Redistricting Informational Meetings Scheduled

WHAT? A MEETING ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND NEXT STEPS

ABOUT? TO SHARE OUR PLAN TO SUPPORT STUDENTS/ FAMILIES AND ANSWER QUESTIONS

WHERE? YOUR CHILD’S CURRENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DATES? December 7, 2009 – Wildwood
December 14, 2009 – Crocker Farm
December 17, 2009 – Mark’s Meadow
December 21, 2009 – Fort River

TIME? ALL MEETINGS WILL BE FROM 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Thinking about holiday gifts? Here are two great ideas.

Thinking about holiday gifts? Here are two great ideas.

AMHERSTOPOLY: The Elementary School PGO's have sent order forms home to all the Amherst Schools. Please order your Amherstopoly Game by December 18th to receive your copy before school lets out. See attached order form. Or email Tracy Hightower at tracy@waterfieldfarms.net. Games will be sold at both the Mark's Meadow Concert today at 2 PM and at 7:30 PM Wednesday Night.

AMHERST EDUCATION FOUNDATION: Three Cheers for our Teachers and Staff.
You can honor a teacher or staff member AND strengthen our schools with a gift to Amherst Education Foundation (AEF). We will deliver a personalized Thank You card to the person you wish to honor during the last week
of school in December, and your contribution will be used for grants to schools next year.

Gifts must be received by December 18 to guarantee delivery on December 21. Your gift to AEF will convey an important message of support to our teachers and staff members.

See attached Three Cheers Contribution Form
Thanks to our many generous donors AEF Amherst Education Foundation, Inc.
granted almost $40,000 for projects supporting students this year in areas like:
* Restoring after school clubs at ARHS
* Professional development at ARMS, Crocker Farm and Wildwood
* Library books for Pelham Elementary School
* Support for a new enrichment program at Fort River
* Math and reading materials at Marks Meadow

Internet Safety for Children

INTERNET SAFETY for our Children

WHERE: Marks Meadow auditorium

WHEN: January 7, 6:30 PM

Cindy Boyle, a community educator from the Northwest DA’s office, will be at our schools to facilitate a session with our 5^th and 6^th graders on Internet Safety. She will hold an evening session for parents of all elementary students on January 7th at 6:30 in the Mark’s Meadow auditorium. Her focus with our students will be Internet safety and cyberbullying.

Cindy is a former Pittsfield police officer and a victim’s assistance advocate for Berkshire County. She is currently the Director of Community Education and Outreach at Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Northampton, Massachusetts. Her primary responsibility is providing training to local elementary, middle, and high schools, community agencies, faith based organizations, and law enforcement agencies. Trainings topics include but are not limited to: internet safety, bullying/cyberbullying, suicide prevention and prevention of child sexual abuse. Additional duties include chairing the District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board, cultivating and coordinating relationships with community partners, and assisting in all aspects of planning and presenting conferences.

Please come join us for this informative evening. There will time for questions

and answers.

Amherst 250th Gala

Amherst Youth Basketball

Amherst Youth Basketball (AYBL)
Games begin Saturday January 9, 2010

It’s not too LATE...
Teams are being formed!!!

Coed League - $99
Grades K-2 Instructional Division (Players in this division practice but play no formal games)
Practices will be held at Fort River and Wildwood on Saturdays or Sundays.

Boys’ Divisions - $129
Grades 3 & 4 Sundays - Wildwood/Hadley Elementary
Grades 5 & 6 Saturdays - Middle School/Hadley Elementary
Grades 7 & 8 Saturdays - Middle School
Grades 9 - 12 Saturdays - High School

Girls’ Divisions - $129
Grades 3 & 4 Sundays - Wildwood/Hadley Elementary
Grades 5 & 6 Saturdays - Middle School/Hadley Elementary
Grades 7 & 8 Saturdays - Middle School
Grades 9 - 12 Saturdays - Middle School

Fee Reductions Available
up to 75%

To register, call Amherst Leisure Services at 259-3065, visit lsse.org,
or stop by our office in the Bangs Community Center.
Amherst Youth Basketball (AYBL)
*Not a school sponsored event.

More H1N1 Vaccination Clinics

H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinics

University Health Services and the Town of Amherst are hosting walk-in H1N1 flu vaccination clinics Wednesday, Dec. 2, noon - 6 p.m. at the UMass Campus Center Auditorium; and Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. Clinics are open to ages 6 months - 65, while supplies last. There is no cost to you

for vaccination.

