Fall Festival--Please Volunteer and Help Recruit Volunteers

Hi, I'm writing to ask for your help in recruiting more volunteers for the Fall Festival. We still need a few more people who can help out at the craft and game tables and monitor the snack table, the survival center table, the halls and the playground from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The more people the more fun and the easier it is. There are no skills required, specific instructions/directions will be provided. Two people could even split a shift or do one together. It's really a fun way to participate in a really fun event. The kids have a blast and the costumes and parade are really awesome! If you can give us some of your time (and have a great time in return!) please contact Louise Levy, tel. 256-1930, lhlevy@lycos.com, or Gina Chaplain, tel. 253-1955, ginach@bigplanet.com. Please forward this information to the parents in your classrooms and/or spread the word to any else you think may be interested. Thank you, Gina and Louise For more info, click here for the Fall Festival Volunteer Form.

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.

Boston Museum of Science Demonstration

Some Fort River students help out at the "Fog, Flowers and Fireworks"

demonstration after school on Wed. Oct. 10.

This event was presented by the Boston Museum of Science and was sponsored by Parent Council. As part of this special event, each Fort River class attended one of three separate, age-appropriate demonstrations during the school day.

Thanks to Betty Sharpe for organizing the Science Day Demonstrations, and Chris Felton and Janet Kannel for managing the Bake Sales before/after this event.

Upcoming Events

Picture Day - Tuesday/Wednesday, October 16 & 17. Diversity and Social Justice Committee Meeting, Wednesday, October 17th, 8:40 to 9:40 am, library. 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. Playground Day. Saturday, October 20th, 8:30 am to ???. Please help with assembling equipment and planting trees. Contact Catherine Sanderson at casanderson@amherst.edu. Fall Festival. Friday, October 26th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, cafeteria.

Playground News -- Installation on Oct. 20th.

We are installing the next phase of the playground in the next few weeks, and desperately need volunteers to assist with all of the following: assembling the play equipment and digging holes and planting trees (all on Saturday, October 20th). Can you help on that day? We also are in search of one or two people with some landscaping expertise to sketch out a layout of trees, benches, and picnic tables! Please contact Catherine (256-4977, casanderson@amherst.edu) if you can help in any of these capacities.

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

Annual Family Donation Fund Update for Oct. 12, 2007

We’ve received the best response ever to our Annual Family Donation Fund, which supports all Parent Council activities (field trips, cultural events, books for the library, scholarships for children in need, etc.) including the FREE directory your child will bring home today! We have already raised $4,159 from 117 of our 359 families (33% of families), and are still hoping for contributions from all families (and even a $1.00 donation helps increase our goal of 100% family participation)! Although we suggest $20 a child, larger and smaller amounts are welcome – and all contributions are tax deductible (and anonymous). Checks (made out to Fort River Parent Council) or cash can be sent to the Parent Council mailbox in the main office or to Catherine Sanderson, 23 Alyssum Drive.