Upcoming Events

Fort River Roasters Orders Due. Friday, March 7th. Order form here. Original Works Orders Due. Friday, March 7th. Beach Party. Wednesday, March 12th, 6:00-7:30pm. (Snow date March 13th). Fort River Cafeteria. See below for more information. Coffee with a Principal. Friday, March 14th, 8:30-9:15am. Please join Principal Vernon-Jones or Asst. Principal Lianne Suarez-Werlein for coffee, light breakfast foods and casual conversation in the cafeteria. Younger siblings are welcome to attend. In the cafeteria. Teacher Curriculum Workday. Monday, March 17. NO SCHOOL. Parent Council Meeting. Thursday, March 20th, 6:30pm. In the libary. Babysitting provided. Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting. Wednesday, March 26th, 8:45am. In the library. Book Swap. Week of March 18th. More info here.

Principal Candidates Nights--Strong Parent Turnout

Fort River had an excellent turnout this week on each of the three evenings with the principal candidate finalists. It's great to know that so many parents are taking an interest in the process of finding our next principal! Superintendent Jere Hochman is hoping to make offers to the top finalists as early as next week. He assured the Fort River parents on Wednesday evening that he will take all of our feedback into consideration as he makes his decision. I'll keep you all posted! --Ann McLaughlin

Beach Party

Click on the picture to see it larger!

The Beach Party will be held in the cafeteria. All Fort River families are welcome. Please plan to attend with your children. This is not a drop-off event.

6th Grade Graduation More Volunteers Needed!

I want to thank everyone who volunteered, but we still need a lot more help to make this run. We are especially in need of someone to chair the cafeteria decorating committee, volunteers to join that committee and the gym decorating committee, and a few individuals to help solicit donations. The other committees have sufficient members. We have very good records from previous years to help with the planning. Interested individuals should return the form sent home a few weeks ago or contact me at 253-7072 or ekaren@comcast.net. Thanks, Karen Zilberstein

Of Interest to Fort River Families

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council. Do You Know a Family that could be a Friendly Town Host? The Fresh Air Fund is trying to recruit more Friendly Town host families for Summer 2008. If you know a family that you think would be willing to welcome a Fresh Air Fund child into their home this summer, please tell them about our important Friendly Town program! Here are a few things you might want to mention to prospective Friendly Town families: * Children starting out in the Friendly Town program are six to 12-years old, and stay for one to two weeks. * Most of the children in the Friendly Town program have never been outside the city. With your family, every day will be an adventure. Your Fresh Air Fund child will love learning to swim, hike, cook, play cards, and do all the things your family does. * Children and families are carefully matched to ensure the highest probability of a wonderful experience for both. And local volunteers work with and support families to help make sure things go smoothly. * Over 65% of children are asked back again and again, showing that the experience is rewarding for host families as well as the children. * It costs less for a child to spend part of the summer with a host family than at our summer camps. This means that the more host families we have, the more kids get a chance to escape the city. To help The Fresh Air Fund find new hosts, please send your friends and neighbors to http://www.freshair.org/becomingahost.asp. Parent Council President Catherine Sanderson (email: casanderson@amherst.edu) has been a host for the past 2 summers and would be happy talk to any Fort River families who are interested in participating. Walking with Dinosaurs - The Live Experience at the Mullins Center. Discounted Ticket Offer: Enter the code "GSMC" to receive a $5 discount off Thursday (March 27) and Friday (March 28) night shows! For groups of 10 or more please call 413-545-3332. Buy tickets at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/cwv89l. For more information visit http://www.dinosaurlive.com/. Contact: Scott Sasenbury, Director of Marketing Mullins Center, email: ssasenbury@admin.umass.edu; web: http://www.mullinscenter.com/. Family Outreach of Amherst Sixth Annual "Salute to Families." Title: "Another Place at Our Table: Simplifying Parenting in Complicated Times" by Kathy Harrison, author of Another Place at the Table and foster mother to over 150 children. A reading and discussion followed by a reception and book signing. Moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Madeleine Blais. Thursday March 6, 2008, 7:30-9:00 pm. At the Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall, Amherst College. Tickets: $25 Benefactor, $10 General, $5 Seniors, Free to students. All proceeds will benefit Family Outreach of Amherst. Family Outreach: http://www.famoutreach.org/. A note from Parent Council. We will publish information about non-Parent Council sponsored events with the following conditions: 1. The event should be of interest to Fort River families. 2. The information should be sent to Ann McLaughlin at damclaughlin@comcast.net in the form of a short blurb of 100 words or less. 3. Contact information (name, telephone and/or email address) must be included. We add new information to the blog every Friday during the school year. Please note that we do not accept announcements of items or services for sale (with the exceptions of children's classes/lessons). Inclusion in this section does not imply any guarantees or endorsements by Fort River Parent Council or Fort River School.

