Thursday, February 25, 2010

Upcoming School Events

School Council Meeting. Thursday, Feb. 25, 5:00-6:30 pm. Fort River Conference Room.

Dean's Beans Coffee Orders Due. Friday, March 5. Click for order form.


Coffee with the Principals. Friday, March 5. 8:30-9:45am.

Teacher Curriculum Workday. Monday, March 15. No School.

Town Election. March 23.

Parent Council Meeting. Wed. March 24, 7-8pm. Fort River Library.

Book Swap. Week of April 12th. Start collecting your books! Click here for more info.


*Items in teal are sponsored by Parent Council.


ARHS Musical: "A Year with Frog and Toad" Premieres Tonight!

This year's musical at the high school will be of special interest to families with younger students.  A Year with Frog and Toad is a relatively recent Broadway musical, based on the popular children's books. It is scheduled to go out on tour again soon, but we have been issued the rights to perform it here this spring. It will certainly appeal to the elementary school crowd, but its sly wit and clever questioning of the intersections between dream and reality will make it engaging for older students and adults as well.


Performance dates
Thursday, Feb. 25: 7:30
Friday, Feb. 26: 7:30
Saturday, Feb. 27: 2:00
Saturday, Feb. 27: 7:30

All performances are in the ARHS auditorium.

Snow date Sunday, March 1: 2:00


Ticket Prices Reserved seats (rows F-Q)
$15 for general public
$10 for students/seniors/staff

Unreserved seats (rows R-Z)
$10 for general public
$8 for students/seniors/staff

Ticket Availability at ARHS cafeteria during lunches beginning Feb. 23 (10-noon, week of Feb. 23 only),

Or at the door, 1½ hours before performances,

Or e-mail Claudia Weinberg at arhsmusicals@gmail.com to reserve seats (and pay when you pick them up).

Checks should be made payable to ARHS Musical.

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. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. And, if you sign up anytime in the month of January, ALL your purchases for the month will be counted! We need your support! Contact Ann McLaughlin (damclaughlin@comcast.net) 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.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Upcoming School Events

Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon. Feb. 11 & 12 during school hours. See below for more info. Online sign-up here.

Winter Recess
. Feb. 15-19. No school.

School Council Meeting. Thursday, Feb. 25, 5:00-6:30 pm. Fort River Conference Room.

Dean's Beans Coffee Orders Due. Friday, March 5. Click for order form.


Coffee with the Principals. Friday, March 5. 8:30-9:45am.

Teacher Curriculum Workday. Monday, March 15. No School.

Parent Council Meeting. Wed. March 24, 7-8pm. Fort River Library.

Book Swap. Week of April 12th. Start collecting your books! Click here for more info.


*Items in teal are sponsored by Parent Council.


Library Help Needed!

The school librarian always needs help reshelving books. Please consider coming by the library and spending a few minutes of your time getting the books back on those shelves! Please contact Sue Borden (frpc.sborden@gmail.com) or Liz Larsen (lizinamherst@gmail.com) for more information.

Clean Out Those Cubbies!

Kathy Niedzielski has asked me to send out a gentle reminder for families to clean out their kids' cubbies/coat hook areas and check the lost and found before vacation. You may be needing those mittens and boots over vacation!

Thanks for Haiti Donations

Band Director Sue Dunbar asked me to report that $350 was raised at the recent band and orchestra concert for Haiti earthquake relief! Thanks to everyone who donated.

Jump-a-Thon Today and Tomorrow (2/11-2/12)

Just a reminder that the Jump-a-thon is taking place today and tomorrow,  February 11th and 12th.  Please check the volunteer sign-up sheet to see which slots are still open if you'd like to volunteer to help out. 


Click here for class schedule. 

Upcoming Community Events

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council.
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Multi-Arts Program For Teens: Get that creative energy focused and share it with the world.

1. Join a team of young writers and produce plays to be performed this summer.
2. Be part of a video production workshop: "create a movie to be watched by the whole world".
3. Learn to tap your strengths to move around the world: Improvisation with Multi-Arts.

When:
Video: Thursday 4:00 p.m.
Improv: Thursday 5:00 p.m.
Playwriting: Friday 3:15 p.m.

