LSSE Special Events

LSSE is offering a winter Learn-to-Ski program, and a School's Out Trip.

These events are not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Amherst Ballet Winter Camp

Amherst Ballet announces a “Alice in Wonderland” Winter Vacation Camp for ages 6 – 12, Feb 21-24.  Full and half day option.  Join us for dance, art and performance as we learn choreography and create our unique ballet based upon Alice in Wonderland to be performed in our own studio theater! Join Alice, The White Rabbit, Caterpillar, March Hare Cheshire Cat and the evil Queen of Hearts in their fabulous adventures. For more information or a brochure, please visit our website: http://www.amherstballet.org/ or call (413) 549-1555.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Fort River Book Fair - A Big Success!

Thank you to the community for supporting our Book Fair and raising much needed funds for our Library! Also a big thanks to Librarian Fran Ludington for letting us take over her space and making local author Jane Yolen's visit a success!

We'd like to thank the following folks for helping out at the Book Fair: Diane Caraker, Carol Slaughter, Sue Borden, Liz Larson, Libby Stanforth, Jenn Wellman, Dorie Goldman, Jenn Wellman, Jean MacKimmie, Iris Berkman, Jen Ditkoff, Erin Cherewatti, Laura Caraker, Daniel Brechner, Patricia Zegarra, Eileen Marasco, Kathy Niedzielski, Jock McDonald, Oliver Lindsey, Lisa Beskin, Becky Schneider, Tim Hope, Dorie Goldman, Diana Peters-Ross, Sue Cairn, Joy Sullivan, and Traci Hess.

And many thanks to Becky Schneider, Rolf, Cooper, and Reece Nelson, Todd Felton, Becky Michaels, Catherine McGraw, and Maria Polino for helping out at the evening event.

Finally, thank you to all the families who made treats for the bake sale, the Lumber Yard restaurant for the delicious chili, Alpha Pizza Pi, and Mad Science for engaging the kids in cool science demonstrations.

With heartfelt thanks,

Pam Rietkerk and Michele Spirko

PGO Chair and Vice Chair

...
Click here to view slideshow in Picasa:

WMECO Orders are arriving soon!

WMECO lightbulb orders are coming in next week! They will be distributed in the Fort River lobby on Friday December 16th from 8:15-9:00am and from 2:45-3:30pm. Parents need to come pick up the orders, as the boxes are often much too big and fragile to send home on the bus with students. If you cannot pick up your orders that day, please contact Whitney Lyman, 413-388-3338 or wdlyman@gmail.com to make other arrangements.

Sign up for LSSE Youth Basketball and Winter Classes

LSSE winter youth classes are forming now!  Click here for more information.

In addition, it's not too late to sign up for Amherst Youth Basketball!  The annual Jamboree is on Sat. Dec 17, so sign up soon!

These events and classes are not sponsored by the Fort River PGO.

Amherst Education Foundation

Looking for a meaningful way to thank your favorite teachers or other school staff members this holiday season?  Make a gift to the Amherst Education Foundation in their honor.  Your donation this year will go toward our new Excellence Grants program for teacher/school generated initiatives and will positively impact students in Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury.   When you make a donation, your special teachers/staff members will receive a personalized thank you note that will be hand delivered to their school.   You can make your tax deductible gift by mailing in the printable form here, or by donating online at www.amhersteducationfoundation.org 

This is not a FR PGO sponsored event.

Book Fair is coming next week!

Students will visit the fair with their class Tuesday through Thursday. We have very few volunteers signed up, and we really need lots of help! A schedule of class visits is going home today. Click here to sign up to staff the fair during school hours. This is such a fun volunteer opportunity and the kids love the fair!

If you are unable to help during the day, scroll down for opportunities to help at our annual Fort River Reads evening event.

Please contact our Fair Coordinators with any questions: Diane Caraker (dianec711@comcast.net) or Carol Slaughter (cslaughter143@aol.com).

All profits from our Scholastic Book Fair directly support the Fort River Library. Every child at our school will benefit from your participation in this great event. We hope to see you next week at Fort River!

UPDATE: Donate your unused children's books!
Now is a great chance to refresh your home bookshelf! As you visit the book fair to purchase new books, please look through your used books at home. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are all moving into extensive non-fiction studies, and we need as many non-fiction books as possible. We especially need books that are highly structured with many common features like tables of contents, headings and sub-headings, glossaries, index, etc. If you have books that your own child has outgrown, we can put it to excellent use at Fort River. We can also use your old ABC books and early readers for our Kindergarten classrooms. There will be a box in the office to collect your donated books. Thanks in advance!!