Schedule for Principal Candidate Finalists

Please note the schedule for the upcoming "Meet the Candidates" nights at the Amherst Regional Middle School. This schedule is for Fort River Families. We will be meeting in the cafeteria. Mon. Feb. 25 8:00-8:40pm Tues. Feb. 26 6:30-8:00pm Wed. Feb. 27 6:30-8:00pm Candidates will answer questions. Parents and guardians will be invited to complete feedback forms. There will be one candidate on Monday night, and two candidates at each session on the other two nights.

Article from the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Amherst names five finalists for open elementary school principal posts Posted At : 4:24 PM Posted By : newsroomRelated Categories: Amherst, Education, News By MARY CAREYStaff Writer AMHERST A Crocker Farm Elementary School assistant principal, three Massachusetts educators and a doctoral candidate at New York University are the finalists for three elementary school principal posts within the district. All five candidates will be visiting Amherst schools and meeting with students, staff and parents as well as community members through Wednesday of this week. One or two candidates will meet with community members beginning at 6:30 p.m. each evening at the middle school. Principal posts at Crocker Farm, Wildwood and Fort River elementary schools are being filled this year, as is the principal post at the middle school. Sandra Delaney, who was in town Monday, is currently assistant director of curriculum and instruction in the Newton public schools, a position she has held since 2003. She began her career there as a language arts specialist, followed by a five-year appointment as a kindergarten through eighth-grade academic challenge coordinator. Delaney, who graduated from SUNY-Buffalo and has a master's degree from SUNY-Binghamton, has also been an elementary classroom teacher for five years. She has conducted national workshops on academic challenge and differentiation of instruction, standards-based learning and English language arts and literacy. Michael Morris, who meets with school officials, staff, students and parents today, is currently an interim assistant principal at Crocker Farm, after teaching there and at Fort River Elementary School. A graduate of Amherst College, he has a master's degree and certification in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts. Morris is the director of the Pipeline Project, a collaboration with Amherst College and the schools aimed at giving children extra social and study skills support. He has taught mathematics and language arts to special education students and taught in the Summer Institute for the Gifted at Amherst College. Catarina da Silva, who is also in town for interviews today, is a doctoral candidate at the Steinhardt School of Education at NYU. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island and has a master's degree in reading education from Boston College. Da Silva taught for one year in the Providence public school system and for four years in Boston public schools and was literacy coordinator for four years at John Marshall Elementary School in Dorchester. Jill Pasquini-Torcia, who visits Amherst on Wednesday, has been a teacher in the Brockton schools and became the instructional resource specialist there. From 2004 to 2007, she was assistant principal of Gilmore Academy, a public school in Brockton, and has also supervised the summer academic support program there. Pasquini-Torcia graduated from Boston College and has a master's degree in literacy and language from Framingham State College and certification in educational leadership from Bridgewater State College. Ray Sharick, who will also be in town Wednesday, is current principal of Fisher Hill Elementary School in Orange. He was an elementary teacher in Vandergrift, Penn., and taught sixth- and seventh-grade at Colonial Beach Schools in Virginia. Sharick was a field coordinator and supervisor of Elementary Teacher Education at UMass and a lecturer and advisor to students entering the teaching profession. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, received a master's degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has a doctorate in education from UMass.

