Monday, October 31, 2016

No School on November 8th and 11th

School will be closed on Tuesday, November 8 due to Election Day and the use of school buildings as polling locations.

School will be closed on Friday, November 11 in observation of Veterans' Day. 

Adolescents and Addiction and Rising Opioid/Marijuana Use Presentation Available Online

from ARHS PGO:

Last month, Dr Ruth Potee, Chair of the Healthcare Solutions Committee of the Franklin County/North Quabbin Opioid Task Force, spoke to the ARHS Community about Adolescents and Addiction and Rising Opioid / Marijuana Use.  The powerful presentation sparked ARHS Community dialogue about how we as a school and broader community think about teenage use and abuse of marijuana, pain pills and other drugs.  The event was jointly sponsored by the ARHS PGO, SPIFFY[The Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth] and the Town of Amherst.

To view the presentation, click here.


To discuss the implications of Dr. Potee’s presentation for ARHS and its students, a second meeting was held on Thursday, October 20. A group of ARHS parents and guardians brainstormed a range of possible initiatives aimed at keeping our students safe. We will keep the ARHS community informed about the direction of this work. If you are interested in becoming more involved, please email Mark Jackson[jacksonmk@arps.org] Thank you.


Fort River PGO Election Day Bake Sale Tuesday, November 8th

The Fort River PGO will be hosting an Election Day Bake Sale on Tuesday, November 8th. There is no school on Election Day. 

Children are welcome to volunteer. Please help by baking or donating items and by buying yourself some treats when you come to vote! Our sale will be at Fort River which is Precinct 6. Crocker Farm is hosting a bake sale at Precinct 7: Crocker Farm School and Precinct 8: Munson Memorial Library.

Here are the links to sign up:


To donate baked goods:
http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/+zqVnpdKWcE
To volunteer to sell:
http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/9OVAaNLulP0

Voter Resources: Amherst Elementary School Building Project and Question 5

The PGO hosted Town Meeting Moderator Jim Pistrang last week for an informative conversation about Amherst's Representative Town Meeting. Mr. Pistrang also spoke at length about the role that Town Meeting plays in the Amherst Elementary School Building Project. Thanks to all who attended and to Mr. Pistrang for his excellent presentation!

The PGO has received many questions about Question 5. The Town of Amherst provides multiple voter resources on the Town's homepage; see below:

For information about this election and as well as results and related documents about prior elections:

To see the official ballot (including all six questions):

To see details about the Ballot Question (5) Committees:


All public documents submitted to the state as well as agendas and minutes from all Building Committee Meetings are available on the ARPS homepage (bottom right of page or see below on this page): www.arps.org

Amherst Elementary School Building Project's Facebook page:

Amherst Elementary School Building Project's website hosted by NV5:

Amherst Elementary School Building Project's FAQ's:



Sunday, October 30, 2016

Voting in Amherst


Early Voting has begun and in this historic election there are many first time voters in Amherst. Read on for the voting procedure courtesy of the Town of Amherst. The procedure for early voting may be slightly different.

Checking In
When you approach the check-in table, first tell the poll worker the name of the street where you live, then the number of your residence, and finally your name. The voter's list is arranged in street order, which assists in keeping your wait time to a minimum.

If you are disabled and need assistance, you may be accompanied by someone who can provide the needed assistance or request a poll worker to provide you with confidential, nonpartisan help.

If your name does not appear on the active list of voters:
The poll worker at the check in table will direct a voter whose name does not appear on the active voter list to the warden for further assistance. The voter may be in "Inactive Status" which will require the completing and signing of an Affidavit of Current and Continued Residency before being able to vote. The voter will also be required to show documentation that establishes their current and continued residency in the town of Amherst. The precinct warden may need to contact the Town Clerk to determine if you are registered in another precinct. If you are listed on another precinct’s list in the Town, you must go to that polling location.

If you are not on any voter list in the Town, but believe you have registered:
You may request a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot allows you to cast your votes, but they will not be counted until the municipal election official determines your eligibility. The municipal election official will review available records, at least those for the last 3 years, to determine eligibility. If eligibility is confirmed, the ballot will be removed from its sealed envelope and grouped with similar ballots and counted in a manner that provides the greatest secrecy. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, your ballot will remain sealed in the envelope until such time as it is required to be kept and then will be destroyed without being viewed.

After Receiving Your Ballot
Once you give your address and name at the check-in table, you will receive a ballot and you can proceed to a voting booth for privacy.

In a primary election, voters who are registered in a political party may only obtain a ballot for that party. If you are an unenrolled voter (commonly referred to as an "independent voter"), you may request the ballot of any party participating in the primary election.

You may vote for the choices available on the ballot or, if you prefer, write in the name of a candidate in the space provided on the ballot.

