Ahh, Sweet Summer!

Have a wonderful Summer Vacation everyone!

Don't forget to READ LOTS OF BOOKS (especially "The Trumpet of the Swan") and HAVE FUN!

See you back at Crocker Farm on August 27th!
(Click HERE for the 2009-2010 ARPS Calendar)

One Book One School

“One Book, One School” is a reading program inviting everyone in the Crocker Farm community to read the same book during summer vacation. Students, teachers, and staff are all welcome to participate.

Sponsored by the Crocker Farm PGO, the Munson and Jones Libraries, and the Friends of the Jones, every Crocker Farm family will receive a free copy in English, Spanish, or both, of E.B. White’s classic novel “The Trumpet of the Swan.”

During the summer both the Munson and the Jones Libraries will have Wednesday afternoon story times. At the end of the summer, we will celebrate as a community at the Back-to-School picnic, with “Trumpet of the Swan” activities and events.

“The Trumpet of the Swan" book and reading guide - Coming soon to a backpack near you!

Opportunity Extended! End of Year Gift Idea From AEF

Honor a teacher or staff member by making a donation to the Amherst Education Foundation (AEF). They'll 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.

<-- Click on the image to see & print the flyer full size.

ASC Wants Your Furniture!

The Amherst Survival Center is collecting furniture for our annual fall fundraiser, the Trash-to-Treasures furniture sale. We can help you give your gently used couches, chairs, kitchen sets, dining sets, bureaus, end and coffee tables, and bookcases a new home. Make an appointment to deliver your furniture to the Center, or we can arrange to pick it up for a small fee. Your donation is tax deductible. All proceeds from the sale benefit The Amherst Survival Center.

Email furniture@amherstsurvival.org; or call (413)549-3968 x252 to arrange for pick up or delivery.

Please note: all items are collected for resale, so please do not contribute damaged or broken items or those with torn, stained, or mildewed upholstery. We cannot accept sleeper sofas or mattresses.

Providing food, health, clothing, and community in the Pioneer Valley since 1975.

Winding Down

Next Week at CF:
Tuesday June 16: 9:30am All School Assembly
Wednesday June 17: 9:00am, 6th Grade Graduation

And.....
Monday June 22: Last day of school (full day - Summer Vacation starts at 3:05!)

Read-a-Thon Reminder

Last chance to return your child's form if you haven't already! The Summer Read-a-Thon is a sweet way to encourage reading during vacation & to raise some money for teacher supplies in the fall. Kids earn prizes and the class with the most readers will win a trophy!

Harlem Renaissance Play on ACTV

Yeah, it's finally on! You can catch Crocker Farm's fabulous spring 2009 production of "the Harlem Renaissance" on ACTV Channel 15:
6/17 at 8:08 PM
6/18 at 8:08 PM
6/19 at 2:25 PM

Amherstopoly - Get one for Summer Vacation!!!

Do you have your copy of Amherstopoly game yet? If not get one now! They are selling fast! They also make great graduation gifts for 6th graders and high schoolers.

The games can be purchased through the PGO (for $25) or at stores around town (for $35). Proceeds go to Amherst Elementary schools PTO's. See more on this exciting project produced cooperatively by the PTO's of Amherst Elementary schools, CLICK HERE .

Tag Sale Report

Once again Suzanne Warren and her team pulled off an incredible Tag Sale event at Crocker Farm last weekend. The Tag Sale earned $1150 for PGO programs and the Bake Sale earned another $200! Thank you to Suzanne and to Jenn Chylack (for organizing the Bake Sale). And thanks to all who donated items, helped set up, sell & clean up & those who shopped!

Summer Driving Help

Title One is hosting a Summer Reading Camp for its students from Aug. 3 - 14. They are looking for a little extra help with driving these children from home-to-school at 8:30 am and from school-to-home at 3:30 pm.

