Amherst PTA
April 2023
President's Message
Happy Spring!
One of our favorite annual Spring traditions is appreciating all of the staff at our schools! Staff Appreciation Week is scheduled for AMS for May 1st-5th, and at Clark-Wilkins for May 8th-12th (yes, they are different weeks this year). We'll be putting out sign-ups soon for those of you that would like to contribute. Stay tuned to our website and Facebook!
Families, don't forget about our SilverGraphics Fundraiser, going on NOW!
Speaking of fundraisers, we're looking for someone to chair our Clark-Wilkins Boosterthon Fundraiser in October. See below for details.
As always, you can reach out to us at any time at amherstptanh@gmail.com.
Katie Fantasia
PTA President
Our Annual SilverGraphics Fundraiser
Clark-Wilkins Elementary’s
Online Art Shop
is open for ordering!
Your Clark-Wilkins student will receive an order form from school, with a code to use to order. AMS students that had art class before February will also receive order forms.
Order beautiful keepsakes personalized with your child's artwork!
Place your order by 4/12
Staff Appreciation Weeks!
Clark-Wilkins - Monday, May 8th - Friday, May 12th
Snack Cart Sign Ups!
AMS Tuesday 5/2
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4FA5A72AA6F58-amssnack
Wilkins Tuesday 5/9
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4FA5A72AA6F58-wilkins
Clark Tuesday 5/9
April PTA General Meeting
Our April General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18th at 7:00pm, at AMS. At our March General Meeting, our Nominating Committee nominated Laura Singer for Secretary and Shelly Cyr for Treasurer. We will voting at our April meeting.
Amherst SROs Presentation
CW Boosterthon - Chairperson Needed!
We're looking for a person to chair our CW Boosterthon Fundraiser in October 2023!
It's scheduled for October 2nd - 12th. There's prep work leading up to the fundraiser that involves planning and scheduling. We get tremendous support from our Boosterthon team at Booster - they are with us every step of the way! Our CW administration and staff are pros at this, and they and support this fundraiser every single day in the classroom. Our PTA Board will be there to support it all with resources and volunteers. If you (or you and a friend!) might be interested, please email us at amherstptanh@gmail.com. We'd love to chat with you about it!
School Board Meetings
Amherst School Board Meeting
Tuesday, April 11th at 6:00pm
https://www.sau39.org/about_us/calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D160134858
SAU Board Meeting
Tuesday, April 18th at 6:00pm
https://www.sau39.org/about_us/calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D160134872
General Meetings
Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 18th at 7:00pm at AMS
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Upcoming meetings:
4/18 AMS
5/16 Wilkins
6/20 AMS (tentative)
Wilkins Art Volunteers
We are so excited to be able to bring back art classroom volunteers! You will be able to sign up to help out in your student's class! Duties will include some set up, helping Ms. Anderson with the lesson, helping students, and clean up.
Email the PTA at art@amherstnhpta.org if you are interested.
When emailing, please put your student's teacher's name in the subject line. Please also include your availability (every week, once a month, etc.). If you do not know the date and time of your student's art class, we can let you know that. Please note if you have already completed your background check. (We can't schedule you until that is complete.) If you haven't, you can read about how to do that in the VOLUNTEERS NEEDED section of this newsletter.
We have a volunteer working on this for us, so please give us a few days to respond to your emails. There are 27 art classes every week, we're anticipating that it will take a bit of time to get the schedule up and running. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
AMS Library Volunteers
- Hours: Monday - Friday, during the school day (8:30am-3:30pm). Morning hours would be especially helpful, but any time you can give is appreciated. You can do an hour or several hours..once a week, several times a week, or whatever suits your schedule.
- Duties: Assisting students with book checkout, shelving books, organizing shelves, and various other projects.
- Contact: Email the PTA at library@amherstnhpta.org if you are interested. Please note if you have already completed your background check. If you haven't, you can read about how to do that in the VOLUNTEERS NEEDED section of this newsletter.
Volunteers Needed!
If you would like to volunteer, we encourage you to begin the process as soon as possible. The process does take some time. If you have already completed this process though SAU39, you do not have to do it again.
Here's what you need to do:
1. Pick up a packet at the SAU office (the Brick School), and fill out the requested information. Summer hours may change, so please call before you head over (603-673-2690).
2. Stop by the Amherst Police Department to have your fingerprints taken. No appointment is necessary.
3. Get your application notarized. The SAU office does have someone on staff that is a notary, but they are not in the office every day. You can call 603-673-2690 to find out their availability. The Amherst Town Library and some local banks also have notary services.
4. Bring everything back to the SAU office with a check made out to the State of New Hampshire for $21.25. Upon approval, the PTA will be notified, and you will be able to be scheduled for volunteer shifts.
**The PTA does not get notifications when a person is cleared. We regularly check a list to see if people have cleared. In order for us to check for your name, we need to know that you have submitted your paperwork, so please email us when you have done so. You can also call the SAU at 603-673-2690 after 6-8 weeks to ask about your status. If they tell you you have been cleared, email us so we can get you on the schedule faster.**
The direct email to our Volunteer Coordinator, Nathan Greer, is aptavolunteer@gmail.com. If you'd like to be a lunch volunteer, please drop him a line and let him know!
(In July 2020, the Amherst School Board adopted a new Volunteer Policy which requires potential volunteers to have a background check and be fingerprinted before being scheduled for volunteer duties. You can find the full policy here: https://www.sau39.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=4016&dataid=10231&FileName=IJOC_Amherst%20Only.pdf)
Clark-Wilkins Spiritwear!
Our store at Varsitee is open year-round! You can see the cool spiritwear items, and order here:
Wish Lists
https://www.amherstnhpta.org/teacher-wish-lists-2022-23.html
Keep checking back for updates and new lists!
#supportateacher
Recycling Signs
At AMS, you can leave the sign on the porch. At Wilkins, you can leave them in the foyer. Thanks for helping us recycle!
Ways to connect with Amherst PTA
Email: amherstptanh@gmail.com
Website: amherstnhpta.org
Location: Amherst, NH, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amherstpta