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 .

Amherst Police Department Open House

Click to enlarge image.

Thank a Teacher! End-Of-School-Year-Gift idea!

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)

A whole lot of things going on.

LIBRARY: Susan McQuaid could use any help, no experience needed. As a volunteer you would be labeling books and doing other tasks needed for the packing up of the library. Volunteers could call Susan at the MM library 362 1316 or email at mcquaids@arps.org.

TILE PROJECT: Diane Travis could still use a couple parents to help with this project. Contact her for more information. travisd@arps.org

THE THIRD GRADE PLAY IS JUNE 8th and we need a few PROPS. A rope swing with a disk you sit on, a portable swimming pool ladder and a small wooden wheel barrow. If you have any of these items let Tracy know. Tracy@waterfieldfarms.net.

An invitation to all new Crocker Farm families

Welcome New Families!

To all new Crocker Farm families,
Welcome to the Crocker Farm community! We'd like to remind you that you are invited to join us for these remaining casual social events. We’d love to meet you, your children, and your friends for relaxed conversation and play. There’s no need to confirm (unless noted), just come by and get to know a few NEW friends from your wonderful new school. Welcome to our community!
Becky Demling and Lucy McMurrer (PGO co-chairs)

Friday May 21, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Amherst Coffee. Have a coffee or a glass of wine and meet with new friends.
Wednesday May 26, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, New Families Open House. An opportunity to meet the principal and see the school.
Thursday June 3, 3:30 – 4:30 PM, Flayvors of Cook’s Farm. Buy an ice cream cone and meet some new friends! For children and adults.
Friday June 4, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, at Sue Bernier’s home (817 Bay Road). Come for hors d'oeuvres and friendly adult conversation. (Please call or email to confirm: 256-1164 or susanbernier68@comcast.net)
Saturday June 5, 3:00 – 5:00 PM, Groff Park. "Potluck Picnic at the Park”. Bring your children and food or drink to share. Bring games and balls, too! We’ll have limbo dancing and music. (No event if the weather is bad.)

There are also a few Crocker Farm school events coming up that we would like to invite you to attend:
Friday May 21 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Movie Night, Crocker Farm Cafeteria. Now Showing: "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,"
Saturday June 5, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Annual PGO Tag Sale, Crocker Farm Lobby
Friday June 4, 8:40 – 9:40 AM, Coffee with the Principal, Crocker Farm Community Room

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

Here is the Tryout Schedule:

2010-2011 Travel Soccer Age Brackets:

U-9 – Born on or after August 1, 2001

U-10 – Born on or after August 1, 2000

U-11 – Born on or after August 1, 1999

U-12 – Born on or after August 1, 1998

U-13 – Born on or after August 1, 1997

U-14 – Born on or after August 1, 1996

2010-2011 Travel Soccer TRYOUT SCHEDULE 2 of 3

ALL TRYOUTS WILL BE HELD AT CROCKER FARM SCHOOL IN AMHERST

ATTENDANCE AT TRYOUTS IS MANDATORY

Tuesday June 1 - U9 BOYS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Wednesday June 2 - U9 GIRLS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Thursday June 3 – U10 BOYS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Friday June 4 – U10 GIRLS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Monday June 7 – U11 BOYS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Tuesday June 8 – U11 GIRLS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Wednesday June 9 – U12 BOYS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Thursday June 10 – U12 GIRLS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Monday June 14 – U13 BOYS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Tuesday June 15 – U13 GIRLS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Wednesday June 16 – U14 BOYS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Thursday June 17 – U14 GIRLS 5:30 – 8:00pm

Consider This!

CELEBRATE MARK'S MEADOW

Have a Facebook account? Join us!

Our Teachers are Stars & May 4th is Their Day to Shine!

Let your favorite teacher know how much you appreciate all their hard work, care, expertise and dedication. Have a Shining Star delivered to them on May 4th - National Teacher Appreciation Day!

Make a gift to the Amherst Education Foundation (AEF) in honor of a teacher and AEF will deliver a note of appreciation to your teacher. And your tax-deductible gift will go to support important work in our schools next year.

Click on the image to print out a form & mail it in today! Or visit www.amhersteducationfoundation.org. Thanks!

Sign up for the Wildwood Blog

Future Wildwood Families: Would you like to receive the WW blog via email? Each day there are new items posted to the blog, you’ll receive an email with that day’s information.

To sign up, go to www.wildwoodpto.org . On the right side, look for “Receive the Blog by Email”. Click that link, and follow the instructions.

This is a great way to make sure you don’t miss any news because you forgot to check the blog!

Rotary Club of Amherst Gives $25,000 to build the Crocker Farm Play Ground

The Crocker Farm PGO is pleased to announce that our community has been awarded the Rotary Club of Amherst $25,000 Community Grant for the playground!

Thanks to this generous award, we only need to raise $5,300 more to reach the $43,400 needed to build a new playground!

Please consider helping us reach this final goal by participating in one of the following fund raisers:

Multi-Arts Raffle Multi Arts is sponsoring a raffle with all proceeds benefiting the Crocker Farm Playground Initiative. Raffle ticket costs $15 for 1 or 2 for $20. The winner will receive a free Multi-Arts camp session (up to a $585 value) good for summer 2010. The raffle runs until May 4th.