Fort River Reads! An evening book event featuring Mad Science

The PGO presents:

Fort River Reads!
Thursday, December 8, 6-8pm

Your family is invited to an evening featuring great books, scrumptious chili from the new Lumber Yard restaurant, pizza, and cider. (Chili & cornbread dinner $3, pizza slices $1, and baked goods for sale.)

Mad Science will give exciting, interactive demonstrations on Space Science. Children can also make their own “Space Slime” to take home! (Slime activity costs $3/child.)

This special event will include the Book Fair collection, as well as many new titles, popular books sets, and fun merchandise from Scholastic only available on this evening!

Volunteers Needed!! There are many jobs to be filled to make this event a success!
Click here to sign up:  Fun and easy, give it a try!!!!
.

Vote for Fort River School to win a Florence Savings Bank Community Grant

Every year, Florence Savings Bank gives $50,000 in grants for local, non-profit organizations. Customers of Florence Savings Bank can vote for their favorite non-profit/charitable organization to win a portion of the grant. Any charity that receives more than 1% of the total votes, will receive a percentage of the $50,000 grant. Help Fort River win a grant! Only Florence Savings Bank customers can vote, and each account holder can vote once. Remember, ALL account holders have a vote, even your kids who have Savings Make "Cents" accounts! You can vote online (http://www.florencesavings.com/about-us/customer-choice-community-grants.html) or pick up a ballot at any Florence Savings Bank branch or at Fort River Elementary.

New After-school Parent Pick-up procedure

As winter approaches, Fort River will be changing the after-school pick-up procedure. Starting December 5, 2011 in the afternoon, car riders will have indoor dismissal. Students will be seated in the music room to be picked up. At that time, parents/guardians will park in the visitors’ parking lot and enter the side door near the music room to pick up their child(ren).

Upcoming Community Events

The following community events are happening in the next week:

• Town of Amherst Merry Maple Holiday Celebration - TODAY on the town common, beginning at 4 pm
• UMass Hockey Heroes Night - Tonight (Fri Dec 2) at 7:00 pm.  More info here
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Winter Craft Fair - This weekend!    More info here
• Multi-Arts presents "The Case of the Missing Pearls" - featuring Fort River students! Tuesday, Dec 6 at 5:00 pm at Amherst Media.  See poster here for more details.

The above events are not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Original Works Deadline Extended!

The deadline for Original Works orders has been extended to Monday, November 21. So if you were thinking about creating those special gifts from your kids for the holidays you have the weekend to get artistic! Contact Sue Borden at frpc.sborden@gmail.com with questions, and click here for more information on the program.

Upcoming Early Dismissal Days

• Fort River students will be released at 1:20 pm Wednesday, Nov 23 to start the Thanksgiving break.
• Also, Tuesday, November 29 will now be an early dismissal day: students will be released at 1:20 pm to accommodate the rescheduled parent-teacher conferences.

Winter Clothing Drive

The Amherst schools are now collecting winter outerwear to ensure all our students stay warm this winter.  Donations will be accepted in the lobby at Crocker Farm School until Tuesday, November 29.   Fort River families needing warm winter clothing are encouraged to pick up items at Crocker Farm November 30 - Dec 2.  For more information, look here.

Volunteers needed to work at the Book Fair

If you love to read and want to share your enthusiasm with kids, we need you at the book fair! Volunteers are needed for shifts during daytime classroom visits or during the evening Book Fair at our new FORT RIVER READS!!! Book Event & Community Marketplace.

Tasks are varied and include assisting shoppers, stocking and arranging merchandise, pulling books for Teacher Wish Lists, checking out customers, or maybe even dressing up as your favorite book character! During slow times you might have time to read to kids! Volunteers are also needed to set-up and breakdown the fair and for other promotional and decorating tasks.

The Scholastic Book Fair will take place during the week of December 5th. We need lots of volunteers! Classroom visits will occur on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, December 6th - 8th. The evening Book Fair will occur on Thursday, December 8th, and includes book readings by featured guests, activities for your children, a delicious chili supper, dessert, coffee, and delightful company!

Click here to sign up to volunteer on the Please Bring It sign-up sheet

*NOTE* Not all classrooms have signed up for their Fair visit yet.

If your child's classroom teacher is not listed and you would like to volunteer during their Fair visit, please check the link again in a few days.

Please contact our Fair Coordinators with any questions:

Diane Caraker (dianec711@comcast.net) 413-687-8333

Carol Slaughter (cslaughter143@aol.com) 413-253-9920

All profits from our Scholastic Book Fair directly support the Fort River Library! Every child at Fort River will benefit from your participation in this great community event!

FORT RIVER READS!!!

