Public Service Announcements from the Amherst Schools

Monte Carlo Night 2012
Please support the upcoming Monte Carlo 2012 on March 17 at Amherst College's Valentine Hall.  Monte Carlo 2012 is a wonderful fundraiser for the Athletic Program at ARHS.  Watch this video for more information:

http://blip.tv/amherstmedia/monte-carlo-2012-6007977

Amherst Education Foundation's Spring Sprint

AEF is sponsoring their Spring Sprint 2012 on May 5 at Wildwood School. This event supports the Amherst Public Schools and our students and staff.  Watch this video for more information:

http://blip.tv/amherstmedia/spring-sprint-6006452

ARHS Pre-schoolThe Pre-School at ARHS is currently enrolling students for this school year and in the fall.  Watch this video for more information:  http://blip.tv/amherstmedia/preschool-psa-6008396 

Girl Scout Promise Circle

Girl Scout Centennial Celebration! All current and former Girl Scouts, cookie moms, and volunteers are invited to a Promise Circle this coming Sunday, March 11, at 2:45 pm on the Amherst Common. A reception follows at Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Ave.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Elementary School Rainforest Game Night

On Friday, March 16 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, the ARHS Environmental Action Club (EAC) will host an elementary school rainforest-themed game night in the Wildwood cafeteria to help the EAC fundraise to help protect rainforests in Peru. All Amherst elementary students and parents are welcome to attend.  This event is free but donations to help the EAC are appreciated. Their ultimate goal for the game night is to raise awareness of the rainforest to elementary school students while raising money to protect an area of rainforest in Peru.
For more information, click here.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Auditions coming soon for "A Secret Garden"

Amherst Leisure Services Community Theatre Presents Auditions For Missoula Children’s Theatre’s The Secret Garden on Monday, March 26th at the Amherst High School Cafeteria from 4pm to 6pm. All those auditioning should arrive at 3:45 and plan to stay for the full two hours. Some of those cast in the show will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the auditions. Students in grade Kindergarten through 12th grade are encouraged to audition. There are 50-60 roles available, with parts in every age group. Assistant Directors will also be cast to aid in rehearsals. This is a group audition, and no advance preparation is necessary --though a smile always helps! There is a $5 Registration Fee for all those who are cast (waivers available). For more information, go to “Children’s Theatre” at ALSCT.org, click here, or call Susan at 413-461-6722.

This event is not sponsored by the FR PGO.

Math Update Recap

A huge thank you to Anne Kornblatt and Polly Wagner for their presentation on the math curriculum on Wednesday morning in Principal Colley's office. Below you will find links to the presentation and information on First in Math, Do the Math and the Investigations curriculum. We were also fortunate to have Dr. Rhonda Cohen, Director of Teaching and Learning, present. Dr. Cohen expressed her interest in having contact with the parent community. Please also see below for contact information for all the presenters if you have questions or concerns you would like to share.

*Click here for a link to the presentation slides 

*Click here for information on First in Math

*Here is a link to a video by Robert Sun, developer of First in Math, highlighting the ideas behind the program. He believes in deep practice as a way for students to take ownership in their mathematical learning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQv2q_D0Ot0

*Home page for the new intervention program, Do The Math: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/dothemath/

*Home page for Investigations: http://investigations.terc.edu/
*Parent page for Investigations: http://investigations.terc.edu/families/

Anne Kornblatt, FR Math Intervention Teacher: KornblaA@arps.org, 362-1200
Polly Wagner, FR Math Coach: WagnerP@arps.org, 362-1200
Rhonda Cohen, Director of Teaching and Learning: CohenR@arps.org, 362-1828 

To make an appointment with Dr. Cohen, please contact her assistant Wendy Bloomenthal at BloomenthalW@arps.org.

A Very Special Thank You to our Book Closet Volunteers!

THANK YOU to the volunteers who worked over Feb vacation on the Book Closet project. Take a look below at the email from Linda Castronovo (FR Literacy Coach). 

"Fort River has been ABUZZ with excitement about the book closet. Teachers have been coming by and EXCLAIMING about the fantastic job you all did--and continue to do. I have been hugged, thanked, and seen jaw-dropping excitement and disbelief. Teachers are finding and returning books much more easily; I don't think you will ever really know just how much time your work will save us all for a very long time to come!

Thanks especially to Kristen Lynch and the Schneider and Michaels families (kids and grown-ups) who continue to drop in to spend "spare" time working in the closet. The bulk of the work is almost complete (AMAZING!), but there will always be organizational work and up keep to do. Please feel free to stop in ANYTIME!"

Your hard work made a huge difference and will have a lasting impact! THANK YOU!

Fort River Jumpathon - A Great Success!

A note from Dianna Spaulding, Physical Education Teacher:

"Our Jumpathon was a huge success thanks to all the hard work the Fort River students did to raise money for the American Heart Association. We raised $8,331.00 dollars! That is outstanding! Our school will receive a gift certificate for $400.00 for physical education equipment as part of the prize package. Prizes have been ordered but will take almost 4 weeks before they will be delivered. Many thanks to the parent volunteers that helped count money or jumped with their child. Thanks to all who helped donate to this heart-healthy event!"