Hurricane News

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.

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.

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.