The Amherst Regional School District will continue to
enroll and serve every child living in the district who chooses to attend our
schools, without regard to their immigration status. View the assurance letter
from the ARPS interim superintendent regarding immigrant families.
Fort River PGO, Fort River School, Amherst, Massachusetts. Your source for Fort River news and events. Sponsored by the Fort River Parent Guardian Organization. All Fort River families are automatically members of the PGO.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Town Meeting School Vote on January 30
On
Monday, January 30 at 7pm, the Amherst Town Meeting will vote on Article 1.
Petition “Bond Authorization for Co-located Elementary School Project on
Wildwood site"
“To see if the Town of Amherst will appropriate, transfer from available funds and/or borrow $66,369,000 to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee to construct, originally equip and furnish two co-located elementary schools on the Wildwood site to educate all Amherst students in grades 2-6, including the cost of architectural design, project management and other incidental and related costs, as well as demolition of the existing building and other necessary site improvements, which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town may be eligible for a School construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7(1) of the Massachusetts General Laws or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor. The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town of Amherst may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lessor of (1) 68.34 percent (%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA."
Full text of Town Warrant: http://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/37540
Certified petitions and statements are available on the Town Meeting’s website: http://www.amherstma.gov/790/Town-Meeting
The Town Meeting Coordinating Committee has established a new communication method that allows citizens to email Town Meeting members. Use the following format to contact all members from a specific precinct:
precinct1@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 1)
precinct2@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 2)
precinct3@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 3)
precinct4@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 4)
and so on. Substitute the correct number for the precinct you wish to email. Any TM member from that precinct who has an email on file with the TMCC will receive the message. Phone numbers and mailing addresses for TM members are available from the League of Women Voters here: http://www.lwvamherst.org/town-meeting-members
“To see if the Town of Amherst will appropriate, transfer from available funds and/or borrow $66,369,000 to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee to construct, originally equip and furnish two co-located elementary schools on the Wildwood site to educate all Amherst students in grades 2-6, including the cost of architectural design, project management and other incidental and related costs, as well as demolition of the existing building and other necessary site improvements, which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town may be eligible for a School construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7(1) of the Massachusetts General Laws or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor. The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town of Amherst may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lessor of (1) 68.34 percent (%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA."
Full text of Town Warrant: http://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/37540
Certified petitions and statements are available on the Town Meeting’s website: http://www.amherstma.gov/790/Town-Meeting
The Town Meeting Coordinating Committee has established a new communication method that allows citizens to email Town Meeting members. Use the following format to contact all members from a specific precinct:
precinct1@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 1)
precinct2@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 2)
precinct3@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 3)
precinct4@amherstma.gov (for Precinct 4)
and so on. Substitute the correct number for the precinct you wish to email. Any TM member from that precinct who has an email on file with the TMCC will receive the message. Phone numbers and mailing addresses for TM members are available from the League of Women Voters here: http://www.lwvamherst.org/town-meeting-members
Hillside Pizza Fundraiser for 5th Grade Field Trips
The 5th grade is once again selling delicious, convenient Hillside pizzas!
Orders are due by February 9. Simply fill out the form that went home in backpacks or order from a 5th grader. Payment and a contact phone number are needed when orders are placed.
Pizza pickup is in the Fort River lobby on February 16 after school until 5:30pm.
Thank you!
Silver Chord Bowl 2017 this Sunday, February 5 at 2 pm
The Silver Chord Bowl, the oldest and most respected
collegiate a cappella showcase in the region, hosted in John M. Greene Hall on
the Smith College campus, is happening soon. This year's event will begin with a
performance by Northampton High School’s very own Northamptones, followed by
performances by six groups from colleges and universities around the Northeast.
This year we will see the Dartmouth Aires, the Boston University BosTones,
Tufts sQ!, the UMass Dynamics, the UMass Doo Wop Shop and the Smith College
Noteables. The Silver Chord Bowl 2017 will be hosted by Smith College President
Kathleen McCartney and Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz.
When: Sunday, February 5th – 2:00 PM Showtime, Doors Open at
1:30 PM
Where: John M. Greene Hall - Smith College, 63 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Tickets: http://silverchordbowl.brownpapertickets.com for
Premium Assigned & General Admission Tickets; State Street Fruit Store in Northampton,
Cooper's Corner in Florence, AJ Hastings in Amherst, and Elmer's in Ashfield
for General Admission Tickets.
