Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Proudly presents an Anti-Bullying Education Forum

Parents and Guardians are encouraged to attend a community discussion regarding the Massachusetts Anti-
Bullying Law.  Learn what measures of prevention, protection and education our schools are instituting to address bullying and cyber-bullying.

Chose to attend one of the following sessions:
Dec. 14 Fort River School Library  from 7:00 p.m.—8:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 ARMS Auditorium from 7:00—8:30 p.m.

These forums are free and open to all parents and guardians.

Welcome Back Picnic

You are cordially invited to the annual Welcome Back Picnic on Wednesday, September 22nd from 5:30 PM until dark!  This is a fun and casual event on the Playground to celebrate the new school year. Everyone's invited (many middle schoolers even come back for this one)! Bring a picnic dinner (or buy a slice of pizza from the PGO), perhaps a dessert for the bake sale and plan to meet your neighbors and your kids' classmates.  Questions? Email the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com or contact Becky at 230-3306.  See you there!

Babysitting Available for Thursday Night

Babysitting will be provided from 5:50 PM - 8:20 PM at Thursday's Assistant Principal forum that will feature the 3 finalists chosen by Selection Committee. We hope you can attend and have a voice in this very important decision.

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.

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!

New Last Day of School Announced

From the ARPS.ORG website:

Due to Thursday's unexpected weather-related school closing, the new last day of school for all Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools is Thursday, June 17th. Because this closing came so late in the school year, some families have inquired whether the requirement to make-up the day can be waived. The district has been informed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that we are required to make up the lost day. Please note that June 17th will be a regular, full-day schedule at the elementary schools. Amherst Regional Middle School and Amherst Regional High School will follow the High School exam schedule.

Concert Cancelled

The concert scheduled for tonight has been canceled. When a new date is announced, we will break that news as well. Enjoy your unexpected day off.

A look ahead to next week...

Thursday, May 20th 5:30 - 7:30 PM- Crocker Press book binding party!
Join us for some typing and binding, food and fun! Childcare and training provided. All class books will be ready to go. If you have a child K-3 please come support your child's writing and help us continue this fantastic tradition. For more information or to sign up, please contact Becky at 230-3306 or beckydemling@yahoo.com.

Friday, May 21st 6:00 PM Movie Night featuring Spirit
"Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron," is the story of a wild horse in the Old West who teams up with an Indian youth as they both struggle to live naturally and free. This is the last Movie Night of the school year.

Volunteers Delightfully Requested for 1 hour shifts Sat. 11 - 8 PM

The playground fund needs your help! We are $5,000 from the $43,400 needed to build playground. The PGO will be running a 50/50 raffle and community-wide ask for donations this upcoming Saturday, May 8th from 11 AM - 8 PM on the Town Common as part of the Town Fair. We are looking to fill the day, 1 hour at a time. Kids are encouraged to be part of this final push. All that is required are smiles, the ability to say thanks and sell raffle tickets along side Rotary Club volunteers. We have a nice tent to protect you from the elements and comfy chairs to sit on. We'll even through in the pens. Can you help? Please? Pretty please with sugar on top and a lemon drop?

Know a girl/ boy scout troop or some other group that can lend a hand, let us know. We need all the help we can get!

Please let me know if you can give an hour or two of your time by calling me at 230-3306 or emailing the PGO at CrockerfarmPGO@gmail.com.

Help for Haiti Fundraiser at Wildwood

Please join us for a school-wide exhibition of Haitian-inspired art by Wildwood students on Wed., April 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Wildwood. In addition to the student art, the event will feature performances by dance troupe Grupo Palo Santo and the WW artist in residence, the Haitian musician and poet Ayizan Sanon. There will be poetry readings by Wildwood students, samplings of Haitian food, a silent auction featuring donated services, original arts and crafts from the staff, and student-created art and CDs for sale. This Wildwood fundraising event will be open to the public and voluntary donations will be collected at the door. Proceeds will benefit the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
We look forward to seeing you there

One World Festival Tomorrow!

You are invited to the One World Festival tomorrow, Thursday April 15, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. This wonderful, family friendly celebration of the cultures that make Crocker Farm a community is one you won't want to miss! Bring a dish to share & get ready for great food, performances and artwork!

Calendar Check-in

Here are a few upcoming PGO and school events for your calendars! It's not everything, but we'll add to it as more events and opportunities arise.

