PICNIC

THE PICNIC IS Postponed until Thursday 6/17 5:30 to 7:30PM. Weather report for Tonight is: Showers and a possible thunderstorm during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

This year we have some great volunteers organized by Val Cooley and Abril Navarro López who are running a CARNIVAL-STYLE night with games and prizes. Games start at 6:00 . We encourage all TEACHERS, FAMILIES and COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ATTEND. We can go out with a BANG! THE FINAL ROCKET LAUNCH (OR "SHOOTING STAR") will happen at the end of the picnic.

Some things you should know about the evening are listed below.

• This is a Picnic.
• Bring your family's meal, a blanket or chairs, and a dessert to share.
• PGG will provide Drinks, paper goods and flat ware.
  
• Also bring your Year Book to get signatures. (ALL CHILDREN RECEIVED A FREE BOOK TODAY put their names in the books)
  
• Amherstopoly will be sold (discounted price of $20) to raise money that will go towards making payment for tee-shirts.
  
• Even if you do not want an Amherstopoly game, or may already have one, please consider making a donation towards the tee-shirts. We need to raise $800 more such that we can give (for free) one to every student on Thursday.

Note to parents. The PGG has asked for no donations this year towards any of the festivities or projects that have been provided by teachers and the PGG. Events like, The Beginning-of-the-Year-Potluck, The Community Breakfast, Rock and Read, Multicultural Fair, The Staff Appreciation Luncheon, The Historical Alumni Party, Sixth grade Graduation, THIS Picnic, and The Third Grade Musical, Performances at UMass, Pizza Parties after the Library Visits. . Projects like the Class Directory, The Mosaic Tile Project, team building at Morris Hill, subsidized field trips, and a mentoring program for 6th graders. We have also provided funds for snacks for the after school homework clubs and MACS. As well as babysitting for import school meetings.

So please make as large of a donation at the picnic as you can. $5, $10, $20 or more...such that every child leaves Mark's Meadow tomorrow with a shirt. The Tee-shirts are made form a student design contest. We have two lovely designs that won. One from the upper grade and one from the lower grade. They are commemorative tee-shirts that you and your children will cherish for a long time. The cost to make these T-Shirts is about $10 each and we are giving them to the kids. Do what you can to help.

A VERY Special Thanks goes out to Alyssa Melnick and Stefan and Sarah Petrucha, Catherine Stryker and many more listed in the yearbook, AND some of our amazing 6th graders, who spent an enormous amount of time on our very terrific YEARBOOK. Many of you may not know this but Alyssa ran an after school yearbook club, where-in the sixth graders helped collect images, put together designs, sold "shout out" space and raised enough money to cover the cost of the production such that they can "GIVE" every student a yearbook. This is what I call is community in action. When you see these folks at the picnic give them a thanks!.

SEE YOU THERE!


Best, Tracy Hightower

From the PGG Officers we thank you for a wonderful year.
Meg, Prentiss, Adrain and the rest of the PGG Gang

6th soon to be 7th grade summer reading and math opportunities.

ARMS is sending home a letter to all the 6th grade - soon to be 7th grade - families about summer reading and math opportunities to keep up math and reading skills while not in school. The letters are posted on the ARMS website at www.arps.org/ms

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL EARLY RELEASE

Thursday June 17th, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 1:20 PM RELEASE (Note this changed just last week due to the school closing after the thunderstorm.)

Thank a Teacher! Deadline June 10

Did you know that when asked what type of gift would make them feel most appreciated, the majority of teachers polled by the National Education Association last year said "a simple thank you" was all.

Why not send them a meaningful thank you and support Amherst Education Foundation's mission to strengthen our schools at the same time? AEF will deliver a personalized Thank You card to the person you wish to honor during the last week of school and your contribution will be used for grants to schools next year.

Visit www.amhersteducationfoundation.org before June 10 to make a donation and thank the special teachers in your life!

(Click on the image to print)

Celebrate Mark’s Meadow

June 12^th, 2010

6:00-8:30 PM

Come join us for an alumni event to celebrate Mark’s Meadow’s nearly 50-years of educating our kids. We are thinking that it would be a relatively simple affair, a buffet POTLUCK* dinner, in the gym or outside. Please bring a dish to share. Some food is being provided by Atkins Market. We will also be gathering in the auditorium for a slide show and have a time where people could share memories of what MM has meant in their lives.

