Sixth Grade Graduation: Food Donations Needed

Attention Sixth Grade Parents We are still in need of food donations for the sixth grade graduation reception and dance. Donations can be brought to school between 8AM and 11AM on Friday, June 19th--we do have refrigeration. Please help make this a special day for our kids! Food assignments by class: Mr. Stone’s class: Cheese/crackers, humus/pita Mr. Lamdin’s class: Fruit and Veggies Mr. Wallace’s class: Desserts Ms. Trowbridge’s Class: Chips, Pretzels, Dips, Salsa You can sign up on line at these following links: Mr. Stone: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/events/0g5R6NEV4pw=/public Mr. Lamdin: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/events/wKz3$7xA6Tc=/public Mr. Wallace: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/events/ovdIL9trMqQ=/public Ms. Trowbridge: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/events/TQFy9t+V7uM=/public You can also sign up by contacting the parent coordinating food for your class: Mr. Stone’s class: Sarah Murphy (saraha.murphy@comcast.net) Mr. Lamdin’s class: Alison Donta-Venman (adonta@mtholyoke.edu) Mr. Wallace’s class: Jenny Reynolds (reynoldsjh@aol.com) Ms. Trowbridge’s Class: Jenn Wellman (ajwellman@comcast.net)

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Lunch: Thanks to Parents!

Hickory Ridge Country Club was the setting last week once again for the Parent Council sponsored Ft. River Teacher & Staff Appreciation Luncheon & the day was a smashing success! Over seventy staff members were present & all enjoyed a lovely buffet lunch while being serenaded by two Ft. River alums, Solomon Goldstein-Rose & Dorian Elgers-Lo, who provided background cello & violin music during the afternoon. Thank you to all those in the Ft. River community who contributed entries to the Gratitude Walls, the brainchild of Ft. River parent & "Multi-Arts Guru" Catalina Arrubla, that were posted graffiti-style at the school entrance during the week leading up to the luncheon. You were so prolific that Catalina had to post a second wall so that everyone's sentiments were captured! The Gratitude Walls were displayed in the room during the luncheon for the teachers & staff to appreciate. They are now hanging in the Staff Lounge at school. To those who made cards of thanks to acknowledge the many kindnesses of teachers & staff throughout the year, a heartfelt "thank you" to you from Catalina, Coleman Cornelius and Eileen Marasco, event volunteers. They were all much appreciated by the teachers & staff when they were distributed around the room at the luncheon as decorations. The variety of the messages written on the cards served as a reminder of the many ways in which our outstanding Ft. River teachers & staff touch our children on a daily basis, some of them perhaps in ways that they'd never even imagined. It was heartwarming to read the outpouring of thanks & appreciation expressed by the kids for all the little "extras" the Ft. River staff is known for that make our school such a special place. The kids may misplace a sweater on the playground, forget to finish a piece of homework, or goof off & ignore directions when asked to do something in class, but they really do "get" the teachers & staff in ways that would amaze you! Nothing is lost on those to whom it really matters. To Catalina, Coleman & Eileen, job well done & many thanks! Kudos to Susan Noonan for covering the phones at school so that all of our hardworking office staff could enjoy the event. Thanks to Danielle & the staff of Capacidad for having the kids there churn out a number of thank you cards for us & to Seiha Krouch for lending the support of the Cambodian Culture Club to the effort. To those who took the time from dinner to create a card during the Ft. River Pub Night, thank you! We'll leave the table out with the card-making station on it at the entrance to the school building through next week if students or others in the Ft. River community would like to continue sharing messages of gratitude with teachers & staff. Thanks to everyone for supporting the Ft. River Parent Council so that once again we were able to treat the teachers & staff to this memorable day when they are able to gather together as a group & leisurely share time together in a relaxed setting to be celebrated. We are so lucky & grateful to have all of you! --Eileen Marasco

A Great Big THANK YOU to ...

