6th Grade Class Gift

Hello 6th Grade Families,

Graduation plans are well underway.  As has been the past tradition, the 6th Grade Class donates a class gift to the school.  On behalf of the graduation committee, we are reaching out to ask you to make a donation.  Please send in your donation to the Fort River PGO.  Mark your envelope specifying for “Class Gift”, if writing a check please make it payable to “Fort River PGO”.  We appreciate any amount your family is able to donate for the gift.  Please donate by May 22nd.

Once we’ve been able to see how much we’ve collectively raised, we will select an appropriate class gift.  Based on feedback from the school here are some ideas we are considering:

• Supplies for a rock garden (http://www.scarymommy.com/only-one-you-sharon-elementary-painted-rocks-art-project/)
• A glass case for the World Map in Main Lobby
• Purchasing a Ga-Ga Ball Pit (Ga-Ga ball is a popular game that is played in a special court called a "pit")

If you are interested in helping out with selection of gift, please reach out to Nancy at stewartn@merrimack.edu.

Thanks in advance for considering donating towards the class gift!

Fort River School Building Committee Seeking Architectural Design Team

For More Information, Contact:

Jonathan Salvon, Fort River School Building Committee, Chair, fortriversbc@amherstma.gov​

On May 2, the Fort River School Building Committee released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Fort River Elementary School Feasibility Study. The Building Committee will receive applications from architectural design teams interested in working with the Committee to provide the Amherst community with options for a Pre-K through 6thgrade school on the Fort River site and the estimated costs of those preliminary design options. The Building Committee’s work will conclude with the delivery of these options to the Amherst School Committee.

The awarded design team will analyze the Fort River site and school building and propose options for at least three feasible designs. The committee will ask the design team to give the community options that span a range of building costs, operating and maintenance costs, and environmental impacts of both initial construction and continuing operations of the building. The committee and design team will also consider how potential design solutions will affect the operations of the school during the construction of such a project. Renovation, addition, partial or complete demolition, and new construction will all be explored.

The successful design team will work with the building committee in a collaborative, iterative design process over an anticipated 6 months. During this process, the Amherst community will be invited to participate in public forums at three milestones to learn about the design processes and offer feedback.

An indoor air quality assessment of the existing building was recently conducted by ATC Group Services from West Springfield, MA.  Results are expected to be available in June.

Community engagement with the Building Committee’s work will include public access to the committee’s website (www.amherstma.gov/frsbc), that provides access to meeting agendas, minutes, and documents; a binder located in the circulation section of the Jones Library; an e-mail address to receive public comment (fortriversbc@amherstma.gov​); an e-mail list serve; public forums; and scheduled press releases. We welcome feedback on all of these strategies.

Family Time with Multi-Arts

Join us in a fun, engaging artistic activity aim to bond you with your child creating collaborative art work that brings you: Laughter, Joy & Communication Saturday May 19 at 2 pm Tina Zorz will lead families in a Vision Boarding workshop Create a collage that has everyone's values and personality in the same work of art. You and your family will choose images and words that spark excitement and meaning to your unit. Hang your family-created vision board high in your home for an every day reminder of your values, inspirations, and connection to one another! Place: Immanuel Lutheran Church 867 N Pleasant St, Amherst FREE of charge - donations welcome

Catalina Arrubla
Director
www.multi-arts.org
413-584-7951

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/IYAnLs

Love Arts? http://www.razoo.com/story/Multi-Arts

LSSE SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS

SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SIGN UP FOR OUR 2018 SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS WITH AMAZING INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF!

·       BASEBALL

·       BASKETBALL

o  DENNIS JACKSON’S BASKETBALL CAMPS (FOOTLOCKER & BLUECHIP)

o  COMPLETE PLAYER

o  COED BASKETBALL

·       ULTIMATE

·       TENNIS

·       FLAG FOOTBALL

·       VOLLEYBALL

·       LACROSSE (BOYS CAMP AND GIRLS CAMP)

·       FIELD HOCKEY

·       GOLF

·       SOCCER

Sign up and register today at www.LSSE.org or (413)259-3065

For more information please reach out to our SPORTS DIRECTOR: Chris Johnson (413)259-3144 orjohnsonc@amherstma.gov

Art Room Volunteers Needed for Year End Clean Up

Calling All Hands!

The Fort River Art Room needs your help! As we finish up students' projects and get ready for summer, there are many things to do around the art room. Ms. Singer could use some help from Fort River families (including alumni!) during the last week of school. Please join her in the art room! Some of the tasks include:

> Taking down displays & sorting student work
> Wrapping the kiln in tarps
> Covering shelves in the storage closet with tarps so that the roof doesn't leak on things if it rains
> Covering shelves in the main classroom space
> Moving a few things into the closet
> Sorting and organizing supplies

Here are the dates/times when she could use help. If you can make it to any part of any of these time slots, please let Nicole know!

Monday, June 18th from 10:45am to 1:15pm

Tuesday, June 19th from 1:30pm to 3:00pm

Wednesday, June 20th 11:30am to 12:30pm

Wednesday, June 20th 3:30 to 5:00pm

Please email Nicole Singer at singern@arps.org to let her know you're interested, and if you have any questions. 

Thank you so much!

UMass "New 2U" Collection of Household Items for Fall Sale

From May 7^th – May 10^th at Southwest Circle, UMass is collecting used and unwanted items to either sell in the fall or recycle. They are accepting a large variety of things, from furniture, electronics, household items, and clothing to non-perishable food and cleaning supplies. All of the items should be in decent shape- not broken, ripped, or stained.

Note - they are not accepting appliances, and they cannot pick up - all items must be brought to the collection event.

Carissa Ackroyd named 2018 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award Winner

Congratulations to Fort River 5th Grade teacher Carissa Ackroyd on her selection as a 2018 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award winner! A banquet was held on April 26 at The Log Cabin in Holyoke to honor this year's winners from across Western Massachusetts. Other ARPS winners include:

Kelly Carlisle, Pelham
Rich Eckart, ARHS
Tiffany Thibodeau, ARMS

Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you for your dedication to our students! (photo courtesy Dr. Michael Morris)