NEXT MEETING: Mon, May 6th 7:00pm. The PTO meeting scheduled for Monday, 5/6 will be in a hybrid format. Zoom link info will be shared via Parent Square. The meeting will be on Monday, May 6 at 7:00 pm in the guidance area. Our special guest will be Athletic Director David Proulx. We have lots for spring/end-of-the-year plans to discuss – please come share your voice! As always, lots of free snacks…
Please note that next week, May 6 – 10 is School Staff Appreciation Week! The PTO will be providing coffee and bagels on Tuesday, May 7, and a lunch from Caravan Kitchen on May 24
For our staff appreciation lunch on Friday, May 24, we have hired Caravan Kitchen, a wonderful, NPS parent-owned panini food truck. We welcome volunteers that day, as well as donations of cookies/sweets and beverages. Please help show our amazing NHS staff how much we appreciate them in whatever way you, your student or family would like. Thank you!
Gift cards and donations The PTO receives many requests for gift cards to Walmart, Target and Amazon from NHS staff to cover materials and supplies for classes and projects. If you are able to donate a card, there is an ongoing need and it would be much appreciated. You can drop off (or send in) cards to the office, in an envelope to NHS PTO.
You can make a monetary donation anytime by sending in a check to NHS PTO, or online on our website, http://hamphigh-nhspto.org Thank you for supporting NHS PTO and our incredible NHS staff!
NOTABLE UPCOMING DATES:
May 7th- 1/2 Day NHS will dismiss at 12:50pm
Fri, May 24th: 1/2 Day NHS will dismiss at 12:50pm
Mon, May 27th: NO SCHOOL Memorial Day Holiday
UPCOMING 2024 PTO MEETINGS: 5/6 and 6/11
To submit information to be featured here in our News section or included in Hamp Highlights (the PTO monthly newsletter), please email nhsptonews@gmail.com
To communicate with our PTO President with agenda items, questions or inquiries for just about anything about the Hamp PTO, please email: nohopto@gmail.com
NHS AP TEST PROCTORS NEEDED 5/6-5/17
Northampton High School is looking for AP Proctors May 6th through 17th, for both morning and afternoon shifts. Proctors will be paid $25 an hour, including for an hour of training time, and must have completed a background check and fingerprinting, and can not have any immediate family members taking an AP exam. We will be administering over 50 exam sessions in two weeks and our students could really use your support! If you are interested, please contact Veronica Douglas, AP Coordinator at vdouglas@northampton-k12.us
FUNKY-TONES IS BACK
Enjoy an Evening of Laughter and Song on Thursday May 2nd!
FUNKTIONLUST and The NORTHAMPTONES will be performing in the Northampton High School’s Auditorium The Family Friendly Show starts at 6:00pm. Donations for the NHS Performing Arts Dept will be greatly appreciated.
Funktionlust, now in its 18th 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, Art’s Night Out at Click Workspace and Historic Northampton, and Happier Valley Comedy.
The Northamptones a cappella group has been bringing top-notch vocal music to Northampton for over 20 years. Whether performing around the community at events such as First Night and the Silver Chord Bowl, or entertaining home audiences at NHS, the Tones sing tunes, both familiar and new, that are sure to please.
For more info: Susan Dillard at sdillard@northampton-k12.us or Heidi Haas at Heidi_Haas@comcast.net
High School Sexuality Workshops
The Unitarian Society of Northampton & Florence and Tapestry Health are offering a unique opportunity for teens to explore important sexuality issues and develop tools for being healthy, safe, empowered, and confident in their identities and relationships. Register here.
Identity and Empowerment, May 5, 2-3:30 pm
What parts of my identity do I find most important? What if I don’t want to label myself? How do we respectfully learn about identities different from our own? Sarah (they/she) from Tapestry Health will guide us through exercises to explore parts of our own identity including gender and sexuality, self-esteem, and more.
Healthy Relationships/Consent, May 19, 2-3:30 pm
How do I know if a relationship I’m in is unhealthy, or even abusive? How do I set boundaries in my relationships with others? How do you revoke consent if you’ve changed your mind? We’ll haveinteractive conversations about what makes relationships healthy, how to set boundaries with others, and the ins and outs of consent. By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to advocate for yourself and others in your relationships!
