No school on Friday

This Friday, Dec. 3, is a teacher work day so no school. Need childcare help? Check out LSSE -- but hurry! The deadline's Tuesday.

Winter Clothing Distribution Next Monday

With the weather getting colder, the CF PGO and Lion's Club of Amherst are teaming up to help children of all ages stay warm this winter. Individuals or families in need of boots, jackets, snow pants, hats and/ or gloves are invited to come to Crocker Farm School on Monday, December 6th between the hours of 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM or 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This event is open to the entire Amherst community. Questions? Email the PGO at CrockerFarmPGO@gmail.com

Dec. 3 LSSE child care available

(click to enlarge.)

Homeless Shelter Benefit

Amherst Homeless Shelter Benefit
Wednesday November 24
at The HARP 163 Sunderland Road, N. Amherst
Suggested donation: $10 includes: All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet at 7:30 pm and Music by Joe Keenan and Friends, from 9:00 –

ONE GREAT NIGHT OF MUSIC WITH FRIENDS THIS THANKSGIVING EVE….
…CAN HELP THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS ALL WINTER!

All proceeds will fund the cost of immediate renovations to keep the Amherst Homeless Shelter at the First Baptist Church-Amherst open this winter. Donations can also be made to: The First Baptist Church-Amherst, 434 N. Pleasant St., Amherst 01002; memo line: Shelter Fund.
All gifts are fully tax deductible

Library Book Dedication Club

The PGO is thankful for...

...all our gourmet bakers! Yesterday we filled almost 30 bags filled with treats for our paraprofessionals. Julia Child would be so proud.

(If you've still got the baking itch or if you missed this time around, next month we will be making goodie bags for our bus and van drivers. Keep an eye out for more info in a couple of weeks.)

Coffee Order Reminder

Next Wednesday Dec. 1 is the next due date for Crocker Java order forms!

Just in time for holiday gifts! We've got coffee, hot cocoa & dark chocolate java drops - all organic, Fair Trade & deeeelicious.

Click HERE to download an order form.

Fall/Winter After School & Home School Art Programs

Visit www.ETTAartStudio.com to learn more about these programs. Design your own program, by suggesting something you like but would like to see it offered at a different time or day! We may be very flexible!! To register: call 413-230-3272 or email: etta.arts@yahoo.com

**Puppet Skilz Club- learn to make and animate puppets of all kinds with Puppeteer, Anna Sobel www.puppetree.com
6 weeks, Nov. 29 - Jan. 10: Mondays 11am-2pm, Mondays & Thursdays 4:00-5:30pm. Ages 7-12.

**From Page to Stage: Creative Story Telling and Improvisation Theater for the Actor in all of us! with Ezzell Floranina, clown, stiltwalker, theater director.
6 weeks, Nov. 30- Jan. 12: Tues/Thurs at 11am-2pm & 3:30-5:30pm OR Wed/Fri 11am-2pm Take one, both or a combo! Ages 7-14 (Classes with mixed age groups available, but grouping for younger children and teens also possible.)

{Special Prices for daytime 11am-2pm classes: $220 (includes materials.) After School classes: $110 (includes materials) SIGN UP FOR 2 with 10% Discount on 2nd class!

**Comic Book Illustration –learn the skills of creating your own comics from a professional cartoonist, Rebecca Migdal. www.rlmigdal.com
7 Weeks, Dec. 3 – Feb. 4: Fridays 11am-2pm for Ages 8-11 / Fridays 2:30-5:30pm for Ages 11+ {$245 for 7 week session plus a $25 model fee} Also for Ages 8+: Mondays & Tuesdays, 4:00-5:30pm / Wednesdays, 2:00-3:30pm & 4:00-5:30pm
{$110 (includes materials) SIGN UP FOR 2 with 10% Discount on 2nd class! }

Winter Clothing Distribution

Great news! We are so pleased to be able to expand this year's Winter Clothing Distribution with the generous help of the Lions Club of Amherst.

We had our first distribution date last week and were able to help many kids at CF to find a parka, hat, mittens, snowpants or boots. Meanwhile -- the Lions have been collecting coats too & with our help, will be distributing them, not only to CF families, but to the whole school community on a second distribution date set for December 6.

Individuals or families in need of boots, jackets, snow pants, hats and/ or gloves are invited to come to Crocker Farm School on Monday, December 6th between the hours of 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM or 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This event is open to the entire Amherst community. Sponsored by the CF PGO in partnership with The Lions Club of Amherst.

Picture Re-Take Day is Monday!

This Monday, November 22, 2010 is picture re-take day at Crocker Farm.  Please remember to return your student's pictures if you are opting to retake them and complete the form on the envelop. 

Be Our Guest

No chess club next week!

If you've got a chess club member in your family, take note! Amherst College is on Thanksgiving vacation all of next week and we so won't have our wonderful instructors. As a result, there will be no chess club on Monday, the 22nd.

Or Friday the 26th but you probably knew that one already.

