Forum For Senatorial Candidates Nov. 8

A forum for candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward M. Kennedy will be held at the UMass Amherst on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium. The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and public radio stations WFCR and WNNZ. It is free and open to the public.

An opportunity to register to vote will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Bowker Auditorium. Parking for the forum is available in the Campus Center Parking Garage, which is adjacent to Bowker Auditorium, located in Stockbridge Hall.

For more information call 617-523-2999.

AEF Thanks You For Trivia Bee Support!

The Amherst Regional Middle School auditorium was "abuzz" with contestants and spectators at the Amherst Education Foundation's 15th Annual Trivia Bee on Thursday, October 29. 120 contestants, many in costumes, competed for bragging rights to the title of Amherst area trivia champion. Hosted by AEF President (& CF mom) Katie Allan Zobel and emceed by State Representative Ellen Story, the evening of challenge, wit and fun netted a record $6,150.00 for the benefit of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury schools.

While area schools are the big winners from the event, bragging rights belong to the team of bee champion Jones Group Realtors, comprised of Doug Albertson, Tim McGee, Maureen Porter and Micki Sanderson, who won an exciting sudden death playoff against competitors New England Finishing and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement. Winning prizes for best costume were the teams from Atkinson Family Practice (Slum"doc" Millionaires), Attorney David Noonan (the Harry Potters) and Minuteman Pest Control (the H1N1 Swine Patrol.) Awards for best team spirit went to the Amherst Club, New England Greenscape and the Amherst College Center for Community Engagement. The audience contest, themed Amherst 250th, offered a unique glimpse into Amherst's past and was won by Jackie Churchill.

The trivia bee marks AEF's first fundraising event since the organization completed its strategic plan last year, and launches what promises to be a new era in AEF history. AEF's mission is to provide significant and consistent support for area teachers and students by awarding grants, funding district-wide projects, and encouraging teacher innovation and academic excellence.

The event was underwritten by Northampton Cooperative Bank and made possible by the local businesses who provided sponsorships for the teams, donated prizes and/or helped with publicity. The Amherst Education Foundation is profoundly grateful to these businesses for their support, and is already looking forward to another successful Trivia Bee in 2010. For more information, or to make a tax-deductible gift to the schools via AEF, please visit our website at www.amhersteducationfoundation.org.

Coffe with the Principal- featuring Irv!

School Committee member Irv Rhodes will attend the Coffee with the Principal tomorrow morning- shouldn't you? The coffee starts at 8:30 AM in the Community Room. There will be coffee and breakfast treats to compliment the discussion. We hope to see you there!

IT'S SO EASY To Support Crocker Farm

There are many ways to support CF without spending an extra dime! Just take a minute to register, recycle or vote and Crocker Farm could earn hundreds of dollars for student activities! PLEASE help out by signing up for these programs TODAY. The more families that sign up the more money the school earns - it's that simple. Thanks!

* Simplified Scrip is a fantastic new fundraiser for Crocker Farm. It's easy, earns money for student enrichment & it costs you nothing more than the face value of the card! Choose from 100s of stores including Stop&Shop, Old Navy, WalMart, Target, Whole Foods, etc. You buy gift cards & the stores give Crocker Farm up to 10% of the value. You're shopping anyways, so why not support your school at the same time?? Here are the ways to start: Order online at www.simplifiedscrip.com or call in your order 1-800-514-1891
Contact Becky Demling (230-3306 / crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com) w/any questions.

Do you have a Target REDCard? Here is the link that gets you to the site where you can designate a percentage of your Target expenditures towards Crocker Farm. Go to Target!

Big Y's Education Express is back. This program earns the school "points" that can be converted into sports equipment, computers, etc. at the end of the year. Last year we earned great instruments and a new cd player for the Music Room!

Stop&Shop's A+BonusBucks program sends a check to Mr. Morris at the end of the year. Last year 60 households earned Crocker Farm over $1000! They donate 3% of your grocery purchase to Crocker Farm! How great is that? Crocker Farm's "Designation Number" is 05194.

Atkins Farm Card. When you show your Atkins Farm Shopping Card they donate a percentage of your purchase right back to us. This generous programs earns Crocker Farm $400 each year!

Collect Box Tops for Education & send them in. The drop box is in the lobby. These really add up!

Recycle your printer's ink jet cartridges at the school. Just send them in your child's backpack & we'll get $1 for each one we recycle!

The next time you clean out your child's closet check the Teacher Wish List. Chances are, someone's looking for what you're trying to get rid of!

Fresh Eggs from Crocker Parent's Chickens!

Need some eggs? Michelle has too many to handle. She has fresh, free range eggs. She has 10 dozen in the fridge right now, and the girls are laying almost 2 dozen a day. She is asking $3 a dozen, and can deliver by arrangement if she is out and about.
Call or e-mail: 256-5412
The email for the farm is blessedacre@yahoo.com.

Social-Emotional Talk

The Counselors at Amherst Regional Middle School will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle schoolers. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on *Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library*. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the Family School Partnership Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. *All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome.*

Coffee Coffee Coffee and Hot Chocolate Too!

The next orders for Crocker Java are due on Wednesday November 4th. Don't forget to pick up some delicious coffee and hot cocoa for these chilly fall days!

Remember that this is a fundraiser for Crocker Farm and everyone gets something great - you get a yummy, organic, Fair Trade product for a very competitive price and the PGO receives $3.00 for each bag we sell. Pretty great!

Click HERE to download an order form.

Washing Machine Wish List

The custodial staff is looking for a used but working washing machine for the school. Please contact the PGO at crockerfarmpgo@gmail if you have one you would be willing to donate.

Original Works Order Forms due Tuesday!

All Original Works orders should be in by Tuesday, November 3rd. Please contact Jeanne Tuthill at 413-256-8777 if you have any questions.

Coffee with the Principal This Friday!

Please join us this Friday,November 6th for Coffee with the Principal at 8:30 AM in the Community Room. Our special guest this month will be School Committee member Irv Rhodes.