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Fort River’s fourth-grade classes traveled to the Springfield Science Museum this week for a hands-on learning experience designed to extend and enrich their science curriculum. The annual trip, funded by the Fort River PGO and family donations, allowed students to deepen their understanding of key scientific concepts through interactive exploration.

On the afternoon of Friday, February 13, the Fort River Elementary School gymnasium once again filled with the steady rhythm of drums, bright flashes of color, and the joyful anticipation of students gathered for a cherished annual tradition. The UMass Lion Dance Team returned for the third year as an element of Fort River’s 2026 Lunar New Year celebration, bringing with them a performance that has become a meaningful part of the school’s cultural calendar.

As part of the ARMS Day of Service, eighth-grade students recently stepped beyond the classroom to give back to the Amherst community in meaningful ways. On February 2, 2026, a group of ARMS students spent the morning volunteering across town, offering their time, energy, and leadership in support of local organizations and schools.

As we continue into the final year of Fort River Elementary School, its traditions are what keep students and staff reflective, not only of Fort River’s history and culture, but also of the future of what neighboring Amethyst Brook Elementary School will continue on in the age of the new Amherst Elementary School District. Of these traditions, none are more loved or will be more remembered than the game “Rainbow Pets.” 

This winter, every sixth-grade student in Amherst and Pelham took part in a hands-on learning experience that brought years of garden-based education to fruition. Through a partnership with Wheelhouse Farm Catering, students from Wildwood Elementary School, Fort River Elementary School, Crocker Farm Elementary School, and Pelham Elementary School visited the Wheelhouse kitchen in downtown Amherst to prepare food rooted in their own long-term learning.

Fifth- and sixth-grade students at Crocker Farm Elementary School recently took learning beyond the classroom during a field trip to a UMass basketball game, where school spirit, teamwork, and physical education lessons came together in an exciting and memorable way.

Eighth-grade students at Amherst Regional Middle School had the opportunity to put their classroom learning to the test when doctoral students in the Biotechnology Training Program at UMass Amherst stopped by to assist in a DNA extraction Lab. The visit, hosted in Team B science classes led by Jodi Stevens, gave students a rare opportunity to explore DNA extraction through hands-on experimentation alongside college-level researchers

The Wildwood Elementary library was filled with curiosity, confidence, and plenty of smiles as sixth graders stepped into a new role of teacher. As part of a Reading Buddies visit, sixth-grade students partnered with kindergarteners to explore the library together and learn how to find the perfect book.

Over 100 students in Wildwood Elementary School’s K-6 Art studio classes recently experienced something both ancient and new when visiting artist and master weaver Mihoko Wakabayashi of Mihoko Textiles, based in Worcester, MA, arrived with armfuls of colorful fibers, multiple looms, and a patient invitation to slow down and make something by hand

Students in Amherst Regional High School’s African American Literature class had a unique opportunity recently to learn directly from two local authors committed to expanding how history is taught. Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, a longtime member of the Amherst community and a professor at UMass Amherst, and writer Tom Weiner visited the class to discuss their new book, In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School. Their visit offered students a chance to engage with voices and stories often absent from traditional narratives about the movement to end slavery.

What began as a fun idea to get students and staff moving has grown into a beloved Pelham Elementary tradition that continues to bring the community together each fall. The event now known as the Cider Donut Run first took place in 2015, when it was launched as a fall fun run called the Turkey Trot. From the very beginning, the goal was clear: create a joyful, inclusive community event where families could gather, and students and staff could celebrate the simple act of moving their bodies together.

Educators across the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools recently participated in a professional development session focused on using Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) to support multilingual learners. The training reinforced a shared belief that language instruction is not simply a requirement, but a crucial part of ensuring every student has equitable access to learning. Throughout the day, staff engaged in practical strategies designed to strengthen language development alongside academic success.

On November 4, staff across the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools took part in the Welcoming Schools professional development workshop, an important step in deepening the district’s commitment to creating schools where every student feels fully valued. The two-hour session centered on strengthening staff understanding of gender identity, exploring best practices for inclusive language, and learning strategies that disrupt gender stereotyping in school communities.

International Mental Health Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the many ways Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools support wellness across the district. While the holiday is global in scope, ARPS has made mental health and well-being a local priority for both students and staff, embedding practices and programs that continue to grow year after year.
 

Just beyond the Amherst Regional High School lacrosse fields lies the Amherst Regional Experimental Forest (AREF), a quiet woodland that becomes an outdoor laboratory each year. This week, Ms. Larson’s ninth-grade ecology students traded their desks for the forest floor as they launched an annual project that has been a cornerstone of the school’s science curriculum for nearly two decades.