October 2, 2009 - Crocker Farm Elementary

CROCKER CHRONICLES
October 2, 2009
Dear Crocker Farm Families,
Thank you for coming to our Curriculum Night last week. It was wonderful to see such a large
turnout—larger than we have had in the past few years. We were fortunate to have a
representative from the Jones Library system here to discuss their programs, invite feedback on
book selections, and sign people up for library cards.
There are two important events coming up in the near future that I want to tell you about. On
Tuesday, October 13th, we will be having a celebration of National Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month
with an event from 6:00-8:00 in our cafeteria. National Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month started on
September 15th and runs until October 15th. Many people have asked why the month is not a
“calendar month”; this is because September 15 is the anniversary of independence of five Latin
American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition,
Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and
September 21, respectively. Please come to this cultural celebration! Thanks to all those who are
putting their time into making this event special.
As you may have heard, the Amherst School Committee voted last spring to close Mark’s Meadow
Elementary School at the end of this year, which then requires a full redistricting of the town’s
elementary schools. There will be two public forums to learn about the proposal of how to
redistrict and to offer feedback and ask questions on the plan. This is an incredibly important
topic, as changes to the school community will be very challenging and the School Committee has
stated that they want community input on this subject. The evening events are scheduled for
Thursday, October 8th at Mark’s Meadow at 7:00, and at Crocker Farm on Wednesday, October 14th
at 7:00. Child care will be provided.
I hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Michael Morris
IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS:
Monday, October 5- PICTURE DAY! (send order forms w/picture payment)
Wednesday, October 7-Crocker Java Coffee orders due.
Thursday, October 8-PGO Meeting 6:30-7:30, Community Room
Friday, October 9- Movie Night- Crocker Farm Cafeteria 6pm (Trumpet of the Swan)
Tuesday, October 13- Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration- 6-8:00pm, CF Café
Wednesday, October 14- Public Forum on Redistricting-7pm, CF cafeteria
Thursday, October 15- Kindergarten Open House- 6-7pm
CROCKER CHRONICLES
2 de octubre de 2009
Queridas Familias de Crocker Farm,
Gracias por haber venido a nuestra Noche de Plan de Estudios la semana pasada. Fue maravilloso
presenciar la gran cantidad de padres que asistieron- el grupo más grande que hemos tenido en varios
años. Tenemos suerte de haber tenido aquí a una representante del sistema de biblioteca pública, “Jones
Library”, para discutir su programa, exhortar comentarios con relación a la selección de libros, y registrar a
personas para recibir las tarjetas de biblioteca.
Hay dos eventos importantes que van a acontecer en el futuro cercano y les quiero dejar saber acerca de
ellos. El martes, 13 de octubre, estaremos celebrando El Mes de La Herencia Latino Nacional/ Hispana con
un evento de 6:00-8:00 en nuestra cafetería. El Mes de La Herencia Latino Nacional/ Hispana comenzó el
15 de septiembre y continua hasta el 15 de octubre. Muchas personas se preguntan por qué este mes no
está marcado en el calendario, la razón es que el 15 de septiembre es el aniversario de la independencia de
cinco Países Latino Americanos: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Nicaragua. Además,
México, Chile y Belize celebran sus días de independencia el 16, 18 y 21 de septiembre respectivamente.
¡Por favor asistan a esta celebración cultural! Gracias a todos los que están poniendo de su tiempo para
hacer de este un evento especial.
Posiblemente hayan escuchado, que el Comité Escolar de Amherst votó la primavera pasada para serrar a la
escuela Elemental Mark’s Meadow al final de este año, lo que en cambio requiere un cambio de distrito
general de las escuelas públicas elementales del pueblo de Amherst. Habrán dos foros públicos para
aprender acerca de la propuesta de cómo se cambiaran los distritos, para ofrecer comentarios y hacer
preguntas acerca del plan. Este tema es increíblemente importante, ya que los cambios en comunidad
escolar serán muy difíciles y el Comité Escolar desea que la comunidad este envuelta y de su opinión con
relación al tema. Los eventos se llevaran a cabo en las tardes de el jueves, 8 de octubre a las 7:00pm en
Mark’s Meadow, y el miércoles, 14 de octubre a las 7:00pm en Crocker Farm. Se proveerá cuido de niños.
¡Espero verlos pronto!
Sinceramente,
Michael Morris
Principal, Escuela Elemental Crocker Farm
DIAS IMPORTANTES Y RECORDATORIOS
Lunes, 5 de octubre- ¡Día de toma de fotos!
Miércoles , 7 de octubre- fecha limite para las ordenes de café.
