Brrrr! It's Winter Clothing Drive Time

In an effort to ensure that all Crocker Farm children are toasty this winter season the PGO is collecting warm winter outerwear again this year. Please take a look in your closets for any gently used items (ALL sizes, children and adults are needed).

We are looking for donations of: * coats * snow pants * snow boots * hats * mittens * gloves * scarves * snowsuits *

Drop off: During school, November 9 – 19 in the school lobby.

Pick up: If you would like any of these clothes for your family or know someone in need, please plan to come by the school Tuesday November 24, 6:00 – 8:00pm or Wednesday November 25, 8:30 – 10:30am.

Any left over items will be donated to the Amherst Survival Center & other social service orgs. If you have any questions, please contact Erika Zekos (studiozed@comcast.net or 413-559-0224). Thank you for your donation!

Amherstopoly - Great For Giving!

There are still a few Amherstopoly games available for sale through the PGO. Don't have one yet? Want to give one as a gift this winter? Send an email to the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com & we'll make sure you get a copy! Just $25.00 (& every penny supports the Amherst elementary schools).

Forum For Senatorial Candidates Nov. 8

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 UMass 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.

AEF Thanks You For Trivia Bee Support!

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 (& CF mom) 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.

Coffe with the Principal- featuring Irv!

School Committee member Irv Rhodes will attend the Coffee with the Principal tomorrow morning- shouldn't you? The coffee starts at 8:30 AM in the Community Room. There will be coffee and breakfast treats to compliment the discussion. We hope to see you there!

IT'S SO EASY To Support Crocker Farm

There are many ways to support CF without spending an extra dime! Just take a minute to register, recycle or vote and Crocker Farm could earn hundreds of dollars for student activities! PLEASE help out by signing up for these programs TODAY. The more families that sign up the more money the school earns - it's that simple. Thanks!

* Simplified Scrip is a fantastic new fundraiser for Crocker Farm. It's easy, earns money for student enrichment & it costs you nothing more than the face value of the card! Choose from 100s of stores including Stop&Shop, Old Navy, WalMart, Target, Whole Foods, etc. You buy gift cards & the stores give Crocker Farm up to 10% of the value. You're shopping anyways, so why not support your school at the same time?? Here are the ways to start: Order online at www.simplifiedscrip.com or call in your order 1-800-514-1891
Contact Becky Demling (230-3306 / crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com) w/any questions.

Do you have a Target REDCard? Here is the link that gets you to the site where you can designate a percentage of your Target expenditures towards Crocker Farm. Go to Target!

Big Y's Education Express is back. This program earns the school "points" that can be converted into sports equipment, computers, etc. at the end of the year. Last year we earned great instruments and a new cd player for the Music Room!

Stop&Shop's A+BonusBucks program sends a check to Mr. Morris at the end of the year. Last year 60 households earned Crocker Farm over $1000! They donate 3% of your grocery purchase to Crocker Farm! How great is that? Crocker Farm's "Designation Number" is 05194.

Atkins Farm Card. When you show your Atkins Farm Shopping Card they donate a percentage of your purchase right back to us. This generous programs earns Crocker Farm $400 each year!

Collect Box Tops for Education & send them in. The drop box is in the lobby. These really add up!

Recycle your printer's ink jet cartridges at the school. Just send them in your child's backpack & we'll get $1 for each one we recycle!

The next time you clean out your child's closet check the Teacher Wish List. Chances are, someone's looking for what you're trying to get rid of!

Fresh Eggs from Crocker Parent's Chickens!

Need some eggs? Michelle has too many to handle. She has fresh, free range eggs. She has 10 dozen in the fridge right now, and the girls are laying almost 2 dozen a day. She is asking $3 a dozen, and can deliver by arrangement if she is out and about.
Call or e-mail: 256-5412
The email for the farm is blessedacre@yahoo.com.

Social-Emotional Talk

The Counselors at Amherst Regional Middle School will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle schoolers. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on *Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library*. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the Family School Partnership Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. *All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome.*

Coffee Coffee Coffee and Hot Chocolate Too!

The next orders for Crocker Java are due on Wednesday November 4th. Don't forget to pick up some delicious coffee and hot cocoa for these chilly fall days!

Remember that this is a fundraiser for Crocker Farm and everyone gets something great - you get a yummy, organic, Fair Trade product for a very competitive price and the PGO receives $3.00 for each bag we sell. Pretty great!

Click HERE to download an order form.

Washing Machine Wish List

The custodial staff is looking for a used but working washing machine for the school. Please contact the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail if you have one you would be willing to donate.

Original Works Order Forms due Tuesday!

All Original Works orders should be in by Tuesday, November 3rd. Please contact Jeanne Tuthill at 413-256-8777 if you have any questions.

Coffee with the Principal This Friday!

Please join us this Friday,November 6th for Coffee with the Principal at 8:30 AM in the Community Room. Our special guest this month will be School Committee member Irv Rhodes.

TONIGHT! AEF Trivia Bee

The AEF 15th Annual Trivia Bee - The “not to miss” event of the year!

