Category Archives: Inspire

Immigrant “Know Your Rights” Presentation

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An informational session about the rights of immigrants will be presented at the Jones Library on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 7:00 PM in the Woodbury Room.

Are you an immigrant or an ally who is concerned about your status? The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project will be conducting a “Know Your Rights” presentation at the Jones Library.

Come to learn more about your rights when interacting with immigration officials, understanding your legal status and the immigration court process, where to find trusted legal resources, and what programs might be available to you.

Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

View Flyer

Grace Lin talk on diversity in children’s books, Nov 1

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The Books are Not Enough:
Windows, Mirrors and the Bookshelves of Our Community
Forbes Library (upstairs in the Coolidge Museum)
Wednesday, November 1st at 6pm
When we talk about diversity in books, we often talk about “windows and mirrors.” But what does that mean? Why is it important? And, if we can agree that diversity in children’s books is important, can we do more than pay it lip service? How can we use these books to help create a more accepting and welcoming community?
In this extended presentation of her popular TEDx talk, Newbery Honor author Grace Lin shares childhood anecdotes, personal publishing experiences and strategies to support diversity through children’s books.
Librarians, Teachers and Parents welcome!

Youth on Broadway Performance

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Youth on Broadway is a musical revue performed by area kids and teens. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and support youth in the arts, while taking in some fine entertainment. The show runs May 6 at 1:30 and 7 pm, and May 7 at 1:30 pm at the Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium.

Tickets at LSSE 413-259-3065 or at the door.

View Flyer

“See The World, Feed Your Mind” Family Friendly Films

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“See The World, Feed Your Mind”
Directed by various filmmakers. 78 minutes. Not Rated.
Location: Amherst Cinema
Admission: $5

seetheworld
The characters in this collection of award-winning and audience-pleasing films are a determined bunch, unafraid to find their own way, create their own futures, search for happiness, find a way to save the planet and shoot for the stars. Join these amazing kids as they explore the countryside, cities and small towns of four countries, and look up at the skies to explore the worlds beyond. Selections from the Children’s Film Festival Seattle 2016.

Bounce
(Rory Lowe and D.C. Barclay, United Kingdom, live action, 2015, 10:19 min) In English.
A little girl will do anything to get her heart’s desire — the bounciest ball in the world.

Mami
(Che Espiritu, Philippines, 2014, live action, 18:26 min) In Tagalog with English subtitles.
Best friends Siopao and Araw draw inspiration from random beautiful people in the city, in an attempt to draw the faces of their mothers whom they haven’t known at all.

Mo’s Bows — winner, Children’s Jury prize for best short documentary, CFFS 2016!
(Jennifer Treuting and Kristen McGregor, USA, live action, 2015, 6:19 min) In English.
Meet Moziah Bridges, and see what it’s like to be the bow tie king of Memphis!

Myna & Asterix — winner, audience favorite short live action film, CFFS 2016!
(Kenny Basumatary, India, live action, 2015, 20 min) In English.
City kid Myna visits her cousin, who lives in a village. Together, the pair tries to make a magic potion, but they end up learning something much more valuable.

Once Upon a Tree
(Marleen van der Werf, The Netherlands, live action, 2014, 14:40 min) In Dutch with English subtitles.
A girl who is awestruck by the beauty of her favorite trees makes a plan to stop the chopping in the forest.

Star Stuff
(Ratimir Rakuljic, Croatia, live action and animation, 2015, 9:42 min) In English.
A boy who wonders about the stars in the sky sets off on a voyage of great discovery. A film inspired by the life and work of Carl Sagan.

Wildwood School Featured in the News

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Janiya Lewis, 8, hands a copy of the Wild Wood constitution to Paul Bockelman during a assembly where the students at Wildwood present the Wild Wood constitution to the rest of the school.

Janiya Lewis, 8, hands a copy of the Wild Wood constitution to Paul Bockelman during a assembly where the students at Wildwood present the Wild Wood constitution to the rest of the school.

Wildwood’s First Constitutional Convention Over the past several weeks 32 student representatives from grades 3-6 have been gathering together to create Wildwood’s first Constitution. During this Constitutional Convention they have been practicing some of the essential skills of being a citizen in a democracy: listening respectfully to differing opinions and reaching a consensus.

On Friday, November 4th, the school gathered as a community for an all-school assembly to introduce the Wildwood Constitution. At the assembly the delegates presented the Constitution for ratification. The assemble hosted many special guests.

Read more about this story:

Thank You for the Stories!