Jueves, 8 de octubre- Reunión de PGO (Organización de Padres/Guardianes) 6:30-7:30, Salón Comunal
Viernes, 9 de octubre – Noche de Película – Cafetería de Crocker Farm-6pm
Martes, 13 de octubre – Celebración del Mes de Herencia Hispana- 6-8:30pm, Café CF
Miércoles, 14 de octubre- Foro Público en las nuevas delineaciones del distrito-7pm, cafetería CF
Jueves, 15 de octubre- Casa abierta para los estudiantes del Kindergarten- 6:00-7:00
Send your coffee orders in by Wednesday, October 7
Send your coffee orders in by Wednesday, October 7
AMHERST-PELHAM
Public & Regional School Districts
WW.ARPS.ORG
W
AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
Amherst Elementary Schools
Redistricting Plan: Public Forums
(Child care will be provided)
Date: October 8, 2009
Location:
Marks
Meadow Elementary
School Auditorium
Time: 7:00pm
Date: October 14, 2009
Location: Crocker Farm
Elementary
School Cafeteria
Time: 7:00pm
AMHERST-PELHAM
Distritos Escolares Públicos y Regionales
WWW. ARPS. ORG
AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
Escuelas Elementales de Amherst
Plan de re-distribución del distrito:
Foros Públicos
(Habrá cuido de niños disponible)
Fecha: 8 de octubre del 2009
Lugar:
Auditorio de la Escuela
MarksMeadow
Hora: 7:00 pm
Fecha: 14 de octubre del 2009
Lugar:
Cafetería de la Escuela
Crocker Farm
Hora: 7:00 pm
ART STUDIO NEWS
I hope you are enjoying the spectacular autumn colors. Students at Crocker Farm have jumped right into
creativity this September and have already dressed the walls with exemplified talent.
Keep your eye out in late October for information regarding the Original Works fundraiser, sponsored by
the PGO. All students have created a lovely piece of art work that will be sent home with information regarding
this fundraiser.
Support your budding artists! At the end of each class students receive a password or key word from the art
lesson. I hope that this can begin a discussion about what they are learning in the art studio. I encourage students
to transport their art work home carefully by keeping their work flat or gently rolled. When your child brings
home a piece of artwork, please take a moment to share their masterpiece with them. Tell them something you
like about it. Ask them to tell you about what they learned? What they liked about the project? What medium
(materials) they used? Was there an artist they looked at for inspiration? If possible hang your child’s artwork on
the fridge or on a door. Start a portfolio of your child’s artwork. (A large piece of paper or thin box works great.
Please contact me if you would like a large piece of heavy paper to begin a portfolio for your child.) Have them
save and include favorite pieces from home and school. It is so wonderful to look back upon early works and be
able to observe a child’s artistic development over a number of years.
Painting has been the medium of focus this month across all grade levels. Kindergarten artists started the
year off painting with primary colors and making abstract insects. They have also painted with watercolors in the
likes of Georgia O’Keefe who painted enlarged flowers. Most recently they have been building scissor skills, cutting
geometric shapes and then using those shapes to create a collage.
Grade 1 began their painting unit exploring line and color as a form of expression. We looked at the
abstract expressionist artist, Wassily Kandinksy for inspiration. They then completed a mixed media project
inspired from Eric Carle’s book, “A House for Hermit Crab.”
Monochromatic colors and still life has been the painting focus for Grade 2.
2 Students used one color plus
black and white to create tints and shades of a certain color. This technique was then carried over to a still life study
using monochromatic colors. Students then made cut paper still lifes focusing on the use of warm and cool colors.
We viewed the works of Georgio Morundi for inspiration.
Grade 3 learns about Birds Eye View in their classrooms, so in art class students painted a Birds Eye View
Landscape, focusing on perspective, landscapes and patterns. They also completed mask paintings focusing on
symmetry and shape.
Students in fourth grade have been working with color.. After viewing art work by the artist Charles
DeMuth students painted their own color wheels focusing on primary, secondary and complimentary colors.
Using what they learned about mixing colors, students mixed their own palettes to complete a radial symmetry
painting.
Following the style of Fauve artists like Franz Marc, Fifth graders recently completed Fauve Farm Animal
paintings. The Fauves were also called, “Wild Beasts” for their untraditional, expressive use of color.
Sixth graders began the year listing and defining art styles and mediums. Students worked in groups to
choose 4 categories and find examples for each category. This was followed by painting to music by Beethoven,
using line as a form of expression. These music paintings were then given color with oil pastels. Lastly they have
been painting “implied” textures, looking at a variety of texture samples. This has led into textured landscape
paintings.
Our next focus in the art studio is printmaking. Each grade level will learn about one or more printmaking
artists and techniques.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or have interest in volunteering. If you’d like to help
in another way, the art room is currently collecting, small boxes and paper towel or wrapping paper tubes.
Sincerely,
Hillary Wilbur-Ferro
[email protected]
WHEN: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009
From 8:30 to 11:30 am
From 1:00 to 4:00 pm
for school staff for community service providers.
WHERE: Mohawk Trail Regional School Turners Falls High School
24 Ashfield Road Great Falls Middle School Auditorium
Shelburne Falls 222 Turnpike Road, Montague.
