Our next PTO meeting is on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 pm in the guidance area (enter through the main entrance next to the office, then walk straight ahead to find guidance). We’ll also offer a Zoom link.
Jill Shulman, the Amherst-based author of College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) From the Madness, will be coming to our PTO meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. You can read more about her at
Lots of free, seasonal snacks!
Everyone who is a caregiver or staff member (or student!) is warmly welcome (you’re automatically a member of the PTO by being part of this school community).
Come learn more about NHS, meet other caregivers, and share your ideas.
We’ll send a reminder with a Zoom link the day before. And as always, reach out anytime at nohopto@gmail.com
NOTABLE UPCOMING DATES:
Weds. Nov. 27: Half Day
Thurs. Nov. 28-Fri. Nov. 29: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break
Tues. Dec. 10: PTO Meeting 7pm
Thurs. Dec. 12: Half Day
Mon. Dec. 23-Tues. Dec. 31: NO SCHOOL-December Vacation
Tues Jan. 1: NO SCHOOL-Holiday
Mon. Jan. 20: NO SCHOOL-Holiday
UPCOMING PTO MEETINGS:
12/10, 1/14, 2/11
Parents invited to join NHS Staff Book Group
NHS teacher Sue Sullivan is forming a book group to read and discuss the book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt.
There are a few remaining spots in the group, and NHS caregivers are invited to join.
The group is planning to meet every other week and most likely on a weekend day time and place
tbd by all. They have books to lend and can drop them off at participants’ homes.
Please contact Sue Sullivan if interested at suesul@gmail.com
Northampton Community Rowing Winter Training
For High School Students ages 14 and up, NO ROWING EXPERIENCE NEEDED!
Northampton Community Rowing is offering two Youth Winter Training Sessions in the afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:30-6pm starting November 11. NCR has a new gym space on Damon Rd which allows us to offer strength and conditioning to athletes throughout the winter. This is open to all athletes who want a winter training program, not just for rowers! Join us and stay strong for your spring sport!
Build skills and confidence. Meet new people and make friends. Be part of a supportive community. Train with experienced coaches.
www.northamptoncommunityrowing.org for our schedule and fees
Questions? Email: youthinfo@hampcrew.com
Session I: NOV. 11- JAN 17
Session II: JAN 20- MAR 14
FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE!
NHS Wishlist
(Drop off donations in the library at Open House before you head to classes or to the office during school hours with a PTO sticky note on it)
GIft cards to Stop & Shop, Big Y, Walmart or Amazon (this helps the science teaching team buy the consumables needed for their science courses, and
helps teachers in the GOALS and other programs purchase needed supplies). Snacks Any boxes (large or small) or prepackaged snacks (nut free please)
are a highly-requested item from many people who work in the building. If you are in Walmart or Costco and could grab a box of granola bars, goldfish,
etc., it would be very appreciated. Used or new tennis balls- these are needed for the bottom of chairs. We need
36 to get this classroom set!
Assorted Tea and sweeteners. Several teachers create calm spots in their room and would love to offer tea and sweetener (packets of sugar, stevia, or a
bottle of honey). Tissues: everyone in the building needs tissues. If you are able to bring a box (or 5) they will certainly go to good use in many places around NHS.
Toiletries: feminine care products, toothbrushes/paste, deodorant.
Clothing in good condition- t-shirts, shorts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, cozy blankets
We also have requests for:
Sewing machines (used are great)
Fabric and leather supplies
Fishing rods and fishing tackle
Mason jars
Working vacuum
Electric tea kettle
If you have any questions, please reach out to nohopto@gmail.com
Thank you so much!
Improv Through the Ages at Northampton High School
Friday November 22nd from 7:00-9:00
Contact Person: Heidi Haas, 413-626-5840
On Friday November 22nd, the Scarlet Sock Foundation will present an evening of fun, delight, and spontaneity with Improv Through the Ages!
The Scarlet Sock Foundation supports underrepresented populations by administering small grants to community organizations and individuals of all ages to increase exposure and access to social justice theater. Our efforts aim to increase the number of people from underrepresented populations involved in community-based theater by partnering with and providing funds for programming such as theater classes, the development of new plays, ticket purchases, pre/post show lessons, talkback opportunities, and other educational materials. We have funded social justice theater projects in Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire counties. Scarletsock.org
Improv Through the Ages
Improve through the Ages features Heidi Haas’s theater students, the Ookie-Wookies (grades 1st-4th) and the Pickle Heads (grades 5th-8th) and the Northampton High School troupe, Funktionlust! Special guests include Jim Young, Susan Adelson, NHS’s very own theater teacher, David Grout.
