Welcome! The PTO works to help create the best possible learning environment for our students. We work to enhance communication between school and home by maintaining this website, regular Parent Square announcements, publishing the Hamp Highlights e-newsletter, and producing the school directory. The PTO also raises funds to provide financial support for educational enrichment programs, technology upgrades, and other needs that are not covered by the school budget.
It will come as no surprise, the PTO raises funds the old-fashioned way, through direct donations from NHS families, alumni, and friends. You may donate online through our website which accepts donations year round via PayPal. You may also mail a check, made out to NHS PTO, to NHS PTO, 380 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060 or drop it at the school office. Your gift is tax deductible. Gifts will be acknowledged electronically to conserve paper and postage.
The PTO meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The location and guest speaker for each meeting will be announced in Parent Square as well as on the home page of this site. PTO typically meets in the NHS Counseling area just past the main entrance. All are welcome!
2023-2024 Meeting Schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 12
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Tuesday, Nov. 14
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Tuesday, Mar. 12
Tuesday, Apr. 9
Tuesday, May 14
Tuesday, June 11
If you can’t make it to meetings but would like to support the PTO’s
efforts, have questions or agenda items, please contact us at nohopto@gmail.com.
Our Current PTO Officers are:
President – Liz Horn email: nohopto@gmail.com
Vice President – Adena Calden
Secretary – Jennifer Sanders James
Treasurer – Hillary Gardner
Why get involved?
– It’s a great group of people!
– The NHS PTO focus is on building community and supporting teachers.
– You’ll get to know teachers, administrators, and what’s going on at NHS.
– The PTO welcomes new ideas from caregivers.
If you have about an hour a week and want to help your student’s PTO, please contact us at nohopto@gmail.com to learn more!
PTO EVENTS ways to help
The PTO sponsors several events and fundraising campaigns each year. Please contact us at nohopto@gmail.com if you would like to be involved or if you are interested in helping organize a program in support of NHS.
FALL
NHS Open House: Take a short shift at our table, meet fellow caregivers and NHS staff, manage the School Council ballot collection.
Florence Savings Bank Customers’ Choice Community Grant: Help distribute ballots during lunch and at school events to ensure strong support for NHS in this annual grant program.
WINTER
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon: Help with set up and/or clean up, or contribute a dish to this event.
NHS Open House: Take a short shift at our table, meet fellow caregivers and NHS staff.
Eat for Education: Help contact Northampton restaurant owners to confirm participation in our early-April city-wide fundraising event.
SPRING
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast (May): Help with set up and/or clean up, or contribute a dish to this event.
Honor Thy Teacher: Help promote this year-end fundraising campaign, and assist with preparation of letters to teachers for the last day of school.
YEAR-ROUND
Parent Communications: Help with updates to the PTO website, Facebook page, and listserv.
Hamp Highlights: Help compile, edit, and format submissions to the PTO online newsletter. Want to subscribe? CLICK HERE to join our monthly newsletter list.
Monthly Coffee Hours: Each month we put a call out for treats to be delivered to the Counseling area from 8:15-8:45am to build morale and connections between the PTO and Teachers and Staff at NHS. Keep an eye out for dates being announced each month! This is a great ay to show appreciation and get to know your student’s teachers.
Shop our SPIRIT WEAR! As of 2024, we now have a spirit wear shop that is full of gear–everything from sweatpants, hats, tees, blankets and more–all to show your school spirit! Every sale is made to order and ships directly to your home, no need to pre-order or for long-waits. 10% of every sale goes directly to the PTO and helps support our school and teachers!
What has the PTO done lately?
Thanks to a successful year of fundraising and the generosity of our families and the community in 2023-2024, the NHS PTO was able purchase equipment and instructional technology for the school and provide grants to our teachers.
Recent donations have supported:
Agendas for library
Art exhibit reception
Art supplies
Band equipment
Band trip to Washington D.C.
Breakfast for ELL families
Bus to college fair
Buses for field trips
Graphing calculators
Cameras
Ceramic club supplies
Chromebooks
College readiness speakers
Desktop computers
Holocaust class speakers
Kitchen supplies for GOALS
Library books
Magazines for ELL
Math club competition
Paint for restroom murals
Personal care supplies
Projectors
School supplies
Sheet music
Software
Teachers’ lounge redecoration
Volunteers in Northampton Schools (VINS)
NHS Library
Follow the latest news and updates from NHS school librarian Rochelle Garfinkel on the NHS Library page . Make book requests, search the catalog, learn more about the research database, and so many more interesting links and resources for careers, college prep and even driver’s ed!
NHS currently has no library book budget and hasn’t for many years.Please help provide current books that appeal to our studentsby purchasing from this wishlist, hosted on bookshop.org by High Five Books in Florence
The Transcript
The NHS student news broadcast, The Transcript, is released every Friday morning (7:30 am). You can watch the newest episode on the Transcript YouTube channel. Scroll through our current season, season 15 to see all of the 2023-2024 episodes. The Transcript is produced by NHS students through the Technology Department’s Communications and Media Production course.
Northampton Education Foundation
The Northampton Education Foundation provides grants for teacher-initiated projects and programs that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance academic experiences in Northampton’s public schools. Please support NEF! New grants awarded for NHS Band Remote Concerts and Lindy Hop classes. Read all about it in their latest NEF newsletter.
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NPS school calendar: 2023-2024 school year calendar
To see the 2023-2024 School Calendar click HERE. Spanish version HERE.
Stay informed: School Committee Calendar for Northampton Public Schools
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