40th Merry Maple Celebration on December 4 from 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM TownHall

Hot Cider and doughnuts will be available for purchase.

3:00 - 4:00 FIRE STATION! Calling all kids! See a real fire engine up close or a modern police vehicle. It’s exciting to see for yourself what they are really like!

4:00 - 6:00 HAYRIDES! By Muddy Brook Farm (pick up at the Town Common)

4:00 - 5:30 CRAFT ROOM! Face painting and kid’s crafts (at the Town Room; Town Hall)

4:30 AMHERST REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORUS (on the front steps of the Town Hall)

4:45 TREE LIGHTING BY THE AMHERST BID! (Town Common)

5:30 MINUTEMAN MARCHING BAND! At the Town Common with SANTA! Sing~a~longs and loads of fun for everyone.

6:00 VISIT WITH SANTA! March down to the Amherst Historical Museum at the Strong House next to the Jones Library, to have your picture taken with Santa and enjoy cookies.

Holiday Book Fair at the Jones Library on Saturday, November 14 from 9am - 3pm

CURRICULAUGHS! Educational Family Fun TONIGHT at Fort River! Tuesday 11/10 at 6pm

Jeff Nathan, children’s book author and founder of Curriculaughs will be visiting Fort River School on November 10th during the school day. He will present shows for grades K-2 and for grades 3-6, bringing poetry to life through acting and music! 

We will also host Mr. Nathan for a family event that evening at 6pm! Check out the website: www.incredibleassemblies.com/ 

Hope you can make it!

A note from Kathleen Traphagen, Fort River parent and Amherst School Committee member ...

A note from Kathleen Traphagen, Fort River parent and Amherst School Committee member: 

"Please note that on November 17 the School Committee will not be making a final decision to support one option over another. We are not at that stage in the process. We have been asked to approve the Education Program, which is part of the submission due to MSBA in early December. The Education Program does not presuppose a chosen option. The December submission is called the Preliminary Design Program, and it includes several other components, including a preliminary evaluation of all options- no decision yet on which option. My understanding is that decision will be in late January - early February.

For those who really want to dig into the weeds - check out: 

http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/sites/default/files/edit-contentfiles/Building_With_Us/Feasibility_Study/Mod3_Feasibility_Study_Guidelines.pdf

Best, and thanks

Kathleen"

Amherst School Committee meeting TONIGHT 11/9 at 6pm in the ARHS Library

The rescheduled date for the Amherst School Committee meeting  is TONIGHT, November 9, at 6 pm in the ARHS Library. If you are unfamiliar with the building there will be signs directing you to the Library. The revised Education Plan is here: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1UHfp-WxPTYLS1kVnMzazlrajg/view

The vote on the Education Plan and proposed reconfiguration has been postponed until January 2016. Tonight's meeting will be broadcast on Amherst Media. Public comments are welcome and should be kept to three minutes maximum.

New Gift Card Fundraiser - Perfect for Teacher Gifts and Holiday Shopping - Details Coming Soon

This year the PGO is happy to offer a new fundraiser - Gift Cards! 

How does it work? You purchase Gift Cards for your favorite local and national retailers through the PGO. For every card purchased the PGO gets a contribution (amount varies by retailer). 

More details coming shortly. For now, please hold off on any holiday gift card purchases until you have an opportunity to consider this effortless new fundraiser. Thanks!

Fort River Winter Coat and Clothing Share - Thursday and Friday, 11/12 and 11/13

FINAL NOTICE! Please send in your gently used winter gear on Monday and Tuesday of this week! Distribution for Fort River will be on Thursday, November 12th and Friday, November 13th. Check the schedules for distribution dates at the other schools. Families may pick up needed items at any school within the district. 

Here is a PSA on Amherst Media about the Winter Clothing Drive: 
https://archive.org/details/WinterClothingDrivePSA2015

Thanks to Kim Stender and Amherst Media!