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With well over 100 people in attendance, yummy food and compelling tales, last night’s storytelling event with Eshu Bumpus was a great success!!! There were many people who worked hard to make it magically come together.

The PGO wishes to thank our dedicated parent volunteers, and of course, our dedicated school staff Georgia Malcolm, Jennifer Haugsjaahabink, Joyce Gooden, Linda Gianesin, Nick Yaffe and Susan Wells. We also wish to thank our generous food sponsors, Bueno Y Sano, Ginger Garden, Hillside Pizza, Osteria Vespa and Paradise of India, for their delicious food donations.

food-sponsors

As Ira Glass says, “Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” If you’d like to keep the stories flowing, below are a few helpful resources to do so:

And don’t forget to visit the Folklore and Legends section at the Wildwood Library.

Community Events: Black History, Winterfest, Jones Kids, Girls Sports Day & More

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BlackHistoryMonth-20160213Black History Month On The Amherst Common
Date: Saturday Feb. 13
Time: 11:00-11:30am
Location: Amherst Common
Cost: Free


National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD)
Date: Sunday Feb. 14
Time: 12:30pm – 4:00pm
Location: Smith College Indoor Track and Tennis Facility

Smith College women’s varsity and club athletics programs will be hosting free clinics for all girls in grades 3-5. Clinics will include track and field, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, ultimate frisbee, softball, rock wall, volleyball and basketball. All participants will receive a t-shirt, certificate and snacks.

No equipment is needed by participants. However, comfortable athletic attire and sneakers are recommended.

For more info, visit: Smith Pioneers Website
View flyer: NGWSD_Poster


Winterfest
Date: Saturday Feb. 20 (*NOTE: NEW DATE*)
Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm
Location: Cherry Hill Golf Course
Cost: Admission is $5 Kids/Students, $8 Adults and $20 for a family of 3 or More. There is a free shuttle service from Mill River Park and the Mill District.

The even is hosted by Amherst Leisure Services and Friends of Amherst Recreation with support from the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. It is sponsored by Integrity Development. The event includes a food court, chili tasting contest cider donut eating contest, cheese tasting, fatbike demo and riding, baseball toss, mobile disc golf experience, dusk superpipe sledding hill, wagon rides from Muddy Brook, frosty fun kids carnival, family ice sculpture contest, UMass stage crew dance and clinic, golf contests, face painting, best in snow dog show, cardboard sled race, Zumba in the snow and entertainment from Jack Frost and the Rose Cheeks and Pineapple Dance’s Elektrik Boyz and Jam Dance.

View flyer: winterfest-flyer-2016-schools (*NOTE: NEW DATE*)
For more info, visit: Winterfest Facebook


Black History Month, Feb. 2016
Amherst is celebrating Black History Month by recognizing accomplishments of black Americans and the continuing struggle for equality and freedom. Commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent:


Winter Break at Jones Library Kids Room
Date/Time: Feb 2016
Location: Jones Library, 43 Amity Street
Cost: Free

The perfect place to play with trains, curl up with a good book, explore the toy box, or find a movie to watch. There is something for everyone!

For more info, visit: http://www.joneslibrary.org/188/Kids-Room
View flyer: Jones Kids – February Calendar


Jones Library “On The Same Page” Community Read
Date/Time: March – April 2016
Location: Jones Library, 43 Amity Street
Cost: Free

The Jones Library is holding its fourth “On the Same Page” community reading program, this year featuring the book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by bestselling author Atul Gawande. This book has started a national conversation about the deep flaws in our society’s current treatment of people with serious illness and those who are facing end of life. The entire Amherst community is invited to read the book and participate in the upcoming programs and events.

As an added dimension this year, our local community read is part of a regional community read. In collaboration with Cooley Dickinson Health Care medical experts, local libraries and other agencies are sponsoring discussions throughout Hampshire and Franklin Counties in March and April, as well as offering additional programming to support the themes explored in this bestselling book.

The following series of programs will be held during March and April at the Jones Library, and are based on topics and themes from the novel.

For complete program descriptions, visit: http://www.joneslibrary.org/onthesamepage


Family Film Series at Amherst Cinema
Date/Time: Saturdays at 10:00am
Location: Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street, Amherst
Cost: $5 general admission! Free passes are available for families in need at the ARPS Family Center.

Visit: http://amherstcinema.org/films-and-events/family-friendly-programming

 

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Location: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road
Cost: Varies

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art inspires a love of art and reading through picture books. The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy.

