Giving Tuesday is November 28 - So Many Ways to Give

#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. Millions of people come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

Random acts of kindness are a great way to teach young children about giving and supporting each other. Helping a neighbor with yard work or donating clothes and books are easy ways to get kids involved. The Fort River Student Council is currently organizing a toy and necessities drive for victims of Hurricane Maria. The Amherst Survival Center and local religious groups have ongoing opportunities to donate or volunteer locally. The Amherst Education Foundation provides grants to ARPS teachers allowing students to tangibly see their families' donations at work.

The Fort River PGO also depends on generous giving from our community so that we can continue to support the work of our incredible teachers and staff. The Annual Fund needs to cover about 30% of the annual budget. Please consider joining the Fort River community on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 by including the PGO in your end-of-year giving. If you are able to help, please click here to donate using PayPal or send a check into the Main Office made out to "Fort River PGO." Thanks!

Around the World at Fort River: Save the Date and Request for Committee Volunteers

Fort River Elementary has a rainbow of cultures and people that we like to celebrate at our Around the World at Fort River event. This year's celebration is February 15 from 6 - 8 pm.

The PGO is looking for several volunteers to help organize the evening including arranging performances, decorations, and promoting with posters, flyers and announcements.  If you would like to help organize the celebration, contact Deborah_christakos@yahoo.com, (413) 320-7700

Welcome Back! Time to Bundle Up!

We hope you enjoyed your homework free break and managed to get lots of rest! 

It's cold outside so please send your students to school with appropriate gear. Contact the school if you need assistance obtaining warm clothing; there are lots of wonderful items available in the Winter Clothing Share.

Jones Library Film and Discussion Series: 13TH

Message from Coming Together and the Jones Library:

Join us on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Woodbury Room for the next event in this ongoing film and discussion series that may educate, touch your heart, and inspire you to action to help dismantle racism.

This month’s screening of 13TH is a powerful documentary which explores the history of race and the criminal justice system in the United States by Ava DuVernay, the director of the feature film Selma. The final half of the film will be screened, as the first half was screened and discussed at the October meeting. After the discussion, work will continue in small working groups to advance anti-racism action projects that have been undertaken.

Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223.

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and Coming Together.  More information about Coming Together can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

ARHS Women’s Rights Club Feminine Hygiene Products Drive

Important message from the ARHS Women’s Rights Club:

The ARHS Women’s Rights Club is running a TAMPON AND PAD drive all month! All donations will benefit the Amherst Survival Center so that hygiene products can be available to all that need it!

Look for the signs and boxes located at the school to donate what you can.

Donations should be in sealed boxes or packages. Drive will be up until the end of the month. Donations are also accepted year round at the Amherst Survival Center. We hope that this drive will bring more awareness to a natural part of human experience as well as an important public health need.

Volunteers Needed for Videotaping Fort River School Building Committee Meetings

Volunteers are needed to videotape the Fort River School Building Committee meetings. Amherst Media will provide training and the necessary equipment, and will broadcast the meetings for the community.

The first meeting is Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 4 to 6 pm at the ARMS Professional Development Center and there will likely be one or two meetings per month. Several people willing and able to take turns doing the filming would be ideal to ensure coverage of these important meetings.

Please contact ftriver@gmail.com if you or someone you know can help.

Thank you!

PGO Meeting on November 16 at 9 am

General PGO Meeting

Thursday, November 16

9 - 10 am

Please join the PGO Board for our monthly meeting. All current Fort River parents and guardians are welcome! Budget, fundraising plans, and volunteer needs will be discussed. Small children are always welcome!

Technology Help at Amherst Libraries

Technology Specialist Doctor Hank will be available to help you troubleshoot your computer, tablet, e-reader, or other personal electronic device according to the following schedule:

• Jones Library: first and third Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. (in the Atrium)
• Munson Memorial Library: every Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
• North Amherst Library: second and fourth Fridays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

This drop-in support is free and open to the public on a first-come first-served basis.

IMPORTANT: Occasionally, Dr. Hank’s visits have to be rescheduled, so we encourage you to call our Reference Desk at 413-259-3096 to confirm.

PC Doctor Hank is funded in large part by the Friends of the Library in memory of Conrad Wogrin.

LSSE Amherst Youth Basketball League

SIGN UP TODAY!! 

LATE FEE AFTER NOV 17th!!

Jamboree on December 9, 2017

Games begin on January 6, 2018

FEES

Grades k-2 (coed): $95

Grades 2-8 Division: $125

Grades 9-12 Boys: $135

Grades 8-12 Girls: $135

Fee increase $20 After Nov 17th!

Go to LSSE.org to register for a division or call the LSSE Office at 413-259-3144 TODAY!

For more information about the league email Chris Johnson at JohnsonC@amherstma.gov.

