Coffee with the Principal with Special Guest Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tim Hope on January 12

Please join your friends on Friday, January 12 at 9am for coffee and informative conversation. 

This month's special guest is Dr. Tim Hope who will speak about common concerns and anxieties affecting school aged children, including academics and friendships. He will share strategies about how caregivers can support children through stressful scenarios and will also take questions. 

Dr. Hope is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the wellness of children, youth, and young adults and has over 16 years of experience. He is a clinician, consultant, and evaluator for children, youth, emerging adults, and adults. He has helped families and individuals coping with trauma, divorce, behavior problems, substance use, eating disorders, other health-related concerns, and cognitive disorders or PDD. He has some useful video content on his website from interviews on Mass Appeal; click here to watch the videos. 

PGO coffees with the Principal take place every month or so. They generally occur on Friday mornings but we are happy to consider other days and times. Please email the PGO at ftriver@gmail.com with your suggestions.

Your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are always welcome at PGO Coffees! Families with future Amherst Elementary school children are also welcome and encouraged to attend. We are a welcoming community - PLEASE join us! We hope to see you there! 

UMass Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory Seeks 3rd and 4th Grade Participants for Recess Study

The UMass Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory is looking for third and fourth graders to join the Smart Minds with Aerobic and Resistance Training during Recess (SMART Recess) Pilot Study! Children in either the third or fourth grade at Fort River School or Crocker Farm School in Amherst, MA are invited to participate in an 18-week study. This 18-week study includes three weeks for baseline measures, followed by a 15-week program.

What you and your child will do:

-You will be asked to complete a brief demographic questionnaire.
-Before and at the end of the programs, your child will be asked to participate in some measures (i.e., height/weight, brief cognition tasks, fitness, and classroom behavior).
-Your child will be asked to wear a physical activity and a heart rate monitor at times throughout the study.

Depending on what school your child attends, your child will either:

-Participate in a 15-week fitness program during school recess, -OR-
-Participate in a 15-week health and academic tracking program (Note: this school will receive the fitness program after the study ends) 

Click here to express your interest in the study by completing our interest form!

Families can call us at 413-545-6104 or email us at kinpedlab@umass.edu with any questions.

80's MUSICAL BINGO NITE! A Benefit for the Amherst Survival Center on January 18

80's MUSICAL BINGO NITE! A Benefit for the Amherst Survival Center

Thursday, January 18, 5:30-8:30pm at the High Horse (upstairs), 24 N. Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst!

Come and enjoy the music of the 80's -- Prince, the Go-Gos, Michael Jackson,  Pat Benatar, Whitney Houston, and more... and play bingo! Instead of numbers, we'll be listening to the best songs of the decade. Tickets are $20 per person for four rounds of Bingo! Tickets sold in advance online: www.amherstsurvival.org/bingo or at AJ Hastings, the Center, or the High Horse. Limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

80's attire and hair style are optional. Prizes will be given for each round of Bingo, best 80's attire, best 80's hair and 80's trivia knowledge. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Amherst Survival Center's programs. 

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/927180104103550/

Leverett Community Chorus Presents Sanctuary Benefit Concert on January 28

Lucio Perez, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, has been in Sanctuary at First Church Amherst for over two months now, while his lawyers seek to prevent his deportation by ICE.  Those who would like donate to support him and his family can go to https://tinyurl.com/ImSanctuaryFund for more information and an online donation link. Click here for coverage from the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

All are warmly invited to the concert by the Leverett Chorus that will serve as a fundraiser for Lucio and his family.  The concert will be held on January 28 at 4pm at the Jewish Community of Amherst. Click attached flyer for details.

Valley's Got Talent Audition on February 12

Audition for the Second Annual Valley's Got Talent, an amateur talent competition for all ages to be help on March 25, 2018!

Auditions will be held on Monday February 12, 2018 at the Bangs Community Center from 5:30pm - 8:00pm. The Audition Snow Date is February 13, 2018.

Where: 70 Boltwood Walk in Amherst MA - Bangs Community Center

1st Prize: $1000 2nd Prize: $500 3rd Prize: $250

Show Date: Sunday March 24, 2018 2pm - 4pm at Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College

- Winners determined by a panel of judges -

Questions? 413-813-7042 or valleysgottalentcompetition@gmail.com

Click Here for EventFlyer

Click Here for AuditionApplication

Cuppa Joe with Paul on January 12 at Atkins in South Amherst

Town Manager Paul Bockelman will be at Atkins Flagship on West Street in Amherst on Friday, January 12th, from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. He will be enjoying his usual cuppa coffee and a cider doughnut…and he invites anyone to come in to talk. (He’ll have an extra doughnut for you!)

Paul will be joined by Comptroller and Co-Finance Director Sonia Aldrich. Paul will have just released his budget for FY19 and will be open to talking about his goals and priorities as outlined in the budget. Or you can bring up just about anything!

“This is a great opportunity for us to talk to people…no appointment necessary! We are here to answer questions and listen to concerns, compliments, and, yes, complaints,” said Bockelman. “But I also would love it if people just stopped by to say hi and let us know how we - and you - are doing!”

For more information: Paul Bockelman, Town Manager 413-259-3002

Multi-Arts Camp Session on January 22

Multi-Arts will be having a one day session for children to enjoy an immersion in the arts including Art, Theater, Dance, Mime, Story-telling & Crafts.

Monday, January 22, 2017

8:30am - 3:30pm

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst

Cost: $85

*$70 for any former Multi-Arts student

Space is limited.

Register now: http://www.multi-arts.org/one-day-workshop.html

*A discount rate of $70 will be offered to the first 10 new families who sign up before January 15, 2018. Please pass this information to your friends.