Exhibitions: http://www.carlemuseum.org/content/current-exhibitions
Programs and Events: http://www.carlemuseum.org/content/upcoming-events


Amherst BID Events
The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) is a nonprofit economic development organization comprised of local property owners dedicated to providing programs and services that serve the town’s residents and businesses. Through partnering with the Town, the University, and the two Colleges, the BID aims to make downtown an even better place to visit.
View Local Event Calendar: http://www.amherstdowntown.com/calendar/

Amherst Together presents Conversations with Jimmy (11/16)

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logo_AmherstTogetherAmherst Together presents Conversations with Jimmy – A nationwide outreach initiative to engage diverse communities and inspire dialogue.

“James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket”
Monday, November 16 in the ARHS Auditorium
Reception begins at 6:00pm
Film Screening begins at 6:30pm

Please RSVP to Carol Ross Rossc@arps.org or 413-362-1820
This event is free and the community is welcome to attend.

Conversations with Jimmy

Amherst presenta Conversations with Jimmy – Una iniciativa de alcance nacional para participar diversas comunidades e inspirar el diálogo.

“James Baldwin : El Precio de la Ticket”
Monday 16 de noviembre en el ARHS Auditorium
Reception comienza a las 6:00 pm
Film Screening empieza a las 6:30 pm
Por favor confirmar su asistencia a Carol Ross Rossc@arps.org o 413-362-1820
Este evento es gratuito y la comunidad están invitados a asistir.

3 Wks of Wildwood Generosity, #GivingTuesday 2015

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This year, for the first time ever, the Wildwood PGO is participating in #GivingTuesday!

Giving Tuesday 2015 BannerWe have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, the Wildwood community will come together (virtually) for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give back to our school.

Over the next few Tuesdays, we’ll share views on giving and gratitude.
Let’s start with a question: What difference do we make?

We all ask ourselves sometimes whether or not we make a difference—at school or at work, in our lives, in our relationships, in all the ways we spend our time and exert real effort. And if we do indeed make a difference, what difference is it? Is it significant? Do we have a real impact? Of what sort? (Conversation Guide, AskBigQuestions.org)

View poet Taylor Mali’s spoken-word piece, “What Teachers Make.”

Learn more: https://www.ted.com/talks/taylor_mali_what_teachers_make
Ask Big Questions Conversation Guide (PDF):  ask-big-questions

Our teachers make a difference every day! You can support them by donating to Wildwood. Visit: https://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Wildwood-Parent-Guardian-Organization

Este año, por primera vez, el Wildwood PGO está participando en #GivingTuesday!

Tenemos un día para dar gracias. Tenemos dos para conseguir ofertas. Ahora, tenemos #GivingTuesday, un día mundial dedicado a retribuir. El Martes, 01 de diciembre 2015, la comunidad de Wildwood se reunirán (virtualmente) con un propósito común: celebrar la generosidad y de devolver a nuestra escuela.

En los próximos martes, vamos a compartir puntos de vista sobre dar y gratitud.
Vamos a empezar con una pregunta: ¿Qué diferencia hacemos?

Todos nos preguntamos a veces si hacemos una diferencia en la escuela o en el trabajo, en nuestras vidas, en nuestras relaciones, en todas las formas en que gastamos nuestro tiempo y hacer un esfuerzo real. Y si en verdad hacer una diferencia, ¿qué diferencia es? ¿Es significativo? ¿Tenemos un impacto real? De qué tipo? (Conversación Guía, AskBigQuestions.org)

Pieza de Vista poeta Taylor Mali palabra hablada: “¿Qué profesores hacen.”

Más información: https://www.ted.com/talks/taylor_mali_what_teachers_make
Pregunta Grandes Preguntas Guía de Conversación (PDF): ask-big-preguntas

Nuestros maestros hacen una diferencia cada día! Usted puede apoyarlos mediante la donación de Wildwood. Visita: https://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Wildwood-Parent-Guardian-Organization

Summer Read-a-Thon, Million Minute Challenge

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Prevent summer slide, keep kids reading. Yes, if every child, family, and staff member joins us and reads for as little as 30 minutes a day, the Wildwood community, can reach one million minutes of reading this summer. Reading during the summer has been proven to have lasting benefits for children by helping their brains grow in so many ways! Log your minutes in the Summer Read-a-thon folder.

What to Bring to End-of-Year Picnic, 6/19

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eoy-picnic-2015All students and families are invited to the Wildwood School End of Year Picnic!