If you think you can help please check your insurance plan to confirm that you are covered and get in touch with Roberta Issler (362-1600). Thanks so much!

Helping Hands

Recently a Crocker Farm 2nd grader (Kason Jordan) was seriously injured when he was struck by a car on May 31st. He will be in a wheelchair for many months while he recovers from surgery on both of his legs. The PGO is helping his family in this difficult time by organizing meals, childcare and ride assistance through a website called "Lotsa Helping Hands". Can you help by cooking a dinner for the family just one night?

Check out http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/614856
1. Fill out the right-hand side of the form which is a Request to Join the Community.
2. The system will notify us that you have requested to join and we have to authorize it.
3. Once we have approved it, you will be automatically added to the community and sent instructions for setting a password and signing-in.

Next Week At Crocker Farm

Next Week:
Monday June 8: Spring Band & Orchestra Concert performance at 1:45 & 7:00pm
Thurs. June 11: PGO Meeting Cancelled
Fri. June 12: PGO Volunteer's Party
June 13: Crocker Farm day at Barnes and Noble

And Beyond:
June 17: 9:00am, 6th Grade Graduation
June 22: Last day, of school (full day)

Crocker Farm PGO’s 3rd Annual Community Tag & Bake Sale!!

See you at the Tag Sale on Saturday from 9:00 - 1:00 at Crocker Farm! Baked Goodies & Fabulous Finds for a Super Prices & a Great Cause!

Summer Read-a-Thon

Get ready to read—the Crocker Farm Summer Read-a-thon is here! The Crocker Farm Summer Read-a-thon is fun, educational, and raises money for classrooms. Kids find sponsors for their reading and keep a list of the books they read over the summer. Participants who turn in their book lists and money in the fall receive prizes for their efforts. The Read-a-thon helps kids keep their minds active over summer vacation. And, as an extra incentive, the grade that gets the most sponsors will be added to the beautiful Read-a-thon trophy on display at the school.

Keep your eye out for the Read-a-thon permission slips, which will be coming home soon. Please send the signed permission slip in to the school with your child by Friday, June 12, so they can pick up their Read-a-thon folder.

Give Thanks with Amherst Education Foundation

You can give A Simple Thank You to teachers and staff through Amherst Education Foundation. All gifts need to be received by June 12th, such that the Teachers get their thank you cards before the school-year ends.

The Amherst Education Foundation announced at their annual reception on May 21st at the Wunderarts gallery, a gift of $20,000 to the Amherst-Area Schools! Thanks to hundreds of donors this year, AEF is putting donor generosity to work, helping assuage a few of the most urgent needs and providing support for important programs.

As a result of recent conversations with the principals, this grant is intended to support the schools and our kids in the following areas:
-ARHS: to support the restoration of funds to underwrite stipends for club advisers
-ARMS: for professional development in the area of differentiated instruction
-Fort River: to provide stipends to staff members who will be developing and implementing a new project with the UMass Amherst Commonwealth College & Office of Community Service Learning to support students with enrichment programmin
-Wildwood: to support further professional development in the Lucy Calkins Workshop Model for the Language Arts program
-Crocker Farm: to support the school’s Wednesday afternoon enrichment clubs
-Marks Meadow: for after school clubs and enrichment activities, and to expand the repertoire of materials to be used by our Intervention teachers in math and reading.
-Pelham: for library books.
-Leverett/Shutesbury: to enrich programming.

Coming Up at CF

Next Week at Crocker Farm:
Mon. June 1: Coffee with the Principal, 8:30-9:00am, Community Room
Wed. June 3: Coffee Orders Due
Thurs. June 4: Crocker Farm Talent Show, 1:30pm
Fri. June 5: Community Breakfast, 8:15am
Fri. June 5: Tag Sale Drop off 3:30 - 7:00pm, Community Room
Sat. June 6: Crocker Farm Tag Sale! 9:00am - 1:00pm (Rain or Shine!)

