This coming week at Crocker Farm

Reminder:
School is open Mon & Tues, regular hours
There is no school on Wed, Thurs or Fri for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Next Monday, Nov 30th, is a teacher curriculum day & there is no school for students.
Students will return on Tuesday, December 1st.

Enjoy the school break.

Wildwood/Elementary School Building Study - next public forum, Dec 8th

pdf of the forum flyer: here


The next public forum on the Wildwood/Amherst Elementary School building study has been scheduled for Dec 8th, at the Amherst Reg MS Library. Identical presentations will be made at the 3:30 & 7:00 pm sessions.

To learn more about the study, you can visit the study web site here  or
the district's Facebook page on the project here.

The Amherst School Committee is planning to vote on their preferred option for grade configuration at a School Committee meeting in January 2016.

In the meantime, the Wildwood School Building Committee is meeting regularly (monthly or more often) & discussing details of the potential new construction.  Many of the details related to the design of any new building/renovations will be decided on by this committee.

The agendas & minutes of the School Building Committee's meetings are posted on the project's web site. 

Family Photo Project at Crocker Farm

Professional photographer Travis Weitzman, the son of Crocker Farm art teacher Diane Travis took pictures of many families at Curriculum Night for the Crocker Farm "Family Photo Project".   Diane Travis, Toby Bobbitt, Tara Luce, & Amy Baver assisted with the photo shoot.

The families who participated have now been sent a copy of their photos. A second copy will be put up on a bulletin board at Crocker Farm near the main office.   The photos are beautiful, and an impressive reminder of how special the Crocker Farm community is.

Any families who did not have the opportunity yet to participate in the Family Photo Project are welcome to send in their personal family photo to add to the bulletin board display.  Photos can be sent in to Toby Bobbitt's attention.

A BIG THANK YOU to Mr. Weitzman, Ms. Travis, & everyone else who has worked on the Family Photo Project.    The Crocker Farm PGO was proud to help fund the photo printing costs.

Downtown Amherst Donation Days - Ends today

See the full listing of upcoming downtown Amherst holiday events here:
http://www.amherstdowntown.com/events/holidays/


Amherst Downtown Donation Days
November 19-22nd, 2015
Start the season of giving during Downtown Donation Days! Downtown Amherst businesses are coming together for four days of giving during this holiday season!  Participating businesses will donate a portion of the proceeds to a downtown non-profit of their choice. Start your holiday shopping early at these participating businesses:
Elements Hot Tub & Spa, The Blue Marble, Zanna, J Austin, Laughing Dog Bicycles, Osteria Vespa, Hope & Feathers Framing & Gallery, A.J. Hastings, Baku’s African Restaurant, Bistro 63 at the Monkey Bar, Pasta E Basta, Russell’s Liquors, Amherst Copy & Design Works, Amherst Optical Shoppe, Chez Albert, FOLCWALD Gallery of Sculptural Art, Hair by Harlow Day Spa, Henion Bakery, Knowles Flower Shop, M & M Links Jewelry and Acessories, Ren’s Mobil Station, TOY Box, Vici Hair Studio & Beauty Bar, B.Home, The Pub, Artefakt,The Mercantile, Judie’s, Bertucci’s, The Chopping Block, Amherst Books, High Horse, The Black Sheep, Lumber Yard, Mystery Train Records & Panda East

List of downtown Amherst non-profits: 
Emily Dickinson Museum, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, First Congregational Church, Amherst History Museum, Friends of the Jones Library, Unitarian Meetinghouse, Grace Church, St Brigid’s Church, Kestrel Land Trust, Amherst Boys & Girls Club, Craig’s Doors, Trust for Public Land, First Congregational Church, Youth Action Coalition, Not Bread Alone, Family Outreach of Amherst, Amherst Community Connections, Hillel House, MERCY House, Knights of Columbus, Pacific Lodge, Amherst Cinema & First Baptist Church & Pioneer Valley Health Center, Friends of Amherst Community Theater (Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater)

Amherst Youth Hockey programs & their new teams for girls

From Karen Skolfield

VP & Girls’ Division Coordinator 

Amherst Hockey Association

It’s not too late to sign up for the Amherst Hockey Association's popular Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs, the all-girls Learn to Play team, and the all-girls house team. Practices begin Nov. 19 (girls’ house team) or Nov. 21 (LTS, LTP, all-girls LTP), and late registrations will still be accepted provided there is space.

 

Learn to Skate practices are Saturdays at 1-2:20, from Nov. 21 - March 12. No skating experience necessary - we’ll divide skaters into groups from our “bucket brigade” on up to more experienced skaters. Coaches lead skaters in fun drills, games, obstacle courses, and more to get all kids skating with confidence. The cost is $120; additional $48 USA Hockey registration required for children 6 and up (free USA Hockey registration for children under 6). 