Premium Assigned Seating - All Ages: $35, available online
only
General Admission - All Ages: $15, available online and at one of our ticket outlets
General Admission - All Ages: $15, available online and at one of our ticket outlets
Save the Date! AEF Celebrates Music in Our Schools on March 18
AEF is thrilled to announce its spring fundraiser: Music in
our Schools!
Saturday, March 18, 2017
6 - 9 pm
Emceed by Performing Arts Department Chair John Bechtold and
State Representative Solomon Goldstein-Rose, the evening will be filled with
tributes, performances, and wonderful food and drink.
AEF will be giving a special award to ARMS Chorus Director
Dave Ranen and lifetime achievement recognitions to all of our district’s music
educators, past and present, who have taught for more than 20 years in the
schools.
AEF has invited all music educators to be our guests at our
event, and is pleased to announce that we will be joined by Fort River Music
Teacher Anne White, Crocker Farm Music Teacher Eleanor Lincoln, Wildwood Music
Teacher Jacob Brownell, ARHS Chorale teacher Todd Fruth, and retired Band
Leader Sue Dunbar. The list is still growing!
Proceeds will support AEF's 2017 excellence grants, with a
portion going directly to the ARPS music program. Tickets can be purchased online at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aef-celebrates-music-in-our-schools-tickets-30365825000#tickets
or by clicking here.
The event will be held at: Marriott Center, Campus Center, 11th floor, UMass-Amherst, 1
Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA.
Volunteers Needed: Board of Directors of Amherst A Better Chance
Interested in volunteering with a program that for nearly 50
years has successfully supported young men of color from disadvantaged school
districts who come to Amherst to live in a supportive home environment while
attending Amherst Regional High School?
Please consider joining the Board of Directors of Amherst A Better
Chance. We can guarantee our
volunteers the opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of these young
men. They are scholars who
demonstrate such promise while here in Amherst and who, as ABC and ARHS alumni,
live lives of purpose.
Please contact Wendy Kohler, President of Amherst A Better
Chance, for more information.
(Email:
wendykohler@comcast.net; Cell:
413-250-0091)
Special Free Family Screening of "Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age,” February 8
Mark your calendars for this free family event, sponsored by
the ARMS PGO and the Principal’s office.
We will be hosting a screening of the film "Screenagers: Growing up
int he Digital Age" on Wednesday, February 8, from 6:30-8:30 pm in the
ARMS auditorium.
Admission is free and open to all ARMS families. We will also be selling raffle tickets
for a chance to win a Screen-free Family Fun basket. We strongly encourage you to attend with your children. To learn more about the film and watch
a trailer, please visit screenagersmovie.com.
UPDATE: ARHS Gym Renovation Project
from ARHS Administration:
We are excited to provide an update on the ARHS gymnasium
renovation project. The
architectural firm Kuhn Riddle will have the design work for the project done
by the end of January with construction anticipated to begin in March. The construction phase of the project
will be completed by August 15th in time for all of our Fall athletic programs
and the 2017-18 school year. The
scope of the project will include the following:
- Removal and replacement of the existing gym floor
- Removal of the wooden bleachers to be replaced with new ADA compliant composite bleachers
- Painting the ceiling and walls white with Hurricane logos (location TBD)
- Removal of the non-functioning mechanical doors to be replaced with drop down netting
- Reconfigure the volleyball court to allow for two practice nets
We appreciate everyone's patience with this project as it
has put a strain on our physical education students and teachers as well as our
athletic teams this year. In the
end we will have a fully renovated gymnasium that has not seen significant
updates since its construction in 1959.
This is an exciting chapter in ARHS Athletics and we can’t wait to see
our student athletes utilizing this space next year!
Survey Regarding Superintendent Search ends Monday, January 30 at noon
FROM: Eric Nakajima, Chair of
the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, Anastasia Ordonez, Chair of the Union 26
School Committee
RE: Survey Regarding Superintendent Search
The Amherst, Pelham and
Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools are in the process of seeking a permanent
Superintendent of Schools to serve our communities. A contractor, Ray and
Associates, Inc., will support this process and conduct the national search.