Also Coming up:
June 8: Spring Band & Orchestra Concert performance at 1:45 & 7:00pm
June 11: PGO Meeting Cancelled - Look for info about a PARTY instead!
June 13: Crocker Farm day at Barnes and Noble
June 17: 6th Grade Graduation
June 22: Last day of school (full day)

Coffee Coffee Coffee

Coffee orders are due Wed. June 3! Remember this is your last chance to order delicious, organic, Fair Trade, locally roasted, Kosher Deans Beans coffee for the whole entire summer so stock up! We'll deliver your coffee to your child by June 10th. Click HERE for the order form.

Come be a part of Amherst's youth track and field league.

Sugarloaf Youth Track League: Sponsored by the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club and the Town of Amherst Leisure Services

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. Here 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
Meets: Sundays, May 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28 (awards night) (Make-up date: June 25)
Time: 5:15-8:15 p.m.

Got Stuff?

Get Ready for the Crocker Farm PGO’s 3rd Annual Community Tag & Bake Sale!!

Saturday, June 6 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Crocker Farm Elementary School
Rain or Shine

DONATE – SHOP – EAT!!

If you are able to donate items for the sale, please read the following carefully:

WHAT TO DONATE: Books, CDs, VHS/DVDs, video gamesToys & games Kids’ clothing & miscellaneous baby supplies (monitors, etc.)Sports equipmentElectronics in good working orderSmall appliances/housewares, including lampsCurtains/linens/fabrics/sewing suppliesCraft/art/office suppliesGarden tools/suppliesCollectiblesClean furniture in good condition

WHAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT: Ripped/heavily stained clothing or items with missing buttons/zippers/snapsCar seats and cribsLarge exercise machines/equipmentBroken/rusty/dangerous/recalled items or items with missing partsObsolete/rusty/non-working electronics or appliancesMajor appliances (washers, dryers, stoves, etc.)Mattresses & box springs Remember, if you would not consider buying it for yourself or a friend, please do not donate it for the sale.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS & TIMES: 34 Elf Hill Rd. (Warren family) – June 1-4 between 6 pm – 8 pm. (Ph: 253-0606) Crocker Farm Elementary School – Friday, June 5, 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm (by the Community Room) OR 8:00 - 9:00 am on Saturday, June 6.

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! *All proceeds from the sale will benefit the many programs for students and teachers provided by the Crocker Farm Parent Guardian Organization (PGO). For more information regarding the sale, or if you would like to donate baked goods/drinks, call Suzanne Warren at 253-0606.

TONIGHT!! Ice-Cream Social * Student Art Show * Movie Night

THIS FRIDAY May 15, 6:30 pm in the Crocker Cafetorium

Crocker Farm Ice-Cream Social & Student Art Show & Movie Night!

Come enjoy a night out with the kids, view wonderful student artwork, watch a movie (Beverly Hills Chihuahua) and enjoy a nice cold ice-cream.

All for just $1 per person! Funds raised from this event will be used for the Crocker Farm Teacher & Staff Appreciation Luncheon.

MCAS Schedule

Wednesday, May 20: 4th grade math & 5th grade science/technology
Thursday, May 21: 3rd grade math & 6th grade math
Friday, May 22: 3rd grade math & 6th grade math

Town Wide Picnic

Saturday, May 16, 11-2 Town Wide Picnic & Antique Car Rally on the Amherst Town Common

Bring a blanket and your picnic lunch, and celebrate our 250th Birthday with an Old Fashioned Picnic! The event includes complimentary face painting, a pie eating contest, games, music, Morris Dancing, horse drawn carriage rides by Muddy Brook Farm and a free ice cream social sponsored by the 250th Committee and Atkins Farms.

Health & Inequality Film

May 19, 5:00 - 7:00 @ Amherst Cinema
As part of its work on Social Justice and Health Equity, The Town of Amherst and the The Town of Amherst Department of Public Health is extending a special invitation to: Amherst Residents and all interested people to a free screening and discussion of: UNNATURAL CAUSES: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?