Spanish Dual-Immersion/Magnet Survey Deadline November 13 - Please Complete

Reminder From the Enrollment Working Group:

The subgroup studying Spanish dual-immersion/magnet options is seeking feedback from pre-K-6 parents in the district! If you haven’t already, please consider completing the following survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7JNX  by Monday, November 13. Thank you for your help! Your responses can help our district envision the future of our schools!

Recordatorio del grupo de trabajo de inscripción:

¡El subgrupo que estudia las opciones de doble inmersión en español / especializada está buscando comentarios de los padres de pre-K-6 en el distrito! Si aún no lo ha hecho, considere completar la siguiente encuesta en https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7JNX antes del lunes, 13 de noviembre. ¡Gracias por su ayuda! ¡Sus respuestas pueden ayudar a nuestro distrito en visionar el futuro de nuestras escuelas!

ARPS Warm Winter Coat and Clothing Share

To help everyone stay warm this winter, the Amherst school parent & guardian organizations (PGOs) are collecting winter coats & other outerwear for students (preK through 12th grade) & families.

We are seeking donations of clean, gently-used winter outerwear in ALL sizes (especially student sizes)

* coats * snow pants * snow boots * hats
* jackets * gloves/mittens *scarves * snowsuits

AMHERST REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (ARHS) 21 Mattoon Street, 413-362-1700
Collection: Now through December 1st in the lobby
Distribution: Through the ARPS Family Center, November 20th into December

CROCKER FARM ELEMENTARY 280 West Street, 413-362-1600
Collection: Now until November 13th, in the lobby & at the preschool entrance
Distribution: November 14th, November 15th, November 16th

FORT RIVER ELEMENTARY 70 South East Street, 413-362-1200
Collection: Now until November 16th, in the lobby
Distribution: November 17th through November 29th (school days only)

WILDWOOD ELEMENTARY 71 Strong Street, 413-362-1400
Collection: Now until November 17th in the lobby
Distribution: November 20th through December 15th (school days only)

AMHERST REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL (ARMS) 170 Chestnut Street, 413-362-1800
Collection: November 6th through December 1st in the lobby & near the auditorium
Distribution: Through the ARPS Family Center, November 20th into December (as supplies last)

MANY THANKS for your donations. Thank you too to the businesses and community partners who are helping with this effort. Any winter clothing that is not given out at the schools will be donated to the Amherst Survival Center.

ARHS Hurricanes Host MIAA Quarter-Final Games on November 6 and 7

Cheer on your ‘Canes Fort River Alums in Quarter-Final Games This Week

Monday – Boys Soccer

Quarter Final at 6:30 p.m. @ home

Ticket prices are $5 for adults $3 for students & seniors

Tuesday – Volleyball

Quarter Final at 6:30 p.m. @ home

Ticket prices are $5 for adults $3 for students & seniors

Follow your favorite teams from Canes Nation on:

MassLive High School Sports

Amherst Hurricanes Boosters on Facebook

Amherst Hurricanes Boosters on Twitter

GO CANES!

BASIC RIGHTS In Special Education Workshop on November 9

You are invited . . .BASIC RIGHTS In Special Education

Thursday, November 9, 2017.

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

ARHS Library

Please RSVP to SEPAC@arps.org or call (413) 687-4255.

This workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities under:

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Massachusetts Special Education Law
SEPAC: Basic Rights in Special Education

ARMS PGO Online Amherst Merchandise Store Open Through November 20

The ARMS PGO online Amherst merchandise store is now open. But act fast, because the store will be closing at midnight on Monday, November 20. The selection includes lots of great Amherst merchandise, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, athletic tops, shorts, sweatpants (new!), hats, scarves, caps, bags, socks, and headbands. Something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. 

Items will be available for distribution to ARMS students or pickup in the ARMS office on December 8. You can order online at https://amherstregionalmiddleschool.itemorder.com 

Click here for a printable merchandise flyer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-2bHm-1AjRfLS1WbEZUR0ZKR0E

Memo from Superintendent Morris regarding Homework during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

November 3, 2017

Dear Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Families and Staff:

As you know, students are expected to complete a significant amount of work outside of the school day and throughout the school year. We are committed to maintaining high expectations for our students, and we celebrate the many ways they achieve and succeed. However, we also recognize that there are times during the school year that students should be able to rest and recharge.

After deep consideration of the issue and consultation with our principals, as well as feedback from last year’s similar decision and from other districts that have taken similar measures, I have decided that no homework or professional work will be given, completed, or required by students and teachers over the Thanksgiving or the Winter Break. Long range projects will not have a due date of November 27th or January 2, respectively. Moreover, while daily reading is always recommended, it should be based on the choice of the student or family, not based on an assigned reading or text.

