Summer's Here!

To all Crocker Farm kids and families new and old,

Have a great summer vacation!

Be sure to read a lot!

Keep your eyes peeled for news about the Playground Build on August 13!

Have fun!

6th Grade Summer Math & Reading

Dear 6th Grade Families;
Attached you will find letters from the math and English departments about summer work and math placements for 7th grade. These letters represent new initiatives to communicate earlier with 6th grade families and to have students continue their studies over the summer. Students regress over the summer if they do not continue to practice what they learn. This is why at the beginning of a school year teachers often take time to review and get students used to being back in school. In an effort to begin to address this, we are now asking students to read a book (or four) that will prepare them for their first English unit in 7th grade. Additionally, the math department is putting together work for 6th graders to do over the summer which will be available at the beginning of July.

You will find that the math letter also speaks in depth to the math placement options for 7th grade. Math is the first subject in the district where families and students need to start making decisions that will affect their future. In particular, if a student is not do extensions in 7th grade, it means they will most likely not be able to take Calculus in high school.

I hope you will find these letters to be useful in supporting your child over the summer and into the beginning of the school year. The curriculum leaders for English and math have included their email addresses and will be checking them occasionally over the summer. I will be working all summer and am also available to answer any questions you have (hayesm@arps.org or 362-1800).

I hope you and your family enjoys the last few days of 6th grade and has a wonderful summer. We will send more information home in August about the start of school (September 2nd). Sincerely, Michael Hayes

(Click on the images below to read the letters or just go to www.arps.org/ms.)

Playground Annoncement

The CF PGO is thrilled to announce that the playground total has been reached! This community effort could not have been achieved without the support of dozens of individual and business donors, as well as the Fort River and Wildwood Elementary School PGOs and the ARHS Dance Theater Ensemble. Crocker Farm also received major financial support from the Rotary Club of Amherst having been awarded their 1st annual Community Grant. Thank you to everyone who sponsored this project!


The Town of Amherst and ARPS Facilities will begin the process of removing the old pieces and tending to the much needed landscaping and drainage after the last day of school. The new playground will be built on Friday, August 13th (rain date August 20th), beginning at 8:00 am. We need 30 – 50 volunteers (no children, please) to install all of those fabulous pieces. Food and beverages will be provided. Can you help with this final step?


To sign up, please contact Becky at 230-3306 or CrockerFarmPGO@gmail.com.

Before-school childcare

If you are interested in enrolling your child in before-school care next year, please click on the document below or simply email Alicia Lopez.


(please click on image to enlarge)

Wear it with pride!

If you have an "I helped build the Crocker Farm playground" t-shirt, wear it this Friday. Let's see how many people we can get wearing their playground t-shirts at Crocker Farm.

If you don't have one and would like to buy one for $10, send us an email and we'll get it to you before then.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're an incoming CF family and have general questions about the school, Principal Mike Morris's FAQ's About Crocker Farm may be just what you need.

If you've still got questions after that, give Crocker Farm a call: 362-1600. Ms. Walsh and Ms. Aldrich will help you. They're amazing.

Family Fun Day on June 19th at Groff Park

(click on image to enlarge)

End of Year Assembly

You are invited to attend the annual CF End of Year Assembly as we celebrate and reflect upon the 2009-2010 academic year this Thursday, June 10th at 1:30 pm. We will honor all students moving to new schools next year and have a big playground announcement. The event is open to all current CF families and their siblings. Hope to see you there!

Que viva Espanol! (y frances, aleman, chino, signo, etc.)

Mucho Gusto Spanish with Laurie Davidson
Spanish for children 0-5 and their parents (older children accepted with instructor's consent)

Tuesdays 7/6 - 8/24, 9:30-10:15 and 10:30-11:15, CRADLE, 3rd floor Thornes, Northampton

Thursdays 7/8 - 8/26, 4:30 - 5:15, Lilly Library, Florence, 8 week session, $110, includes songbook with translations and cd, sibling fee $95.

Wednesdays 6/30-8/25 (no class 7/7 or 8/4) 4:30-5:15, Movement Studio, Turners Falls
7 week session, $100, sibling fee $85.

Mas Mucho Gusto Spanish with Laurie Davidson
Spanish for 6-8 year olds through games, storytelling, drama, poems and songs (drop-off class)

Thursdays 3:30-4:15 at the Lilly Library in Florence, 8 week session, July 8 - August 26, $110 for first child, $100 for siblings.

Wednesdays 3:30-4:15 at the Movement Studio in Turners Falls, 7 week session, June 30 - August 25 ( no class 7/7 or 8/4), $100 for first child, $90 for siblings.