TO REGISTER: Please call Dot Lyman at Please call Davette at
413-625-0192 x31 413-774-3167 x101
by Friday, October 16th by Wednesday, October 21st
COST: This valuable training is offered AT NO COST TO YOU by the
Communities That Care Coalition and the Regional School Health Task
Force, through a grant from the Office of Congressman John Olver.
FOOD: Light refreshments will be served.
Working to make a difference in young people’s lives?
Join us for a training on:
Low-Cost, Evidence-Based
“Kernels” of Behavior Change
(i.e. simple, cheap, effective ways to
make a difference in young people's lives)
with renowned researcher
Dr. Dennis Embry
From assigning a “greeter” at the front door of your school, to hanging a
bulletin board where students can write praise for other students’ positive
actions, little interventions can and do make a real difference in such
outcomes as improving school climate, increasing young people’s social
competence, and improving physical health.
Join the lively and provocative Dr. Dennis Embry from Tucson, Arizona as he
outlines a variety of simple interventions that have been proven to be
effective in creating positive behavior change among youth. The goal of this
workshop is that participants leave with at least one intervention they can
implement with their students or program participants.
CROCKER FARM COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
OF
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
CROCKER FARM CAFETERIA
Come and celebrate a night of Hispanic food,
culture, music, and entertainment!
If you have any questions please contact Xiomara Hernández (413-256-1397)
or Kaye Dougan (413-253-8166)
LA COMUNIDAD DE CROCKER FARM CELEBRA
EL MES NACÍONAL
DE LA
HERENCIA HISPANA
EL MARTES, 13 DE OCTUBRE, 2009
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
CAFETERIA DE CROCKER FARM
Venga a celebrar una noche con comida
Latina, cultura, música, y entrenemiento!
Si tiene algunas preguntas, por favor llame a Xiomara Hernández (413-2561397) o Kaye Dougan (413-253-8166)
Savings Makes “Cent$” Program: Every Wednesday in the Crocker Farm lobby
from 8:15-8:45 a.m. For more information on this program, call 362-1600.
October Visiting Day: Tuesday
Don’t miss the Hitchcock Center’s Enchanted Forest! This non-scary Halloween family event takes place Friday, October 23
and Saturday, October 24 from 5-8:30p.m. Adults and children of all ages will enjoy meeting our magical “Animals in Disguise”
as you are guided along the pumpkin-lit trail. Walks leave the Center every 15 minutes and last 45 minutes. Enjoy crafts, games,
and snacks for sale. Pre-registration required. Register early as this event fills fast! Call 413-256-6006.
Thursday, October 22nd is the last day to submit "Boxtops for Education" labels for the first mailing
deadline. Please remember to send them in with your child or deposit them in the collection box in the
lobby.
Each label collected means cash for your child's school. The PGO is issued a check twice per year and
uses this money for programs and grants that directly benefit your children. Every label counts!
Happy Birthday Amherst!! Free to Amherst Residents (proof of residency required) A fun filled day at The Eric Carle
Musuem in celebration of Amherst’s 250th Anniversary! Browse the galleries , create your own art. Enjoy a film or
performance in the auditorium, participate in our 2:00 storytime, and refuel in the Museum Café.
For Parents: For those of you whose child(ren) have not submitted their pledges please submit them as soon as
possible. I know that we can easily increase the number of participants and my hope is to reach over $2K. The money
will go to the teachers to purchase books for our students. And remember the grade with the most participants gets a
trophy!!! Please send in by October 9.
Any questions, please email me or call me. I look forward to receiving more pledges. :-)
Yaniris M. Fernandez
phone: 413-559-5781
email: [email protected]
Looking for volunteers
to continue our fabulous
Farm Compost/Recycling
Crocker
Program
Our community of Crocker Farm is doing an amazing job of composting
and recycling for the
last two years. We are about to begin construction for our very own animal proof compost bins outside as well. I
am looking for volunteers to guide and assist students during breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, it will be for
about 45 minutes or less (around 8:15-9:00). For lunch, we are in desperate need of help during last lunch (12:301:00) on Wednesdays but if you are available on other days, that is appreciated as well. Please contact me at
[email protected] so we can talk about your interest and availability. Thank you!
ABSENT LINE: Parent/Guardians are required to call the absentee line, 362-1659 if your child will not be in school. If
your child is tardy to school, please have him/her stop by the office for a pass before going to class.
Linea para reporter ausencias: Se les require a todos los padres/encargados que se comuniquen con la escuela
llamando al telefono 362-1659 si su hijo(a) va a estar ausente. Si su hijo(a) va llegar tarde a la escuela por favor
asegurese que su hijo (a) se reporta a la reporta a la oficina primero.
CROCKER FARM ELEMENTARY 280 West Street Amherst, MA 01002
Phone: 413-256-1600
Fax: 413-256-0835