AEF ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2016 EXCELLENCE GRANTS

AMHERST EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2016 EXCELLENCE GRANTS Congratulations to our Fort River teachers Amy Chang and Anne White who were both awarded grants for programs that will benefit ALL elementary students in Amherst!

Of the fourteen applications, totaling $133,000 in requests, AEF awarded five grantees a total of $35,400!  Champion Course for Elementary Math Coaches: This grant funds math coaches to attend math intervention courses targeting underperforming students of color and lower socioeconomic students in grades 3-6 at the three Amherst elementary schools.  Grant Applicant: Fort River Math Coach Amy Chang. AEF Grant: $5000 The Culture Bearers Project: This grant creates cultural enrichment programs at all four elementary schools by bringing in visiting artists to involve students in performing and learning. Grant applicant: Fort River Music Teacher Anne White. AEF Grant: $5400 ARHS Digital Music Lab: This grant pays for hardware and software for two new classes for students to compose, analyze and perform music. The new classes provide access to music to students who are not in other music programs and enables students using similar technology at ARMS to continue their music education.  Grant Applicant: ARHS Performing Arts Director John Bechtold. AEF Grant: $10,000  21st Century Biology: Building Biotechnology into the ARHS Curriculum: This grant pays for the purchase of electrophoresis equipment and pipettes, enabling the innovative inclusion of gas electrophoresis technology into all eleven high school biology classes.  Grant Applicant: ARHS Biology Teacher Michael Cardozo. AEF Grant: $10,000 Access to Technology for Students with Special Needs: This grant enables the purchase of fifteen laptops and external mice to benefit 100 Special Education Students at ARHS.  Grant Applicant: Rebecca Herskovitz. AEF Grant: $5000 These grants will positively impact the education of students throughout the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District. We are so proud to be supporting our teachers and staff in their efforts to provide a first-rate educational experience for our children.

History Lesson: ARHS Graduate and Supreme Court Chief Justice

Published by Baer Tierkel in the ARHS PGO Newsletter:

I was walking down North Pleasant Street today and noticed a handsome bronze plaque in a border stone commemorating Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Stone.  It seems that he was a graduate of Amherst High School, Class of ’90 (1890, that is).  Stone was the first Justice in history who had never before held elected office.  He was nominated by fellow Republican (and former Noho mayor) Calvin Coolidge, and had served as Silent Cal’s Attorney General.  In what would be an unheard of bit of bipartisanship today, he became one of the liberal “Three Musketeers” on the court with Justices Brandeis and Cardozo responsible for upholding much of Democratic President Roosevelt’s New Deal.  ARHS Graduate Chief Justice Harlan Stone, w00t!  And that my friends, is your ARHS history lesson for the day.  That is all

Odyssey Bookshop Children's Writing Contest

It’s that time of year again! 

The Odyssey Bookshop proudly presents its 23rd Annual Children’s Writing Contest. We hope you will encourage the young writers in your life to enter--they could win gift certificates to the Odyssey Bookshop! 

Follow the link to find an informational sheet including the rules for this year’s contest, as well as downloadable entry forms. 

http://www.odysseybks.com/spring-writing-contest

4th Grade Immigration Play on May 9th

Attention 4th Grade Families:

Immigrant Journeys

Stories of immigration to North America in the 1800’s

Monday, May 9^th

At 2 pm

In the Fort River cafeteria

Presented by 

the Fort River Fourth Grade

Dental Van at Fort River this Thursday, April 14

This is a reminder that the Dental Van is coming to Fort River!  The in-school dentist will be at our school on Thursday, April 14th. To take advantage of this convenient opportunity and have your child see the dentist at school, please fill out and sign the enrollment form that came home and return it to the school with your child.

Thank you,

The Smile Program...the mobile dentists

DUE WEDNESDAY! Change a Light! Change the World! Fundraiser Provides 100% of Funds Raised to Fort River!

Orders due this Wednesday, April 13th for this easy, high yield frundraiser.  In partnership with Eversource, Fort River will keep 100% of the money spent on residential energy efficient supplies (light bulbs, powered strips, etc.)

Click the link for easy access to the order form:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-2bHm-1AjRfcm96RkV6N3MyWG8

Thank you for your participation and support! The money raised will support Field Day as well as the purchase of playground games and equipment for recess.

PGO Coffee with the Superintendent: Update on Principal Search Process

Please join your friends Friday, April 15 at 9 am for coffee, donuts, and informative conversation! 

The tentative topic is the Principal Search Update and Process Overview and we hope to welcome special guest Superintendent Maria Geryk. Please click here to read an overview of the process.

Monthly PGO coffees take place on or about the 15th of each month. The dates can be found on the PGO calendar which is on the right side of the blog home page. Some coffees will take place in the evening. There will usually be a presentation for families and specifics will be available on the blog, FB, and Twitter.

Please share with your friends and neighbors! Your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are always welcome! Families with future Amherst Elementary school children are also welcome to attend. We hope to see you there!