FORT RIVER READS!!!

See below for more pictures of the event

THANK YOU


to the many volunteers and guests who made last week's Book Fair and Thursday evening's FORT RIVER READS: Book Event & Community Marketplace a huge success! The Scholastic Book Fair generated a school record of over $8000 in sales. As a result, Scholastic will provide our library with at least $4000 worth of credit towards books and other educational materials!

A round of applause goes to Diane Caraker, Carol Slaughter, and Sue Borden for all their hard work at the Book Fair. Many thanks also go to volunteers: Jon Kurtz, Nancy Stewart, Becky Schneider, Sarah Thompson, Kathy Niedzielski, Frieda Alker, Mark Dooley, Jean MacKimmie, Libby Stanforth, Stacy Simonson, Deb Leonard, Kathryn Mahony, Myles Cunningham, Devaiah Vytla, Shubha Tewari, Becky, Elizabeth & Laura Caraker.

We are proud that our generous Fort River community donated over $400 in teacher requested books. The PGO is also pleased to have provided over $500 in scholarships to our students.



Click on picture for larger view.


THANK YOU to the Thursday evening team!

Shari Abbott, for coordinating the Community Marketplace.
Rolf and Cindy Nelson, for making the most delicious chili and serving it up with a smile!
(Keep an eye out for the Nelsons' new restaurant, the Lumberyard, coming soon to Amherst.)
Kathy Brennan, for cooking up the veggie chili.
Erin Cherewatti, for coordinating and staffing the bake sale.
Ali Wicks-Lim and Maria Polino, for brewing and selling Fort River Roasters (Dean's Beans).
Atkins Farms and Libby Stanforth, for donating the Atkins Apple Cider.
Peter Wolfwood, for managing the Winter Sports Swap.
Chris Felton, Becky Michaels, Kathleen Traphagen, and Alana Atkinson, for helping out where needed!

Thank you also to our Community Marketplace vendors:
Catalina and Ines Arrubla
Diane Caraker
Karen Cardozo
Todd Felton
Rebecca Fricke
Rebecca Guay
Emma Knight
Pam Lewis
Lisa Oram
Lisa Pope
Judy Stern


Many thanks to our vendors for contributions made to the PGO Library fund on this evening!

This event was great fun and we look forward to doing it again next year!

Pam Rietkerk, PGO President & Michele Spirko, PGO Vice President

Lost and Found: This is Your Last Chance!

Your last chance to claim lost and found items! Lost and found items will be on a table in the lobby through Dec. 21st. Any unclaimed items will be given to Survival Center.

Questions? Contact Sue Cairn at scairn@verizon.net.

Multi-Arts Winter Program Registration

MULTI-ARTS open registration for its WINTER PROGRAMS 2011

ART

WEDNESDAYS • 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ten Classes: $120
Munson Library, South Amherst

FRIDAYS • 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Ten Classes: $120
Fort River Elementary School, Amherst


FASHION DESIGN

WEDNESDAYS • 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Ten Classes: $120
Munson Library, South Amherst

FRIDAYS • 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ten Classes: $120
Fort River Elementary School, Amherst

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

THEATER • FASHION DESIGN • ART • CREATIVE WRI TI NG

WEDNESDAYS • 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
January 5 through March 16
$270
Munson Library, South Amherst

FRIDAYS • 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
January 7 through March 18
$240
Fort River Elementary School, Amherst

To register contact Catalina at info@multi-arts.org or call 413-5847951.

Please note: Not sponsored by the FR PGO.

AEF Holiday Appreciation Gifts in Honor of Special Teachers and Staff

Join the Amherst Education Foundation (AEF) in celebrating our teachers and supporting our schools!

Click here or check your child’s backpack for the flyer on how to make a holiday gift to AEF and honor teachers and/or staff. Your honored teacher or staff person will get a personalized gift card letting them know of your thoughtfulness. General end of year contributions to AEF are also welcome and appreciated! Last year, AEF gave over $40,000 to the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools to support teachers in all 8 schools to enhance the educational experience of our children. For more information, visit www.amhersteducationfoundation.org.

Nominations Invited for 1st Annual Norma Jean Anderson Award

Members of the Amherst elementary and regional school community are invited to nominate a teacher, administrator or staff member of the schools for the new Dr. Norma Jean Anderson Award. The award will recognize a school employee who “promotes the ideals of a just and respectful community built on compassionate relationships.” The award is presented as “part of the on-going work to remove systemic privilege based on race and class in our schools”. It is presented by RaDAR (Race and Discipline Action Rights), a local group that is committed to promoting social justice and excellence in the schools.

This is the first year of what will be an annual award. It will be presented at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in Amherst, January 15, 2011.

The late Dr. Norma Jean Anderson was a dean at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a leader in addressing issues of educational diversity, opportunity and access. She was instrumental in mentoring over 300 graduates from the School of Education. She was a long-time community advocate for justice and equity. She was a co-founder of the NAACP chapter in Amherst and of Hope Church in Amherst.

Nominations should be sent to RaDAR in care of Reynolds Winslow at: reynbaker@yahoo.com. They must be received by Noon, December 28th.

Those interested in making a nomination can obtain more information from Reynolds Winslow, Jackie Wolf (lwvahealthcare@yahoo.com), Russ Vernon-Jones (russvj@gmail.com), or at http://www.arhsparentcenter.org/norma-jean-anderson-award.

Amahl and the Night Visitors at Immanuel Lutheran Church

This is a family-friendly production which includes three Fort River students in the cast!

Zumba Fitness Class at Amherst Ballet

Zumba Fitness with Zulma Rivera

Parents need to exercise and have fun too!

Check out these two opportunities at Amherst Ballet.

Let's workout with Latin rhythms and flavor!!!

You don't even have to know how to dance,
Just move your body and follow my lead.
Currently I'm licensed to to teach and
I am waiting for YOU to join the class.
Every Class feels like a party!

Sunday 9:30 to 10:30 am
Starts Novemebr 21st.
Amherst Ballet Studios.
$5 per class and the 10th class is free!

For more information
Zulma Rivera Zuzumba75@gmail.com
or call 413-546-2059

Pilates with Catherine Fair: Director of Amherst Ballet.

There are only a few more classes left in this session. But why not try a great class.
Fridays 10:30 am to 11:45 am.   $10/class.
Call 549-1555 to register or stop by on you way out of Wildwood: 29 Strong Street.
Email info@amherstballet.org

Please note: this event is not sponsored by the Fort River PGO.