  • WHEN:   Friday, June 19, 2015
  • TIME: 5:30 – 7:30pm
  • WHERE: Wildwood Playgrounds

WHAT TO BRING:

  1. Your own family’s PICNIC DINNER and DRINKS
  2. Your own REUSABLE FLATWARE, CUPS AND PLATES, we are trying to produce as little waste as possible. PGO will also have paper-goods for those who don’t bring their own from home.
  3. BLANKETS/CHAIRS to sit on.
  4. BUG REPELLANT is recommended.
  • ALL CHILDREN must be ACCOMPANIED by a parent, guardian or a responsible ADULT.

  • Please CLEAN UP as you go!


Summer Read-a-thon, Due MONDAY 6/8

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ABC Best Books for Children (cover)It’s time to sign up for the Summer Read-a-thon! Check your child’s backpack for the registration form. It’s due THIS Monday, June 8th. In the past, the Read-a-thon was designed as a fundraiser to raise money for the Wildwood Library. This year the district has provided funding for the libraries so we are not asking for pledges for the summer Read-a-thon. Instead, we are asking that you help us reach the Wildwood Million Minutes Reading Challenge!

Did you know… If every Wildwood student and their families read for 30 minutes/day for the 70 days of summer vacation that our community could read for over 1,000,000 minutes THIS SUMMER?! Help us meet the Wildwood Million Minutes Reading Challenge.

We want to reemphasize that money donations are NOT a part of the Read-a-thon this year; however, if parents are still interested in donating to the library to grow our collections, you can make a check payable to the Wildwood PGO and write “For Library” in the memo line. This money will be given directly to the library to purchase more books.

Book Ideas for Read-a-thon Summer Reading (click to view)

AR[T]HS Annual Exhibit, Now thru 6/11

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ARTHS0001The Amherst Regional High School Art Department and The Eli Marsh Gallery, Amherst College, Present: AR[T]HS: An Exhibit of Outstanding Student Artwork from the 2014-2015 Academic Year.

The Art Department at Amherst Regional High School is proud to present AR[T]HS, an exhibit of outstanding student artwork from the 2014-2015 academic year. The exhibit will showcase juried work from all of the Art Department’s areas of study: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, 2D & 3D Foundations, Printmaking, Art Portfolio and Sculpture.

AR[T]HS will be on display at The Eli Marsh Gallery, 105 Fayerweather Hall, Amherst College, from June 3th-June 11th. Gallery hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, every day, Sat & Sun 10-4pm.

The opening reception is on Thursday, June 4th from 5-8 pm. The opening is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The opening will be part of the monthly Amherst Art Walk. Last year’s opening was attended by more than 300 students, parents and relatives, including many non-art students showing support for their peers. It is also an excellent way for students to see what type of work is done in all the various art classes to help them in their future course choices.

Amherst Together presents ASPIRATIONS, 5/9

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AspirationPoster__PrintThe community is invited to attend a FREE screening of ASPIRATIONS on Saturday, May 9 at 11am in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library, Amherst , MA. The film, directed by Jose Rodriguez and produced by Carol Ross, examines what happens when seven child artists interpret the aspirations of community leaders. Refreshments will be served and a facilitated discussion will follow the film. Sponsored by Amherst Together.

Please direct all inquiries to Carol Ross of Amherst Together 413-362-1820 or RossC@arps.org

ARPS Latino Achievement Awards, 5/15

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The 9th Annual Latino Achievement Awards Night will take place on Friday, May 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium (170 Chestnut St). The community is invited to attend this free event.

Amherst, Pelham and Regional Public School students of Latino heritage in Kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 8 and Grade 12 will be honored for accomplishments in academics, leadership and community service. In addition, ARHS Seniors will receive a traditional stole to wear over their graduation robes. The program will include spoken word, music and dance presentations by Grupo Folclorico Tradiciones and elementary students.

The evening’s featured speaker will be Bryan Torres who escaped a life of danger and struggle in El Salvador as a young boy and survived the difficult and harrowing journey through Guatemala and Mexico to the United States. He eventually settled in Northampton, learned English and worked as an undocumented immigrant. Mr. Torres graduated from Holyoke Community College and is currently a student at Amherst College.

Nominate Teacher/Staff for ARPS Award, due June 1

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ARPS COMMUNITY-BUILDING AWARD

The ARPS Community-Building Award will recognize two employees per year from the Amherst-Pelham Public School system who have helped to foster a sense of belonging among students and who have helped to build bridges of understanding and acceptance among them. School employees from all positions are eligible for this award, which will include a $250 cash prize. Food service workers, while not technically employed by the district, are eligible for the award. Nominations are due by June 1st.