Feedback from all stakeholder groups is essential to ensure we invite
candidates who reflect the qualities and characteristics most valued by our
communities.
Community members are
invited to complete the online survey
available here.
Results of the survey will be compiled by Ray and Associates, Inc. and
shared with the Amherst-Pelham Regional and Union 26 School Committees.
The deadline for completing the survey is Monday, January 30, 2017 at
12:00 p.m..
DE: Eric Nakajima, Presidente del Comité
Escolar Regional de Amherst-Pelham, Anastasia Ordóñez, Presidenta del Comité
Escolar de la Unión 26
RE: Encuesta sobre la
búsqueda del superintendente
Las Escuelas Regionales
de Amherst, Pelham y Amherst-Pelham están en proceso de buscar un
Superintendente de Escuelas Permanente para servir a nuestras comunidades. Un
contratista, Ray and Associates, Inc., apoyará este proceso y llevar a cabo la
búsqueda a nivel nacional. La retroalimentación de todos los grupos de
interesados es esencial para asegurar que invitamos a candidatos que reflejen
las cualidades y características más valoradas por nuestras comunidades.
Los miembros de la
comunidad están invitados a completar la
encuesta en línea disponible aquí. Los resultados de la encuesta serán compilados por Ray
and Associates, Inc. y compartidos con los Comités Regionales de Amherst-Pelham
y Unión 26. La fecha límite para completar la encuesta es el lunes, 30 de enero
de 2017 medio dia.
Fort River Winter Orchestra and Band Concert on Tuesday, January 31, 6:30 pm
The Fort River Winter Orchestra and Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, January 31, from 6:30 - 8pm. This is the performance that was rescheduled (for a second time) from last week.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Fort River Winter Orchestra and Band Concert TONIGHT 1/24 at 6:30 pm
The Fort River Winter Orchestra and Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, January 24, from 6:30 - 8pm. This is the performance that was rescheduled from last week.
Water Testing Update for Fort River
from ARPS Central Office:
January 20, 2017
Dear Fort River Community:
As we notified you in October and December, retesting at Fort River had not resolved many of the issues related to the water. Since that time, district maintenance staff members have completed the additional repairs of replacing the shut-off valve with a certified, lead free replacement part. The challenge of this repair process was that water had to be shut off in the school in order to do the work based on the antiquated systems in the building. Given the disruption this would cause to students and staff, the repairs were completed on the weekends and the December holidays.
We have retested these water outlets since the additional repair, and I am pleased to report that 71 of the 78 outlets tested below the action level on first draw, and all 78 of the outlets were below the level after the flush test. Fort River is now down to 7 water outlets that need additional work in the entire building: two in Room CR-1, one in the Health Room, one in the Vault/break room, and one each in rooms Room H-2, Room E-1, and Room K-2. The retesting results can be found here.
We will continue using our flushing protocol for these outlets until additional repairs are made by our district maintenance staff. When additional repairs are completed on the remaining water outlets in the school and we receive retesting data, we will share information with the community. Thank you for your patience as our maintenance staff works through the remaining repairs.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Morris
Interim Superintendent
January 20, 2017
Dear Fort River Community:
As we notified you in October and December, retesting at Fort River had not resolved many of the issues related to the water. Since that time, district maintenance staff members have completed the additional repairs of replacing the shut-off valve with a certified, lead free replacement part. The challenge of this repair process was that water had to be shut off in the school in order to do the work based on the antiquated systems in the building. Given the disruption this would cause to students and staff, the repairs were completed on the weekends and the December holidays.
We have retested these water outlets since the additional repair, and I am pleased to report that 71 of the 78 outlets tested below the action level on first draw, and all 78 of the outlets were below the level after the flush test. Fort River is now down to 7 water outlets that need additional work in the entire building: two in Room CR-1, one in the Health Room, one in the Vault/break room, and one each in rooms Room H-2, Room E-1, and Room K-2. The retesting results can be found here.
We will continue using our flushing protocol for these outlets until additional repairs are made by our district maintenance staff. When additional repairs are completed on the remaining water outlets in the school and we receive retesting data, we will share information with the community. Thank you for your patience as our maintenance staff works through the remaining repairs.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Morris
Interim Superintendent
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Superintendent Search Consultant Outreach Meetings POSTPONED
from ARPS Central office:
Due to a winter storm forecast for Monday that may impact travel, Dr. Michael Rush, Superintendent Search Consultant, has moved the dates of next week’s focus groups to Wednesday, January 25 and Thursday, January 26. He and the district want to ensure that as many stakeholders as possible have an opportunity to share their thoughts about what qualities, skills, and experience the School Committees should consider as they seek a permanent Superintendent of Schools.
