Fort River Roasters by Dean's Beans

Here's an extra reminder for people that Fort River Roasters by Dean's Beans orders will be due every first Friday of the month throughout the school year. The first deadline coming up October 3, order forms are available HERE and in the envelope on the parent council bulletin board in the school's front hall (on the right after you walk in the main door). We made over $1000 for the playground last year!

Fort River Roasters by Dean's Beans

Help support the new playground by buying something that we all love...COFFEE!

Dean’s Beans coffee is not only delicious, but it’s also organic and kosher. Not to mention, Dean’s Beans is committed to Fair Trade, which make every sip worth while. No need to come to school to pick up your order. Coffee will be sent home with your child (unless you otherwise specify). The price of the coffee is cheaper than if you purchased it at the grocery store. WOW! Not only are we saving you a trip to the store, but we’re also saving you money. Your friends, co-workers, and family members can save money too. Ask them if they’d like to buy some delicious coffee at a cheaper price.

If this sounds good to you, fill out this order form and send it in with a check made out to Fort River Parent Council to the Parent Council mailbox in the main office. Questions or comments? Contact Libby Stanforth (253-8039, bstanforth@comcast.net) or Hana Rivkin (256-2330, hrivkin@yahoo.com). Orders are due the first Friday of every month (Oct. 3th, Nov. 7nd, Dec. 5th, Jan. 9th, Feb. 6st, March 6th, April 3th, May 1nd, June 5th), and the coffee will arrive within approximately two weeks. REMINDER: Make checks payable to Fort River Parent Council.

Fort River Roasters by Dean's Beans: Last Chance to Order This Year!

The deadline for ordering Fort River Roasters/Dean's Beans Coffee has been extended to next Friday, May 9th. This will be your last chance to order for the year, so make sure to stock up for the summer.

We're happy to report that the Parent Council has made almost $1000 profit on this fundraiser this year!

Please click here for an order form.

LAST Chance to Order a Brick for the Playground

As many of you know, as part of last year’s fundraising for the new playground, families could order bricks to be etched with a special name or saying. The bricks are now being etched, and will be installed this spring, but a few new families have asked if a brick could be purchased. We are therefore extending the date for ONE MORE week in case there are last brick orders to be placed. Please click here for a form: Buy-a-Brick Form. Please return forms (and checks) to the Parent Council box in the main office (or to Catherine Sanderson, 23 Alyssum Drive, Amherst), by Monday, March 31st. ALSO, please save the date of Thursday, May 22nd to join Fort River families, teachers and staff for a fun potluck picnic when we unveil our new brick walkway and plaque!

January Fort River Roasters Order Deadline Extended

Due to the vacation and the short first week back, the deadline for this month’s orders of Dean’s Beans/Fort River Roasters coffee has been changed to Friday, January 11th. Please send in your order to the Parent Council mailbox in the main office by then.

Questions? Contact Libby Stanforth (253-8039, mailto:bstanforth@comcast.net?subject=Fort%20River%20Roasters) or Hana Rivkin (256-2330, hrivkin@yahoo.com).


Order forms available HERE and on the Parent Council Bulletin board in the school lobby.

It's Time to Wake Up and Order the Coffee!

Orders for Fort River Roasters coffee from Dean's Beans are due this coming Friday, Dec. 7. Please be sure to get your forms into the Parent Council mailbox by then. Extra forms are now available at the Parent Council bulletin board in the school lobby. You can also click HERE to download a form or click on the link on the right hand side of this webpage under "Parent Council Forms."

Big Thank Yous to...

Pam Rietkerk and Alisa Braverman for running the Hillside Pizza (and cookie dough) fundraiser – which raised over $800 (profit) for the playground!

Hillside Pizza Fundraiser -- Pickup This Afternoon (Friday, Nov. 9)

Don't forget to pick up your Hillside Pizza orders this afternoon at the school lobby between 3-5pm this afternoon! Questions? Contact Pam Rietkerk at pjrietkerk@aol.com or 256-2605 or Alisa Braverman at a.braverman@comcast.net or 253-5362.

Hillside Pizza Orders – LAST CHANCE!

Buy delicious, organic, locally-made pizza and cookie dough and help support our new playground! Orders are due TODAY, Friday, November 9th, and pizza/cookie dough pick-up is Friday, November 16th. Extra order forms are available here and in the main office. Ingredient and allergen info here.

Contact Pam Rietkerk (256-2605, pjrietkerk@aol.com) or Alisa Braverman (253-5362, a.braverman@comcast.net) with any questions.

Pizza and Cookie Dough Orders Are Due in One Week!

