Springer Star Newsletter

January 20th, 2012

In This Issue

Calendar Dates

Letter from the Principal

News and Announcements

Student Extracurricular Activities

How to Submit an Article to the Springer Star Newsletter

Quick Dates for your Calendar

Jan 25, 7:30-8:30 am: Tech Committee Meeting

Jan 27, 8:30 am: Coffee with the Principal

Feb 2, 6-8pm: Los Altos Art Docent Springer Art Show

Feb 15, 7:30am: Tech Committee Meeting

Feb 15, 8:45am: PTA Mid Year Budget Review

Letter from the Principal

Taking the Time to Teach the Little Things

I stopped by a primary classroom the other day and sat in on a lesson.  Students were being taught the steps to drawing a portrait.  The teacher was beautifully breaking down the steps and pulling out the students' prior knowledge of previous art lessons.  But then she shifted the lesson to talk about something important.  She asked for pencils down and all eyes on her.  When a teacher does this, it signals the students to be ready for a vital nugget of knowledge.  

Once all students were focused, the teacher began to explain the two different types of erasers in the room.  She had the students identify each type and then discussed the strengths of each (Pink Pearl vs. Magic Rub).  The teacher pointed out that one eraser was better than the other for certain applications.  

From the outside looking in, this short debriefing on the finer points of erasers and their uses in pencil drawing may seem a bit mundane.  After all, there is no academic content for students to learn when being shown the merits of erasers.  But, as a former junior high teacher who had hundreds of Springer students go through my classroom, the eraser lesson was very revealing.  In my 15 years at Blach, I was always impressed that my students just knew how to produce clean, neat work.  It was quite gratifying to see students who, as seventh graders, knew the elements of proper style and format.  This ability to create academic products that were visually pleasing is taught in the elementary schools in every classroom and it trickles up to the junior high.  

I had a conversation with the teacher who took the time out to teach about the erasers and I shared with her my revelation.  She proceeded to make some valid points.  We take for granted the little things that we expect kids to do.  We often assume they know how to do the small things.  But, taking the time to teach those little things can be huge.  Teaching kids the ways to set up papers, how to do a proper heading, or even packing a backpack to go home for the day are small, but vitally important skills that our students will need.  It's worth taking the time to teach those things and not just expect kids to know how to do them.  

It's a good feeling to know that our students are given solid academic content as well as social lessons in each of our classrooms.  They are also being taught small, yet important, steps to becoming great students and life-long learners.  You may not see the total effect in first, third, or even sixth grade.  But let me assure you that the cumulative effect is apparent at our junior highs and even beyond there.  It trickles up.  

News and Announcements

Los Altos Art Docent Springer Art Show

The Los Altos Art Docents are bringing the Student Art Show to Springer School!  We would like to invite you and your family to the Night at the Museum Student Art Show at Springer School February 2nd from 6:00-8:00! Each student at Springer has a piece of art hanging in the exhibit that they created this year. Artwork may include examples of drawing, painting, clay sculpture, cut paper or printmaking projects.

Parents, students, and faculty are invited to the student art show event, which will be held in the Multipurpose Room. The evening show, open to the general public, will be held on Thursday, February 2nd from 6:00-8:00pm. We will have hands-on activities for the kids as well.  An Open Gallery session has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 1st from 12:00-3:30pm. During this time both students and teachers can visit on their own during recess, or the teachers can take their classes to walk through the displays in the afternoon. Parents are requested to sign in at the office while visiting during school hours.

Parents interested in helping docents with the set up or take down of the displays are invited to drop in Wednesday, February 1st from 8:30-12:00 or Friday, February 3rd from 10:00-12:00.

For more information, please read the flyer: click here

WANTED: Science Faire Judges:  On March 13th, Springer will host its annual Science-o-Rama.  This event allows our budding scientists to display their experiments that either prove or disprove their hypothesis.  We are in need of judges who can commit an afternoon at Springer to judge the 5th and 6th grade entries.  A science background is nice, but certainly not necessary in order to judge.  Training is provided and your input makes a huge difference to the kids.  If interested, please contact Wade Spenader.

Springer's 2012 Auction's Sunset on the Serengeti: March 24, 2012

Hop into our safari jeep for a wild adventure on the Serengeti! We are in deep pursuit

of our dream to achieve 100% parent participation in the auction! Donations from families are warmly welcomed and needed to make the event a success. As you already know, the auction raises much-needed funds for the PTA, builds our community, and generates extraordinary enrichment opportunities for our children. So, connect with your friends about hosting an auction party!  Donate a game from your season tickets or a weekend at your vacation home!

Now's the time to pull it together and submit a Community Donation Form

We are ready to answer any questions you may have! The "auction info" table will be in the assembly area every Tuesday and Thursday during the morning drop--off. We will also be visiting the kinder area on a weekly basis.

If you are still looking for Community Donation ideas, please visit here.

Auction Night Babysitting Service: Brandie at Abracadabra is now accepting applications for the Auction Night babysitting service. Space is limited to the first 75 kids so hurry and reserve your spot!  See Parents Night Out flyer for details, plus the Waiver form.

Questions? Please contact Linda McCartney (LM28476@gmail.com) or

springerauction@gmail.com.

Springer Family Dinners Out

Raise money for Springer simply by enjoying dinner out with your family and friends! Springer receives 15-30% back from the restaurants when you dine at their establishment on Springer's selected dates. Takeout orders qualifies as well! Listed below is a list of participating restaurants and the applicable dates during the 2011-2012 school year. Please present the restaurant flyers/coupons* to ensure Springer gets the credit. Enjoy!!

Mountain Mike's Pizza           (1724 Miramonte Ave, MV): Every Thursday & Sunday

Chevy's                                    (2116 El Camino Real, MV): Every 3rd Thursday of Month

Armadillo Willy's                      (1031 San Antonio Rd, LA): February 12

Pizza My Heart                        (El Camino @ El Monte): February 27, June 6

*Flyers are available in the office, Abracadabra and online via the Star newsletter

*Questions? Contact Contact Lara Rahn at lara.rahn@yahoo.com

Student Extracurricular Activities

Free Ragazzi workshop for boys, ages 7-10.  Sat. Jan 21, 9:30am-1pm, Redwood City:  SingFest! registration is now open for Ragazzi Boys Chorus' free half-day minicamp. No previous singing experience is required. Low-key, no-obligation auditions are held during the camp. First rehearsals: week of Jan. 23, 2012. Ragazzi offers a complete music education through a proven, award-winning choral program. Boys begin with one evening per week of choral singing and progress through a full course of choral/vocal and theory instruction. Ragazzi performs its own concert series, sings the National Anthem at a spring Giant's game, tours domestically and internationally, and collaborates with other prestigious Bay Area arts organizations.

SingFest! registration: 650-342-8785. Contact: ragazzi@ragazzi.org.

More info:http://www.ragazzi.org/audition.htm.  Or contact Griff Derryberry

Pinewood Derby time!

Date: Sunday, January 29th    Time:1:00 to 4:00pm

Place:Springer Multi    Who: Open to everyone!

See Pinewood Derby flier for more details!

How To Submit an Article to the Springer Star

Please send your submission to the editor at springer_star@yahoo.com by noon on Monday for inclusion in the next edition. All flyers must be in either WORD or PDF format, accompanied by a brief summary of the activity in the email.

Late arrivals will be included if possible but can’t be guaranteed!