Yearbook Club

The Fort River Yearbook club would like your Fall candid class photos, send in Fall field trip and school event photographs. Please email digital photos to yearbook.fortriver@gmail.com. If email does not work for you, send in a CD to the PGO mailbox or contact us to borrow a yearbook flash drive. Our students are ready to sort and file digital photos, so please send them to us.

NEXT YEARBOOK CLUB MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, 11/30 in the FR cafeteria. We will work on cover design and editing the InDesign layout.  For more info, contact : Kathy Niedzielski, Yearbook Club Coordinator, stonyhill4@verizon.net or 253-3201.

Save the Date! Fort River Reads!

Save the Date! Thursday, December 8

The second annual Fort River Reads evening book fair event will take place on Thursday, December 8. The evening will feature delicious chili made by the new Lumber Yard Restaurant in town, book related crafts, special guest readers, and much more. This is a great community event and gives families a chance to check out the Scholastic Book Fair offerings. Details will follow, be sure to mark your calendars and plan to come!

1st PGO Meeting of the Year

Wednesday marked the first PGO meeting of the year.  Please take a look at the minutes from the meeting, as well as the approved yearly budget.

We are always looking for volunteers willing to get involved with the PGO.  If you only have an hour or two to spare, please consider helping out with the Fort River Book Fair from December 2-9.  We need: set-up, cashiers, general help during class time, and breakdown.  The evening Book Fair event on December 8 will also need several volunteers to help with set-up, act as food cashiers, and help breakdown.  Look for Please Bring It sign up sheets on next week's blog.

If you'd like to have a larger role, we are currently searching for volunteers to fill the following positions:

•     Movie Night Event Coordinator
•     Volunteer Coordinator for Hour Power
•     Data Manager for next year’s student directory
•     PGO leadership for next year (Chair, Vice Chair)
•     Yearbook Coordinator for next year

 Please contact Pam Rietkerk if you'd like to help out with any of these roles.

Annual Fund Update

The PGO extends a special thank you to the 28 families who have already supported our Annual Fund.  Your donations help to fund PGO activities including field trips, cultural events, books for the library, and the free directory your child just brought home! We have already raised $2,020 and still need contributions from more families to meet our budgeted goal.

Your help makes a dramatic difference in the lives of our children.  Remember that even a $1.00 donation helps increase our goal of 100% family participation! All contributions are tax deductible and you may opt to have your donation honor a particular teacher or staff member at Fort River. Checks (made out to Fort River PGO) or cash can be sent to the PGO mailbox in the main office or you may pay via PayPal on the blog.  Contact Catherine McGraw at catherine.fortriver@gmail.com with any questions.

Original Works orders due Nov. 15

Original Works order forms are due on November 15th.  This is a fundraiser where our kids (and even younger siblings!) can transform their artwork into individual full color products that can be shared with family and friends.  Items will be back in time for the December holidays.   Kids can create artwork for this at home or use artwork already created.  

Feel free to review the Original Works suggestions and introductory letter that were sent home with your child.  We also have answers to Frequently Asked Questions.  Price lists are available both in English and Spanish.  If you need an additional order form, they are available in the school office.  Contact Sue Borden at FRPC.sborden@gmail.com for more information.

WMECO Order forms due Nov. 16

Please return the order forms for the WMECO light bulb fundraiser by Wednesday November 16th to the PGO mailbox in the main office.  Thanks for supporting Fort River!

PGO Meeting - Wednesday evening at 7 pm

PGO Meeting

7:00-8:00pm, Wednesday, November 9

Fort River Library

Please join us for a short and sweet meeting to review PGO plans for the year and a brief budget, fundraising, and volunteer needs update. Please review the proposed 2011-2012 PGO Budget here.   The originally scheduled Math Curriculum Night to follow the meeting has been postponed to a later date.

Childcare will be available in the Cafeteria. Pre-registration for childcare is mandatory. Please call 362-1200 or email pgo.fortriver@gmail.com to reserve a slot for your child(ren).

Original Works workshop TOMORROW (Tuesday)

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After School Art Session with Multi-Arts

Students will have the opportunity to create Original Works art in an after school art session being held with the Multi-Arts program TOMORROW Tuesday, November 8, from 3:15 to 4:15 pm.  This session is sponsored by Catalina Arrubla, a former Fort River parent and director of the Multi-Arts program.  Catalina has volunteered supplies and staffing, but space is limited.  If your child is interested in attending please reserve a spot at info@multi-arts.org.   Transportation home will not be provided after this session, so please plan accordingly.   Volunteers willing to help supervise would also be welcome.  