Have YOU Ordered Your Hillside Pizza?? Please support the final push to finish the new playground! Thanks to those of you who have already placed orders and to those of you who haven’t… PLEASE ORDER NOW!!! Here’s how it works: 1. Order pizzas & cookie dough tubs with this order form.

(Ingredient and allergen information available here.)

2. Pick-up is from 3:00-5:00pm in the Fort River lobby on Friday, November 16. Samples of delicious Hillside Pizza will be available at Fort River after school Tuesday, November 6. Order form due Friday, November 9. Pizza pick-up will be Friday, November 16. Ready to Volunteer on Pizza pick-up day? Contact Pam Rietkerk at 256-2605 pjrietkerk@aol.com or Alisa Braverman at 253-5362 a.braverman@comcast.net

Hillside Pizza Fundraiser

Don't forget to order your pizzas (and desserts)! The order deadline is Friday, Nov. 9th. Pizza pickup is Friday, Nov. 16th. Click here for extra order forms: Hillside Pizza Order Form. Contact: Pam Rietkerk (tel. 256-2605, pjrietkerk@aol.com) or Alisa Braverman (tel. 253-5362, a.braverman@comcast.net.)

Hillside Pizza Fundraiser

Buy delicious, organic, locally-made pizza and cookie dough and help support our new playground! Orders are due Friday, November 9th, and pizza/cookie dough pick-up is Friday, November 16th. Extra order forms are available here. Ingredient/allergen information is available here. Questions? Contact Pam Rietkerk (256-2605, pjrietkerk@aol.com) or Alisa Braverman (253-5362, a.braverman@comcast.net).

Fort River Roasters from Dean's Beans

Buy delicious coffee/hot chocolate at prices cheaper than local grocery stores and help support our new playground! Orders are due Friday, November 2nd. For more information about the products for sale, click here. Extra order forms are available here.

Questions? Contact Hana Rivkin (256-2330, hrivkin@yahoo.com) or Libby Stanforth (253-8039; bstanforth@comcast.net).

Hillside Pizza Fundraiser Allergen Information

For those of you who have food allergies in your families, here is some information from Hillside Pizza about the ingredients used in their products. You can also take a look at their website at: http://www.hillsidepizza.com. Basic Cheese Pizza. Ingredients: Dough: Unbleached white organic flour, water, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, organic sugar, yeast. Sauce: Organic ground tomatoes, organic pureed tomatoes, organic oregano, sea salt. Cheese: Natural cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan blend. Pesto Pizzas. Dough: Unbleached white organic flour, water, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, organic sugar, yeast. Sauce: Hillside Pesto (Hillside basil, extra virgin olive oil, canola oil blend, hillside garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese, pignoli nuts). Cheese: Natural cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan blend. Allergy Warning: Contains known allergens – wheat, milk, tree nuts. (walnuts, pignoli nuts). Contains NO preservatives. Hillside Chocolate Chip. Unbleached white organic pastry flour, organic cane sugar, butter, egg, canola oil, chocolate chips, vanilla, sea salt, baking soda. Contains NO preservatives. Contains known allergens: wheat, milk, eggs.

Hillside Pizza Fundraiser for the Playground--Dates Announced!

Orders for the pizza fundraiser are due Friday, November 9. Click here for a copy of the form. Forms will also be coming home in the backpacks.

Here’s how it works: 1. Order pizzas & cookie dough tubs; send form and payment to the Parent Council mailbox by Friday, November 9. 2. Pick-up is from 3:00-5:00pm in the Fort River lobby on Friday, November 16.

Dining on Hillside “take & bake” Pizza is a real treat! Hillside Pizzas are made fresh, locally, and are truly delicious. The crust is made with certified organic flours, virgin olive oil and sea salt. A tasty organic tomato sauce and triple-blend of hormone-free cheeses top Hillside pizzas. Pizzas come with freezer bag & oven-ready tray; enjoy one now and freeze another. Prices will be $12.50-$14.00/Large 16”. Don’t forget dessert! Fresh cookie dough comes in 4 flavors, ready to be scooped onto baking sheets & put into the oven. Each tub has enough dough to make 3 dozen cookies. They are made with the finest quality organic and natural ingredients--without preservatives, additives, hydrogenated oils, or GMOs. Tubs can be frozen and count towards our total sales. How can you help?? *Buy a few pizzas & cookie dough; cook fresh and/or freeze for later! *Get together with neighbors and throw a pizza party! *Ask family, neighbors, & co-workers to buy pizza & support Fort River! *Reach out to local businesses willing to further our efforts! ** Questions ** Sales Ideas ** Ready to Volunteer ** Contact Pam Rietkerk at 256-2605 pjrietkerk@aol.com or Alisa Braverman at 253-5362 a.braverman@comcast.net

