Introducing Amethyst Brook Elementary School and Chestnut Street Academy

School Committee Approves Names for Two New District Schools 

The Amherst School Committee formally approved the names of the district’s two new schools at its December 16 meeting. The new K through 5 elementary school will be named Amethyst Brook Elementary School, and the new sixth-grade program at the Middle School will be known as Chestnut Street Academy.

“These names honor Amherst’s longstanding tradition of grounding our school names in the local landscape while reflecting the voices of our community,” said Jennifer Shiao, Chair of the Amherst School Committee. “Amethyst Brook Elementary School and Chestnut Street School were chosen after extensive and thoughtful input from students, staff, caregivers, and community members through multiple rounds of engagement. Together, these names connect our students to the shared geography and history of Amherst while signaling a sense of continuity, belonging, and care for the place we call home.”

The selection of these names followed a thoughtful process led by the School Committee, informed by community input and grounded in the district’s values of belonging, identity, and connection to place. Both names reflect local history and a shared commitment to fostering welcoming, student-centered learning environments.

Other suggestions for naming the elementary school were Nonotuck to honor the Indigenous inhabitants of the area, Wild River, Riverwood, and Emily Dickinson. Wild River, an homage to the schools that the new school was replacing (Fort River and Wildwood) was the top vote getter in a survey with 466 responses from parents, staff, past students, current students, and community members, with 31% of the vote, followed closely by Amethyst Brook Elementary School with 28%. Shiao consulted with Cheryl Hony Holly, chief of the Hassan Namiscoco Nipmuk Band of Native Americans who said that, since Nonotuck was not the name of a living people, it would be acceptable as a name for the school, but she cautioned about naming the school after an existing tribe. Jane Wald, Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum also had no objection to the school being named after the poet.

For the sixth-grade program at the Middle School, Chestnut Street Academy was by far the top choice, chosen by 30% of survey respondents.

ASC member Sarah Marshall preferred Amethyst Brook Elementary for the K-5 school, because she thought the amalgamations of Wildwood and Fort River, Wild River and Riverwood were confusing, since neither of these exist in Amherst. Also, she said, “I understand that many families, many students will miss the Wildwood School and the Fort River School, but in eight years that sentiment will dissipate pretty quickly. So, I don’t think it will make sense to students 15 years from now.”

Although school members expressed various opinions on the suggested names, Amethyst Brook Elementary School ranked in the top two of all, as well as among Facilities Manager Michael Gallo O’Connell, Director of Student and Family Engagement Marta Gueveara, Director of Curriculum Tonya McIntyre and Media Specialist Seth Keevaenthal, and other staff members present at the meeting. The vote of the school committee was 4-0 to name the new school Amethyst Brook Elementary School.

There was less difference of opinion on the naming of the sixth-grade school Chestnut Street Academy. Other names were suggested, but Chestnut Street Academy held to the Amherst tradition of naming schools after places. The vote was also 4-0 for Chestnut Street Academy.

Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman underscored the importance of the decisions for the community. “Names matter. They shape identity, culture, and a sense of belonging,” said Dr. Herman. “Amethyst Brook Elementary School and Chestnut Street Academy reflect our commitment to creating spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and inspired to grow. These names honor our community while signaling the bright future ahead for our learners.”