Monday, October 29, 2012



 Coffee with the Principal - Friday, Nov. 2nd

Please join us Friday, Nov. 2nd for coffee and conversation 
with principal Betsy Dinger


We will begin at 7:45 in the auditorium 
with the 8th grade class meeting.

The actual coffee and conversation will begin around 8:10 
in the middle school conference room


Meet other ARMS families
Ask questions / Share observations
Enjoy a cup of coffee and tasty treats

Thursday, October 25, 2012

LSSE Halloween Offerings

FSP ASK

The ARMS Family School Partnership sponsors activities and programming that support all ARMS teachers and students.  Instead of asking you to buy gift wrap or candy bars, we're just going to ask you for a check and we’ll put 100% of your donation to good use for our school and kids! 


Why donate?
Every dollar counts! Your donations to the PGO go directly to:
  • Supporting 8th grade teacher initiatives such as Social Studies field trips and Shakespeare Programming.
  • Supplementing the After School Clubs budget this year if needed
  • Funding hundreds of dollars in grants for special Class and School Projects
  • Providing free School Directories to all families
  • Saying thanks with the Teacher & Staff Appreciation Lunch
  • Student and family community building activities and events.
Without your support, the FSP cannot continue to provide this support!
How much should I donate?
It’s up to you!  We'd love to reach all families so even if you can only contribute $1.00, please do.  We are an economically diverse community.  If you have the resources, please be generous. 
Please send your donation (with checks made out to ARMS FSP) into school with your child or by mail (ARMS FSP, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst, MA 01002).
Questions?  Please contact the FSP at armsfsp@yahoo.com or call Becky at 230-3306.

ARMS FSP Meeting


Date: October 15, 2012, 7PM
Call to order- 4 members present

CURRENT PROJECTS
Treasurer’s report:   Currents balance $1767.91- no current bills outstanding. Donations thus far:  $423. Last year total donations: $3476.50.
FSP Ask:  Initial request was pink sheet which came out w/ club info. Not a lot of $ generated. Another request sent out with newsletter.  Requests are done this way so as not to have multiple fundraisers going at the beginning of the year: i.e. bulbs, gift wrap magazines etc. Next year include FSP Ask info on FSP introductory blue sheet at the beginning of the year.
Directory:  Of the 477 students we have had 412 return the FSP blue info form- an amazing return rate! The directory will be coming via e-mail as a pdf attachment. For those w/o e-mail or printing capabilities, the directory will be printed. (about 50 copies)
Mini-Grant request:  Heather Sullivan Flynn, on behalf of the ARMS English Dept., has requested partial funding for a traveling Shakespeare Company to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream to 8th grade classes as they will be studying this as part of the English curriculum. The total cost is $2400, and a grant has been written for $1200 and by the FSP donating funds, it will defray cost to students. A 4-0 vote was taken to grant a minimum of $300 to this request.
Movie Night:  1st. Movie night was 10/12 showing Beetlejuice. Approx. 20 students came. Popcorn and candy sold. Discussion as to how to get more students to come-more publicity, get students to select movie (within reason!!), highlight it as a fun night to gather with friends. Next night in January.
FUTURE PLANNING
Power Hour:  Susan Bellick will be coming to explain her focus group which will help to plan activities within an hours’ time.
Teacher Appreciation Lunch:  Takes place in March Laura Wear will head program but will need volunteers-big event to say thanks to the teachers & staff.
Ultimate Tournament Fundraiser:  Very exciting- our 1st annual fundraiser. Great for the entire family. Eileen Marsco is spearheading this with Pure Flight Disc Golf and Ultimate which will be providing a mini-clinic and a round of disc golf on the ARMS grounds. The event is scheduled for  5/1 or 5/3 depending on the weather and there will be BBQ supper & salad potluck afterwards. The idea would be to charge per person-$5adult and $2.50 student fee for the disc golf, and then a fee for the supper. This will be AWESOME!!!
Water Bottles Fundraiser:  Clean Canteen water bottles with Hurricane logo and ARMS on it. By using Hurricanes/Canes logo we will be able to pitch to high school as well. Need to get costs and estimate how many we can sell before placing order.
501C(3):  Looking to be  in compliance with tax laws. $5000 and above is required to file. We have not had to do so in the past due to our low bank balances. We are looking to work w/ Parent Group USA and umbrella group which will file for us. They will become our agent once we file w/them.Initial cost is $200 for first year and $95/yr. for subsequent years. We are waiting to get Administrative clearance before we do this. Once doing so we can solicit electronic donations via Pay-pal on the blog.
Current FSP Board:
Becky Demling and Anne Duffy: co-chairs
Laura Wear: Events Coordinator
Kathleen Connor-Kirshbaum: Blog and secretary
Jen Vesha : Treasurer
Jeff LaFavbre: Coffee with the Principle coordinator
 ** Looking for Fundraising Chair
Other info:
·         Early March or April looking to have a Game night w/ Amherst College sport teams
·        FSP meetings will be monthly on either 2nd or 3rd Monday of each month except December. Check Blog for further info.






