Jones Library - showing of "42", Thurs, Feb 11th

Jones Library
Film Screening & Discussion
the movie "42" 

 

Join us on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 6:30 pm in the Woodbury Room for the next event in a film & discussion series which began in the fall of 2014 and continues to look at issues of race.  A facilitated discussion will be held after the screening.

This month’s film tells the story of Jackie Robinson in this feature film from 2013. Robinson paved a new road for minorities by being the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball since the racial barrier was put in place in the late 1800s.  This film is rated PG-13.

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

This film series is co-sponsored by the Jones Library and The Coming Together Project.  More information about The Coming Together Project can be found at http://www.coming-together.org/.

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(not a school or PGO-sponsored event)

Amherst Winter Hats for sale -- Get yours before they are gone!

At tonight's concert, the 6th grade will be selling their popular Amherst winter hats.

You can also buy them through Angela Mills in the Crocker Farm office. 

They are warm, comfortable, and one size fits all. At  just $10, they are a GREAT bargain. Plus, this is a fundraiser for a GREAT cause, the Crocker Farm 6th grade end-of-year field trip. 

For more info, please contact Angela at pavs4all@yahoo.com or Stacey at snwmac@yahoo.com.

Band & Orchestra Concert Tonight 6:30 pm. No School on Friday.

Thurs: Crocker Farm Band & Orchestra Concert, 6:30 pm, Cafeteria

Fri:  No School for students (Teacher work day)
 
Enjoy the long weekend! 

Proposed Consolidation of the MS & HS delayed

At Tuesday's Regional School Committee meeting,it was decided to postpone the vote on the MS and HS consolidation from this spring until the fall.    At the meeting, administrators Kathy Mazur (Human Resource Director), Sean Mangano (Finance Director) and the HS Assistant Principals Miki Gromacki & Ericka Alschuler, presented the district's report regarding consolidation. 

A copy of that report is available at this link.

and here is a link to a Daily Hampshire Gazette article on the meeting.  

Before the School Committee votes on the consolidation, the district has said there will be a parent/community survey, public forums, and other opportunities for family and community feedback.

Regional School Committee Mtg, Tues, Jan 26th

The agenda for tonight's Regional School Committee meeting (6 pm, in the ARHS Library) includes:
- a presentation & discussion about the proposed Middle School & High School consolidation
-  discussion of the the progress being made this year on the Superintendent's Goals and goals & actions described in this year's District Improvement Plan

The Regional School Committee is set to vote regarding the proposed MS & HS consolidation in March 2016.

The full agenda & packet of materials for tonight's meeting are available at this link:
http://www.arps.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_926729/File/Kim%20SC%20materials/RSCAgendaPacket1_26_16.pdf

The packet includes the district's 180-page report on 7-12 consolidation, & the District Improvement Plan & Superintendent's Goals, with mid-year updates & the progress made so far.

Special Education Basic Rights Workshop in Spanish, Wed, Jan 27th - Derechos Basicos en Educación Especial, Presentado en espanol, miercoles, 27 de enero

Annual Jump Rope for Heart event

Fun, healthy activity for kids
Fundraiser for the American Heart Association

All students will have the chance to participate, & they are welcome to collect donations if they would like. 

-----------------------------

From Mr. James

Hello Parents/ Guardians,

    In the month of February, the students at Crocker Farm elementary school will have the opportunity to participate in our annual Jump Rope for Heart event. Students in grade K-6 will be able to come down to the gym three times before school starts between January 25th and March 4th.  Classroom teachers will have a schedule of when their students’ jump day is. We are proud to support the American Heart Association in the effort to spread the word about the importance of exercise and having a healthy heart.

    Students will have the opportunity to collect donations for this wonderful program if they choose. Eighty percent of these funds will go immediately to educating the public, promoting public programs, and helping those in need continue to live in a healthy way.  As we raise money together as a school, we also have the chance to earn new equipment for our physical education classroom.

    Students will receive a donation envelope which includes the procedure for gathering donations.  The envelope also includes prizes that our students who raise money can earn. The more money raised the more prizes they can earn. A list of possible prizes is also provided on the envelope. Students may return envelopes with donations to school if they choose.  In no way are students required to donate or ask for donations to participate in our Jump Rope Event.  However we recommend and encourage all students come to the gym and jump on their jump days, as well as color and fill out the hearts they will be given in P.E. to show their support for Jump Rope for Heart.  They may also register and collect donations online by doing the following:

1. www.heart.org/jump
2. Type in the name of your school (Crocker Farm) and state (MA) and Join our team..
3. Create your own webpage to set up the fastest way raise money

If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me at jamesd@arps.org 

Thank you,
Dustin James

Jones Library - Food for Fines, ends Jan 31st

 last week!  

Food for Fines at the Jones Library & Branches

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and branches will be offering a “food for fines” amnesty period from January 2 – 31, 2016.    Library patrons who bring a non-perishable, non-expired food donation or make a monetary contribution to the Amherst Survival Center when they return overdue library materials during this time will have the fines on those materials forgiven. 

“This is a great opportunity for patrons with long-overdue library materials to get those items back to the library without having to pay the fines that are accumulating,” says Amy Anaya, Head of Borrower Services at the Jones Library.  It’s important to note that the amnesty applies only to items that are being returned during this time, and not to existing overdue fines on items that have already been returned or for billed or lost items.

Holding a Food for Fines drive is a long-standing annual tradition at the Jones Library.  The food and funds collected will support the work of the Amherst Survival Center, the local service agency that assists many in our community in meeting their basic needs.

For further information about Food for Fines, please contact Amy Anaya at 413/259-3132 or
anayaa@joneslibrary.org

Amherst Cinema - Saturday Movies for Kids

amherstcinema
amherstcinema.org • 28 amity st. amherst, ma
Saturdays at 10am •$5 admission!

Automorphosis, Sat January 23
Best Of The Fest 2015 - Kid Flix 2, Sat February 13
Moon Man, Sat February 6
Wolf Children, Sat January 30
The Princess Bride - Sun February 14

 
(not a school or PGO-sponsored event)

Habitat for Humanity - Home Ownership Opportunities in Amherst

Information Session 

Jones Library, Amherst

Sun, January 24th, 3 pm

Deadline for Submitting Housing Application:  February 1st

HOUSING APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
For 2 Affordable Homeownership Opportunities in Amherst

Applications are available at the Jones Library, Amherst Town Hall & the Pioneer Valley Habitat office.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1st 2016

Two unit condominium: each unit has 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms
Homes are priced up to $135,000 with the final price and mortgage term set to ensure the selected family’s housing costs do not exceed 28% of their total income. Monthly payments may range from $650-$1,000 which include mortgage principal, taxes and homeowner association fees. Monthly payments will vary depending on the length of the mortgage, final sale price of the home and property taxes charged by the town.