Important Playground Update

As many of you know, we installed Phase 1 of the new playground for the younger grades last year, and are working this year on Phase 2 (which includes landscaping, benches, more satellite equipment, and a brick walkway). Remember to turn in your Fort River Roasters order form by Friday, October 5th if you want to help the playground AND get high quality, fairly priced coffee! If you'd like to help with installation of the new equipment, benches, and trees in October (on a date to be determined!), contact Catherine (256-4977, casanderson@amherst.edu) ASAP! We need volunteers to assist with digging holes, assembling equipment, and providing childcare during these activities. We also are in search of equipment, including a bobcat (to move away woodchips and dig holes) and a cement mixer, so please let us know if you can help in any way.

Buy A Brick -- Fort River Playground

Have your name, your child’s name, a teacher’s name, or an inspiring quote etched on a brick that will become a permanent part of our new playground. Each 4x8 brick can have up to can have up to three lines of inscription with 13 characters per line. Each 8x8 brick can have up to six lines of inscription with 13 characters per line. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Felton (cmfelton@comcol.umass.edu/253-1242). Click here for the order form.

Important Playground Update

As many of you know, we installed Phase 1 of the new playground for the younger grades last year, and are working this year on Phase 2 (which includes landscaping, benches, more satellite equipment, and a brick walkway). Included on this blog is information about playground-specific fundraisers (which isn’t supported by regular Parent Council fundraising), including our popular Fort River Roasters coffee program, a new pizza fundraiser, and the final chance to buy a brick engraved with your child’s name or a special phrase! If you’d like to help with installation of the new equipment, benches, and trees in October (on a date to be determined!), contact Catherine (256-4977, casanderson@amherst.edu) ASAP! We need volunteers to assist with digging holes, assembling equipment, and providing childcare during these activities. We also are in search of equipment, including a bobcat (to move away woodchips and dig holes) and a cement mixer, so please let us know if you can help in any way.

Fort River Roasters from Dean's Beans -- MMM....Good!

Help support our new playground by buying something that we all love (or know someone else who does)….. COFFEE. Here are a few reasons why this Dean’s Beans fundraiser is so great:

• Dean’s Beans coffee is not only delicious, but it’s also organic and kosher. Not to mention, Dean’s Beans is committed to Fair Trade, which make every sip worth while.
• No need to come to school to pick up your order. Coffee will be sent home with your child (unless you otherwise specify).
• The price of the coffee is cheaper than if you purchased it at the grocery store. WOW! Not only are we saving you a trip to the store, but we’re also saving you money.
• Your friends, co-workers, and family members can save money too. Ask them if they’d like to buy some delicious coffee at a cheaper price.

If this sounds good to you, fill out this order form and send it in with a check made out to Fort River Parent Council to the Parent Council mailbox in the main office. Questions or comments? Contact Libby Stanforth (253-8039, bstanforth@comcast.net) or Hana Rivkin (256-2330, hrivkin@yahoo.com).

Orders are due the first Friday of every month (Oct. 5th, Nov. 2nd, Dec. 7th, Jan. 4th, Feb. 1st, March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd, June 6th), and the coffee will arrive within two weeks.

REMINDER: Make checks payable to Fort River Parent Council.

Not only do we thank you, your taste buds thank you too!

Price List

Regular Coffee
Dark: $8.50. A strong and exceptionally smooth cup of coffee from Nicaragua. Medium body and slightly dry.
Medium: $8.50. Complex, full-bodied bean from the Andean slopes near Colombia. (The traditional standard in coffee.)

Swiss-water Processed Decafs
Dark: $9.50. A full-bodied, but flavorful and aromatic Peruvian coffee. The best tasting decaf in the world!
Medium: $9:50. A delightful dance of light and dark roasted Mexican Chiapas beans. Smooth and nutty, with a bold finish.

Dean’s Beans' Other Fun Products
Hot Cocoa, Wow! : $4.50
Field tested by a playgroup of wild 4-year olds over the spring and summer, this hot cocoa mix really passes the test. Guaranteed to be the best tasting and lowest cost organic hot cocoa mix available!

Milk and Dark Chocolate Chocolate Java Drops : $8.50
Vienna-roasted, shade grown Guatemalan and Mexican coffees sensuously surrounded by pure dark or milk chocolate. A mouthful of 100% organic pleasure. Half of the profits are returned to the indigenous cooperative in Costa Rica that provides the cocoa butter.

Coffeelands CD from Putamayo: $14.00
We absolutely love this CD (and part of the proceeds goes to Coffee Kids for development work). Incredible music from around the coffee world.