Thursday, November 19, 2009

Upcoming School Events

Teacher Curriculum Workday, Fri., Nov. 20. No School.

Thanksgiving Recess
. Nov. 26-27. No School.
(Please note that the elementary schools will be dismissed at 1:20pm on Wednesday, Nov. 25.)

Yearbook Meeting. Wed. Dec. 2, 10:30am, Fort River Cafeteria 3. First meeting of the Yearbook Committee. All interested parent/guardians invited to attend. See below for more info. 


Book Fair.
Tues. Dec. 1-Fri. Dec. 4. We will be having after-school hours on Friday, Dec. 4th from 3-6. More information will be coming home in the backpacks. Online sign up sheet here.


Fort River Roasters by Dean's Beans Coffee Orders Due
. Friday, Dec. 4. Don't forget to stock up for the holidays! Give as gifts to your coffee-loving friends! Order forms here.

Coffee with the Principals.
Friday, Dec. 4, 8:30am in the cafeteria.
All Fort River parents are invited to meet with Principal Ray Sharick and/or Asst. Principal Susan Kennedy-Marx for coffee, light refreshments and casual conversation. Younger siblings are welcome to attend.

Winter Clothing and Sports Swap
. Friday, Dec. 4, 3-6pm, during the after-school book fair hours. See below for more information.

*Items in teal are sponsored by Parent Council.

Book Fair: Dec. 1-4

The Fort River book fair will be taking place during the first week of December, from Tues. Dec. 1 through Fri. Dec. 4. We will be having after-school hours on Friday, Dec. 4th from 3-6pm. Flyers will be going home in the backpacks soon with information about the class times.

If you would like to sign up to work at the Book Fair, please click the following link for the online sign-up sheet:
Book Fair!!!!

Winter Clothing and Sports Swap

We will be holding the Winter Clothing and Sports Swap on Friday, Dec. 4, from 3-6pm, during the after-school book fair hours.

Please bring your unwanted clean and usable winter clothes and sporting equipment to the school lobby during the swap hours. This is a take-it-or-leave-it event without money or obligation. Possible items include but are not limited to dance clothes/shoes, skates and skating clothes, soccer equipment, hats, gloves, winter coats, snowsuits and snowboarding, hockey & skiing equipment. Please bring your items with you--there is no drop-off prior to the swap. 

There is no obligation to bring anything in order to take something.

Contact: Peter Wood cpwolfwood@hotmail.com.

Parent Council Wants YOU!

Parent Council would like to start a running list of parent volunteers who would be willing to help out with small tasks during school hours. Volunteers would do such things as stuffing envelopes and distributing mailings, directories and fundraiser orders. Most of these tasks would take an hour or less.

If you would like to be added to this list, please contact Sue Borden at frpc.sborden@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Yearbook Meeting, Wednesday, December 2 at 10:30 am

Are you interested in learning about publication layout and graphic design? Do you enjoy digital photography? Then come help with the Fort River Yearbook! Parent Council provides a parent/guardian designed yearbook for every student at the end of each school year. The first meeting of the Yearbook Committee will be taking place on Wed. Dec. 2nd at 10:30am  in cafeteria 3. All interested parents/guardians are invited to attend.

Although much of the work involved in putting together the yearbook doesn’t happen until the spring, this committee works throughout the year enlisting people to take pictures and making arrangements for a printer. Once materials have been gathered, this committee works on laying out the book, printing, and distribution during last week of school.

Remember, even if you're not interested in working on the yearbook, there's an easy way for you to contribute by sending us photos of any events, field trips, and in-class activities for ALL grades. If you are going on a field trip, visiting your child's class, or participating in any other school activities--bring a camera!

Coordinators: Joy Sullivan (joyrrs@comcast.net) and Kathy Niedzielski (stonyhill4@verizon.net).

Library Committee

Parent Council is forming a committee of parents/guardians who are interested in working with the school librarian on various projects. If you are interested in joining, please contact Liz Larson at lizinamherst@gmail.com or Sue Borden at FRPC.sborden@gmail.com. Plans are in the works for the first meeting!

Parent Council Thanks...

Parent Council would like to thank Diane Caraker who put in a lot of work organizing this year's Fall Festival, despite the fact that it eventually got canceled due to H1N1 concerns.

Let's hope for better luck next year!

Amherstopoly for the Holidays

Here’s a great gift idea for the holidays – give your friends and family copies of the Amherstopoly board game! This is a unique gift that will provide hours of fun for the whole family and/or be a great souvenir of Amherst.

