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ARMS News

A man in a suit stands at the front of a classroom, gesturing towards students seated at desks in the foreground, with a whiteboard and a blackboard visible in the background.
Building Connection and Confidence:
Seth Keevaenthal

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.

In the foreground, a woman reads to children in a classroom, while in the background, a man addresses an audience in a gymnasium and a display of books celebrates Black History.
A Month of Reflection, Learning, and Celebration:
Seth Keevaenthal

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.

A group of students listens attentively to a woman in an orange hoodie in the foreground, while in the background, shelves are stocked with red crates.
Middle School Students Step Up Through Day Of Service
Seth Keevaenthal

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.

In the foreground, a group of children and adults are gathered around a table, engaged in a cooking activity, while the background reveals a brightly lit room with shelves, artwork, and a bar area.
Sixth Graders Bring Garden Learning To Taste Through Community Partnership
Seth Keevaenthal

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.

Four students in a science lab, wearing masks, gather around a table with lab equipment and papers, while other students and shelves of supplies are visible in the background.
ARMS Students Explore DNA Through Hands-On Science With UMass PhD Mentors
Seth Keevaenthal

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