Sunday, April 10, 2016

Author Event on May 7 at the Odyssey Book Shop



An invitation from local author Anna Alter:

Sprout Street Neighbors Community Art Show and Raffle

Calling all kids in Western Mass who love to read and draw! Join me and The Odyssey Bookshop for a celebration of community and the Sprout Street Neighbors books. We're inviting children from all over Western Mass to make artwork inspired by their community, which we'll show at the store during Children's Book Week. One student will win a school visit from me for their classroom!
The details: Our show will be on May 7th from 2:00-4:00. All children's art will be on display, snacks will be served, and I'll be there to read and draw with the kids. Come join us to celebrate this wonderful community we're part of!
To participate: Just follow the DIRECTIONS and send in kid's artwork with the APPLICATION. The Odyssey is offering DISCOUNT COUPONS if you buy the books for the project, feel free to download those as well. Happy drawing!
Questions? Feel free to email me or Niki Marion at the Odyssey.

Family Film Series at Amherst Cinema - Guaranteed Fun!

Like this program? 
Become a Member and show your support!
$5 general admission!
Parents, different films will be appropriate for different ages. We recommend commonsensemedia.org as a helpful resource in determing what's right for your child.

Pim & Pom: The Big Adventure

Saturday, April 16 at 10am
Feline friends Pim & Pom must fend for themselves when they are separated from their beloved owner, in this charming animated adventure based on the long-running Dutch comic strip.


Looney Tunes Revue

Special vacation week run!
Monday, April 18 - Friday, April 22 at 2pm daily
A collection of eight timeless Looney Tunes shorts from the 1940's and 1950's, including DUCK DODGERS IN THE 24 1/2th CENTURY, ONE FROGGY EVENING, and many more!

Batman: the Movie

Saturday, May 21 at 10am
Kaaapowie! Holy feature film, Batman ... one based on the tongue-in-cheek, campy 1960's television series. Mad Science of Western New England presents "The Science of Superheroes" to start off the morning.


Shaun the Sheep Movie

Saturday, June 18 at 10am
Shaun is a sheep who doesn't follow the flock - in fact, he leads them into all sorts of scrapes and scraps, turning peace in the valley into mayhem in the meadow.

Lost and Found

Message from Ms. Finocchio:

Our "Lost and Found" has collected a GREAT deal of clothing! Clothing will be on display this Wednesday - Friday from 1:25- 4:00 in the foyer. Come by and see if you can find your long lost coat, mittens, or boots! 

Friday, April 8, 2016

Sustainability Festival on April 16th

SATURDAY, APRIL 16th
10 AM – 4 PM
TOWN COMMON

Join us for a day of family fun, education and entertainment. The Sustainability Festival is in its seventh year and is bigger and better than ever! 

There is literally something for everyone with over 100 vendors of renewable energy, energy efficiency product suppliers, advocacy groups as well as sustainable crafts and artisans!

Schedule of Stage Performances:

10 AM – Piti Theatre Company – “Innocenzo”
11 AM – Valley Women Drummers
Noon – Incus
1 PM – Carrie Ferguson
2 PM – Chris Scanlon
3 PM – The Connotations

Demo Workshops:

10:00 AM – “Growing, Sprouting and Saving Bean Seeds” – David Lovler
11:00 AM – “Vermi-composting” – Brandon Curtin
Noon – “Constructing Your Own Solar Oven” – Scully Wilhelm
1 PM – “Making Natural Deoderant & Biochar Facemasks” – Erica Clark-Tramantozzi & Mariana Lachiusa
2 PM – “Gardening with Mushrooms” – Willie of Fungi Ally
3 PM – “Beekeeping: Getting Started” – Henry Wilhelm 

Be sure to bring your clean, used, dry clothing and textiles for the annual Textile Drive sponsored by the Amherst Recycling and Refuse Management Committee! The drop off will be located on Boltwood Avenue across from the Lord Jeff Inn.

A Special Note: We dedicate this year’s festival to the memory of our beloved former Town Manager, John Musante. He truly believed that sustainability and energy efficiency were the “right thing to do” and we thank him for his leadership that led Amherst to become a Green Community, as well as his many other lasting legacies. – Stephanie Ciccarello, Sustainability Coordinator

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Yearbook Photos Needed


We need your fun photos! 

If you have taken photos at school events (concerts, performances, field trips, etc.), please consider submitting them for inclusion in the Yearbook!

All students will receive a FREE yearbook at the end of the school year!!! Of course, it's actually not "free" - the PGO supports a small, hardworking volunteer yearbook team and pays for publication out of the annual budget. Thanks to our generous community, the PGO can continue offering a yearbook to every Fort River child at no additional cost. 

Submit photos by email to yearbook.fortriver@gmail.com 

Include a contact and the grade/class. Photos with groups of children are preferred. Please do not send photos from events not related to school activities. 

Thank you for your help! 

Multi-Arts April Break and Summer Camps

From Multi-Arts:

Our children are our world's future scientists, leaders, researchers, artists, engineers and much more.

At Multi-Arts children develop their own critical view of the world around them in a fun and joyful environment.  We have done it for 16 years and we are proud to continue! 

