December 2015
Dear Crocker Farm Families,
What a busy fall it’s been. Here’s a quick
recap of some of the great events the Crocker Farm Parent & Guardian
Organization (PGO) has held so far this year and the ways in which we’ve worked
to support our school and school community.
Ø Harvest Fest
(October) celebrating Crocker Farm’s gardens and the fall harvest, included craft
activities, and much delicious hearty fall food prepared by parents. Thank you,
Crocker Farm bakers and craft organizers.
It was great seeing so many families there.
Ø Winter Coat &
Clothing Share (November). The coat share was coordinated with the PGOs of all
the Amherst public schools and the ARPS Family Center. We gave away most of the
coats, snowpants, boots, hats, and mittens we collected; and passed on the rest
to the other schools. Many thanks to everyone who donated items for the Coat
Share, and a special thanks to the Evaluation Systems group at Pearson in
Hadley who collected coats and other winter clothing on the schools’
behalf.
Ø Coffees with the
Principal. We have had great attendance and great discussions at these monthly events
this year. Thank you to Maria Kopicki and her helpers for organizing these gatherings.
Among our special guests have been the Superintendent Maria Geryk, the
Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris, School Committee Chair Katherine Appy,
Guidance Counselor Tara Luce, and School Psychologist Amy Baver. Next Monday,
December 21st, 8:45 am, Mike Morris will be attending again for a discussion
about the elementary school reconfiguration project. All are invited to join us
to learn more and share their thoughts. In January 2016, the Amherst School
Committee is slated to take a vote on which grade configuration option they
support moving forward.
Ø Fundraising. In
November, the PGO hosted a school bookfair at the Hadley Barnes & Noble. Thank
you to Miss Leticia and her students for performing at the bookfair, and to
Preschool Teacher Amy Coulthard for doing storytime. We also held a Crocker
Farm night at the Toy Box toy store in downtown Amherst, and participated in
the national GivingTuesday after Thanksgiving. Combined, these fundraisers
raised about $800 for the PGO and our school. Donations to the PGO are always
welcome and tax-deductible. Donations can be made through a link on our web
site or by envelope addressed to the PGO. All the funds we raise are used to
support our school community. The PGO has recently funded start-of-year
donations for classrooms, a ball and jump rope cart for the playground, a
clothing rack for the lost and found, family photo printing at Open House, and
also helped with grant applications for field trip funding.
Upcoming events and activities for the PGO (& opportunities
to volunteer!) include:
·
PGO Coffee with the Principal and special guest,
Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris, Monday, Dec 21st, 8:45 a.m.,
as described above.
· Chess club. (For 1st-6th graders). The PGO is
planning to run our afterschool chess club on Fridays, 3:15-4:15 pm from
January 16th to April 1st,with 5 weeks for 4-6th graders & then 5 weeks for
1-3rd graders. Registration forms should be returned by Dec 22nd. We are still in need of parent volunteers for
both sessions (people can volunteer for just one), chess expertise not
required.
· Amherst Lions Club Ski & Skate Sale, at Crocker Farm,
scheduled for January 8th (6-9 pm) and 9th (10 am -2 pm). This is a major fundraiser for the Crocker
Farm PGO, and also a fundraiser for the Lions Club to support their grants to
the Amherst schools. Volunteers are
needed to help setup, cleanup, and during the sale. People will also be able to
donate or consign their ski and skate items on Friday, January 8th, 4 to 6 pm.
· Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, in January. In the
past, the PGO and families have helped provide food for the celebration
breakfast. Stay tuned for more
information.
· Movie Night/Games night(s) (January-March). The PGO has had great movie
and games nights during the winter in the past. If any volunteers are
interested in coordinating such an event, the PGO Board can help. Please get in touch.
More information on all the above activities
will be coming shortly. Subscribe to the PGO’s blog (www.crockerfampgo.blogspot.com) or “Like” our
Facebook page (Crocker Farm PGO) for all the latest news. If you are interested in helping with any of
the above activities, please get in touch with one of the PGO board members or
email us at CrockerFarmPGO@gmail.com. All of our PGO’s activities are made possible
only because of our volunteers and other supporters. Thank you all!
One last item before closing this letter: the
Crocker Farm Lost & Found. As mentioned earlier, the PGO purchased a new
clothing rack for the lost and found area. Toby Bobbitt, School Adjustment
Counselor recently organized all the lost items. Thank you, Ms. Bobbitt! If your child is missing clothing or other
items that came to school and never returned home, please come take a look.
The school will be bagging up and donating unclaimed items to the Amherst
Survival Center over the holiday break.
Wishing
you and your family happy holidays and a restful break. See you in 2016!
Your Crocker Farm PGO Board
Tracy Zafian, Eva Fairchild, Amanda Lawall,
& Alicia Lopez
