End of Year in the Library: Fun Inside and Out!

The weather is great, and the library has moved outside!

Bring your family and friends on the storywalk Daniel Finds a Poem. Calling all friends and members of the Fort River Community! Come take a walk on the path behind the garden. The Rattlesnake Gutter Trust of Leverett has generously let us borrow Daniel Finds a Poem by Mischa Archer in storywalk form. Follow the path away from school and back again to read the book. In order to “turn” the page, you must walk (run or skip) to the next page hanging from a nearby tree or lamp post.

Come check out our 4th graders’ vision for how they will each change the future, the world, and themselves! Each student in 4th grade has a vision statement posted on the walk outside the library.

The 6th grade UTOPIA sculpture is almost complete! Inspiration came from the book The Seventh Most Import Thing, the life of outsider artist James Hampton, and scavenged materials. Come check it out in the 900s section of the library.

The last day to check out books is Thursday, June 7th. 

On June 8-14, every student who returns ALL of their library books (and takes responsibility for any lost or damaged library books) will receive a raffle ticket. Local businesses have been donating prizes for our more than 20 raffle baskets that will be filled with books, toys, and activities to get students excited for summer reading fun.

Axis360 eBooks and Audiobooks will be available through June 30. On July 1, we’ll be switching to Overdrive. All other online resources will be available through the whole summer!

Please say hello! Lani Blechman, Librarian, blechmanl@arps.org, 413-362-1215
http://fr.arps.org/academics/fort_river_library/ 


 

Summer Art Tips from Ms. Singer

Reminder! Ms. Singer needs volunteers to help tidy up and protect the Art Room and its resources for summer. Please see original post here and email her here if you can help. 

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

from the May/June newsletter:

Remember to keep making (and talking about) art over the summer! If you're looking for some great art camps and classes, here are a few local ones with awesome programming in addition to the fantastic museums in our area:

Multi-Arts Camp: Hosted right here at Fort River! Theater, art, music, dance, creative stories, and more. For ages 4-12, with groups organized by age. www.multi-arts.org

Feather Press Studio art classes: Run by Wildwood art teacher Julie Rivera at a beautiful studio in Leverett. Summer sessions include classes for ages 5-7 and 7-12, and then after-school art classes (including portfolio development for middle and high school) begin in September. More info at www.featherpressstudio.com

Summer Art at the Art Barn: Monday-Friday, full day art program in 1- or 2-week sessions for kids in grades two through eight, in Hatfield. Experienced teachers, multi-media! Includes painting, drawing, ceramics, crafts, and more. More info at www.summerartbarn.com

If you're looking for camps or classes for middle and high school aged children, send me an email. There are many other great camps and programs around for those ages too and I'm happy to share more.

Have an excellent and artful summer!
Nicole Singer, Art Teacher

Youth Writing Summer Programs at UMass

Still looking for summer camp options? Here is some info about youth writing programs available at UMass Amherst. Offerings include Poetry, Journalism, and Creative Writing. https://www.umass.edu/wmwp

Mental Health Team Shares Thoughts on Mindfulness

from the May/June newsletter:

Fort River is doing Mindfulness, everywhere. You’ll see “Breathe” signs on the walls, observe kindergarten students mindfully moving parts of their bodies, focusing on one part at time, or notice fifth graders taking a few moments to stop their studies to breathe.

What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment. When you're mindful, your attention is focused in a relaxed, open, attentive and curious way; all important aspects of both learning and feeling happy. As kindergarten students have said, “it’s when your mind is full of smarts”, “thinking about 1 thing at a time” and “makes things feel easy and relaxed”. Mindfulness helps to develop self-awareness, regulate emotions, control impulses, increase perseverance and focus, build students’ stamina for work, empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives, and helps students to make good decisions. When students are calm and peaceful, the information they’ve absorbed can flow to the front of the brain (prefrontal cortex) where learning, reasoning and thinking occurs. This highly evolved part of the brain controls our decision making, focuses our attention and allows us to predict, comprehend and learn to read, write and understand math. Mindfulness increases students’ ability to learn and decreases their stress. This is why we’re doing Mindfulness at Fort River.

Regularly practicing Mindfulness helps to increase executive functioning skills in people of all ages and can assist children in feeling more calm and less worried. Developing a regular mindful practice supports a child being reflective instead of reactive which means they’ll make thoughtful decisions before acting. There’s multiple research documenting this; what type of mindful practice is up to you.

