Springer Star Newsletter

April 20th, 2012

In This Issue

Calendar Dates

News and Announcements

Student Extracurricular Activities

Parent Education

How to Submit an Article to the Springer Star Newsletter

Quick Dates for your Calendar

April 28: Junior Olympics

April 30–May 4: STAR Testing

May 2, 7 pm: PTA Meeting

May 4: Fire Chief and Crew, Project Cornerstone Guest Presenter at Flag Assembly

May 6: Springer Garage Sale Extravagaanza!

May 8, 3:15 pm: Site Council Meeting

May 9: Minimum Day

May 11: Coffee with the Principal

May 12, 5 pm: Springer Day at the San Jose Giants

News and Announcements

Thank you!

Last month was busy with amazing events, and PTA would like to take a moment to thank the folks who were instrumental to their success.

Linda McCartney and Seana McKean-Saul, thanks to you and your team for your tremendous work on this year's auction, our biggest fundraiser. The event is essential to meeting the financial commitments PTA has made to Springer for this current 2011-2012 school year.  But not only was the event a resounding financial success, it was also a delightful evening where parents could mix, mingle, and enjoy the community. The Springer auction is a gift that keeps giving, as we and our children attend auction get togethers throughout the coming year.

Elena Baquero, Denise Massone, and Kathy Stiles, thank you for your vision for this year's book fair.  It sounded phenomenal when you pitched it, and you exceeded expectations in your execution.  The new format in the multi was well received by kids, staff, and parents alike. From the extra space to the decorations to the expanded family night, you ladies and your team pulled off a great and successful event.  Thanks to everyone who helped to make the event a success.

Science Faire thanks go to Anita Wood and Anita Rao.  They were awesome.  Special thanks to Jeff Wood who was instrumental on the day of the faire.  And, a long list of those to thank who were judges.  We fed them well and they did a great job.

JUNIOR OLYMPICS UPDATE

Final packets for JO will be in your child's Friday Folders on 4/20.  Please take a look at all the important information.  We look forward to seeing you all in your Springer green, or at least with your Springer spirit, cheering on our amazing 4th, 5th and 6th graders.  If you haven't volunteered to help during the day, please consider doing so.  We need quite a few more volunteers.  You should have received a few emails from your room parent regarding what slots are still open.  Please contact Andrew Towell at atowell[at]yahoo.com to see what you can do.

Also, we need bakers, lots and lots of bakers.  Each school needs  at least 12 parents/students to bake 2 dozen individually wrapped items.  They can be brought to the food area at anytime during the day.  Cupcakes, cookies, rice crispy treats....  Please let me know at slbosset[at]pacbell.net if you can be one of Springer's bakers.  The more the merrier!

Thank you from your JO committee members!

Leslie Bosset, Andrew Towell, Christa Kidwell and Wendy Sarathy

First Ever Springer Garage Sale Extravagaanza!

Sunday  May 6th, 8am to 5pm

Please consider donating your unwanted items to the Springer Garage Sale Extravaganza. We are accepting tax-deductible donations of good quality second-hand items. Acceptable items include: good quality items you might consider buying yourself.

Gently-used clothing free of tears and stains and packed in bags or boxes. Please separate and mark infants, boys, girls, men or women! Safely packed knick knacks, small appliances or other house hold items: books, videos, CDs, toys, electronics, household, lawn and garden items (in sturdy boxes). Furniture and used cars are also accepted.

Donations will be accepted May 5th from 9 am to 4 pm.   Please bring your items to the children’s drop off area of the Springer parking lot.  You will be responsible for determining a fair market value of your donated items.

Everyone is invited, so bring your friends and family to this fun-filled event and have a great time!

For further information or to volunteer for this event, please contact David Chung at dchung[at]apr.com or at 650-302-6027 (we need all the help we can get, thank you.)

Art4Schools Springer Student Art Show - Thank You!