TONIGHT: 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.
All proceeds benefit the public schools of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury

See our website for details: http://amhersteducationfoundation.org/

Important Redisticting Presentation

Last night, the Redistricting Sub-Committee presented a series of maps to the School Committee and public. There are 6 maps being considered for adoption. The final map will be selected and voted on at the next School Committee meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00 PM in the ARHS Cafeteria. Parents are encouraged to review each map and provide feedback to the School Committee (schoolcommittee@arps.org). The presentation can be found at http://www.arps.org/files/Redistricting%20presentation10-22-2009_0.pdf.

ARMS Community Educational Event for Parents of Early Adolescence

The Counselors at ARMS will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle school. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the FSP Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (email doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome.

Read-a-Thon Results: Congrats Second Graders!

The Crocker Farm Summer Read-a-thon Committee is pleased to announce that 35 students participated in this summer's reading fundraiser. These dedicated readers collected a total of $996, which will be divided up between teachers to use in the classroom. The trophy for most participants goes to the students currently in Second Grade. Great job reading Second Graders!!!

Please join us in congratulating the following Crocker Farm students:

First Name	Last Name	Current Grade
Amelia	Beigel	1
Hunter	Coy	1
Sam	Kleinman-Eddy	1
Garret	Warren	1
Rosie	Dinsmore	2
Fiona	McHale	2
Dylan	Peltier	2
Isabela	Shepard	2
Lucas	Morales-Fernandez	2
Lucy	Anderson	2
Derek	Sherwood	2
Eli	Slovin	2
Christina	Wehrli	2
Oliver	Noble	3
Jayden	Nambu	3
Ethan	Yu	3
Sadie	Blumenfeld	4
Jack	Dinsmore	4
Alberto	Morales-Fernandez	4
Bradley	Sherwood	4
Mitchell	Turner	4
Rebecca Tuthill		4
Julia	Jemsek	4
Mia	Rogers	4
Grace	Bertrand	5
Trentt	Coy	5
Maria	Wehrli	5
Abigail	Kleinman-Eddy	5
Delia	McHale	5
Andre	Shepard	5
Julia	Warren	5
Noah	Zobel	5
Emma Jo	Anderson	6
Zofia	Noble	6
Christine	Sherwood	6

Thanks go to the parents, teachers, school administrators, and generous donors who have made this fundraiser such a success. A special thanks goes to Bart’s Homemade Ice Cream of Amherst, for their generous donation of free ice cream coupons for participants.

Important Reminders from Crocker Farm

Two Quick Reminders

Tomorrow (Thursday, October 22) and next Tuesday (October 27) are early release days to support parent-teacher conferences. Students will be dismissed at 1:20 PM on both days. Thank you for your cooperation on these dates.

There will be an important meeting of the Amherst School Committee on Thursday, October 22 at 7 pm in the High School Library. The agenda pertains strictly to the matter of redistricting our elementary attendance zones. The Redistricting Committee will be giving a presentation showing the variety of redistricting maps and how the Committee has responded to the concerns of the community after the two recent public forums. There will be an opportunity for public comment.


Dos Recordatorios Importantes

Mañana, jueves 22 y el próximo martes 27 de octubre estaremos llevando acabo las conferencias de padres y maestros. Durantes estas conferencias los estudiantes saldrán de la escuela a la 1:20 pm. Le agradecemos su cooperación con estos cambios de horarios.

También queremos informarles que el jueves 22 de octubre a las 7:00p.m en la biblioteca de la High School se llevará acabo una reunión muy importante sobre la redistribución de los estudiantes de las escuelas elementales. El comité de redistribución estará presentando los diferentes mapas que muestran los cambios y como el comité estará respondiendo a las preocupaciones de la comunidad.

AEF TRIVIA BEE

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

Host Families for Japanese Exchange Students Needed

Host a Student from JAPAN for a weekend
Nov. 6th – 9th

Sixty elementary school students from Seibu Bunri School in Japan will arrive in the Northampton area Friday evening, 11/6. After a brief reception, they will spend Saturday and Sunday with their host families.
On Monday, they will travel to Boston.
The students need friendly folks to stay with! Can you help?
($30 / night stipend is provided to help with expenses!)
Students will be double-placed (two per home)

For more information, call Sheri Hall-Smith at 584-7294(413-695-0978-cell) or
Hallshs@aol.com

Early Release Days

Please note that there are 2 upcoming early release days due to Parent/Teacher Conferences. On Thursday, October 22nd and Tuesday, October 27 students will be released at 1:20 PM.

WEDNESDAY CLUBS NEEDS CLUB LEADERS!

The PGO is in the process of planning a Fall session of Wednesday Clubs! We know that there are lots of kids who are interested, but to make the program a success we need YOU! We're looking at a 4 week schedule (1:20 - 2:50 PM on Wednesday afternoons: Nov. 18, Dec. 2, 9, 16).

MORE CLUBS = MORE KIDS! Right now we only have 3 clubs scheduled… Knitting, Spanish Superheros and Fun with Food. That means we can only have about 30 children in clubs…Could you teach a club? Sure! How about Legos, Chess, Jump Rope, Exploring Nature, Writing or Book Club? The PGO will pay a stipend ($15/hour) for your time and even a little bit of money for supplies if you need them. And if you teach your child is guaranteed a spot in a club.

HOW DO I SIGN UP? Please let me know if you're interested & available ASAP so that we can finalize our plans! Contact Erika Zekos (CF PGO club coordinator) studiozed@comcast.net / 413.559.0224. Thanks!