Although meditation is one form of Mindfulness, there are many ways to practice it. When eating an orange, washing dishes, noticing a rainbow or stretching your body. Using mindfulness during these activities means attending to the present: to the smell of the orange peel, the taste of the juice, the feel of the warm water, the sight of the vibrant colors of the rainbow or to how each muscle feels while you stretch. And if another, different thought comes into your mind, let it go without judgement and return to thinking about the orange, rainbow, water or muscle; only single tasking your brain. Tensing and relaxing or motion types of mindfulness practice (such as yoga) can assist children to move through their frustration or dis-regulated state and become more calm, ready to talk about the problem that occurred.

Here are some resources for further information about Mindfulness:

• Holistic Life Foundation: Working primarily with urban youth such as in the Baltimore Schools http://hlfinc.org/
• Two well established and researched programs: http://thehawnfoundation.org/mindup/ and https://mindfulnessinschools.org/courses/dotb/.
• This is the curriculum the kindergarten classes are currently using. https://centerhealthyminds.org/science/studies/kindness-curriculum-study-with-pre-kindergarten-students  
• What is Mindfulness? http://morethansound.net/mindfulness/

Ms. Jessica Rudnick, Ms. Melanie Collins, Dr. Pat Schumm, Ms.Ruth Killough-Hill, Ms.Ana Encarnacion, Mr. David Rutherford, and Mr. Miguel Aquino

Baystate Textiles Recycling Program at ARPS

Now you can drop your clothing and other textiles into collection bins located at each school. Convenient and easy! The collections are weighed weekly and each school's PGO will receive a check based on the bulk weight. Help the Fort River PGO earn FREE CASH while also helping our planet Earth by up-cycling your textiles. Thanks!

FIELD DAY IS COMING! Wednesday, June 13th (Rain date June 14th)

Field Day is a school wide event that allows the entire school to get outside for sun and fun. In the morning, students will participate in field day activities together in multi-aged groups to build school unity across grades. Groups will rotate through a variety of outdoor and indoor activity stations on the fields, on the playground, and in the gym. This year, the afternoon will also be filled with community building games and activities.

Schedule:
9:00 am - 11:30 am: Grades K – 6 Field Day
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Picnic lunch & recess (bring your own or purchase cafeteria lunch)
1:00 - 3:10 pm: Afternoon elective activities

Field Day is an exciting day for students, and they have made many wonderful memories in previous years. Please consider volunteering to help make Field Day 2018 another huge success.

We will need lots of parent volunteers to fill a number of important roles. Parents can volunteer as an activity station worker or a group leader; parents can help set up or clean up.

Volunteers can sign up on the “Bring It” section of the Ft. River blog: (http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/ZR90d5H2bU8) or

by filling out the form below and leaving it in the PGO mailbox, or

by emailing the coordinators, Christine St. Laurent (cwstlaurent@gmail.com) or Tom St. Laurent (tomstlaurent.ht@gmail.com). 

Thank you and we are looking forward to seeing you on June 13th!

Field Day 2018 Spanish
Field Day 2018 English

Keeping Children Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Families on May 29

The U.S. Attorney General’s Office will host a presentation: Keeping Children Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Families on May 29, 2018, from
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at ARMS.

The presentation will include: being safe and secure online; Social Media 101; Digital Footprint; Gaming; Sexting and Cyberbullying; Sextortion; and Internet Predators

Click here for further information.

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon on June 6 - Donations Needed

Say Thank You to Fort River Staff!

The Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Please express your thanks to our amazing staff by making a contribution in their honor.

Fort River teachers and staff will be treated to a hearty meal and tasty dessert at the luncheon, held this year at High Horse in downtown Amherst.

The PGO needs your help to keep this special tradition going.
Let's honor the wonderful Fort River staff by giving them a real celebration! Donations from our families pay for the event; checks made out to Fort River PGO can be sent into the Main Office in an envelope or placed in the PGO cash box (ask Suzanne or Karen for location).

Click here for donation form in English
Click here for donation form in Spanish

Thank you to the many families who have already sent in donations!

Zero Energy Building Tour Hosted by Mothers Out Front on June 9

Mothers Out Front, Climate Action Now, and Sustaining Amherst have organized a tour of the four Zero Energy buildings in Amherst on June 9:

Zero Energy Building Tour
Saturday, June 9, 2018
9 - 3PM

Amherst, MA adopted a Zero Energy Municipal Building Bylaw that mandates all new Town owned buildings be built to the Zero Energy standard.  The public is invited to learn about large Zero Energy buildings through guided site visits of four buildings in Amherst.  The tours are free and open to the public and attendees are welcome to drop-in/drop-out as their schedules allow.