Names of Principal Finalists Released

http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/5_finalists_to_be_interviewed.html 5 finalists to be interviewed for 3 principal slots Posted by The Republican Newsroom February 25, 2008 14:01PM By NANCY H. GONTER AMHERST - Three of the five finalists for the three elementary principal jobs are from Western Massachusetts. School officials released the names of the five as interviews will begin with the public tonight at 6:30 at the Amherst Regional Middle School. The only candidate from within Amherst schools is Michael Morris, who is currently interim assistant principal at Crocker Farm School. Previously, he worked as a classroom teacher at Crocker Farm and Fort River Elementary School. Raymond M. Sharick is principal of the Fisher Hill Elementary School in Orange. Before becoming an administrator, Sharick was an elementary classroom teacher in Pennsylvania. Other candidates are Catarina A. da Silva, a doctoral candidate at Steinhardt School of Education at New York University who previously taught in elementary schools; Sandra L. Delaney, assistant director of curriculum and instruction in the Newton public schools, and Jill S. Pasquini-Torchia of Easthampton, who served as assistant principal of Gilmore Academy, a public school in Brockton. Delaney spent today with school officials and will meet with the Wildwood Elementary School community at 6:30 p.m., the Crocker Farm community at 7:15 p.m. and the Fort River community at 8 p.m. Morris and da Silva will spend tomorrow with school officials and meet with each schools' community starting at 6:30 p.m. Sharick and Pasquini-Torcia will spend Wednesday with school officials and meet with the public starting at 6:30 p.m. All public meetings are in the middle school cafeteria, auditorium or library. More details in The Republican tomorrow.

Click below for more detailed schedule.

Detailed Schedule for the "Meet the Candidates" nights.

Principal Search News

From Today’s (Feb. 18, 2008) Daily Hampshire Gazette (please note the first meeting will take place on MONDAY, Feb. 25th):

Amherst narrows field for principals BY MARY CAREY, STAFF WRITER AMHERST - School officials have identified two finalists for the Amherst Regional Middle School principal post and five finalists for three elementary school principal positions, all of whom will visit the schools in the coming three weeks. Kathryn Mazur, human resources director for Amherst schools, said the finalists' names will be released Monday, Feb. 25 to allow candidates time to tell their current employers they are seeking the job and while background checks on the candidates are being performed. One of the two finalists for the Middle School position is local, Mazur said and one is from eastern Massachusetts. Twenty-two people applied for the position. One of the two candidates will spend the day at the school on Thursday, Feb. 28 and meet with parents and community members at the Middle School Library at 7 p.m., with the other candidate doing the same thing on Monday, March 3. Acting Principal Fran Ziperstein and Co-Principal Michael Hayes are in the second year of their two-year interim positions, succeeding Mary Cavalier, the former principal.

Elementary School Schedule.

Four of the five candidates for the three elementary school positions are from Massachusetts and one is from Rhode Island, Mazur said. Thirty people applied for the positions.One of the elementary school candidates will visit the schools on Monday, Feb. 25, meeting with community members that evening; two candidates will visit on Tuesday, Feb. 26 and two on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Russ Vernon-Jones, principal of Fort River Elementary School and Paul Wiley, principal of Crocker Farm Elementary School, who both became principal of their respective schools in 1990, announced they were retiring last year. Mark Prince later said he would not return as principal of Wildwood Elementary School after this year, after serving two years there.

Upcoming Events

Winter Recess. Feb. 18-22. No school. Have a great week off! Principal Finalist Meetings. Monday, Feb. 25, Tuesday, Feb. 26, and Wednesday, Feb. 27. 6:30 pm. Amherst Regional Middle School. See below for more information. Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting. Wed. Feb. 27th , 8:30am. In the library. Original Works Free Art Workshop. Friday, Feb.29, 3:15-4:15pm. After school in the cafeteria. See below for more information. Beach Party. Wednesday, March 12th. Time to be announced. In the cafeteria. More info here. Book Swap. Week of March 18th. More info here.

Important Principal Search News! Parents Needed!

