Bus/Van Driver Appreciation Breakfast

Please join the community in thanking the hard-working bus and van drivers who safely bring our children to and from school every day!  The Bus Driver Breakfast will be held in the Cafeteria at Fort River Elementary, from 8:30-9:30am NEXT Wednesday, June 6, 2012. You can drop off food items after 8:00am that morning.  Please sign up to donate a breakfast item by clicking here: http://frpc.pleasebringit.com/public/cInHXBISubY

For more information, contact Jenn Wellman at 253-7324 or ajwellman@comcast.net.  Thanks for your support!

Field Day Thanks!

Field Day was super fun this year! Children of all ages worked together on teams to compete on a variety of fun and challenging events.  Students, teachers, staff and parents all worked together to make the new field day a smashing success.  Field Day would not have worked without the support of all our volunteers.  We would like to thank all the parents who volunteered to run our events, to lead a team of students, to set up the fields and to clean up afterwords.  There was such a tremendous outpouring of volunteerism, that we can't thank everyone individually.  We do wish to mention a few folks who really helped us create an event that encouraged teamwork, school spirit, and community building.  Thanks to Monica Colley for supporting and encouraging our many changes to field day this year.  Thanks also to Paula Mangiaratti for her administrative help over the last several weeks.  Thanks to Diana Spaulding for assistance on event planning.  Parents deserving a special thanks for their extra work include:  Ellen Alvord, Matt Schulkind, Michele Spirko, and Traci Hess.

We can't wait until next year!
Tim Farnham and Tammy Schulkind - Field Day Coordinators

Calling all Fort River PGO Volunteers!

Calling All Fort River PGO Volunteers!

Please join us for an end-of the year celebration to honor all of your contributions to the Fort River community on Tuesday, June 5th from 7 - 8 p.m. at 16 Bayberry Lane, Amherst, MA.

Contact Catherine McGraw at 256-4781 or  catherine.fortriver@gmail.com with any questions or for directions.

No RSVP necessary.

Final PGO Meeting of the Year: June 14

The final PGO meeting of this school year will be held on Thursday, June 14 at 8:45-9:15am in the FR Cafeteria. The Fort River PGO will be electing the following officers for the 2012/13 school year at this meeting: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Blog Editor. Any parent/guardian wishing to stand for election is welcome to attend the meeting to nominate yourself or be nominated.  If you are interested in serving as an officer but are unable to attend the meeting please contact Pam Rietkerk (pam.fortriver@gmail.com or 256-2605).

Attention 5th Grade Parents!!

It is a long standing FR tradition that 5th grade parents help with the reception following the 6th Grade Graduation Ceremony. All the supplies and refreshments will be purchased and ready to go. The cafeteria cannot be set up until 1pm on Graduation Day, Wednesday, June 20. The ceremony begins at 2pm and we are looking for some 5th grade parent volunteers who are willing to help with set up and a few others to stay through the first part of the reception. 

Please sign up online by CLICKING HERE or contact Kathy Brennan at kestrelbrennan@yahoo.com or 253-4611.

6th Grade Families!

Here are some announcements about 6th grade graduation:

*  Thanks to everyone who attended the Graduation Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 29.  You can still sign up to help by CLICKING HERE. You can also sign up using the link on the right side of the blog. 

* Please consider donating to the Class Gift in your student's name! You should have received a letter last week. Click here to see THE CLASS GIFT LETTER. We hope to give the school two beautiful new planters to adorn the entrance of the school and hope everyone will participate!

* Don't forget to submit your photos for the slide show! We need them as soon as possible to create a great show for graduation. CLICK HERE for the details on how and what to submit. Contact Karen Cousland at kscous@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Support Project Backpack 2012

The Office of the Superintendent is proud to announce that Project Backpack 2012 is currently underway.  In its third year, this successful community outreach program provides new backpacks and school supplies to income-eligible students in our schools.  This year, nearly 900 students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 qualify to receive these items.  In order to accumulate the tremendous amounts of backpack and supplies, Superintendent of Schools, Maria Geryk, is appealing to organizations and individuals in our community for help and assistance.  Please consider donating supplies.  Monetary donations are gladly accepted as well.   If you would like to be involved in Project Backpack 2012 or have questions, please contact Kimberly Stender at 413-362-1825.  Thank you in advance!  See the list below for needed items (you can click on the list to make it larger).

Afterschool Program Registration Night

New after-school programs will be launched at Crocker Farm, Fort River and Wildwood Elementary Schools in the fall of 2012.  The after-school programs are the result of a collaboration between the Amherst School Department and the Town of Amherst.  The programs will integrate academic enrichment and support, field trips, outdoor recreation and performing arts programs within each after-school program. Bus transportation home will be available and we will provide fee subsidy discounts to those who qualify to ensure equity and accessibility.

Attend the Fort River Elementary School registration night for more information on June 13, 5-7 pm  Learn more about the programs and find registration materials.

Local Events this weekend!

Saturday June 2

• Crocker Farm PGO Tag Sale, Car Wash, Bake Sale, and Electronic Recycling - 9 am - 1 pm at Crocker Farm
• Reading Fun Fair - Immanuel Lutheran Church, 9:30 - 12:30 pm  Click HERE for more information.

Sunday June 3

• Fort River Celebration Day: Let's celebrate the river from which our great school gets its name!   Sunday June 3rd, 2012 is the 5th Annual Fort River Celebration Day!  All are welcome to join us at Groff Park for educational displays and activities, and of course the Rubber Ducky Race at 1pm. A guided canoe ride will follow as stream ecologists lead explorative canoers and learners down the wild section of the Fort River from Kiwanis Park to Groff Park.   See http://fortrivercelebration.com for more information.

These events are not sponsored by the FR PGO.