Multi-Arts offers daily artistic exploration with an extensive team of 7 professional artists and highly educated assistants.  

Registration for Multi-Arts SUMMER CAMP is open. 

Please, check the dates and select the weeks of your choice. 

Also, you are welcome to sign up for our APRIL BREAK CAMP:


Check our Counselor in Training program for your TEENS!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Update on Principal Search Process and Request for Volunteers

Letter from Superintendent Maria Geryk about Principal search process:

April 5, 2016

Dear Fort River Families:

As you know, Ms. Finocchio will be leaving her position as Principal of Fort River School as of June 30th.  She has done a wonderful job during her time here, and I know our Fort River families join me in wishing her the best as she moves back to eastern Massachusetts.  Fort River is fortunate to have an outstanding Vice-Principal, Diane Chamberlain, and exceptional faculty and staff who will provide stability and support during this time of transition.

The district has now posted the Principal position and will soon begin the hiring process, which starts with the appointment of a Screening Committee.  The Screening Committee will consist of three parents/guardians, three members of the Fort River staff, and two Central Office administrators.  The role of the Screening Committee is to review all applications, conduct initial interviews, and recommend finalist candidates to me.  The timeline for the screening and selection process is as follows:

STEP I:  Screening Committee Review of Applicants—Complete by April 25, 2016

Screening Committee members must be available to come to Central Office to review the candidate pool and participate in a meeting at which semi-finalist candidates will be selected.  

STEP II:  Screening Committee Interviews—Week of May 2, 2016 

Members of the Screening Committee must be available to participate in semi-finalist interviews during the week of May 2.  At the end of the day on Friday, May 6, the Screening Committee will meet with me to review the candidates and make a recommendation about which candidates to invite for finalist interviews.  The formal role of the Screening Committee ends with this recommendation.

We hope to invite finalists to Fort River School during the week of May 16, 2016.  During these visits, finalist candidates will spend a day at Fort River touring the school and observing classrooms.  Each candidate will meet with students, teachers, administrators, and me.  There will also be evening public forums so parents and guardians can meet and provide feedback about each finalist.  The goal is to select and announce the new Fort River Principal to the community by May 27, 2016.

If you are interested in serving on the Screening Committee, please contact Kathryn Mazur, Human Resources Director, by April 8, 2016.  She can be reached by telephone at 413-362-1803 or by email at mazurk@arps.org.  

Sincerely,

Maria Geryk, Superintendent of Schools

 

5 de abril del 2016

Estimadas familias de Fort River:

Como saben, la Sra. Finocchio dejará su puesto como Principal de la Escuela de Fort River a partir del 30 de junio. Ella ha hecho un trabajo maravilloso durante su tiempo aquí, y sé que nuestras familias de Fort River se unen a mí deseándole lo mejor cuando se mude de nuevo al este de Massachusetts. Fort River tiene la suerte de tener una excelente Vice-Principal, Diane Chamberlain, y una facultad y un personal excepcional que proporcionaran estabilidad y apoyo durante este tiempo de transición.

El distrito ha publicado la posición de Principal y pronto comenzará el proceso de contratación, que se inicia con el nombramiento de un Comité de Selección. El Comité de Selección estará compuesto por tres padres / encargados, tres miembros del personal de Fort River, y dos administradores de la Oficina Central. La función del Comité de Selección es revisar todas las solicitudes, realizar las entrevistas iniciales, y recomendarme los candidatos finalistas. La línea de tiempo para el proceso de selección y la selección es el siguiente:

PASO I: Revisión de los Solicitantes por el Comité de Selección-Completado para el 25 de abril 2016 

        Los miembros del comité de selección deben estar disponibles para venir a la oficina central a revisar la lista de candidatos y participar en una reunión en la cual se seleccionarán los candidatos semifinalistas. 

PASO II: Entrevistas del Comité de Selección -Semana del 2 de mayo 2016 

       Los miembros del Comité de Selección deben estar disponibles para participar en las entrevistas de los candidatos semi-finalistas durante la semana del 2 de mayo. Al final del día, el viernes 6 de mayo, el Comité de Selección se reunirá conmigo para revisar los       candidatos y hacer una recomendación acerca de cuáles candidatos se deben invitar a las entrevistas de finalistas. La función formal del Comité de Selección termina con esta recomendación.

Esperamos invitar los finalistas a la Escuela de Fort River durante la semana del 16 de mayo del 2016. Durante estas visitas, los candidatos finalistas pasarán un día en Fort River recorriendo la escuela y observando los salones. Cada candidato se reunirá con los estudiantes, maestros, administradores, y conmigo. También habrá una noche de Foro Público, para que los padres y encargados puedan reunirse y proporcionar comentarios sobre cada finalista. El objetivo es seleccionar y anunciar el nuevo de Principal Fort River a la comunidad para el 27 de mayo del 2016.

Si usted está interesado en servir en el Comité de Selección, por favor, póngase en contacto con Kathryn Mazur, Directora de Recursos Humanos, antes del 8 de abril del 2016. Se le puede contactar por teléfono al 413-362-1803 o por correo electrónico a mazurk@arps.org.

Sinceramente,

Maria Geryk, Superintendente de Escuelas