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Amherst-Pelham Regional School District is proud to celebrate Crystal Cartwright, Transition Specialist for Amherst Regional Public Schools, who has received the Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education (MAIPSE) School Partner Excellence for Inclusive Higher Education Award.

Cartwright was honored at the 2026 Emerging Trends Conference, where she was recognized for her outstanding leadership and commitment to expanding inclusive higher education opportunities for students with disabilities.

The award is particularly noteworthy because Cartwright was nominated by all three of ARPS’s partner MAIPSE programs: Westfield State University, UMass Amherst, and Greenfield Community College. The statewide recognition highlights her exceptional work supporting students and families as they navigate transitions to higher education, employment, and community life.

Students in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District’s Latin program have once again demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, earning impressive results on the 2026 National Latin Exam and outperforming national benchmarks.

The National Latin Exam is an internationally administered assessment that measures students' understanding of the Latin language, literature, vocabulary, mythology, and Roman culture. Each year, students from across the United States and around the world participate in the exam, making it one of the most respected assessments in classical language education.

This year, 60 ARPS students participated in the examination. Of those students, 42 scored at or above the national average; an impressive 70 percent of all district participants.

More than 90 Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Latin students joined peers from across the Pioneer Valley this spring for a day of academic competition, cultural exploration, and community at the annual Classics Day event hosted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Held on April 8 at the UMass Campus Center, Classics Day brought together 36 Amherst Regional Middle School students and 55 Amherst Regional High School students for a full day of activities centered on the study of the ancient world. Students participated in academic competitions, artistic contests, performances, and collaborative learning experiences alongside Latin students from schools throughout the region.

More than 90 Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Latin students joined peers from across the Pioneer Valley this spring for a day of academic competition, cultural exploration, and community at the annual Classics Day event hosted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Held on April 8 at the UMass Campus Center, Classics Day brought together 36 Amherst Regional Middle School students and 55 Amherst Regional High School students for a full day of activities centered on the study of the ancient world. Students participated in academic competitions, artistic contests, performances, and collaborative learning experiences alongside Latin students from schools throughout the region.

Three Amherst Regional High School educators have been recognized for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to student success as recipients of the 2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Jennifer Chylack, Krista Larsen, and Gerardo Zelaya were honored this spring through the prestigious regional program, which annually celebrates outstanding educators across Western Massachusetts. The awards, established by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, recognize teachers “who strive for excellence in the classroom and beyond.”

The Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards were created in 2003 to acknowledge educators who make a meaningful impact in their schools and communities. Since its inception, more than 2,000 teachers throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties have been recognized for their work supporting students at every stage of their educational journeys.

For years, Amherst Regional Middle School has been building a culture of climate awareness, environmental education, and student leadership. On June 5, that ongoing commitment came to life once again as students and staff gathered for the 2026 ARMS Climate Carnival, a full-day interdisciplinary event designed to give students agency around one of the most pressing issues facing their generation.

Held across ARMS outdoor teaching spaces and classrooms, the Climate Carnival brought together guest speakers, workshops, collaborative projects, and student-centered discussions focused on climate change, sustainability, and community action

For the past three years, Amherst Regional Middle School’s Grow Club has turned creativity, sustainability, and student leadership into an annual spring tradition that reaches far beyond the school walls.

Each late spring, members of the Grow Club organize an end-of-year fundraiser featuring plant-based projects inspired by the work students completed throughout the school year. The fundraiser serves as both a celebration of student learning and an opportunity to support future Grow Club activities and field trips.

Students at Pelham Elementary recently enjoyed a special meal celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, thanks to the creativity and dedication of the Amherst Regional Middle School food service team.

When Pelham Elementary Principal Micki Darling asked whether the district could create a meal in honor of AAPI Month, the request was enthusiastically embraced by the ARMS kitchen staff. Because Pelham Elementary does not have its own kitchen, meals are prepared daily by the Amherst Regional Middle School food service team and transported to the school.

Students from Amherst Regional High School made a strong impression at this year’s Massachusetts State Science Fair, earning recognition for both the quality of their research and the impact of their ideas.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, multilingual learners at Crocker Farm Elementary School participated in a thoughtful and engaging project centered on student voice, cultural representation, and the power of storytelling. Led by ELL teachers Blanca Osorio-Castillo and Nadla Tavares Smith, the project invited students in grades 1, 3, 4, and 6 to research and celebrate influential women activists from around the world.

The idea for the project grew from a shared goal to make Women’s History Month both meaningful and inclusive. By highlighting activists from a wide range of cultural and racial backgrounds, the project aimed to reflect the diversity of the Crocker Farm community and ensure that all students could see themselves represented in the stories they explored.

In March, students and staff at Fort River Elementary School gathered for a powerful and engaging Women’s History Month assembly that celebrated the achievements, resilience, and lasting impact of women throughout history. Led by sixth-grade students, the assembly transformed the school gym into a vibrant space of storytelling, creativity, and reflection, offering the entire school community an opportunity to learn from the past while looking toward the future.

At the center of the event was a creative “living wax museum” experience, where the students, led by Ms. Comeau, Mr. Goicoechea, Mr. Almodovar, Mr. Principe, and Mr. Severance, took on the roles of influential women from across history. Remaining in character, students brought these figures to life, sharing their stories, accomplishments, and challenges with an audience of more than 400 students and staff members.

Seven students from Amherst Regional High School proudly represented their school and community at the Massachusetts All-State Music Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts, on March 20 and 21. After successfully moving through both district and state auditions, these talented musicians earned the opportunity to perform alongside some of the most accomplished student performers from across the Commonwealth.

Hosted at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, the Massachusetts All-State Music Festival is widely recognized as one of the highest honors for student musicians in the state. Students who participate must first stand out during competitive district-level auditions before advancing to the state audition round, where only a select number are invited to join the All-State ensembles.

Students at the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District had the opportunity to experience something more than a guest speaker visit: the early promise of a new district-wide initiative designed to strengthen relationships, expand opportunity, and build trust across each school within the three districts.

On Thursday, February 12, the Honorable Judge Bruce S. Melikian visited both Summit Academy and Amherst Regional Middle School as part of the new ARPS CONNECT District Mentoring Program. CONNECT, which stands for Creating Opportunities through Nurturing Networking, Engagement, Care, and Trust, was established this year to provide meaningful and positive mentoring experiences for students. The initiative focuses on building caring relationships that nurture individual strengths, expand positive peer and adult networks, engage families and the broader community, and cultivate trust.

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.

In February 2026, the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts came together to honor Black History Month with a series of thoughtful, dynamic, and deeply engaging experiences for students across all grade levels. What unfolded throughout the month was not a single program or event, but a districtwide commitment to honoring Black voices, examining history with honesty, and celebrating the ongoing influence of Black leaders, artists, scholars, and changemakers.