SPRING FUNDRAISER - Dutch Mill Bulbs - DUE MAY 1st

Dear Fort River Families & Staff,

Just in time for MOTHER’S DAY! These spring bulbs and plants are a great way to beautify our community while helping the PGO fund curriculum mini-grants, Field Day and the Yearbook!

• Each bulb package option is conveniently priced at $10. We keep 50%!
• Checks should be made out to "Fort River PGO.” Cash is also accepted!
• Order forms and payment should be returned to your classroom teacher or the Main Office by Tuesday May 1st.
• Our custom Fort River online fundraising link is available for supporters outside of the local area: https://groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/shop/?affiliates=fortriverpgo

Be sure to let out-of-town friends and relatives know that they can also participate in our flower bulb fundraiser by using our custom link above. You can also use this link to send orders directly to your someone special for Mother’s Day! Online orders are shipped directly to the customer based on the appropriate planting time for the state in which they live. A minimal shipping fee may apply (no shipments to Alaska or Hawaii.) Online orders will be accepted through Tuesday May 8th.

Questions? Please email Stacey Beganny: stacey.fortriver@gmail.com

RECAUDACIÓN DE PRIMAVERA - Dutch Mill Bulbs

¡Justo a tiempo para el DÍA DE LAS MADRES! ¡Estos bulbos de primavera y plantas son una excelente manera de embellecer a nuestra comunidad y al mismo tiempo ayudar al PGO a financiar las minibecas de currículo, el día de juegos (Field Day) y el anuario!

• Cada opción de paquete de bulbos tiene un precio asequible de $10. ¡Conservamos el 50%!
• Los cheques deben hacerse a "Fort River PGO". ¡También se acepta efectivo!
• Los formularios de pedido y el pago deben devolverse a la maestra o la oficina principal antes del martes 1 de mayo.
• El enlace de Fort River para recaudación de fondos en línea está disponible para colaboradores fuera del área local: https://groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/shop/?affiliates=fortriverpgo

Asegúrese de que los amigos y familiares de fuera de la ciudad sepan que también pueden participar en nuestra recaudación de fondos con bulbos de flores utilizando el enlace personalizado anterior. ¡También puede usar este enlace para enviar sus pedidos directamente a aquellas personas especiales para el Día de las Madres! Los pedidos en línea se envían directamente al cliente en función del tiempo de siembra adecuado para el estado en el que viven. Se aplicará una tarifa de envío mínima (sin envíos a Alaska o Hawai). Se aceptarán pedidos en línea hasta el martes 8 de mayo.

¿Preguntas? Por favor envíe un correo electrónico a Stacey Beganny: stacey.fortriver@gmail.com

SEPAC Offers "This is Transition" to Assist Families in Transitioning Students from School to Adult Life

Please join us for a three part series of informational evening seminars. These presentations will provide students, families and school staff with valuable information for future planning and will assist in transitioning students from school to adult life.

All presentations will begin at 6:30pm and will be held at Amherst Regional High School. All are welcome to attend these free information sessions.

Please RSVP to sepac@arps.org or 413-687-4255.

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Session 1: April 25th, 2018 Wednesday: Intro to the Transition Planning Process

An overview of the transition planning process for youth with disabilities ages 14-22 on IEPs. Will also include some tools for creating a vision for after high school. Presented by Leslie Leslie from the Federation of Children with Special Needs. Held in ARHS library.

Session 2: May 2nd, 2018 Wednesday: ABCs of Adult Agencies

An opportunity to hear from and to meet with representatives of some of the adult agencies in our state, including the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), and others. Come find out what kinds of services and supports are available after high school and what you and your student need to do to apply for them. Held in ARHS cafeteria.

Session 3: May 9th, 2018 Wednesday: Family to Family

Families with a range of experiences and perspectives will share details of their students’ journeys into adulthood and discuss how and why they and their children made the choices that they did. There will be plenty of time to meet with panelists and ask questions. Be prepared to laugh a little and learn a lot! Held in ARHS library.