Although the date and some meeting locations are changed, the meeting times for each constituency group are unchanged. Parents and guardians are now scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25th in the Amherst Regional Middle School Library. The full schedule of meetings is attached.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Debido a una tormenta de invierno pronosticada para el lunes que puede afectar en los viajes, el Dr. Michael Rush, Consultor de Búsqueda del Superintendente, ha movido las fechas de los grupos de enfoque de la próxima semana para el miércoles, 25 de enero y jueves, 26 de enero. Tanto el como el distrito desean asegurar que el mayor número de participantes posible tengan la oportunidad de compartir sus pensamientos acerca de las cualidades, habilidades y experiencia que los Comités Escolares deben considerar cuando buscan un Superintendente de Escuelas permanente.
A pesar de que la fecha y algunos lugares de reunión cambiaran, los horarios de reunión para cada grupo de electores no se han modificado. Se adjunta el calendario completo de reuniones. Los padres y encargados están programados para las 6:30 p.m. el miércoles, 25 de enero en la Biblioteca de la Escuela Intermedia Regional de Amherst.
Nos disculpamos por cualquier inconveniente.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Amherst Baseball Registration
Amherst Baseball online
registration is open. Here is some information:
How do I register?
Online registration for
the 2017 season begins on January 15 at www.amherstbaseball.org. If you wish to
register in person, we will have a table at Winterfest on February 11 and we
will make registration available during indoor Spring Training on March 11 at
the Amherst College cage. You can also request a registration form by sending
an email to amherstbaseball@gmail.com.
Do you offer financial
aid?
Yes! Scholarships are
available to qualified families. Please email amherstbaseball@gmail.com if you
wish to be considered for a need-based scholarship.
Who can register?
We have Spring leagues
for children who are 5 years old up through and including the age of 16. We have Summer leagues for ages 14
through 19, and Fall leagues for ages 9-13. All leagues are co-ed. You are
eligible to play if you live or go to school in Amherst, Hadley, Pelham,
Shutesbury or Leverett, and for Babe Ruth, Belchertown. You can also play with
waiver from the district president. Email amherstbaseball@gmail.com for more
information on waivers.
Do you offer any
clinics?
Amherst College hosts
its annual Winter Instructional Clinic on January 16 and 18, 2017 for ages
9-16. Players will participate in small groups and will be given individual
attention and instruction by college coaches and players. You can register
at
http://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/bsb/2016-17/releases/20161218m7n7or
. We also offer coaching clinics.
When does the season
start?
Our season starts with
Indoor Spring Training will be held on Saturday March 11 and Sunday March 19 at
the Amherst College cage. Please save the dates and we will provide more
information on the website regarding the exact times for each age group. We
practice for much of April outside, and games generally begin around May 1.
When does the season
end?
The season ends around
the same time that school ends in mid-June. Post-season tournaments for 9-10
and 11-12 year olds run from mid-June to mid- to late-July.
Do you have equipment
available for purchase?
Families are invited to
bring any unwanted baseball equipment to Spring Training on March 11. We will
sort and offer this equipment on a first come-first serve basis at the March 19
Spring Training.
My child is playing for
his school team. Can he also play Amherst Baseball?
Yes! We work closely
with the schools to ensure that kids can play both school and town baseball by
avoiding conflicts with practices and games.
5th Annual Fort River Chili Night for a Chilly Night THIS Thursday January 19
Check out the fancy hardware that you could be bringing home from the 5th Annual Fort River Chili Night for a Chilly Night!
Lots of food is needed! Please sign up to bring chili, cornbread, setup, cleanup etc. at http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/iMSHyEFLb80
Homework Survey - Please Complete by Noon TODAY
This is a reminder that the Homework Survey will close on Tuesday, January 17th at noon. You can visit the survey here. Please complete this short 5 minute survey and provide the district with your feedback on your experience with not having homework assigned during the winter break.
