Free writing workshop for children ages 12+

(click on image to enlarge)

(not a school sponsored event)

3 free activities at the Jones Library for your 3rd-5th grader!

(Click on images to enlarge. Not school sponsored events.)

This week at Crocker Farm & ARPS

Crocker Farm:
Wed, Oct 21st:  Fundraiser at the Toy Box store, extended hours 6-8 pm, % of sales will go to the Crocker Farm PGO.

Fri, Oct 23rd:  Deadline for submitting Box Tops. Send them in, in your child's backpack, or drop them off in the collection box in the Crocker Farm lobby.

Amherst Regional Public Schools:
Mon, Oct 19th:  ARHS public tours, 5:30 pm, followed by a listening session on the proposed merger of the ARMS & ARHS, 6:30 pm at the ARHS library

Tues, Oct 20th:  Amherst School Committee meeting, 6:00 pm, ARHS Library, includes a presentation by the ARPS administration on their recommendations regarding the Wildwood/Elementary School Building Study, & the 3 options being studied for the elementary schools. 

Wed, Oct 21st:  Forum on the proposed preK-12th grade regionalization of the Amherst schools, with Pelham, Leverett, & Shutesbury, 6:30 pm, Leverett Elementary School.

Ongoing through Nov 6th:collection of winter coats & other winter clothing for sharing with other school & community families.  The collection boxes will be out in the Crocker Farm main lobby & at the pre-K entrance/afterschool pickup until Nov 6th.  All sizes wanted.  Thank you.

Fundraiser at The Toy Box for Crocker Farm - Wed, Oct 21st

This Wednesday, the TOY BOX toy store in downtown Amherst (201 North Pleasant Street) will have extended evening hours 6-8 pm for a Crocker Farm Fundraiser.

Members of the Crocker Farm community and others are invited to join the TOY BOX team for this event. There will be snacks, music, and staff on-hand to show families toys and games.
 
A percentage of sales from the evening will be given to the Crocker Farm PGO as a check, and the PGO will then use those funds to support Crocker Farm and fund events, field trips, and more. Thank you to THE TOY BOX for their support of Crocker Farm & other schools in the area. 

 

Winter Coat & Clothing Collection & Distribution - Collection Boxes Now in the School Lobby

The Crocker Farm PGO's annual winter clothing collection starts this week.  Now is a great time to go through closets & find coats/jackets, snowpants, boots, mittens, scarfs, & hats that your family has outgrown or you no longer need. Please drop off clean items in good condition in the collection box in the CF lobby now through Nov 6th. All sizes (kids & adults) wanted.

Collected clothes will be available for the taking in the CF lobby on Mon, Nov 9th & Tues, Nov 10th. All school & community families are welcome to come in on these days to pickup whatever they need. 

This year, Crocker Farm is working together with other ARPS schools to share warm winter clothes among as many students and families as possible, and we also have community partners assisting with the clothing collections.  Look for a flyer in backpacks soon with more details on the other collection & distribution sites & dates.  

Thank you!

Drop off Box Tops by Oct 23rd

Have Box Tops been collecting in your house in a drawer, kitchen counter, or elsewhere?  

The Crocker Farm Open House this Thurs is a perfect time drop off Box Tops.    We'll have the collection box out at the PGO's table.  

Other times, the collection box is out in the school lobby, or you can drop off Box Tops in the PGO's mailbox in the office.

All those 10 cent labels really do add up!  Thank you. 

For more information on the Box Tops program or which products have Box Tops, please visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/.  

Most Likely to Succeed - Film Showing Tonight, Oct 14th

Most Likely to Succeed - An educational documentary

See the trailer for the film here. 

Free showing Oct 14th, 6:30 pm
at the ARHS Auditorium
 
The screening will include an introduction by educator/architect David Stephen, & a Q&A afterwards by author/producer Ted Dintersmith.

Here is a link to the web site for David Stephen's architectural firm, New Vista. 

Here is a link to Ted Dintersmith's blog, Educating for the 21st Century.

School Governance Council - Parent/Guardian Nominations Still Being Accepted - Due Wed, Oct 14th

The Crocker Farm School Governance Council (SGC) is a great way to get involved at Crocker Farm.  The SGC meets regularly with Principal Derek Shea and is comprised of parents/guardians, teachers/staff, and the Principal. The SGC acts as an Advisory Board to the school administration on issues such as school policy, the school budget, and helps with the creation of the annual School Improvement Plan.  Meetings are typically held once a month. Some former SGC members have gone on to serve on the Amherst School Committee. 

There are three parent/guardian vacancies on the SGC this fall.  If you are interested in serving on the School Governance Council, or would like to nominate someone else, please fill out the form below and return it to the Crocker Farm main office or email it to Cathy Aldrich (aldrichca@arps.org) by Wed, Oct 14th, at 3 pm.   The deadline has been extended to Oct 14th from Oct 8th in order to encourage additional nominations.   Parents/guardians can nominate themselves or someone else.   

New parent/guardian representatives to the School Governance Council are typically elected at the Crocker Farm Open House/Curriculum Night, this year scheduled for Thurs, Oct 15th.  Candidate information will be available to the Crocker Farm School community prior to any election. Questions about serving on the School Governance Council or the election process can be directed to Principal Derek Shea (SheaD@arps.org).   Under state statute, a school's parent & teacher association has the responsibility to hold elections to elect new SGC representatives. 

2015/2016 Crocker Farm School Council Nomination Form
Name of Nominee
E-Mail
Phone Number(s)
Child(ren) at Crocker Farm 
Statement of interest (2-3 sentences)  

Please indicate if you are nominating someone other than yourself so we may contact that person to confirm acceptance of the nomination.

This form can also be downloaded here 

Crocker Farm Open House, Thurs, Oct 15th

Open House Schedule, Grades K-6

6:15 pm - Mr. Shea & Ms. Conklin: Welcome Remarks in Cafeteria

6:30 pm -
Classroom Presentations (Grades K, 1, & 3)
Grades 4-6 visit with Specials Teachers (Art, Music, P.E., Library, Computer/Technology) ELL, Special Education, Guidance, Reading/Math Intervention (Title I) in individual rooms

7:00-7:05pm (Transition to next portion of the evening)

7:05 pm -
Classroom Presentations (Grades 4, 5, & 6)
Grades K, 1, 2 and 3 visit with Specials Teachers (Art, Music, P.E., Library, Computer/Technology, ELL, Special Education, Guidance, Reading/Math Intervention (Title 1) in individual rooms

7:35 pm - End of presentations-Have a good evening!

CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS EVENT WITH THEIR FAMILIES. There will be no childcare available. Children will go to classrooms with a parent/guardian.

BUS TRANSPORTATION. Bus transportation for Open House is available for families living in housing complexes off East Hadley Road & Butternut. The bus will stop at Butternut at 5:00 pm, Southpoint entrance at 5:10pm & The Brook entrance at 5:15 pm. Transportation will also be provided for going home from Crocker Farm leaving Crocker at 7:30 pm.

THE CROCKER FARM PGO will have a table set up in the school lobby during Open House.  Stop by & say hello. All Crocker Farm parents & guardians are automatically part of the PGO. 

Regional School Committee Meeting, Tues, Oct 13th

ARHS Library, 6 pm
The agenda indicates that the School Committee will go into Executive Session at 6 pm, & that the open part of the meeting will begin at 7 pm.

Topics on the agenda include:
* Discussion & update on the MS-HS consolidation
* Superintendent's performance goals & evaluation for the 2015-16 school year
* Vote on the solar energy contract discussed at the last School Committee meeting

The full agenda is available here.