Our Mission

At Springer Elementary School, we will provide a safe and supportive environment that engages, inspires, and nurtures all students’ emotional and academic needs in order to become empathetic, productive global citizens and lifelong learners.

In This Issue: September 8, 2017:

• Principal’s Message

• News and Announcements

• Parent Education Opportunities

Quick Dates for your Calendar:

• Thursday, September 14, 8:45am: Principal Coffee

• Tuesday, September 19: Photo Day

• Wednesday, September 20, 2:00pm: Author visit, Grades 3-6

• October 16-20 Ability Awareness Week

• Thursday, October 12, 6:00pm: Parent Night Ability Awareness, Staff Room

• Friday, October 13, 8:45am: Parent Session Ability Awareness, Staff Room

• Saturday, October 14: Walk-a-thon

Principal’s Message

Good Afternoon Springer Families,

We are off to an incredible start this year.  As in the previous year, teachers are completing the following assessments:

• Grades K - 1:  ESGI (Educational Software for Guiding Instruction), An early literacy and math assessment that is administered one to one and recorded digitally.  

• Grades K - 6:  F&P (Fountas & PInnell), A one to one reading assessment during which students read a passage to determine fluency and answer questions to gauge comprehension.  The levels range from A - Z.

• Grades 2 - 6:  iReady ELA / Math, A diagnostic computer adaptive assessment to monitor progress throughout the year.

Each assessment is used to provide information about the individual student learner so teachers can best meet the students needs.    Assessments will be completed by September 15th.

Please note the change of dates for the solar panel project.  

Lynn Boskie

Buzz… did you know that I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time this summer.

Solar Panel Project- Parking Lot Closed  

On October 8th, our school parking lot will be fenced off in preparation for our solar panel installation.  The project will begin on 10/9-12/7/17.    You will be unable to park in the parking lot during this time.  Please plan your day accordingly.   Be especially mindful of the days when it is raining.  Our handicap spots will be moved and our auction spots will remain.  However all other parking will be designated for various members of our staff.  We will be having walking buses scheduled throughout the project time coordinated by PTA and we encourage you to walk or bike ride to school with your children.  I will be riding to school on my bike during this time as well.

The pick-up and drop off will remain the same. When picking up you should stay with your car. By doing so, this it keeps our line moving and helps to stop heavy traffic on the street.   As always be safe and take your time during pick-up and drop off.

Parking Lot and Drop Off/ Pick up Safety  

Now that school is in full swing, it is a good time to review some safety information concerning our parking lot.  

• Practice patient driving while in our parking lot or on our neighboring roads.  Slow down and stay alert.  Being late to work is no excuse to drive dangerously.

• Walkers should use the designated crosswalks, both on the streets and in our parking lot.  The parking lot crosswalks are marked with cones.  Please have your child use them.  Never allow your child to walk through the parking lot without utilizing the designated crosswalks.

• We love our volunteer crosswalk duty parents!  They wear their bright orange vests with pride and are quick to help kids across the parking lot.  Please treat them with the respect they deserve; they are trying to keep our students safe.

• Expect more car traffic on Mondays and Fridays.  These are music days for our upper grade students.   They, and their musical instruments,  are more likely to be transported to school via a car on those days.  Please plan accordingly and realize the parking lot will be a bit more crowded.

•  Do not drop off students in the inner two lanes of the parking lot.  The yellow curb is for dropping off students.   The red curb means NO STOPPING AT ALL.  

By staying alert, keeping our speed down, and looking out for each other, we can go a long way in keeping our parking lot and neighboring streets safe.

Back-To-School-Order Form

The BTS Order Form is a quick, easy, online tool that allows you to join the PTA, make donations, purchase Auction tickets and Spirit Wear, and register Walk-a-thon guest walkers.  This is a convenient way to make a single payment for your donations and orders!

The link to the form is: Springer 2017 BTS Order Form

The password is: "stingers" (all lower case)

The online form will close on Monday, September 18th.  Paper order forms are available in the 'PTA Membership' cubby in the school office.

Contact bts@springerpta.net with any questions regarding the BTS Form.

Thank you for your support of the Springer PTA!

Cornerstone Corner

Project Cornerstone  

Project Cornerstone is a social-emotional program that teaches students the skills needed to deal with bullying behavior while building strength of character and resiliency.

The goals of the program are as follows:

1.     Increase interpersonal skills in all children and adults.

2.     Increase the number of caring adults that students interact with at school to enable them to feel increased levels of support and value.