 

Learn to Play practices are Saturdays at 2:30-3:50, from Nov. 21 - March 12. Beginning in December, there will be additional cross-ice games on Sundays. Children rapidly become better skaters as they forget to think about their feet and focus on the puck. Practices are full of fun with a variety of games such as freeze tag and soccer on ice, obstacle courses, small-net hockey games, “beat your best time” races, and more. The cost is $325; additional $48 USA Hockey registration required for children 6 and up (free USA Hockey registration for children under 6). 

 

The All-girls Learn to Play team is for girls age 4-8. The girls’ team will be part of co-ed practices (see details, above) and will play their games against co-ed teams. Girls also have the option of being on a co-ed team, if they prefer. 

 

Our All-Girls House Team is for girls age 9-15. The Girls' House Team will be on the ice two evenings per week starting Nov. 19 through mid-March. The focus is on FUN first with low-stakes scrimmaging, obstacle courses, and skill building. There are additional, optional on- and off-ice events with the Girls’ Division. Cost: $325 plus the $48 USA Hockey registration. 

For more information, email Dan Feldman at mbedan@comcast.net or go to www.amhersthockey.org to register. 

Book fair to benefit Jones Library

Aw snap! Did you miss the chance to support Crocker Farm at the Barnes and Noble book fair earlier this month? That's okay.  You can still support another worthy cause at the bookstore!

Stop by Barnes and Noble THIS Saturday, Nov. 28, and finish off your holiday shopping while supporting the Jones Library. Done and done!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Can't make it to the bookstore? Hey, that's okay too! You're busy. You've got elementary-aged people living with you. Say no more. Do all your shopping online at Barnes & Noble and just remember to type in the Book Fair ID 11714409 when you check out.

And hey. Thanks.

Make stuff! For Free!

Do you know anyone ages 8-12?

Do those kids happen to have a free Saturday?

Does the Jones have something cool for them!

Come get your craft on!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Crocker Farm Student Directory -- Last Call for Families to be Included

The PGO volunteers are working hard to get this year's Crocker Farm Student Directory out the door.  

However we still have not heard back from over 75 families, & we want the directory to be as complete as possible.   This week, the PGO will be sending out emails & final reminders this week to families that we are still waiting to hear back from.     If you get such a reminder, please respond ASAP.

You can submit your family's contact info here if you have not already done so.  Crocker Farm Student Directory Form.   The Student Directory is a great tool for social and class events.

Thank you for your help! 

 

(Please accept our apologies if you already submitted a directory form & are contacted again. This is a huge volunteer effort!)

 

 

School Committee Meeting Tonight - Elementary School Building Study updates & more

Amherst School Committee meeting tonight, 6 pm, at the HS Library. 

Agenda items include updates on the elementary school building study, & discussions on the District Improvement Plan & School Improvement Plans. 

The full agenda is posted here: http://www.arps.org/…/Kim%20SC%…/ASC%20Agenda%2011.17.15.pdf

Amherst Survival Center Holiday Gift Program

 

                                          

HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM 2015

new children's books, games, warm winter accessories WHO? Families from the 13 towns who use the Amherst Survival Center's Food Pantry are eligible for the Center's Holiday Gift Program for their children.  These towns include Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Sunderland, Ware, & Whately.   WHAT? Here's what we distribute: three (3) NEW children's books (lists with suggested titles here) per child, a family game (board games, card games, dice games, and video games), and warm winter accessories. WHERE DO FAMILIES PICK UP THE BOOKS & GAMES? The Center's workshop room is set up so that families can access these holiday gifts when they're in the Center during the month of December. Last year (2014) we distributed almost 2,000 NEW children's books. For many of the recipients, these were their very first books. Your donations became a cornerstone of their personal libraries.     WHERE CAN YOU BRING YOUR DONATION? Bring your donation(s) to the Center during our open hours now through December 18, 2015 In addition, there are collection boxes accepting donations of NEW children's books, games and warm winter accessories (hats, gloves, scarves) at these local locations: In-store book drive at Amherst Books, 8 Main Street, Amherst Amherst Chamber of Commerce, 28 Amity Street, Amherst In-store book drive at Barnes & Noble, 335 Russell Street, Hadley Cowls Building Supply, 125 Sunderland Road, North Amherst Easthampton Savings Bank, 100 East Street, Hadley The Lift Salon, 68 Cowls Road, North Amherst TD Bank, 234 Triangle Street, Amherst   QUESTIONS?   Contact Tracey Levy at tracey@amherstsurvival.org or 413-549-3968 x102.