Accidents
Looking up into the rearview mirror and seeing the red and blue lights is a position nobody wants to be in. Getting into an accident, possibly getting injured, or injuring someone else, is arguably...
ARHS class featured in new book
There are many books written about LGBTQ issues in education, but how many have a leading chapter about the LGBTQ Literature class taught by English teachers Sara Barber-Just and Kristen Iverson? Bard College professor...
Lead tests reveal tainted water at all Amherst schools
On September 8, 2016, water tests were run at 58 faucets and bubblers at the high school. Upon testing the samples without flushing them out, four bubblers and three sinks had high amounts of...
Community Kick-Off Day
Juggling, capture the flag, Ultimate, and soccer were just a few of the activities that were offered on Community Kick-Off Day at ARHS on September 22, 2016. Similar to “Dialogue Day” the annual event...
BLM group talks issues
Black Lives Matter is a very active club at ARHS, with about 10-12 core members. They meet after school on Mondays in Ms. Leopold’s room, 328. Anyone is free and welcome to join. Nia...
Finding the school and work balance
Being in high school is a demanding job. Students are in school for seven hours, five days a week, and often face hours of homework when they get home. Factor in daily sports practices...
Earl McGraw a ‘tremendous role model’
Former ARHS Dean Earl S. McGraw Jr., 46, of Northfield, Mass., died on September 21st after a long battle with lung cancer. According to those who knew and loved him, he will live in...
Charlie Read mourned, celebrated
On August 15, the Amherst community suffered the loss of a beloved friend and teammate, then-sophomore Charles Davis Read, who tragically passed away in his sleep. Read was first honored on Friday, August 19,...
New gym floor a needed renovation project
Having already seen the girls’ volleyball team take the stage at ARMS for their home games, it seems that both boys’ and girls’ ARHS basketball teams will have a change in home location as...
Boys’ soccer doing well
“We had a rocky start, but we’re feeling it now,” said varsity boys’ soccer captain Tim Felton, a senior. After losing their first game to West Springfield, the ‘Canes got their season back on...
When the water stops flowing: the effects of local drought
The town of Amherst has been under a voluntary water ban since July 25, 2016 and it became mandatory on August 19, 2016. A lack of rain caused the reservoirs that Amherst draws from...
Girls’ varsity soccer kicking it
The Amherst girls’ varsity soccer team started strong this fall with a 7-2-4 record. Girls’ varsity has been incorporating some new freshman players into their team, which is made up of half upperclassmen and...
SAGA ready to kick off again
One month into the school year, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) was into full swing. Last year, SAGA put together a Transgender Awareness Week, where the club educated the school community about gender...
Chance to vote ‘a real sign of becoming an adult’
This year’s election, in particular, has sparked interesting thoughts and opinions throughout the country and here at ARHS. As November 8 approaches, the seniors who are 18 are preparing themselves to vote. This historic...
Banning students from track unreasonable
ARHS home soccer games used to see the track packed with fans and students. This was forever changed after the events of an Amherst versus Holyoke girls’ soccer game in which ARHS fans were...
Best Buddies club has new advisor
The Best Buddies club gained an amazing advisor this year with new teacher, Justin Hoffman, 37, who works in the Pathways to Independence Program (PIP) for students with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Hoffman is...
Sene-Gambian Scholars Club off to great start, preparing for West African exchange
Kathy Wilkes, a paraprofessional and one of the advisors of the Sene-Gambian Scholars Exchange Club has been active with the group for 10 years. She and two retired ARHS teachers, special education teacher Momodou...
Santiago García, fan of pizza and small town life
“My dream was to teach Spanish,” said new world language teacher Santiago García-Troche, who currently teaches Spanish level 3 at ARHS. Before coming to Amherst, Mr. García worked at many schools, teaching several different...
Alex Lariviere loves thrill of discovery
Alex Lariviere is a newly hired math teacher, who began work at ARHS last year as a full time substitute for Steve Saxenian during his medical leave. Mr. Lariviere teaches pre-calculus honors and the...
Todd Fruth, lover of music
This year, there are several new teachers at ARHS. One of them is Todd Fruth, the new Chorale teacher. He leads the three choirs: Chorale, Hurricanes, and Concert Choir. In addition he teaches Music...
Forever Young
Social Studies teacher Eugene Young IV, 29, was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He went to the Shawnee public schools for elementary, middle, and high school. The languages offered...
Sulikowski doing the math
Lisa Sulikowski, a new math teacher at ARHS, pursued her career because of her belief that teaching means changing the entire idea of math. “It’s what I’m meant to do. I just feel really...
‘Poetry and postcards’ workshops a hit in English classes
In connection with the Amherst Poetry Festival on Friday, September 16, three sophomore English classes at ARHS participated in poetry workshops sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum. Brooke Steinhauser, the educational coordinator at the...
Thirty minute homework policy a work in progress
Due to students taking more academic classes at once in the new schedule, Principal Mark Jackson introduced a homework policy; it suggests that individual classes keep regular homework assignments to a 30 minute timeframe,...
Ashleigh Daher thrilled to be home
ARHS newcomer Ashleigh Daher, a teacher of English Language Learners, is struck by the passion and drive of the students and staff in this school. Ms. Daher graduated from ARHS 15 years ago. Her...
Purple pass hassle
ARHS students often complain about having to get purple passes signed by two teachers to do schoolwork during lunch. The rule was put into effect midway through last year. Some students believe that they...
Golf team keeps their cool
“We’re just a bunch of young savages,” said ARHS senior and golf team co-captain Stephen McCudden. As one of three other seniors that play for the ARHS team, McCudden was chosen to become co-captain...
Football team morale way up this fall
After winning their first home game against Monument Mountain 32-12, morale is up on the football team. With the goal of winning their league, the team said they have buckled down and are working...
Girls’ volleyball on fire this season
“The thing we all love most about volleyball is that it is exciting, fast-paced, challenging, and everyone on the court is involved in every play,” said ARHS coach Kacey Schmitt. “It’s also fun to...
A week full of spirited competition
Spirit Week is a student favorite each year, with competition between classes driving up participation and excitement. “Spirit Week is fun. I like competing,” senior Andreas Gilpin-Falk said. For junior Margaret O’Connell, the entire...
