School picture day this Thursday!

Don't forget to brush teeth and wash faces and practice smiling! School picture day is this Thursday, October 14th!

Say "cheese!"

Compost volunteers needed!

On November 1, 2010 we will begin composting our lunchtime fruit and vegetable waste on-site. The finished compost can be used to enrich soil on school grounds, a great resource for those interested in pursuing school gardening projects.

In order to ensure the program’s success, a number of short- and long-term parent volunteers are needed. Parent help can be as simple as periodic “compost coaching” in the Cafeteria during the first weeks of the program, or as involved as monitoring the compost pile to make sure it has the right chemical mix so that it “cooks” properly.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Assistant Principal Derek Shea (shead@arps.org) or Susan Waite (413-259-3049 or waites@amherstma.gov).

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

CF's Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration is this Wednesday, October 13th from 6 - 8PM in the CF Cafeteria.
Come and celebrate a night of Latino food, culture, music, and entertainment!
If you have any questions, or would like to perform (a song, dance, poetry …) for this event, please contact Yaniris Fernández (413-219-1364) or Xiomara Hernández (413-256-1397).

Please bring a Latino or Latino-inspired dish or dessert to share.

Internet Safety for our Children forum

Crocker Farm is hosting an evening event entitled, “Internet Safety for Our Children”, facilitated by Cindy Boyle, who is an outreach educator from the Northwest District Attorney’s Office. This event will be on Thursday, October 14, at 7:00 pm in the Crocker Farm cafeteria.

Crocker Farm has received a number of reports about students using Facebook and other social media sites this fall. Cindy will be able to explain how to support your children in this important area. Both here in Amherst and across the country, bullying events are more frequently taking place outside the school walls and inside social media websites.

Crocker Farm families are strongly encouraged to attend.

Lend a Hand - The PGO's annual campaign

What does the PGO do with Lend a Hand donations? It funds field trips, purchases goods and services that the school’s budget doesn’t provide, and helps pay for special school programs and events. In short, it enhances the educational experience of all Crocker Farm students.

If you’ve already contributed to Lend a Hand, thank you! If you have the resources to donate to Lend a Hand but have yet to do so, please make your gift NOW!

You can make your gift knowing that Crocker Farm students and families do not fundraise through candy or wrapping paper sales.  This means you do not need to spend time selling products, collecting money & distributing purchases.  You do not need to pay high prices while Crocker Farm would get just a fraction of this money.   Instead of selling stuff, we're asking you to please give generously to Lend a Hand - 100% of your donation goes to our school.

It’s easy to donate. Here’s how:
- Online at crockerfarmpgo.blogspot.com. Click on Donate.
- Check made out to Crocker Farm PGO. Write “Crocker Farm PGO” on the envelope and send in with your child or mail to the school (280 West Street).
- Cash. Send cash to school with your child in an envelope labeled “Crocker Farm PGO.”
- If you're in school, drop off your check (or cash) with Cathy in the office.

Your contributions benefit all Crocker Farm families!

Thank you for your support!

Community Supported Education Blog

Residents from Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury have come together to broaden the dialogue about our schools and our communities. Through a group blog, meetings and small group conversations, Community Supported Education (CSE) seeks to share information, exchange ideas and engage in discussions about our shared commitment to sustaining and continuously improving our high-quality school system.

 

"I love the Amherst school system and want to be a part of a team that continues to support and improve them," said Andra Rose an Amherst resident and parent of two Amherst Regional Public School students

 

We recognize a strong and vibrant school system is key to our community identity and benefits us all – children, parents, taxpayers, and employers. The founders of Community Supported Education hope to create a safe and dynamic public space where all of us are able to learn about our schools, celebrate our successes, and share our various ideas for improvement in a way that strengthens our school system and our sense of community.

 

"I became involved with CSE because I am committed to public education and the importance of listening to the many voices in our communities. As a senior citizen, I am pleased to join in the dialog about our children's education," said Karen Dimock, a retired educator and an Amherst resident whose children attended Amherst Schools.

 

Community Supported Education creates a safe and dynamic public space for people to advance these values and vision. If you want to advance this vision, please join us. You can learn more about this new conversation at www.communitysupportededucation.net. Join us by registering at participate@CommunitySupportedEducation.net

School picture day volunteers needed!

Do you have a couple of hours free on Thursday, October 14th? Want to see Crocker Farm kids at their most photogenic? Come help out at school picture day!

If you're able to volunteer (even for an hour), please send us an email.

School Governance Council

Crocker Farm will be reconstituting its School Governance Council and needs additional members! This group does the important work of drafting the School Improvement Plan (our current one runs out this spring), which guides the work of the school for the next three years, as well as offer advice to the Principal on major issues such as the budget. The group meets monthly. Please email Elizabeth Walsh (walshe@arps.org) if you are interested.

Don't Forget to Order Your Coffee

Whole Bean or Ground -- Decaf or Regular -- We've got you covered every month!

Order by Wednesday October 6 by clicking here to download your form & sending it into school with your child w/ your check. We'll send your order home by the following Wednesday.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

CROCKER FARM COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010

CROCKER FARM CAFETERIA

Come and celebrate a night of Latino food, culture, music, and entertainment!
If you have any questions, or would like to perform (a song, dance, poetry …) for this event, please contact Yaniris Fernández (413-219-1364) or Xiomara Hernández (413-256-1397).
Please bring a Latino or Latino-inspired dish or dessert to share.