A big thank you to all parent volunteers who gave their time putting together the Art4Schools Springer Student Art Show!  It took some long hours, but was worth all the work to showcase our amazing and talented Springer artists.  An even bigger thank you to Kimiyo Straw, Kristine Dworkin, Nancy Miller and Anita Leo who came multiple times to help!  I couldn't have done it without you!    Edie Bella, Art4Schools art teacher

YEARBOOKS ARE COMING!  Order yours by Wednesday, April 25th!!!

Thanks to all the great photographers out there, the yearbook is almost finished and will be delivered the first week in June.  You don't want to miss out! The cost for the 2011-12 yearbook is $20 and there are two ways to order:

By credit card: Online at EntourageYearbooks.com 

By Check: Paper forms will be delivered the week of April 16th.  Watch for them to come home.

Continue a Springer tradition with Springer Community Day at the San Jose Giants!

If you believe in the Church of Baseball come watch the Giants play the Visalia Rawhide Saturday, May 12 at 5pm.

A Springer student throws out the first pitch, and our super-star Springer Singers sing, "God Bless America" during the Seventh-inning stretch.

Tickets are available in the office for $5 each, or $40 for ten. You may also purchase from Warren Horowitz (warren616[at]earthlink.net) or Karen Eichstadt-Coy (eichcoy[at]yahoo.com) on the quad most mornings during assembly.

Come support the Singers, enjoy baseball in a fun and casual setting, and show off our community's amazing school spirit!  Saturday, May 12 at 5 pm.

Springer Family Dinners Out

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

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

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

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

Questions? Contact Contact Lara Rahn at lara.rahn[at]yahoo.com

Student Extracurricular Activities

Cub Scouts of Pack 36 Springer School will hold a their monthly Pack meeting on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (please note later start time to avoid conflicts with baseball games) at the Springer Multi.  This is a recruiting meeting and we welcome any interested boys in Kindergarten through Third Grade.  We are particularly forming new dens for boys interested in Cub Scouting, especially in Kindergarten and First Grade at this time.

See flyer for more details.

Ride a Vintage Train on the Niles Canyon Railway and support Relay For Life

Saturday, April 21st departures at 10:30 AM, Noon, and 1:30 PM from Sunol Depot. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Hear live music by costumed historic figures, snacks and beverages available for purchase, or picnic/grill in the adjacent park. Adult $25, Child 2-12 $15, under 2 rides free. Tickets available from losaltosrelay@gmail.com or at downtown Los Altos locations. See flyer

Linden Tree Books in Los Altos has some fun complimentary events this weekend!

Saturday, April 21 10:00-11:30, 265 State Street , Los Altos , 650-949-3390

Come meet and greet popular local author Sue Fliess and get to know her new book “A Dress for Me!”. School is starting and Hippo gets to pick out her very own dress. She tries on every style and pattern until she finally finds the perfect dress for her. Here stories and have an opportunity to play dress up.

Sunday, April 22 10:30-12:00, 265 State Street , Los Altos , 650-949-3390

Linden Tree Books invites celebrated authors Rana DiOrio and Land Wilson (Little Pickle Press) for a community reading event: “What Does It Mean To Be Global on Earth Day?” A community reading event for young people and their families in Silicon Valley . Please join us to appreciate community and Earth Day and creatively engage young minds.

For more information, check out the website at Linden Tree

Spend a Special Los Altos Day at the Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum invites all Los Altos residents to enjoy a fun-filled day at the museum on Sunday, May 6th. You’ll see the Museum’s new, state of the art large-scale exhibition, Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing. Revolution celebrates the spectacular history of computing, from the mysterious ancient devices to technologies of the future. Journey through 19 galleries displaying over 1000 unique artifacts; Discover, in our multi-media displays, the back-stories, development drama, and astonishing breakthroughs of the gadgets, gurus and companies you love, or love to hate!