Once you are done voting, you will proceed to the check-out table. Again, you will provide the poll worker your street address and name. You will then insert your ballot into the ballot box.


Amherst XC 5K Cross Country Race on Saturday, November 5


Gift Card Orders DUE Wednesday, November 2




NOTE: Gift Card orders are DUE WEDNESDAY! Orders must be in by November 2 so that we can process and distribute the cards before Thanksgiving break.

The PGO is selling gift cards that you can use for your normal weekly purchases at Stop and Shop and Target, for example. Other retailers include Gap, Best Buy, and American Eagle, and more. This is money that you would already be spending, but if you use our gift cards, you will be earning money for Fort River as we buy the gift cards at a discount (amount varies depending on the retailer.)

Use the cards for:
  • Purchases that you already make on a regular basis like groceries or gas.
  • Holiday shopping.
  • To give as gifts to teachers, mail carriers and bus drivers.
Again, this is money you already have budgeted, but if you use our gift cards, you are helping the PGO fund school programs for your students.

Crocker Farm Book Sale at Barnes and Noble on November 12

Crocker farm PGO is hosting their Barnes & Noble Book Fair on November 12. They will have book readings with author Cammie McGovern and with author team Corrine Demas and Artemis Roehrig, performances by Miss Leticia and her students, and a performance by Amherst Ballet. 

Mention Crocker Farm at check out and a portion of your purchase will be donated to their PGO. Fort River will host a similar event on December 3. Support education and literacy while enjoying these fairs!


Thursday, October 27, 2016

GARDEN HELP NEEDED: Request for Volunteers

A request for volunteers from Jennifer Reese, Science Coordinator & Resource Teacher, Amherst Public Schools, 413-362-1897

GARDEN HELP NEEDED:

At Wildwood, volunteers are needed to help weed the garden beds and compost the weeds. Volunteers would work with small groups (2-3 children) at at time, meeting with several groups over the course of a 45-60 minute period. Contact Lisa Poirer (poirierl@arps.org) if interested.

At Fort River, volunteers are needed to help revitalize the pollinator garden. This will involve weeding, trimming plants, cleaning out debris, adding fertilizer, and spreading wood chips. Contact Jane Costello (costelloj@arps.org) if interested.

Monday, October 24, 2016

PGO Coffee with the Principal Featuring Special Guest Jim Pistrang THIS THURSDAY, October 27



Please join your friends on Thursday, October 27 at 9 am for coffee and informative conversation! 

Our featured speaker is Amherst Town Meeting Moderator Jim Pistrang. Mr. Pistrang will discuss the role that Town Meeting will play in the Amherst Elementary School Building Project. 

Find out more about Town Meeting at: https://www.amherstma.gov/790/Town-Meeting

PGO Coffees with the Principal take place every month or two. The dates can be found on the PGO calendar which is on the right side of the blog home page. Some coffees may take place in the evening, depending upon community feedback. 

Your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are always welcome at PGO Coffees! Families with future Amherst Elementary school children are also welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you there!

Gift Card Fundraiser Orders Due November 2


Help the Fort River PGO earn money for school programs by doing nothing! (Well, almost nothing.) 

The PGO is selling gift cards that you can use for your normal weekly purchases at Stop and Shop and Target, for example. Other retailers include Gap, Best Buy, and American Eagle, and more. This is money that you would already be spending, but if you use our gift cards, you will be earning money for Fort River as we buy the gift cards at a discount (amount varies depending on the retailer.)

Use the cards for:
  • Purchases that you already make on a regular basis like groceries or gas.
  • Holiday shopping.
  • To give as gifts to teachers, mail carriers and bus drivers.
Again, this is money you already have budgeted, but if you use our gift cards, you are helping the PGO fund school programs for your students.

Order forms will be sent home in backpacks this week (or click the link below to get a copy.) Forms will be collected until November 2nd. We hope to distribute g
ift cards before the Thanksgiving break so that you may use them for holiday shopping or teacher gifts.

Fort River Library Display Features Books Purchased by PGO

Fort River Librarian Fran Ludington submitted this photo of an Open House display featuring books purchased using PGO donations. Thanks to all in our community who support the PGO so we can enrich the collection for our school library!

ARPS Conducts Survey of Military Families

from ARPS regarding Survey of Military Families:

Dear Guardian,

Amherst Regional Public Schools is conducting a survey to determine which members of the Amherst community are children of a military family according to the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3). Your participation in the survey is voluntary and is being conducted in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. If you currently have a student attending Amherst Regional Public Schools, please take a moment to complete this online survey at the following address:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QQTG7RR

For more information on how this information is used to support children of military families, please visit MIC3 at www.mic3.net.