... Eileen Marasco, Catalina Arrubla, and Coleman Cornelius for organizing the Staff Appreciation Luncheon. ... to all the Fort River students who filled the “Gratitude Wall” and helped decorate the tables with their heartfelt notes of thanks. ... to Fort River alums Solomon & Dorian Goldstein who provided a musical interlude for the Luncheon. ... to Susan Noonan for manning the office during the event. ... to Diane Caraker, Libby Stanforth and Desiree Bohl for staffing the Scholastic Book Event last week. ... to Jen Wellman who did such a wonderful job organizing the Bus/Van Driver Appreciation Breakfast ... and to all the parents who provided goodies and came to thank the drivers.

Congratulations to Mr Austin’s 5th Grade Class!

...who raised over $1200 for the American Cancer Society by participating in the “Relay for Life”. They collectively ran an impressive 94 miles around the track. Kudos runners!

Ongoing Fundraisers

Atkins Farms Country Market. Use your Atkins card when you shop at Atkins Farms Country Market, and they will donate a percentage of your purchase to Fort River School. Just show the card when you are checking out. Atkins has provided us with one card per family, which should have come home in an envelope with your youngest Fort River child. There is an expiration date on the card, which is the date that youngest child graduates from Fort River. It's another easy way to earn money for your school! Stop & Shopʼs A+ BonusBucks Program. This program has ended for the year: Fort River has earned $2,198.43!! Please keep in mind that you will have to re-register your card next fall for the next school year. Thanks to everyone who participated. Box Tops For Education. Keep clipping and bringing the Box Tops to the office! Even though have made our last submission for this school year, we will hold all additional box tops clipped this year and over the summer for submission next October. Big Y Education Express. Use your Big Y Express Savings Club card and Fort River can earn points for buying equipment and supplies! Visit the Big Y customer service desk and fill out a form that will link Fort River with your card. Fort River ID # 5947. Target Take Charge of Education. Designate 1% of the value of your purchases to Fort River every time you use your Target REDcard (credit card). Visit www.Target.com/tcoe . Fort River ID 58645. Cellphones & Ink Jet Cartridges. Protect the environment and raise money for Parent Council by donating used digital cellphones and ink jet cartridges. Please deliver to the Main Office.

Field Day Postponed--Message from the Principal

Dear Fort River Families & Staff, Due to tomorrow's forecast for chilly/rainy weather, Field Day has been postponed. It will take place NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 16th and will follow the same schedule as originally planned. In terms of planning for lunches, please note that there will not be a cook-out for lunch tomorrow as originally planned for Field Day. Tomorrow, the cafeteria will be serving nachos instead of hot dog/hamburgers. The cookout will be next Tuesday, June 16th. On Thursday (6/18) they will serve tacos (instead of hamburgers). ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS If you signed up and were on the schedule to help but can't come next Tuesday please contact Sarah Murphy at saraha.murphy@comcast.net ASAP to let her know so she can try to find somebody else to fill your slot. Sincerely, Ray Sharick

Upcoming School Events

Band and Orchestra Concert. Thursday, June 4th. 7:30pm. Fort River Gym. Coffee With the Principal. Friday, June 5. 8:30-9:45am. Fort River Cafeteria. *****Field Day. POSTPONED TO JUNE 16th.********* School Council Meeting. Thursday, June 11th, 7pm. Principal's Office. Parent Council Meeting. Friday, June 12, 9am. Fort River Cafeteria. (Please note delayed time.) We will be discussing next year's budget. School Committee Meeting. Tues., June 16, 7pm. High School Library. 6th Grade Camping Trip. Mon-Wed., June 8-10. Sixth Grade Graduation. Friday, June 19th 1:30pm. Fort River Gymnasium. LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. Monday, June 22nd, FULL DAY. First Day of School 2009-2010, Thursday, August 27, Grades 1-6 Monday, August 31st, Kindergarten. Note: Items in teal are sponsored by Fort River Parent Council.