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The Fort River PGO is happy to be participating again in Original Works, a fundraiser where our kids can transform their artwork into individual full color products that can be shared with family and friends.  Items will be back in time for the December holidays.   Kids can create artwork for this at home or at the After School Art Session on Tuesday, November 8 (see below)  or use artwork already created.   The due date is November  15^th.  This program has been a hit with both parents and kids for many years.  There will be examples of products created in the past available to check out at the art session.  Contact Sue Borden at FRPC.sborden@gmail.com for more information.

The Directory is Here!

The PGO is pleased to provide the Student Directory FREE to all Fort River families. Directories will be sent home with the youngest child in your family. Two-family households may contact the main office to request an additional copy. 

Many thanks to the volunteer team who worked many hours on this effort! Kudos to parents Dror Shmerling, Jen Vanderleeden, and Peter Michaels for a job well done. And thanks to Susan Raker for the fabulous cover art.

WMECO Order Forms Deadline EXTENDED

Due to last week's storm, the deadline to return the order forms for the WMECO light bulb fundraiser has been extended until Wednesday November 16th.  Please return the forms to the PGO mailbox in the main office. Thanks for supporting Fort River!

Picture Retake Day

Grynn & Barrett will be at Fort River on Thursday, November 10 to retake School Pictures. If you child was absent, they should bring in their order form and students requesting retakes should return their original package to the photographer but KEEP the Class Picture.  A new class picture will not be included with the retake package.

Remember: No School on Friday!

Please remember that there is no school this Friday, November 11 in honor of Veterans' Day.

Yearbook Club Meeting - Wed Nov 16

The next meeting of the yearbook club will be Wednesday, Nov. 16nd in the cafeteria from 1:30-3:00pm. Student members please bring your cameras and any pictures you have already taken.  We are looking for donations of cameras for the yearbook club. If you have a used digital camera in good condition that you would like to donate, please contact Kathy Niedzielski, stonyhill4@verizon.net or 253-3201.

A reminder to take pictures of your child's class and forward them to the yearbook via CD or email yearbook.fortriver@gmail.com.

Coffee with the Principal Rescheduled

Last Friday's "Coffee" has been rescheduled for Friday, November 18 from 8:30-9:30am in the Cafeteria. Please join us!

Amherst Elementary Cross-country Race - This Wed Nov 9

Please join the Amherst HS Boys' Cross Country Team on Wednesday, November 9th at the ARHS track for the 14th annual Amherst Elementary School Cross Country Races!

Registration begins at 3:00 PM, on the fields behind the Amherst Regional High School.

K-2 race at 3:30;  Grades 3-4 race at 3:50; Grades 5-6 race at 4:10 

How far:      1K (.62 miles) for Kindergarten through 2nd grade

                    1.5K (.93 miles) for grades 3 and 4

                    2K (1.25 miles) for grades 5 and 6

Donation requested, but not required

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO

What a week!

Due to this crazy October snowstorm and unexpected week off school, our normal weekly PGO Blog update will occur next Monday.  Check back for important information on the first PGO meeting of the year, picture retake day, and other events.

LSSE Halloweenfest Rescheduled for Sun Nov 6

Due to last weekend's storm, LSSE has rescheduled its Halloweenfest for this Sunday, November 6.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

School Pictures are Here!

School Pictures are HERE!  School Pictures were distributed to all teachers today. We hope you are pleased with the results! Retake day will be held on Thursday, November 3. If your child was absent or you are not satisfied with your photographs, please return the entire package to the photographer and they will retake your child's photo. PLEASE KEEP THE CLASS PICTURE. A new one will not be included with your retake package.

First PGO meeting of the year!

Please mark your calendars and join us for the first PGO meeting of the year on Wednesday, November 9 at 7pm in the Fort River Library. The PGO meeting agenda will be posted on the blog next week. Please note the time change and that the previously scheduled Math Curriculum Night which was to follow the meeting has been postponed until after the first of the year.

Get ready for Original Works!

The Fort River PGO is happy to be participating again in Original Works, a fundraiser where our kids can transform their artwork into individual full color products that can be shared with family and friends.  Items will be back in time for the December holidays.   Kids can create artwork for this at home or at the After School Art Session on Tuesday, November 8 (see below)  or use artwork already created.   The due date is November  15^th.  This program has been a hit with both parents and kids for many years.  There will be examples of products created in the past available to check out at the art session.  Contact Sue Borden at FRPC.sborden@gmail.com for more information.

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After School Art Session with Multi-Arts

Students will have the opportunity to create their art in an after school art session being held with the Multi-Arts program on Tuesday, November 8, from 3:15 to 4:15 pm.  This session is sponsored by Catalina Arrubla, a former Fort River parent and director of the Multi-Arts program.  Catalina has volunteered supplies and staffing, but space is limited.  If your child is interested in attending please reserve a spot at info@multi-arts.org.   Transportation home will not be provided after this session, so please plan accordingly.   Volunteers willing to help supervise would also be welcome. 

