Help Welcome New Families to Fort River with a Popsicle Party!

The New Family Welcome Popsicle Party is Tuesday, August 30 from 6:30-7:30pm on the FR playground. We have MANY new students in EVERY grade joining the Fort River community this Fall. Please drop by with your kids, have a popsicle, and welcome the new families to our community!

Weather permitting, we will be outside by the FR playground near the parking lot when you enter the school grounds. (In case of rain we will gather in the cafeteria; enter through the back entrance near the playground.)

Family Sing Night Is Coming!

Please join Fort River's music teacher Anne White for

Family Sing Night

Thursday, February 17th

6:30-8:00 pm

Fort River Gym

Anne White and the Fort River PGO are pleased to announce two very special upcoming events. On March 2nd, the Latin musical group MarKamusic will conduct student workshops and give a school wide performance. On Thursday, February 17th, as a fundraiser to help bring MarKamusic to Fort River, you and your family are invited to the Fort River Family Sing Night where Mrs. White will be joined by parents and teachers to lead everyone in songs from around the world.

Please join us and make a suggested donation of $2.00 or whatever amount you like.

There will also be a student run bake sale to satisfy your sweet tooth!

We would like this event to represent the rich cultural diversity of our school community. As part of the music curriculum, Mrs. White will be working with students and parents to learn special songs to teach all families on this evening. Parents and other family members, we welcome your input and involvement. Please contact Mrs. White at whitea@arps.org, or 362-1238, if you want to help with the music.

A parent coordinator is also needed for the bake sale. If you would like to help with this event, please contact Pam Rietkerk at pam.fortriver@gmail.com or 256-2605.

This is going be a great community event!

About MarKamusic

MarKamusic performs traditional, folkloric and pop music of South and Latin American origin, fused with Latin jazz and western textures and instruments. The group has played its unique repertoire at international music festivals, educational events in schools, museums, and cultural institutions.

During its performances, MarKamusic accents the contributions of the four major cultural influences that have shaped modern Latin American music—the indigenous South American, the West African, the Euro-Iberian, and the contemporary North American. Traditional rhythms and melodic forms from these diverse cultures intermingled over the centuries, creating much of what is Latin American popular music today.

MarKamusic’s musical purpose is to drive home to its audiences that America is larger than just the United States: that America, in fact, extends from Alaska to the southernmost tip of Chile. The members of MarKamusic also feel that the diverse cultures of the Americas— tied by history and geography, but separated by politics and language—can effectively be reconciled by the sharing (indeed, by the merging) of their many musical expressions. MarKamusic’s musicians: one Peruvian, three Puerto Ricans, one Ecuadorian and one Guatemalan represent the potential of this harmonious exchange.

http://www.markamusic.com/

Bake Sale Coordinator Needed!

NEEDED: Bake Sale Coordinator--Ann White and the PGO are looking for a parent(s) to coordinate and staff a bake sale at the Family Sing Night on Thursday, February 17. This is a fundraiser to help bring musical group MarKamusic to Fort River in March.

Duties include: setting up/monitoring a sign up sheet for donated baked goods, getting a few other parents and students to help sell goods, set up/clean up. Piece of cake!!

Please contact Pam at pam.fortriver@gmail.com to volunteer.


PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE OR CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FAMILY SING NIGHT and MARKAMUSIC.

Family Sing Night

Please join Fort River's music teacher Anne White for

Family Sing Night

Thursday, February 17th

6:30-8:00 pm

Fort River Gym

Anne White and the Fort River PGO are pleased to announce two very special upcoming events. On March 2nd, the Latin musical group MarKamusic will conduct student workshops and give a school wide performance. On Thursday, February 17th, as a fundraiser to help bring MarKamusic to Fort River, you and your family are invited to the Fort River Family Sing Night where Mrs. White will be joined by parents and teachers to lead everyone in songs from around the world.

Please join us and make a suggested donation of $2.00 or whatever amount you like.

There will also be a student run bake sale to satisfy your sweet tooth!

We would like this event to represent the rich cultural diversity of our school community. As part of the music curriculum, Mrs. White will be working with students and parents to learn special songs to teach all families on this evening. Parents and other family members, we welcome your input and involvement. Please contact Mrs. White at whitea@arps.org, or 362-1238, if you want to help with the music.