Tour Schedule:

9AM , Crotty Hall, UMass Campus 

10:30, Hitchcock Center , Hampshire Campus

12:00, Kern Center, Hampshire Campus  

1:00, Lunch break (bring your own or go to Atkins nearby)

2:00, South Congregational  Church

The event is sponsored by Amherst Mothers Out Front, Climate Action Now, and Sustaining Amherst.  Please visit zeroenergyamherst.weebly.com for additional information. 

ARMS PGO Seeks Volunteers for 2018-2019 School Year

Calling all incoming Middle School parents to be a part of the Middle School PGO.

We are going to have a transition meeting one evening during the first week of June, so that the current PGO can download all of our knowledge to the future PGO, and so we can try to fill some of the leadership roles for next year.  Even if you are not interested in taking a leadership role, we need lots of general PGO members to help with various events and activities. Please consider coming to hear about the PGO. There will be refreshments!!

If you are interested and willing to join us, please fill out this Doodle with your availability, so we can schedule the meeting as soon as possible:

https://doodle.com/poll/s76k2p9quttecqkf

Thank you!

The ARMS PGO

Update on Elementary School Building Project and Related Topics

The PGO would like our school community to stay informed about the progress towards addressing elementary school building issues and making capital improvements. 

The dialogue surrounding the Amherst Elementary School Building Project surfaced multiple enrollment challenges facing the district.  

On June 14, 2017, the Amherst School Committee voted to form the Enrollment Working Group (EWG), which includes community members, families, and staff members, to investigate challenges and develop potential suggestions for consideration of the Superintendent. The EWG decided to form five subgroups: Socio-Economic Balance, Special Education Programs, Declining Enrollment, Preschool Access, and Dual Language Immersion.  

After working summer 2017 through winter 2018, the EWG subgroups each reported their findings to the Superintendent and Amherst School Committee. At the March 14, 2018 Amherst School Committee meeting, Superintendent Morris presented his formal response to the EWG findings. Information regarding the work of the EWG, it’s subgroups’ findings, and the Superintendent’s response can be found here.
The resulting work on exploring Dual Language Programming can be found in the link. Click here for an excellent production by Amherst Media on "Window into ARPS: Dual Language Program Presentation," hosted by Superintendent Michael Morris. 

ARHS Project Graduation/Senior Party Volunteers Needed!

Attention families of the ARHS Class of 2018!

Please consider joining in the 35+ year-old tradition of throwing a SAFE Party for the Graduating Seniors and their invited guests. Over 40 local businesses stepped up to sponsor this event in 2017. It truly takes a village!

We need volunteers at the event to help with registration, security, monitoring games, shuttle, set-up and clean-up, first aid, etc. The party happens after Graduation on Friday June 8th and runs from 10:30 pm to 3:00 am. We need volunteers for all sorts of time slots. This year the party will be at Hampshire Athletic Club on Gatehouse Road in Amherst. 

All ARHS families encouraged to volunteer!

Click here for party details

Click here to volunteer via Sign-Up Genius or for more information please contact:

Tracy Farnham

413 531 7641

tqfarnham@gmail.com

Chef Sam is Visiting! Volunteers Needed During Lunch on June 4

On Monday, June 4th, Chef Sam will be at Fort River for a special taste test of a brand new lunch menu item: Green Monster Pizza! This homemade pizza will be on the menu later in June, featuring pesto made using produce harvested from our school gardens. 

We would like to collect student feedback during the lunchtime taste tests, and are looking for volunteer support to help make this happen. Volunteering would entail being in the school cafeteria from 11am-1pm, working with Chef Sam to collect and record students' comments and opinions. Volunteers must have completed a CORI check with the school district. 

We hope to have the support of 2-4 volunteers. Interested individuals should contact Science & Garden Coordinator Jennifer Reese at reesej@arps.org.

Follow the ARPS Farm to School Movement at http://www.amherstfood.com/

PGO Meeting on May 23 at 9am

General PGO Meeting

Wednesday, May 23
9 - 10 am

Please join the PGO Board for our monthly meeting. All current Fort River parents and guardians are welcome! Parents of registered Kindergarteners or other newly enrolled students may also attend. Sign in at the Main Office to get directions to our meeting location.

New officers will be elected for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. Please come if you'd like to be more involved in your child's school. Co-Officers can be appointed to a single position so that responsibilities are able to be shared. Budget, fundraising, grant proposals, and volunteer needs will also be discussed. The current Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications person (blog + social media + emails) are stepping down due to student graduations.