This event is meant for former and present staff and alum parents and young adults of alum families. This is an event for adults and young adults only please. For more details as we have them, become a Fan of “Celebrate Mark's Meadow” on Facebook and tell others who love Mark’s Meadow to join us there too.

Please RSVP by June 8th

Via email to celebratemarksmeadow@gmail.com.

or

Call 413-362-1308,

The Mark’s Meadow Special Events line.

If you want to VOLUNTEER and help organize this event, please contact Tracy Hightower. Tracy@waterfieldfarms.net

*POTLUCK: Last Name A Thru I, Bring Main Dish for 8

Last Name J Thru R, Bring Veggie or Fruit Dish for 8

Last Name S thru Z, Bring A Dessert for 8

LSSE Special Offer

Hello all,

I just wanted to make one last submission for your respective PGO blogs regarding LSSE Summer Sports Camps if possible. Just something to the effect that this Friday, June 4^th, will the last day to Save $10 on all summer sports camps. Let me know either way if you can get the word out! Thanks.

Owen Stebbins

Summer Sports Camp Coordinator

Town of Amherst Leisure Services

(o)413-259-3206

(c) 413-687-4736

Tuesday, June 1st, K and 1st Graders visit Wildwood.

Thursday, June 3rd Tile Project Dedication, 5 PM:

Tuesday June 8th, 3rd Grade Play 2:30 PM and 7 PM: Things stll needed for wardrobe and Props. 4 pair of white tights size 8 or 10, 1 pair of Red Tights size 12, 1 pair of yellow tights size 8 or 10. A small wheel barrow, (kids size). If you have any of these bring them to the office and leave them for Susan Vegiard and Mary May.

Wednesday June 9th, Staff Appreciation Luncheon: Volunteer sign-up sheets went home on Friday. Please fill in how you can help with this event and send it back to the office ASAP. It is necessary for many parents to volunteer for this event for it to be successful. If you would like to Donate food or flowers or money, help organize before the event or participate on the day of the event please fill out the form or contact Koren Berrio (korenberrio71@hotmail.com), Keisha Dennis (ktjdennis@hotmail.com) or Tracy Hightower (Tracy@waterfieldfarms.net).

Friday June 11th, 6th Grade UN Trip to NYC

Saturday June 12th, Celebrate Mark's Meadow Alumni Event (POTLUCK): All current Mark's Meadow Parents are invited to this event. IT IS AN ADULT AND YOUNG ADULT (TEENAGERS) EVENT. This event is separate from the End-of-the-School Year picnic. See more details and RSVP by CLICKING HERE!. Join the Celebrate Mark's Meadow Fan page for updates by CLICKING HERE.

Monday June 14th, Field Day

Tuesday June 15th, 6th grade Graduation Day

Wednesday June 16th, End-of-the-School Year Picnic: We need volunteers to make this event extra special. Contact Val Cooley, Prentiss Austin or Meg Rosa if you would like to help plan a very special event. Any time or donations for this event would be greatly appreciated by the whole community. Val: cooley.valerie@gmail.com Prentiss: paustin@student.umass.edu Meg: megan.rosa@comcast.net.

Thursday June 17th, Rain day End of the Year Picnic

Thursday June 17th, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL(Note this changed just last week due to the school closing after the thunderstorm.)

LSSE Summer Programs

Click on image to enlarge and or print.

Travel Soccer Team Tryouts.

Soccer tryout pre-registration forms are due this Saturday, May 29th so I was hoping you could post this reminder on the blogs:

Attention current first graders through sixth graders: Do you want to play on the Amherst Travel Soccer team? There are separate girls' teams and boys' teams for every age group.

Travel Soccer Team Tryouts. Travel Soccer Tryout information for the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 seasons is now available at http://www.amherstsoccer.org.

Please be advised the tryout pre-registration form is due by Saturday May 29. http://www.amherstsoccer.org/Travel%20Tryouts%2010-11.htm

Legal Services Subcommittee of the Regional School Committee

I've been asked to let you all know that the Legal Services Subcommittee of the Regional School Committee has extended the deadline for submitting ideas for interview questions. The question list they develop will be used to interview law firms under consideration to represent the three districts of Amherst, Pelham and the Region. Questions may be submitted to Irv Rhodes through Monday, May 24th at rhodesi@arps.org .