish-English dual language program, reviewed earlier proposals for such a program, consulted with area experts, visited a dual language school in Holyoke, and held a focus group. Please click here for the full report and appendices.
To continue this exploration, the Superintendent has invited Phyllis Hardy, executive director of the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education, Northeast (MABE), to present related information at the February 27th Amherst School Committee meeting. Community members will also have the opportunity to ask questions of Ms. Hardy. Please join us!
