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.
Friday, April 24, 2020
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Honoring ARHS Seniors
This is a strange and difficult time for most students, but especially our seniors. This should have been a spring full of fun and recognition, but they will miss out on many rites of passage.
We want to come up with some way to honor them. We are organizing an effort to have lawn signs made to acknowledge and support the seniors. The signs will cost $5 a piece. Each sign will read: “ARHS Class of 2020: We love you and are cheering you on!”
Please feel free to contact Patricia Taylor with any questions. All Orders must be received by April 30. Wishing you all the best!
Here is a link to the order form:
Internet Access Campaign - A Success!
Internet Access for All Students - The Campaign was a Success!
In early April, the (Insert your school name here) PGO joined with the other ARPS PGOs to organize a fundraiser to ensure that all Amherst and Amherst Regional public school students would have home wifi access during the school shutdown. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised over $45,000 - enough to cover the costs not only for the rest of this school year, but for next year as well. These funds will help close the digital divide and provide more equitable educational access for all ARPS students.
The PGOs received over 235 donations of all sizes. Our major donors include the Norwottuck Fish and Game Association ($8,000), the Beveridge Family Foundation ($5,000), and the Amherst Pelham Education Association ($2,000), which represents ARPS educators and staff. Collectively, the elementary and secondary school PGOs gave over $5,500. Thanks to all who supported our fundraiser and helped get the word out.
To see a full list of donors, please visit arps-pgo.blogspot.com or https://charity.gofundme.com/
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Fort River Virtual Coffee with the Principal
We will review the Distance Learning Plan and answer questions.
Please feel free to send any questions you want covered in to Diane in advance at chamberlaind@arps.org
El Café Virtual de Fort River con el Director está programado para el JUEVES 16 de abril a las 2:00.
Revisaremos el Plan de Educación a Distancia y responderemos a las preguntas.
Por favor, siéntanse libres de enviar cualquier pregunta que quieran cubrir en para Diane con antelación a chamberlaind@arps.org
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Fundraiser for ARPS Internet access for all - UPDATE!
UPDATE (4/13/2020): With everyone's generous support, we are just $4,000 away from reaching the lofty goal of $45,000!! Thank you to everyone for your generous support.
UPDATE (4/10/2020): With the community’s support, the goal of $25,000 was reached in just 4 days - wow! We thank everyone who has contributed so generously to our campaign at such a critical time.
UPDATE (4/10/2020): With the community’s support, the goal of $25,000 was reached in just 4 days - wow! We thank everyone who has contributed so generously to our campaign at such a critical time.
However, it is now clear that the need for home wifi access for students will extend well beyond this school year, especially for middle school and high school students. After speaking with the ARPS school district, the campaign goal has been extended to $45,000 to help fund this longer-term need. This goal is based on expected costs for next school year.
We know there are many local families struggling right now, as well as other critical needs in our community and are grateful for all donations. We appreciate your helping us close the digital divide and your support for more equitable access to learning at home. Thank you again!
Students need internet access in their homes in order to fully benefit from the distance learning now being offered by our public schools in this time of crisis - but we know that about 100 families in the Amherst Regional school district do not have the financial means to pay for it. We’re asking for your help in closing this gap as soon as possible.
Donate Online Here: https://charity.gofundme.com/
With public schools closed until May 4, and quite possibly longer, the state is requiring school districts to provide distance learning opportunities to all students. Having no internet access at home is a major barrier to accessing this learning. Based on this state mandate, and in support of the district’s equity goals, the ARPS District is loaning mobile wifi hotspots with monthly data plans to families unable to pay for them (as well as Chromebooks if needed) so that all students can fully participate in the district’s online classes and class meetings for as long as our school buildings remain closed.
More information on ARPS's Internet Access for All Students initiative is available in the Superintendent's 4/3/2020 e-newsletter to families and at this FAQ doc: https://tinyurl.com/smctsof
The district estimates the cost of these hotspots and monthly data will be close to $25,000. The ARPS PGOs are helping the district by raising money to contribute to the cost. This is an unexpected, unprecedented and critical need. We know this is a difficult time financially and emotionally for many families. If you are able to contribute, here’s how you can help (all donations are tax deductible): fund a mobile hotspot ($110), fund one month of wifi access ($40), make a monthly, recurring donation to provide on-going wifi access ($40/month).
Donate Online Here: https://charity.gofundme.com/
Alternatively, you can send a check made out to the "ARPS PGO" to Tracy Zafian, ARPS PGO Treasurer, 51 Blue Hills Road, Amherst, MA 01002
Thank you for helping provide all ARPS students with equal access for distance learning. We are grateful.
The ARPS PGOs, including the
Wildwood PGO, Fort River PGO, Crocker Farm PGO, ARMS PGO, and ARHS PGO