Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Pub Night and Public Forums - Great Pair!




Tuesday, December 8th

15 East Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst

Take a night off from cooking, bring family and friends, and enjoy dinner at The Pub with our Fort River community! Tell your server you are a Fort River Family and The Pub will donate 15% of your bill to our PGO!

Were you planning on attending one of the Amherst Elementary School Building forums tonight? Dinner at The Pub will make life so much simpler for you and your family! Please join us at The Pub!



Annual Fund 2015 Appeal

Please consider Fort River Elementary School among your top charitable donations this year. The Fort River PGO launched our 2015 - 2016 Annual Fund campaign in November, and with the help of our community, we can fully fund our planned initiatives and maintain needed support for our teachers, students, and families! Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far!

Your dollars will not only stay local, in your community, they will stay RIGHT IN YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL when you make a charitable contribution to the Fort River PGO. Every cent is tax deductible.

Thank you for considering this worthy cause! We do not have an online platform for donations this year. This means you can be assured that every single penny you provide makes it into the PGO checking account at Florence Bank! Checks made out to "Fort River PGO" can be sent into the Main Office or mailed to:

Fort River PGO
70 S. East St.
Amherst, MA 01002

December Principal's Newsletter/School Improvement Plan


"Hello Fort River Families!

Fort River School is a vibrant school with amazing students, excellent teachers, and an engaged community of families. I am proud to serve as the instructional leader of this community of learners. With a shared vision and identified priorities for continued school improvement, the Fort River School Improvement Plan illustrates goals that focus on collaboration, equity for all, and community building.

The full School Improvement Plan can be found on our website. Below is an outline of our goal areas this year:
  • 80% of students reading at an average or above average level
  • Students will demonstrate average or above rate of improvement
  • Allocation of time for increased teacher collaboration
  • All students will have at least one opportunity to participate in a culminating Arts Integration experience
  • Teachers will engage in vertical and horizontal alignment around curriculum and instruction
  • According to the family needs assessment, the discipline approach will work “quite well” or “very well” for students
  • Using restorative practices and through interventions, the number of discipline incidents will be decreased by 20%
  • 95% of families will report they are “quite involved”
  • 85% of families will report Fort River values the diversity of children’s backgrounds and teaching materials support cultural diversity

Patterns and trends have guided the goal development and refinement for the 2015-2016 school year. It is through a strong collaborative commitment to improvement and data driven assessment of goals and objectives that Fort River will continue to make improvements.

Our work to articulate and refine our shared vision is ongoing, and demands an “all hands on deck” approach. Our goals will be reached when all stakeholders participate in the learning and growth of our students. The School Improvement Plan serves as a living and evolving document, a road map that will lead us towards improved excellence. Additionally, the plan fosters healthy transparency between the school, families, and community. We are committed and accountable for the goals and objectives within the plan. I am confident that as a learning community, our school improvement plan will represent and guide us to cultivate a culture of student success and high levels of achievement.

Sincerely,
Principal Bobbie Finocchio

________________________________________________
Hola Familias de Fort River!

Fort River es una escuela vibrante con estudiantes increíbles, excelentes maestros, y una comunidad comprometida a las familias. Estoy orgulloso de servir como líder de instrucción de esta comunidad de estudiantes. Con una visión compartida y prioridades identificadas para la mejoría continua de la escuela, el Plan de Mejoría de la Escuela Fort River ilustra objetivos que se centran en la colaboración, la equidad para todos, y la construcción de la comunidad.

El Plan de Mejoramiento Escolar completo se puede encontrar en nuestra página web. A continuación se muestra un resumen de nuestras áreas objetivo este año:
  • El 80% de los estudiantes que leen en un promedio o por encima del nivel medio
  • Los estudiantes demostrarán mejoramiento de promedio o por encima de la tasa de mejoría
  • Distribución de tiempo para una mayor colaboración de los maestros
  • Todos los estudiantes tendrán al menos una oportunidad de participar en una experiencia de integración de las Artes culminadas
  • Los maestros participarán en la alineación vertical y horizontal alrededor del currículo e instrucción
  • De acuerdo con la evaluación de las necesidades de la familia, el enfoque de la disciplina funcionará "bastante bien" o "muy bien" para los estudiantes
  • El uso de las prácticas restaurativas y por medio de intervenciones, el número de incidentes de disciplina serán reducidas por un 20%
  • 95% de las familias reportan que están "bastante envueltas"
  • 85% de las familias reportaran que valoran la diversidad de orígenes de los niños y los materiales didácticos apoyar la diversidad cultural en Fort River. 

Patrones y tendencias han guiado el desarrollo de metas y refinamiento para el año escolar 2015 hasta 2016. Es a través de un fuerte compromiso de colaboración para la evaluación de la mejoría y de datos impulsado de las metas y objetivos que Fort River seguirá para hacer mejoras.

Nuestro trabajo para articular y refinar nuestra visión compartida está en curso, y exige un enfoque de "manos a la obra”. Nuestros objetivos se alcanzarán cuando todas las partes interesadas participen en el aprendizaje y el crecimiento de nuestros estudiantes. El Plan de Mejoramiento Escolar sirve como un documento vivo y en evolución, una hoja de ruta que nos conducirá hacia la mejora de la excelencia. Además, el plan promueve la transparencia saludable entre la escuela, las familias y la comunidad. Estamos comprometidos y responsables de las metas y objetivos del plan. Estoy seguro de que como comunidad de aprendizaje, nuestro plan de mejoramiento escolar representará y nos guiara a cultivar una cultura de éxito de los estudiantes y los altos niveles de logro.

