Gradewide Events--Coming Soon!

Grade-wide events are being planned for K, 1st, 3rd and 4th grades - dates to be announced. If you have a great idea or are interested in helping with this endeavor please contact your grade rep and/or room parent. (See right-hand side of the screen under "Fort River Links" for contact info.)

Stop & Shop A+ Bonus Bucks: February Numbers

I have just checked the numbers from the Stop & Shop BonusBucks program and they are looking great! In February, our participants have earned another $673.50 for Fort River, which means we have already earned $1,792.83 for Fort River during this school year! We also now have 134 people signed up for the program, which is up from 111 in January. We have already earned $460 more than we did last year. Unfortunately, March is the final month of the 2008-2009 A+BonusBucks program, which officially concludes on April 2, 2009. By the end of May, Fort River will receive a check for our total amount to use for any of our school's educational needs. The good news is that it's STILL not too late to sign up for the program, if you haven't already. (Please click here to find out how to do it.) If you sign up in March, ALL of your purchases at Stop & Shop during the entire month of March will count towards our total. So please sign up if you haven't already. Thanks to everyone who already has signed up! -- Ann McLaughlin

Volunteers Needed

Library Fran Ludington is looking for volunteers to shelve / organize books and perform minor book repairs. Training will be provided. Contact Fran Ludington, 362-1215 (LudingtF@arps.org) Amherstopoly Additional volunteers needed to help with this all elementary school fundraiser. Contact: Liz Larson (lizinamherst@gmail. com). T-Shirt Sale T-shirts,sweatshirts & totes made with the Fort River logo will be available this Spring. Co-organizer needed. (Contact: Sue Borden, frpc.sborden@gmail.com) Immigration Play (5th Grade) Volunteer help needed with rehearsals leading up to performance in the Spring. Please contact: Anne White, 362-1215, WhiteA@arps.org.

Upcoming Community Events

Please note that these events are not sponsored by Parent Council. Northampton Family Dance. Sunday, March 15, 3:00 - 5:00 PM at the First Churches, 129 Main Street, Northampton (Use Center Street entrance across from the Iron Horse). Please come to the Family Dance! Come enjoy a variety of folk and contra dances geared to children and families. All dances are taught and all ages are welcome--no dance experience needed. A healthy snack is served at the break. Live music! Brendan Taaffe calls, music by Linda Henry & Shirley White. Admission is $4 per person for ages 3 and up, $15 maximum per family. This is the last dance this season in our season of five dances, taking place on the third Sunday of the month from November through March. For more information, please call Judy Stern at (413) 256-2613. The Fresh Air Fund: Host a Child This Summer. The Fresh Air fund is in need of hosts for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give a fresh air experience that disadvantaged children never forget. There's lots of info on the Fresh Air Fund website here: http://www.freshair.org/the-fresh-air-fund. FOA Salute to Families. On March 26th, 2009, Family Outreach of Amherst (FOA) will be hosting its Seventh Annual Salute To Families Series, at the the Amherst College Cole Assembly Room of Converse Hall, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. This year's event, titled "Coming Home: Memoir Writing and Transformation", will feature author Leslie Garris. Ms. Garris is an Amherst native and granddaughter of the authors of numerous popular childrens' books, including The Bobbsey Twins and the Uncle Wiggly series. Ms. Garris will read from her recent book, The House of Happy Endings: A Memoir. Additionally, she will discuss some of the challenges and rewards inherent in writing about one's family, particularly one fraught with mental illness. The evening will be moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Madeleine Blais. Following the book reading and discussion, there will be a reception and book signing. Tickets to this event will be available at the door. The cost of tickets ranges from $25 Benefactor, $10 General, $ Seniors, to free for Students. All proceeds will benefit Family Outreach of Amherst. Multi-Arts Winter 08-09 Online Magazine. Multi-Arts has published its latest edition of its online magazine with contributions from many of the valley's talented young people! Click here to take a look. Multi-Arts Play-Writing Competition. As a way to inspire children and young adults to create stories and promote their imagination, Multi-Arts invites them to enter a play-writing competition. The winner will receive $200 and the staging of their play by children in our summer program. Rules can be found on our website: www.multi-arts.org. A note from Parent Council. We will publish information about non-Parent Council sponsored events with the following conditions: 1. The event should be of interest to Fort River families.

2. The information should be sent to Ann McLaughlin at damclaughlin@comcast.net in the form of a short description. 3. Contact information (website or name, telephone and/or email address) must be included. We add new information to the blog every Friday during the school year. Please note that we do not accept announcements of items or services for sale (with the exceptions of children's classes/lessons). Inclusion in this section does not imply any guarantees or endorsements by Fort River Parent Council or Fort River School.

From the Springfield Republican: Amherst Regional School Committee picks Miami-Dade's Alberto Rodriguez as new superintendent

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/amherst_regional_school_commit.html?category=Amherst+category=Education

Breaking News: It's Official--Superintendents Resign

The following is from the ARPS website:

Superintendents Vivian and Sprague Resign; Maria Geryk Appointed

February 27, 2009 The Amherst-Pelham, Pelham, and Amherst School Committees announce acceptance of the resignation of Interim Co-Superintendents Helen Vivian and Al Sprague for personal reasons. Concurrently, the School Committees have appointed Maria Geryk as Interim Superintendent, effective February 27 through June 30, 2009. Ms. Geryk has served as Director of Student Services for the district for the past six years. She has current certifications in the following areas: Intensive Special Needs, School Psychologist, Supervisor/Director - Pupil Personnel Services, and Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent. The School Committees appreciate the services of Dr. Vivian and Mr. Sprague and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Upcoming School Events

Regional School Committee Meeting. Monday, March 2. 7:30pm. ARHS Library. The Regional School Committee will vote for the next Superintendent at this meeting. Please see below for more information. Amherst School Committee Meeting. Tuesday, March 3. 7:00pm. ARHS Cafeteria. Discussion of possible cuts to the elementary school budget. Agenda here. Coffee With the Principal. Friday, March 6, 8:30-9:30am. Fort River Cafeteria. Fort River Roasters by Deans Beans. Monday, March 9 . Orders Due (order deadline has been postponed from Friday 3/6). Forms here. Parent Council Meeting. Wed. March 18th, 6:30pm. Fort River Library. Stay tuned for more information on: School Reorganization/Budget Options Data Presentation. Date and time to be announced. Fort River Library. Note: Items in teal are sponsored by Fort River Parent Council.