The finalists for the 3 open elementary school principalships have been selected and the next phase of the interview process will happen the week after school vacation! On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Feb. 25-27 the finalist candidates will be spending the day visiting the schools and meeting the kids, faculty, and staff. On EACH of these three evenings, there will be a public forum for the parents to meet the candidates. Each candidate will present an overview of their background and experience and will then have about 40 minutes to respond to questions from EACH of the elementary school communities. These meetings are expected to occur at the Amherst Regional Middle School, starting at 6:30pm each night. A strong show of interest and feedback by Fort River families will help Superintendent Jere Hochman make the best decision for each of the three schools. Also, don't forget that just as we will be forming an impression of the candidates, they will be getting a sense of Fort River as a school community. So please mark your calendars and try to attend! The names of the finalists will be announced on the Monday after school vacation, and brief biographical profiles will also be made available before the visits.

Meet the Middle School Principal Candidates

For those of you who have children who are/will be attending the Amherst Regional Middle School, here are some important dates!

Meet the Middle School Principal candidates (one each night)

Thursday, February 28 and Monday, March 3 at 7 pm in the Middle School Library.

The principal search committee and the Superintendent's office have selected three finalists for the principal position at ARMS beginning in July 2008. Each finalist will spend a day at ARMS meeting with students, faculty and administration. In the evening the community, particularly parent/guardians, are invited to meet the candidate, ask questions and give the superintendent feedback. Each candidate will meet the public at 7 PM in the Middle School Library.

Book Swap Update

Get Ready for the Book Swap! The Fort River Book Swap will take place in the Library during the week of March 18. Every student at Fort River will choose one or more books to bring home without spending a dime!! Please donate your gently used books for ages K-6. Donate as many books as you like and keep in mind that we always have a shortage of books for 5th & 6th grade. Appropriate adult level books are often great for the older grades. Reference books, dictionaries, and thesauruses, are also welcome. Collection boxes are in the Library and outside the Main Office.

Original Works Art Project/Fundraiser

Parent Council has selected Original Works to offer a very special program that allow you to have your child's own artwork reproduced onto a variety of professional, full-color products. Information about Original Works, order forms and product catalogs have gone home in the backpacks. In addition, Catalina Arrubla (Fort River Parent) and Multi-Arts will be offering a free, after-school art workshop on Friday, Feb. 29th at 3:15pm-4:15pm. in the school cafeteria for the children to work on this project. If you are interested, please sign up in the school office. For more information, please call Catalina Arrubla at 413-584-7951.

The deadline to submit your order form, payment and artwork is March 7, 2008.

Of Interest to Fort River Families

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council. Walking with Dinosaurs - The Live Experience at the Mullins Center. Discounted Ticket Offer: Enter the code "GSMC" to receive a $5 discount off Thursday (March 27) and Friday (March 28) night shows! For groups of 10 or more please call 413-545-3332. Buy tickets at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/cwv89l. For more information visit http://www.dinosaurlive.com/. Contact: Scott Sasenbury, Director of Marketing Mullins Center, email: ssasenbury@admin.umass.edu; web: http://www.mullinscenter.com/. Looking for something to do during vacation? The Mullins Center Community Ice Rink (aka the Practice Rink) has public skating every day next week. Click here for the schedule: Mullins Center Public Skating. One important tip before you go: double-check the the schedule or call (tel. (413) 545-3990) to be sure it will be open. They sometimes change the hours at short notice! Family Outreach of Amherst Sixth Annual "Salute to Families." Title: "Another Place at Our Table: Simplifying Parenting in Complicated Times" by Kathy Harrison, author of Another Place at the Table and foster mother to over 150 children. A reading and discussion followed by a reception and book signing. Moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Madeleine Blais. Thursday March 6, 2008, 7:30-9:00 pm. At the Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall, Amherst College. Tickets: $25 Benefactor, $10 General, $5 Seniors, Free to students. All proceeds will benefit Family Outreach of Amherst. Family Outreach: http://www.famoutreach.org/. A note from Parent Council. We will publish information about non-Parent Council sponsored events with the following conditions: 1. The event should be of interest to Fort River families. 2. The information should be sent to Ann McLaughlin at damclaughlin@comcast.net in the form of a short blurb of 100 words or less. 3. Contact information (name, telephone and/or email address) must be included. We add new information to the blog every Friday during the school year. Please note that we do not accept announcements of items or services for sale (with the exceptions of children's classes/lessons). Inclusion in this section does not imply any guarantees or endorsements by Fort River Parent Council or Fort River School.