Fort River Roasters Coffee Orders Due Tuesday Nov 1

Deans Beans Fort River Roasters Coffee and Hot Chocolate orders are due November 1!

Place your order by the 1st of every month for coffee and hot chocolate.  Coffee will be sent home with your child in approximately 2 weeks.  Feel good knowing you're supporting the Fort River PGO and your students.

Order forms have been sent home, or you can print them from the Ft River PGO website.

Make checks payable to: Ft River PGO

Classroom Potlucks

Many classes are planning potluck get-togethers to give families the opportunities to get to know each other better.  The 2^nd grade potluck will be held next Thursday, November 3 in the cafeteria, while the 4^th grade potluck will be held next Friday, November 4, also in the cafeteria.  Please contact your room parents for more information.  Bring a dish to share and enjoy the company!

The third grade potluck held this past Wednesday was very well attended, and families generously shared many tasty dishes. Kids and adults had lots of fun catching up, and many thanks go to the third grade classroom parents for organizing such a successful evening!

Yearbook Club

We are looking for donations of cameras for the yearbook club. If you have a used digital camera in good condition that you would like to donate, please contact Kathy Niedzielski, stonyhill4@verizon.net or 253-3201.

A reminder to take pictures of your child's class and forward them to the yearbook via CD or email yearbook.fortriver@gmail.com. Halloween pictures are always cute.

The next meeting of the yearbook club will be Wednesday, Nov. 2nd in the cafeteria from 1:30-3:00pm. The club will be viewing In-Design software and establishing computer files for photographs. Student members please bring your cameras and any pictures you have already taken.

Come to the Amherst College Halloween Carnival!

Looking for a kid-friendly activity for Halloween afternoon?  Student-athletes from Amherst College have put together a Halloween carnival for community children.   It will take place on Monday 10/31 (Halloween) from 3-8 pm at the Alumni Gymnasium at Amherst College.  More information, including contact email, is available here.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Reminder of Early Dismissal Days

REMEMBER: Parent /Teacher Conference dates (Thursday, October 27th and Tuesday, November 1st)  are early dismissal days (1:20pm) for all students at Fort River.

Send in your Box Tops!

Please send in your Box Tops for Education.  Remember every Box Top is worth 10 cents for Fort River and they add up quickly to be a great fundraiser for the school.  Please turn yours into the school by Oct. 27th so that we make the fall deadline.  In case you forget there is a box in the front office.

Save Energy with WMECO!

The WMECO Energy-Saving Fundraiser is Back!  This week, your child came home with a packet of information on this year's WMECO fundraiser. Students sell energy-efficient lightbulbs and power strips to family and friends at an incredibly low cost, and 100% of the proceeds from sales go directly to the PGO. This is a wonderful opportunity to help the environment and raise money for our school, so be sure to review the information packet and order form!

Questions? Contact Whitney Lyman at 413.388.3338 or wdlyman@gmail.com

Original Works is Coming!

The annual Original Works project, where our kids can transform their artwork onto individual, quality products that can be shared with family and friends, is coming soon. Information will be coming home with students next week. An after school art session will be held on Tuesday, November 8, so mark your calendars! The art session is a time when kids can work on their projects with materials and supervision. Hope you will join us!

Autumn Lantern Workshop

LSSE and the Amherst Public Arts Commission are sponsoring a lantern-making workshop for kids on Oct. 29 at the Bangs Center.  Contact LSSE for more information.  $5.00 donation requested.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Stay Informed with Principal Colley!

Looking for an easy way to stay informed about happenings at Fort River? Check out Principal Colley's newsletters, which are sent home every two weeks and archived on the school website. You'll find links to those you may have missed below, and can also access them from the right-hand column of this blog.

September 16
September 30
October 14

Everyone is welcome to meet with our Principal at our monthly coffees. Have you taken the coffee survey yet? Let Ms. Colley know when you are available for coffee and conversation by clicking here now. Thanks for your input!

School Council Meeting

The Fort River School Council will meet on Thursday, October 20th from 5:00-6:30 pm in the main office. All parents and guardians of Fort River students are welcome to attend.

Learn to Skate!

The Skating Club of Amherst is accepting registrations for the upcoming Winter LEARN TO SKATE – Basic Skills program. Classes begin November 6, and are available for adults and children ages 4 and up.
Register by October 25, 2011.   For more information, visit http://www.scamherst.org, call Rita Leaman at (413) 253-6388 or e-mail questions to info@scamherst.org.

