Shop at Amherst Books this Saturday!

This Saturday, December 3rd, is Bag Day in Amherst. Amherst Books has once again graciously agreed to partner with the Friends of the Jones Library, donating 10% of every purchase to the Friends.
Please help support the Friends and shop locally this Saturday at Amherst Books...these monies go towards purchasing new books for all the branch libraries in the Amherst system.
http://www.friendsofthejones.org/

Merry Maple - Friday!

Join an Amherst Tradition to kick of the holiday season. Friday Dec. 2 on the Town Common.

Event Schedule
4:30 -Hayrides begin
4:30 - Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus
4:30 - 5:30 - Craft Room with face painting and kids' crafts in Town Room in Town Hall
4:45 - Tree Lighting!
5:30 - UMass Minuteman Marching Band arrives with Santa!
6:30 - Visit with Santa at the Amherst History Museum

You are also invited to bring new and unwrapped toys, clothing, sports equipment, books and games for infants through teens to the Common for the Amherst Survival Center Annual Toy Drive! http://www.amherstarea.com

ETTA offering on December 1st

Nicaraguan Art Show and Sale

5-8 pm. December 1st, Thursday

    ART Works! ETTA Studio & Gallery

534 Main Street

Amherst, MA

   (above Valley Frame Works)

(corner of High Street/Main)

Come enjoy colorful tropical paintings, hand-made ceramics & carved wooden sculptures, refreshments & Nicaraguan music.  All fair trade crafts for sale, learn about the artists through photos & stories.  Crafts are from Solentiname, Nicaragua which are islands in Lake Nicaragua. All proceeds go for projects such as building schools, medical clinics, funding salaries for librarian, and sponsorship of artist workshops.  We are inviting new members for our Solentiname Nicaragua Friendship Group that meets monthly. Join today & come visit beautiful Nicaragua! Visit our gallery & many others inAmherst during this festive monthly event!

Monthly Amherst Art Walk (Nicaraguan art will remain on exhibit through month of December at ART Works! ETTA Gallery.)

-- 
Ezzell Floranina
Artistic Director
Art Works! ETTA  Art Studio 
http://www.yippeeskippy.com/etta-arts-studio/
Empowerment Through The Arts
534 Main St.
Amherst, MA  01002
413-230-3272
413-256-1205

Winter Coat Drive Distribution - HELP NEEDED

Winter Coat Drive at Crocker Farm Elementary - Call for parent volunteers --  we need extra helpers to distribute coats on Wednesday 11/30 from 8am - 2pm and we could use a person or two on Thursday 12/1 any hours you can spare between 8am - 6pm and on Friday from 8am - noon.... where? At the front entrance to Crocker Farm Elementary - just sign in at the front office and someone will be at the coats to help you get busy with coat distribution... thanks for helping us help the community -- if you have questions feel free to call Angela 413-219-6344 or to volunteer for a time slot - even if it just an hour or two - email us at: crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com

Original WorksOrder Forms Due Tomorrow

All Original Works Art Order forms are due tomorrow, November 29th.   Checks should be made out to "Crocker Farm PGO".  Questions?  Contact Becky at 230-3306 or beckydemling@yahoo.com.

Art Studio Hadley fine arts offerings

(click to enlarge.)

Dear Crocker Families,
Coffee Orders are in!!  We have extra if you forgot to place your order.
We  wish everyone a happy, relaxing and joyous holiday.
bon appetit!



INTERESTING LECTURE FOR PARENTS

“Issues in Excellence & Equity In K-12 Education in the United States”

 Katherine Merseth, EdD, Director of Teacher Education, Harvard Graduate School

of Education, will speak on issues related to the commitment of our country to provide access to a high quality education for all K-12 students including No Child Left Behind legislation and its reauthorization, Common Core Curriculum Standards, and charter schools at a program sponsored by the League of Women Voters Amherst. Thursday, Dec. 1, 7 pm refreshments, 7:30 pm program. Jones Library Large Meeting Room. Free and open to the public.  253-0633.

Winter Coat Share PSA

Thank you to ARPS's Kim Stender and Lions Club's Todd Cromack for making this wonderful Amherst Media public service announcement!

Remember that clothing is available to anyone in our community for pick up. If you would like any of these clothes for your family or know someone in need, please plan to come by Crocker Farm Nov. 30, 8am-2pm / Dec. 1 8am-6pm / Dec. 2 8am-noon.

PGO meeting wrap-up

Notes from tonight's PGO meeting will be posted shortly.  


We appreciate everyone's positive attitudes and strong work ethic.  Congratulations to our raffle winners (you have to attend the meeting to be eligible for the door prizes)!  


Thanks again to Jen Veshia for all of her hard work on Lend-A-Hand and the book closet.  


Thanks also to Becky Demling for coordinating Original Works for us.  


Kaye Dugan - many heartfelt thanks are sent your way for your donation of an amazing renovated/refurbished trunk that raised hundreds of dollars for our mini-grant fund/teachers' needs.


We look forward to seeing you at our next PGO winter meeting!!!