To save time, follow these steps:

Download the registration form and vaccine information from from

www.umass.edu/uhs or www.amherstma.gov.

Photocopy both sides of your insurance card.

Bring the completed form, your insurance card and card copies to the clinic.

Forms and information will also be available at the door.

The Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommend vaccination for everyone in the target groups, including those who have had a recent flu-like illness. However, anyone who is currently ill and has a fever cannot be vaccinated.

Maintaining excellent schools meeting

Please attend an organizational meeting to harness parent energy in addressing the current Amherst/Amherst Regional budget crisis.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7 p.m.

Where: At MJ Viederman's home, 150 Blackberry Lane, Amherst. Long driveway at the end of the street -- park at the circle and walk into the long driveway, or drive in and park along the left side of the roadway.

Who: Everyone interested in maintaining excellent schools in our community.

Why: The budget situation this year has the potential of making all of our schools unrecognizable. If we work together to utilize the wealth of skill, creativity, and knowledge as a community, then we can build a cooperative plan for all students to continue to excel.

Bring: A smile, your calendar, and all of your ideas.

Enthusiastically supported by the ARMS FSP
Amherst Regional Middle School Family School Partnership

H1N1 vaccinations

At the Select Board meeting tonight the town announced that there will be H1N1 vaccinations offered at the Middle School on Wednesday 11/11 9am-1pm for children under age 17 or pregnant woman or those caring for infants under 6 months.

Submitted by Town Meeting member Clare Bertrand

Amherst 250th Parade DVDs for sale

DVDs of Amherst's 250th Parade on September 27th are now available for $10. Full coverage of the event includes the group who marched for Amherst Elementary Schools. Produced by ACTV, these DVDs make a great souvenir of the event!
Contact Catherine Stryker on 413 695 7124 to place your order.

And

A DVD produced by the 250th Celebration Committee is on sale. It is a 90 minute video with all marching units in the parade and footage of the Clydesdales in downtown shot earlier in the week. A tremendous souvenir of the 250th parade. Parade was filmed by Patrick Serio a professional videographer from neighboring Hadley. for more information click on this site. http://www.amherst250.org/index.php?id=65

Mt Holyoke Study

Professor Francine Deutsch from Mount Holyoke College is conducting a study on how parents balance housework and childcare. We are particularly looking for families where both spouses work at least 20 hours/week for pay, are native speakers, and where the fathers share the load of household chores and parenting tasks. Participating couples will each take part in a 15-minute phone interview with a student research assistant at their convenient time.
If you are interested in our study, please contact Fong at ta20p@mtholyoke.edu, or 413-230-6793.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration!

Free Family Event

Dear Teachers and Parents,

We are looking forward to seeing your students next Tuesday for the Cirque Mechanics performance of A Birdhouse Factory. In anticipation of this event the Fine Arts Center is hosting a FREE family circus day on Sunday, November 8^th from 2pm – 4:30pm in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall lobby. If you have e-lists for parents or other appropriate means of contacting families we would appreciate your sharing this information. Hope to see you there!

Want to Run Away and Join the Circus!?
Join us for Wunderle's Big Top Workshop

Sunday, November 8, 2:00 – 4:30 PM, Concert Hall Lobby, free and open to all ages!

An interactive circus adventure appropriate for a wide range of skill levels and ages. Participants can partake in the entire workshop or leave at any point. Equipment to be taught may include, but is not limited to: juggling scarves, balls, rings, and clubs, spinning plates, devil sticks, diablos, feathers, hula hoops, and jump ropes. Plus, human stunts such as clowning and entertaining tricks for all will be taught. A former international performer with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Troy Wunderle is the founder of Wunderle's Big Top Circus and is the Big Top Tour Director of Circus Smirkus in Vermont.

Wunderle's Big Top Workshop is presented in anticipation of the appearance of Cirque Mechanics in Birdhouse Factory: an extraordinary troupe of Cirque du Soleil, Pickle Family Circus, and Moscow Circus veterans who transform the mundane into the magnificent. Cirque Mechanics will perform at the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 PM and a sold-out school performance that morning at 10am.

For more information on Wunderle's Big Top Workshop, see www.bigtopadventures.com. Information and tickets for the November 10 evening performance by Cirque Mechanics are available at the Fine Arts Center website.

Halina Kusleika
Assistant Director of Programming, Fine Arts Center
15 Curry Hicks
University of Massachusetts Amherst
100 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9267
ph. 413.545.4157
fax 413.545.0132
www.fineartscenter.com

Stop and Shop, Big Y and More....

