Pandemic losses and lessons
While adults often look back on their high school and recall major historical moments that coincided with their education, who knew our moment would be a years-long, front seat to a global pandemic that...
Students talk about major changes to start time, schedule, lunch, and more
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice protests nationwide, many educators and activists said that schools could not go back to “business as usual,” and instead would have to rethink everything,...
Heading to the pool: testing for COVID-19 at school
On October 26, at 9:30 a.m., dozens of Amherst Regional High School students were called from their classes to take COVID tests. These students had signed up to participate in a pooled testing program...
Electives abound in block schedule
With the new block schedule, students only carry each academic class for one semester at a time, rather than a whole year. One benefit of this is increased space for quarter-long elective offerings, with...
MCAS tests move ahead during pandemic, despite nationwide push to end standardized testing
MCAS is a graduation requirement at every public school in Massachusetts, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that for the senior class, who were fully excused from MCAS by the Department of Secondary and Elementary...
Students weigh in on later start time and effect on sports
Juniors and seniors at ARHS remember the days when we woke up at the crack of dawn and started our school days at 7:45 a.m. and wrapped them by 2:20 p.m. Some of us...
ARHS legend Terry Ominksy retires
Terry Ominksy, the long-time administrative assistant and secretary to the ARHS principal, retired to great fanfare the week before Thanksgiving break. Ominsky grew up in West Springfield, MA, and graduated from West Springfield High...
New RJ Coordinator Buford builds community and repairs harm
The first time Aaron Buford walked into the doors of ARHS, he was not the Restorative Justice Coordinator, a job he started this year; instead, he was a ninth-grader who had just moved from...
New teacher Caruso: from the movies in LA to the guidance office
Hannah Caruso, an Adjustment Counselor, was recently hired by ARHS. Caruso uses she/they pronouns and goes by Hannah with students. Caruso grew up locally in Northampton. They went to Clark University in Worcester, for...
New teacher Cassidy believes in ‘the power of math’
Rudy Cassidy is a new math and special education teacher here at the high school. They are currently teaching a math topics class, a geometry class, and an AB Calculus class. Cassidy grew up...
New teacher Fernández-O’Brien builds community through dance
New dance teacher Remy Fernández-O’Brien is no stranger to ARHS. In fact, they are a 2008 graduate who fell in love with dance while taking courses with former dance teacher Tracy Vernon in the...
New PE teacher Travis provides ‘guidance, care, and a supportive learning environment’
New physical education teacher Matthew Travis is thrilled to be a new teacher at ARHS. He currently teaches Health, tenth grade Physical Education and two electives: PE: Invasion Games and PE: Rec Games Travis...
New art teacher Ripley believes ‘art is for everyone’
Kristen Ripley is a new art teacher at ARHS who is excited to teach Drawing with Pen and Ink, Watercolor Painting, Digital Photography and Sculpture. Ripley starts her day by dropping her kids off...
New teacher Clark teaches Academic Skills and Financial Literacy
Imagine going to college with a major in journalism, but when you graduate you realize journalism is not at all for you, so you become a teacher instead. Meet the new Academic skills and Financial...
New teacher Fabel has been climate scientist, inventor, entrepreneur
Like a handful of the new teachers at ARHS, new engineering and physics teacher John Fabel actually grew up in Amherst and attended ARHS. “It was a good high school for me,” said Fabel....
New teacher Melendez thrilled to teach a class in her native language
Wilnelia Meléndez was welcomed into the ARHS faculty this fall, teaching Spanish 1 and Spanish 2. “I have [actually] been in the district for six years but I started teaching here just this year,”...
Bing Bong: an immersive theater miracle
This year’s Theater Company has been hard at work and one of their first shows of the season, Bing Bong, made quite an impression in late October. Bing Bong was an immersive theater piece...
Anime Club one of most popular clubs at ARHS
For the first time ever, there is an Anime Club here at ARHS. Senior Phoenix Ferreira Ford is excited to be the co-advisor of the popular club. “Over 100 people signed up and there...
Advice from a senior
I rarely feel like a senior. For me, and the rest of the class of 2022, the pandemic stole the latter half of our sophomore year and the vast majority of our junior year....
Field hockey team has deep bonds, growth mindset
Despite a tough fall season, the ARHS girls’ field hockey team worked hard both on and off the field to create a strong community. Their team was smaller this year, leading to some challenges,...
Boys’ soccer coach asks best of players
The Amherst boys’ soccer season finally came to a close on Saturday, November 13 as they lost to Canton in the quarterfinals of States. The Hurricanes (ranked 20) upset both Silver Lake (13) and...
Volleyball team rides on wins and great chemistry
The ARHS girls varsity volleyball team had a breakout season this year, and seniors Delaney MacPhetres and Nicole Lambert and junior Audrey Bowen played key roles in making that happen. Last season, the team...
Commitment, transparency, and equality: the girls’ XC formula for success
Three banners hang in Amherst Regional High School’s gymnasium filled with dates of every Western Massachusetts championship title won by the girls’ cross country team, starting in 1989 and ending with 2019. No sport...
Girls’ soccer team logs win after win
The Amherst Hurricane girls’ varsity soccer team has had one of the best seasons in recent years, with an overall record of 9 wins and 1 loss despite having many new members on their...
Golf team feels like a family
The ARHS varsity golf team had a fast and intense season. Coach Carl Vigeland was glad that the team had two weeks of practicing before school and the season started. “Our first match was...