A parent coordinator is also needed for the bake sale. If you would like to help with this event, please contact Pam Rietkerk at pam.fortriver@gmail.com or 256-2605.

This is going be a great community event!

About MarKamusic

MarKamusic performs traditional, folkloric and pop music of South and Latin American origin, fused with Latin jazz and western textures and instruments. The group has played its unique repertoire at international music festivals, educational events in schools, museums, and cultural institutions.

During its performances, MarKamusic accents the contributions of the four major cultural influences that have shaped modern Latin American music—the indigenous South American, the West African, the Euro-Iberian, and the contemporary North American. Traditional rhythms and melodic forms from these diverse cultures intermingled over the centuries, creating much of what is Latin American popular music today.

MarKamusic’s musical purpose is to drive home to its audiences that America is larger than just the United States: that America, in fact, extends from Alaska to the southernmost tip of Chile. The members of MarKamusic also feel that the diverse cultures of the Americas— tied by history and geography, but separated by politics and language—can effectively be reconciled by the sharing (indeed, by the merging) of their many musical expressions. MarKamusic’s musicians: one Peruvian, three Puerto Ricans, one Ecuadorian and one Guatemalan represent the potential of this harmonious exchange.

http://www.markamusic.com/

Happy New Year and January Events

Hi Everyone,  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break and are now back into the swing of things! I just wanted to remind you of a few upcoming Fort River events. -- Ann McLaughlin

Coffee with the Principals. Friday, January 7th at 8:30am.  All parents/guardians are invited to the monthly coffee, sponsored by the PGO. Acting Superintendent of Schools Maria Geryk and Interim Asst. Principal Karen Lowe are planning on attending. This coffee will be held in the conference room located in the Fort River Main Office.

Fort River Roasters Coffee Orders Due. Friday, Jan. 7. You can download an order form here.

Fort River 5th and 6th Grade Chorus  Concert. Thursday, January 13 at 7pm.  At the Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium. EVENT POSTPONED--new date TBA.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Monday, Jan. 17th. NO SCHOOL.

Fort River PGO Meeting. Friday. Jan. 21st, 8:45-9:45am. Fort River Cafeteria. Please note date change.

Teacher Curriculum/Workday, Friday, Jan 28. NO SCHOOL.

Fort River Open House, Wed. Sept. 29th--Save the Date!

This year's Fort River Open House will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 from 7-9pm. Please mark your calendars. All parent/guardians are encouraged to attend. This is an evening to meet school staff and learn about the educational programs planned for your child’s class.

The Fort River PGO will be hosting a table in the Fort River lobby the evening of Open House. Members of the PGO will be available to answer questions and to provide information about what we do. Please stop by the table and say hello!

Upcoming Events

All Kindergarten Party. Friday, June 6. 5-7pm. Groff Park. Click here for more details. Field Day. Tuesday, June 10th. See below for more information. 3rd Grade Social. Wednesday, June 11, 4:30 Pot Luck, 5:30 Ice Cream Social. See below for more details. Diversity and Social Justice Committee: Year-End Meeting and Dinner. Wed. June 13, 6pm. Cafeteria 1. See below for details. Coffee With a Principal. Friday, June 13th, 8:30-9:15am. Cafeteria. Come join Principal Vernon-Jones or Asst. Principal Suarez-Werlein for coffee and light refreshments. Younger siblings welcome to attend. Sixth Grade Graduation. Monday, June 16, 1:30pm. Gymnasium. Last Day of School. Dismissal. at 1:20pm. 6th Grade Graduation. Monday, June 16th, 1:30pm. Fort River Gymnasium. Last Day of School. Wednesday, June 18th. 1:20 Dismissal.

18 Years of Public Service (By Jerrey Roberts, Amherst Bulletin, May 30, 2008)

Pat Ononibaku offers a hug after giving a West African kente scarf to Fort River School Principal Russ Vernon-Jones during a retirement party for him May 23 at the school. He was the school's principal for 18 years. The event was coupled with a dedication of a brick walkway for the school's playground, which was installed last year. The bricks bear the names of donors for the playground project.

Link to article.

