PLEASE REMEMBER 

NO NUTS ALLOWED IN TREATS HANDED OUT AT THE EVENT!!

Please donate by clicking below: 

https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/cb4a3c78-5694-4324-bead-42c8ad94c1bf

Support Frontline Puerto Rican Communities in the Recovery from Hurricane Maria

The devastating effects of hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico are still unfolding, but one thing is certain—the island's most vulnerable communities are likely to be pummeled the hardest and face the longest road to recovery.

Low-income communities of color often face the worst destruction and slowest recovery and have fewer resources to safeguard homes, vehicles, and other property.  When the winds die down and the floods recede, these communities are often forgotten by reconstruction efforts, and underserved by insurance companies. 

The Hurricane Maria Community Relief & Recovery Fund will be housed at the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD).  One hundred percent of monies raised will be used to support immediate relief, recovery, and equitable rebuilding in Puerto Rico for the communities hit hardest by the storm. The Fund is governed by organizations like Puerto Rico-based Taller Salud, the G8 of Caño Martín Peña, and other local, grassroots organizations.  The Fund will support organizations working with these hardest hit communities in Puerto Rico.

The Honorable Stan Rosenberg
24 Beacon Street, Room 332
Boston, MA 02133

July 17, 2017

Dear Senator Rosenberg,

On behalf of the Parent Teacher Organization at Pelham Elementary School, we are seeking your support today.

As you know, Pelham is a small town in the Pioneer Valley. The state department of education recently informed the school committee in Pelham that it owed the local Chinese Immersion Charter School $67,000. That represents 4% of its budget. It has only one teacher per grade.

The state was supposed to let the district know long before the budget was completed but failed to do so. Now, our highly rated public elementary school is trying to figure out how to find $67,000. How did this happen, one might ask? Normally, Pelham would have received notice of the two students attending the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School after the charter school submitted residency information to the state in October. However, that October data, contained an error that was corrected in a subsequent February filing.

In recent years’ state lawmakers have not fully funded charter school reimbursements for sending districts. Since 2012 lawmakers have failed to appropriate full funding for charter reimbursements, which were underfunded by $35.3 million in fiscal 2015 and $47.1 million in fiscal 2016, according to the nonprofit Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

There is a reason that the majority of Massachusetts voters cast ballots against the expansion of charter schools in the state this past November. The current system is not working for our students, or our educators. We respectfully ask that you look into this matter and see what you can do to help fill this funding gap which is a major hit to this exceptional school.

Sincerely,

The Pelham Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.


Hampshire Gazette News Article 
Pelham Elementary Budget: http://www.gazettenet.com/Pelham-schools-facing-sudden-budget-shortfall-11264067

Sip & Support Silent Auction June 10th 4-7pm

Spring Fair Thank You!

Spring Fair 2017 Thank You

Many thanks to the businesses and people who contributed to the fair:

Black Sheep, Big Y, Henion Bakery, La Veracruzana Noho, La Veracruzana Amherst, Roadhouse Café, Stop & Shop, Target,

TJ’s Taylor Rental, Trader Joe’s

 

Jess Hanson

Jim Hanson

Heather Edwards

Todd Jansen

Matt Wolaver  

Crystal Wolaver

Vince Hohreiter

Aline Gubrium

Emily Marriott

Marie Hall  

Steven Lawler

Erin Lawler

SarahBess Kenney

Josh Kenney

Mike Hayes

Joseph Black

Jack Paradis

Kate Paradis

Keith Frazier

Olivia Frazier

Jennie Bergeron

Jen Jackowitz

Lennie Ware

Ms. Desjarlais

Amy VanOudenhove

Ms. Quinlan

Ms. Gonzalez

Mrs. Gallagher

Tara Luce

Trevor Baptiste

Jodi Levine

Lee Halasz

Natane Halasz

Cara Castenson

Eric Castenson

Chris Gould

Debbie Gould

Lisa Zephyr

Patrick Zephyr

Kristin Balboni

Leanne Hunt

Bridget Hunt

Sage Scott

Tracy Walker

Jenny Franz

Nate Franz

Kelsey Niziolek

Jerry Hayes

Cara Rigali

Katja Hrones

Kirsten Modestow

Darius Modestow

Ms. Malcolm

All the class “reps”

Sarah Frenette

Bea Gould

Jacob Furtaw

Skylar Thompson

Dr. Gerber of UMASS

Mr. Graiff

Hampshire College engineering students

Chief Murphy and Pelham Firefighters

Ben at the Forest Park Zoo

 

If we have inadvertently left your name out, we are sorry!   Many thanks to all of the people came to the fair, contributed to the raffle baskets, and bought tickets.The raffle baskets raised more than $750!  

Congratulations to the Raffle Basket winners:  Carole Robinson, Jenny Franz, Ms. Beall, Nora Klotz, Debbie Gould, Leanne Hunt, and Karen Riberio.

We will use these funds in the next 6 months to pay in part for college scholarships, class snacks, community projects, and teacher support.

All of these events (and volunteers) help make Pelham Elementary School a special place!      Thank you! -Pelham PTO