This is an easy way to raise funds for our school and it doesn’t cost you anything except for a few minutes of your time to sign up at the places that you shop. If you have friends or family members that shop at Stop and Shop, Big Y, Target, Atkins, and A 2 Z. Let them know they can designate Mark’s Meadow Elementary School to benefit from their purchases. As the holidays approach please look at these store for your purchases.

Last year and this school year-to-date our families that have enrolled in Big Y’s Education Express program have earned a total of more than 450,000 Education Express Points for Mark’s Meadow. These points will be redeemed to purchase school equipment from the Big Y Education Express catalog. In the past we have purchased a drum set for the Music department. So this program really helps us in keeping our programs full of fun and enriching. It is necessary to enroll your card every year. If you have not re-enrolled your Big Y card for this school year please take the time to do so. You can do this by going online to http://www.bigy.com/education/edexp_sign_up.php, or simply stop by Big Y customer service next time you are in the store.

This school year 46 families and staff members have re-enrolled in Stop & Shop’s A + education reward program. Last year we had 98 families signed up and earned over $1000 for the PGG. It is necessary to enroll your card every year. If you have not re-enrolled your Stop & Shop card yet, you can do this by going online to http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus or simply stop by Stop & Shop customer service next time you are in the store. Our school number is 05187.

We currently have only 13 families enrolled in Target’s Red Card Program: Take Charge of Education. Last year we earned $375 from Target. Our school ID # is 58646.Sign up now. https://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-005174.

Don’t forget to mention Mark’s Meadow at A 2 Z. We earned over $135 in gift certificates last year. These gift certificates were used as prizes at community events last year.

Atkins is also offering education rewards as well. Please use your cards that were given out last year when shopping at Atkins we have the opportunity to earn as much as $500. If you don’t have an Atkins card please send and email to marksmeadow@gmail.com to request one.

You and your family members will be relieved and glad to sign up for these programs when they find out they don’t have to buy wrapping paper to raise money for our school.

AMHERSTOPOLY ORDER FORM

AEF Trivia Bee Raises $6150 For Our Schools!

The Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium was "abuzz" with contestants and spectators at the Amherst Education Foundation's 15th Annual Trivia Bee on Thursday, October 29. 120 contestants, many in costumes, competed for bragging rights to the title of Amherst area trivia champion. Hosted by AEF President Katie Allan Zobel and emceed by State Representative Ellen Story, the evening of challenge, wit and fun netted a record $6,150.00 for the benefit of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury schools.

While area schools are the big winners from the event, bragging rights belong to the team of bee champion Jones Group Realtors, comprised of Doug Albertson, Tim McGee, Maureen Porter and Micki Sanderson, who won an exciting sudden death playoff against competitors New England Finishing and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement. Winning prizes for best costume were the teams from Atkinson Family Practice (Slum"doc" Millionaires), Attorney David Noonan (the Harry Potters) and Minuteman Pest Control (the H1N1 Swine Patrol.) Awards for best team spirit went to the Amherst Club, New England Greenscape and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement. The audience contest, themed Amherst 250th, offered a unique glimpse into Amherst 's past and was won by Jackie Churchill.

The trivia bee marks AEF's first fundraising event since the organization completed its strategic plan last year, and launches what promises to be a new era in AEF history. AEF's mission is to provide significant and consistent support for area teachers and students by awarding grants, funding district-wide projects, and encouraging teacher innovation and academic excellence.

The event was underwritten by Northampton Cooperative Bank and made possible by the local businesses who provided sponsorships for the teams, donated prizes and/or helped with publicity. The Amherst Education Foundation is profoundly grateful to these businesses for their support, and is already looking forward to another successful Trivia Bee in 2010. For more information, or to make a tax-deductible gift to the schools via AEF, please visit our website at www.amhersteducationfoundation.org.

LSSE Opportunity For Fun On Veterans Day

Some of you may already be aware, but through the school year, the Amherst Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Department (LSSE) is offering bigger fee reductions for qualifying Amherst families. We are also expanding the income level guidelines to include families that may not have qualified earlier (you would be surprised how many families now qualify). Under new procedures, LSSE is now offering 75%, 50% or 25% fee reduction for youth programs based on new, less restrictive guidelines for families. Subsidies will apply to LSSE youth sports programs, day camps, the after school program, aquatics, education, recreation classes and more.