Esto es un recordatorio de que la Encuesta de Tareas se cerrará el martes, 17 de enero al mediodía. Puede visitar la encuesta aquí. Complete esta breve encuesta de 5 minutos y proporcione al distrito su opinión sobre su experiencia al no tener tarea asignada durante las vacaciones de invierno.
Esto es un recordatorio de que la Encuesta de Tareas se cerrará el martes, 17 de enero al mediodía. Puede visitar la encuesta aquí. Complete esta breve encuesta de 5 minutos y proporcione al distrito su opinión sobre su experiencia al no tener tarea asignada durante las vacaciones de invierno.
Fort River Winter Orchestra and Band Concert TODAY January 17
The Fort River Winter Orchestra and Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, January 17, from 6:30 - 8pm. There will be an afternoon performance at 2pm. Please help our Instrumental Music Professional Staff by encouraging your students to practice!
Monday, January 16, 2017
Save the Date! 7th Annual Daffodil Fun Run on April 30th!
On your mark,
get set…
Save the date
for April 30, 2017!
It’s the 7th Annual Daffodil Run to benefit Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County and there is big news... in addition to the 5k walk/run there will be a 10k run!
Register before
April 1, 2017 for early bird rates and to be guaranteed an event t-shirt.
Celebrate spring and enjoy pre-race warm up activities for all ages,
music by DJ Matt Peterson, bounce house, games, barbecue by The Pub and
more! All levels of participation are welcome.
Register today
on RaceWire.com:
ARPS Wellness Committee Seeks New Members
The
Wellness Committee is seeking new members. The committee will next meet
in February. The committee focuses on nutrition/food and physical
activity.
The
committee ensures that all schools are in compliance with federal and state
requirements, and with the requirements set forth by this policy. The Committee
shall be comprised of the Director of Student Services, a School Nurse, a
Principal, and at least three community members or parent/guardians. The
Committee shall meet at least twice during the school year. The Wellness
Committee will review the Districts’ wellness guidelines every two years and
make recommendations for any changes to the Superintendent.
A mid-year
Wellness report addressing each element of the Wellness Policy shall be
submitted to the Superintendent and the School Committee by January of each
year.
For further
information, contact Dr. Faye Brady at 362-1834.
Get Ready for Winterfest 2017!
The Annual Amherst
Winterfest will be held on Feb. 11, 2017. The festival will be held at Cherry
Hill Golf Course, 323 Montague Road.
The festival begins at 1
p.m. and ends after the 6 p.m. fireworks.
There’s the annual
cardboard classic sled race with prizes for best design, as well as the "Best in Snow" dog show.
The Valley’s Got Talent Auditions
The First Annual Valley’s
Got Talent competition will be held on Sunday, March 26th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00
pm in the Bangs Community Center. This is an amateur talent competition for all
ages!
1st Prize $1000, 2nd Prize
$500, 3rd Prize $250!
Auditions will be held on
February 6th in the Bangs Community Center from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm.
For an application go to: https://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1818
Letter to ARHS Parents/Guardians on Ballot Question #4
This letter from Amherst Regional High School Principal Mark Jackson was sent to ARHS families and is reposted here because much of the content is relevant to the entire district.
In the November election,
Massachusetts voters approved ballot question #4: the ‘Legalization,
Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana.’ As a result, school
districts all over the state are working to clarify the law for their
communities.
While the state’s Executive
Office of Public Safety and Security has described the new law as ‘a complex
web of different rules…’, my goal here is to sidestep most of the fine print
and focus only on the implications of the law for the high school and its
students.
In December, I met with a
representative of the Amherst Police Department to take advice on how to best
summarize the law. They have reviewed and approved the summary below.
Here are the core
provisions:
- It is illegal for anyone to possess or consume marijuana on the grounds of or within a public or private school where children attend classes in preschool programs, kindergarten programs or secondary schools.
- It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to possess marijuana or attempt to procure unless they hold a valid medical marijuana card.
The new law does not change
the consequences for marijuana in school. Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 37 H still applies.
Beyond the law, there is
our larger interest in the healthy development of our students. Marijuana use,
in my judgment and those of experts in the field, doesn’t much contribute
to this.
As always, our guidance
department is available to talk with parents/guardians and families if there
are concerns.
Thank you.
Mark Jackson, Principal
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