This is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Amherst Youth Basketball League - Register now!

Amherst Youth Basketball League is open for registration! Families can save $10 if they register before Nov. 18th.  As always, fee reduction money (up to 50%) is available for qualified Amherst residents.  Visit www.lsse.org for more information.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Fort River PGO Annual Appeal

We hope you received the PGO Annual Fund letter from Catherine McGraw last week. If not you can download it here. 

Please take a moment and consider giving a gift to support the work of the PGO. As a non-profit organization, the PGO relies on this community's generosity to fund all of its events and provide teacher support. You can donate online using the PayPal link on the top right-hand column of this page.  Please make your gift today!

Remember, if you would like to give your gift in honor of a staff member please use the form on the letter sent home and send in an envelope marked PGO to the main office. Or you may use Pay Pal and send an email to Liz Larson designating the staff member of your choice.

Thanks for your continued support!

VOLUNTEERING at Fort River: CORI

CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information):

If your volunteer opportunities bring you into contact with students at school or on a field trip, you need to have a CORI on file. CORI checks must be done on individual volunteers every three years. All PGO volunteers should be CORI'd.

For the CORI check, bring your current driver's license into the Main Office for photocopying and complete the required application well in advance of any volunteer obligations.

More details are available on the district website at: http://www.arps.org/policy/ADDA

Questions about the CORI process should be directed to Paula Mangiaratti in the Main Office at 362-1200.

Original Works Coordinator Needed!

Are you creative and crafty? Do you love doing projects at home with your kids? 

The Fort River PGO is looking for an enthusiastic parent volunteer to coordinate a terrific community fundraiser - Original Works. Our previous coordinator, Catalina Arrubla, successfully ran this simple yet rewarding program for many years and has sadly "graduated" along with her child. 

Original Works is a time tested fundraising program that is easy to coordinate: just an hour or two playing and creating in a mini-studio at Fort River with kids, plus some paperwork, order collating, and distribution. Their programs build self-esteem by bringing each child’s creativity to life in products that can be shared and gifted to loved ones.

Please help us continue this dearly loved program by volunteering today! This would be great fun to do with a friend, or several! Contact Pam Rietkerk at pam.fortriver@gmail.com.

Join the Yearbook Club!

The Fort River Yearbook Club will be holding an information meeting after school next Wednesday October 12 from 1:30-2:30 in the cafeteria, for students in 4th-6th grades, and younger students with an adult.  Flexible participation depending on interests.  Page layout planning, photography, data entry, page layout designing, cover design and more. For more information, contact: Kathy Niedzielski, Yearbook Co-chair, stonyhill4@verizon.net.

Coffee with the Principal - Fri Oct. 7

Please join us for our monthly Coffee with the Principal on Friday, October 7, from 8:30-9:30am.

Having trouble getting there? Take our quick "coffee survey" and let us know if there is a more convenient time!

Thanks for making Family Fair a success!

The Family Fair was once again a huge success thanks to the fun and games provided by our creative 6th grade students! Many thanks go to event coordinators Carrie Turkot and Becky Schneider for a job well done. Also thanks to parent volunteers Ilene Magpiong, Stephane Willocq, Sarah Thompson, and the many parents who helped out with serving and clean up in the dark! And finally, a round of applause for the 6th grade teachers--Kailtin Leaver, Peter Lamdin and Roger Wallace--great teamwork!

School Governance Council Election Results

Becky Michaels, Tammy Rahhal Schulkind, and Suzanne Schilling were recently elected to the Fort River School Governance Council. Each will serve a two year term, and they will join Sue Borden who is in her final year on the Council.

All parents and guardians in the school community are welcome to attend Council meetings. Watch for more information coming home soon about meeting times and dates.

Coffee with the Principal - Can You Join Us?

We'd like to see as many parents/guardians as possible at our monthly "Coffee with the Principal". Please take our quick "coffee survey" to let us know when you are available! Your suggestions and comments are always welcome!

Younger siblings are always welcome at monthly Coffees.

Amherst ABC Fall Foliage Walk and Run

This event is not sponsored by FR PGO

Family Fair 2011 - This Monday!

Fort River Playground

Monday, Sept. 26, 2011

5-7pm

Please join the Fort River Community in celebrating the start of school, featuring foods from around the world, drinks and games. Once again, pizza salad, drinks, casseroles side dishes and baked goods will be on sale. You can bring your own picnic if you prefer. The sixth graders will be working very hard planning fun games for everyone.

The Family Fair is one of the most popular fund raising and social events sponsored by the Parent Guardian Organization. Please come and support the sixth graders while socializing with your friends and meeting new families.

