HRHS Student & Family Newsletter
September 19, 2022
Upcoming Dates
September 19, 7pm: PTSO Meeting
September 22: School Picture Day
September 28: Half Day- 11am dismissal
October 6, 5-7pm: Open House (more information coming soon!)
October 10: Indigenous Peoples' Day- No School
October 22: Homecoming
October 27: Picture Re-take Day
November 3: Half Day- 11am dismissal
November 4: Last day of quarter one
Check out our athletics calendars and support our student-athletes!
School Picture Day & Yearbooks
School picture day at HRHS is September 22. Click here for more information about how to order photos, the picture day schedule, and other information.
The deadline for seniors to submit senior portraits is October 3. Click here for more information on senior portraits.
The yearbook committee is already hard at work on the 2022-2023 yearbook! Click here for more information about yearbook pricing and ordering.
Hampshire Hoodies are Back!
We are excited to be selling Hampshire hoodies again for $25 this fall! These hoodies feature the Hampshire logo from the 1970s and were initially sold last year to celebrate Hampshire's 50th anniversary. Due to popular demand, we are re-opening the store to order more sweatshirts this fall.
Hoodies are customizable for an additional $6 with the graduation year embroidered on the left sleeve. Hoodies are available in youth sizes (youth XS to youth XL) and adult sizes (adult small to adult 4XL).
The online store will be open September 19-October 10. We will have samples of adult sizes (small to 2XL) available at open house if you'd like to see them in person before ordering.
Attention 8th Grade Families: Smith Vocational Information
Our annual Smith Vocational visit will be taking place on Thursday, October 20th this year. This is an information session during which a representative from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School will visit Hampshire to offer information on Smith, as well as guidance on the application process and various opportunities for prospective students. 8th graders interested in joining this information session should complete a permission slip and turn it in to Ms. Low-Chappell, Middle School Counselor (jlowchappell@hr-k12.org) by Friday, October 14th. Click here for the permission slip; hard copies are also available in the Middle School Counseling Office on the third floor. Students who have turned in a signed permission slip will be excused from their last block of the day on Oct. 20th and will be allowed to go to the Auditorium to participate. Please email Ms. Low-Chappell if you have any questions.
More information about Smith Vocational can be found here.
Open Library Thursdays
Students in all grades are invited to come to the HRHS library on Thursdays after school (2:15-3:15) for a cooperative study environment. Students can come if they need a quiet space to work, or they can come work with others. Academic Society members will be available for homework help.
Principal's Advisory Council
Mrs. Hotz is now accepting applications for students to join the Principal's Advisory Council for 2022-2023. The Principal's Advisory Council, or PAC, will include two students from each grade for a total of 12 students. This group will meet during lunch once per month. The goal of PAC is to provide an opportunity for students and administration to share questions and concerns with one another through open dialogue, in addition to making plans and problem solving various issues throughout the year.
All students are eligible to apply, but preference will be given to students who are not already in leadership roles at HRHS. Applications are due by 3pm on September 28. No late applications will be accepted. Students can click here to apply (students must be logged into their HRHS email).
Final decisions as to who will be appointed to the Principal's Advisory Council will be shared by Mrs. Hotz by Monday, October 3.
School Council
We are looking for three parent/guardian representatives to serve on this year’s School Council at HRHS. School Council meets on Wednesdays, monthly or bi-monthly, 2:30-4, in person at HRHS. The primary task of School Council is to update the School Improvement Plan based on the current educational needs of the students attending the school. In addition, School Council reviews the school budget and student handbook annually, as well as other initiatives that the Council would like to take on. School Council is comprised of parents/guardians students, teachers, admin, one school committee member, and community members. If you are interested or you would like more information, email Lauren Hotz at lhotz@hr-k12.org. If there are more parents/guardians interested than there are seats available, an election will be held with the names of all interested parties on the ballot.
Alateen Meetings
Lunch-time Alateen meetings will be offered at Hampshire Regional High School each Monday starting January 31. Alateen, a part of the Al-Anon Family Groups, is a fellowship of young people (mostly teenagers) whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking, whether or not they are still in the student’s life, drinking or not. By attending Alateen, teenagers meet peers with similar situations to share experience, strength, and hope. Alateen is not a religious program, and there are no fees or dues to belong to it. Meetings are facilitated by adult mentors who have had background checks performed. Student participation is voluntary. To learn more about Alateen meetings at HRHS or to opt your child out of these meetings, please reach out to Beth Rochon at brochon@hr-k12.org.
Info from the PTSO
Welcome back and a big welcome to new families! To help you get oriented, we have posted lots of orientation information about school, activities, and FAQs on our website: https://hrhsptso.wordpress.com/. Check it out and let us know if you have other questions that we can help answer. Our email is ptso.hrhs@gmail.com.
Over the last few years, we have been able to compile a student/family directory. This is a viewable google sheet with the names and phone numbers/addresses of HRHS students/families so everyone can get in touch to help with carpooling, hangouts, etc. This year, we have a google form where you can fill out your own information online. Please complete your form and submit it ASAP if you’d like to be included.
The PTSO will be hosting a table at the Open House on Thursday, October 6th where we will have refreshments and experienced parents/students available to help answer all of your HRHS questions. Stop by to say hi and catch up on the latest news.
Our next meeting is Monday, September 19 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the school. We meet at this same time each month on every third Monday and often bring snacks to share! Please note this on your calendar and join us. If you can't come in person, join us via Zoom. All parents, faculty, and students are welcome. Next month we can hold the meeting anywhere that sounds fun (like Paisano’s or Artifact Brewing). Let us know where you’d like to go!
Need Community Service Hours? Manna Community Kitchen is looking for middle & high school student volunteers. They have a Wednesday evening meal and Saturday meals that fit within school schedules. More info and volunteer sign up here: https://mannanorthampton.org/volunteer_calendar/volunteer-signups/
The PTSO's goal is to build community and improve communications. We are a Parent-Teacher-Student-Organization so everyone in the school community is automatically a member and is encouraged to get involved. Make friends and make the school a better place for all of us...what's not to like?
Free & Reduced Lunch Forms
Click here for the 22-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Although breakfast and lunch is provided to all students this year, the free/reduced applications will play a critical role in meal-counting and claiming, as well as qualifying households for various benefits. These may include P-EBT benefits (if the federal public health emergency is extended past this summer, and Massachusetts has a state plan approved), as well as FCC Broadband discounts based on free/reduced price status. In addition, free/reduced price benefits may carry into the next school year if the state does not continue to fund universal free meals beyond this school year.
If you have questions, please contact our Cafeteria Manager, Carol Inman, at inman@hr-k12.org or 413-437-5631. If you are unable to print the application and need a paper copy, please call our main office at 413-527-7680.
Contact Information
Administration
Principal Lauren Hotz: Lhotz@hr-k12.org
Assistant Principal Kara Sheridan: ksheridan@hr-k12.org
Assistant Principal Alex Seid: aseid@hr-k12.org
Counseling Office
Middle School Counselor Julia Low-Chappell: jlowchappell@hr-k12.org
Grades 9 & 11 School Counselor Sarah Pietrzak: spietrzak@hr-k12.org
Grades 10 & 12 School Counselor Beth Rochon: brochon@hr-k12.org
Director of Student Activities (Athletics & Extracurriculars)
Jim Kelley: jkelley@hr-k12.org
Reach Us By Telephone
Call the main office: 527-7680
Call the counseling office: 437-5593