Ever dream of managing ARMS or Town Hall? Well, your chance is finally here! Amherstopoly, the fantastic board game that is all about Amherst and its most beloved haunts, has arrived just in time to celebrate Amherst’s 250th Anniversary.

Amherstopoly is a collaboration of the Parent Groups of Crocker Farm, Fort River, Mark’s Meadow and Wildwood schools to raise funds for student enrichment programs. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, 100% of the money ($25) raised through school sales of the game will be split equally amongst the four elementary schools.

To order your game: Order forms are due in the front office of Ft. River on Dec 4th. Please include name/phone number/email, number of games ordered) and a check made payable to “Amherstopoly.” Games can be picked up at the front office of Ft. River after Friday, Dec.11th. Games can also be purchased directly from the front office (without an order form) any time. Questions? Please contact Sue Cairn scairn@verizon.net.

Click here for order form.


Easy Ways to Earn $$$ for Fort River!

Stop & Shopʼs A+ BonusBucks Program
Use your Stop & Shop card and Fort River earns a percentage! It's not too late to sign up!  This is an easy way to raise money with absolutely no cost to you. However, for Fort River to receive credit you need to re-designate Fort River each year. Call 1-877-366-2668 or visit www.stopandshop.com/aplus. Fort River ID # 05218. Remember, even if you registered your card last year, you must re-register this year for our school to receive credit. Thanks to everyone who has already signed up. We already have 113 participants and have earned $169.56. Attending to this simple process makes a HUGE difference to our school. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. And, if you sign up anytime in the month of November, ALL your purchases for the month will be counted! We need your support! Contact Ann McLaughlin if you have any questions or problems.

Big Y Education Express

Use your Big Y Express Savings Club card and Fort River can earn points for buying much needed equipment and supplies! Just visit the Big Y customer service desk and fill out a form that will link Fort River with your card (School ID # 5947). Or go to www.bigy.com/education and sign up from your computer! Whenever you use your card to purchase items designated with the “Education Express” logo, youʼll earn points for our school. 


Target Take Charge of Education

If you have a Target REDcard (credit card), you can designate Fort River to receive up to 1% of the value of your purchases on the card. Go to www.Target.com/tcoe to designate Fort River (School ID # 58645).

Atkins Farms Country Market
Use your Atkins card when you shop at Atkins Farms Country Market, and they will donate a percentage of your purchase to Fort River School. Atkins provided us with one card per family last year, and new cards for new families will be coming soon-- stay tuned! Just show the card when you are checking out. There is an expiration date on the card, which is the date that youngest child graduates from Fort River. 
Last year Fort River parents earned $500 for Fort River by shopping at Atkins! Thanks to everyone who has been participating--and don't forget to keep using your card every time you go.

Box Tops for Education
In case you are not familiar with Box Tops this is an easy way to earn money for Fort River--just take your scissors and clip! Last year we earned over $500. For each Box Top clipped the school receives 10 cents. Just look for the Box Tops logo on products in you already have in your kitchen, cut it out and deliver your box tops to the school's main office. If you would like to learn about the other ways you can make a difference sign up for the Box Tops website at boxtops4education.com. It’s easy, free and you’ll learn about new ways to help our school earn the extra cash it needs.

Cellphones & Ink Jet Cartridges
Protect the environment and raise money for Parent Council by donating used digital cellphones and ink jet cartridges. Please deliver to the Main Office. Cellphones will be recycled, according to EPA regulations, or refurbished and sold, with 100% of the proceeds going to Parent Council.

Limited Supply of Fort River T-shirts and Bags Available!


 
We still have the following sizes and colors available:

Navy t-shirts:  (please note that the kids sizes in Navy run quite small)

Kids sizes small, medium, and large
Adult sizes small, large, and x-large

Celadon t-shirts (the light green): (Kids’ sizes run small, not quite as small as the navy)

Kids sizes small and medium
Adult sizes large and x-large.

EcoConscious bags (11.5 x 14.5 x 5, with handles long enough to fit over the shoulder)

Olive
Black

Please e-mail Libby Stanforth (bstanforth@comcast.net) if you’d like to purchase any of these items!  Prices are as follows:

Kids’ t-shirts    $12
Adult t-shirts    $14
Bags               $14

Click here to see t-shirt and bag colors.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Upcoming School Events

Parent Council Meeting. Wed. Nov. 18, 8:45-9:45am. Fort River Cafeteria.

Teacher Curriculum Workday, Fri., Nov. 20. No School.

Thanksgiving Recess
. Nov. 26-27. No School.


Book Fair. Tues. Dec. 1-Fri. Dec. 4. We will be having after-school hours on Friday, Dec. 4th. More information to follow.
 