How did these beneficial changes come about? For years the Town of Amherst has offered fee reduction support for LSSE programs, but in the recent difficult budget year the tax support has been reduced. Fortunately, thanks to a new Community Development Block Grant and additional fundraising, support from organizations and individual donors, we have been able to move forward on this program.

We understand that in this tough economy many families are struggling. It is our hope that the deeper discounts will help make a difference so that your students may participate. To find out if a family that you are servicing qualifies, please have them review and complete the attached guidelines. Provisions of our grant require more proof of eligibility and you will find a longer subsidy application. We are happy to help families in completing the forms. If they need assistance, please have them call an LSSE registration staff member at 259-3065 or stop by our office.

Submitted by LSSE

UMass host a Forum of Senatorial Candidates

This may be of interested to some parents:

A forum for candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward M. Kennedy will be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium. The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and public radio stations WFCR and WNNZ. It is free and open to the public.

An opportunity to register to vote will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Bowker Auditorium. Parking for the forum is available in the Campus Center Parking Garage, which is adjacent to Bowker Auditorium, located in Stockbridge Hall.

For more information call 617-523-2999.

FAMILY FUN! BUZZ ON OVER.

The AEF 15th Annual Trivia Bee Thursday, Oct. 29

It's the AEF 15th Annual Trivia Bee

The Amherst “not to miss” event of the year!

Thursday October 29th at 7:00 p.m.
Amherst Middle School Auditorium

Join us for trivia, laughs, costumes, refreshments and raffles.
Admission is free with donations to AEF welcome.

See our website for details: http://amhersteducationfoundation.org/
or contact Mary Donoghue at 253-7016 Aj.donoghue@verizon.net.All proceeds benefit the public schools of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury

Underwriting generously provided by Northampton Cooperative Bank

Public Forum for Redistricting and background information.

Child Care will be provided by the elementary school Parent Organizations. Children 4 years and older are invited.

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR PRINTABLE FLIER

More information on Redistricting
http://www.arps.org/
http://www.arps.org/node/1027
http://www.arps.org/node/1031
http://www.arps.org/node/1025
http://www.arps.org/node/654


School Committee Minutes:
http://www.arps.org/node/963 June 18
http://www.arps.org/node/904 June 2
http://www.arps.org/node/906 May 19
http://www.arps.org/node/905 May 5
http://www.arps.org/node/895 April 28
http://www.arps.org/node/900 April 27

Pancake Breakfast

Pancake Breakfast

Sponsored by
Amherst Fire S.A.F.E. Program
Student Awareness of Fire Education
Sunday, October 18th
7:30-11:30AM
North Fire Station
603 East Pleasant St.

Pancakes w/real maple syrup, sausage, juice, milk, coffee, tea
Donations to benefit S.A.F.E. Adults $6, Child $4
Entertainment: The Horse Mountain Jazz Band

Fun family 5K Run or Walk for a great cause!

Fun family 5K Run or Walk for a great cause!

Join us at the Fit Together 5K on Sunday, October 4^th. This event celebrates each person’s ability to be healthy regardless of fitness level or mental, physical, or intellectual challenges. All proceeds from this family-friendly event will support Fit Together, a unique wellness center in Hadley where people with emotional, cognitive, and physical disabilities transform their lives through exercise and good nutrition.

Every participant will get a free t-shirt and a $7 gift certificate to Bueno y Sano. Great prizes including restaurant gift certificates, gym memberships and massages will be raffled. The race starts on the Hadley Town Common at 10:00 a.m., rain or shine, with day-of registration beginning at 9:00.

Family rate and scholarships available. For more information, please go to: www.fit-together.org or call 584-1508

APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL

Amherst A Better Chance
38th Annual Fall Foliage Walk
Oct 17, 2009
9AM Registration on Amherst Town Common
10:30 Walk begins
11:45-1:45 Barbecue and Activities
For more information call (413)687-3383
or visit www.amherstabetterchance.org

Mark's Meadow Open House

Hi everyone!!!

Just a reminder that Mark's Meadow will have Open House the Wednesday night from 6-8. Please remember to bring your Stop & Shop and Big Y cards so we can sign you up for the year!!

Also make sure you check the classroom directories in each class. We want to make sure there are no mistakes so we can get them out to you very quickly.

Amherst's 250th Anniversary Parade: We need your help!!!

Amherst Education Foundation 15th Annual Trivia Bee

CREATE A TEAM AND JOIN THE FUN

Each year, community members gather to show how many trivial details they have kept in their brains, on a variety of topics! It's that time of year, yet again.

