The following is a list of PGO activities and events, as well as contact information for coordinator(s). To volunteer or find out more, contact the coordinator(s) or Pam Rietkerk.
Room Parents
Room parents plan a class potluck, check in with the teacher monthly to see what is needed (snacks, class/field trip volunteers, supplies, etc.) and update the online teacher wish-lists accordingly. They help keep families informed about school-wide events and may also assist in recruiting volunteers. They may also organize an end of year gift for classroom teachers in June. Click on the "Room Parent" tab above to find contact information for your child's classroom parent.
Contact Michele Spirko to volunteer.
Student Directory
The student directory is an invaluable resource! Volunteers follow up with local businesses who have previously placed ads, compile student data, and arrange for the directory to be copied and distributed at school. Volunteers are particularly needed to help edit the directory corrections in early September and contact our friendly advertisers.
Coordinators: Dror Schmerling and Hana Rivkin and Jen Vanderleeden
Savings Makes “Cents”
This program encourages savings habits and goal setting. Children can open a bank account with Florence Savings Bank and bank weekly in the cafeteria with help from parent volunteers (or directly at the bank). Only $1.00 is needed to open an account, and any amount can be deposited—and after 10 deposits, the Bank will deposit $1.00 into the account.
Coordinators: Nat Larson, John Wells and Traci Hess
Cultural Enrichment Coordinator
This volunteer notifies teachers of local cultural events (UMASS, Shea Theatre, etc), orders tickets that teachers’ request, and completes (easy) paperwork for grant reimbursement. This is a September/early October job.
Coordinator: Dorie Goldman
Family Fair
The Family Fair helps welcome everyone back to school. The 6th graders create and run games, and/or sell food. The 6th grade teachers work the fair into the beginning of the year assignments, and help on the day of the fair (Mr. Wallace is a key contact!). The coordinator arranges for pizza delivery, purchases drinks for sale, requests food from families, and organizes parents at the fair (set up, clean up, helping the kids serve food). One 5th grade parent and one 6th grade parent volunteer are needed. This is a short term, early September job.
Coordinators: Carrie Turkot and Becky Schneider
School Pictures
The coordinator works to schedule Picture Day and communicates with teachers, families and parent volunteers. Picture Day occurs in the fall.
Coordinator: Carol Slaughter
Book Fair
This is a great opportunity for students to purchase quality books at affordable prices and provides funds for our library. This week-long event takes place in early December. This committee makes arrangements to have the books delivered, staffs the book fair, and handles the final payment to the book companies. This event needs many volunteers!
Coordinators: Diane Caraker and Carol Slaughter
International Fair
This event is an international potluck/community festival in May featuring the many talents of our diverse Fort River community. The celebration includes a mouthwatering feast, song, dance, arts and crafts, and fabulous family fun. International Fair had been an incredible success and attracts guests from outside our school community.
Coordinator: VOLUNTEER NEEDED!
Please contact our past coordinator, Rebecca Fricke, for job details.
6th Grade Graduation
This committee is in charge of making sure this day is special for all the 6th grade children. The coordinator(s) of this event organize the sixth grade parents to decorate the gym and set up all the other events surrounding graduation (slide show, food for the reception, class gift, etc.)
Coordinator: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Staff/Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
This is a great way to say “thank you” to all the people who take care of our kids. This committee finds a restaurant and works with the manager to set a date and menu, sends invitations to all staff asking for menu choices, collects RSVPs and gives meal counts to the restaurant, and keeps in contact with the restaurant to make sure that everything is on track!
Coordinator: Suzanne Schilling
Co-Coordinator: VOLUNTEER NEEDED!
Field Day
This event takes place on a school day in June with grades K-5 participating. The committee works closely with physical education teachers to plan lots of fun activities for kids of all grades, including the limbo, water play, etc. Volunteers help plan, set up, run the various “stations,” and clean up.
Coordinators: Tammy Rahhal Schulkind and Tim Farnham
Bus/Van Driver Appreciation Breakfast
This is a great way to say “thank you” to the people who take our kids to and from school safely each day. This coordinator asks families to send in breakfast items for the bus/van drivers, greets and visits with drivers to let them know how much they are appreciated, and cleans up behind them! This event occurs in late May/early June.
Coordinator: Jen Wellman
Summer Read-A-Thon
This is a great way to encourage children to read over the summer--and raise money for our school at the same time! In the spring, folders are given to students who want to participate, and in the fall the folders are collected and small prizes are distributed to all who turn in a booklist.
Coordinator: Jacqueline Kang
Yearbook
Although much of the work involved in putting together the yearbook doesn’t happen until the spring, this committee works throughout the year gathering photos and making arrangements for a printer. Once materials have been gathered, this committee works on layout, printing, and distribution during last week of school. This year we are also looking for parent photographers in each grade to help gather pictures and to help get pictures of students who enroll at Fort River after School Picture Day.
Coordinators: Joy Sullivan and Kathy Niedzielski
Parent photographers in each grade NEEDED!
Click Here to email your photos to the Yearbook Committee!
Coffee With A Principal
A morning coffee with Principal Monica Colley and/or Assistant Principal Susan Kennedy Marx occurs the first Friday of every month. This job entails making coffee, providing light food, and set-up/clean-up.
Coordinator: Sue Borden
Newsletter Transcription
Volunteer needed to compile Fort River PGO Blog entries into paper format every 2 weeks to make available to parents who do not have email access.
Coordinator: Karen Cardozo
Fort River Roasters by Deans Beans
Organic Fair Trade Coffee by Deans Beans is available through Fort River. Orders can be placed monthly – due the first Friday of the month. Coffee will then be sent home with your child unless you specify otherwise. Order forms are available online.
Coordinators: Maria Polino and Ali Wicks-Lim
Lost and Found
Twice a year the contents of the Lost and Found are placed on tables in the lobby to be retrieved by kids/parents. Remaining items are donated to the Survival Center.
Coordinator: VOLUNTEER NEEDED!
Box Tops for Education
Families can save Box Tops from General Mills products and bring them in to the office. The coordinator of this event periodically empties the collection canister in the main office, and counts/bundles/mails the Box Tops for cash for our school twice a year.
Coordinator: Lisa Masteralexis
Printer Cartridge/Cell Phone Recycling
Families can bring in used printer cartridges and cell phones (and batteries) to the box in the office. We then pack and mail them to the company – and they give us cash!
Coordinator: Mikey Cutting
Staff Welcome Back Day (for the next school year 2011/2012)
This event welcomes back our great teachers and staff by providing assorted “goodies” on their first day back at work (the day before our children return to school). The coordinator recruits families to send in a food item for staff to enjoy, and coordinates set up and clean up.
Coordinator: VOLUNTEER NEEDED!
New Family Welcome
The week before school starts, this volunteer organizes the popsicle party for families new to Fort River. The goal of this event is to give every new student a chance to meet a classmate before school starts.
Coordinator: Traci Hess
Book Swap
This event is held every other year in Jan or Feb (next 2012). Books (outgrown, used, etc) are collected from the Fort River community, organized and set up in the library. Teachers then bring their students who are able to choose book(s) to keep. Volunteers are needed to help collect and sort books, and help the students make their choices.
Coordinator: VOLUNTEER NEEDED!
Fort River PGO, Fort River School, Amherst, Massachusetts. Your source for Fort River news and events. Sponsored by the Fort River Parent Guardian Organization. All Fort River families are automatically members of the PGO.
