DATE CHANGE: Bus/Van Driver & Crossing Guard Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday JUNE 19 at 9 am

Please join the families of Fort River for an appreciation breakfast to say thank you for all that our transportation professionals do to get our kids to and from school safely.

Tuesday JUNE 19, 9:00am (NOTE DATE CHANGE)
THE FORT RIVER CAFETERIA

We need many food items for the breakfast including eggs, sausage, bagels, juice, fruit, etc. Click here to donate! Thank you!

Happy Field Day!

It's finally here! 

Today is Field Day! Field Day is a school wide event that allows the entire school to get outside for sun and fun. In the morning, students will participate in field day activities together in multi-aged groups to build school unity across grades. Groups will rotate through a variety of outdoor and indoor activity stations on the fields, on the playground, and in the gym. This year, the afternoon will also be filled with community building games and activities.

Schedule:
9:00 am - 11:30 am: Grades K – 6 Field Day
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Picnic lunch & recess (bring your own or purchase cafeteria lunch)
1:00 - 3:10 pm: Afternoon elective activities

Thanks to those who are volunteering to help make Field Day 2018 another huge success. There are a couple of vacancies so if you are available please join us! We meet on the basketball courts at 8:30 am.

Here is the “Bring It” sign up sheet (in case you forgot your volunteer shift description): (http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/ZR90d5H2bU8) 

Thank you to Christine St. Laurent (cwstlaurent@gmail.com) and Tom St. Laurent (tomstlaurent.ht@gmail.com) for organizing again!  

Thank you and we are looking forward to seeing you today!

Giving Tuesday is November 28 - So Many Ways to Give

#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. Millions of people come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

Random acts of kindness are a great way to teach young children about giving and supporting each other. Helping a neighbor with yard work or donating clothes and books are easy ways to get kids involved. The Fort River Student Council is currently organizing a toy and necessities drive for victims of Hurricane Maria. The Amherst Survival Center and local religious groups have ongoing opportunities to donate or volunteer locally. The Amherst Education Foundation provides grants to ARPS teachers allowing students to tangibly see their families' donations at work.

The Fort River PGO also depends on generous giving from our community so that we can continue to support the work of our incredible teachers and staff. The Annual Fund needs to cover about 30% of the annual budget. Please consider joining the Fort River community on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 by including the PGO in your end-of-year giving. If you are able to help, please click here to donate using PayPal or send a check into the Main Office made out to "Fort River PGO." Thanks!

ABC Host Families Needed

The Amherst A Better Chance Program is welcoming four new Scholars this year – three 9th graders and one 10th grader! 

ABC is looking for host families for these young men. Host families open their homes and their hearts to the Scholars who live with their host families during the first weekend of every month of the school year. All members of the Amherst community are encouraged to consider this opportunity to gain as much as you give.

A description of the host family program and contact information can be found on the Amherst ABC website: https://www.amherstabetterchance.org/volunteer/host-family-program/. 

Interested families can also contact Wendy Kohler, President of the ABC Board of Directors, at wendykohler@comcast.net

ARPS Homework Inquiry Group Volunteer Request

This year, the issue of homework has been discussed multiple times at School Committee meetings, in the weekly ARPS Update, and other venues.   As a next step, I will be forming and facilitating an Inquiry Group made up of educators and parents/guardians to discuss homework at the elementary level.* This group (of roughly 10 members) will review research, share perspectives, and develop homework guidelines to propose to staff, families, and the School Committee for feedback and input.  The group will meet three times from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27; Wednesday, June 28; and Thursday, June 29, 2017.  All participants need to be able to attend all three sessions.  If you are interested in participating in this work, please email your name, which school(s) your child or children attend, and their grade level(s) to Debbie Westmoreland at westmorelandd@arps.org.

* After additional training for several secondary administrators and staff members occurs next fall, a similar process will take place next year for the discussion of homework at the secondary level.

