Scholastic Awards given
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the nation’s “longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12” and ARHS kids nabbed a number of them this year. The competition is...
Book nook: library refurb
About two years ago, a generous, retired librarian named Ann Louise Hyde gave a $65,000 legacy to the ARHS library, which was what sparked the idea of a renovation. Unfortunately there is not enough...
Semester schedule’s effect on staff
With the change in the master schedule this year, there have been substantial curriculum changes in the Technology, Math, Social Studies, and Science Departments. The administration is bringing new classes as well as making...
Fair offers dose of reality
On March 21, students from the class of 2017 took part in the Reality Fair held at Greenfield Community College. The event challenges students to take on the role of their 25 year old...
Community meeting at Grace Church rallies local supporters of immigrants
Many people at ARHS and in Amherst were unhappy with the results the presidential election and with Trump’s executive orders on immigration control. As a result, on Saturday March 4, there was a gathering...
Superintendent Morris: transgender and undocumented students safe here
President Donald Trump may want to “build a wall” to keep immigrants out of the U.S. or to allow school districts to roll back the bathroom rights of transgender students, but Superintendent Michael Morris...
Women’s March historic, inspiring
On January 21, 2017, the day after President Trump’s inauguration, ARHS students joined millions of people worldwide in sending a message to the new administration and to Congress that their voices would be heard....
Writing Center an ‘incredible resource’
According to the high school website, the all-new Writing Center located in room 141 is “a place where students can get focused, one-on-one support with writing assignments from any department.” They can also receive...
Students lucky to study Chinese language
Chinese class at ARHS is home to a few select students that have been with their teacher and peers since middle school, leading to a strong community, comfort, and challenge. Their teacher is Yiping...
Tyrone Bowie
Working in the Academic Achievement Center at ARHS, new staff member Tyrone Bowie Jr. aims to help students with their academics and keep them on track. Mr. Bowie was born in Jenkins, Kentucky, but...
Dan Anderson, ETL
“Never think you’ve figured it all out. Always be open to continuing [your journey],” said new Education Team Leader Dan Anderson, 53, who was born in North Adams, Massachusetts. Mr. Anderson’s important position has...
Welcome, Kelly Koomler
“Experience as much of the world as you can with an open mind and learn as much as you can,” advises Kelly Koomler, who is new to the Pathways to Independence Program at ARHS....
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...
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,...
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...
‘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,...
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...
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,...
Just how hard is skipping school?
The famous “Senior Skip Day” has turned into a little more than just a day. In the past, skipping was seen as “sketchy,” or an act performed by low-achieving students. However, it has become...
ARPS sub first gay black man to run for local sheriff
Kavern Lewis stands in the Academic Achievement Center at ARHS, wearing a black and white checkered shirt, helping students with their homework. He looks like an ordinary substitute teacher, maybe a graduate student doing...
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...
Summers chock full of adventurous travel
Summer brings warmth and sunshine and most importantly, freedom from the confines of school. Summer is an excellent time to take a break from the busy, fast-paced lifestyle we tend to live during the...
Tom Fricke elected to Charter Commission, eager for reform
“I’m a government and civics teacher; I’m going to get so many lesson plans out of this,” said ARHS Social Studies teacher Thomas Fricke about being elected to the Amherst Charter Commission in March....
Goodbye, sweet Danae Marr!
The classroom of English teacher Danae Marr looks like any other room in the building, with the same tiled floors, white walls, metal chairs, and institutional lighting. To combat the stress and boredom evoked...
Pakistani teachers thrilled to visit Amherst
Twenty eager teachers from the Instructional Leadership Institute for Pakistani Educators (ILPE) program visited ARHS on Friday, May 27, the kick-off to five weeks in Amherst. The program is an annual exchange between ARHS...