The salads, casseroles, side dishes and baked goods all come from your generous contributions. Each year the selection of wonderful foods gets better. Please support this fun event by donating food for the fair, and consider bringing a dish from your cultural heritage. This make for an exciting and diverse butffet. Of course, all food donations will be enjoyed! You can return the form that went out in the backpacks to the PGO mailbox in the main office or if time runs out, just bring your food to the fair. Thank you for your support.

WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. Please click here to sign up to bring a food donation or email Carrie Turkot (cturkot@juno.com) to let us know you you can help.

School Governance Council Election

If you did not have an opportunity during Open House to cast your vote for parent representation on the School Governance Council, ballots are available in the Main Office until 3pm TODAY (Friday). Election results will be released next week.

PICTURE DAY is this Tuesday, September 27!

Notices and order forms went home with students this week. Please contact the office if you did not receive the information.

And remember those smiles on Tuesday!

If you are interested in volunteering for Picture Day, please contact Carol Slaughter at cslaughter143@aol.com or call 253-9920.

Classroom Parents STILL Needed

Thanks to all of our Classroom Parent volunteers! There are STILL a few classrooms in need of parent/guardian volunteers to serve as Classroom Parents. Please consider this fun volunteer opportunity. Grab a friend and do it as a team! Volunteers are needed for the following teachers:

• Ann Shea (K)
• Kim Prince (1st)
• José Cantillo (5th)
• Peter Lamdin (6th)
• Kaitlin Leaver (6th)

Please contact Michele Spirko at michele.fortriver@gmail.com ASAP if you are interested in volunteering as a classroom parent.

Staff Lounge Makeover

Make sure to take a peek at the newly updated staff lounge. You'll see a new sink and cabinet unit, a fresh coat of paint, and new fabric covering the chairs. Many thanks go to FR parents Liz Larson, Michele Spirko, Howard Rhett, and Jeff Kris from Pioneer Valley Upholstery who did a beautiful job on the chairs. Thanks also to Facilities Director Ron Bohonowicz and teachers Terri Magner and Roger Wallace. The PGO was able to present staff with a new coffee maker and some start-up supplies. These folks work hard at Fort River and we hope they enjoy this new space!

After-school art classes at ETTA Art Gallery

Classes begin October 1.  For more information, go to http://www.yippeeskippy.com/etta-arts-studio/

This is not sponsored by the Fort River PGO.

Boy Scouts Open House - Oct. 4

6th graders:  Come join Boy Scout Troop 500 Amherst to see how Scouting is evolving as it enters its 2nd century. We are having an Open House for prospective scouts and their families Tuesday, October 4 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the South Congregational Church, 1066 Southeast Street, Amherst.  Troop 500 has a 50+ year history in Amherst working with school-age boys (grades 6-12).  Troop activities are organized and run by the boys, including weekly meetings, monthly campouts, and projects in the community.  Our Scouts learn practical outdoor skills and develop leadership skills while having a lot of fun.  For more information, contact Scoutmaster Peter Crowley at (413) 253-0964.

This event is not sponsored by the Fort River PGO.

ARHS Soccer Fundraiser

 

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Open House on Wednesday evening!

This year's Fort River Open House will be held this Wednesday, September 21, 2011 from 7:00-8:30pm. All parent/guardians are encouraged to attend. This is an evening to meet school staff and learn about the educational programs planned for your child’s class. Information about the schedule will be going home in the backpacks.

Childcare is available for children 3 years and over. Please call ahead @ 362-1210 so that we can anticipate the number of children who will be in attendance.

Room Parents STILL Needed!

Each year parents and guardians are invited to volunteer as classroom parents. There are still a few classrooms in need of parent/guardian volunteers to serve as Classroom Parents. Please consider this fun volunteer opportunity. Grab a friend and do it as a team! Volunteers are needed for the following teachers:

• Deb Felix (K)
• Ann Shea (K)
• Kim Prince (1st)
• Mary Fournier (3rd)
• John Keins (4th)
• Tom Chang (4th)
• José Cantillo (5th)
• Peter Lamdin (6th)
• Kaitlin Leaver (6th)

Please contact Michele Spirko at michele.fortriver@gmail.com ASAP if you are interested in volunteering as a classroom parent.

Click here for a general overview of the contributions made by our fabulous Fort River Classroom Parents.
Click here for the complete list of current Classroom Parents as well as contact information for these volunteers and our teachers.

Thank you to all of our wonderful Classroom Parent volunteers - many experienced veterans and some eager new faces! We truly appreciate the help, and hope you enjoy working with your child's classroom teacher!

Parent/Guardian Brainstorming - Off To A Great Start!