Sessions offered by: Amherst Regional Public Schools, Federation for Children with Special Needs and Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC).

Brookfield Farm Shares Available

Join Us. Share The Harvest.

Brookfield Farm - CSA shares available. We grow delicious produce for all our shareholders – pick up at the farm from early June through November. We’re proud that we’ve been nourishing the community since 1986. And each year writes a new story, as first-time families join our long-time shareholders in making this farm their own. 

Now is the time to purchase a share for the coming season: Visit our website – www.brookfieldfarm.org - to join online or to get more information. If you would like to speak with someone about our CSA shares directly, please call 413-253-7991. We hope you join us for the coming season!

Mass General Hospital Seeking Pediatric Volunteers for Research Study

The Cognitive Neuroscience Group at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston is recruiting children who are (or are soon turning) 8 or 10 years old to participate in a research study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

This is a longitudinal study that follows children over a period of 3 consecutive years. Our goal is to improve understanding of learning in children. The study consists of 1 in-person visit (about 2.5 hours) per year for 3 years (weekdays/weekends). During this visit, children play several games on the computer and complete several language/memory tasks. The lab visit includes safe and noninvasive EEG recording. The day after the visit, kids complete a quick follow-up task from a home/library computer. Payment is $60 per year. We provide free all day parking at the Navy Yard. 

Please email us at cnglead@mghihp.edu or call us at (617) 643-4821 if you are interested or if you have any questions. More information can be found at: https://clinicaltrials.partners.org/study/feedback_learning

Joy Art Space Offers New Art Class for Kids

Drawing and Painting (Ages 8-11)

In this class, students will find their unique artistic voice while developing drawing and painting skills. In a warm supportive environment, we will explore the process of taking our ideas and turning them into works of art that are meaningful to us. Together, we will explore skills and techniques for drawing and painting with a variety of materials. This class is capped at 6 students for small group atmosphere and individual attention.  

Thursdays 3:30-4:45May 10- June 14 (6 Classes) $240

Human Rights Commission Accepting Nominations for Youth Heroism Awards

Dear Teachers and Staff of Amherst Schools and Amherst Community Members:             

                       

The Amherst Human Rights Commission has as its prime purpose to promote a community of mutual respect and to honor our diversity. We strive to promote attitudes of compassion and concern for all of our neighbors. To encourage these values, we offer the Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards, an annual celebration of Amherst-area youth.  2018 represents the 13th year of these awards!

It is the Commission’s intent to identify and celebrate local youth who have demonstrated acts of kindness, unselfishness, social courage and/or community service within their families, schools or community. Please help us by nominating a young person you have observed displaying exceptional kindness or consideration in the past year.

Groups of young people may also be nominated to share an award. We strive to recognize children and teens across the spectrum of age groups and schools, including those who do not live in Amherst but who attend any school in town. 

Nominations may be submitted through May 18, 2018, to humanrights@amherstma.gov or to the Commission c/o Deborah Radway, Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst MA 01002. The Human Rights Commission will celebrate this year’s Heroes at its annual community picnic on Sunday, June 3^rd from 10am-1pm at Mill River Recreation Area. We will alert nominators and award recipients prior to the event so they can make plans to attend. We hope you will join us!

           

Yours truly,

Matthew Charity,  Sidonio Ferreira,  Emily Boutilier, Elizabeth Cahn

Sovann Malis-Loeung, Sophia Maldonado and Tristan Whalen

The Amherst Human Rights Commission

Groff Park Community Forum on April 24 at 7pm

The Town of Amherst Groff Park Committee will host a Groff Park Community Forum on

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Cafeteria at Crocker Farm Elementary School (280 West Street).

Residents are invited to comment on concept plans and provide ideas for the improvements to Groff Park. Snacks and Childcare will be provided. 

For more information, please contact:

Nate Malloy, Planning Department

413-259-3322 or malloyn@amherstma.gov