PGO Meeting on June 11 at 9 am

General PGO Meeting

Monday, June 11
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 (agenda item deferred from May). 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! 

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.

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! 

Valley ADHD Parent Support Group Monthly Meeting on May 7

next meeting:

Monday, May 7, 2018

1st Monday of Every Month

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Northampton Area Pediatrics, LLP

193 Locust St., Northampton

Conference Room

          Join other area parents and caregivers to...

-         Receive ADHD information and support

-         Be heard without being judged

-         Hear how others cope with similar issues and challenges

-         Learn about local resources for families

-         Hear from area specialists on pertinent topics

-         Learn new strategies to try at home

-         Leave feeling empowered and hopeful

Light refreshments will be available.

Questions?  Please contact:

ValleyADHDfamilies@gmail.com

Letters for Lucio Campaign and Conversational Spanish Classes

The Pioneer Valley Workers Center, in collaboration with a passionate team of valley residents, has launched a vital letter-writing campaign in support of Lucio Perez. Please click here to see the flier with all the information needed, including letter samples, to facilitate full engagement in this campaign.

The campaign, which is an active response to a critical juncture in Lucio’s case, is grateful for all the support Lucio and his family have received. If you’re interested in helping further, please consider writing letters in support (maybe your kids can join in this meaningful opportunity—great practice for new writers!). 

Conversational Spanish Lessons with Lucio

Are you looking for a welcoming place to practice your Spanish? Did you take Spanish in high school, but find that you are a bit out of practice? Or would you like to start from the beginning and learn to greet friends and neighbors? Come join us! Lucio is hosting Spanish conversation classes and would love for you to attend. These casual conversation sessions will be an opportunity for people of varying Spanish ability to develop their vocabulary and confidence in the language. Both individual and group sessions are available.

Sign Up Here: bit.ly/luciospanishaprilmay

Classes are taught at First Church Amherst (165 Main St, Amherst MA 01002) in individual and group formats at the following times:

Now Registering for Sessions!

Individual Sessions:

45 minute slots (Sliding scale: $25-50 per session)

Mondays 9am

Mondays 10am

Tuesdays 2pm

Tuesdays 3pm

Fridays 5pm

Beginner Group Sessions: (Limit of 8 participants per session)

(Sliding scale: $15-30 per person)

Wednesdays 10-11:30am

Thursdays 10-11:30am

Save the Date! Art Night for Families on April 26

Art Night for Families! A very special evening for families on April 26th!

Art teacher Nicole Singer and Sara Perez Battles, her fantastic student-teacher intern, team up to lead a bilingual (Spanish/English) workshop for families to help adults provide their children with awesome art making opportunities and support at home and beyond.

Funded by a grant from the Crayola company, the evening will include:

• pizza
• childcare
• an introduction from Museums 10 representatives on what they offer (especially family programming)
• affordable ideas to encourage art making in the home
• resources for children with special needs
• an art making activity

Help us figure out how much pizza to buy. Please sign up using this form: https://goo.gl/forms/zLR3XZTr0v2kwodA2

Autism Awareness Night on April 12

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee)  and the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools have teamed up to host an Autism Awareness Night.

Thursday, April 12

5:45 PM - 7:30 PM

Amherst Regional High School

Current high school and post-graduate panelists will be in small groups, talking about their experience with Autism, its strengths and challenges, what helps/what doesn’t, and other interesting discussion topics, such as Autism as a disability versus difference. 

We will also feature an art exhibit showcasing artists with Autism, a display of Autism Awareness posters, and a literature table. 

*Please RSVP by April 9th to Nancy Stewart at sepac@arps.org or 413-687-4255.  Event is free and open to the public.

Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop on March 19 at 5pm

Please note that the Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop scheduled for 3/12/2018 has been rescheduled for March 19. Details below:

Basic Rights in Special Education. Monday March 19, 2018 @ 5:00 PM, ARHS Library.  Please mark your calendars and join us for this informative workshop for parents and professionals.

RSVP to SEPAC@ARPS.org or call (413) 687-4255.

Tenga en cuenta que el taller de derechos básicos en educación especial programado para esta noche, 12 de marzo de 2018, ha sido reprogramado. Detalles a continuación:

Derechos básicos en educación especial. Lunes 19 de marzo de 2018 @ 5:00 PM, Biblioteca de ARHS. Por favor marque sus calendarios y únase a nosotros para este taller informativo para padres y profesionales.

RSVP a SEPAC@ARPS.org o llame al (413) 687-4255.

Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop – English

Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop – Spanish

RESCHEDULED! Family Math & Pi Night now Wednesday, March 14 from 6 - 7:30 pm

Fort River Elementary School presents a Title 1 and PGO sponsored school-wide event

Family Math & Pi Night - Math is everywhere!

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

6:00 -7:30 pm

Please click here to sign up to help with the pie auction.

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

Noche Familiar de Matemáticas y  Pi/Family Math & Pi Night

¡Matemáticas en todos lados!/Math is everywhere!

Miercoles, 13 de Marzo del 2018/Wednesday, March 13, 2018

6:00 -7:30 pm

la subasta silenciosa de torta en beneficio del viaje a Boston del 5º grado

Pie silent auction to benefit 5th grade Boston trip

Juegos de Matemáticas "jugar y tener"/“Play and Take” Math Games

         

6:00-6:30

Cena de pizza y la introducción en la cafeteria

Pizza dinner and introduction in the cafeteria

6:30-7:15

Juegos de matemáticas y la subasta silenciosa a través de la escuela

Math games and silent auction throughout school

7:15-7:30

Sorteo del gran premio en el vestíbulo principal

Grand prize raffle in the main lobby     

* Los autobuses recogerán en Mill Valley a las 5:30 p.m., Rolling Green @ 5:40 p.m. y Colonial @ 5:50 p.m. y los regresará después del evento 

*Buses will pick up Mill Valley @ 5:30, Rolling Green @ 5:40, and Colonial @5:50 and drop off after the event

What To Know About Kids And Screen Time

ARHS Principal Mark Jackson shared the following information about screen time:

What To Know About Kids And Screen Time

Almost as soon as they can focus past the end of their noses, babies today are waving at Grandpa on video chat and swiping the screens on all kinds of devices. There’s a lot of panic, anxiety, guilt and shame out there about kids and screens.

And now there’s a book from one of NPR’s Ed team members. Anya Kamenetz’s latest, The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media And Real Life, set out to answer the question: What’s the best approach to take to tech? She says she feels it— all of it — as a mother. And as a reporter she has been interested in the intersection of children and technology for many years.

Take the Screen Time quiz

Check out our previous coverage on young children and small screens

View a round up of some of the latest research on screen timeAs always, send tips, responses or story ideas to npred@npr.org.

As always, send tips, responses or story ideas to npred@npr.org.

Autism Parent Training on March 7

The Autism: Parent Training Series has been re-scheduled.  Please see below for the revised event information.

Moving Through School: How to Adjust to New Schools and New Expectations

Date: Wednesday March 7

Time:  6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location:  Amherst Regional Middle School, PD Center

Childcare is available for in-district families.  
Please RSVP to AnnearTL@arps.org prior to Monday March 5, 2018.

Elementary Homework Policy

The PGO would like to thank Superintendent Michael Morris for visiting last Friday to solicit feedback from parents and guardians on the newly proposed elementary district wide homework policy. Many parents were able to provide specific commentary and share their personal experiences. The policy can be found here:

English https://goo.gl/wLkxfW 

Spanish https://goo.gl/aHWca3

The Fort River teachers who participated on the Homework Inquiry Group include Ann Shea, Carissa Ackroyd, and Omar Almodovar. A review of the research that informed the work of the group can be found here. Finalization and implementation of the policy is scheduled for early 2018. 

PGO Coffee with the Principal and Special Guests Ryan Harb and Michael Morris on October 27 at 9am

Please join the Fort River PGO and Interim Principal Diane Chamberlain in welcoming Mr. Ryan Harb and Superintendent Michael Morris to the Fort River cafeteria on Friday, October 27th. Mr. Harb, the new Director of Food Services for Amherst Regional Public Schools, will talk about the district’s new in-house food services. Additionally, Dr. Morris is seeking feedback from parents and guardians on the newly proposed district wide homework policy, which can be found here:

English https://goo.gl/wLkxfW 

Spanish https://goo.gl/aHWca3

If possible, please review the proposed policy in advance and bring your questions. 

Friday, October 27^th

9:00-10:00

in the Fort River cafeteria

As always, coffee and snacks will be served and younger children are welcome.

ARPS Autism Specialists Present Parent Training Series

Autism Specialists from Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools have put together an upcoming Parent Training Series that is not to be missed. Please have a look at the attached flyers (English and Spanish) for information on this informative five-part series. The first in the series is on October 18. 

Please RSVP one week prior to each event date: BloomenthalW@arps.org or (413) 362-1834

Click for flyer in English: ASD Parent Training Series English

Click for flyer in Spanish: ASD Parent Training Series Flyer Spanish