Upcoming Events

Parent Council Meeting. Monday, Feb. 11th, 8:30-9:30am. In the cafeteria. Coffee With a Principal. Fri. Feb. 15th, 8:30-9:15am. Please join Principal Vernon-Jones or Asst. Principal Lianne Suarez-Werlein for coffee, light breakfast foods and casual conversation in the cafeteria. Younger siblings are welcome to attend. In the cafeteria. Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon. Feb. 14-15. Grades 1-6. Click here for more information. Winter Recess. Feb. 18-22. No school. Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting. Wed. March 27th, 8:30am. In the library. Original Artworks After-School Activity. Friday, Feb.29. Please note that this event has been postponed from its original date. Click here for more information. Beach Party. Wednesday, March 12th. Time to be announced. In the cafeteria. More info here. Book Swap. Week of March 18th. More info here.

Public Forum on the Town Budget

It's important for all Amherst citizens to come together to discuss the town's priorities in this challenging time!

Here's a link to the Town's Budget Coordinating Committee: http://www.amherstma.gov/departments/Budget_Coordinating_Group/default.asp?id=77&mypage=77&myName=Budget+Coordinating+Group

A Call to Parents--Run for Town Meeting!

The size of our Amherst schools budget is set by Town Meeting. We need more parents to represent our community in Town Meeting so that rational short and long term decisions can be made that will support our schools and a family-friendly Amherst. Who has the time? That's why families are not well represented in Town Meeting--we're busy with kids, families, jobs! But the commitment is not as large as you think-only about 14 nights per year from 7:30pm to 10pm. 14 nights per year - really not that much to help make Amherst a town that continues to be friendly to families. Please check out the town website for more information and to see if there are any vacancies in your Precinct.

http://www.amherstma.gov/town_meeting.asp

Amherst's families really need you. All you have to do is go down to the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall before Tuesday Feb. 12th and sign your papers.

Study Island--MCAS Prep for 3rd-6th Graders

Here's a link to Study Island, which kids can use to help them prepare for the upcoming MCAS tests (for grades 3-6):

http://www.studyisland.com/

Your child will have a username and password from school. If your child has forgotten them, contact their teacher or Joan Gallinaro (Computer Resource Teacher) at Gallinaroj@arps.org.

Of Interest to Fort River Families

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council. Come visit Spring Street Preschool at their annual OPEN HOUSE on Feb 9, 2008, 10 am - 12 pm. The school is located at 64 Spring Street behind the First Congregation Church. Now accepting applications for preschoolers ages 2.9-5 years for the 2008-2009 school year. For more information contact Alicia at 256-8442 or email at springstreetpreschool@verizon.net. Baskets, Books & Chocolate Silent Auction. Come by the Jones Library to bid on beautiful baskets at the 11th Annual Valentine Basket Fundraiser for Books. Each of the 100+ baskets has a theme and all include at least one book and something chocolate in addition to the other fantastic goodies (for ex. the “Perfect Parent Basket” has an Eric Carle membership and a Science Activities journal among other cool items). Bidding is going on now and will end at 4:00pm on Saturday February 9th. Jones Library: http://www.joneslibrary.org/. Family Outreach of Amherst Sixth Annual "Salute to Families." Title: "Another Place at Our Table: Simplifying Parenting in Complicated Times" by Kathy Harrison, author of Another Place at the Table and foster mother to over 150 children. A reading and discussion followed by a reception and book signing. Moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Madeleine Blais. Thursday March 6, 2008, 7:30-9:00 pm. At the Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall, Amherst College. Tickets: $25 Benefactor, $10 General, $5 Seniors, Free to students. All proceeds will benefit Family Outreach of Amherst. Family Outreach: http://www.famoutreach.org/. A note from Parent Council. We will publish information about non-Parent Council sponsored events with the following conditions: 1. The event should be of interest to Fort River families. 2. The information should be sent to Ann McLaughlin at damclaughlin@comcast.net in the form of a short blurb of 100 words or less. 3. Contact information (name, telephone and/or email address) must be included. We add new information to the blog every Friday during the school year. Inclusion in this section does not imply any guarantees or endorsements by Fort River Parent Council or Fort River School. Caveat emptor!

