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...
Voices from the semester: students and staff explore this year’s workload, routines, and relationships
ARHS is currently immersed in a new semester schedule, touted by Principal Mark Jackson as offering educational benefits and as a solution to financial constraints. A typical schedule for students includes a total of...
Volleyball girls ‘take a knee’ in protest
Members of the undefeated girls’ varsity volleyball team wove a passion for justice into their sport before taking down Minnechaug High School 3-1 at an away game on Friday, October 7. Before the game,...
Cross country teams run like the wind
The dominant girls’ cross country team is having another strong season with their only loss coming at the hands of an incredibly strong Northampton team. Their top runner, Sophia Jacobs Townsley, is one of...
Marching band plays and “makes bucks”
At the beginning of the 2015-2016 year, the Amherst Marching band was only three members strong, and few knew who they were. Since then, their numbers swelled to nine, with the band now a...
New regulations on fan behavior enforced
Amherst Regional High School was criticized for its fan behavior at a girls varsity soccer game on September 23 against Holyoke. Receiver of Holyoke Public Schools Dr. Stephen Zrike alleged that Amherst students used...
Lance Piantaggini, new Latin teacher
ARHS has welcomed several new teachers this year, including Lance Piantaggini, a D and E period Latin teacher. Mr. Piantaggini, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, attended UMass. Once there, he began his study of the...
Asexual students speak out in hopes of creating visibility, education
In a country where sex is so glorified, it’s hard to believe that someone could be uninterested in sex. And though some deny asexuality’s existence, it is alive and well, with the asexual community...
Vegetarians and vegans talk health, morals, and money
Livvy Weld opens her orange lunch box slowly but surely. She methodically removes a Tupperware of salad and another of dressing. Weld’s salads usually hold a variety of nutritious tidbits, and today her salad...
Pita Pockets: a delightful local restaurant with flavorful falafel
Youssef smooths out the pita bread on the countertop. His hands move fast—dashes of lettuce and tomato, and a dribble of tzatziki, a yogurt-based sauce. He swivels around to lift a batch of falafels,...
Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition program a powerful mental health resource for ARHS students
In a country where forty percent of students are suffering from a variety of mental health disorders, eight percent of which are severe, one may think that there would be accessible mental health resources...
Chess lovers spice up lunch
When Principal Mark Jackson pushed his way through a yelling crowd of ARHS seniors outside the cafeteria one spring afternoon, he found not a fight at the center of the circle as he had...
The Warriors’ rise to power
Even though I have always been a basketball fan, watching the Warriors’ rise to greatness has been special. This team showed me something I had never seen on the court before: a team that...
People of Color United members participate in revitalization project in Springfield
ARHS People of Color United members Iani Ferreira, Lanre Thomas, and Edward Cage joined 1,500 volunteers who took part in the #GreenNFit Block Rebuild in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday, April 23, 2016. The volunteers...
Lead-up to presidential elections bizarre and polarizing
Last October, I turned 18. But I can’t vote. As a non-citizen, I’ve been observing this election cycle from the outside with great interest, and sometimes with amusement or outright horror. In an incredibly...
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist visits ARHS to discuss groundbreaking new book
On April 15, science journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winner Amy Ellis Nutt paid Amherst Regional High School a visit. She spoke to two of English teacher Sara Barber-Just’s classes, LGBTQ Literature and Journalistic Writing. Students...
Battle against Whitsons leaves Jazz Club with limited funding
A clash between an ARHS club that sells food and the school’s food service provider emerged just a week before the second trimester began. The question was whether students could sell food and drinks...
Mexico agrees to pay for wall
After little debate between newly instated President Donald Trump and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, it has been decided. Mexico will pay for the wall. During Trump’s run for presidency he pledged, “I will...
Netflix removes controversial new feature
Netflix has repealed its newest feature after numerous complaints from users. The online streaming site’s effort to keep its watchers from binge watching hours on end has been labeled pushy and annoying by people...
Apple concedes to make backdoor for FBI
After months of debate, Apple has decided to work with the FBI to create a backdoor to enter into any iPhone. This request followed the shooting in San Bernardino where the accused shooter had...
