PTO Events
Welcome!
Are you a parent or a teacher who would like to be involved at Hamp High? If you want to help boost school spirit, help raise funds to supplement the school budget, support NHS teachers, and play a role in making the high school a great community, you've come to the right place. We welcome your participation at whatever level works for you!
The NHS PTO meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7 - 8:30 pm in the NHS library. Can't make the meetings? Please contact Monica Green - 585-1074 or mgreen@periodyssey.com - to find out how you can help with one of our current projects. You can also keep up with our meetings by reading the minutes, below.
Current NHS PTO officers are:
President: Monica Green mgreen@periodyssey.com
Vice President: Wendy Bernstein mdrd1607@gmail.com
Treasurer: Martin Konowitch jokono@massmed.org
Secretary: Kim Cotton kim@cottontree.com
Assistant Secretary: Susan Hale jsamshale@comcast.net
Editor, Hamp HighLights newsletter: Denise Lello hamphighlights@gmail.com
Email list manager: Wendy Bernstein mdrd1607@gmail.com
RECENT EVENTS
Thanks to the Northampton Arts Council for another fabulous "Transperformance" on Tuesday August 30. We hope you were able to attend and enjoy all the local talent that made up this year's show, "Nohobility." Funds raised by the event help support arts in the Northampton Public Schools. Thanks to the NHS PTO volunteer crew who stayed after the show to pack up the stage, and a special thanks to the NHS football team for arriving at 8am to do the heavy lifting!
2010-2011 HIGHLIGHTS
NORTHAMPTON FAMILY FOURTH Thanks to all who made the PTO's booth at this premiere event a great success on June 26. Our student volunteers - Kelly Erwin, Georgia Lederman, Graham Spencer-Orrell, and Emma West - did a great job helping children make lots of wonderful "spin art." Special thanks to parent organizer Kim Cotton for coordinating the NHS booth, and to Jill Lombardi, Wendy Bernstein, and Monica Green for their support. Finally, congratulations to the organizing committee for their hard work all year to make the carnival & fireworks a huge success. In addition to being a great community event, the Family Fourth was a terrific opportunity to showcase Northampton's fine public schools.
CROSSWALK SAFETY Thank you to the DPW for freshly painting the three crosswalks in front of the high school, and to the Northampton Lions Club for providing three in-road pedestrian signs there. The PTO is working on additional strategies to improve crosswalk safety and has met twice with the Transportation and Parking Commission. If you would like to voice your concerns about crosswalk safety from personal experience or have ideas of how to improve pedestrian safety at these heavily used crossings, please contact Wendy Bernstein, mdrd1607@gmail.com.
"RACE TO NOWHERE" The PTO hosted a community screening of the award-winning documentary "Race to Nowhere" on the evening of Wednesday, June 8. Following the film, Smith College Professors Susan Etheredge and Patty DiBartolo facilitated an audience discussion. Students, parents, and teachers shared their viewpoints about the challenges high school students face today. Many people expressed a desire to continue the community conversation about these important issues.
In the past six months, almost 600,000 people have attended more than 2,000 screenings of "Race to Nowhere" in 48 states and 17 countries. For more information about the film, visit www.RacetoNowhere.com, www.EndTheRace.org, or www.Facebook.com/RaceToNowhere.
The PTO would like to thank the offices of Principal Nancy Athas and Interim Superintendent William Erickson for their support of this event, and members of the NHS Key Club for their assistance. Special thanks to Global Routes (www.globalroutes.org) and Cotton Tree Service (413-584-9104) for their financial support.
EAT FOR EDUCATION: Thank you to all who ate out (or took out!) on Tuesday, April 5, at one of the 25 local restaurants that donated 10% of their sales that day to the NHS PTO. The PTO is grateful to these local businesses for their support of the 4th annual "Eat for Education": Bela Vegetarian, Bueno Y Sano, Cooper's Corner, Cup & Top Cafe, Go Berry, Green Street Cafe, Eastside Grill, Haymarket Cafe, Herrell's, Joe's Cafe and Pizza House, La Veracruzana, Lhasa Cafe, Local Burger, Miss Florence Diner, Mosaic Cafe, Osaka, Pinocchio Pizza by the Slice, Pizza Amore, Roberto's, Siam Square, Side Street Cafe, State Street Deli, Sylvester's, Thai Kitchen, and Zen. Eat for Education raised more than $4,300 for NHS this year - thank you all!
NEW MICROWAVES FOR NHS CAFETERIA After observing long lines of students waiting to heat their lunches in old, slow microwaves, parent Melissa Ross recommended to the PTO that some of the "Eat for Education" proceeds be used to replace the appliances. Thank you to Manny's Appliances for a great price on two brand new microwaves, and special thanks to Melissa for making this happen.
TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION On behalf of all NHS students and families, the PTO presented bouquets to the administrative staff in the NHS office in honor of Administrative Professionals Day on April 27. The following week, the PTO sponsored a breakfast to express appreciation for all that NHS teachers do every day to help our students learn and grow. Thanks to all the families who contributed delicious baked goods for the breakfast, and special thanks to Wendy Bernstein and Melissa Ross for coordinating these events.
The PTO hosted the annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, January 28. Thank you to the many families who contributed food, beverages, and/or cash donations, and those who volunteered for set up and clean up. The luncheon was a great success and deeply appreciated by the high school teachers and staff. Special thanks to Shelly Rifken and Christina Petersen for coordinating the event.
On February 12, the PTO and the Students of Color Association (SOCA) hosted the second annual Winter Semi-Formal Dance in the NHS cafeteria. Thank you to all the students and parents who helped sell tickets, decorate, check coats, donate and serve refreshments, and clean up. A great time was had by all! Special thanks to the dance committee, chaired by Jill Lombardi, and to SOCA and its advisor Michele Bernhard, for planning a wonderful evening.