Dear Everyone Learning at Amherst, Region and Pelham Schools:
We are primed to reach the next level of achievement, engagement, and membership of every one of our students!
Our mission is for every student to achieve high-status knowledge and critical skills; to develop a positive sense of well-being and to be a contributing, responsible member of his/her classroom, school, and community; to be prepared for his/her next endeavor in learning; and to be a successful citizen in a multicultural democracy and competitive global society.
In a democratic society, academic freedom, individual rights, and collaboration are honored and civility is expected.
Our schools are characterized by a spirit of community, a culture of achievement, enriching activity, and physical and emotional safety. Our schools retain adults who are skilled, talented, dedicated, and caring. Learning is meaningful, relevant, rigorous… and fun! Schools are a “safe haven” for students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation. Neither policy, procedure, nor action should allow room for discrimination of any variety. Our schools are diverse and inclusive. Daily, students work cooperatively in classrooms, laboratories and field experiences; on performing stages, athletic fields and playgrounds; and in cafeterias and on buses. We are successful and we have room to improve and grow.
We envision school culture characterized by learning, progressivism, friendliness, respect, and social justice; we approach curriculum, operations, and safety with high expectations based on professional standards, locally agreed upon guiding principles, and a keen focus on achievement. A respectful, socially-just system and high levels of student performance are not mutually exclusive.
We accomplish this building on strengths and overcoming impediments to insure the academic engagement and school membership of every student from the moment s/he enrolls to the moment s/he walks across our stage at graduation. Consequently, development of an academically focused, democratic school environment and culture is essential. Proficiency on the most rigorous of authentic and standardized assessments is our minimum expectation, with the individual and collective proverbial bar of achievement rising routinely. Professional work, aligned with teaching, curriculum, and professional development standards; student work aligned with standards of good school citizenship and behavior; operations and supports for learning aligned with regulations for safety and performance; and accountability, built into the system with benchmarks of success and guideposts for continued adult learning and development are within our sights, all within a system grounded in principles of democracy and social justice.
Our schools have a sound tradition in these areas and we acknowledge there is much more to do. We are primed to reach such ambitious expectations. We respect the need for and role of policy, standards, frameworks, and consistency while honoring tradition, professionalism, and autonomy. To achieve these ends, our focus is upon consistency, continuity, communication, challenge, and accountability.
The pages that follow and the work one observes daily reflect the remarkable successes and efforts of our students, faculty, and staff and the base upon which we look toward the future.
Enjoy!
Respectfully,
Jere I. Hochman
Superintendent
The mission of Amherst Regional High School is to create a dynamic learning community where students and staff work together and where students are supported and challenged to achieve their intellectual, creative, social, and civic endeavors. With parent and community participation, staff and students strive to ensure a safe environment and to promote respect and appreciation for the diversity of individuals, cultures, and learning styles. The following data illustrates the successful implementation of this mission.
Awards/Special Distinctions in 2006-2007
• One Finalist and two Outstanding Participants in the National Achievement Scholarship Program
• Two National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars
• Two NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing
• Varsity JETS Teams ranked 10th and 23rd in National; 1st, 2nd and 4th in State; Junior Varsity JETS Teams ranked 2nd in National; 1st, 4th and 5th in the State.
• Eleven Advanced Gold Medalists and 2 Intermediate Gold Medalists in the National Russian Essay Contest; eight Gold Medalists in the International Russian Competition; 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in the New England Olimpiada of Spoken Russian.
• Twelve National Latin Exam Gold Medalists and 22 National Latin Exam Silver Medalists.
ARHS Class of 2007
There were 320 graduates in the class of 2007. 291 (91%) are attending colleges/post secondary programs. Plans of those not attending school include working while establishing residency in another state, traveling, doing volunteer work in Africa, teaching English abroad (Korea, China and South America), studying cooking in Japan, attending the “Class Afloat” program, entering the Marine Corps, and working.