*Items in teal are sponsored by Parent Council.

Amherstopoly presents a check for $2500 to the Fort River Parent Council!


This amount represents our school’s portion of the proceeds from sales to date.  And there is more to come.  Be a part of the exciting (and lucrative) fundraising project for Fort River.  Help is needed to continue the sales momentum as we approach the holiday season.  Contact Sue Cairn (scairn@verizon.net) for more details about how you can get involved.

Amherstopoly is a collaboration of the Parent Groups of Crocker Farm, Fort River, Mark’s Meadow and Wildwood Schools to raise funds for student enrichment programs. Copies of the game are available for purchase in the Fort River office. Games are $25 each, cash or check (payable to “Amherstopoly”). If you have any questions, please contact Sue Cairn (scairn@verizon.net).

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, 100% of the money raised through school sales of the game will go directly to benefit the students.

Stop and Shop A+ BonusBucks Update

The first month of the BonusBucks program at Stop and Shop has ended and Fort River has already earned $169.56! We now have 112 participants signed up.

It's still not too late to sign up! If you sign up anytime during November, all of your November purchases will count toward your BonusBucks total. Please click here for instructions on how to register, or send an email to Ann McLaughlin and I'll help you sign up!

Thanks
Ann

Upcoming Community Events

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council.

NORTHAMPTON FAMILY DANCE

Date:  Sunday, November 15
Time:  3:00 - 5:00 PM
Place:  First Churches, 129 Main St., Northampton (use Center Street entrance)

Please join us at the Northampton Family Dance!  Come enjoy a variety of easy, fun dances for children and families, from traditional American to international folk.  All dances are taught and all ages are welcome--no dance experience is necessary.  Peter Amidon calls, with music by Mary Alice Amidon and Shirley White.  Admission is $4 per person for ages 3 and up, $15 maximum per family.  This is the first dance of the year in our season of five dances, held on the third Sunday of the month, November through March.  For more information, please call Judy Stern (parent of Fort River third grader) at (413) 256-2613.


***********************************************************************************
Fort River Parent Council 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 description.
3. Contact information (website or name, telephone and/or email address) must be included.

We add new information to the blog every Thursday during the school year. Please send your announcement no later than 5pm Wednesday for inclusion in the week's updates. Also 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.

Easy Ways to Earn $$ for Fort River!

Stop & Shopʼs A+ BonusBucks Program
Use your Stop & Shop card and Fort River earns a percentage! It's not too late to sign up!  This is an easy way to raise money with absolutely no cost to you. However, for Fort River to receive credit you need to re-designate Fort River each year. Call 1-877-366-2668 or visit www.stopandshop.com/aplus. Fort River ID # 05218. Remember, even if you registered your card last year, you must re-register this year for our school to receive credit. Thanks to everyone who has already signed up. We already have 112 participants. Attending to this simple process makes a HUGE difference to our school. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. We need your support! Contact Ann McLaughlin if you have any questions or problems.

Big Y Education Express

Use your Big Y Express Savings Club card and Fort River can earn points for buying much needed equipment and supplies! Just visit the Big Y customer service desk and fill out a form that will link Fort River with your card (School ID # 5947). Or go to www.bigy.com/education and sign up from your computer! Whenever you use your card to purchase items designated with the “Education Express” logo, youʼll earn points for our school. 


Target Take Charge of Education

If you have a Target REDcard (credit card), you can designate Fort River to receive up to 1% of the value of your purchases on the card. Go to www.Target.com/tcoe to designate Fort River (School ID # 58645).

Atkins Farms Country Market
Use your Atkins card when you shop at Atkins Farms Country Market, and they will donate a percentage of your purchase to Fort River School. Atkins provided us with one card per family last year, and new cards for new families will be coming soon-- stay tuned! Just show the card when you are checking out. There is an expiration date on the card, which is the date that youngest child graduates from Fort River. 


Box Tops for Education
In case you are not familiar with Box Tops this is an easy way to earn money for Fort River--just take your scissors and clip! Last year we earned over $500. For each Box Top clipped the school receives 10 cents. Just look for the Box Tops logo on products in you already have in your kitchen, cut it out and deliver your box tops to the school's main office. If you would like to learn about the other ways you can make a difference sign up for the Box Tops website at boxtops4education.com. It’s easy, free and you’ll learn about new ways to help our school earn the extra cash it needs.

Cellphones & Ink Jet Cartridges
Protect the environment and raise money for Parent Council by donating used digital cellphones and ink jet cartridges. Please deliver to the Main Office. Cellphones will be recycled, according to EPA regulations, or refurbished and sold, with 100% of the proceeds going to Parent Council.