Coffee Coordinator Wanted

Our current Coffee Queen thinks it's time to hand over the reins to a new coordinator. It's a pretty easy job - certainly one of the easiest, best smelling & most caffeinated volunteer gigs that the PGO has to offer. It does necessitate a couple of visits to the school each month, but you can spend 30 min. or less each Wednesday of each month to get the job done:

1st Wednesday: Collect & call in orders (at school)
2nd Wednesday: distribute orders (at school)
3rd Wednesday: advertise in Chronicles (from home)
4th Wednesday: advertise on PGO Blog (from home)

If this is a job you think you'd be interested in pleae let Erika know & she'll hand over all the files & walk you through how to do each step during December. studiozed@comcast.net.

Drama Class Offering

Clothing Drive Continues

Have your kids tried on last year's winter clothes yet? If you have any gently used items that you can donate to the PGO's Winter Clothing Drive we'd really appreciate it! We're collecting until Friday Nov. 12:
* coats * snow pants * snow boots * hats * mittens * gloves * scarves * snowsuits *

Drop off: Anytime during school hours, through November 12 in the CF 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 Monday November 15, 6:00 – 8:00pm or Tuesday November 16, 8:30am – 3:00pm.

Wednesday Clubs Need YOU!

For the past 2 years Crocker Farm has offered a few weeks of fun Wednesday afternoon club offerings each spring. We’ve had clubs like Chess, Art, Gardening, Knitting, Spanish, Science, Structures & last year over 140 children participated! This year we are excited to expand the program & are planning for (3) 5-week sessions in 2011.

Wednesday afternoons from 1:20 – 2:30 PM:
* SESSION 1: January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9
* SESSION 2: February 16, March 2, 9, 16, 23
* SESSION 3: March 30, April 6, 13, 27, May 4

Now we need club leaders - especially for Session 1!! Do you have an interest in sharing your talents with a group of kids? It could be Web Design, Outdoor Nature Club, Knitting, Jump Rope, Arts & Crafts... ANYTHING goes!

Club Leader perks:
You receive a small stipend from the PGO
Your child(ren) will be sure to receive a spot in a club of their choice
You decide the age range of the kids you wish to work with (for ex. grades K-3 or 4-6)
You have a fantastic opportunity to be an important part of the Crocker Farm community!

Please get in touch right away if you are interested in being a Club Leader or think of someone who’d be great. Micaela (micaela.henry@yahoo.com) or Erika (studiozed@comcast.net) Thanks!

November 13-14 Amherst Rotary Auction on ACTV

Crocker Farm and the PGO were fortunate this Spring to receive a $25,000 Community Grant from the Amherst Rotary Club to put our fundraising efforts for the new playground over the top!

 Funding for this annual grant was provided by a new fundraiser – the Amherst Rotary Auction, which is being held again this weekend online and on ACTV Channel 12 on Friday, November 12  (6 p.m.-9.p.m.) and Saturday, November 13 (12 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

This auction will offer some great bargains on over 400 items with a total value of over $60,000; and proceeds will go to fund next year’s Rotary Community Grant to another good cause. Please support the community and get a start on your Christmas shopping by participating in this year’s auction! 

Check out the auction’s catalogue in last week’s Amherst Bulletin, bid online now at www.AmherstRotaryClub.org, and participate live in the auction on ACTV Channel 12 this weekend!

ARHS Elementary Challange

THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL  INTER-ELEMENTARY CROSS COUNTRY CHALLENGE

Where: 

On fields behind the Amherst Regional High School

When: 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (see time schedule below)

How far: 

 1K (.62 miles) for Kindergarten through second grade

1.5K (.93 miles) for grades three and four

2K (1.25 miles) for grades five and six

How much:  

Donation requested, but not required

Schools Invited:   

Crocker Farm, Wildwood, Fort River, Shutesbury, Pelham, Leverett, Common School, Amherst Montessori

Time Schedule

K-2 boys and girls (3:30)

3-4 boys and girls (3:50)

5-6 boys and girls (4:10)

(Please register as close to 3:00 as possible)

  

Sponsored by the Amherst Regional Boys Cross Country Team.

Day Light Savings Time Ends

Remember to set your clocks back 1 hour tonight! (And you thought we only kept you up-to-date on Crocker Farm)!

It's Not Too Late to Register your Stop&Shop Card!

Help CF earn money every time you shop.  Enroll on-line at www.stopandshop.com/aplus by November 30th  and your school will receive credit for ALL of your November purchases!  CF's code is 05194.

                                                                 

Election Day Bake Sale

The results are in and the CF Election Day Bake Sale raised $407.00 for the Crocker Farm General Fund!  A huge thanks goes out to our amazing bakers and volunteers.

Kindergarten Wish List - Ms. Newcomb

As we receive wish lists for teachers this fall, we'll post them here on the blog...

Here are some things that Ms. Newcomb's Kindergarten could really use!

napkins

paper towels

5 oz. paper cups

tissues

wet wipes for hands

sponges

pens/pencils

washable markers

watercolor paint sets

masking and scotch tape

craft supplies (pom-poms, large tongue depressors, stickers, wrapping paper, etc.)

Thank you for any of these you can provide!

