Important Playground Update

As many of you know, we installed Phase 1 of the new playground for the younger grades last year, and are working this year on Phase 2 (which includes landscaping, benches, more satellite equipment, and a brick walkway). Remember to turn in your Fort River Roasters order form by Friday, October 5th if you want to help the playground AND get high quality, fairly priced coffee! If you'd like to help with installation of the new equipment, benches, and trees in October (on a date to be determined!), contact Catherine (256-4977, casanderson@amherst.edu) ASAP! We need volunteers to assist with digging holes, assembling equipment, and providing childcare during these activities. We also are in search of equipment, including a bobcat (to move away woodchips and dig holes) and a cement mixer, so please let us know if you can help in any way.

School Council Ballots

Ballots to elect THREE new School Council members will come home with your child today, and we want to encourage you to vote! These three parents will join Fort River teachers and administrators in helping define the policies and procedures of the school. Completed (anonymous) ballots should be sent in to the Parent Council mailbox by Friday, October 5th. Questions? Contact Catherine Sanderson (casanderson@amherst.edu).

Savings Makes "Cents" Program

Saving Makes "Cents" is a program to encourage savings habits and goal setting. Children can open a bank account with Florence Savings Bank and bank weekly in the cafeteria with help from parent volunteers (or directly at the bank). Only $1.00 is needed to open an account, and any amount can be deposited and after 10 deposits, the Bank will deposit $1.00 into the account. Information on setting up an account will be sent home soon, and deposits can first be made at school on Tuesday, October 9th (8:15 am). Questions? Contact Ron Miller (256-6076; ronsmiller@comcast.net).

Annual Family Donation Fund Update for Sept. 28, 2007

We've already received a great response to our Annual Family Donation Fund, in which we ask all families at the start of the year to make a donation to support Parent Council activities (field trips, cultural events, books for the library, scholarships for children in need, etc.). We have already raised $3,688 from 100 of our 359 families (28% of families)! Although we suggest $20 a child, larger and smaller amounts are welcome and all contributions are tax deductible (and anonymous) and even a $1.00 donation helps increase our goal of 100% family participation. Checks (made out to Fort River Parent Council) or cash can be sent to the Parent Council mailbox in the main office or to Catherine Sanderson, 23 Alyssum Drive.

Gift Wrap Sales

Materials for the Gift Wrap fundraiser have gone out in the backpacks this week. Sale dates are Sept. 28 through Oct. 26. Items will be delivered after Thanksgiving. Questions? Contact Karen Zilberstein at ekaren@comcast.net or tel. 253-7072.

Attention All Stop and Shop Customers!

This is an easy fundraiser for anyone who already shops at Stop & Shop and has a Stop & Shop Card. Starting Oct. 5, 2007 through April 3, 2008, Fort River will have the opportunity to earn cash through Stop & Shop's A+ BonusBucks Program. All you have to do is one of the following:

• Log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus to designate online
• Call 1-877-366-2668 to designate over the phone
• Fill out the A+ BonusBucks Form and drop it off at any participating Stop & Shop store.

After you designate our school, each shopping trip at a participating Stop & Shop using you Stop & Shop Card earns CASH for our school! Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the Stop & Shop website. Our school will receive a check at the end of the program. The money can be used for any of our school's educational needs. Remember, even if you designated last year, you must re-designate this year for our school to receive credit. Please be sure to designate Fort River using ID # 05218. Also, don't forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same!

New Section Added to Blog -- Parent Council Forms

I've added a new section to the right-hand side of the blog page. It's called "Parent Council Forms" and it contains copies of all the various Parent Council forms that are supposed to come home in the backpacks. Just click on the link and you've got a copy! -- Ann McLaughlin, Parent Council Secretary and Keeper of the Blog.