APRIL
2: Good Friday - No School
7: Crocker Java Coffee Orders Due
8: PGO Meeting (6:30 - 7:30pm)
15: One World Festival (6:00 – 8:00pm)
16: Coffee with the Principal (8:30 – 9:00am) Guest Maria Geryk
16: Trash Free Lunch Day
19 - 23 - Spring Vacation
28: Free Book Pick up (3:00 - 3:35pm)
30: Movie Night (6:00-8:00pm): The Tale of Despereaux

MAY
3 - Scholastic Book Fair Student Preview Day
4 - Scholastic Book Fair Student Shopping Day
5 - Scholastic Book Fair Student Shopping Day & Evening Fair (6:30 - 8:00 pm)
5 - Crocker Java Coffee Orders Due
7 - Coffee with the Principal
13 - PGO Meeting 6:30 - 7:30pm Community Room
25 - Mr. Morris' Birthday!
31 - Memorial Day - No School

JUNE
2 - Crocker Java Coffee Orders Due
4 - Coffee with the Principal 8:45 - 9:30am Community Room
5 - Tag Sale (all day)
10: Goodbye Assembly
10 - PGO Meeting 6:30 - 7:30pm Community Room
16 - Last day of school

Planning Ahead?

ARPS has published the 2010-2011 calendar. Find it here.

Bullying Film/ Discussion tomorrow.

Let's Get Real: A Film about Bullying will be shown at the Clapp Laboratory, Hooker Auditorium on the Mt. Holyoke Campus in South Hadley on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 at 4:30 PM. Following the screening, there will be a Community Conversation with Academy Award Winning Filmmaker, Debra Chasnoff, moderated by WGBY's Jim Madigan. The movie is geared towards students in grades 6 - 12, parents and teachers and examines issues that lead to taunting and bullying, including racial differences, perceived sexual orientation, learning disabilities, religious differences, sexual harassment and others. It is part of The Respect For All Project. Admission is free! This event is sponsored by Mt. Holyoke College and is not affiliated with ARPS.

Family Health and Well-Being Fair!

This is a family event at Crocker Farm from 6:30-8:00. There will be stations on healthy eating, emotional health, fitness, yoga/meditation, and media. Come and have fun at the fair!

Order Your Coffee NOW!

The next orders for Crocker Java are due this Wednesday February 3rd.

Just $8.50 per pound of organic, Fair Trade, caffinated goodness... give it a try! The PGO offers this service to you Every Month so you can order from us just once or keep coming back each month. We sell regular, decaf, hot cocoa & dark chocolate covered espresso beans - YUM!

Click HERE to download an order form.

Friday Night is Movie Night

Wear your pajamas, bring your sleeping bags and join us this Friday, January 29th in the cafeteria for Movie Night! This month's showing is Ratatouille. Doors open at 6PM and the movie begins promptly at 6:30 PM. As always, there will be popcorn and drinks for sale. If you are able to help, please email us at crockerfarmpgo@blogspot.com. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday Clubs Registrations Due... Wednesday

Don't forget to send in your child/ren's Wednesday Club Registration forms (and donation checks) by Wednesday the 13th.

Wednesday Clubs Are Here!

At long last the PGO is excited to announce that a 6 week session of Wednesday Clubs will begin on January 20th. Look for a registration form in your email and in your child's backpack!

Registration forms are due back to school no later than Wednesday January 13th!

With 8 wonderful club topics to choose from (such as Beginning Gardening, Fun with Food, Spanish Superheros, Athletics, Intermediate Chess and more) there's sure to be something for every kid!

January Calendar of Crocker Farm Events

12 - MLK Day Breakfast 8:00-9:00am Cafeteria
12 - MLK Day Assembly 1:30pm Cafeteria
13 - Wednesday Clubs Registration Forms due14 - PGO Meeting 6:30 - 7:30pm Community Room
15 - Teacher Workday - No School
18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School20 - Wednesday Clubs 1:20 - 2:50pm
22 - (new date) First Friday Coffee w/ Mr. Morris 8:45 - 9:30am Community Room
26 - School Committee Meeting 7:00, High School Library
27 - Wednesday Clubs 1:20 - 2:50pm
29 - CF Movie Night (Showing Ratatoulle) Cafeteria doors open at 6:00, movie starts at 6:30