The Amherst Education Foundation is busy working to organize our Annual Trivia Bee fundraiser. We invite you to sponsor a team. A donation to sponsor a team is only $175.00 which assists us in funding grants that directly benefit the students in the Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury schools.

The AEF’s mission is to support our public schools in providing a challenging and enriching educational experience that maximizes the learning potential of every student and prepares them to succeed in the 21^st century.

We can provide you with a copy of the Trivia Bee rules if you are interested in sponsoring a team from your business or we have a number of individuals who would be happy to have you sponsor them. A number of the teachers and local trivia buffs love to compete in the contest and your sponsorship makes all the difference.

We look forward to having you and your team join us on Thursday, October 29^th, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Amherst Middle School auditorium for a fun night of trivia, prizes, and refreshments! All payments are due by October 1^st, 2009 and can be mailed to:

Amherst Education Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 2237
Amherst, MA 01004

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Becky Demling at 413-230-3306 or beckydemling@yahoo.com. You can also use the above handy document to enter right away.

Wednesday Sept 16, 2009 Whole Foods 5% to Farm to School

Dear Friend,

 

If you sometimes shop at Whole Foods in Hadley, please consider shopping there Wednesday Sept. 16.  The store will be donating 5% of the day's sales to the Mass. Farm to School Project, to help support Mass. Harvest for Students Week this month.  Thanks so much to Anne Walsh-Sullivan at Whole Foods for making this generous gesture! 

 

We've come a long way: 205 public school districts in Mass. reported they preferentially purchased locally grown foods for their student meals during the last school year, and more than 60 local farms sold directly to schools and colleges.  But we still have plenty of work to do, including getting the Amherst schools on board.  It seems like Amherst is sliding backwards as many other districts are moving ahead. 

 

The Amherst school food service director reports she isn't preferentially serving local foods anymore and "can't" buy from local farmers, only approved vendors.  We're doing worse now than when Chartwells was buying token amounts from Czajkowski Farm in Hadley.  Atkins Farm has indicated they would like to sell peaches, pears, apples from their orchards to the school district and they've been told it's not possible, because they're not approved vendors.  I don't think the current superintendent is aware of previous efforts to improve the school meals by using fresh locally grown items.

 

We've not yet raised all the funds we need to meet this year's budget, so any help you can offer is much appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 Kelly Erwin, former WW parent

http://www.mass.gov/agr/markets/Farm_to_school/

Interview with Dr. Alberto Rodriguez

Clare Bertrand, Crocker Farm parent and member of the Crocker Farm PGO, has shared a questionnaire filled out by our new school superintendent. We have posted it here for your information.

SPOTLIGHT on our new Superintendent: Alberto Rodriguez

What you want us to call you:

Alberto or Dr. Rodriguez
Where did you graduate high school?

Coral Gables Senior High School, Coral Gables, Florida
Best memory from high school:

My friends
What was your favorite subject in school?

History
Tell us about your family:

I have been married to my best friend, Maria, for over 23 years and we have two daughters, Madison and Danielle. They are 20 and 19 years old, respectively, and are both in college.
What are you reading right now?

Primal Teen. It tells us a lot about the adolescent brain and how it works. It explains a great deal about why adolescents do the things they do.
And what would you recommend to read?

Millennials Rising: The Next Generation by Neil Howe, William Strauss and R.J. Matson. This gives educators and the general lay public an insight into this transformational generation.
What is your favorite movie?

I have many, but I’ll name a few: The Godfather (I), Jaws (I), and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
What do you consider comfort food?

Italian food
What is one thing you miss from your home in Florida?

My family, friends and house
How would you describe your leadership style?

There are several aspects of it: Facilitative, Distributive, and Delegative
What is one thing that really sets you off?

When adults lie.
What is one thing that you really love about education?

When a child’s life is turned around because of an outstanding teacher or a successful program.
If you were the US Education Czar, what big idea would you introduce?

It’s not a big idea—just replicate and fully-fund programs and initiatives that work and discontinue those that don’t work. Additionally, fully-fund early childhood education to the extent that all children have access to quality Pre-K.
How do you relax?

Reading, traveling and spending time with my family
Do you have a favorite sport?

Baseball
Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Eating food that I shouldn’t eat.
What surprises you the most about Amherst so far?

How such a liberal community can be so resistant to change.
If we want to talk with you, what is the best way?

Through my fantastic assistant, Debbie Westmoreland. westmorelandD@arps.org

Tonight! Join the fun & help paint our parade banner!

