#ArtContinues Wine & Painting Night on October 5th to Benefit Survival Center

October 5, #ArtContinues Wine & Painting Night, 6:30pm-9pm

An enjoyable evening and a special fundraising event supporting the Amherst Survival Center, with former Fort River art teacher Teri Magner, offering everyone of every ability the chance to paint a masterpiece (Paul Cezanne’s Pears on a Chair!)  

This event is at Bread & Butter in North Amherst.  

Tickets for this evening are $40 with a portion of each ticket to be donated to the Amherst Survival Center. Eat. Drink. Paint. Limited seats, sign up here.

FORT RIVER PGO Welcome Back Potluck & ​​Family Fun Fair on Wednesday, 9/21 at 5:30pm

 

Please join the Fort River community in celebrating the start of the new school year at the Fort River Welcome Back Potluck & 6th Grade Family Fun Fair. The potluck starts at 5:30pm on Wednesday, September 21 (which is also an early release day.) The rain date is September 22. The event will be held on the Fort River playground.

In addition to the potluck, our 6th grade students will be selling pizza, drinks and dessert as well as organize fun games. All proceeds will help to support their activities throughout the year. 

We are asking all 6th grade families to bring a contribution for the dessert table. (These items can be home made.)  There will also be pizza and beverages provided for the students to sell. Click here to access the letter that was sent to 6th grade families.

We also need parent volunteers for help on the night of the fair.  Help is needed for set up, clean up, and general supervision of the games.  Additionally, parents are needed to supervise the students while they are serving food.  Sign ups can be done online using the link below or via email.  Thanks for all your help!

Rebecca Kennedy (rbershadker@yahoo.com)

Nicole Blum-Carr (colieblum1@gmail.com)

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Click here for 6th Grade Volunteer Online Signup  (this link is for 6th grade families only)
Click here to Sign Up to Bring a Dish for the Potluck (or just bring one if you can!)

Water Update and Public Meeting Monday, September 19, at the Fort River Library from 6 to 7pm.

The following letter was sent to families on Friday. 

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September 16, 2016

Dear Fort River Families:

This is a follow-up email to the one sent to you yesterday, Thursday, September 15, 2016.  
The initial results shared yesterday were based on the preliminary data received from the lead and copper testing completed on September 2, 2016. More complete results came back today, and this communication is based on the full data collected.

In total, 64 sinks and water fountains at Fort River tested for lead at levels above the state and federally defined relevant action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) on “first draw” samples.  Importantly, none of the “flush samples” (testing completed after running the water for 30 seconds) of any sinks or fountains tested at or above the action level for lead, with the exception of one water fountain outside the gym.    None of the samples tested above the action level for copper on either initial or flush samples.  All of the data from the tests can be found here.

Lead is not believed to be in the primary water source at Fort River given the fact that the positive tests were from first morning samples, and all but one of the flush samples were low. This indicates good piping and good source water.   

As we work to resolve the issues in the fixtures of the water outlets, we will continue our flushing routines as per Department of Environmental Protection guidelines for each of the 63 sinks and fountains identified through the testing to ensure that all water at Fort River is safe for students.  The water fountain outside the gym will be deactivated until it is fixed.  Given the results from the testing, we know that water at Fort River is safe to drink after the flushing routine has been completed each morning.

We will hold an informational meeting about the results on Monday, September 19, at the Fort River Library from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Morris, Acting Superintendent, morrism@arps.org, 413.362.1823    

Julie Federman, Director of Health & Community Services, federmanj@amherstma.gov, 413.259.3077 

Dr. Faye Brady, Director of Student Services, bradyf@arps.org, 413.362.1832      

16 de septiembre del 2016

Estimadas Familias de Fort River:

Este es un correo electrónico de seguimiento al que se le envió ayer, jueves, 15 de septiembre de 2016. Los resultados iniciales compartidos ayer se basaron en los datos preliminares recibidos de los examinadores del estado de las pruebas de plomo y cobre completado el 2 de septiembre 2016. Resultados más completos regresaron hoy, y esta comunicación se basa en los datos recopilados completos.

En total 64 sumideros y fuentes de agua en Fort River probaron tener plomo en niveles superiores al nivel estatal y federal correspondiente acción definida de 15 partes por billón (ppb) en muestras de "primer sorteo". Es importante destacar que ninguna de las muestras de "enjuague" (las pruebas realizadas después de correr el agua durante 30 segundos) de los sumideros o fuentes probaron en o por encima del nivel de acción de plomo, con la excepción de la fuente de agua fuera del gimnasio. Ninguna de las muestras probó estar por encima del nivel de acción para el cobre en cualquiera de las muestras iniciales o de enjuague. Todos los datos de las pruebas se pueden encontrar aquí.

