The Responsibility for Learning
~EL Education Design Principle
Learning is both a personal process of discovery and a social activity. Everyone learns both individually and as part of a group. Every aspect of an EL Education school encourages both children and adults to become increasingly responsible for directing their own personal
and collective learning.
Message from the Head of School and Principal
As we approach the end of the first semester, I find myself reflecting on one of our core design principles: The Responsibility for Learning. At Four Rivers, learning is both a personal journey of discovery and a shared experience. Our students are encouraged to take ownership of their growth, both individually and collectively, as they strive to meet their goals. This principle comes to life in so many ways across our school.
This time of year, we see the dedication of our students as they work hard to finish the semester strong. Fall student-led conferences were a wonderful example of students reflecting on their progress and sharing their goals with clarity and purpose. As we close the semester, students will have another opportunity to pause, celebrate their successes, and refocus their goals for the second half of the year. None of this would be possible without the incredible time and attention our teachers and crew advisors dedicate to crafting thoughtful narrative comments that guide and inspire our students. I am deeply grateful for their hard work and care.
I also want to extend my gratitude to our families for helping amplify the call for new families to join our admissions information sessions. Your support in spreading the word about our school’s mission and values is invaluable, and we appreciate your partnership in helping us grow our community. You’ll find more details about these sessions in the body of the newsletter.
Finally, I want to highlight the exciting winter athletics season, which is well underway! From basketball to intramural sports, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Our highly popular ski and snowboard club kicks off on January 8th, offering students a chance to enjoy time on the mountain. A big thank you to Daryl and Robin for their meticulous planning to ensure everything is ready for a safe and fun season.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our community. Here’s to finishing the semester strong and stepping into the new year with purpose and energy!
With warmth and light,
Jenni Manfredi
Quick Links
2024-2025 ACADEMIC CALENDAR • SCHOOL EVENTS CALENDAR • SPORTS CALENDAR • COLLEGE VISIT CALENDAR • ALMA DIRECTIONS • Join the FAMILY DIRECTORY AY24-25 • GENERAL PERMISSIONS • JANUARY MENU • AFTERSCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES • UMBRELLA ORDERS • SUBMIT A QUOTE!
FOUR RIVERS APPAREL STORE
INTEREST FORM FOR BLACK EXCELLENCE MONTH
Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Please refer to the online School Events Calendar for the most current information.
Wed. 1/8 – Admission Tour (8:30-9:30am) FULL
– Ski & Snowboard Club – Week 1 – return at 7pm
– Admissions Info Session (6-7:30pm)
Thurs. 1/9 – 7th Grade to Beneski Museum of Natural History
– Liv Lohmeier’s Crew Outing
Tues. 1/14 – Visit with United States Air Force Academy (optional) for Juniors & Seniors
Wed. 1/15 – Admission Tour (8:30-9:30am) pre-registration required
– Ski & Snowboard Club – Week 2 – return at 7pm
Thurs. 1/16 – 10th Grade to Amherst
Fri. 1/17 – Last Day of 1st Semester
Mon. 1/20 – NO SCHOOL – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tues. 1/21 – NO SCHOOL – Teacher Planning Day
Wed. 1/22 – First Day of 2nd Semester
In Otter News…
CURRENT 8TH GRADE FAMILIES – HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION SESSION
When: January 29, 2025, 5:00–6:00 pm
Where: High School Common Room
Dear Current Four Rivers 8th Grade Families and Students,
We know that families have choices when it comes to high school, and we want to support you in making the best decision for your student. Staying with a small school like Four Rivers offers unique benefits and some tradeoffs, and we want to ensure that you and your student have all the information you need to make an informed choice.
Join us for an information session about our high school programming and the experience your student can expect if they choose to stay at Four Rivers. We’ll provide an overview of the academic, social, and extracurricular opportunities that define our high school experience, as well as the ways we prepare students for college, careers, and lives of service.
This session is an opportunity to ask questions, hear from staff, current Div 2 and Div 3 students and learn about what makes the Four Rivers high school experience special. Whether you’re curious about our curriculum, extracurriculars, or how we help students thrive in a small school environment, we’re here to answer your questions and support your decision-making process.