Thank you for your support,
Amherst Regional Public Schools

Technology Resources for Students

Here are some useful resources from our Technology Teacher, Trevor Takayama:

Check out my Wave Tech website for good K-6 websites to visit:
        bit.ly/frwavetech

Subscribe to the Tech Twitter feed:
        @FortRiverTech

Throughout the year, I will focus on digital life concepts found on this website.
Feel free to use it as a reference: http://bit.ly/frdlife

Literacy Tip from the Fort River ELA Reading Intervention Team

Here's a literacy tip from the Fort River ELA Reading Intervention Team:
Pamela Barsalou, Rachmana Santorelli, Marie Webber, Andrea Lyons

This fall season we invite you to try out this word game with your child: 

Newspaper Words: ... Newspapers B&W (3) | by NS ...
Give your child a word. Have them use a highlighter and find it in the newspaper (or magazine). Highlight it when they’ve found it. Count how many times they’ve found it. 

Giving Tuesday is on November 29 - Where Do your Donations to the PGO Go?



Save the Date! 

Fort River PGO will be participating in a day of giving with others across the globe on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. 

Donations to our Annual Fund are accepted at any time, but on this special day of giving we recognize the power of community in helping the PGO and other non-profits continue to do great work year round. 

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff! 

Where does the money go? The pink family directories that came home last month were provided free to every family thanks to generous donations to the PGO.

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

“Fighting Hunger in our Kitchens and in our Congress” a community conversation at Amherst Survival Center on 10/26



special public event at the Amherst Survival Center on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 6:30PM TO 8:30PM:

“Fighting Hunger in our Kitchens and in our Congress” a community conversation with Leanne Brown, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Monte Belmonte, at the Amherst Survival Center on 138 Sunderland Road in North Amherst!

Join us, free and open to the public!

Try Hockey For Free Day! November 12

Mullins Center Community Rink

This event is designed to provide kids, between the ages of 4 to 9, a completely free experience to try youth hockey. A limited amount of equipment is available to borrow. Our top coaches will be on the ice to assist your child in learning the basics. Your son or daughter does not need any previous skating or hockey experience.
11/12/2016
Start Time: 1:30 PM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Phone: (413) 883-9258
Email: mbedan@comcast.net

Monday, October 17, 2016

Save The Date! Saturday, December 3 Barnes & Noble Book Fair to Benefit Fort River School

Start getting those holiday book shopping lists ready!  

On Saturday, December 3rd, Fort River will host a book fair at Barnes & Noble Hadley.  On that day, our school will get a percentage (10-15%) of every purchase made by customers who mention Fort River School at checkout.  Look for more details on the day’s performances, story times and activities in the coming weeks.

Volunteers are needed to make the day a success. In addition to welcoming customers to the store and making sure they know to mention Fort River, we will be hosting a gift wrapping table. Please contact Liz if you'd like to help out with programming or plan to volunteer. Thanks!

PGO Coffee with the Principal Featuring Special Guest Jim Pistrang on THURSDAY, October 27


Please join your friends on Thursday, October 27 at 9 am for coffee and informative conversation! 

Our featured speaker is Amherst Town Meeting Moderator Jim Pistrang. Mr. Pistrang will discuss the role that Town Meeting will play in the Amherst Elementary School Building Project. 

PGO Coffees with the Principal take place every month or two. The dates can be found on the PGO calendar which is on the right side of the blog home page. Some coffees may take place in the evening, depending upon community feedback. 

Your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are always welcome at PGO Coffees! Families with future Amherst Elementary school children are also welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you there!

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Thanks for Attending Open House!




Thanks to everyone who was able to attend Open House last week! Here are some snapshots from the evening. Pictures include: the bounty from the school garden (including pumpkin pie!), a Growth vs Fixed Mindset poster, a Family Pledge poster, sneak peaks from the Art room, and a "Just Be Awesome" poster from Tech Ed.










Giving Tuesday - a Global Day of Giving on November 29



Save the Date! 

Fort River PGO will be participating in a day of giving with others across the globe on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. 

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

Donations to our Annual Fund are accepted at any time, but on this special day of giving we recognize the power of community in helping the PGO and other non-profits continue to do great work year round. 

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff! #givingtuesday

Gift Card Fundraiser is Back!

Help the Fort River PGO earn money for school programs by doing nothing! (Well, almost nothing.) 

The PGO will be selling gift cards that you can use for your normal weekly purchases at Stop and Shop and Target, for example. Other retailers include Gap, Best Buy, and American Eagle, and more. This is money that you would already be spending, but if you use our gift cards, you will be earning money for Fort River as we buy the gift cards at a discount (from 3-16% depending on the retailer.)

Use the cards for:
  • Purchases that you already make on a regular basis like groceries or gas.
  • Holiday shopping.
  • To give as gifts to teachers, mail carriers and bus drivers.
Again, this is money you already have budgeted, but if you use our gift cards, you are helping the PGO fund school programs for your students.