When: Sunday, May 6, 2012 10:00 to 6:00

Where: 1401 Shoreline Blvd in Mountain View

Cost: Free to all Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents, and Los Altos School District families

MVLA Soccer Offers *New* School Based Soccer Program

 MVLA Soccer Club, in sponsorship with SJ Earthquakes and Adidas, is extremely proud to offer a co-ed recreational soccer program for the Los Altos School District for children in Grades 4- 6. This co-ed soccer program allows children to participate in an after school sport proudly representing their school and playing games against teams from other LASD schools. Everyone will Play!!!  Everyone will be trained by professional coaches!!  Every school will have a school jersey for games!!  Special visits from SJ Earthquake Players!!!

MVLA will provide reversible soccer jerseys and practice t-shirts for players to keep AND 1 ticket to a SJ Earthquake soccer game for the 2012 season. 

MVLA Soccer Club is giving back to Los Altos schools! All residual income after expenses will be donated to the Los Altos School District.

Registration is now open!! Program starts Monday, April 16. Space is limited to 22 players per school. Early bird pricing before April 16 is $150 and sibling discount is $130.

Practice Days:

Mondays 3:00pm - 3:45pm - Santa Rita

Tuesdays 2:10pm - 2:50pm - Montclaire

Wednesdays 3:00pm - 3:45pm - Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis, Loyola, Oak, Springer

Game Days:

Fridays 3:30pm - 4:30pm

*first game will be on May 4 (after Junior Olympics)

This is recreational and we want the kids to have fun so perfect attendance is not mandatory. We understand there are many conflicts with other activities. Join in when you can!

To register, please visit www.mvlasc.org.  If you have questions, please contact: mvlaprograms@gmail.com.

Summer Camp Spots Still Open!

The Media Center is currently accepting registrations for our 2012 Summer Camps!

TV Studio Production, Advanced Animation and Special Effects. For more information visit: www.midpenmedia.org/digiquest/ or contact Brad Sanzenbacher at brad@midpenmedia.org

SPARTAN SPORTS: Free basketball clinics:

Spartans Sports Camp is offering two free basketball clinics on Saturday, April 21st and Sunday May 6th, from 10am - 1pm at Mountain View High School. The clinics will be open to girls and boys in grades 3 - 9. This is a great opportunity to learn valuable skills from MVHS basketball coaches while having fun at the same time. There will also be a free pizza lunch! Special discounts for the 2012 summer camp will also be available.

www.SpartansSportsCamp.com or call 650.479.5906  

Summer Fun at Starting Arts

- Summer Arts Escape (grades K-8)

- Film Camp (grades 6-12)

- Musical Theatre Camp (grades 3-12)

Visit www.startingarts.com for more information.

Summer Camps and Lessons at Foothills Tennis & Swimming Club

 For more info see www.foothills-club.org or phone (650) 493-8540.

DezignKidz Summer Camp 2012 registration is open!

Sign up online at www.dezignkidz.com or call 650 346-5896.

MVLA Soccer Club Wednesdays, 2:45pm - 3:30pm for grades 1 - 3. www.mvlasc.org 

ScholarKids, Summer 2012

Summer enrichment program for incoming 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  www.scholarkids.net .  

CTC Summer Theatre Conservatory 2012: Programs for Ages 5-14

For more details including costs, dates and locations, click here.

www.ctcinc.org, or email education@ctcinc.org or call (408) 245-2979.

Los Altos KidzAdventures See www.lakakidz.com for details and registration

Academic Chess at Springer: Thursdays 2.30-3.30, starting March 1.  See flyer for details.

TGA, Premier Junior Golf. For more information and to-register please visit our website at www.golftga.com/peninsulavalley or call us today at (760) 295-6622.   

Parent Education

Parent Education Opportunities Available through the Palo Alto JCC

Study Skills: Working Smarter, Not Harder Thursday, May 3

Miss Representation - Film Screening & Panel Discussion Tuesday, May 15

For more information or to RSVP for a program, click here 

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!