The screening will include a forum—Implications of inequality and health for the Amherst community: A dialogue among participants. Light refreshments, provided by the Amherst Public Health Department will be served on site prior to the screening. For more information, please visit: amhersthealth.blogspot.com/

Ultimate Tag Sale

The ARHS Girls Ultimate team is holding a massive 50+ Family Tag Sale this Saturday May 16th from 8am-1pm at 86 High Street in Amherst. Toys, books, tools, linens, clothes, furniture, lamps, antiques, jewelry, shoes, kids stuff, and lots more! The sale will benefit the ARHS Girls Ultimate Program which is currently the #3 ranked high school team in the United States.

Music That's Amherst 5/9 Saturday

Music That's Amherst will be a wonderful evening in celebration of our Towns diverse cultures and will be held at 7PM at the Amherst Regional High School Auditorium. Featuring Jumbo Jembo, an instrumental alternative rock trio of Amherst HS students, Julio Neijens Arrubla, Daniel Hegner and Aaron Noble; Las Chicas Flamencas, a dance group from Ines Arrubla's Flamenco Studio performing a colorful and passionate performance; Klezamir, New England's premier roots rockin' klezmer band with new takes on old Yiddish favorites and original Klezmer barnburners; Cambodian Dancers, composed of Ft. River students directed by Seiha Krouch, Tyda Ty & Sothaul Ding performing traditional dances and one in honor of the Cambodian New Year; The Nataraj Dance Company, unique and innovative dance by young Indian dancers based on traditional and contemporary themes, bridging East and West; and Conjunto de Bomba, Afro-Puerto Rican drumming and singing, in the tradition of music and dance of Santurce and Loiza, ARHS students directed by Tracy Vernon and Nick Shaw.

Coming Up at CF

This Week:
Mon. May 4: Coffee with the Principal, 8:30-9:00 am, Community Room
Mon. May 4: What to Read When with Pam Allyn, 5:30 pm
Tues. May 5: Community Forum, 7:00 pm, ARMS Auditorium
Wed. May 6: Coffee Orders Due
Wed. May 6: Scholastic Book Fair & Crocker Cafe 6:30 - 8:00 pm

On Deck:
May 14: PGO Meeting 6:30 - 7:30 pm
May 15: Ice Cream Social & Movie Night
June 1: Coffee with the Principal, 8:30 - 9:00 am, Community Room
June 3: Coffee Orders Due
June 6: Crocker Farm Tag Sale

Scholastic Book Fair Starts Monday!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, BOOKFAIR! Crocker Farm's annual Scholastic Book Fair runs from May 4 - 6.

Monday May 4th is Student Preview Day
Tuesday May 5 & Wednesday May 6 are Student Shopping Days (Look for your child's Shopping Day on the Wish List that they'll bring home on Monday.)

And the Family Fair is Wednesday May 6 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Come with your family to see CLIFFORD the Big Red Dog, purchase some wonderful books for your family and teachers, and have a cookie in the Crocker Cafe.

Help is needed... if you'd like to volunteer contact Erika at studiozed@comcast.net. Check out our Book Fair Homepage for more information.

Community Forum

Community Information Forum Tuesday, May 5th at 7:00 pm: If you want to learn more about the Amherst school budget, possible closing of Mark's Meadow and redistricting plans consider attending this important meeting. Interim-Superintendent Maria Geryk and her administrative team will share data and also hear our feedback and questions. Free childcare will be provided by the elementary school parent groups. The School Committee is scheduled to vote on this decision at their May 19th meeting.

More info on www.arps.org.

Pam Allyn Monday Evening

Monday May 4th at 5:30 PM, CF Library to hear Pam Allyn speak about WHAT TO READ WHEN.

PGO is providing childcare.

Click on the poster image to see it full size.