Limited Supply of Fort River T-Shirts and Bags Available


 
We still have the following sizes and colors available:

Navy t-shirts:  (please note that the kids sizes in Navy run quite small)

Kids sizes small, medium, and large
Adult sizes small, large, and x-large

Celadon t-shirts (the light green): (Kids’ sizes run small, not quite as small as the navy)

Kids sizes small and medium
Adult sizes large and x-large.

EcoConscious bags (11.5 x 14.5 x 5, with handles long enough to fit over the shoulder)

Olive
Black

Please e-mail Libby Stanforth (bstanforth@comcast.net) if you’d like to purchase any of these items!  Prices are as follows:

Kids’ t-shirts    $12
Adult t-shirts    $14
Bags               $14

Click here to see t-shirt and bag colors.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

H1N1 Immunization Clinic for Amherst kids Wednesday 11-11-09 at ARMS 9am - 1pm

There will be an H1N1 immunization clinic tomorrow (Wed. 11/11) at the Amherst Regional Middle School from 9am to 1pm for persons under 17, pregnant women, and those living with infants.

Please see the Amherst Town Government webpage http://amherstma.gov/ for more information.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Upcoming School Events

School Council Meeting. Thursday, Nov. 5, 7pm. FR Conference Room.

Fort River Roasters Order Forms Due. Friday, November 6. Click here for form

Coffee With A Principal.
Friday, November 6, 8:30 am. FR Cafeteria. All Fort River parents/guardians are invited to share coffee and light refreshments with Principal Sharick and Asst. Principal Kennedy-Marx. Younger siblings welcome. Please note that Amherst School Superintendent Alberto Rodriguez is scheduled to attend this month's coffee!

Picture Retake Day, Tuesday, Nov. 10th  from 9am-12pm. Click here for details.

Veteran's Day. Wed., Nov. 11. No School.

Parent Council Meeting. Wed. Nov. 18, 8:45-9:45am. Fort River Cafeteria.

Teacher Curriculum Workday, Fri., Nov. 20. No School.

Thanksgiving Recess
. Nov. 26-27. No School.


*Items in teal are sponsored by Parent Council.

Limited Supply of Fort River T-shirts and Bags Available!


 
We still have the following sizes and colors available:

Navy t-shirts:  (please note that the kids sizes in Navy run quite small)

Kids sizes small, medium, and large
Adult sizes small, large, and x-large

Celadon t-shirts (the light green): (Kids’ sizes run small, not quite as small as the navy)

Kids sizes small and medium
Adult sizes large and x-large.

EcoConscious bags (11.5 x 14.5 x 5, with handles long enough to fit over the shoulder)

Olive
Black

Please e-mail Libby Stanforth (bstanforth@comcast.net) if you’d like to purchase any of these items!  Prices are as follows:

Kids’ t-shirts    $12
Adult t-shirts    $14
Bags               $14

Click here to see t-shirt and bag colors.

Fort River Roasters by Dean's Beans: Orders Due Friday, Nov. 6

Don't forget to send or bring in your Dean's Beans orders, due TOMORROW (Friday, Nov. 6).

Here's the order form .

Make checks out to "Fort River Parent Council." 

Questions or comments? Contact Libby Stanforth (bstanforth@comcast.net) or Hana Rivkin (hrivkin@yahoo.com).

The next order due date is Friday, Nov. 6th.

AEF Trivia Bee Results


The Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium was "abuzz" with contestants and spectators at the Amherst Education Foundation's 15th Annual Trivia Bee on Thursday, October 29.  120 contestants, many in costumes, competed for bragging rights to the title of Amherst area trivia champion. Hosted by AEF President Katie Allan Zobel and emceed by State Representative Ellen Story, the evening of challenge, wit and fun netted a record $6,150.00 for the benefit of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury schools.

While area schools are the big winners from the event, bragging rights belong to the team of bee champion Jones Group Realtors, comprised of Doug Albertson, Tim McGee, Maureen Porter and Micki Sanderson, who won an exciting sudden death playoff against competitors New England Finishing and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement.  Winning prizes for best costume were the teams from Atkinson Family Practice (Slum"doc" Millionaires), Attorney David Noonan (the Harry Potters) and Minuteman Pest Control (the H1N1 Swine Patrol.)  Awards for best team spirit went to the Amherst Club, New England Greenscape and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement.   The audience contest, themed Amherst 250th, offered a unique glimpse into Amherst's past and was won by Jackie Churchill.

