Parent Volunteers Needed for Science

Pat Cahill, who is the Elementary Science Curriculum Leader for the Amherst elementary schools is looking for parents who would be willing to volunteer one morning or afternoon for a few hours a week, especially in the first few months of the school year.  No special science background is necessary.

Please contact FR PGO President Pam Rietkerk at pam.fortriver@gmail.com if you're interested in helping out!

Thanks.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Fort River PGO Website!

To all new Fort River Parent and Guardians:

If you are new to Fort River, please consider signing up for PGO emails. Once you've signed up, you'll get email notifications after the PGO website has been updated, and you'll also get automatic calendar reminders before the various Fort River events such as the Family Fair and PGO meetings. Just click on the link below and tell me your name and preferred email address. All Fort River families, staff and faculty are welcome to sign up!

Subscribe to the Fort River Email list.

To all returning Fort River parents and guardians:

Have you been getting PGO emails this year? Have you recently changed your email address? Make sure I have your latest email address or else you won't be kept up-to-date on the latest PGO news! Click on the above link to let me know your new email address. Please include your old email address so I can remove it from the list.

Thanks!
Ann McLaughlin,V.P. for Website
Fort River PGO
damclaughlin@comcast.net

Thanks for Your Help Sprucing Up Fort River!

A MILLION THANKS to all the families who helped out with the Fort River spruce up! The cafeteria looks bright and fresh with new paint; the front sign is free of weeds and has new flowers; and HUGE piles of woodchips have been spread on the playground to make it soft and safe. Our school is looking great and ready for the start of the year!

Thanks to:
Ray and Carol Sharick
Michele Spirko
Dorie Goldman, Eskil and Jakob Skott
Bart, Jessie, and Tate Rietkerk
Chris, Todd, Tim and Liam Felton
Becky, Katie, and Claire Michaels
Nat, Liz, and Catherine Larson
Mike Jacques and Kiran and Alex Marwaha
Eileen, Mark, and Jessie Marasco
Bart and Caroline Hollander
Stephen Poulin
David and Nadav Berkman
Michael and Ruthie Ireland
Carmela Gravante, Milena and Carina Gravante-Gunnells
Becky Caraker
Zaim, Layla and Sahar Elkalai
and thank you to anyone who helped out that we missed on this list!

Your efforts are appreciated!!!
Pam Rietkerk

Don't Forget to Help Us Welcome New Fort River Families!

The New Family Welcome Popsicle Party is Tuesday, August 31 from 6:30-7:30pm on the FR playground. We have MANY new students in EVERY grade joining the Fort River community this Fall. Please drop by with your kids, have a popsicle, and welcome the new families to our community!

Faculty/Staff Welcome Back Brunch--Your Help Needed!

A "Welcome Back" event is planned for our fabulous Fort River faculty and staff on Wednesday, September 1st. Help is needed! WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS AND LOTS OF DONATIONS OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES FOR THIS EVENT!

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE SIGN-UP SHEET

This will be a casual drop-in brunch held from 10:30 am until 1:00 pm in the cafeteria. The teachers often linger and socialize, and then may grab some “take-out” to bring back with them as they prepare their classrooms. Volunteers are needed to set up (9:00 – 10:00 am . . . any time), provide the food (make or purchase), and clean up (1:00 – 2:00 pm . . . again, any time). Any help would be greatly appreciated! Here are some suggestions for the meal:

fresh fruit (whole is fine)
fresh veggies
salads
egg dishes
casseroles
sandwich items
quiches
noodle or rice dishes
baked goods
snacks
beverages (e.g. juice, lemonade, iced tea, fancy tea bags! Coffee will also be available.)
 
Fresh cut flowers from your garden would also be great; lots of families brought flowers in last year and many teachers commented on how lovely all of the arrangements were (any drinking glass, can, etc., will do for a creative vase!)

Let's make this a beautiful morning as the faculty and staff return for the upcoming school year! Items can be dropped off in the designated cafeteria (look for posted signs) any time after 9:00 am. Dishes will be washed and available for retrieval in the Main Office on the 1st day of school.

Please respond directly to Michele Spirko if you are able to help or have further suggestions or questions, or sign up here.

Thanks so much, and enjoy/cherish these last few weeks of summer with your kids!

Sincerely,
Michele Spirko
(mom to Colton – 5th grade, Anthea – 2nd grade, and Korinna - preschool)
spirko@pol.net

Compost Coaches Needed

FORT RIVER IS GOING GREEN(ER)!  Did you know that last year the Amherst elementary schools produced 70 tons of trash?!?  That is 156,800 pounds. Of that, an estimated 40,000 pounds was compostable. This year Fort River will be joining the other elementary schools in Amherst and actively composting and recycling our lunch waste from the first day of school.  To make this program a success, we need your help. The custodial staff has created a clearly designated composting and recycling area in the cafeteria.  For the first few weeks of the school year, we need 2 volunteer compost coaches each day to help the kids separate their trash during the lunch hours.  As the kids become more familiar and comfortable with the new Fort River way, they will be able to manage on their own.

If you can help, either on a regular (i.e. same day each week) or one time basis, please contact Liz Larson (nateliz.larson@gmail.com) ASAP.  Training and a tour of Crocker Farm's composting program will be arranged as schedules develop.  Also, if you would like to be involved in developing further green initiatives at Fort River, please let Liz know.

You're Invited!

 (click on the image to enlarge & print)

The Amherst Regional Public Schools are pleased to announce the First Day Welcome Party, a Back-to-School celebration for kids and the community that supports them, on Wednesday, September 1 from 6:00-7:30 pm on the Amherst Town Common.

Children and families are invited to bring a picnic dinner or snack and join their classmates and friends to enjoy a number of festivities. Activities are free and will include a performance by BOMBA, music, pony rides courtesy of Muddy Brook Farm, and more.

Free shuttle service will be provided between the Middle and High School parking lots and the Town Common. Or take the PVTA bus to the Town Common.

Then on On Thursday, September 2, the first day of school, parents are encouraged to join their children during First Day activities in the schools. Stay tuned for more info about activities at your child’s school!