Fort River News

Students at the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District had the opportunity to experience something more than a guest speaker visit: the early promise of a new district-wide initiative designed to strengthen relationships, expand opportunity, and build trust across each school within the three districts.

On Thursday, February 12, the Honorable Judge Bruce S. Melikian visited both Summit Academy and Amherst Regional Middle School as part of the new ARPS CONNECT District Mentoring Program. CONNECT, which stands for Creating Opportunities through Nurturing Networking, Engagement, Care, and Trust, was established this year to provide meaningful and positive mentoring experiences for students. The initiative focuses on building caring relationships that nurture individual strengths, expand positive peer and adult networks, engage families and the broader community, and cultivate trust.

Fort River’s fourth-grade classes traveled to the Springfield Science Museum this week for a hands-on learning experience designed to extend and enrich their science curriculum. The annual trip, funded by the Fort River PGO and family donations, allowed students to deepen their understanding of key scientific concepts through interactive exploration.

In February 2026, the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts came together to honor Black History Month with a series of thoughtful, dynamic, and deeply engaging experiences for students across all grade levels. What unfolded throughout the month was not a single program or event, but a districtwide commitment to honoring Black voices, examining history with honesty, and celebrating the ongoing influence of Black leaders, artists, scholars, and changemakers.

On the afternoon of Friday, February 13, the Fort River Elementary School gymnasium once again filled with the steady rhythm of drums, bright flashes of color, and the joyful anticipation of students gathered for a cherished annual tradition. The UMass Lion Dance Team returned for the third year as an element of Fort River’s 2026 Lunar New Year celebration, bringing with them a performance that has become a meaningful part of the school’s cultural calendar.

As we continue into the final year of Fort River Elementary School, its traditions are what keep students and staff reflective, not only of Fort River’s history and culture, but also of the future of what neighboring Amethyst Brook Elementary School will continue on in the age of the new Amherst Elementary School District. Of these traditions, none are more loved or will be more remembered than the game “Rainbow Pets.”