Friday, October 19, 2012

FSP Ask

The ARMS Family School Partnership sponsors activities and programming that support all ARMS teachers and students - from After School Clubs to Artists in Residents, a Shakespeare program for all 8th graders and other programs and materials that help provide additional enrichment experiences.   Instead of asking you to buy gift wrap or candy bars, we're just going to ask you for a check and we’ll put 100% of your donation to good use for our school and kids! 


Why donate?
Every dollar counts! Your donations to the PGO go directly to:
  • Replenishing last year’s major funding of After School Clubs (over $7000)
  • Supplementing the After School Clubs budget this year if needed
  • Funding hundreds of dollars in grants for special Class and School Projects
  • Providing free School Directories to all families
  • Saying thanks with the Teacher & Staff Appreciation Lunch
  • Student and family community building activities and events.
Without your support, the FSP cannot continue to provide this support!
How much should I donate?
It’s up to you!  We'd love to reach all families so even if you can only contribute $1.00, please do.  We are an economically diverse community.  If you have the resources, please be generous. 
Please send your donation (with checks made out to ARMS FSP) into school with your child or by mail (ARMS FSP, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst, MA 01002).
Questions?  Please contact the FSP at armsfsp@yahoo.com or call Becky at 230-3306.

AEF Trivia Bee


The AEF Annual Trivia Bee is coming up!  Have fun and support the Amherst Education Foundation at this FREE event on Thursday, October 18 from 7 to 9 pm at the ARMS auditorium.

LSSE Offering


Learn Local History at the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association
At Old Deerfield Village
For more information,
see our fall brochure. Register at www.lsse.org or call 413-259-3065.

*Not a school-sponsored event*
DEPARTMENT OF LEISURE SERVICES & SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION
70 BOLTWOOD WALK, AMHERST MA 01002
PHONE (413) 259-3065     FAX (413) 259-2407
Nooning with Mrs. Sheldon: Early New England Cookery

Cook and sample 18th-Century recipes while learning about food preservation, cooking equipment, and table manners from Colonial times.

Costumed instructors.
For adults and children ages 7+ 

Saturday, Nov. 17, 11:30 am.    $154
At the Indian House Children’s Museum, Main St., Deerfield

Thursday, October 11, 2012

FSP Meeting on Monday, October 15

Join the FSP on Monday night for our first meeting of the year!  The meeting will be from 7 - 8 PM in the ARMS Library.  All are welcome.  We will present our goals for the year and provide updates on current projects.  Questions?  Contact the FSP at armsfsp@yahoo.com. 

The Transition Amherst initiating group invites everyone in our community to come to


All Things Community:
Celebrating Amherst in Transition

Saturday, October 13, 2012 – 12:30-5:30
Amherst Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst

Come and celebrate the past – the ways in which Amherst has long been resilient*! Celebrate the present – various groups are working today to make Amherst more sustainable! Imagine positive possibilities for the future, so together we can build a better and stronger community for our children and the future.

The Transition model encourages us to act on our concerns about the future by coming together.  As we face many challenges due to climate change, the end of cheap oil and economic uncertainty, let's join together as neighbors to:
  • Increase production of local food and other essentials
  • Decrease oil dependence
  • Build the local economy
  • Strengthen our community
  • Expand renewable energy
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

This event is a great opportunity for citizens to meet neighbors and local resource groups, share project ideas and contribute their talents. Together we can help create collaboration for a stronger, more resilient community in the changing times ahead.

Oh, and did I mention, we'll have some fun together too!

*able to carry on through change and challenge, bounce-back-ability.

For a complete program: www.transitionamherst.org/community

For more information about the transition towns movement in the US see transitionus.org.
For more information about the global transition movement go to transitionnetwork.org.

Time for the 18th Annual Trivia Bee

 
Come enjoy the 18th Annual Trivia Bee 
Thursday October 25th, 2012 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. 
Amherst Middle School Auditorium.  
A fun evening that includes players in costumes, 
raffle prizes  (UMass Basketball and Hockey tickets, Fine Arts Center tickets and more) plus refreshments, an audience trivia game and prizes. Admission is free with donations benefiting Amherst area public schools. Questions?  contact Clare Bertrand 413-531-4235 clarebertrand@gmail.com