Order forms will be available on or after October 24th and will be collected until November 2nd. Gift cards will be distributed before the Thanksgiving break so that you may use the gift cards for holiday shopping or teacher gifts. Stay tuned!

Save your Gear for the Annual ARPS Winter Clothing Drive!

Brr! It's getting chilly at night! 

When you pull out your winter gear from storage please set aside anything that your kids have out grown for our annual ARPS Winter Clothing Drive. This year Fort River will host the Winter Clothing Drive in mid November; details coming soon. In the meantime, please save your gear so that families in our own community can benefit. Thank you!

Wear BLUE on Wednesday, October 19



The Fort River community celebrates Unity Day on Wednesday, October 19th. Please send your child to school wearing anything BLUE! If you purchased a Fort River t-shirt this would be a terrific opportunity to wear it but it is certainly not required; any blue clothing item will work.


Unity Day is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month and has been recognized in the United States since 2011. By participating in Unity Day, the Fort River community aims to show support for students who have been bullied.

Support for Students and Families During Tragedy

message from Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Morris and Director of Student Services Dr. Faye Brady
October 16, 2016
Dear Families,
Many of you may have heard the news this weekend that our community has suffered a tragedy. Late Friday night/early Saturday morning there was a fatal shooting in Amherst. Although this is still an active police investigation, we do know that one person was fatally shot and another is hospitalized.  

When tragic events occur, we know that many will be impacted either directly or indirectly. It is important that we all recognize that there is no one way that people respond to tragic events and the impact of stress is experienced in many ways. There is no right or wrong way to cope and each person will need to use the coping skills that are appropriate for them. Below are several resources that you may find helpful to guide you as you and your family cope with our community’s tragedy. If you need a translated copy of any of these resources, please let us know.

http://traumacenter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Talking-withYour-Children-about-Traumatic-Events.pdf

http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/school/13-PFA_for_Schools_family_coping_parents.pdf

http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/school/14-PFA_for_Schools_relaxation.pdf

If you would like your child to speak with a counselor or psychologist, please call your child’s school to let us know. Personnel will be available to meet with students as needed. 

Also, if you would like to share information that would be helpful for the teacher(s) to know, please let us know that as well.  

As always, we welcome your partnership and support. We offer our sympathy and support to all families that are suffering or struggling. Please stay in touch with us if we can directly support you or offer guidance towards resources that may be helpful.

Sincerely,

Michael Morris, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Faye Brady, Ed.D.
Director of Student Services

School contact numbers:  Crocker Farm: 362-1600;  Fort River: 362-1200; Wildwood: 362-1400; Pelham: 362-1100; ARMS: 362-1800; ARHS: 362-1700; SEC: 362-1753

16 de octubre del 2016

Estimadas familias:

Muchos de ustedes habran escuchado que nuestra comunidad sufrio una tragedia este fin de semana. En la madrugada del sabado hubo un asesinato en Amherst. Aunque la investigacion policiaca continua, sabemos que una persona fue balaceada mortalmente y otra persona sigue hospitalizada. 

Cuando eventos tragicos ocurren, sabemos que muchos seran impactados directa o indirectamente. Es importante reconocer que las personas responden de distintas maneras a eventos tragicos y el estres impacta de muchas maneras. No hay una manera correcta o incorrecta de reaccionar y cada persona debe utilizar los medios de mediar que sean adecuados para ellos. Abajo incluimos recursos que podran encontrar de utilidad para ayudarlo a mediar con esta tragedia comunitaria. Si desea una copia traducida, dejenos saber. 

http://traumacenter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Talking-withYour-Children-about-Traumatic-Events.pdf



Si desea que su hijo hable con un consejero o psicologo, llama a la escuela de su hijo/a y dejenos saber.  Empleados de apoyo van a estar disponible para reunirse con los que necesiten. Si tiene informacion que compartir con sus maestros que puede ser de ayuda, dejenos saber tambien. 

Como siempre, agradecemos su apoyo y hermandad.
Le ofrecemos nuestro pesame y apoyo a todas las familias afectadas y/o estan sufriendo. Por favor, mantengase en comunicacion con nosotros y diganos si le podemos ofrecer apoyo adicional u ofrecer recursos adicionales para ayudarlos. 

Sinceramente,

Michael Morris, Ed.D.
Superintendente interino

Faye Brady, Ed.D.
Directora de Asuntos Estudiantiles

Numeros de contacto de las escuelas. 

Crocker Farm: 362-1600;  Fort River: 362-1200; Wildwood: 362-1400; Pelham: 362-1100;ARMS: 362-1800; ARHS: 362-1700; SEC: 362-1753
Family letter- Spanish- 10.16.16.pdf
Family letter 10.16.16.pdf