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.