Este año, el tema de la tarea ha sido discutido varias veces en las reuniones del Comité Escolar, en la actualización semanal de ARPS, y en otros lugares. Como siguiente paso, estaré formando y facilitando un Grupo de Investigación compuesto por educadores y padres / guardianes para discutir la tarea en el nivel elemental. * Este grupo (de aproximadamente 10 miembros) revisarán la investigación, compartirán perspectivas y desarrollarán las pautas sobre las tareas, que serán propuestas al personal, las familias y al Comité Escolar para retroalimentación y sugerencias. El grupo se reunirá en tres ocasiones de 9:00 a.m. a las 12:00 p.m. el martes, 27 de junio; miércoles 28 de junio; Y jueves, 29 de junio de 2017. Todos los participantes deben poder asistir a las tres sesiones. Si está interesado en participar en este trabajo, por favor envíe un correo electrónico con su nombre, la (s) escuela (es) a la que su hijo/s o hija/s asisten, y el grado a Debbie Westmoreland en westmorelandd@arps.org.

* Después del entrenamiento adicional que tendrán varios administradores de intermedia y superior y miembros del personal el próximo otoño, un proceso similar tendrá lugar el próximo año para la discusión de la tarea a nivel intermedia y superior.

GARDEN HELP NEEDED: Request for Volunteers

A request for volunteers from Jennifer Reese, Science Coordinator & Resource Teacher, Amherst Public Schools, 413-362-1897

GARDEN HELP NEEDED:

At Wildwood, volunteers are needed to help weed the garden beds and compost the weeds. Volunteers would work with small groups (2-3 children) at at time, meeting with several groups over the course of a 45-60 minute period. Contact Lisa Poirer (poirierl@arps.org) if interested.

At Fort River, volunteers are needed to help revitalize the pollinator garden. This will involve weeding, trimming plants, cleaning out debris, adding fertilizer, and spreading wood chips. Contact Jane Costello (costelloj@arps.org) if interested.

Library Volunteers Urgently Needed!

Some of the library volunteers will be "graduating" in June and need to be replaced. Additional volunteers are also needed. Here is a repost of the request from library staff posted in Decemeber:

If you have any free time and are willing, the Fort River Library needs you. Usually we can train you in 30-40 minutes for the job(s) you choose. Book repairs can be done at home or here. Give us a call or stop by to see what it might feel like to work in the library. Try it. Your schedule to volunteer can be whenever you are free and flexible. -- Fran Ludington, Librarian, Joanne Shea, Paraeducator (Email: ludingtf@arps.org) 

Kristin DeLuca, first grade parent, offers her thoughts on volunteering in the library:

"Giving just a few hours to the library each week is a rewarding experience and a fun way to get involved with your child's school environment. Any time that volunteers are able to help with book shelving or assist with projects frees up valuable time for the librarian to prep for student lessons. Ms. Ludington and Ms. Shea are great to work with and very flexible ... even if you only have a half hour one week, dropping in to help tidy up is very much appreciated! It doesn't take long to get trained, so I'd encourage anyone available to drop by and check it out." 

Host Families Still Needed for Japanese Students

The Koryo high school kids from Japan come in every year and love it! 

They are coming in November 21st (late). Sunday the 22nd is a day to do whatever you normally do so they can be a part of it. On Monday they get dropped off and picked up at the Dunkin/Big Y Plaza so they can go to Boston and then they leave from there Tuesday morning.  It’s a short homestay and a great way to check out whether you enjoy hosting or not! We’ve done it for many years and are still in touch with most of our kids ~ if you get back to me I could meet you with your student letter and picture. The stipend is $20/day which you will get 2-3 months after they leave. 

There are 43 kids and we are still short 13, so if you can host or know anyone who can please let me know. Thanks! Dianedavidson711@gmail.com, 413-687-8833–Diane Caraker, Teacher Guide, PeopleLink(Becky’s mom)