TALENT SHOW MOVED TO DECEMBER

The talent show which was originally scheduled for tomorrow is postponed.  We'll be sure to keep you up to date with the time and the place -- but due to the unexpected week off from school - the talent show will be moved to December -- postings to this site, Facebook and fliers with details will follow.  We aim to keep you informed.


Thanks for your understanding.

REMINDER - PGO MEETING TODAY!!!

We'll meet in the cafeteria/auditorium from 6:30pm - 8:00pm and do some great work for all the kids at Crocker Farm Elementary!  Thanks for making time and for bringing your energy to this event.  See you there!

EARLY DISMISSAL DAY

Tuesday, November 29th - school will end at 1:20pm this day to accommodate teacher conferences.  This is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving - please plan accordingly.

AYSA Indoor winter soccer 2011-2012

Amherst Rotary Auction 2011

Each year as a core component of it's fundraising effort, the Rotary Club runs a television auction involving the entire community. Local businesses donate their products, local celebrities host the TV auction, and the proceeds are returned to the community through our charitable grants to agencies doing good throughout our area. Please visit our web site: http://auction.amherstrotaryclub.org.

Jones Library & CollegeAccess information sessions

The Jones Library has teamed up with CollegeAccess to present two free
information sessions to help students, parents, and other adults
understand their education/training options after high school that
will help them start a career and a great future.

These informational meetings will be held on Thursday, December 8,
2011 at 7pm and Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7pm at the Jones
Library.

Presented by Natalia Berrios, CollegeAccess Coach, these sessions will
provide basic information on different educational options, navigating
the admissions and financial aid processes, and getting ready for
college.

These information sessions are free and open to the public.

CollegeAccess is a project of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium,
Inc. in partnership with Valley Opportunity Council and Seven Hills
Behavioral Health. CollegeAccess is supported in part through the
Mass. Dept. of Higher Education’s College Access Challenge Grant
program.

Contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223 for more information.

Take Me To Your Leader...

The PGO is planning Wednesday Clubs Winter & Spring 2012! Wednesday Clubs are a fun enrichment opportunity for Crocker Farm students - small groups of kids working with adults around a theme on Wednesday afternoons. The PGO aims to make clubs available to all students who want to participate, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU!

WEDNESDAY CLUBS NEEDS YOU! We know that there are LOTS of kids who are interested, but to make the program a success we need YOU! We're looking for leaders for all 3 sessions (you can teach 1, 2 or all 3). Each session will last 5 Wednesdays (1:20 - 2:30 pm).

• Session 1: Jan. 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15
• Session 2: Feb. 29, Mar. 7, 14, 21, 28
• Session 3: Apr. 4, 11, 25, May 2, 9

COULD YOU TEACH A CLUB? Sure! What’s your talent? How about Dancing, Computers, Legos, Chess, Jump Rope, Exploring Nature, Writing, Book Club or ???

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO SIGN UP? Please let the PGO know that you're interested by contacting Erika (studiozed@comcast.net / 413.559.0224). Check your calendar for which session(s) you are available, think of a Club topic and plan a few lessons around that topic. Crocker Farm will ask you to fill out a CORI form and attend an introductory workshop before Clubs begin.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A CLUB LEADER?

• You will be helping to build community at Crocker Farm!
• Your child/ren are guaranteed a spot in a club.
• The PGO will help pay for supplies if you need them.
• Having more Clubs means that more kids can participate.

Still Collecting Items for the Winter Clothing Drive

It’s that time of year again – the weather is getting cooler and we’re thinking about winter. 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 clean, gently used items: Anytime during school hours, now through Nov. 29 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 Nov. 30, 8am-2pm / Dec. 1 8am-6pm / Dec. 2 8am-noon.

Thank you to the Lions Club of Amherst for partnering with us again this year. Any left over items will be donated to the Amherst Survival Center. Thank you for your donations!

VETERANS' DAY IS FRIDAY

No school on Friday @ Crocker Farm - Veterans' Day will be observed --
Gentle reminder from your PGO

Suburban travel basketball league tryouts

We are canceling this Wednesday and Thursday night’s tryouts (originally scheduled for the HS gym) and re-scheduling this week’s basketball tryouts as follows:

Boys’ 5/6 – Saturday, Nov 5^th from 10am-11:30am at the MS GYM (same time as previously scheduled) and Sunday, Nov. 6^th from 2pm-3pm at the MS GYM.

Boys’ 7/8 – Saturday, Nov 5^th from 11:30am-1pm at the MS GYM (same time as previously scheduled) and Sunday, Nov. 6^th from 3pm-4pm at the MS GYM.

Girls’ 4^th-6^th - Saturday, Nov 5^th from 1pm-2:30pm at the MS GYM (same time as previously scheduled) and Sunday, Nov. 6^th from 12pm-1pm at the MS GYM.

Girls’ 7/8 - Saturday, Nov 5^th from 2:30pm -4pm at the MS GYM (same time as previously scheduled) and Sunday, Nov. 6^th from 1pm-2pm at the MS GYM.

Please note that all tryouts were moved from the HS gym to the Middle School Gym!

Halloween rescheduling

(It may look itty bitty but keep clicking and you'll make it bigger. We promise!)

Art Studio Hadley fine arts offerings

(click on image to enlarge.)