BUILDING BRIDGES—Building Community
• Formation of the Family School Partnership
• Creation of the first ARMS family Directory
• New and improved ARMS website
• Latino Family Events—dinners, performances, cultural celebrations, parent/guardian education programs
• Monthly meetings between ARMS administrative team and ARHS administrative team
• Creation of a Staff Lounge; Student and Staff Art work on the walls; Coffee Shop run by students from
Essential Skills Program
• Parents/guardians—MCAS SNACKS project provided water and a healthy snack for every student
• Teams CULTURAL FESTS
• ARMS First Back to School Picnic for students and families
CELEBRATING our Achievements
• Science Fair honors: Seven teams from ARMS placed first, second, third or honorable mention at the
Regional Science Fair.
• Geography Bee: Each year an ARMS student is one of 100 students statewide who qualify for the State
Geography Bee.
• ARMS’ “MOVING ON” ceremonies for all eighth graders
• ARMS student was Boston Scholastic Art recipient
• First ELL newspaper-Future Global Reporters
Spotlight on What Makes ARMS Unique
• Staff meet monthly in Inquiry Groups to address identified challenge areas facing our
school. We use a research process and data based decision making to guide our action plans.
• We offer more than twenty after-school clubs including Ballroom Dancing, Best Buddies, Drill Team,
Math Counts, Yoga and Relaxation and Esperanza.
• Every student at ARMS presents an Exhibition which is the culmination of research and self reflection.
• Our secretaries provide a home cooked holiday luncheon for the entire ARMS staff every year.
• The MSAN Mentoring Project between Crocker Farm and Amherst Regional High
School
• The Pipeline Project
• Saturday Scholars
• Made the first year of a two-year requirement to meet AYP for MCAS
• New Family Meet and Greet Coffee Hour
• Community Forum on Communication and the Continuous Learning Environment
(Grade 1-2 Combination Class)
• Forum for Entering Grade One and Grade Two Families
• A series of meetings called “CONVERSATIONS” to engage members of the
professional community in dialogue on school climate
• Kindergarten accreditation
• New protocols for school safety established
Spotlight on Diversity
The Crocker Farm School is proud of its many academic, diversity and
community achievements. Our school derives its uniqueness from the fact
that we have a higher than average number of children from low-income families, a higher
than average number of special needs children, and the largest population of second
language learners in the district. The challenges of these statistics merely encourage us to
achieve and grow academically. We continue to find a variety of ways to understand and
celebrate diversity with our special projects and our innovative teaching. Our community
is the glue that holds things together as we seek maximum participation and involvement.
• “We are all learners here” and “We all belong here” are the central themes of the weekly assemblies
started at Fort River last year. Students’ learning accomplishments, birthdays, and acts of kindness and
solidarity are celebrated. Classes present recent learning projects. We reinforce positive attitudes and
habits of mind for learning, and have fun singing together.
• Student leadership engaged the whole school in helping others, especially those in need, in many ways,
including collecting money for UNICEF, toys for Family Outreach of Amherst, and supplies and funds for
orphanages in Tibet and Zambia.
• Our annual Cambodian New Year celebration featured our Cambodian students, staff, and families with
dances, songs, and learning about the culture.
• The Fort River sixth grade math team took first place in the tri-county area in the New England Math
League contest. Several of our fourth graders won a regional contest with a PowerPoint presentation they
developed about recycling. One of our sixth graders wrote an acrostic that won an award in a state-wide
contest sponsored by the Savings Makes “Cents” program.
• Our Parent Council completed a major playground replacement project, raising funds and doing a volunteer
installation of safe, accessible, varied play elements that build different muscle groups and foster cooperation
and interaction.
• Visit the Fort River school website at www.arps.org/fr/ and check out “Events” and “Principles and Goals”
for photos of recent events and a look at our new “Guiding Principles” and the new goals
of our School Improvement Plan.
Spotlight on Exploratory Time and Reading
“Exploratory Time,” in which students spend time regularly learning about
topics of their own choosing and pursuing projects they have developed, is an important feature of
Fort River’s ongoing educational program. It nurtures students’ curiosity and develops life-long
learning skills. Reading, sometimes for information and often for pleasure, is part of every
student’s homework, every night, at Fort River. “Every student a reader, every night!”