3.     Create a common language and vocabulary about respect throughout the Springer community.

4.     Use children’s literature to share concepts of caring, interpersonal competence, personal power, empathy, integrity, social justice, honesty, and responsibility.

5.     Increase student life skills in decision making, planning, goal setting, building friendships, identification of feelings, responding to bully behaviors, and peaceful conflict resolution.

Each month a pre-selected book will be read by a parent volunteer to all students in each classroom. A lesson and activity will be used to reinforce the “developmental assets” presented in the book.  Developmental assets are positive values, skills, relationships and experiences that help young people grow up to be healthy, caring and responsible members of a community.

At Springer, we believe that the program is most effective if ALL adults on campus model and reinforce the same skills and tools the students are learning.  Please read the monthly letters from your classroom readers, reinforce the skills at home with your child, and practice the skills whenever the opportunity arises.

Art Docent Training

Los Altos Art Docents are looking for new volunteers to join us!

Our training sessions run from September through mid-April. You may still join our group of trainees this year, and are welcome to come to our September 13 training session to see what it's all about!

Location: iLearn Studio, located at 201 Covington Road, Los Altos.

Time: Wednesday mornings, 8:45am-11:30am

If you would like more information, please contact the Art Docent

office at (650) 947-1195 or kdickerson@lasdschools.org, or see our website at http://www.losaltosartdocents.org

LAEF

For EVERY child in EVERY grade in ALL LASD Schools! Did you know that your donation to LAEF supports STEM, arts, literacy, wellness and personalized learning NOW through June 2018?  Here are some ways elementary students benefit from LAEF this school year:

-Literacy aides in 1st and 2nd grade

-STEM and computer science teachers

-Librarians and certified PE instructors

-Plus music and art!

Every TK-8th grade student in LASD will benefit from LAEF-funded programs, and that’s why our goal is 100% parent participation. The suggested donation per student is $1,200 (or $120 per month for 10 months). Every gift in any amount is appreciated. Learn more & make your tax-deductible donation today at www.laefonline.org.

Selpa Events

Selpa, an all-volunteer group of parents of children with special needs, are sponsoring several upcoming events:

Let’s Talk: Monday, September 11, 10:00-12:00, Los Altos Library, Click Here for flyer.

Click here for the Let’s Talk Spanish flyer.

Parent Chat: The Second Tuesday of every month.  Click here for flyer.

Click here for Spanish Parent Chat flyer.

Volunteers Needed ASAP  

We are looking for parent volunteers to assist preparing classroom materials; including copying and laminating.  Please contact Diana Rudolph in the Springer Office at 650-943-4200.

Go Camping! The Walk-a-thon is Coming!

The 2017 Walk-a-thon committee is looking for more parents to join the team. We need a volunteer coordinator, a raffle head, and sponsors. The volunteer coordinator sends emails to volunteers helping the day of the Walk-a-thon, prints name tags for the volunteers, and mans the volunteer check-in table. The raffle head solicits donations for prizes and sells raffle tickets at the Walk-a-thon. Sponsorship at any level can make a difference, by donating raffle prizes, incentives for students, or getting your company logo printed on the popular Walk-a-thon t-shirt.

If you would like to be involved in the planning of this fun event, have questions, or would like to be a sponsor, contact the chairs: Claudine Sheridan (claudine3c [at] yahoo.com) or Lara Rahn (lara.rahn [at] yahoo.com).

Looking To Fill Noon Duty Position

Springer needs a Noon Duty Aide on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:45 to 12:45.  Please call the Springer School Office at 650-943-4200 to apply.  

Hot Lunch

We are seeking volunteers to join the Hot Lunch crew for 2017-2018.   The Hot Lunch program would not be possible without the 20+ volunteers per week that come in to serve lunch!  The lunch volunteer shift is weekly, or alternating weeks, from 11:25-12:15.  Contact Donna Murphy (at HotLunchScheduling@springerpta.net) to join the lunch crew or if you’d like more information.

Flag Football For 4th 5th & 6th Grade

Did you know that Springer won the Flag Football Championship last year?  The Flag Football program is back and it’s co-ed and we’re looking for 4th, 5th and 6th Graders to come out and play.  Click here for flyer and more information!

You may also check out the afterschoolathelics.com website for more information.