Wondering about the Amherst 250th Parade on Sunday September 27, 2009 at 1:00 pm?  Yes, you can be part of it!

Thanks to parent Becky Demling from Crocker Farm, families from Crocker Farm, Fort River, Mark’s Meadow and Wildwood schools are helping organize a walking float to celebrate the impact the town Libraries have on all children’s lives!

Tonight (Wednesday Sept 9) at the Back to School Potluck please plan to help paint our Mark's Meadow banner!  And find out more how you can march for Mark's Meadow!  The parade will be filmed so you'll be a part of Amherst history!

See Alisa Brewer tonight at the potluck for more info!

Back to School Potluck

Hi everyone!!! It's that time of year again! All the kids are back to school and it is time to come together and celebrate!! We will be having our Back to School Potluck Wednesday Sept. 9 from 5:30-7PM. As a suggestion, we are asking families of students from different grade levels to bring certain kinds of dishes so we have plenty to share:
K-2 Appetizers
2-4 Main dish
5-6 Dessert

If you have children in more than one grade, please bring what you can. The PGG will provide drinks and paper goods. Also, if you could come a little early to help set-up or stay late to clean up, that would be most appreciated!!!

Thanks everyone and WELCOME BACK!!!

School Parent Organizations

Amherst Regional High School
http://www.arhsparentcenter.org/

Amherst Regional Middle School
http://www.armspartnership.org/

Crocker Farm Elementary School
http://crockerfarmpgo.blogspot.com/

Fort River Elementary School (School Council)
http://ftriver.blogspot.com/

Mark's Meadow Elementary School
http://www.marksmeadow.blogspot.com/

Pelham Elementary School
http://www.arps.org/pe/parentcouncil.htm

Wildwood Elementary School
http://www.wildwoodpto.org/

PGG Updates

TONIGHT is the End-of-the-Year-Celebration on the Mark's Meadow Playground.
June 17th 5:30 to 7:30.
THE DUNKING MACHINE IS OUT AND READY TO DUNK.

It looks to be good weather!

BRING YOUR OWN PICNIC DINNER, a BLANKET, TOWELS and DESSERTS to SHARE. (PGG is providing drinks and paper goods.) ALL children must be accompanied by an adult.
ALSO: Bring your check book or some cash.
AMHERSTOPOLY will be on sale for $25. There are 600 copies left in town. GIVE a historical copy as a graduation gift, a goodbye gift or buy one for family fun.
YEARBOOKS will be available for all Students. Suggested donation $3.00
RAFFLE TICKETS for The Graceful Walkers Relay Team Winners will be announced on June 20th at the RELAY FOR LIFE. (see below).

We will also have out all the DISHES LEFT BEHIND from school events this year. Anything left after the picnic will be given to Amherst Survival Center.
------------------------------

---------------------------------------------
REMINDERS:
6th grade graduation is June 19th. If you have FLOWERS you would like to contribute. Let us know! Flowers can be dropped off after school on Thursday June 18th or before 8:30 AM on Friday June 19th .

Field Day is tomorrow, June 18th 1 PM. Have your children be ready to participate in this fun day.

A Simple Thank You: An opportunity to give a gift to Amherst Education Foundation to thank a teacher CLICK HERE for a direct online link to donate.

Graceful Walkers Relay Team
Lisa, Anita and Joan in the Mark's Meadow School office belong to the Graceful Walkers Relay Team and are one of the teams representing the American Cancer Society RELAY FOR LIFE. The Relay is being held at Look Park in Northampton on June 19th and 20th. We are taking donations to help raise money for cancer research, education, and advocacy. All money raised will be turned in at the Relay. Or donate online. CLICK HERE Graceful Walkers

A Simple Thank You: Give a gift to AEF to thank a teacher CLICK HERE for a direct online link to donate.

RECYCLING: Please come help on Saturday morning 6/13 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Mark's Meadow Auditorium.
How you can help:

1. Come for an hour or two to sort and package Cartridges for shipment.
2. Take finished Boxes to the UPS or Fedex store.
3. Bring your Cartridges in that morning or the day before.
4. We also need plastic shopping bags to wrap the cartridges in for shipping.
   

AMHERSTOPOLY Please bring your forms in before June 15th. and pick your game up at these events.