The trivia bee marks AEF's first fundraising event since the organization completed its strategic plan last year, and launches what promises to be a new era in AEF history.  AEF's mission is to provide significant and consistent support for area teachers and students by awarding grants, funding district-wide projects, and encouraging teacher innovation and academic excellence.

The event was underwritten by Northampton Cooperative Bank and made possible by the local businesses who provided sponsorships for the teams, donated prizes and/or helped with publicity.  The Amherst Education Foundation is profoundly grateful to these businesses for their support, and is already looking forward to another successful Trivia Bee in 2010.   For more information, or to make a tax-deductible gift to the schools via AEF, please visit our website at www.amhersteducationfoundation.org.

Upcoming Community Events

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council.

Stone House Farm Gifting Classes. At Stone House Farm Arts and Crafts Program, our annual "gifting crafts" classes will begin Monday and Tuesday November 9 and 10.  This year we will make custom teas, wood burn a gift box, make an herb wreath, decorate candles, and more!  These on-going after school crafts classes are $140 a month, and go from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.  Join us for a month or more! For more information, contact Candi at her e-mail  Candace@stonehousefarmbb.com, and check our website stonehousefarmbb.com and select children's program.

***********************************************************************************
Fort River Parent Council 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 description.
3. Contact information (website or name, telephone and/or email address) must be included.

We add new information to the blog every Thursday during the school year. Please send your announcement no later than 5pm Wednesday for inclusion in the week's updates. Also 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.

Easy Ways to Earn $$$ for Fort River!

Stop & Shopʼs A+ BonusBucks Program
Use your Stop & Shop card and Fort River earns a percentage! It's not too late to sign up!  This is an easy way to raise money with absolutely no cost to you. However, for Fort River to receive credit you need to re-designate Fort River each year. Call 1-877-366-2668 or visit www.stopandshop.com/aplus. Fort River ID # 05218. Remember, even if you registered your card last year, you must re-register this year for our school to receive credit. Thanks to everyone who has already signed up. We already have 107 participants. Attending to this simple process makes a HUGE difference to our school. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. We need your support! Contact Ann McLaughlin if you have any questions or problems.

Big Y Education Express

Use your Big Y Express Savings Club card and Fort River can earn points for buying much needed equipment and supplies! Just visit the Big Y customer service desk and fill out a form that will link Fort River with your card (School ID # 5947). Or go to www.bigy.com/education and sign up from your computer! Whenever you use your card to purchase items designated with the “Education Express” logo, youʼll earn points for our school. 


Target Take Charge of Education

If you have a Target REDcard (credit card), you can designate Fort River to receive up to 1% of the value of your purchases on the card. Go to www.Target.com/tcoe to designate Fort River (School ID # 58645).

Atkins Farms Country Market
Use your Atkins card when you shop at Atkins Farms Country Market, and they will donate a percentage of your purchase to Fort River School. Atkins provided us with one card per family last year, and new cards for new families will be coming soon-- stay tuned! Just show the card when you are checking out. There is an expiration date on the card, which is the date that youngest child graduates from Fort River. 


Box Tops for Education
In case you are not familiar with Box Tops this is an easy way to earn money for Fort River--just take your scissors and clip! Last year we earned over $500. For each Box Top clipped the school receives 10 cents. Just look for the Box Tops logo on products in you already have in your kitchen, cut it out and deliver your box tops to the school's main office. If you would like to learn about the other ways you can make a difference sign up for the Box Tops website at boxtops4education.com. It’s easy, free and you’ll learn about new ways to help our school earn the extra cash it needs.

Cellphones & Ink Jet Cartridges
Protect the environment and raise money for Parent Council by donating used digital cellphones and ink jet cartridges. Please deliver to the Main Office. Cellphones will be recycled, according to EPA regulations, or refurbished and sold, with 100% of the proceeds going to Parent Council.

Amherstopoly On Sale In School Office


Amherstopoly is a collaboration of the Parent Groups of Crocker Farm, Fort River, Mark’s Meadow and Wildwood Schools to raise funds for student enrichment programs. Copies of the game are now available for purchase in the Fort River office. Games are $25 each, cash or check (payable to “Amherstopoly”). If you have any questions, please contact Sue Cairn (scairn@verizon.net). Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, 100% of the money raised through school sales of the game will go directly to benefit the students.

Educational Forum at ARMS: Social-Emotional Development in Early Adolescence

The Counselors at Amherst Regional Middle School will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle school. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the Family School Partnership Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Fort River T-Shirts and Bags Still Available!


Logo:


T-Shirt colors: Celedon (top) and Navy.



Eco-Bags (available in Olive and Black):