Sinceramente,

Principal Bobbie Finocchio"

News from the Superintendent

News from Superinendent Maria Geryk:

"... I am happy to share a news story about a group of 15 ARMS students who have taken what they learned through their Inquiry Project in Social Studies and turned it into an opportunity to advocate for social justice.  The full story, which was featured on WGGB News 40, is printed in the newsletter and you can view the video here.

… estoy feliz de compartir una noticia acerca de un grupo de 15 estudiantes ARMS que han tomado lo que han aprendido a través de su Proyecto de Investigación en Estudios Sociales y lo convirtieron en una oportunidad para abogar por la justicia social. La historia completa, que fue presentado en WGGB Noticias 40, está impreso en el boletín y se puede ver el vídeo aquí.

For those who want to delve into the details of the Amherst Elementary Building Project, the Project Design Proposal (PDP) has been completed and approved by the Wildwood Building Committee.  More information is included in the newsletter, and you can access the full draft PDP at this link.  The final version will be posted next week.

Para aquellos que quieran profundizar en los detalles del proyecto de construcción de Escuela Elemental de Amherst, la Propuesta de Diseño del Proyecto (PDP) se ha completado y aprobado por el Comité de Construcción de Wildwood. Más información se incluye en el boletín de noticias, y puede tener completo acceso al proyecto PDP en este enlace. La versión final se publicará la próxima semana."

Friday, December 4, 2015

Town of Amherst Nominating Papers

As of December 1, nominating papers for town-wide offices, including School Committee, will be available at the Town Clerk’s office. Nominating papers (with at least 50 voters supporting) are due February 9, and the election will be March 29, 2016. More info at: http://www.amherstma.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1630

Nomination papers for Moderator, Select Board, School Committee, Housing Authority, Jones Library Trustee, Redevelopment Authority, Elector of the Oliver Smith Will, Charter Commissioners and Town Meeting Member will be available at the Town Clerk’s office beginning December 1, 2015.

All voters registered to vote in Amherst are eligible to run for town office and town meeting member.

Town-wide office and charter commissioner nomination papers must be signed by at least fifty registered voters in Amherst. Candidates are advised to collect more than fifty signatures to ensure the requisite number of certified signatures.

Town meeting member nomination papers must be signed by at least one registered voter of the precinct in which the candidate resides.

Nomination papers for all of the above offices must be filed at the Town Clerk’s office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Voters in each precinct will elect eight town meeting members for three years, and elect other members as necessary to fill existing vacancies for two or one year terms. Amherst residents must be registered voters by Wednesday, March 9, 2016 to vote in the March 29, 2016 Annual Town Election.

http://www.amherstma.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1630

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Giving Tuesday - Please Consider Fort River School!

#givingtuesday is Tuesday, December 1st! 

The day provides a tremendous opportunity to support the hard work of your favorite non-profits! 

Please consider Fort River Elementary School among your top charitable donations this year. The Fort River PGO launched our 2015 - 2016 Annual Fund campaign in November, and with the help of our community, we can fully fund our planned initiatives and maintain needed support for our teachers, students, and families! 

Did you know that the PGO provides a printed Directory to each family annually free of charge? Did you know that each child receives a printed Yearbook at no cost every June? 

Have you attended Chili Nights, PGO Movie Nights, Popsicle Parties, or Dr. Suess Night? All of these community events were organized and funded by the PGO. How about the new Pumpkin Fun Run and Pancake Breakfast held on Halloween Day? This well attended, super fun inaugural event was made possible by the hard work of the PGO and generous donations from community partners. The PGO also budgets support for field trips, 6th grade graduation, Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon, Coffees with the Principal, the Winter Coat Drive, Book Share, and grade-wide potlucks and events.

All classroom teachers and specialists receive seed money from the PGO to set up their classrooms each fall. The Guidance Team has a sizable discretionary fund provided by the PGO specifically for supporting our most at risk students and families. 

Your dollars will not only stay local, in your community, they will stay RIGHT IN YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL when you make a charitable contribution to the Fort River PGO. Every cent is tax deductible.

Thank you for considering this worthy cause! We do not have an online platform for donations this year. This means you can be assured that every single penny you provide makes it into the PGO checking account at Florence Bank! Checks made out to "Fort River PGO" can be sent into the Main Office or mailed to:

Fort River PGO
70 S. East St.
Amherst, MA 01002

FINAL CALL for Gift Card Orders! Send in Orders by Tuesday, December 1st

GIFT CARD ORDERS ARE DUE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1st! 

Help the Fort River PGO earn money for school programs by doing nothing! (Well, almost nothing.) 

The PGO is selling gift cards! Do you already plan to purchase gift cards to give to your children, family, friends, and teachers during the holidays? Now your gift can give EVEN MORE!  

Do you make weekly trips to Stop and Shop or Target? Your routine household shopping can earn money for Fort River and it won't cost you anything! This is money that you would already be spending, but if you use our gift cards, you will be earning money for Fort River as we purchase the gift cards at a discount (from 3-16% depending on the retailer – listed in the table below.)

Use the cards for:
  • ·      Purchases that you already make on a regular basis like groceries or gas.
  • ·      Holiday shopping.
  • ·      To give as gifts to teachers, mail carriers and bus drivers.
Again, this is money you already have budgeted, but if you use our gift cards, you are helping the PGO fund school programs for your students. 

The PGO needs financial contributions to maintain our level of support for classrooms! This type of easy passive fundraiser helps every teacher and student at Fort River!

Please make checks payable to: Fort River PGOUse this form to order as many gift cards as you wish, attach your check, and return to your child’s teacher or to the PGO mailbox in the office.

Orders must be picked up in person in the Fort River lobby either on WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9th from 8:30-9:15am or THURSDAY DECEMBER 10th from 3-6pm. If you cannot make either date, please email Stacey Beganny to make other arrangements. (sbeganny@gmail.com)

Click here to access the order form.