For more info, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7UVv-MmKrUOZFRENzdGWnZPZVk/view

African American Achievement Night, 5/7

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The 4th Annual African American Achievement Night will be held Thursday, May 7th, at 6 pm in the Amherst Regional High School Auditorium. This much-anticipated event honors students of color in Grades PreK-12 for accomplishments in academics, leadership/community service, athletics and fine/performing arts.

Last year, over 500 people attended the awards night and enjoyed music, song, spoken word and dance. The entire community is invited to participate.

lifteveryvoicesingers

@Jones: Aspirations Doc feat. Principal Nick, 5/9

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logo_AmherstTogetherJones Library, Woodbury Room
Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 11:00am

Amherst Together and the Jones Library invite you to a screening of Aspirations, a short film which documents seven local youth artists and seven local volunteers as they discuss and attempt to represent those aspects of character to which it is worth aspiring.

With each new generation, we see the promise of our future and the continuation of our collective legacy. The lives we lead in adulthood bud from the aspirations of our childhood and, despite the nuance that accumulates over time, deep down they remain the same. Furthermore, across generations, we find consensus about attributes of character worth aspiring to, despite the many different ways those attributes are particularized. Courage, for example, exists in a variety of iterations from small acts of benevolence, like struggling to provide for the ones you love most, to grand gestures, like fighting for the rights of whole nations.

To understand how far we’ve come and how much farther we’ve yet to go, we must confront those most basic assumptions that have shaped our lives and which will continue to shape the lives of countless future generations. In an attempt to do just that, we invited 7 adults to share their deepest aspirations with 7 youth who, in turn, interpreted and painted the adults faces with their interpretation.

This film captures an opportunity for adults to share an experience with our youth that may significantly impact how they think about their futures and the kinds of people they’d like to become.

Free and open to the public.

For more info, contact Carol Ross at 413/362-1820 or Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

National Volunteer Week, 4/12-18

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According to the Points of Light website, “National Volunteer Week, April 12-18, 2015, is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.”

Locally, there many ways to volunteer within the Amherst community. Begin by perusing the following websites:

The PGO is always in need of volunteers and has a number of leadership positions open for the 2015-16 school year. If interested, please email us at: wildwoodelementarypgo@gmail.com. If time is limited, you can always volunteer on an hourly basis. Sign-up to be a PGO Power Hour volunteer. If interested, please contact Jen Mendleson at njmendel@gmail.com.

Pi Day, THIS SATURDAY 3/14

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Pi_Day_460x345Saturday is Pi Day! Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. (Source: http://www.piday.org)

Celebrate the event with a pizza pie, apple pie or simply use the circumference of your head. Below are rational activities and resources for an irrational number.

Pi Day Activities

Connecticut Science Center: Ultimate Pi Day
http://www.ctsciencecenter.org/things-to-do/events-calendar#pi

Help us celebrate this endless number (3.14159… ) and Einstein’s birthday, with family friendly Pi-related activities. At 3:14 PM, join us in the lobby for a once-in-a-lifetime photo op as we commemorate the Pi Day of the century with a 100-person Pi chain. The more people that participate, the longer the Pi chain will be. Those who wish to participate should gather in the lobby at 3PM. After the photo op, we’ll all enjoy a free sample of apple pie, courtesy of Lyman Orchards (Pie available while supplies last).

Scientific American: What is pi, and how did it originate?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-pi-and-how-did-it/

Succinctly, pi–which is written as the Greek letter for p, or –is the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle. Regardless of the circle’s size, this ratio will always equal pi. In decimal form, the value of pi is approximately 3.14. But pi is an irrational number, meaning that its decimal form neither ends (like 1/4 = 0.25) nor becomes repetitive (like 1/6 = 0.166666…). (read more)

Aspirations feat. Principal Nick [VIDEO]

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Inspired by the “If Only For A Second” campaign, this film documents seven volunteers and seven youth artists as they discuss and attempt to represent those aspects of character worth aspiring to.

With each new generation we see the promise of our future and the continuation of our collective legacy. The lives we lead in adulthood bud from the aspirations of our childhood and despite the nuance that accumulates over time, deep down they remain the same. Furthermore, across generations we find consensus about attributes of character worth aspiring to, despite the many different ways those attributes are particularized. Courage, for example, exists in a variety of iterations from small acts of benevolence like struggling to provide for the ones you love most, to grand gestures like fighting for the rights of whole nations.

