Fort River PGO: September 2014

Friday, September 26, 2014

Classroom Parent Volunteers Still Needed

Classroom parent volunteers are still needed for the following classrooms:

Felix

Rondeau
Bhowmik
Eigner
Griswold
King
Lott
Austin
Doggett
Sawicki

This is a fun and important volunteer opportunity for parents and guardians! In addition to facilitating support for their child's teacher, classroom parents serve as a vital communication link for families, the PGO, and the administration.

A Meet & Greet is scheduled for all volunteer classroom parents on Thursday, October 9 at 6:30pm, just before Open House. Enjoy some chocolate treats while meeting other parents/guardians. Please contact Michele (michele.fortriver@gmail.com) if you would like to volunteer!

Dutch Mill Fall Bulbs Fundraiser

Our fundraiser/flower-raiser is off to a fabulous start!! Thank you SO much to those who have submitted orders and forwarded the online link to family and friends!!!

Paper orders are due next Friday, October 3. Bulbs will be sent home with students in mid October.

Be sure to let out-of-town friends and relatives know that they too can participate in our flower bulb fundraiser by using our custom link:

http://groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/fortriverschool.php

Click here (insert link) to access a template letter than can be edited and sent to friends and family.

ALL money raised directly funds our Curriculum Mini-Grant program! Our goal of $2500 will fully fund this program.

THANK YOU! Questions? Email Michele

Monday, September 22, 2014

Fort River Read-a-Thon

We have extended the deadline for Read-a-Thon lists and donations to this Friday, September 26th. If you have lost your paperwork, no problem - we just want to hear what your child has read and include them in the celebration. Please make sure to include their name on any lists submitted.

Any questions - please contact Jacquelyn Kang at Jacquelynreilly@hotmail.com.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Dutch Mill Bulbs Fall Fundraising to Support Mini-Grants!

Happy Autumn from the Fort River PGO!

Join us in kicking off our fundraising efforts with beautiful spring bulbs from Dutch Mill Bulbs! Flyers will be in backpacks on Friday. It’s easy to participate:

Sell to your friends, family, and other FR fans.

Share our online order link (see below).

Make checks out to "Fort River PGO".

Return orders by Friday, October 3.

Deliver bulbs before the ground freezes.

Bulbs will be sent home with students in mid October.

Be sure to let out-of-town friends and relatives know that they too can participate in our flower bulb fundraiser by using our custom link:

http://groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/fortriverschool.php

Click here to access a template letter than can be edited and sent to friends and family.

ALL money raised directly funds our Curriculum Mini-Grant program! Our goal of $2500 will fully fund this program.

THANK YOU! Questions? Email Michele

Classroom Parents Needed!

This is a fun and important volunteer opportunity for parents and guardians! Classroom parents can assist teachers and staff in many ways including soliciting donations of classroom supplies (tissues, snack, sanitizer, etc.), recruiting volunteers for field trip and potlucks, and checking in with the teacher(s) to see what other support is needed.

A Meet & Greet is scheduled for all classroom parents on Thursday, October 9 at 6:30pm, just before Open House. Enjoy some chocolate treats while we give a quick overview of how classroom parents can help support students and teachers in our school community. Experienced classroom parents will be on hand to answer questions. Please contact Michele Spirko (michele.fortriver@gmail.com) if you would like to volunteer!

UMASS College of Education film event ARPS community invited FREE

The College of Education presents a FREE screening of UMASS alumna Dr. Lee Anne Bell’s documentary 40 Years Later: Now Can We Talk? followed by an open discussion about multicultural education with Dr. Bell. Food & refreshments will be served.

Friday, Sept 26 4-7pm UMASS Student Union Ballroom Seating limited to first 175 people

Register here: http://umassalumni.net/homecoming/college-of-education-film-and-discussion-on-race-education/

The documentary film project explores the impact of racial integration in the Mississippi Delta through powerful and moving dialogue, with interviews from black and white alumni from the class of 1969. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome for the screening and honest dialogue about race and education today. Read more about Dr. Bell

Friday, September 12, 2014

Amherst Poetry Festival Family Events

Family Events at the Amherst Poetry Festival, September 19 - 21
Join us for some family-friendly poetry, art projects, and more! All events are free.