Thanks to the members of the Fort River community who turned out for the Brainstorming Session last week. Principal Monica Colley was very pleased with the turnout and hopes that those of you who were unable to attend will consider participating through Survey Monkey.

Click here to complete the Parent/Guardian Brainstorming Survey.

The feedback from our community will help our Principal plan for Fort River's future. Thank you for your thoughtful comments, concerns, and/or suggestions. An engaged community is a valuable gift to any school!

Lastly, special thanks to our School Governance Representatives who were able to attend and facilitate the small group sessions: Catalina Arrubla, Mike Jacques, and Tammy Rahhal Schulkind.

Final Call for School Council Elections

Members of the Fort River community interested in running for the Fort River School Governance Council should have submitted their statements by today, Friday, September 16, 2011.

Due to term expirations for current representatives, there are three seats open on the Fort River School Governance Council. The Council is a state-mandated elected body of parents, staff, and community representatives that help define the policies and procedures of the school. The Council works collaboratively with Principal Colley on matters such as the budget, staffing, and the school improvement plan. Meetings occur monthly, and the terms are two years in length. All candidates need to prepare a short statement (50 words or less) that will go home to all parents. Please look for the candidates' statements early next week in your child's backpack.

If you are interested in running for a vacant seat and have not returned your nomination form, please contact Michele Spirko at michele.fortriver@gmail.com ASAP.

The election will be held at Open House on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.

Upcoming Important Dates

Wednesday, September 21, Open House
Monday, September 26, Family Fair

Tuesday, September 27, Picture Day

We Want YOU!

Volunteering for the PGO is a great way to get to know people in the Fort River community while supporting our kids' education. Please take a moment to review the list of activities, committees, and events planned for the upcoming year. There is a volunteer interest form at the end of the list or you can email any PGO officers with questions.   

There are MANY jobs, both big and small, and they are all important. We hope you can find a way to participate and show your support to the school!

Click here to view the list

 

Amherst Ballet Offerings

Amherst Ballet offers a number of classes for both children and adults, including Hip Hop for children and Adults.  Find more information at http://www.amherstballet.org/

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Preseason Basketball Program - Northampton

This program is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Celebrate the Promise: The 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

The STAVROS Center Invites you to enjoy
*Music
*Games
*Craft and art fair
*Food
* 50/50 Raffle

Join us from 11:00 am - 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the Amherst Town Common Downtown Amherst.   Celebrate The Promise with featured artists: Olypsys, Mostly Mikes, The Rainbow Players, The Berkshire Hills Band, and The Wailin' Dave Blues Band

For more information, visit www.stavros.org

This event is not sponsored by the Fort River PGO

First Day of School - and our First Coffee with the New Principal!

The first day of school is almost here!  

Please join us for the kick-off of our monthly Coffee with the Principal on Tuesday, September 6, the first day of school, from 8:30-9:30am. 

Kindergarten parents:  There will be an additional Coffee with the Principal on Thursday, September 8, the first day of kindergarten.

Fort River Brainstorming Session

Principal Monica Colley invites you to attend a brainstorming session next Wednesday, September 7, from 6:30-8:00pm, to begin a discussion about where we are and where we are headed at Fort River. There will be moderated small-group stations to discuss issues including communication, academics, and parent involvement. 
This event is co-sponsored by the PGO and the School Governance Council and will be a great opportunity to meet our new principal.  Childcare will be available so that all families can participate.

Classroom Parents Needed!

Each year parents and guardians are invited to volunteer as classroom parents. This is an extremely fun and rewarding opportunity! Click here to see if there is still a need in your child's classroom.

Classroom parents serve as a vital link between teachers and families. Each classroom teacher has one to three room parents. Individual teachers utilize classroom parents in a manner that is comfortable for them and their classroom.

These volunteers support classrooms in a variety of ways, depending upon the teachers’ preferences. Examples include:

• Communicating with the teacher regularly to determine classroom needs
• Keeping families informed of classroom events via email (or occasionally printed flyers)
• Creating and updating online “Wish Lists” for the teacher and classroom
• Helping to plan classroom events and parties
• Recruiting field trip volunteers

Additionally, the school administration and the PGO both utilize classroom parents as a very important added means of communication with families. Room parents will be periodically asked to send email reminders to families about upcoming school-wide events and opportunities.

Finally, classroom parents often organize a group class gift for the teacher at the end of the school year.

You will receive a packet during the first week of school detailing full descriptions of many volunteer opportunities. Classroom parent/guardian volunteers need to be in place very soon after the start of school. If you are interested in volunteering as a classroom parent, please contact Michele Spirko at michele.fortriver@gmail.com ASAP.