Course fee includes packet of target vocabulary, song lyrics, and scripts for story retelling (in Spanish with English translations) as well as materials for take-home games and templates for making your own Spanish books to reinforce the target vocabulary and sentence structure.

To register for classes, email Laurie at muchogustospanish@gmail.com with children's names and ages, phone number(s), and class day and time preferences. Please send check made out to Laurie Davidson to 56 Court Square, Montague, MA 01351.

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)

6th Graders Need Cookies!

If anyone out there would like to contribute a pan of brownies or batch of cookies to the 6th Grade Bake Sale on Saturday we'd REALLY appreciate it!!! Just drop them off at the Bake Sale table at Crocker Farm on Saturday morning when you come to the Tag Sale - THANK YOU!

PGO Tag Sale & 6th Grade Car Wash / Bake Sale

Saturday June 5, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Rain or Shine - Saturday's Tag Sale / Car Wash / Bake Sale is ON! The Tag Sale is indoors so be sure to tell everyone you know to come!

The PGO's Tag Sale raises money for all of the great things that the PGO does - funding field trips, teacher grants, supplies and more! You'll find some excellent bargains and support the school at the same time!

AND the 6th graders will be selling home-made baked goods and washing cars to raise money for their gift to Crocker Farm. They're hoping to earn $300 so that they can make a donation to the new playground (and have "6th Grade Class of 2010" written on the donor's sign).

See you there!

One more day to save $10 on camp!

If you sign up for an LSSE Summer Sports Camp by this Friday, June 4th, you'll save $10 on all summer sports camps! Hurry! Just click here: LSSE Summer Sports Camp.

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 participants 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. Folders will be available in the school office starting Monday, June 7. Please send the signed permission slip in to the school with your child by Monday, June 14, so they can pick up their Read-a-thon folder. After the summer, book lists and money raised will be turned in to whichever school your child is attending in the fall.

6th Grade Car Wash / Bake Sale & PGO Tag Sale

Saturday June 5, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Rain or Shine - Saturday's Tag Sale / Car Wash / Bake Sale is ON! The Tag Sale is indoors so be sure to tell everyone you know to come!

The PGO's Tag Sale raises money for all of the great things that the PGO does - funding field trips, teacher grants, supplies and more! You'll find some excellent bargains and support the school at the same time!

AND the 6th graders will be selling home-made baked goods and washing cars to raise money for their gift to Crocker Farm. They're hoping to earn $300 so that they can make a donation to the new playground (and have "6th Grade Class of 2010" written on the donor's sign).

See you there!

End of year party!!

Due to the Crocker Farm tag sale on June 5th, the CF incoming families get-together and CF PGO end of year parents celebration have been merged into one fabulous night!

The party will be held Friday, June 11th, from 7 until ? at CF mom and PGO treasurer extraordinaire Sue Bernier’s house -- 817 Bay Road. Food and beverages will be provided.

Join us to celebrate the end of an amazing year and the beginning of a new one. Hope to see you there!

Questions? Contact Sue at 256-2103 or email the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com.

Final Coffee with the Principal of the year

This is it. Last call.

Come to the final Coffee with the Principal in the Crocker Farm Community Room this Friday morning at 8:45. We'll have coffee and muffins and Mr. Morris will be there to answer any questions you may have about the end of this year or the upcoming one.

Small children are always welcome. See you there!

Welcome New Families!

To all new Crocker Farm families,
We've planned a bunch of social events to create opportunities to get to know some new friends before the school year ends. There are just a handful left and we hope that you'll join us!
Becky Demling and Lucy McMurrer (PGO co-chairs)

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.
***UPDATE*** Friday June 11, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, at Sue Bernier’s home (817 Bay Road). Come for hors d'oeuvres and friendly adult conversation. (Questions? Contact Sue at 256-2103 or email the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com)
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:
Saturday June 5, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Annual PGO Tag Sale / 6th Grade Car Wash & Bake Sale, Crocker Farm
Friday June 4, 8:40 – 9:40 AM, Coffee with the Principal, Crocker Farm Community Room

Dean's Beans Order Forms

CROCKER JAVA ORDER FORM (in English). Click the image to print.

CROCKER JAVA ORDER FORM (in Spanish).Click on the image to print.

Last Chance For Coffee!!

June is here & Wednesday the 2nd is the due date for Crocker Java order forms!

Stock up for the summer! What a delicious deal - just $8.50 per pound of Dean's Beans organic, Fair Trade, caffeinated goodness!

Click HERE to download an order form, print it out & send it in with your check by Wednesday. We'll have your coffee delivered to your child by the 9th.