September 19, 20, 21: Storywalk for ages 3-8. Follow the pages of the book Please, Louise by Toni and Slade Morrison displayed in a succession of store windows starting at the north end of North Pleasant Street and ending at the Jones Library Children’s Room. See flyer below.

September 20: Poetry readings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sweetser Park and the Dickinson Homestead, plus art and writing booths at Sweetser Park – look for the “Family Friendly” signs. Children and their families can write short poems and make their own poetry ‘zines.

September 21: Poetry picnic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dickinson Homestead Lawn. Poetry provided; bring your own picnic! Includes Tom Daley performing the Dickinson-inspired play “Every Broom and Bridget” at 12:30.

For a complete listing of Amherst Poetry Festival Events, go to http://amherstpoetfest.tumblr.com

Amherst Youth Football

Kids Fitness Class

The Aerobics and Fitness Studio is pleased to announce the addition of LesMills™ BORN TO MOVE™ classes, specifically designed for children! We’re passionate about creating a positive change in young people’s attitudes towards physical activity. We want to inspire and motivate new generations through music and movement and help them enjoy the increased self-esteem, well-being and health benefits of an active life. BORN TO MOVE™ can build confidence, develop physical and social skills and help hard-wire a love of movement into young people's lives.
http://www.theaerobicsandfitnessstudio.com/youthfitness.html

Anyone with questions can contact Kim Davidson.

aerofit@comcast.net

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

FORT RIVER SUMMER READ-A-THON

Hope everyone had a great summer!

Please pass in your Fort River Read-a-Thon lists and pledges by Friday - September 12, 2011. We will celebrate all those who participated and disburse the gifts shortly thereafter! We will also publish a list of student’s favorite books.

Any questions contact Jacquelyn Kang at 230-3284

Friday, September 5, 2014

Fort River PGO News

What a fabulous start it has been to the new school year, thanks in huge part to our wonderful PGO volunteer coordinators -

Traci Hess - New Family Popsicle Party (August 26)
Sarah Cohen - First Day Coffee & Glazed Doughnuts (August 28)
Pam Rietkerk - Welcome Potluck for Principal Finocchio (September 3)

To find out more about the fun and exciting events and activities the PGO has planned for the coming year, please join us next Friday, Sept. 12, for our first Coffee with a Principal followed by a (mostly brief) PGO general meeting. The coffee will take place in Cafeteria 3 (the one next to the music room) from 8:45 - 9:30. If you can't join us but have an idea (or two or three) for the PGO, please email Liz Larson

Think Spring! Dutch Mill Bulbs Fall Fundraising Opportunity

It's not a typo ... Think of all the beautiful color and intoxicating fragrance that springtime brings ... NOW is the time to plant reliable Dutch Mill Bulbs throughout your landscape to guarantee a truly glorious riot of color next spring! Check your child's backpack next week for order forms, brochures, and information on how you can support learning at Fort River with this simple fundraiser. It's green and your neighbors will love it!

Too excited to wait? You can place your order online RIGHT NOW. A small shipping fee of $4.00 assures delivery directly to your home at the correct time for planting. Or you can wait for your brochure and order form next week; these paper orders will be delivered in bulk to Fort River and sent home with students in October. Feel free to share the online order link with family not living locally.

http://groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/fortriverschool.php

The PGO will earn 50% of all sales from Dutch Mill Bulbs. This is a truly excellent return and ALL of the profit will be allocated to the PGO Curriculum Enrichment Mini-Grant program. Teachers can apply for financial support to enhance their curricula through this program. Our fundraising goal is $2000. Please contact Michele Spirko (michele.fortriver@gmail.com) with any questions.

Disclaimer: All Fort River fundraisers are OPTIONAL. There is no obligation to participate in this fundraising opportunity, and there will be other opportunities to support the PGO budget (and subsequently the students, teachers, and staff) throughout the year.