Where: Amherst High School. Workshops starts: March 4 through May 27. The cost of each workshop is $120. Choice of two is $200. (Financial Aid available) To register, please send payment with your contact information (your name, child's name & age, phone, email address) to: Multi-Arts, P.O. Box 108, Hadley MA 01035. www.multi-arts.org
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Amherst Survival Center Family Night
Want a night off from cooking? Join us this Monday February 15th, as the Amherst Survival Center hosts Family Night. Come with the kids for supper, fun activities, and collage art crafts. Open to everyone! Drop-in between 4:30-6:30, supper is served 5:00-6:00. Access to all our free programs, including free groceries and free clothing, is available.

Black History Month Lunch Community Event
Looking for something to do as a family? Come celebrate Black History Month this Wednesday, February 17th, 12-1 pm. Held at North Congregational Church Parish Hall (1199 North Pleasant Street), put on by the Amherst Survival Center. Delicious food, friends, and music. Free and all are welcome! Call 549-3968 x 202 for more information.

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Northampton Family Dance. Come warm up and have fun at the Northampton Family Dance! Join us for our fourth dance of the season on Sunday, February 21, from 3 - 5 PM at First Churches, 129 Main St., Northampton (use Center Street entrance). Kari Smith calls, with music by Linda Henry, Bob Snope, and Emma Snope. Come enjoy easy, fun dances for children and families, from traditional American to international folk. All dances are taught, so no dance experience is necessary. Admission is $4 per person for ages 3 and up, free for ages 2 and under, $15 maximum per family. The Northampton Family Dance is 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.
***************************************************

ARHS Nordic Ski Program. Amherst Regional High School now has a Nordic ski program, and you can help support it - by skiing. Each Wednesday during the month of February, the program is presenting all-comers sprint races at Northfield Mountain. Snow permitting, the races start at 3:30 p.m. These are true sprints: the course is just one-kilometer long, a flat loop in the field between Route 63 and the Northfield Mountain main building. The races are sorted by age groups and heats, with the top two finishers in each heat advancing to a final round, while there's a consolation round for everyone else.
Register in advance at http://nordicsprint.eventbrite.com/ or on race day by 3 p.m. at the ski center. Entry fee is $5 ($3 with a Northfield Mountain pass), or sign up for the whole series for $30 ($18 with pass).

Technique will alternate between classic on the first and third Wednesday and freestyle on the second and fourth. This week's races are the second in the series.

For more information, call Northfield Mountain at 800-859-2960 or visit www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/ccski.asp.

***************************************************


Have a Creative Year with Multi-Arts:
Multi-arts Summer Camp registration is now open. There is a $50 discount per child, when you pay in full by February 28. Full tuition refund with cancellation before June 1, 2010. You can register at www.multi-arts.org.


***************************************************

Amherst Monte Carlo Night. Some of you may know that the Amherst High Athletic teams are supported primarily through athletic fees and through fundraising by the teams and by the Amherst Hurricane Boosters (a volunteer group of parents).  Next year, this will be even more true as our district looks to move more athletic support to revenue lines due to the proposed budget cuts.

This is where you can help!  Each year, the Amherst Hurricane Boosters hosts a gala event--Monte Carlo Night--to raise money for all the athletic clubs.  This year's event will be held on March 13th and is a true night on the town.  Complete information on Monte Carlo night can be found at http://www.amherstmontecarlo.com/ Tickets ($25 in advance and $30 at the door).

PS. The Amherst Hurricane Boosters are now on Facebook...become a fan!
***********************************************************************************
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. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. And, if you sign up anytime in the month of January, 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.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Upcoming School Events


Coffee With the Principals. Friday, Feb. 5, 8:30-9:15am. Fort River Cafeteria. 

Fort River Roasters Coffee Orders Due. Friday, Feb. 5. Order forms here.

Parent Council Meeting.
Thurs. Feb. 11. 8:45-9:45am. Fort River Library.

Jump Rope for Heart Jumpathon.
Feb. 11 & 12 during school hours. See below for more info.

Winter Recess
. Feb. 15-19. No school.


*Items in teal are sponsored by Parent Council.

Jump-a-thon Volunteers Still Needed!