Upcoming Events

Fort River Roasters/Deans Beans Coffee Orders Due. Fri., Feb. 1. Click here for form. 6th Grade Graduation Planning Meeting. Thurs. Feb. 7, 7:30pm. In the library. Parent Council Meeting. Monday, Feb. 11th, 8:30-9:30am. In the cafeteria. Coffee With a Principal. Fri. Feb. 15th, 8:30-9:15am. Please join Principal Vernon-Jones or Asst. Principal Lianne Suarez-Werlein for coffee, light breakfast foods and casual conversation in the cafeteria. Younger siblings are welcome to attend. In the cafeteria. Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon. Feb. 14-15. Grades 1-6. Click here for more information. Winter Recess. Feb. 18-22. No school. Original Artworks After-School Activity. Friday, Feb.29. Please note that this event has been postponed from its original date. Click here for more information. Beach Party. Wednesday, March 12th. Time to be announced. In the cafeteria. More info here. Book Swap. Week of March 18th. More info here. Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting. Wed. March 27th, 8:30am. In the library.

6th Grade Graduation Planning Meeting

Please come to the 6th grade graduation planning meeting on Thursday, Feb 7 at 7:30 PM in the Ft. River library. Parents of 6th graders are encouraged to attend and contribute ideas. Volunteer sheets for graduation have also gone home and parents should sign up for various committees.

Original Works After-School Activity--Event Postponed

Please note that the Original Works Art after-school activity has been postponed until Feb. 29, 2008 (Friday). We are in search of volunteers to help with our Original Works art project (kids draw their own picture, and parents can buy items featuring that picture, such as notecards, mugs, etc.). We need volunteers to put together the packages to go home, and volunteers to help with an after school art activity (ideally these volunteers know how to inspire and guide children to do art work!). This event will take place on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 29. Kids will stay for 1 hour and work on a painting that can be used for the art-works project. Questions? Contact Catalina Arrubla (carrubla@gmail.com, 584-7951).

Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon

Once again Dianna Spaulding needs help during the Jump Rope For Heart Jumpathon on Feb. 14 and 15. Grades 1-6 will be participating, with each class jumping for 45 minutes. Jump Rope For Heart is a nationwide educational event designed to promote exercise as a life-long activity. At the same time it raises money to support the vital research, community service and educational programs of the American Heart Association. Prizes are given for the donations that each student collects. Two parent volunteers to help out with each session, PLUS a parent who can stay all morning or afternoon to take the students’ collection envelopes, count up the money, and tally it for each class. Please fill out the attached sheet and return it to the Parent Council box. Thanks!

Annual Family Donation Fund Update for Feb. 1, 2008

Thanks to all the families who have already contributed to our Annual Family Donation Fund, which supports all Parent Council activities (field trips, cultural events, library books, scholarships for children in need, etc.)! We have now raised $5,893 from 154 of our 359 families (43% of families), and are still hoping for contributions from all families (and even a $1.00 donation helps increase our goal of 100% family participation)! Although we suggest $20 a child, contributions of any size are welcome ­ and all contributions are tax deductible (and anonymous). Checks (to Fort River Parent Council) or cash can be sent to the Parent Council mailbox in the main office or to Catherine Sanderson, 23 Alyssum Drive.

Beach Party

Are you feeling ready for Summer? If so, help us bring some Summer Sunshine to Fort River through the Annual Beach party (March 12th)! If you would like to help plan this exciting event, or can help out on the night of the party, please contact Sue Cairn (253-9148, scairn@verizon.net).

Don't Wait for the Elves...Time to Clean Those Bookshelves!

