Fall Festival Cancellation

The Fall Festival has been canceled due to inadequate volunteer support. Successful, safe, and fun community events require lots of volunteers! A steering committee will be formed to create a new and improved community event for next year that celebrates the treasures of the harvest season and reflects a true autumn festival. Creative ideas are needed to ensure an fun event that everyone looks forward to and is consistent with the PGO's mission to enrich and enhance our children's experience at Fort River. Volunteers interested in supporting this event next year should stay tuned for news about the kick-off meeting in the spring.

The Fort River Fall Festival is "creeping" up on us!

The Fall Festival

Wednesday, October 27, 5:30-7:30pm

This Halloween celebration takes many hands to work and the PGO is looking for volunteers willing to help out.

We need help with:

• games
• crafts
• food service
• set up/clean up
• general supervision

Please lend a hand if you can! We can't do this without your help!

Contact Diane Caraker ASAP at dianec711@comcast.net to sign up.

Thank you.

The Fall Festival

The Fall Festival has been a PGO sponsored event occurring on the Friday night before Halloween. After discussions with Principal Sharick, teachers, custodians, and parents, we believe that this event may not be consistent with the mission of our PGO and has been a potentially unsafe environment for our school and our kids.

We would like to ask the community for volunteers to form a committee charged with improving this event and bringing it in line with the PGO's mission to enrich and enhance our children's education while celebrating the fall season. Our goal is to get creative and change its scope to reflect a true autumn festival.

We appreciate your understanding and truly hope to provide a safe and fun community event! Please contact Pam Rietkerk at pam.fortriver@gmail.com and share your thoughts or volunteer to serve on this committee.

Fall Festival Postponed Indefinitely

Hi Everyone,

Here is the text of Ray Sharick's message regarding the Fort River fall festival and Halloween parties at school tomorrow (Oct. 30).

Ann

Dear Fort River Families,
Over the past two days, our absence rate at Fort River has dropped somewhat (from 86 to 61 from Tuesday to today). This is still three to four times higher than our normal absentee rate. As Mark Jackson, the Middle/High School Principal has noted, it is not in our best interest to assume that we are out of the H1N1 woods just yet. So, given what is happening around us locally and nationally, we need to remain vigilant.

As a result, I am writing to inform you of my decision to change how we will conduct our Halloween festivities in school tomorrow, October 30th. While children may still follow their classroom teacher's guidelines and wear costumes, all halloween celebrations will have to remain in the classrooms. That is, we will not be having children parade around the school. I am also asking that you do not send treats to share, as we are trying to reduce the amount of contact that children have with each other.

Also, the Parent Council's Fall Festival, scheduled for the evening of October 30th, is postponed indefinitely. More news will follow about the possibility of rescheduling, but it is very difficult to predict if/when this may happen.

I realize this is likely disappointing news for children, families, and teachers. However, Health Care Providers and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are recommending that we increase social distances in schools and reduce opportunities for direct contact.

These decisions are made in what I believe is the best interest of all children and adults. I truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely,
Ray Sharick

Fall Festival and Sports Swap 2009, Friday Oct. 30th, 6-7:30 pm.

Fort River Fall Festival & Sports Swap

Don't forget that Parent Council will be holding this year's Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 30th from 6-7:30pm. This is one of Parent Council's most popular and fun events, complete with a costume parade, games and crafts, and of course, food. The kids (and some parents!) wear their Halloween costumes.

Volunteers are still needed! 
We currently only have about 1/2 the number of volunteers needed to run this event. If we don't have enough volunteers by Monday, Oct. 26, the Fall Festival may have to be cancelled. So please don't delay--sign up now!

To volunteer to work and/or make food, click here for the online sign-up sheet.

Or, contact Diane Caraker at dianec711@comcast.net to volunteer or for more info.

A reminder: the Fall Festival is NOT a drop-off event! All children must be supervised by a parent/guardian.

Sports Swap: At the same time as the Fall Festival, we will also be holding a Fort River Sports Swap. Please bring your unwanted clean and usable winter clothes and sporting equipment to the school lobby on your way into the Fall Festival. This is a take-it-or-leave-it event without money or obligation. Possible items include but are not limited to dance clothes/shoes, skates and skating clothes, soccer equipment, hats, gloves, coats, snowsuits, and skiing equipment. Bring your items to the Family Fair and drop them off in the school lobby. Please note: There is no obligation to bring anything in order to take something. Contact for Sports Swap: Peter Wood cpwolfwood@hotmail.com.

Fall Festival 2009: Friday, Oct. 30

Fall Festival

Friday, October 30th 2009

The annual Fall Festival (AKA the "Halloween Party") will take place on Friday, Oct. 30th. Kids (and parents, too!) wear costumes and take part in a costume parade. There will also be lots of games and prizes, crafts, and face painting! Please keep a lookout for a Fall Festival sign-up sheet and more information next week on this website.

Fall Festival Coordinator Needed!

We are still in search of a coordinator for the Fall Festival, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, Oct. 30.

Please contact FR Parent Council President Sue Borden at FRPC.sborden@gmail.com if you are willing to take this on.

