December camp - KidsAfrik in Northampton (Dec 28-30th)

KidsAfrik  is providing a 3-day camp & cultural retreat for children ages 7-15
over the December break.
Location:  Allsport Soccer Arena, Northampton, MA
Cost $159 for 3 days (Dec 28-30th)

Web site for more info:  http://www.mymobilesocceracademy.com/#!cultural-camp/cr7l

Coffee with the Principal & Special Guest Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris, Mon, Dec 21st

All are invited to attend next Monday's coffee with the Principal with special guest Assistant Superintendent Mike Morris. 

 8:45-9:45 am in the Crocker Farm cafeteria 

The main topic: the elementary school reconfiguration project. 

Have questions, concerns, thoughts about the project? This is a great forum to share them. 

In January 2016, the Amherst School Committee is slated to vote on which grade configuration option they support. To learn more about this project & the options, you can visit the project web site here (http://wildwood.projects.joslinlesser.com/) or the Facebook page for the project, https://www.facebook.com/Amherst-Elementary-School-Building-Project-968374979880827/

The district recently created a chart summarizing the implications of the main options under consideration.   The chart is shown below (click on it to enlarge it) & can also be downloaded at this link. 

Recent Evening Events for Families - Thank You Crocker Farm teachers & staff!

In the past week, Crocker Farm had three wonderful events:
* a winter chorus concert for 3rd & 4th grade classes
* a Title I Literacy Night with dinner for children who receive reading intervention services & their families
* a winter chorus concert for 5th & 6th grade classes

Many thanks to the teachers & staff who made these events possible.  It's always great seeing so many families at Crocker Farm.

(K-2nd graders will have their concert in the spring of 2016).

PGO & Year-End Giving

The PGO is so appreciative of each & every donation that we receive, big or small, including the unexpected donation that we received a few days ago.

All money donated to the Crocker Farm PGO is used for PGO activities that support the Crocker Farm community, including  classes, teachers/staff, students, and families. Donations to the Crocker Farm PGO are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Donations can be made at the link below or sent in to the PGO.  For families who make year-end donations, please consider including Crocker Farm in your year-end giving.  Thank you for your support. 

https://www.razoo.com/us/story/Crocker-Farm-Parent-Guardian-Organization

Crocker Farm Lost & Found -- Items to be Bagged up over the December Break

A BIG THANK YOU to Ms. Bobbitt for doing such a wonderful job organizing the Lost & Found.

Unfortunately, there are many coats, sweatshirts, lunch boxes & other items in the Lost & Found & new items are added daily. If your child came to school with clothing or another item that never made it home, please come take a look. Over the December break, Lost & Found items will be bagged up & then donated to the Amherst Survival Center.

Jones Library Star Wars-themed Event for Kids, Sat, Dec 19th

 

Children’s Craft & Family Film Screening

 

As excitement builds for the next film in the Star Wars series, the Jones Library is taking a lighthearted look at the genre.  Join us for a screening the 1987 film written and directed by Mel Brooks, in which a space bum helps rescue a princess from an evil overlord with the help of a benevolent elder.  Although it borrows most of its plot from the Star Wars series, this film also pokes fun at Star Trek, Snow White, and Planet of the Apes, in true Mel Brooks fashion.

 

Join us in the Woodbury Room on Saturday, December 19 at 2 pm for the screening of this feature film.  More information about the movie can be found on the Jones Library website at www.joneslibrary.org.  The film is rated PG.

 

Children ages 7 and up are invited to attend a Jedi Training at 11 am on the same day. Come make your Light Saber and a Star Wars craft, then test your skills with our Jedi obstacle course! Costumes welcomed and encouraged. Drop-ins are welcome for the Jedi obstacle course, but registration is required for the craft project.  Please contact the Children’s Room at 413/ 259-3091 to register.

Free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Janet Ryan at 413/259-3223. 

###

Janet Ryan

Head of Programming & Outreach

43 Amity Street

Jones Library

Amherst, MA 01002

Crocker Farm 6th grade selling Amherst winter hats for $10 - get yours today

The Crocker Farm 6th grade is selling these hats to raise $ for their end of school year field trip & graduation festivities.

They are warm & nice, & at just $10 each, a great bargain. The first order of the hats sold out quickly & a new order has been placed. Get yours today!

& they are not just for Crocker Farm families - sales are open to all!

You can download the order form HERE  
Order form in Spanish HERE

Any questions? Please contact Stacey (snwmac@yahoo.com) or Angela (pav4all@yahoo.com).

Afterschool Chess Club Seeks Parent Volunteers

The last two years, the Crocker Farm PGO has run a weekly afterschool chess club over the winter months (January to March). It has been a great success with over 50 students participating each year.

We would love to run it again this year if we have volunteers for it. The plan is to have the chess club meet once a week afterschool from 3:15-4:15 pm (day tbd based on volunteer availability). There would be 5 weeks for students in grades 4-6, & then 5 weeks for students in grades 1-3, & sessions would run Jan-Mar.

If you would like to help with one or both age groups, please email crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com or otherwise get in touch asap. Chess boards & pieces provided. A basic knowledge of chess is a plus, but chess mastery is not required.  Thank you.  

Crocker Farm PGO fundraiser for its Field Trip Fund & other activities

For #GivingTuesday & since, the PGOs in the ARPS PGO combined non-profit (for Crocker Farm, Wildwood, & Amherst Regional Middle & High Schools) have raised almost $3500.  (Wow!) However, sadly, only 1% ($35) of this total has been for the Crocker Farm PGO.  :( 

Through the end of Dec, the Crocker PGO is trying to raise money for our Field Trip Fund to help keep field trips affordable for all regardless of cost & families' ability to pay.  Any donation big or small for the fund would be greatly appreciated & would go to good use.

You can also donate to the PGO's general fund & help support the PGO's other activities & grant programs.  Please help us help our school community.  

The link to our donation site is here:  https://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Crocker-Farm-Parent-Guardian-OrganizationDonations can also be sent or dropped off to the school: Crocker Farm PGO, 280 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002.  

Thank you for your support.  

Crocker Farm 6th Grade Fundraiser - Amherst Winter Hats for Sale

The order form for the hats is going home in backpacks soon.  You may have already seen it.  The hats are $10 each, & the proceeds will go to support the end of school year field trip & activities for this year's Crocker Farm 6th grade.   If you have any questions, please contact Stacey (snwmac@yahoo.com) or Angela (pavs4all@yahoo.com).

They make great holiday gifts & are also good for keeping for yourself.   The hats are made of 100% acrylic yarn.

(click to enlarge)