LSSE offers Futsal in March for Grades 1 to 6

Date: March 7-28
Times: Grades 1-3: 5-6:30pm, Grades 4-6: 6:30-8pm
Location: Amherst Middle School Gym
Cost: $69 (20% off for Amherst Residents) 

Come learn about Futsal, the only indoor soccer variant sanctioned by FIFA, with Dave Lindholm. Futsal is played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation soccer ball. This is a great program for individuals to sharpen their soccer skills as Futsal helps develop better ball control, passing skills, and technique. From beginner to advanced, the clinics will be geared toward all levels and focus on skills development and having fun!

Amherst Survival Center Kids School Vacation BOOST Program

February Vacation Kids Boost is happening at the Amherst Survival Center Food Pantry. Families with school-age children will get extra food this month in their monthly groceries.

Folks can sign up for the first time (they need to bring proof of residence for every person in their household, school records are acceptable for kids, drivers license is acceptable for adults), or just make a return visit. The Boost is in effect for the entire month, whenever they come for their groceries (this week, or another).

Families must live in Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Sunderland, Ware or Whately to qualify for this program.

View flyer: ASC Kids SCHOOL VACATION Boost flyer

Winterfest Postponed!! New Date: Saturday February 20

Due to extreme cold Winterfest was postponed! ❄️❄️❄️❄️

Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm
Location: Cherry Hill Golf Course
Cost: Admission is $5 Kids/Students, $8 Adults and $20 for a family of 3 or More. There is a free shuttle service from Mill River Park and the Mill District.

The event includes a food court, chili tasting contest cider donut eating contest, cheese tasting, fatbike demo and riding, baseball toss, mobile disc golf experience, dusk superpipe sledding hill, wagon rides from Muddy Brook, frosty fun kids carnival, family ice sculpture contest, UMass stage crew dance and clinic, golf contests, face painting, best in snow dog show, cardboard sled race, Zumba in the snow and entertainment from Jack Frost and the Rose Cheeks and Pineapple Dance’s Elektrik Boyz and Jam Dance.

View flyer: winterfest-flyer-2016-schools
Visit: Winterfest on Facebook

The event is hosted by Amherst Leisure Services (LSSE) and Friends of Amherst Recreation with support from the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. It is sponsored by Integrity Development.

Psychological Assessments at UMASS Amherst

The UMASS Amherst Clinical Psychological Program provides psychological assessments to members of the campus and off-campus community. The specialized assessment clinical team can conduct full psychological assessment batteries (cognitive, emotional, and projective testing), neuropsychological testing, learning disability assessments, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments. The Center can consult with parents and schools about educational accommodations and coping with academic difficulties. Low-fee program offered to clients who meet income eligibility criteria. Clients who are not eligible for low-fee program still receive services at rates 40% lower than those charged in the private sector.

Unity Day Celebration on February 26th

An exciting update from the Fort River School Climate Team: 

"Dear Fort River Families,

 

Our students have been doing an amazing job of  demonstrating our WAVE principles:  Working hard, Acting responsibly, being Very respectful and keeping Everyone safe.  As many of you know, students can earn tickets when they are showing us these values in their work in the classroom, during activities, lunch, or or play with one another.

 

We set an ambitious goal for students to earn 1000 blue tickets, school wide, from January 19 - February 12, and as of last week, they already earned over 1200 tickets!

 

As a reward for their efforts, we will hold a “UNITY DAY” on Friday, February 26.  On this day, each student will have one hour to participate in an activity of their choice: board games/ crafts, PE games, or watching a video such and Brain Games/Wild Kratts (depending on the grade level).   Students will be choosing their activities this week.

 

We will also hold a special “mix-it-up” lunch, in which students will be assigned to sit with a group of students they may not typically eat with.  We will provide ice-breakers and activities to structure lunch a bit and support students to develop socially and connect with a wide range of peers. This kind of  “mix-it up” was developed years ago by Teaching Tolerence anti-bias programming for schools (http://www.tolerance.org/) .

 

We ask that you support us by encouraging your student(s) to WEAR BLUE Friday, February 26, and, if you are able, by donating any craft items we could use to get creative!

 

Thank you for all of your ongoing support,

The Fort River Climate Team

 

Estimadas Familias de Fort River,

Nuestros estudiantes han estado haciendo un trabajo increíble demostrando nuestros principios WAVE: (W) Trabajando duro, (A) Actuando de manera responsable, (V) actuando muy respetuoso y (E) manteniéndose todos seguros. Como muchos de ustedes saben, los estudiantes pueden obtener sus boletos cuando nos muestran estos valores en su trabajo en clase, durante las actividades, almuerzo, o jugando con otros.

Hemos establecido una meta ambiciosa para los estudiantes de ganar 1.000 boletos azules, a través de la toda la escuela, del 19 de enero - 12 de febrero, y desde la semana pasada, ellos ya ganaron más de 1200 entradas.