1. Third Grade play June 9th
2. End-of-the-year Celebration Potluck June 17th
3. Graduation Brunch June 19th

Graceful Walkers Relay Team
Lisa, Anita and Joan in the Mark's Meadow School office belong to the Graceful Walkers Relay Team and are one of the teams representing the American Cancer Society RELAY FOR LIFE. The Relay is being held at Look Park in Northampton on June 19th and 20th. We are taking donations to help raise money for cancer research, education, and advocacy. There is a can in the school office if you can make a donation. All money raised will be turned in at the Relay. Or donate online. Graceful Walkers

Dishes, Dishes, Dishes. Please get your Dishes that have been left from the events of the year. They will be given to the Amherst Survival Center at the end of the school year.

PGG Update and an Opportunity for Kids

Staff Appreciation Luncheon: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 @ Immanuel Lutheran Church (867 N. Pleasant St.)
Food Drop-off: Drop-off a food item/dish at the church between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM. For those who cannot drop-off during this time, please advise and Koren Berrio can arrange pick up or alternative. If you would like to drop off your food at the MM Office the day before the event, please let Koren know (email: korenberrio71@hotmail.com, mobile: 413-687-3475). Thank you!

Thank you to all the parents who have purchased an AMHERSTOPOLY Game. The Four Elementary Schools have sold nearly 400 of the 1000 games so far and to date we have earned $2000 for our school with another $5000 to come. So order your game now while they last. Attached to the memo is your order form and dates and times you can pick up your copy. Orders can be placed between June 1st and June 15th to get one this year. See order form HERE.

Thank you to Amherst Education Foundation and to all the parents who contributed money to AEF this year. On May 21st, at a reception held at Wunderarts Gallery, Mark's Meadow received a donation from AEF along with the other three Amherst Elementary schools and Pelham of $10000. Mark's meadow intends to use their share for after school clubs and enrichment programs next year. You will also see a flier in the kid's backpacks today, which will allow you to Thank a Teacher by giving a year end gift via AEF.

Thank You to all the staff and families who signed up for Stop and shop A+ Bonus Bucks Program this year. The program has concluded and we earned nearly $1100. That is $350 dollars more than last year! Please make sure you sign up again in September.

Thank You to Ted, Christine Gray-Mullen, Jocelyn Cuffee, and Lynne Weintraub for helping with shipping and collecting of Ink and Laser Cartridges this month. We will be recycling again on Saturday June 13th. Please join us!

Our End-of-the-year Celebration Potluck will be held on June 17th (June 18th rain date) from 5:30 to 7:30. Please come bring your favorite dish and dunk Nick in the dunking machine. Our yearbook is in the works and will be available at this event. If you can help with set up, clean up or buying drinks (PGG supplies the funding for this.) Please let us know. Marksmeadow@gmail.com

Our last PGG meeting of the year will be held Monday June 1st from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Please come and see what we have accomplished this year as we recap 2008-2009. We are also still looking for a New Co-chair for next year to work with the fantastic Meg Rosa. Let us know if you are interested. I can truly say it is rewarding and fun to give to our kids and our staff in this way!

Sincerely, your outgoing Co-Chair, Tracy Hightower

FUN FOR KIDS

Sugarloaf Youth Track League

Sponsored by the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club and the Town of

Amherst Leisure Services

Come be a part of Amherst's youth track and field league. The first meet is Sunday May 31 at the ARHS track. Bring a picnic and make it a family night at the track!

It's not too late to sign up! We will take additional athletes at any time. Below is a link for the entry form, just print it out and bring it with you on Sunday.

http://sugarloafmac.org/regforms/smac_amherst.pdf

Who: Boys and Girls currently in grades 1-8

Fee: $42/person by 5/8; $52 after 5/8 --- A $10 non-resident fee will be

added to any participant who is not an Amherst resident.

Location: Amherst Regional High School Track

Dates: Team Assignment Night is Thursday, May 28, 5:15 p.m. Arrive on

team night to meet your teammates and coaches and run an informal series

of practice races and relays.

Meets: Sundays, May 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28 (awards night)

(Make-up date: June 25)

Time: 5:15-8:15 p.m.

Diversity Committee Meeting reminder

Diversity Committee Meeting on May 20th at 6:00 in our principal, Nick Yaffe's office. We will be welcoming Allan Goodman from Hampshire college to discuss last month's showing of Race: The Power of Illusion and ask him to share his thoughts about diversity at our school.

All are invited. Childcare is provided for children 4 and older!

Travel soccer try- outs are coming soon!!

Does your child want to play travel soccer for Amherst in the next school year? If so, you need to preregister your child by May 30th for the tryouts which are held in June.

There are boys teams and girls teams for rising 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.