Guided Tour for Neighbors and Citizens of the Hawthorne Property

You are invited to attend a Guided Tour for Neighbors and Citizens of the Hawthorne Property. These 6+ acres were recently purchased for open space, recreation and affordable housing using funds from the Community Preservation Act. The property is ideally situated within walking distance of 3 out of 5 of Amherst’s public schools. A portion of the land may be transformed to multi-purpose fields or developed for another recreational use and although it may not be utilized down the road for a specific sport/activity of your interest it WILL inevitably affect how the entire inventory of the rest of our parks and recreation fields are used and maintained. The purpose of this meeting and a subsequent meeting on December 9th will be to gather input as to how the area should best be developed.

Please make every effort to attend this public session/walkthrough on Saturday, November 6th from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and give us your feedback.

ETTA Art Studio

Visual & Performing ART CLASSES for Youth & Adults:
Why?: Art is about life. It is about freedom of expression. Art is a way to develop creative thinking! Because there is an artist inside of everyone!
Where?: ETTA ART STUDIO, 534 Main St., AMHERST (corner of High St. and Main St.); 413-230-3272 www.ETTAartstudio.com
When?: 2nd Fall Session begins on Mon. Nov. 15th - 4 or 6 week Sessions, after school and evenings. (NOTE: There are also some “one time” or “drop in” class options! Call to find out if this is possible for the class you want! Open for After School Classes: Mon./ Tues./ Thurs./ Fri. - 3:30-5:30 and Wed. 2- 5:30

A “Taste” of Classes this fall: (see full list on www.ETTAartstudio.com) **********************************************
Tues.+ Thurs. 3:30-5:30 ** Theater Improv/ Comedy and Acting for the Stage! Class offered: 2 day or 1 day a week option! Sliding scale & 10% discount: for 2! Ages 11+ (Teacher: Ezzell Floraniña/Stilts performer, Stage Clown and Theater Director)
This class brings in the techniques and games from Theater Improvisation as well as acting basics of character development and storytelling techniques, voice, stage presence and use of props. Drawing from many sources and theories, this is a class about process and development and is for ALL Abilities. Guaranteed to have plenty of laughter!
**********************************************
Wed. 2-3:30 **Painting and Drawing Basics with a Twist of Cartoon Techniques!
For Ages 9+
(Teacher : Rebecca Migdal/Comic Book Illustrator + Graphic Novelist-Teacher)
This class will cover the basic skills of drawing and painting for self-expression and narrative processes. Special attention will be paid to storytelling, and to the human figure and the interaction of figures in space. We will also look at artists throughout history and in a range of cultures who have used representational images to portray stories and ideas.

Wed. 2-3:30 OR 4-5:30 **Clay, Clay and More !!!
(2-3:30 by Ezzell Floraniña / 4-5:30 Teacher: Dara Herman-Zierlein/Artist, painter, sculptor+Art Educator)
For ALL Ages
This is a fun class for the young artist to be able to explore the properties of clay and use of tools. The students will be pinching, rolling and scoring to create simply forms like cups and bowls. Students will also come to an understanding of 3-D sculptures and will explore making animals, masks , environments and other creative art works out of hand building with clay. **********************************************
SEE MORE CLASSES ON WEB or call for details:
YOUTH Classes: Mon. - Puppet Skilz with Anna Sobel - www.puppetree.com; Wed. – Clay, Clay and more with Ezzell and Dara (two times/day); Thurs.- Portrait Drawing with Katalina Each session is $98 for a 6 week session. Material fee $12. Some classes may be open for “drop in” or a one time experience!

ADULT Classes: **Metal Clay Jewelry Class: Wed. 6-9pm/4 weeks $140 Starting Nov 17th - Teacher : Ruth Levine

Don’t Let Your Jack-o-Lantern Languish in a Landfill!

He’ll be much happier with his buddies at Crocker Farm Elementary School. Instead of throwing Jack in the trash after Halloween, bring him to Crocker Farm on November 4. He will be mixed with fruit and vegetable waste, autumn leaves, earthworms and microorganisms. Next spring he’ll be reincarnated as nutritious, plant-loving hummus.

Bring your pumpkin to the designated “pumpkin round-up” area behind the school (Shays Street access) by 4 pm Thursday Nov. 4. Our crack compost team will take care of the rest!

Clothing Drive Continues

A quick reminder that the PGO is now collecting donations of warm winter clothes, especially:
* coats * snow pants * snow boots * hats * mittens * gloves * scarves * snowsuits *

Drop off: Anytime during school hours, through November 12 in the CF 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 Monday November 15, 6:00 – 8:00pm or Tuesday November 16, 8:30am – 3:00pm.

Hey, wanna play chess?

Come join the 2nd – 6th Grade Crocker Farm Chess Club!

Want to learn how to play chess? Already know the basics and want to hone your skills? Come play chess after school with the Amherst College men’s tennis team!

The dates & skill levels are:

Beginners Chess
Nov. 8 – Dec. 13
Mondays 3:15 – 4:15

Intermediate/Advanced Chess
Nov. 12 – Dec. 17
Fridays 3:15 – 4:15

Send us an email if your child would like to play at CrockerFarmPGO@gmail.com.