It is Movie Night!!

Bring your sleeping bags or lawn chairs and join us in the cafeteria tonight for the PGO's first Movie Night of the Year! Admission is free and there will be cheap popcorn and drinks! We will be watching Trumpet of the Swan! Doors open at 6PM. The movie begins at 6:30 PM.

Movie Night is back!

Please join us Friday night in the cafeteria for the 1st Movie Night of the School Year! We will be concluding our One Book, One School initiative by showing Trumpet of the Swan. Movie night refreshments for sale include popcorn (graciously donated by Cinemark Theaters in Hadley) as well as juice boxes and water. We also have great new speakers sure to reach the far end of the cafeteria! Doors open at 6:00 PM, movie starts at 6:30 PM. Please call Becky at 230-3306 if you have any questions.

PGO Meeting TONIGHT

You are cordially invited to the 2nd PGO meeting of the year tonight- Oct 8th from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the Community Room. Find out what the exciting happenings at CF and meet other parents. As always childcare and snacks are provided!

Redistricting Community Forums Begin Tomorrow

The ARPS Redistricting Committee will begin their series of public information sessions for all members of the community this week. This is an important opportunity to learn about the plans for reorganizing the elementary schools within the Town of Amherst. The first forum will be on Thursday, October 8 at 7 pm at Marks Meadow. The second will be on Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm at Crocker Farm. Come ask questions and offer your voice in this very important decision for our school district. Translators and babysitting will be provided at each session.

To view the map, please visit: http://www.arps.org/files/Redistrict10_02_2009.pdf

The map was developed with the following parameters:

* no child is on a bus more than 30 to 35 minutes
* language clustering will not occur
* the % of low income kids is 32.3% at WW, 34.8% at CF, and 35.2% at FR
* the size of the schools is within 100 kids at each (359 at CF, 454 at FR, 440 at WW)
* class sizes are still low (average of 19.9 at CF, 19.7 at FR, and 20 at WW)
* the plan follows natural borders (e.g., main roads, railroad tracks), with the exception of two apartment complexes off of East Hadley Road (one will move to FR, one to WW)
* kids at all schools are moving (100% at MM, 40% at CF, 20% at FR, 38% at WW).

Know a great babysitter?

The PGO is looking for a few great babysitters for the October 14th Redistricting Meeting at Crocker Farm. If you have a name or two that you could share, the PGO is all ears! Please email names and contact information to crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com. Thanks!

Compost Volunteers Needed!

Our community of Crocker Farm is doing an amazing job of composting and recycling for the last two years. We are about to begin construction for our very own animal proof compost bins outside as well. I am looking for volunteers to guide and assist students during breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, it will be for about 45 minutes or less (around 8:15-9:00). For lunch, we are in desperate need of help during last lunch(12:30- 1:00) on Wednesdays but if you are available on other days, that is appreciated as well. Please contact me at mastroiannir@arps.org so we can talk about your interest and availability. Thank you!

SAVE THE DATE(S)!

Get your date books out- the next couple weeks are jammed pack full of activities and meetings!

Monday, October 5^th – Picture Day! Don’t forget that your order form and payment need to be in by then.

Thursday, October 8^th- PGO Meeting. Join us in the community room from 6:30 – 7:30 PM and stay abreast of CF PGO events. Child Care and refreshments provided.

Thursday, October 8^th- Redistricting Meeting Session 1 at Mark’s Meadow. Visit ARPS.org for more info.

Friday, October 9^th- Movie Night! Celebrate a final One Book, One School event in the CF cafeteria. We will watch Trumpet of the Swan. Doors open at 6PM, Movie at 6:30 PM Drinks and popcorn for sale. Bring a chair or sleeping bag!

Tuesday, October 13^th – CF National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration! 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the CF cafeteria. Come and celebrate night of Hispanic Food, culture, music and entertainment. Questions?Xiomara Hernandez at 256-1397.

Wednesday, October 14^th- Redistricting Community Forum in the CF Cafeteria. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Childcare provided.

Thursday, October 15^th- Kindergarten Open House 6:00 PM

Town of Amherst Farm Festival

Celebrate and support Amherst farms on the Town Common this Saturday, October 3rd from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. There will be Farm Tours, Entertainment, Children's Events, Local Foods and Exhibits. For more information, please visit www.amherstma.gov.

Free Weekend for Amherst residents at the Carle!

The Eric Carle Museum on 116 in South Amherst Celebrates Amherst's 250th!
October 3, 2009, 10:00 - 5:00 pm ----- October 4, 2009, 12:00 - 5:00 pm

Free to Amherst residents (Proof of residency required)
A fun-filled day at The Carle in celebration of Amherst's 250th Anniversary! Browse the galleries, create your own art, enjoy a film or performance in the Auditorium, participate in our 2:00 story time, and refuel in the Museum Café.

Redistricting Meeting Updates

Revised Meeting Time for Redistricting Subcommittee

The Redistricting Subcommittee meeting scheduled for Friday, October 2 will now begin at 9:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m. as originally planned. The meeting time was changed at the request of a subcommittee member due to a scheduling conflict. The meeting will take place in Room C-5A at Amherst Regional Middle School.

Redistricting Public Forums- changed locations

Parents and community members are encouraged to attend one, or both, of two public forums regarding redistricting plans for the Amherst elementary schools. The dates, times and locations are as follows:

Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m.--Marks Meadow Auditorium

Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.--Crocker Farm Cafeteria

There will be translators and babysitting at each event.