Summer at the Center Dance

Keep it COOL this summer at The Center Dance Studio!

The Center will be hosting 4 different week-long programs this summer for kids entering grades 1-5. Ask about our Counselors-in-Training program for students entering grades 6-8. Details are here.

Part reader/writer’s workshop, part dance your heart out/collaborative choreography, part cool down and dip at the town pool. One hundred percent fun.

Week 1 – July 27th-31st: Picture Book Parade

Week 2 – August 3rd-7th: Midsummer Ballet

Week 3 – August 10th-14th: Dance Around the World

Week 4 – August 17th-21st: Fairies & Folklore

Drop-off: 9:00 AM at The Center Dance Studio, 321 Main Street in Amherst, MA
Pick-up: 4:00 PM at The Center Dance Studio (4:30 PM late pick-up option available)

To register, email thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com, call 413-230-1944 or visit our Square Store. $325/week. A $50 deposit secures your child’s spot (balance due by July 1st); OR pay in full now.

Amherst Baseball and Hadley/Amherst Softball

Information and registration can be found at www.amherstbaseball.org.

Spring training begins next weekend as follows on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 22:

• Baseball ages 5 -6: 8:30 am to 9:30 am
• Baseball ages 7-9: 9:30 am to 10:45 am
• Baseball ages 10-12: 10:45 am to Noon (new players may be asked to stay until 12:30 pm)

• Softball ages 10 and under: 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm (if cannot attend this session, they may come to the second session)
• Softball Ages 12 and under: 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm

National School Breakfast Week

March 2-6, 2020 is National School Breakfast Week (NSBW).

This year, ARPS has been working to improve the quality of school breakfast by reducing sugar and increasing protein and fresh fruits and vegetables and is celebrating NSBW by featuring a new recipe that week, as well as more throughout the month!

On March 4, free samples of a new recipe (SunButter Banana Oats) will be offered and on the menu as the main breakfast item the following day.

Amherst Youth Lacrosse

The Cognitive Neuroscience Group at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston is recruiting children between the ages of 8 and 12 years to participate in research studies funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH).  

Study 1. 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 scheduled on weekdays and weekends) per year for 3 years. 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. More information can be found at: https://clinicaltrials.partners.org/study/feedback_learning

Study 2. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the learning patterns of children with typical and atypical language development. The study will involve 2 visits to the lab at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. During the visits, children complete a battery of cognitive and language-based assessments, play several games on the computer and complete several language/memory tasks. The lab visit includes safe and noninvasive EEG recording.  A visit will last about 3 hours. A week after the second lab visit your child will be asked to complete follow up tasks on a home computer or a mobile device. We are looking for children who were late to develop language, and who still receive services for language or learning difficulties. More information can be found at: https://rally.partners.org/study/does_your_child_stru

Payment is $60 for each in-person visit to the lab. We provide free all-day parking at the Navy Yard. Results of your child’s cognitive and language-based assessments are mailed to you. Please email us at cnglead@mghihp.edu or call us at (617) 643-4821 if you are interested or if you have any questions.

Production of The Magic Flute

Multi-Arts is collaborating with the Windham Orchestra in the full production of the “Magic Flute”, by W.A. Mozart. We invite children ages 6-12 years old to participate in this enchanting opera. Children will have roles as magic animals and town children. No spoken words.

Rehearsals: Thu, Mar 12 & Monday 16; 7pm at Brattleboro Music Center

Shows at Latchis Theater in Brattleboro, VT: Thu, Mar 19; 6:30pm, Sat, Mar 21; 1:30pm, Fri, Mar 27; 6:30pm and Sun, Mar 29;1:30pm

For more information contact Catalina Arrubla, at info@multi-arts.org or call 413-584-7951 or contact her atwww.multi-arts.org. Possible Car Pool available.

PGO Meeting - All Fort River Parents & Guardians Welcome!

This coming Monday, March 2nd, there will be a PGO meeting at 9am. We will be discussing upcoming events like Math Night, the Talent Show, Teacher Appreciation luncheon as well as Field Day.

We need new parents to join the PGO board - especially parents of K, 1, and 2 students! This meeting would be a great way for you to see what we do! If you don't think you have the time to serve on the board, we have some great one-offs that you can volunteer for! For instance, our Yearbook Editor will be moving on to the Middle School next year, so we will need someone to take over this great tradition that can be done at your own pace and at your home.

Are you more of a party planner?!?! We need someone to take charge of this year's Teacher Appreciation fundraiser & luncheon! The PGO board will help you, but we just need someone to take the lead.

Got a passion for exercise and community building?!?! We need one or two more volunteers to help Ms. Keizer-Lawrence with Field Day! 

Children are welcome at our meetings - please just check in at the front office and they can tell you where to go! Hope to see you there! If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please email Stacey at stacey.fortriver@gmail.com