Small children are always welcome! We REALLY need more volunteers and help! Thanks for considering! 

ARMS Students Successfully Petition Town Meeting on Climate Change Article

A Resolution crafted and presented by Amherst Regional Middle School students to stand in agreement with the Paris Climate Accord of 2015 was passed unanimously at Amherst Town Meeting on May 16.

"Town Meeting unanimously adopted a resolution Wednesday to stand by the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015, and to do so by encouraging town officials to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025." - Daily Hampshire Gazette

Read more about these inspirational students here. 

Please Submit 6th Grade Gift Donations by May 22

Hello 6th Grade Families,

Graduation plans are well underway.  As has been the past tradition, the 6th Grade Class donates a class gift to the school.  On behalf of the graduation committee, we are reaching out to ask you to make a donation.  Please send in your donation to the Fort River PGO.  Mark your envelope specifying for “Class Gift”, if writing a check please make it payable to “Fort River PGO”.  We appreciate any amount your family is able to donate for the gift.  Please donate by May 22nd.

Once we’ve been able to see how much we’ve collectively raised, we will select an appropriate class gift.  Based on feedback from the school here are some ideas we are considering:

• Supplies for a rock garden (http://www.scarymommy.com/only-one-you-sharon-elementary-painted-rocks-art-project/)
• A glass case for the World Map in Main Lobby
• Purchasing a Ga-Ga Ball Pit (Ga-Ga ball is a popular game that is played in a special court called a "pit")

If you are interested in helping out with selection of gift, please reach out to Nancy at stewartn@merrimack.edu

Thanks in advance for considering donating towards the class gift!

Summer Ultimate Frisbee of Amherst (SULA)

 

From LSSE: Join us for another exciting summer of Ultimate Frisbee! This league is geared for people who want to enjoy the thrill and excitement of Ultimate Frisbee, regardless of experience level. All levels of ability will be welcomed to join. All players will be assigned their own team in this fun and competitive league!

Time and Location: All Sessions start at 6:00 PM at Plum Brook Recreational Area

835301 Junior SULA  Price: $39

• TUESDAYS, June 26th—August 7th
• Session A, Activities for Kids (Ages 7-8)
• Session B, Elementary Division (Ages 9-11)
• Session C, Middle School Division (Ages 12-14)

835300 Adult SULA  Price: $45

Session A

• Recreational Co-Ed (Ages 14+)
• Thursdays, June 21st—August 9th

Session B

• Competitive Co-Ed (Ages 15+)
• Wednesdays, June 20th—August 8th

Session C

• Women Only (Ages 13+)
• Mondays, June 18th—August 6th

2018 Sugarloaf Youth Track League at ARHS

Boys and girls of all abilities will be placed on a team and can compete in both relay and individual events. Family and friends of all ages are invited to cheer on athletes! Non-team member children who are present are invited to compete in a 100 meter dash each night.  

There is an organizational meeting to group teams, meet coaches, and run an informal series of practice races on May 24th.  Entries may be closed before this date if maximum number of participants is reached, so sign up ASAP!

Ages: 6-14

Dates: Thursday 5/24, 5/31, 6/7 and Friday 6/15, 6/22, 6/29

Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM

Location: Amherst Regional High School Track

Price: $49

For more info please visit our website

Contact Sydney Henthorn, Sugarloaf Track League Director at shenthorn20@gmail.com

or Chris Johnson, Sports Director at LSSE,

 (413) 259-3144  johnsonc@amherstma.gov

4th Annual SEPAC Stars in Our Schools Call for Nominations

Do you know of someone (student, parent, staff, community member, etc.) who you would like to recognize for their dedication, creativity, patience, and determination in helping students who receive special education to experience success?

The Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools SEPAC encourages you to nominate such excellence in our learning community so that we may all publicly thank these individuals for the important way they influence our students.  Honorees will be celebrated at an awards ceremony: Cookies, Cupcakes, and Kudos on June 15th (more details are forthcoming).

Please email the completed Nomination Form (attached below in English and Spanish) and Nomination Statement to: SEPAC@ARPS.ORG

or mail to: ARPS, Student Services Office, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst, MA 01002

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D81UbgP_fsY3LNTAQHiGVhMzZAivuWZVWWUwAPrxiZ0/viewform?ts=5acf6aa0&edit_requested=true

Amherst Education Foundation Announces 2018-2019 Excellence Grants

Heading into its 25th year, the Amherst Education Foundation announces its Excellence Grants for the 2018-19 academic year.  Totaling $29,000.00, the grants are spread across the Amherst Elementary Schools, the Amherst Regional Middle School, and the Amherst Regional High School.

