Superintendent's Update for March 8, 2011

Western Massachusetts Mathematics Partnership

On March 12, the Western Massachusetts Mathematics Partnership will hold its first meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the UMass Mathematics Department, Lederle Graduate Research Tower. The Partnership will build Professional Learning Communities composed of teachers and administrators from school districts and mathematicians and math educators from higher education. The objectives are to:

• close achievement gaps while making challenging courses and curricula available to all students, moving beyond simply advancing our neediest students to beginning levels of proficiency to bringing previously low-performing students to high levels of achievement,
• develop long-term, sustainable programs to increase the number, quality, and diversity of math teachers in Western Massachusetts,
• build Professional Learning Communities where mathematicians, mathematics educators, and pre- and in-service preK-12 teachers can work together to build common understandings of high-quality mathematics learning and teaching.

Our districts will be represented by a team including Mike Hayes, ARMS Principal, Sharri Conklin, elementary teacher, Jane Mudie, secondary teacher, and Polly Wagner, Math coach. Beth Graham and I will also be able to participate in the work as observers.

ARHS Teachers Chosen to Speak at National Conference

Amherst Regional High School teachers have been selected as speakers at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in San Francisco, CA, March 12, 2011.  Nick Shaw and Kathy McCarthy will represent the Science Department with their presentation, "Rethinking a High School Science Sequence:  Development of an Introductory Ecology / Environmental Science Course."  Ms. McCarthy and Mr. Shaw will discuss how the 9th grade Science course incorporates biological, chemical, and physical science content in a mathematically rich, inquiry-driven foundational course, using data collected from the local landscape. 

ARHS Business Education Partnership

Amherst College/ARHS Social Innovation Partnership

Lili Ferguson, Social Innovation liaison at the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement, is working with Volunteer Coordinator Kimberly Stender on developing business entrepreneurial opportunities for those ARHS students who will be enrolled in business classes in the third trimester. Amherst College is willing to send several Business & Social Innovation students to conduct an in-class seminar detailing the importance of social networking and entrepreneurial skills in today's work environment. In exchange, ARHS students will potentially be able to attend seminars at Amherst College.  In addition, there will be an in-class screening of the film Ten, 9, Eight: Shoot For the Moon. This film documents an intense national entrepreneurial competition geared towards high school students.  The film's producer, Steve Garrow, is currently teaching at Amherst College and is willing to show the film to an ARHS marketing class and discuss the importance of innovation and commitment.  I will share more details as they become available.

Documentary Race to Nowhere to be Screened

The Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools will present RACE TO NOWHERE: The Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture. The film will be shown on Wed March 30, 2011 at 6pm in the ARHS Auditorium. Tickets are $12 and available at www.racetonowhere.com. In addition, we are pleased to have with us that evening, Director Vicki Abeles, to introduce the film and answer questions afterwards. This presentation is first in a planned district–wide educational series in which the national conversation on education will be brought to Amherst and discussed. Due to the generous support of Five Colleges, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and local organizations, complementary tickets will be available to those students who qualify.

UMASS School of Education Partnerships

Beth Graham, Director of Curriculum, Kimberly Stender, Volunteer Coordinator, Dr. Rebecca Woodland of the UMASS School of Education, and I recently met with Dr. Joe Berger, Associate Dean of Research & Engagement at the UMASS SOE to discuss current and future collaborations and partnerships with the various schools at UMASS. These partnerships will undoubtedly solidify the relationship between ARPS and UMASS and benefit our students and faculty for many years to come.

Let’s Move, Amherst!  

Becky Demling and the Crocker Farm Parent Guardian Organization (PGO) is partnering with AC students Andrea Jensen and Susannah Rudel and the Amherst College Swim team to create an Amherst Elementary School wide fitness day tentatively named “Let’s Move Amherst!” 

The event will be April 3rd from 1 - 4 PM at the AC Alumni Gym.  The event has the support of Don Faulstick and Suzanne Coffey as well as Superintendent Maria Geryk.  This event is in direct relation to First Lady, Michelle Obama’s, national fitness initiative slated to encourage physical activity for all children.

The event will focus on promoting active lifestyle choices to build healthy schools, families and communities.  The day will feature a talk by a Nutritionist where parents can learn about healthy snack and meal choices, booths about sun safety and other health related topics.  Fitness activities planned include group exercise options such as zumba, yoga and jazzercise as well as fitness station boot camps, pick-up games and a 1 mile walking loop.  Healthy snacks will be provided.