Photo Day is Tuesday, September 19

Photo Day is Tuesday, September 19.  More information will go home next week with your child.  Springer is using a different Photo company this year--Lifetouch.  Here is a link to Springer’s page on the Lifetouch website.  Click here.  This link is also available on Springer’s website, and will be useful for placing orders after photo day.

Cub Scouts

Springer's Cub Scout pack invites all boys in grades K-5 and their parents to a kickoff meeting -- featuring Mad Science! -- on Wed., Sept. 13, from 7-8 p.m. in the Multi. Get a taste of Scouting and consider joining this fall! For more information, please contact cubmaster[at]springerpack36.org.

2016/2017 Yearbooks For Sale

Did you forget to buy a yearbook last year?  We still have some in the office.  The cost is $20.

See Linda Ripley-Smith or Diana Rudolph.

Four Leaf

Fourleaf, the online directory, is in the process of being updated.  We expect it to be up and running in the next two to three weeks.  Thank you for your patience!

Kepler’s Author Showcase

Soman Chainani

Springer Elementary School

September 20

2:00-3:00pm

The School for Good and Evil #4: Quests for Glory

Grades 3-6

Click here for flyer and and the book order form.

LASD Preschool Openings

The LASD Preschool Collaborative Program currently has openings for typical peer role models for the 2017-18 school year. This program runs from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Best of all, the program is free!

Screenings will be scheduled accordingly.

Requirements at a glance:

-Being able to attend 5 days a week M-F is preferred

-Must be potty trained

-Must have/had some sort of group class/play experience

-Must be at least 3 years old

If  interested- please contact Katherine Chang atkchang@lasdschools.org or 650-947-1171.

Springer Auction

Hi Springer!

Don't forget about the awesome Fall community parties still available for you to join.

For new families, this is a great way to meet people. All ticket proceeds go to support

Springer.

Check out the Open Party List, and contact the host to sign-up.

OPEN PARTIES COMING UP:

·      Red Solo Cup Euchre Party, September 15 (no experience or partner needed!)

·      Tossapalooza Adult Field Day, September 16

·      Springer Adult Scavenger Challenge, September 23

·      Yoga and Wine, October 17

Questions? springerauction@gmail.com

Living Classroom

Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids!

It's time to harvest seeds from heirloom tomatoes, plant our winter wheat and veggies, search the schoolyard for animal homes, and learning about Native California Indian uses of plants!  If you like all those things and more, please consider becoming a Living Classroom docent!  Living Classroom is looking for docents to help deliver hands-on garden-based lessons to the students of the Los Altos School District.  No experience necessary as we provide all the training needed!  Our Fall Docent Training will take place on Monday mornings from 9am-Noon from Sep. 11th – Oct. 16th  (please see our Fall training flyer for locations).

Click here for flyer and more info.

Want to learn more about our program?  Please consider attending one of our upcoming Informational Meetings from 10-11am on Monday 8/21 or Monday 8/28 at the Los Altos School District iLearn Studio, 201 Covington Road, Los Altos and/or visit our website at www.living-classroom.org.

Questions? Email us at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103.  

Caroline Chan

Program Coordinator, Los Altos School District

Living Classroom

(650) 947-1103 (office)

(650) 303-9764 (cell)

livingclassroom@lasdschools.org

www.living-classroom.org

OhmConnect Fundraising Platform

The Springer community started using a novel fundraising platform last year, called OhmConnect. We raised $930 last year, and $1500 this year by having a handful of parents of the school turn down their electricity usage just one hour per week.

We're aiming to raise $5,000 this year and all you need to do is signup using this link and connect your utility account.

ohm.co/springer

OhmConnect donates between $50 - $150 per team member per year, depending on how much you reduce. They'll be donating an instant $75 per new team member. If you haven't signed up yet, now's the time to do it!

Parent Education Opportunities

Through an enriching presentations from local and national experts on topics of interests to parents, faculty and staff, the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series seeks to contribute to the academic, physical, and emotional health of our students.  All events are free of charge and are for parents, faculty and staff in Los Altos and Mountain View public schools.  For a schedule of upcoming presentations, please click here.  

How Submit an Article to the Springer Buzz

If you have an article to submit to the Springer Buzz, please send it to the editor at springer.buzz@gmail.com by noon on Monday for inclusion in the next edition.  Late arrivals will be included if possible but can’t be guaranteed!  All flyers must be in either WORD or PDF format, accompanied by a brief summary of the activity in the email.