Funktionlust, now in its 19th year, is the only Improv group at NHS and has enough liveliness to power Childs Park! But with all their spontaneity and enthusiasm, they have entertained their audiences at Northampton’s First Night, Happier Valley Comedy, Click Workspace and with their fellow students at NHS! They are psyched to be on stage with all the other Improvers!
The show is family friendly. Tickets are available at the door and the cost is suggested at $5 for children and $15 for adults. As it’s a fundraiser, audience members are encouraged to give what they can to support the Scarlet Sock Foundation’s mission.
For More Information: Contact Heidi Haas at Heidi_Haas@comcast.net
NHS Art Department WISH LIST
Hey Folks! We need your help providing supplies for fall art classes at NHS!
Below is a wish list compiled by our art teachers – anything you can do will be much appreciated and will impact hundreds of students. Thank you!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1512X3PXBGJQV?ref_=wl_share
Florence Bank Community Choice Awards
Vote for NHS PTO in the Florence Bank Community Choice Awards – each vote means dollars for our school! If you (or your partner, child, friend, neighbor) have a Florence Bank account, you can vote for NHS PTO to earn a grant. Just go the link below and vote for Northampton High School PTO. Voting ends on Dec. 31 each year.
Thanks for helping NHS PTO!
https://www.florencebank.com/customers-choice-community-grants
Upcoming Northampton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Meetings & Workshops
What is a SEPAC?
The Massachusetts Special Education Regulations, 603 CMR 28.00 (previously Chapter 766) require school districts to have a district wide parent advisory council that offers membership to all parents of eligible students and other interested parties. The parent advisory council (PAC) advises the district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities. PAC members meet regularly with school officials to participate in planning, development and evaluation of the school district’s special education programs. Visit the Northampton SEPAC website HERE (https://northamptonsepac.weebly.com)
All SEPAC meetings will be via Zoom. Fall meeting schedule: Mon. Sept 16; Mon. Oct 21; Mon, Nov 18.
The Mon. November 18 meeting will be a Bullying Workshop. Here’s a link to registration and info for the Bullying Workshop: https://fcsn.org/event/northampton-bullying/
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.
Monthly Coffee Hours: Each month we put a call out for treats to be delivered to the Counseling area from 8:15am-9:15am to build morale and connections between the PTO and Teachers and Staff at NHS. See below for Coffee Hour dates for the 2024-2025 school year. Drop off some yummy treats, stay if you can! This is a great way to show appreciation and get to know your student’s teachers.
COFFEE HOURS 8:15am-9:15am
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 in this school year?
Thanks to the generosity of our community and through fundraising efforts by the parents who make up our PTO, the Hamp Pto has funded lots during the 2023-2024 school year.
In the 2023-2024 school year, the PTO funded:
- Monthly breakfasts/coffee hours for staff
- Staff lunch at start of school year
- Staff appreciation lunch (May 24)
- Busses for field trips to Grow Food Northampton
- Busses for art students to Northampton Center for the Arts
- Bus for Art History class trip to MOMA in NYC
- Honorariums for guest speakers to Genocide Studies classes
- Honorariums for college admissions officers for 11th Grade Caregivers Night
- Gift cards, snacks and supplies for GOALS program
- Gift cards for PACE program
- Field trip to David Ruggles Center
- Field trip to Historic Deerfield
- Retirement cakes and gifts for staff
- Gift cards for family needs
- Taiko drum workshop and drum rental for Band
- Art supplies for multiple art classes
- Snacks for students during MCAS tests
- Supplies for chemistry class
- Books for Multicultural Literature class
- Books for Genocide Studies and AP European History classes
- Footwear and gear for student athletes
- Support for Takeaways segment of The Transcript
- Fee for students’ participation in Powers of Truth Conference, April 2024
- Tickets for prom for free and reduced lunch students
- Funding towards senior breakfast
Guest speakers at PTO meetings this year have included:
- Karen Hidalgo, Guidance Dept. Chair
- Bill Wehrli, Principal
- Gwen Agna, School Committee member
- Rochelle Garfinkel, Librarian
- David Proulx, Athletic Director