We look forward to seeing you on January 29th!
BLACK EXCELLENCE MONTH SYMPOSIUM – CALL FOR FACILITATORS
The Black Excellence Month planning committee (composed of students and staff) is seeking 10-12 passionate and engaging workshop facilitators for our upcoming Black Excellence Month Symposium, scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2025. This day-long event will be dedicated to celebrating the achievements, impact, and influence of Black culture while fostering meaningful dialogue and personal connections with our students. Our intent is to educate and empower students to listen, grow, and actively combat racism and other forms of oppression. We aim to explore critical questions such as, “What does White allyship look like—historically and into the future?” If you are interested in facilitating a workshop or have questions, please fill out this simple interest form.
CHILLY WEATHER – Reminder for all
That chilly time of year is upon us again! While maybe not the wintery wonderland many students are dreaming of, Winter is here. At Four Rivers, time outside is a part of our approach. That’s why during the winter we continue to do things like outdoor recess, walks around campus, and more.
Our policy for when we stay in or go out is based on temperature and conditions. If it is 20 degrees or below (including windchill!) we will always offer an indoor recess and break options. Otherwise, students should come to school prepared for time outside. If a student forgets their coat or does not have a warm enough layer, we are lucky enough to have not just one, but two free coat closets! All they need to do is ask a staff member and any of us will be more than happy to help them out. If they just need to borrow the coat for the day, we can do that! If they want to keep the coat, they can!
ADMISSIONS SEASON
We welcome and appreciate your support with student recruitment! Your help spreading the word and sharing your family’s experience at Four Rivers is truly invaluable. Below are a couple of easy ways you can contribute.
- Post About the Online Application
- Share and repost our posts on Facebook and Instagram to your social media accounts to inform friends and family about the opportunity to join our school community.
- Post about the application in relevant Facebook or other online groups (local and parenting-focused) of which you are a member. Copy and paste the post below or edit it to reflect your voice.
- Our family is a part of the Four Rivers Charter Public School community, and the school is now accepting applications for students in grades 7-12 for next school year. You can learn more and apply at https://fourriverscharter.org/how-to-apply/. Be sure to submit your application by Monday, Feb. 24th, 2025, at 3pm. Feel free to message me to learn more about my family’s experience!
- Share Your Family’s Experience Online
- Help other families understand what makes our school so special. Share your family’s positive experience at Four Rivers by leaving a review on any or all of the sites below!
Tours
School and classroom tours are on Wednesdays from 8:30-9:30am on 1/8 (full), 1/15 (full), 1/29, 2/5 and 2/12
Space is limited. Families can pre-register by emailing frontoffice@fourriverscharter.org, or calling 413-775-4577.
Upcoming Open Admissions Information Sessions for prospective students and families – pre-registration not required. All information sessions will start with an opening presentation in the High School Common Room followed by tours led by our student ambassadors.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025: 6-7:30pm
Wednesday, January 29, 2025: 6-7:30pm
Saturday, February 1, 2025: 10-11:30am
LINK: ADMISSIONS FLYER #1
LINK: ADMISSIONS FLYER #2
CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
While we mostly communicate with students and families via email, it is nevertheless very important that you notify us right away if you change your residence or mailing address. Several times a year the school reports to the state the residence address and town of every student. This information is used to calculate tuition payments to Four Rivers.
If you move, please make it a priority to notify the school by emailing frontoffice@fourriverscharter.org. Please make sure to include the full residential address and include the date of the move. If having moved over a period of time, please use the date that your student first slept at the new residence.
SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8th!
Our onsite coordinator, Daryl Beck, will be emailing all participants today with reminders about proper dress, pick up procedures and times, and other helpful tips!
If you have any questions, please email skiclub@fourriverscharter.org
From Family Council
Save the Date! Our annual Variety Show is coming up! Friday February 7th, at 7pm at the Shea Theatre in Turners Falls. Ticket info to come!
Attention Variety Show performers! Have you received the Timeline email from the director? Have you signed up to meet with her? If not, please reach out asap. stephmarshallmusic@gmail.com.
