Thursday, March 11, 2010

Upcoming Community Events

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

Music Together® for Valley Families:
March 9 -19, 2010: Free sample classes of Music Together® for Valley Families, offering this internationally recognized parent/child music enrichment program at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Amherst, All Saint’s Episcopal Church in South Hadley, The Congregational Church Parish House in Belchertown, The South Deerfield Congregational Church and the new Intergenerational class at Birch Manor Nursing Home in Chicopee. Each semester 45 minute classes meet for 10 weeks as participants share songs, instrument play, rhythm chants, and movement activities in a relaxed, playful, nonperformance-oriented setting. Call (413) 259-9400 or see www.valleymusicgroup.com for more information. Please call for class times and to reserve a space.

Through March 22, 2010: It is registration time for Spring classes at Music Together® for Valley Families, offering weekly sessions of this internationally recognized parent/child music enrichment program. Locations are at The Congregational Church Parish House in Belchertown, All Saint’s Episcopal Church in So. Hadley, in Amherst at Immanuel Lutheran Church, at The South Deerfield Congregational Church and the new Intergenerational class at Birch Manor Nursing Home in Chicopee. Each semester 45 minute classes meet for 10 weeks as participants share songs, instrument play, rhythm chants, and movement activities in a relaxed, playful, nonperformance-oriented setting. Classes are held on various days and times. Call (413) 259-9400 or view their web site: www.valleymusicgroup.com to register and receive more information.
***************************************************
Come dance with us at the Northampton Family Dance!
Join us for our last dance of this season on Sunday, March 21, from 3 - 5 PM at First Churches, 129 Main St., Northampton (use Center Street entrance). Tim Van Egmond calls, with music by Susan Janssen & Becky Miller. 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.

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

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).

P.S. The Amherst Hurricane Boosters are now on Facebook...become a fan!

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

Family Outreach "Salute to Families"


***************************************************
Where magic happens:
Improv. class with Multi-Arts, a safe and positive environment.
Amherst High School.
Begins this Thursday 5-6 pm. Room 112

Film class
Amherst High School.
Thursdays from 4-5, room 112

For more info visit: www.multi-arts.org
***************************************************

All are invited to attend a conference, Saving Our Schools: Defending Public Education, on Saturday, March 27, at UMass-Amherst in Thompson Hall, Room 102. Parents, students, community leaders, educators, activitsts, policy makers and anyone interested in the education and welfare of our children is encouraged to come. Pauline Lipman, author of High Stakes Education: Inequality, Globalization, and Urban School Reform, will be the keynote speaker. The event is co-sponsored by Citizens for Public Schools and the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM). Come discuss public education funding, charter schools, high-stakes testing, privatization, education for Democracy, vocationalization and teachers under fire. To register online, click here. For more information, call 413-687-8150.

***********************************************************************************
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.