Fall Festival Pictures

Pictures of some of the great costumes (& kids!) that were seen at this year's Fall Festival.

Parent Council Thanks Fall Festival Volunteers

The fall festival and sports swap was a great success thanks to the efforts of a lot of parents and Fort River alums! Hats off to Jen Ditkoff, Peter Wood, Pam Reitkirk, Diane Caraker. Alisa Braverman, Joy Sullivan, Mikey Cutting, Leah Hebert, Gloria McCann, Ann McLaughlin, Carole Slaughter, Mary Donoghue, Andy Donoghue, Klaus Becker,Anna Sullivan, Courtney Milne, Shelby Cutting, Rachel Madowitz, Sam Becker, Johann Becker,Amelia Ahlborg, Louise Levy, Jay Levy for running a craft/game or set-up or clean up. Also the fair would not be a success without the many donations of supplies and cupcakes/cookies (please forgive me if I missed anyone): Michelle Spirko,Catherine Sanderson,Edy Howe,Mike Lynch,Carrie Turkott, Iris Berkman, Debra Russell,Margit Carkoff,Natalie Stafford,Elisabeth Becker. Finally, kudos to West farm in Hadley for supplying 100 mini pumpkins at a much reduced rate for the pumpkin decorating craft! Hope to see you all next year!

Fall Festival and Sport Swap TONIGHT!

Fall Festival and Sports Swap

Friday, October 24th 2008 6:30-8:00 pm

Fall Festival There will be a costume parade, lots of games and prizes, crafts, and face painting! Please remember; admission is a donation to the festival's snack table if your child is in grades K-2, or for grades 3-6 a food donation to the Amherst Survival Center. Volunteers are STILL needed for the Fall Festival. Please contact Ann Becker (253-6449; annmbecker@comcast.net) if you are willing to volunteer. Reminder: The Fall Festival is NOT a drop-off event! All children must be supervised by a parent/guardian. Sports Swap The Fort River Sports Swap will be happening at the same time as the Fall Festival. Please bring your unwanted clean and usable winter clothes and sporting equipment to the school lobby on your way into the Fall Festival. This is a take-it-or-leave-it event without money or obligation. Possible items include but are not limited to dance clothes/shoes, skates and skating clothes, soccer equipment, hats, gloves, coats, snowsuits, and skiing equipment. All winter coats remaining at the end of the evening will be donated to our upcoming Winter Coat Drive. Please note: you can simply bring your items and drop them with us at the door. There is no obligation to bring anything in order to take something. Contact: Peter Wood cpwolfwood@hotmail.com.

Don't Forget the Fall Festival & Fort River Swap! Friday, Oct. 24th, 6:30-8:00pm.

Parent Council will be holding this year's Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 24th (next week). This is one of Parent Council's most popular and fun events, complete with a costume parade, games and crafts, and of course, food. The kids (and some parents!) wear their Halloween costumes. We hope to see you all in your costumes!

Volunteers are STILL needed for the Fall Festival. Please contact Ann Becker (253-6449; annmbecker@comcast.net) if you are willing to volunteer. A reminder: the Fall Festival is NOT a drop-off event! All children must be supervised by a parent/guardian. Also, at the same time as the Fall Festival, we will also be holding a Fort River Swap. Please bring your unwanted clean and usable winter clothes and sporting equipment to the school lobby on your way into the Fall Festival. This is a take-it-or-leave-it event without money or obligation. Possible items include but are not limited to dance clothes/shoes, skates and skating clothes, soccer equipment, hats, gloves, coats, snowsuits, and skiing equipment. Bring your items to the Family Fair and drop them off in the school lobby. Contact: Peter Wood cpwolfwood@hotmail.com

Fall Festival, Friday, Oct. 24th, 6:30-8:00pm.

Volunteers are needed for the Fall Festival (i.e., the Halloween Party)! This is a fun-filled evening complete with a costume parade, games and crafts, and of course, food. Volunteers are needed to volunteer at a booth, help with decorating or clean-up, or help buy supplies for an event (e.g.,cookie decorating) or make cupcakes for the cupcake walk. Please contact Ann Becker (253-6449; annmbecker@comcast.net) if you are willing to volunteer.

Fall Festival--Please Volunteer and Help Recruit Volunteers

Hi, I'm writing to ask for your help in recruiting more volunteers for the Fall Festival. We still need a few more people who can help out at the craft and game tables and monitor the snack table, the survival center table, the halls and the playground from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The more people the more fun and the easier it is. There are no skills required, specific instructions/directions will be provided. Two people could even split a shift or do one together. It's really a fun way to participate in a really fun event. The kids have a blast and the costumes and parade are really awesome! If you can give us some of your time (and have a great time in return!) please contact Louise Levy, tel. 256-1930, lhlevy@lycos.com, or Gina Chaplain, tel. 253-1955, ginach@bigplanet.com. Please forward this information to the parents in your classrooms and/or spread the word to any else you think may be interested. Thank you, Gina and Louise For more info, click here for the Fall Festival Volunteer Form.