For our students' benefit, it is important that we recognize that these two breaks are used for not only religious or cultural observances and holiday celebrations, but also as a brief reprieve from the continuous academic assignments of the school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Morris
Superintendent of Schools

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Estimadas Familias y Personal de Amherst, Pelham y Regionales Amherst-Pelham:

Como saben, se espera que los estudiantes completen una cantidad significativa de trabajo fuera del día escolar y durante el año escolar. Estamos comprometidos en mantener altas expectativas para nuestros estudiantes, y celebramos las muchas formas en que logran y tienen éxito. Sin embargo, también reconocemos que hay momentos durante el año escolar en que los estudiantes deberían poder descansar y recargar energías.

Después de una profunda consideración del tema y consulta con nuestros directores, así como los comentarios de la decisión similar del año pasado y de otros distritos que han tomado medidas similares, he decidido que a los estudiantes y maestros no se le dará, ni se le requerirá completar tarea o trabajo profesional durante el receso de Día de Acción de Gracias o en las vacaciones de invierno. Los proyectos de largo alcance no tendrán una fecha de vencimiento del 27 de noviembre o el 2 de enero, respectivamente. Además, aunque siempre se recomienda la lectura diaria, debe basarse en la elección del alumno o de la familia, no en función de una lectura o texto asignado.

Para el beneficio de nuestros estudiantes, es importante que reconozcamos que estos dos
descansos se utilizan no solo para las celebraciones religiosas o culturales y las celebraciones festivas, sino también como un breve respiro de las tareas académicas continuas del año escolar.

Sinceramente,

Dr. Michael Morris
Superintendente de Escuelas

Family Photo Sessions - Thank You!

Thank you to Lexi from Monesson-Olson Photography for partnering with Fort River! Lexi offered discounted mini portrait sessions to our families last Saturday and will be donating a portion of the session fees to the PGO. We are so grateful! 

If you missed out please follow Monesson-Olson Photography on Facebook to stay informed about future group sessions. She also offers a variety of scheduling options on her website. Thanks to all of the families who signed up to take advantage of this incredible opportunity!

Potential Dual Language K-6 Magnet School - Please Complete Survey

Hello Fort River families,

A hard working group of volunteers are exploring K-6 enrollment options for the Amherst School District. Please help this effort by completing this very brief survey. Thank you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are part of the Enrollment Working Group,  a group of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members that is in the process of researching educational options for the Amherst Public School district. 

Our subgroup is exploring world language opportunities for our students, with a focus on the potential for our district to start a K-6 magnet school. Based on our perception of ongoing interest by the community and our current demographics of ELL (English Language Learners) students and bilingual staff, we are particularly interested in determining the feasibility of creating a English/Spanish K-6 dual immersion program (a dual language school teaches subjects in English and Spanish, with the goal of all students learning both languages). Our goals for this survey are to:

• Assess interest in a K-6 dual immersion magnet school option by English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families
• Assess interest in other magnet school themes
• Assess interest in expanded Spanish language instruction as part of regular (non-dual immersion) K-6 programming. 

Please take a moment before November 14 to complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7JNX to share your thoughts and opinions.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

The Magnet/Dual-Immersion Subgroup of the Enrollment Working Group

Andrea Battle (ARPS Grandparent)

Irene Dujovne (ARPS Parent)

Margaret Sawyer (ARPS Parent)

Miki Gromacki (ARHS Assistant Principal, ARPS Parent)

Phoebe Hazzard (Amherst School Committee Chair, ARPS Parent)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somos parte del grupo de trabajo de matrícula, un grupo de padres, maestros, administradores y miembros de la comunidad que está en el proceso de investigación de opciones educativas para el distrito escolar público de Amherst.

Nuestro subgrupo está explorando oportunidades de idiomas del mundo para nuestros estudiantes, con un enfoque en el potencial de nuestro distrito para comenzar una escuela especializada de K-6. De acuerdo a nuestra percepción del interés continuo de la comunidad, nuestra demografía actual de estudiantes de ELL (Aprendices del Idioma Inglés) y personal bilingüe, estamos particularmente interesados en determinar la viabilidad de crear un programa de inmersión doble en inglés / español para K-6. (Una escuela de doble idioma enseña materias en inglés y español, con el objetivo de que todos los estudiantes aprendan ambos idiomas). Nuestros objetivos para esta encuesta son:

• Evaluar el interés en una opción de escuela especializada de doble inmersión K-6 de familias de habla inglesa y de habla hispana
• Evaluar el interés en otros temas de escuela especializada
• Evaluar el interés en la enseñanza del idioma español ampliado como parte de la programación regular (inmersión no dual) K-6.

Dedique un momento antes del 14 de noviembre a completar la encuesta en https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7JNX para compartir sus pensamientos y opiniones.

¡Gracias por su tiempo!

Sinceramente,

The Magnet/Dual-Immersion Subgroup of the Enrollment Working Group

Andrea Battle (ARPS Grandparent)

Irene Dujovne (ARPS Parent)

Margaret Sawyer (ARPS Parent)

Miki Gromacki (ARHS Assistant Principal, ARPS Parent)
Phoebe Hazzard (Amherst School Committee Chair, ARPS Parent)