Battle of the Bands – Saturday, January 25th!

The STAND Club’s annual Battle of the Bands is this Saturday, January 25th at the Regent theater. Doors will open at 7PM.

Join us for a night of live music performed by six fantastic student bands–and a special appearance by AHS’s own teacher band, the Educated Guests. Proceeds benefit Save the Children and their support for child refugees around the globe.

Advanced tickets are $15. You can get yours during all three lunches on Friday. Tickets will be available at the Regent Theatre box office for $18 the night of the show.

This is an event you don’t want to miss!

RYLA Youth Leadership Award

I wanted to share this video with you, as it talks about the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) and highlights David Lopes, one of the students that represented Arlington High School.
The RYLA Award sponsors students to attend a leadership camp in NH sponsored by the Rotary Club.  David and other recipients have raved about how wonderful the camp is and I have personally seen how life-changing the camp can be for students.
If you are interested in learning more contact P. Bellahrossi at AHS.
https://youtu.be/kAoXBFZ3i7o

Jan. 28 Democracy After Dark: 2020 Census and Census Info

Jan. 28 Democracy After Dark Presents: 2020 Census: History, Context, and How it Affects Arlington

Tuesday, January 28, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Robbins Library Community Room
Every 10 years the US Census Bureau sets out to count every person in the United States and five territories. Mandated by the constitution, census data is used in research, to determine electoral districting, and is the basis for funding decisions benefiting every Arlington resident. In this panel discussion we’ll hear from policy makers and census experts and take questions on this important project.  Learn more and add to your i Calendar.

Census 2020 Fact Sheet

Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy New Year!

This year, January 25 is the Lunar New Year.  Best wishes to all who are celebrating.

Lunar New Year is the first day (new moon) of the first month of the traditional lunar calendar followed by people in China, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and more. Traditionally the celebration would start on the 23rd day of the last month (the 12th or 13th month) and last until the 15th of the first month of the new year (full moon).  Now it is still a week long holiday in China and three days in Korea, the biggest in the year.

Each year there is a particular zodiac animal as the symbol of the year. The animal of this year is the rat. I found this cool site that gave a lot more information (https://chinesenewyear.net/).

The Lunar New Year is a holiday for family reunion.  For followers of Buddhism, the Lunar New Year is a time to pay respect to Buddha and Bodhisattva Guanyin; for followers of Taoism, a time to pay respect to Taoist Gods. There are weeklong temple fairs of various kinds.  People send new year greetings/prayers to relatives and friends.

 

NOTE:  Our school calendar includes holidays and observances that are significant in our community.  As a regular feature, I try to send updates on these observances and information on accommodations.  We are not always familiar with all the holidays, with which religions are represented in our classrooms, or with the nature of different traditions.  I encourage you to send me notes to educate us on the appropriate and positive ways to recognize and support the diversity of our community. Also, please notify your teachers well in advance of any special considerations you feel you need, so that they can make appropriate plans.

SOURCES: For anyone wondering, I gather this information from Wikipedia, information sent to me, a few college interfaith chaplain sites, and greeting cards.  I don’t use quotations or citations much, because I am claiming neither expertise nor scholarship. Kids, don’t do this for homework 

 

New Repertory Performance of “Thurgood” at AHS

This weekend, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As a public school, the history of Dr. King and the civil rights movement represent both an important period of U.S. History and an affirmation of our district commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Cte. has brought AHS a performance of the play Thurgood, a one-man play about the life and work of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

We are pleased to be able to offer this performance to all Juniors and Seniors in connection with their English and History courses. A film of the production with Lawrence Fishburne is available on Amazon and other rental services. You can read the study guide from the New Repertory Theater here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5eH-4roaay0OXNLYmlMWGQxaFBtQVZmVTlfa0xSMEs4UDlZ/view?usp=sharing