Town Fair Fundraiser on May 8^th The CF PGO and Rotary Club of Amherst are partnering up to ask for donations from Town Fair attendees as well as run a 50/50 raffle. Simply sign up for a shift as long or as short as you need. We will be working from 11 AM – 6 PM on the Town Common.

Electronics Collection Fundraiser on May 15^th Sign up to work a short shift between 8 AM and 1 PM or for a small disposal fee per item, electronics may be brought to the Crocker Farm parking lot for recycling. Residents of surrounding communities are welcome.

Items may include, but are not limited to, computer monitors, laptops, CPUs, servers, CD rom/DVD drives, speakers, mice, keyboards, plugs, computer wires/parts/accessories, copy/fax/scanner/printers, phones and phone systems of any kind, UPS (computer battery backup systems), camera/video/audio equipment, DVD players, stereos, VCRs, walkmans, iPods and accessories, microwaves, air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, hot water tanks/heaters, washing machines, dryers, stoves, and dishwashers. All items must be empty and contain no gasoline, oil, or water.

Buy one of those fabulous “I helped build the Crocker Farm Playground” t-shirts for $10 or just simply donate to the playground effort through AEF or the PGO.

Anything you do helps bring the playground to fruition. Our sincere thanks goes out to everyone who donated their money or time to get us this far.

Questions? Please contact Becky at 230-3306 or email the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com.

Chess Club information for Wildwood next fall

We want to extend an invitation for all of the children and parents from Mark’s Meadow to participate in Wildwood’s highly successful parent-run afterschool chess club. Up to 100 kids participate in this club every year, and it has become a beloved and much-anticipated tradition at our school. Look for a sign-up sheet in your child’s backpack next fall.

I have had a wonderful experience leading the chess club for the last three years with the help of other parent volunteers, and now with my daughter graduating, I’m looking to pass the hat to the next parent or group of parent leaders. I’m hoping some of these volunteers will be among you, the new members of our school community.

Here’s what‘s needed:

1. administration that can be done at home, ie: collecting forms and assigning kids to groups (no chess knowledge required). Helps to be able to create spreadsheets and email lists. Approximate time required: 3 hours each semester.
2. leading weekly 1 hour chess club sessions for beginning, intermediate or advanced players. Knowledge of chess is pretty important. I generally give a 15-20 minute ‘lesson’ at the start of each session, then let them just play each other for the rest of the time. Time: 2 hours each week
3. organizing snack (no chess knowledge required). We usually have a sign up sheet at beginning of session and parents bring snack throughout.
4. overseeing the operation – working with the club leaders to determine best days, printing and distributing the sign-up forms, sending group emails, generally keeping track. Time: 7 hours per semester
   

Please email me or call 212.595.3585 if you would like to take part in this fun activity with the kids. The materials have already been purchased, and a successful organizational structure is already in place. We could really use your help to keep this wonderful activity going, and it’s a fun way to volunteer at the school and get to know the children.

I look forward to meeting you,

Mat Lebowitz
mat@mlcreative.com
212.595.3585

UPDATE:

Finalists Announced for Middle School Principal Position

Submitted by kochn on Tue, 03/23/2010 - 7:57am.

UPDATE, March 31:

Mr. Paul Goodhind notified the Human Resources Director this afternoon that he is withdrawing from the finalist pool as Middle School Principal. The remaining candidates, Mr. Michael Hayes and Mr. Karsten Schlenter, will be spending a full day in the district tomorrow as previously scheduled.

Three finalists have been announced for the position of Amherst Regional Middle School Principal: Karsten Schlenter, Michael Hayes, and Paul Goodhind.

The finalists will visit the district on Thursday, April 1, 2010 and will spend the day on site at the Middle School in a variety of settings. Each candidate will begin his day with a building tour, followed by meetings with staff, students, elementary and secondary administrators, and Central Office administrators. The public forums will be held in the Middle School library on the evening of April 1 at the following times:

1. Karsten Schlenter 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.
2. Michael Hayes 7:15 - 8:00 p.m.

We invite all members of the community to attend the forums and provide input into this very important decision for our school district.

For more information about the search, see www.arps.org/node/1252.

Forum to meet the 3 finalists for the Middle School Principal

Three finalists have been announced for the position of Amherst Regional Middle School Principal: Karsten Schlenter, Michael Hayes, and Paul Goodhind.

The finalists will visit the district on Thursday, April 1, 2010 and will spend the day on site at the Middle School in a variety of settings. Each candidate will begin his day with a building tour, followed by meetings with staff, students, elementary and secondary administrators, and Central Office administrators. The public forums will be held in the Middle School library on the evening of April 1 at the following times:

1. Karsten Schlenter 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.
2. Michael Hayes 7:15 - 8:00 p.m.
3. Paul Goodhind 8:00 - 8:45 p.m.

We invite all members of the community to attend the forums and provide input into this very important decision for our school district.

For more information about the search, see www.arps.org/node/1252.