Of particular interest to elementary families is the winning proposal from Jennifer Reese, Elementary Science and Garden Coordinator:

ELEMENTARY GARDEN-BASED LEARNING 

Grantee: Jennifer Reese, Elementary Science and Garden Coordinator

Grant Amount: $5,000.00

Schools: Wildwood, Fort River, and Crocker Farm

Description: Garden educator Leila Tunnell will lead all second grade students in year-round garden-based learning at school and on field trips to Brookfield Farm.  Each elementary school will create universally accessible raised beds.  The curriculum will build on lessons individual teachers have used in kindergarten and first grade and will provide second graders with the opportunity to learn about our local ecosystem, food sources, collaboration, and problem solving.

Read about the other grantees here: https://www.amhersteducationfoundation.org/grants/

6th Grade Car Wash & Bake Sale Success!

Thanks to everyone who joined our 6th Graders on a lovely late April morning for some delicious baked goods or to get their car washed. 

Our student and parent volunteers worked TIRELESSLY ALL MORNING! The 6th Grade team is so appreciative of our generous volunteer families and everyone who came out to support the 6th graders.

We raised over $900 in just three short hours! SIMPLY AMAZING! What a wonderful community!

ARMS "Our Immigration Stories" Art Photo/Text Exhibit Opening on June 15

Please join students and educators from Amherst Regional Middle School for a reception of Our Immigration Stories photo-text exhibit on Tuesday, May 15 from 5:30-7:00pm! Located in the ARMS Cafeteria, Library and Main Lobby-Gallery.

This work was supported by a grant from the Amherst Education Foundation, which relies on charitable donations and fundraising events to offer Excellence Grants to educators in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury Elementary Schools and the Regional Schools.

 

Thanks to Bulb Sale Participants!

Dear Fort River Families & Staff,

THANK YOU! Our community responded with incredible enthusiasm for our latest fundraiser and we raised almost $600 for Fort River! We hope your gardens grow vigorously and your new plants return every year to remind you of your part in making Fort River so fabulous!

Huge thanks to Stacey Beganny for running yet another wildly successful FUNdraiser!

6th Grade Raffle Success

The 6th grade would like to thank the community for buying tickets to support their annual 6th Grade Raffle, it was a fantastic success! 

Also we are grateful to the businesses in Amherst and the surrounding community for their generous donations as raffle prizes.  The proceeds are used to fund the 6th grade field trips to the Boston Science Museum (May 3) and Camp Howe in June.

Many Thanks!

Volunteers and Donations Needed for 6th Grade Graduation Events

Dear 6th Grade Parents and Guardians:

It’s hard to believe but our Fort River Class of 2018 will soon be on their way to the middle school.  But, before they can do that, we have some end of the year festivities to organize to celebrate our students.

Mark your calendar for the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 20th, at 1:00pm.  The ceremony will take place in the gym and be followed by a reception in the cafeteria.  In the evening the students will have their dance which is organized by the teachers.  More information will be coming home closer to the date.

We want to thank those of you who have already volunteered to help with graduation.  We know that this is a busy time of year but we need the help of as many parents and guardians as possible to make this a successful event.  Please take a look at the sign up for various committees to see what will fit with your schedule: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/Sd7LNmcmJrQ

Please sign-up below to help decorate the gym and cafeteria for graduation and/or to bring food to the graduation reception.  The 5th grade families will be managing the reception so that we can enjoy this special time with our kids.

Tues June 19th

Decorate the Gym for the Graduation Ceremony, 5:30-7:30 pm -  sign up to help here: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/6r1pElwbAQs

Wed, June 20th

Decorate the Cafeteria for the Graduation Reception, 10 am - 12 pm  - sign up to help here: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/6r1pElwbAQs

Bring food for the Graduation Reception, sign up to help here: 

Austin - http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/2ih4SiBqJko

Sawicki  - http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/Sf9jn4HKQUc

Almodovar - http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/mq4XT7fI+A8

Graduation Ceremony and Reception 1-3 pm, Fort River School

Graduation Dance 7-9 pm, Fort River Gym (students only with teachers to chaperone)

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.  We look forward to celebrating with you!

For the graduation committee,

Liz Larson

lizinamherst@gmail.com