Como recompensa por sus esfuerzos, nosotros celebraremos un "DÍA DE UNIDAD", el viernes, 26 de febrero. En este día, cada estudiante tendrá una hora para participar en una actividad de su elección: juegos de mesa / manualidades, juegos de educación física, o viendo vídeo y/o juegos mentales / Wild Kratts (dependiendo del nivel de grado). Los estudiantes estarán eligiendo sus actividades esta semana.

También tendremos un almuerzo especial "mix-it-up", en el cual se asignarán a los estudiantes a sentarse con un grupo de estudiantes con los cuales normalmente no almuerzan. Vamos a proporcionar rompehielos y actividades para estructurar el almuerzo un poco y apoyar a los estudiantes a desarrollarse socialmente y conectarse con una amplia gama de pares. Este tipo de "mix-it-up" fue desarrollado hace años por la programación de enseñando tolerancia anti-parcialidad para las escuelas (http://www.tolerance.org/).

Le pedimos que nos apoyen alentando a su estudiante(s) vestir de azul el Viernes, 26 de febrero, y de ser posible, donando cualquier artículo de arte que pudiéramos utilizar para ponernos creativos!

Gracias por todo su constate apoyo,

Equipo de Clima Fort River"

4th Annual Community Read at the Jones Library "On the Same Page 2016"

The Jones Library is holding its 4th On the Same Page community reading program, featuring the book Being Mortal:  Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. The entire Amherst community is invited to read the book and participate in the related programming. A variety of programs are being offered to enrich the reading experience of this acclaimed bestseller and to encourage dialog about the themes the book presents, particularly aging and improving quality-of-life at the end of life.

This year, our community read will take place as part of a larger regional community read event, entitled Discussing Mortality:  A Community Conversation.  Dr. Atul Gawande's book Being Mortal has started a national conversation about the deep flaws in our society's current treatment of aging and dying people.  Using his book as a springboard and drawing on the rich resources of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, we will look closely at our goals for end-of-life care and being to plan how to bring about better outcomes for ourselves and our loved ones.

Events will be held at area libraries and other community locations from February through mid-April.  For a listing of participating libraries and community organizations and the programming being offered in the area, please click here.

February Jones Library Programming

Check out all of the incredible family programming available at our local library. There truly is something for everyone. Great ideas for Winter Break and EVERYTHING IS FREE!!! Visit http://www.joneslibrary.org for more details.




Sing With Your Baby
Tuesday Mornings 10:30 am-11:30 am in the Woodbury Room
February 2nd, 9th, 16th (snow day make-up session 23rd) 

Wendy Plummer sings with babies and toddlers and their caregivers during this special winter session of Sing With Your Baby. The program features a sing along as well as time for children to play with musical instruments.

Morning Preschool Storytime
Thursday Mornings 10:30 am- 11:00 am in the Kids’ Room
February 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

Stories, songs, and fingerplays for preschool age children and their caregivers.

Afternoon Preschool Storytime
Tuesday Afternoons 2:00 pm- 2:45 pm in the Kids’ Room
February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

This interactive preschool storytime is open to all kids from birth to age 5-- but especially designed for kids who attend morning programs or school sessions. Come hear stories, sing songs, learn rhymes, and do a simple craft.

Valentines Craft (Ages 0-5)
February 11th 11:00am-12:00pm in the Crafts Room
Drop by the library with your little cupids to make simple Valentine crafts. All materials will be provided. 

Valentines Craft (Ages 6-10)
February 11th 4:00pm-5:00pm
in the Crafts Room
Roses are red, violets are blue,
We love crafts and sending mail, too!
Drop by the library to make some Valentines. All materials will be provided

Jones Library Makerspace
Saturday Afternoons 2:00pm- 3:30pm in the Woodbury Room
February 13th and 27th 

Join us for our ongoing Makespace (do-it-yourself spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn). We will have creative tools and equipment from 3D Printing and Little BitsTM to modeling clay and craft supplies. For ages 8-12.
Please pre-register for one session in the Kids’ Room or at 413-259-3091/ kids@joneslibrary.org

Lego Club
February 20th 3:00pm- 4:30pm in the Woodbury Room
Legos will be provided! Challenges will be declared! For ages 6 - 10.

After School Book Group(Grades 3-5)
February 25th 4:00-5:00 in the Kids Bio Room 
This month we will be reading and discussing The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB by Adam Shaughnessy. For Grades 3-5.
Please pre-register in the Kids’ Room or at 413-259-3091/ kids@joneslibrary.org

Children’s Music Series * The Nields
February 27th 10:30am-11:30am in the Woodbury Room
We kick off our annual free concert series with a visit from local favorite singing duo, The Nields!