Our next PTO meeting is on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 pm in the NHS Guidance Area. There will be Zoom access for this meeting and a link will go out via parent square and the PTO newsletter prior to the meeting.
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:
April 14: Class of 2025 Fundraiser 20% of proceeds of all sales at Bueno Y Sano go to the Class of 2025, present flyer (below) at time of order, must be dine in/call in and pickup order.
April 21-24: NO SCHOOL April Break
May 8: Half Day
Next PTO meeting is Tues, May 13 at 7:00 pm in the NHS Guidance Area
May 26: NO SCHOOL Memorial Day
May 28: Half Day
UPCOMING PTO MEETINGS: 5/13
Sunday, May 4 from 1:00 to 3:00 at the Iron Horse
Three bands: Saux Naive, The Kill Phill, and the Father Figures. As I think you all know, several parents who are musicians have come together to put on a show to benefit the PTO!
Plans for traffic safety around NHS
As we have shared previously, the DPW has a proposal for traffic safety around NHS. You can see more about it here:https://www.northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29036/FAQ-page-for-Northampton-High-SchoolThe DPW welcomes feedback on the plan at: dpwinfo@northamptonma.gov
At the April 8 PTO meeting, parent Alex Bowman presented his alternative proposal for traffic safety around NHS. You can see his plan here:
Alex welcomes feedback on his plan at alexander.bowman@gmail.com
NHS Homesteading Class is Looking For Donations!!!
Let us help you clean out your garage, basement and garage! Your clutter is our treasure. We need your unused crafting and sewing equipment. Drop any items off at the Main Office attn: Bob Melnik
Homesteading classes are accepting donations of equipment and supplies. Here is a list of what each class is looking for:
- Sewing Needs
- Sewing machines
- Fabric
- Sewing kits or the materials to create kits
- Scissors
- Thread!!!!!
- Needles
- Yard sticks, rulers and marking tools
- Fabric (I know it’s listed twice, we go through a lot!!)
- Leather Work
- Leather working tools , dyes, and equipment
- Leather raw materials
- Wax works
- Beeswax
- Candle molds
- Soap molds supplies and molds
- Fabric Dying:
- large (3-5 gallon) pots
- Rubbermaid bins or the like
- Tongs and rubber Gloves
- Canning and Preserving
- Fermentation crock
- Mason Jars, and lids
- Basic preserving supplies and tools (mason jar tongs, large pots for processing)
- Foraging:
- Small hand shovels
- Wild edibles Guide Books
- Fishing:
- Rods and reels
- Basic tackle like hooks, weights and lures.
- Nets
City’s proposed Traffic Safety Plan for NHS
The city’s proposed traffic safety plan for NHS is posted in the entryway to the NHS Guidance Area, in the Library and in the Staff Lounge.
Feedback for the plan is welcome at: dpwinfo@northamptonma.gov 413-587-1570
Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee’s Social Justice Scholarship Opportunity
One or more $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to a high school senior from Hampden/ Hampshire County who have demonstrated exceptional social justice work.Applications are reviewed by a committee and winners are chosen from a group of applicants.
What It Can Be Used For – Post-secondary training or education (vocational or academic).
Application Deadline – April 11, 2025
How to Apply – Applications require a brief essay (see application for details). Applicants may choose to include artwork, written materials, and/or provide a video (up to 2 minutes) to talk about their activities, why they believe they deserve the award, and how they will use it. Support letters are welcome but not required.
Questions – Write sojournertruthmemorial@gmail.com or call Jamecia Estes @ (413) 341-0075 Get an Application –
- Go to www.sojournertruthmemorial.org/scholarship/application
- Or write to sojournertruthmemorial@gmail.com
Information about Sojourner Truth and applications are on this website: www.sojournertruthmemorial.org/scholarship/application
Please share this news with students and encourage graduating high school seniors to apply, especially those who have initiated projects or those active in clubs that promote social justice work to increase human rights, voting rights, promote diversity, reduce injustice, and/or work to end violence, bullying, racism, discrimination or other causes.
Nominations by school staff members are encouraged. Please send a brief statement of why you are nominating this student, the name of the student and the student’s email address plus your name and email address. Send Nominations to sojournertruthmemorial@gmail.com. You will be contacted by a member of our scholarship committee.
The Northampton Athletic Booster Club
NABC is a non-profit that supports Northampton High School athletes and athletic teams by buying equipment and other important items that are not included in the athletic budget. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is their amazing calendar raffle, chock full of wonderful prizes donated by local businesses! Please consider supporting the NABC by buying raffle tickets, and get yourself 30 opportunities to win great prizes! Purchase tickets by the end of March, winners are announced every day in April! For your ticket to win go online to ticketstripe.com/northampton or email Hampboosters@gmail.com for cash or check sales. Tickets $10 each – 3 for $25 – 10 for $75
Northampton Athletic Booster Club Calendar Raffle
Support our athletes and have 30 chances to win great prizes in April!
https://ticketstripe.com/northampton
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
NHS Wishlist
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!
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
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