Wednesday,February 16, 2022

 Wednesday, February 16, 2022


  • Today's Black History Month moment is brought to you by Phoenix F-F

    C.T Vivian born July 30, 1924 was an American minister, author and close friend of Martin Luther King. Vivian was born in Boonville, Missouri and soon after moved to Macomb, Illinois with his mother where he attended school and graduated from Macomb High School in 1942. He then attended Western Illinois University.  After college Vivian began his first job as the recreation director of the Carver Community Center in Peoria, Illinois. Vivian's first acts of protest were sit-in demonstrations here. These sit-ins led to the desegregation of Barton’s Cafeteria in 1947.

    Throughout Vivian’s life he was able to accomplish many things but I would like to focus on one. In 1959 Vivian began teaching nonviolent direct action strategy to youth activists such as John Lewis. This resulted in many different groups coming together to organize a peaceful march of over 4,000 demonstrators to Nashville’s City Hall on April 19, 1960. Later on that evening because of their leadership in the march Vivian and Diane Nash were given the opportunity to speak with the Mayor, who ultimately publicly agreed that racial discrimination was morally wrong. Seeing their efforts pay off, many of the youth that Vivian taught took on leadership roles in organizations such as the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference).

    C.T Vivian was an extremely important leader in the civil rights movement who was able to teach and share experience with younger generations, ensuring that many are prepared for this long fight for freedom.

  • It's Wellness Wednesday! This week our Tip is: To Make a Cope Ahead Plan for February Break! With February break only 2 days away, maybe you are having some strong feelings about it. Maybe you are looking forward to it or maybe you are dreading it or maybe you are feeling somewhere in between. However you are feeling, it is helpful to make a cope ahead plan to have in place!

    What is a Cope Ahead Plan? It is a plan that you can use to think through with actions how to tackle something that's upcoming. Things like tests, hard conversations, stressful events can be managed smoother by taking the time to make a plan. It is specific to knowing what works best for you in those hard moments and identifying different support systems you have in place.

    To Make your own Cope Ahead plan:

    • Identify some things that you are looking forward to over break: Any fun activities, or events, sleeping in, catching up on some of your favorite shows, spending more time with your pet? These can anchor your plan. Be sure to put some in- big or small!

    • Identify and notice what might cause you stress over break: What situations cause you stress? Rate those stressful situations on a scale of 0-10 so you can identify what skills to use in those times.

    • Recognize and notice some good ways to distract yourself: Both internal and external coping strategies. This can include relaxation techniques, art activities, physical activities, reading a book, playing an instrument, listening to music, cuddling with your pet, or watching your favorite tv show.

    • Reflect on ways to help you process your feelings: This might include making a feeling/mood journal, venting feelings to a safe person, making a gratitude list, drawing how you feel, crying

    • Identify ways to keep yourself and your space safe

    • Identify 1-2 safe and supportive people you can reach out to over break

    • Identify Professionals or other resources you can use to get yourself support and help during a crisis. This includes:

      • Local Emergency Services (Clinical & Support Options-CSO): 413-586-5555          

      • Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24hr support): 800-273-8255                                         

      • Crisis Text Line (24hr support teen crisis): text  “HOME” to 741741                               

      • Trevor Project (LGBTQ): 866-488-7386 or text  “START” to 678-678


    Reach out to a trusted adult here at school for help in making one!
  •  Artificial Intelligence: June 27-March 1, 1-6pm daily. This is a 25-hour externship in Artificial Intelligence. DUE FRIDAY.
    Students will receive valuable insight into the world of AI and learn 
    what it takes to be successful in this competitive industry. From 
    machine-learning to the block chain, our industry experts will 
    be there to guide you every step of the way. You’ll team up with 
    your fellow classmates to start creating your own projects.
    $400 dollar tuition will be covered. Students will have to sign a commitment letter stating that they will follow through the entire program.
    Contact Ms. Cuffee-Gray if you are interested - cuffee-grayd@arps.org(Non-ARHS Sponsored Activity)
  • At 37 years in a row and counting, the Theater Company's annual Student-Written Play Festival will be welcoming 10-minute and 1-minute play submissions for a deadline in mid-March.  We'd love to see your scripts!  Come to a brief info meeting this THURSDAY, February 17 from 3:45-4:00 in the auditorium.  Anyone can apply!  See Mr. Bechtold with questions.
  • The International Students Club is offering high school students an opportunity to be peer-tutors for ARHS students who are learning English! Depending on the student, you might be practicing conversational English with them or tutoring math/science topics. Please email Rebekah Hong, at hongr@arps.org if you’re interested
  • Want to watch a classic French movie and support the French Club? The French club will be showing “Les Parapluies de Cherbourg” on Thursday, February 17th at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. The tickets will be sold at the door and they will be $1.00 for students and $2.00 for general admission. Donations are encouraged. “Les Parapluies de Cherbourg” is a fun musical for everyone to watch, so come and bring your friends!
  • Schools for Africa is a club that meets every other Wednesday afterschool. We talk about different ways to raise money to help Africa build more schools. We have raised lots of money in different ways: like bake sales, Man Pageant, Duck race and our letter campaign but we are still trying to get some new ideas for fundraising.  All the money that we have made goes straight to our Schools for Africa funds account. Did you know that around 2010~2011 Schools for Africa raised about $20,000 which led us to our goal to build a School in Cameroon! Also in 2017, ARHS donated $9,000 to build a water system for the primary school in Nketiosh, Cameroon. Our goal is to raise a lot more so we can keep building more schools in Africa!