Here is the registration form: HS Sexuality Workshop Registration. Email dre@uunorthampton.org for more information.
YMCA LEADERS CLUB
Leaders Club is the premier character building, professional development, and service learning program through the YMCA and they are currently looking for new members. It is free this semester and they meet on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 in the Teen Center of the Hampshire Regional YMCA. Download the flyer below for more information:
New HOMESTEADING class at NHS needs your donations!
A new Homesteading class at NHS, taught by Bob Melnik, is looking for some supplies. Please see this message from Mr. Mellnik and if you can contribute supplies, drop them in the main office noting they are for Mr. Mellnik’s Homesteading Class:
Hello Everyone,
As many of you know I am starting a Homesteading class this semester and as with any project based class there are lots of costs in getting it up and running. I did receive a nice NEF grant to get the ball rolling but I am hoping to defer as much of the expense as possible with some donations, that way the NEF money can go towards some other much needed big ticket items. The things needed are pretty common items that you may have laying around, and you may even welcome getting rid of some “junk”. Here is a list of some of the stuff we need:
Sewing stuff:
- Sewing machines
- Irons and Ironing Boards
- Fabric
- Sewing notions like pins, needles, seam rippers etc
- Good scissors
- Large Pots for Fabric Dying
- Sewing Patterns of interesting projects
Food Stuff:
- Mason Jars, various sizes
- Large pots for canning
- Medium stock pots for making preserves
- Measuring cups
- Large Mini fridge or very small regular fridge.
- Food Dehydrators
Thank you for your support!
Ivy Math:
IvyMath is providing all Northhampton High families with a free online math tutoring session and an in-depth parent conference to discuss your child’s strengths and weaknesses and how they compare to grade level.
IvyMath will also create a custom learning plan that maps out the exact areas your child should be focusing on in math for the rest of the year. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, and understand what your child needs to feel confident and stay on track in math this year.
The IvyMath tutoring session, parent conference, and learning plan are free for all Northhampton High families. Popular times fill up, so please register quickly! Signup now at: IvyMath.com/Boost
UMass Turing Summer Program for High School Students
Program Overview: The UMass Turing Summer Program is a free three-week summer program for High School students interested in or would like to learn about Computer Science and its use to address challenges in healthcare, energy, and many others. The program requires a full-day commitment from students, and their ability to commute daily to the UMass Amherst campus is a must. Lunch is complimentary throughout the program.
Intended Participants: While the program is specifically designed for entering tenth and eleventh graders (entering sophomores and juniors) in high schools in Western Massachusetts, rising ninth graders and seniors are welcome to apply. A background in computer programming is not necessary to attend. A basic mathematics background is assumed for this program.
Program Format/Schedule: The program runs from July 8-26th, 2024, every weekday from 9:30 am to 4 pm, with one lab and two classroom sessions. These sessions expose students to sensing, data analysis, and visualization concepts. We design a hands-on program where students will learn by application, and the program will feature the use of signal processing and machine learning using Python and an intro to health sensing using apps for Android phones.
How to Apply: Online registration is now open. Please visit https://lass.cs.umass.edu/turing or email us at turing.umass@gmail.com
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 remaining Coffee Hour dates for the 2023-2024 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
Fri, April 26
Fri, May 24
Fri, June 14
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:
- Art supplies
- Best Buddies trips to Nutcracker, Best Buddies Prom and organizational dues
- Bike trip supplies
- Books, videos
- Bus passes for students
- Driving lessons for students
- Drumming camp
- Field trips
- Gift cards for gas, groceries, etc.
- Holiday gifts and winter items for families
- Honorariums for guest speakers
- Library needs
- Mural project artists and supplies
- Musical instruments
- Remote learning supplies (headphones, WiFi hotspots, etc.)
- Robotics supplies and support for future programming
- Scientific calculators
- Senior events (food/supplies for senior breakfast, prom)
- Sensory and cooking items for GOALS and PACE programs
- Staff appreciation (gift cards, baked goods, Caravan Kitchen panini food truck, Herrell’s truck, pizza lunches, boxed lunches, potlucks, breakfasts, coffee hours, flowers for staff appreciation days)
- Student Union supply closet items
- Support for EL Hub
- Water bottles
- School spirit magnets
- YaYa’s Closet items (snacks, toiletries, etc.)