Friday, April 29, 2011

Say Thank You to Staff!

Help say thanks to the terrific Fort River staff! The annual Staff and Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is being held on May 25 at Mi Tierra Restaurant in Hadley. You can express your gratitude by making a contribution towards the fiesta.

To make a contribution to defray the costs of this big event, complete this form and submit to the PGO mailbox in the school office by May 15.

Contact Catalina Arrubla, carrubla@gmail.com or Suzanne Schilling, patsueschilling@comcast.net with any questions. Thanks for supporting our awesome school staff!

The International Fair is Coming Soon and We Need Your Help!

Don't forget that the International Fair is coming on Friday, May 13th from 5:30-7:30pm.

This fun event will include a potluck meal featuring delicious international dishes, games, and multicultural creative arts and performances.

You will be contacted shortly by your room parent with more information about how you can help make this event a success.

Also, we are still looking for talent (singers, dancers and musicians)  to perform during the fair.  Please contact Rebecca Fricke at 253-7914 or rebfricke@gmail.com if you are interested!

Don't Forget to Send in Those Pictures!

The Fort River Yearbook is looking for pictures taken by you! Please take a look through your picture files and see if you can find a few good pictures of class and school events and send them to the yearbook committee.

You can send digital pictures of class and school events to the yearbook in two ways:

1) Forward digital photos to yearbook.fortriver@gmail.com

or

2) Put digital photos on a CD and put it in the PGO mailbox marked for the yearbook.

The deadline for sending photos to the yearbook is MAY 15. 

We also need a volunteer to take pictures of students and staff who missed picture day. Please contact Kathy Niedzielski (stonyhill4@verizon.net) if you can help out. Thanks!

Daffodil Fun Run

Please note: this event not sponsored by the FR PGO.

5th Annual ARPS Latino Achievement Night

The 5th Annual Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools Latino Achievement Night will be celebrated on May 20, 2011 at Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street. The event will begin at 6:30pm and all families, friends, staff and community members are invited to attend.

Under the direction of Superintendent of Schools, Maria Geryk and Director of Interventions & ELE, Dr. Marta Guevara, and in keeping with the Social Justice Commitment of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools, the 5th Annual ARPS Latino Achievement Night aspires toward equity of opportunity, inclusion, respect and community-building in and out of the classroom.

“Latino Achievement Night was envisioned 6 years ago with the establishment of the Latino Initiative. Data revealed that Latinos were performing at lower levels than other students in the districts,” states Dr. Marta Guevara. “A series of recommendations was formulated to address this critical issue and close the achievement gap. A resulting step was the creation of a community event celebrating the achievements of Latino students paralleling the customs of Latin American countries.”

Latino students in grades K, 6, 8 and 12 are recognized for academic achievement, community spirit, effort, leadership and progress and receive Certificates of Excellence.

In addition, Amherst Police Department Sergeant Jesus Arocho will be honored for his achievements and commitment to the community. Many dignitaries and special guests will be on hand to join in the celebration which will feature music and dance performances by elementary, middle and high school students. Refreshments will also be served.

Superintendent of Schools, Maria Geryk states, “We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our Latino students in such a wonderful way – with family and friends and the greater Amherst community.”


Please contact Mildred Martinez www.martinezm2@arps.org or call 362-1871 with any questions or concerns.

The mission of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools is to create a dynamic learning community where students and staff work together and where all students are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential in their intellectual, creative, social and civic endeavors. With parent and community participation, staff and students strive to ensure a safe environment and to promote respect and appreciation for the diversity of individuals, cultures and learning styles.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Fort River Science Night: Funtastic Chemistry

Ever wondered what gives fireworks their colors? How toothpaste whitens your teeth? Or how a diaper works? Come find the answers to these questions and much more at Fort River's Science Night: FUN-tastic Chemistry. In a series of demonstrations that involve light, color, dry ice, steaming reactions, and liquid nitrogen see how energy from chemistry is used in every day life.

Presented by Fort River parent and UMass Chemistry Professor DV Venkataraman and his students. Thursday, April 28th, 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Fort River Gym.

We need your candid photos for the Fort River Yearbook!

The Fort River Yearbook is looking for pictures taken by you! Please take a look through your picture files and see if you can find a few good pictures of class and school events and send them to the yearbook committee.


You can send digital pictures of class and school events to the yearbook in two ways:

1) Forward digital photos to yearbook.fortriver@gmail.com

or

2) Put digital photos on a CD and put it in the PGO mailbox marked for the yearbook.

The deadline for sending photos to the yearbook is MAY 15. 

We also need a volunteer to take pictures of students and staff who missed picture day. Please contact Kathy Niedzielski (stonyhill4@verizon.net) if you can help out. Thanks!

Amherst Sustainability Festival

Please note: this event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Science Night: FUN-tastic Chemistry, April 28th

Ever wondered what gives fireworks their colors? How toothpaste whitens your teeth? Or how a diaper works? Come find the answers to these questions and much more at Fort River's Science Night: FUN-tastic Chemistry. In a series of demonstrations that involve light, color, dry ice, steaming reactions, and liquid nitrogen see how energy from chemistry is used in every day life.

Presented by Fort RIver parent and UMass Chemistry Professor DV Venkataraman and his students. Thursday, April 28th, 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Fort River Gym.

Japan Night at Fort River

Japan Night
Wednesday, April 13
6:30-8pm
Fort River Cafeteria

Please join us for a night to raise funds to help support the earthquake/tsunami victims in Japan. There will be Japanese food and baked goods for sale, origami and calligraphy workshops, performances of Japanese songs by students, and much more.

Trash-Free Lunch Day--April 15

Click to enlarge

Volunteer Recognition

Superintendent Maria Geryk, District Administration and Principals
Cordially Invite
All PGO, School Council and Parent Volunteers
to attend a

Recognition Celebration
Monday, May 23
4pm-5pm
PD Center at ARMS
Please RSVP to stenderk@arps.org

Russian American Contra Dance

Please note: not a PGO-sponsored event.

Summer Art Classes

Please note: this event not sponsored by the FR PGO.
Click on image to enlarge.

Multi-Arts Spring Break Vacation Camp

Time to plant the seeds of creativity!

Bulbs of ideas, seeds of colors, COME BLOOM WITH US!

Our Spring Break Vacation camp will be a celebration of Earth Week!

Dance it, write it, act it, paint it, dress it!

Let’s move and have FUN!

download registration form
http://www.multi-arts.org/03pdfs/RegistrationForm_schoolBreak_2011.pdf

Watch a day at Multi-Arts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-ObJwc0Gwo

Please note: this event in not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Later School Start Times

The School Committee has created a task force to look at beginning Amherst schools later or switching high/middle school start times with the elementary schools.  You can read about the charge and membership of this task force here. Research about the influence of later start times is available here.

Input from all stakeholder groups, including students, parents/guardians, and district faculty and staff, is an important component of the task force’s research. YOUR input is very valuable and the task force wants to hear from you.

Please click here to participate in the elementary school family survey.

Surveys are available for secondary school families, students and staff members can be accessed here: http://www.arps.org/node/2849.

Please share your thoughts on this issue. The deadline for completing the surveys is Monday, April 11.