To understand how far we’ve come and how much farther we’ve yet to go, we must confront those most basic assumptions that have shaped our lives and which will continue to shape the lives of countless future generations. In an attempt to do just that, we invited 7 adults to share their deepest aspirations with 7 youth who, in turn, interpreted and painted the adults faces with their interpretation.

This film by Jose Rodriguez captured an opportunity for adults to share an experience with our youth that may significantly impact how they think about their futures and the kinds of people they’d like to become.

Originally published Feb. 27, 2015 in Learning Together in ARPS blog, by Michael Morris

@Wildwood: Wanted, Your Snow Day Selfies

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kermit-70118_640S-N-O-W Daze, a perfect photo op!

Since February 11, 2015, the schools have had five snow days. The blog is curious to know: How have you passed the time?

Send us a photo with a short sentence explaining the action in the photo. Also include the names of all children pictured (for school confirmation only). We’ll put together a slideshow for all to enjoy! Email: wildwoodelementarypgo@gmail.com

VOLUNTARY CONSENT: Voluntary submissions of your photographs to the Wildwood PGO signifies your permission to reproduce and publish to the Wildwood PGO blog and other official Wildwood communication channels. No child will be personally identified by name.

@Wildwood: African-American Read-In (RECAP)

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Students Enjoy 2nd Annual African-American Read-In at Wildwood

Amherst Police Officer participates in Wildwood African-American Read-In Day

Officer participates in Wildwood African-American Read-In Day

For the second year in a row Wildwood hosted an African-American Read-In Day on February 12th. This day, which is celebrated nationally during Black History month, is a way to recognize and become more familiar with the stories, books and poetry of African-American authors. The idea for an African-American Read-In Day was started by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) twenty-five years ago. Sue Woodfork, the long-time librarian at Mark’s Meadow School, brought this tradition to Amherst in the 1990s. African-American Read-In Day has a simple, but powerful premise: all twenty-one classrooms (K-6) will have at least one book by an African-American author or about an African-American read aloud by a guest reader on this day. Guest readers, such as parents, extended family members, and community members are invited into the school on this day to read a favorite book.

Through the African-American Read-In Wildwood School opens its doors our larger community and invites them in. Our goal is to create long-lasting partnerships with a diverse group of community members who can inspire our students with their own stories of success.

We began this special day by gathering for an all-school assembly. We heard poems by Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, and heard an Anansi tale of how stories came into this world told by a special guest storyteller, Natalie Sowell, professor of theatre with a specialty in children’s theatre at Hampshire College. We closed the assembly by joining our voices in This Little Light of Mine led by our music teacher Jake Brownell with special guest saxophonist Mtalika Banda.

By Nick Yaffe, Wildwood School Principal
Originally published in Learning in ARPS blog

@Jones: Puppet Workshop & “Lincoln” Film Screening, 2/7

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logo_jones-library10:30AM-12:30PM: Puppeteer Debbi Friedlander will conduct a puppetry workshop for children in kindergarten through second grade based on the tale: The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night. Location: Woodbury Room.

1:00-4:30 PM: In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, a screening of Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed biographical film “Lincoln,” will be held in the Woodbury Community Room.

“Lincoln” takes place during the final months of the life of President Abraham Lincoln and recounts the pivotal historical events of that era, including the passage of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery, the ending of the Civil War, and Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865.

“Lincoln,” received 12 Academy Award nominations in 2013, including Best Performance by a Lead Actor (Daniel Day Lewis), Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Sally Field) and Achievement in Directing (Steven Spielberg).

The screening will be preceded by remarks from local Amherst historian Dr. Robert H. Romer, the author of Slavery in the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts.

Programs are free and open to the public.

®ZUMBA Thursdays, FREE to ARPS Staff & Parents

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There is a ZUMBA class FREE to all ARPS affiliated parents, teachers and staff. It is held in the music room at Crocker Farm Elementary EVERY Thursday from 3:30-4:30 pm. ®ZUMBA is a “fitness-party” made up of Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, rhythmic and aerobic movements set to international music. It exhilarates the senses and works all major muscle groups in a high-energy cardio blast that leaves you feeling invigorated, refreshed and full of life! It is just want ARPS teachers and parents deserve!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rebecca Woodland, mom of two kids in the ARPS district, at rebeccahwoodland@gmail.com.