Absolute deadline for signing up for the show is January 10th. Please fill out this Google Form to sign up: Variety Show 2025 Sign-up
Backstage help needed! We are looking for a few more students to help back stage. If you would like to be involved with the show, please click the following link: Stage Crew Sign Up
Last call for Raffle donations! We have already received many donations from local businesses and you, our Four Rivers community. The donations that come from you are the most special. Do you have an item or service to donate for the Variety Show Raffle? Let us know here Volunteer Sign Up for the Variety Show Raffle. Deadline to learn about your donation is THIS FRIDAY January 10th. THANK YOU for helping make this event a success!!
*Contact Marc Guillaume (solarmarc@gmail.com) to get on the Family Council email listserv and keep up to date on the happenings!
From the Health Office
For important information about health forms, Covid-19 updates, immunizations and physical exams, and medications at Four Rivers, please view the letter sent by school nurse Jazmin Miller to families/caregivers through Alma on Friday, August 23th.
Covid Tests
- Free Covid tests can be ordered and delivered to your house. They do have a limit for how many can be ordered per household.
- The Covid tests ordered for school have come in. There are 5 tests per box. Please contact the health office or front office if you would like a box.
Reminders
- Please submit your student’s Annual Health History and Permissions Form if you have not done so already. There are still a lot that I am missing.
- Covid and Flu vaccines can be done at various pharmacies . As of right now there is not a vaccine clinic happening at Four Rivers. You can always go to the website to stay updated on where you can receive Covid and Flu vaccines in the area. https://frcog.org/project/vaccine-information/
- At this point, the dental program will be happening in spring. I will notify everyone as soon as I have the date. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like a registration form, jmiller@fourriverscharter.org or (413) 775-4577 ext. 3.
Athletics
Basketball
Basketball games start again this week, and our Varsity team is hoping to continue their unbeaten run into the new year. Come out and watch some home games at Stoneligh-Burnham! Our Middle School is finally starting their games this week, their game before break was cancelled. This week is a great opportunity to see them play as they have games at local schools Turners Falls and Greenfield!
Basketball Games This Week
Monday, 1/6, Away – MS @ Turners Falls at 3:30
Monday, 1/6, Home – BV v Mohawk at 5:30
Tuesday, 1/7, Home – BV v Putney at 5:30
Wednesday, 1/8, Away – BJV @ Charlemont at 2:30
Thursday, 1/9, Away – MS @ Greenfield at 3:30
Thursday, 1/9, Away – BV @ St. Michaels at 4:00
The full schedule is available on the school website Sports Schedule
New Discs
Our new discs are here! The Boosters will be selling them at events like the basketball game on Tuesday. They can also be purchased in the front office.
Reminders
OUR NEW SCHOOL STORE IS OPEN!
LINK: FOUR RIVERS APPAREL STORE
We have moved our school store over to Soundscape Merchandise, based in Belchertown, MA
Some of the benefits/features of our new store are as follows:
● Open 24/7/365 days a year
● Customizable placement of any of our designs on any of the items
● Over 100 items to choose from!
● Orders are printed and fulfilled on demand as they are placed
● Quick response time for creating and adding new designs
● Bulk discounts available based on total number of items, with any combination of products and designs
LINK: FOUR RIVERS APPAREL STORE
Here’s a diagram of where ordering options are found when viewing a product:
Community Corner
Coming up on January 17th (and then again on Feb 21st and March 21st), Dancify is hosting an experimental new dance event geared towards younger folks (high school and college) at the Guiding Star Grange.
Dancify is a DJ-curated dance event that’s a mashup between today’s best music and an old-timey barn dance. Their hope is that this will be a space for youngish people and anyone else with lots of energy to dance to pop music they probably already like, using dance vocab from the folk traditions (ceilidh, polka, bourre, schottische, mixers, swing etc). Lesson at 7pm, followed by dancing 8:15-10:15pm. No experience or partners needed!
They could also use the help of some volunteers if anyone is interested in helping to get this project off the ground! If you’d like to help, please email AJ Rosenberg at fiddlevet@gmail.com
Please see the linked letter, from teen librarian, Francesca Passiglia., regarding this wonderful Community Service Opportunity at Greenfield Public Library.
LINK: Community Service Opportunity at Greenfield Public Library