El plomo no se cree que está en la fuente de agua primaria en Fort River dado el hecho de que las pruebas positivas pertenecían a las primeras muestras de la mañana y todas, menos una, de las muestras de enjuague fueron bajas. Esto indica una buena tuberías y una buena fuente de agua.

A medida que trabajamos para resolver los problemas en las instalaciones de las salidas de agua, continuaremos nuestras rutinas de lavado para cada uno de los 63 sumideros y fuentes de agua identificadas a través de la pruebas para asegurar que toda el agua de Fort River sea seguro para los estudiantes. La fuente de agua fuera del gimnasio se desactivará hasta que se arregle. De acuerdo a los resultados de las pruebas, sabemos que el agua en Fort River está bien para toma luego de la rutina de drenaje de la mañana.
Vamos a tener una reunión de información sobre los resultados el lunes, 19 de septiembre, en la biblioteca de Fort River River de 6:00 a 7:30 pm.

Sinceramente,
Dr. Michael Morris, Acting Superintendent, morrism@arps.org, 413.362.1823
Julie Federman, Director of Health & Community Services, federmanj@amherstma.gov, 413.259.3077                                                  

Dr. Faye Brady, Director of Student Services, bradyf@arps.org, 413.362.1832    

Early Release Day on Wednesday, September 21

This Wednesday, September 21, is an Early Release Day for all ARPS students. Faculty and staff will spend the time in professional development activities. 

Elementary students will be dismissed at 1:20pm. 

Introducing Multi-Arts Theater Company

The PGO is happy to share information about after-school activities and camps with our community. The following message is from Multi-Arts.

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We are thrilled to announce the creation of the MULTI-ARTS THEATER COMPANY

We will stage original plays written by young, local play-writers. These plays will be directed by Multi-Arts theater director, Sonia Arrubla (see bio below). 

The MULTI-ARTS THEATER COMPANY will expand Multi-Arts' educational and artistic mission throughout the academic year by providing a platform for young writers and performers to cultivate and share their artistic talents.

Over the course of the semester, participants will rehearse 1.5 hours a week and present at least two public performances. 

We invite children to join us for the debut season of the MULTI-ARTS THEATER COMPANY.

Children ages: 8-13

Program dates: Fall Semester: 9/15 - 12/8 (no rehearsal on Thanksgiving week)

Rehearsals: Thursdays 4:30-6:00 PM

Shows: Thursday, December 1 (Amherst) & Friday, December 9 (Northampton)

Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst

Fee: $150 per child, per semester

Space is limited. Financial aid is available.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

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Sonia Arrubla - Theatre Director. A former Colombian theater and television actor, Sonia graduated from New York University’s prestigious Film and Television MFA program in 2001.  

Catalina Arrubla is Executive Director of Multi-Arts and a former Fort River parent. 

Time to Send in Your Box Tops!

Does this look familiar? Do you have Ziploc baggies of Box Tops sitting in the junk drawer that you've been meaning to send in? NOW IS THE TIME!                                

Did you know each Box Top coupon you clip and donate to Fort River School is worth 10 cents that will go straight towards funding events and materials to benefit our students and staff? 

How simple is that?
Visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products for a complete list of participating brands. It’s fun to involve your whole family and be sure to ask grandparents or friends to clip and share too! A collection container is always available in the main school office (it's a big jar right on the counter!)

Please keep a bag in your kitchen so it’s easy to collect the Box Tops you clip. Children can be taught at a very young age to identify, clip, and count Box Tops. The coupons can be found on many quality products from brands like: 

• Annie's
• General Mills
• Ziploc
• Progresso
• Cascadian Farms
• Pillsbury
• Hefty
• Kleenex
• Scott
• Betty Crocker
• Yoplait

Please send any Box Tops that you have collected NOW! Our fall deadline is coming up and they do eventually expire, so send in what you have and please keep clipping! Thanks so much for your support!!

ARHS Science Events and Opportunities Website

The ARHS science department has launched a new web page to share information about science events and opportunities in the local community. Currently posted are details about an upcoming "Women in Engineering and Computing Career Day" at UMass for high school girls.

If you would like to submit an event for possible inclusion, send it to ARHS lab technician, Deb Leonard at leonardd@arps.org. To learn about upcoming events, click here.