As you know, the Fort River Jump-a-thon, Jump Rope for Heart, will take place next week on February 11th and 12th.  The Phys Ed teacher, Diana Spaulding, still needs 1 to 2 volunteers per class to help with student supervision and to organize/tally the donation envelopes.  So far we have NO VOLUNTEERS. Please consider helping out! It's easy to volunteer: just click here for the Jump-a-thon online sign-up sheet

All students in grades 1-6 will be participating at different times of the day for 45 minutes. Jump Rope for Heart is an event conducted nationwide to educate students about the benefits of aerobic exercise and heart health, while raising funds to support the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease and stroke. We are encouraging children to establish a healthy lifestyle by including physical activity in their daily lives. Risks for later heart disease are often set in childhood but can be reversed by being physically active, not smoking and eating well. Collection envelopes have been sent home during the first week in February with more information. Parents are invited to come and jump with their children on that day.  It is a healthy day for the whole family!

Click here for class schedule. 

Fort River Book Swap--Week of April 12th

We need your BOOKS for the Fort River Book Swap!!
The Book Swap will take place during the week of April 12. Every student will choose books to bring home without spending a dime!!
The number of books they receive depends on your 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.

Collection boxes are near the Library entrances and outside the Main Office. We will collect books through the first week of April, but the sooner we have your books the better!

THANK YOU!

Volunteers are needed for sorting, setting up, and working the Swap. Contact Pam Rietkerk at pamrietkerk@gmail.com.


This is a fun event
and many hands make light work!

Fort River Families: Don't Forget to Help Our Neighbors at Crocker Farm!


Re-districting means that many Amherst families will soon be new Crocker Farm families. With the understanding that we are all in this together, and knowing how fortunate we are at Fort River to have a fantastic playground, the Parent Council urges you to open your wallets and help Crocker Farm improve theirs! And remember all families with kids will benefit from having a fun new playground in town!

Please click here for information on how you can donate to help the Crocker Farm School community to upgrade their playground.


Upcoming Community Events

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

Northampton Family Dance.
Come warm up and have fun at the Northampton Family Dance! Join us for our fourth dance of the season on Sunday, February 21, from 3 - 5 PM at First Churches, 129 Main St., Northampton (use Center Street entrance). Kari Smith calls, with music by Linda Henry, Bob Snope, and Emma Snope. Come enjoy easy, fun dances for children and families, from traditional American to international folk. All dances are taught, so no dance experience is necessary. Admission is $4 per person for ages 3 and up, free for ages 2 and under, $15 maximum per family. The Northampton Family Dance is 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.
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Click on image to enlarge.

***************************************************
ARHS Nordic Ski Program.
Amherst Regional High School now has a Nordic ski program, and you can help support it - by skiing. Each Wednesday during the month of February, the program is presenting all-comers sprint races at Northfield Mountain. Snow permitting, the races start at 3:30 p.m. These are true sprints: the course is just one-kilometer long, a flat loop in the field between Route 63 and the Northfield Mountain main building. The races are sorted by age groups and heats, with the top two finishers in each heat advancing to a final round, while there's a consolation round for everyone else.

Register in advance at http://nordicsprint.eventbrite.com/ or on race day by 3 p.m. at the ski center. Entry fee is $5 ($3 with a Northfield Mountain pass), or sign up for the whole series for $30 ($18 with pass).

Technique will alternate between classic on the first and third Wednesday and freestyle on the second and fourth. This week's races are the second in the series.

For more information, call Northfield Mountain at 800-859-2960 or visit www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/ccski.asp.

***************************************************


Have a Creative Year with Multi-Arts:
Multi-arts Summer Camp registration is now open. There is a $50 discount per child, when you pay in full by February 28. Full tuition refund with cancellation before June 1, 2010. You can register at www.multi-arts.org.


***************************************************

Amherst Monte Carlo Night. Some of you may know that the Amherst High Athletic teams are supported primarily through athletic fees and through fundraising by the teams and by the Amherst Hurricane Boosters (a volunteer group of parents).  Next year, this will be even more true as our district looks to move more athletic support to revenue lines due to the proposed budget cuts.

This is where you can help!  Each year, the Amherst Hurricane Boosters hosts a gala event--Monte Carlo Night--to raise money for all the athletic clubs.  This year's event will be held on March 13th and is a true night on the town.  Complete information on Monte Carlo night can be found at http://www.amherstmontecarlo.com/ Tickets ($25 in advance and $30 at the door).

PS. The Amherst Hurricane Boosters are now on Facebook...become a fan!
***********************************************************************************
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. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. And, if you sign up anytime in the month of January, 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.