Special Fort River Event

Please join the Fort River community for a Pot Luck Dinner to celebrate the retirement of Principal Russ Vernon-Jones and thank him for 17 years of service – and see the unveiling of the brick walkway to the new playground! This event will be held on Thursday, May 22nd from 5 to 7 pm on the Fort River Playground (or in the cafeteria, in case of rain). All current and former Fort River families, children, teachers, and all community members are invited, so please spread the word! If you are interested in speaking and sharing stories and memories, please contact José Cantillo (CantilloJ@arps.org). If you are interested in assisting with set-up or clean-up, please contact Catherine Sanderson (256-4977, casanderson@amherst.edu).

Invitation to Attend a Presentation by Superintendent Jere Hochman

Dear Amherst-Pelham Community: Businesses send out "annual reports." Politicians present the "State of the City" reports. Schools communicate routinely through teachers' weekly updates to parents, the principal's newsletter, student report cards, school and district testing report cards, presentations to the School Committees, and budget background information. On Wednesday, January 23, Superintendent Jere Hochman will present an overview of the Amherst-Pelham schools. This brief presentation will be followed by and important hour of dialogue about our school districts' MISSION and VALUES. What do YOU believe to be the most essential values our schools should characterize? What do YOU believe to be the mission of our public schools? It has been several years since our schools adopted a mission statement. I imagine if you ask several individuals within the schools what our mission is, they would respond "Every student, Every day!" That simple phrase is packed with meaning and understandings -- yet we must ask ourselves if there is consensus in its meaning and does it serve as a valued ends upon which we direct all means? Please join us on January 23! Meetings will occur in the Bangs Center at 1:00 p.m. and in the Middle School Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. Bring a friend! (Oh, and please do not park in the fire lanes). Sincerely, Jere Hochman

Science Demonstration Day Update

Unfortunately we have reached (and surpassed!) our maximum capacity for the Science Demonstration Day tickets, and hence we can no longer accept ticket reservations. We are delighted with the enthusiasm for this event, and will certainly consider adding other similarly-themed events in the future. Please contact Catherine Sanderson (casanderson@amherst.edu, 256-4977) if you have ideas for such events and/or would be interested in helping plan an event.

Savings Makes "Cents" Program

Saving Makes "Cents" is a program to encourage savings habits and goal setting. Children can open a bank account with Florence Savings Bank and bank weekly in the cafeteria with help from parent volunteers (or directly at the bank). Only $1.00 is needed to open an account, and any amount can be deposited and after 10 deposits, the Bank will deposit $1.00 into the account. Information on setting up an account will be sent home soon, and deposits can first be made at school on Tuesday, October 9th (8:15 am). Questions? Contact Ron Miller (256-6076; ronsmiller@comcast.net).

Upcoming Events

Fort River Open House, Wednesday, October 3rd, 7pm. Fort River Roasters/Dean's Beans Order Forms Due! Friday, October 5th. Please return forms to the Parent Council mailbox or send it in your kids' backpacks. School Council Ballots Due. Friday, October 5th. Please return ballots to the Parent Council mailbox in the office. Science Demonstration from the Boston Museum of Science, Wednesday, October 10th, 4:30 pm, gym. RESERVE your tickets now (by returning this form). Picture Day - School Pictures will be taken on Tuesday/Wednesday, October 16 & 17. More information and order forms will sent home in early October. Questions? Contact Pam Rietkerk mailto:pjrietkerk@aol.com, 256-2605). Parent Council Meeting, Wednesday, October 17th, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, library. Babysitting will be provided (free). Coffee With a Principal, Friday, October 19th, 8:30 to 9:15 am. Please join Principal Russ Vernon-Jones and/or Vice-Principal Lianne Suarez-Werlein for coffee, light breakfast foods, and casual conversation in the cafeteria. Younger siblings are welcome to attend.

Upcoming Events

Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting, Wednesday, September 26th, 8:40 am, school library. Fort River Open House, Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 7pm. Science Demonstration from the Boston Museum of Science, Wednesday, October 10th, 4:30 pm, gym. Picture Day. School Pictures will be taken on Tuesday/Wednesday, October 16 & 17. More information and order forms will sent home in early October. Questions? Contact Pam Rietkerk (pjrietkerk@aol.com , 256-2605). Parent Council Meeting, Wednesday, October 17th, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, library. Babysitting will be provided (free). Coffee With a Principal, Friday, October 19th, 8:30 to 9:15 am. Please join Principal Russ Vernon-Jones and/or Vice-Principal Lianne Suarez-Werlein for coffee, light breakfast foods, and casual conversation in the cafeteria. Younger siblings are welcome to attend.