The Book Swap will take place in the Library during the week of March 18. Every student at Fort River can choose at least one book to bring home without spending a dime!! The number of books they receive will depend on donations. Please donate your gently used books for ages K-6. Donate as many books as you like and keep in mind that we always have a shortage of books for 5th & 6th grade. Adult level books are often great for the older kids, but please be sure they are appropriate. Reference books, dictionaries, thesauruses, are also welcome for the older grades. Collection boxes are in the Library entrances and outside the Main Office. We will collect books through the week of March 11, but the sooner we have your books the better! We also need volunteers to help with sorting, setting up, and working the Swap. Sorting and set-up will take place during school hours on Wed-Fri the week before. Details on volunteering will follow. If you are interested please contact Pam Rietkerk at pjrietkerk@aol.com or 256-2605. This is a fun event and many hands make light work!

Of Interest to Fort River Families

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council. Come visit Spring Street Preschool at their annual OPEN HOUSE on Feb 9, 2008, 10 am - 12 pm. The school is located at 64 Spring Street behind the First Congregation Church. Now accepting applications for preschoolers ages 2.9-5 years for the 2008-2009 school year. For more information contact Alicia at 256-8442 or email at springstreetpreschool@verizon.net Hampshire Athletic Club is starting a group swim lesson program for pre-school to elementary aged children of all swim levels. The lessons will be held on Saturdays beginning in February. 6 lessons for $80 ($70 for members). Maximum of 1:4 student teacher ratio. Before the lessons begin we ask that you come in on Saturday February 2nd between 12:30 and 2:30 to sign up and for a level placement test. For more information contact Julian Porcino at jcp1405@yahoo.com. Amherst Community Arts Center. Registration going on now for Winter 2008 classes at ACAC, which is the premier place in the Pioneer Valley for art classes for all ages and abilities. Winter 2008 brings some old favorites as well as some exciting new classes such as The Art of Bookmaking, and Zen and the Art of Tile Making. Call ACAC at 413-253-9265 or look for us in the Amherst Leisure Times on pages 11, 12 & 25. Or visit our website at http://www.amherstarts.org/ Shop Amherst First. By shopping through the shopamherstfirst.org website, a portion of everything you spend will be returned to Amherst First, Inc., a non-profit whose only mission is to provide additional funds to support the schools, library, departments, and programs of the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts. You get great prices at over 1,500 of your favorite online stores and Amherst receives a portion of everything you spend. Thank you for your support. Contact us at info@shopamherstfirst.org. Amherst Education Foundation. The deadline for AEF’s grant applications is February 8 at 5 pm! Past winners include teachers, staff and community members, but the real winners are our kids and our schools! The grant application can be found at http://www.amhersteducationfoundation.org/Grants along with submission requirements and a listing of past awards. A note from Parent Council. We will publish information about non-Parent Council sponsored events with the following conditions: 1. The event should be of interest to Fort River families. 2. The information should be sent to Ann McLaughlin at damclaughlin@comcast.net in the form of a short blurb of 100 words or less. 3. Contact information (name, telephone and/or email address) must be included. We will add new information to the blog every Friday. Thanks for your cooperation!

Don't Forget Our On-Going Fundraisers!

Stop & Shop's A+ BonusBucks Program: If you are a Shop and Shop customer and haven't already signed up, please do so! It's quick, easy and free. You can log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus to designate online, call 1-877-366-2668 to designate over the phone, or fill out the A+ BonusBucks Form and drop it off at any Stop & Shop store. Even if you designated last year, you must re-designate this year for our school to receive credit. Please be sure to designate Fort River using ID # 05218. More info here. Box Tops for Education: For each Box Top clipped we receive 10 cents! Please send in box tops to the collection box on the table in the Front Office. More info here. Cellphones and Ink Jet Cartridges: Please help protect the environment AND raise money for Parent Council by donating your used digital cell phone(s) and ink jet cartridge(s). Your used cell phone(s) will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations or refurbished and sold, with 100% of the proceeds going to Parent Council. Just bring your used cellphone and/or ink jet cartridges to the box in the main office.