Tryouts for the Amherst Travel Soccer teams will be held between May 31 and June 17.

Mandatory pre-registration forms are due May 30th.

The pre-registration forms, the tryout schedule, and more detailed information about Amherst Travel Soccer can be found on the Amherst Youth Soccer Association website http://www.amherstsoccer.org/

Amherstopoly order form.

Please hand in your order form to your class room teacher Tracy Hightower will get you your game.

Fun things to do May 2nd and 3rd

Something Fun For this weekend: May 2nd and 3rd

SOCCER FEST AT RUDD FIELD UMASS: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Look at what fun there is for FANS. CLICK HERE

League of Women Voters Book Sale: For more information CLICK HERE

18TH ANNUAL AMHERST ULTIMATE INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
May 2-3, 2009 Amherst, Massachusetts.

The 18th Annual Amherst Ultimate Invitational Tournament will be hosted by Amherst Regional High School (ARHS) and will take place on Saturday and Sunday May 2-3, 2009. The Tournament will be held at the Ultimate fields at ARHS and Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Thirty high school teams from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts will compete in one of the largest and most prestigious Ultimate tournaments in the country. Last year’s champions, Columbia High School (New Jersey) and Andover High School (Massachusetts) will return to defend their titles. The ARHS Boys team enters the tournament with a 15-1 record.

On Saturday, games will be played from 9:45am to 5pm at both venues; on Sunday, games will run from 8am to 4:30pm at ARHS. The Tournament will once again be divided into three groups: Girls, and Boys A & B Divisions. The Girls Division and Boys B Division finals will be played Sunday at 1:15pm in Amherst.

The Boys Division A final will be played Sunday at 3pm in Amherst.
Combining the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football, a game of Ultimate is played by two seven-player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football.

Amherst is steeped in the history of Ultimate, acknowledged to be to be the birthplace of the sport by an Amherst College student in 1967. Ultimate has grown precipitously over the following 40 years to over 4.9 million competitive Ultimate players around the world (2008). Amherst coaches Tiina Booth and Jim Pistrang formed some of the first competitive teams in the country in the 1970s.

ARHS last won the national Ultimate championship in 2004. Another entry in the tournament will be Columbia High School from new Jersey, which was the first high school Ultimate team ever founded.
For schedules, times, locations, and much more information on the tournament, see: http://www.amherstultimate.org/ai/2009

Public Forums Set Regarding Potential Redistricting of Amherst Public Schools

Please Note: An informational document has been added to this announcement.

At their March 17th meeting, the Amherst School Committee made a motion to close Marks Meadow Elementary School at the end of the 2009-2010 school year and redistrict to create three elementary schools with proportionate numbers of children on free/reduced lunch for the start of the 2010-2011 school year. The following public meetings are scheduled to provide the community with opportunities to hear more about the educational and budgetary impact of redistricting, as well as to ask questions and provide feedback:

• Monday, April 27 at 5:00 p.m.: Marks Meadow PGO/MM Community (MM auditorium)
• Wednesday, April 29th at 12:00 Noon: Wildwood PGO/Wildwood Community (WW location TBA)
• Wednesday, April 29th at 5:00 p.m.: Fort River PGO/FR Community (FR library)
• Thursday, April 30th at 5:00 p.m.: Crocker Farm PGO/CF Community (CF library)
• Tuesday, May 5th at 7:00 p.m.: Community-Wide Forum (Middle School auditorium)

The Amherst School Committee plans to take a vote on the redistricting motion at their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19th.

To read the information to be presented, please click on the link below.

CommunityPresentationRE_CloseMM.pdf

League of Women Voters BOOK SALE!

April 24 is the last day for donations of books for the 62^nd annual League of Women Voters of Amherst. The Book Sale which will take place on the Town Common on May 1, 2, and 3. Area residents are urged to look over their book shelves and contribute books to the LWV fund raiser.

The book sale is a great way of recycling books in the area. Last year nearly 40,00 books were received, providing a source of good books at bargain prices. Profits have supported publication of the Voter’s Guide for the recent local election and League publications such as the Town Meeting Hand Book, They Represent You, a listing of Town meeting members and elected officers, and the recently revised Your Amherst Government.

Books should be brought to the LWV sorting and pricing place at 479 West Street, #8 (corner of Pomeroy Ln.and West St.), the Hadley Stop & Shop, the Jones, Munson and North Amherst Libraries or the UPS Store at 6 University Drive .

For information, call 253 – 0633.