Over the past few years Mark’s Meadow has strived to create a professional learning community based on shared norms and values while fostering the collaborative relationships necessary to successfully meet the complex challenges of teaching today. Staff Inquiry Groups, which meet monthly, have served as catalysts for exploring new instructional practices at Mark’s Meadow. For instance, a K-2 Inquiry Group was the impetus for writing workshop collaborations between an ELE teacher and a kindergarten teacher as well as the reading/language arts and second grade teachers. Another Inquiry Group focused on helping students develop reading strategies and comprehension skills in the middle (3-4) grades. At Mark’s Meadow School, we are committed to creating an educational environment in which our students grapple with issues of social justice by integrating an anti-bias curriculum into the daily learning in our classrooms. This past year Mark’s Meadow staff participated in a grant-funded program entitled “Furthering District Dialogue on Class and Race” facilitated by Class Action, a national non-profit organization. We engaged in an all-staff dialogue in order to develop a common language about class, and to identify specific barriers that low-income students face in accessing the educational opportunities our schools offer. The entire Mark’s Meadow staff devoted an afternoon to discussing issues of homophobia, gender stereotypes and teasing in our school. Also, our Diversity Committee sponsored our first study circle on racism with a group of Mark’s Meadow parents/guardians and staff.
Spotlight on Back to School Parade and Multicultural Fair
On the First Day of school we invite all of our families to join us for a special parade to kickoff
the new year. This year the parade was led by members of the UMass police on horseback,
motorcycle and bicycle. Our sixth grade class marched in front with a banner announcing the
First Day event, and the entire school—students, staff and many families—followed behind in a line that
trailed around an entire block. After circling the school, we gathered around our basketball court to make a cheer to express our wish for a great school year.
Our annual Multicultural Fair in March celebrated the incredible diversity of our school. The Multicultural
Fair, which was organized by staff and families, featured exhibits and food from around the world. Children went on a scavenger hunt as they tried to find the answers to a variety of questions which tested their knowledge of other cultures. There was also a multicultural art activity and an opportunity for a family photo to be taken that became part of an ongoing exhibit in our front hall. For the first time we had an International Fashion Show which showcased beautiful clothing, worn by our students, from around the world.
Highlights of the 2006-2007 School Year at Pelham Elementary School
• The Sculptor in Residence Program
• The Teddy Bear Project
• The Revised Investigations Pilot
• The Reading Buddies Program
• The Start of School Picnic
• The Sixth Grade Play
• The Before School Program Breakfasts
• The After School Program Talent Show
• The Halloween Party
• The Literacy through Art Program
• The Ongoing Projects:
• High Achievement in Mathematics
• Anti-Bullying Program
• Whole School Inclusion Program
Spotlight on The Start of School Picnic
Each year the Start of School Picnic brings Pelham School families together the day before school starts. This allows students to get reacquainted before the start of school and eases some of the back-to-school jitters. Teachers, administrators, and school committee members greet students and their
parents on the Pelham School playground. Students run and play while the adults engage in conversation. New families can connect with other Pelham families and begin the task of integrating into the community. It’s a wonderful start to a new year of learning!
• Implemented Chinese World Language Program
• Developed and Implemented Wildwood Kindergarten Progress Report
• Completed Kindergarten accreditation
• Made AYP for MCAS
• Held Parent Community Education Series on Math and Local Food/Health Food
• Featured a Newspaper Spotlight-What in the World? How the study of geography can be fun
• Appointed Sixth Grade Student Literacy Coaches
• Wildwood Chess Team held its 2nd Day of Chess
• Continued to publish grade-level Curriculum Brochures
Spotlight on Community
The Wildwood School community is dedicated to providing an atmosphere that recognizes, celebrates and challenges the efforts of students to perform their personal best, preparing them to become lifelong learners to meet the challenges of their future.
Wildwood School offers a rich program to a multi-ethnic and multi-racial community of 420 students in Kindergarten through grade six. Parents are closely involved in the school program through the School Council and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), as well as by volunteering in the school.
Multiculturalism is honored and diversity is celebrated in the school; moreover, it is demonstrated in the
instructional materials chosen, the themes studied and the festivals held. The Wildwood community is
committed to having our faculty and staff reflect our thriving community. Our mission is best achieved
through a supportive partnership with students, teachers, parents and administrators.
• Wildwood promotes the development and education of its children so that they become creative and
resourceful life-long learners able to meet the challenges of their future.
• Wildwood community actively promotes the understanding of and respect for human differences.
• Wildwood School encourages active parent involvement.