Springer Star Newsletter

November 30th 2012

In This Issue

Calendar Dates

News and Announcements

Parent Education Opportunities

Student Extracurricular Activities

Quick Dates for your Calendar

December 14th, 1pm: Upper Grade Music Concert

December 19th, 7pm: Springer Singers Concert  

Friday, December 21st: No School: Winter Break begins

News and Announcements

The Springer Class of 2013 asks the community to donate used or unwanted bicycles!

As part of Project Friday, the 6th grade's Project-Based Learning activity designed to help out the community, a group of 6th graders are asking for your help.  The goal is to take used or unwanted bicycles, refurbish/repair them, and donate them to needier children.  We will take complete bikes, used parts, tires and inner tubes.  Please drop off any donations to the Springer office.  For questions, please contact Mr. Spenader.

Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6: Students currently in grade 6 must have proof of a Tdap or Dtap (Pertussis or Whooping Cough) booster given after their 7th birthday (after 10th birthday is recommended) in order to begin seventh grade in August of 2013. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to the office by March 15, 2013.

Don’t forget to support the Free the Children coin drive!  Please remind your child to put any spare change in the suitcase in the office and help children in Ecuador.

Los Altos Kiwanis Tree Lot - Raise Money for Springer!

For every tree purchased at the Los Altos Kiwanis Tree Lot by someone from Springer, $5 or $10 will be donated back to our PTA.  The donation is based on tree size. With a purchase of a tree up to 6 ft, $5 will be donated back to Springer. With a tree purchase of 7 ft and taller, $10 will be donated back to Springer.  Simply mention Springer school when you check out!

The Kiwanis Tree Lot opens Friday, November 23rd at 10am.  It’s located in the Lucky’s Supermarket parking lot at Foothill Expressway and Arboretum Drive, and features noble firs, tree stands, wreaths, garlands and centerpieces.   In addition to Kiwanis' strong support of local schools, the funds raised sponsors the annual Kiwanis Pet Parade, Special Games, scholarships for local students, and much more!

Parent Education Opportunities

Save the date for the next MVLA School Speaker:  Thursday, January 24 at 7 pm, LAHS Theater

Dr. Deborah Gilboa will speak about "Raising Kids Who Can Launch"

Directed toward parents of 4th-12th graders, but all parents are welcome In this workshop, Dr. Gilboa applies her straightforward, practical approach (with a twist of humor) to dealing with the specific joys and stresses of parenting teens and young adults and getting them ready to move through this next phase of life. She will explore how to balance active parenting with helping young people to be out on their own, and encourage resilience in the face of adversity. Participants will leave with a list of specific tasks they can teach and the skills to impart lessons to children who don’t feel like they are children at all!

Student Extracurricular Activities

Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Studies is having an open house on Sunday, December 9, 2012 from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Stanford campus.

Stanford Pre-Collegiate offers individual online classes, summer institutes and enrichment programs throughout the school year for elementary, middle and high school students.

This is an opportunity for students and parents to learn first-hand about offerings at Stanford. Find flyer, directions and information at http://spcs.stanford.edu/openhouse, or phone Stanford at 650-724-8040 for more information.

Do you have a six year old? Are you interested in how reading develops?  Stanford Medical School is conducting a longitudinal research study which uses psychological testing and new brain imaging technology to see how reading skills develop in preterm and full-term children.

Children aged 5 years and 9 months to 6 years and 5 months are eligible to have their reading, language and thinking skills evaluated, at no cost.  Find out more here.

Los Altos Recreation Department

Mommy & Me Horsemanship class starts Tuesday, December 4, for kids 3-6 yrs + their adults. For class info and/or to register, go to losaltosrecreation.org, and look up FALL class #250403-02.

Come visit the Los Altos Recreation Department’s Gingerbread House Exhibit. Houses will be on display December 3-7, at the Hillview Community Center (97 Hillview Ave), Room 2, from 8am – 5pm. It is FREE and it is FESTIVE! Come by and enjoy!

Sign ups for Los Altos Recreation holiday camps are now underway. Camps include Camp Candy Cane, Pre-Teen Holiday Camp and Ice Skating Camp. Registration begins Wed, Nov 28, for Los Altos residents and Wed, Dec 5, for all others. Join us!

To check out and/or register online for all of our upcoming classes and activities, go to losaltosrecreation.org and click on the photo of our new WINTER 2013 RECREATION GUIDE. And remember, we have a great variety of adult classes, too. Check them out!

“ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”

Reviewed as a “charming alternative to the Nutcracker,” this show is performed by over 130 students representing 45 peninsula schools (including Springer).  Performances at Woodside Performing Arts Center on Sunday December 9th (1:00pm and 4:00pm), Saturday December 15th, (1:00pm and 4:00pm) and Sunday December 16th, (1:00 and 4:00). Tickets available at www.twasthenight.org or by calling 650-323-5292.

The 2012-13 Education Programs are off to a great start at the California Theatre Center! Exciting things are happening at CTC, and we want you to be part of the action!   Check out the Newsletter for Holiday Season 2012 by clicking here.

Girls on the Run Program Sign Ups December 1st!

The two words that best describe Girls on the Run are “FUN” and “RUN”.  Every aspect of this program is geared toward helping girls feel good about who they are - physically, emotionally and socially. We are excited to offer this great program to the 3rd-5th grade girls at Springer this coming spring!  Click here for more detailed information!

Spartans Sports Camp Holiday Basketball Camp, December 26th-29th

Visit www.SpartansSportsCamp.com or call (650)479-5906 for more information

Math Olympiad - Sports for the Mind! Interested in fun, innovative, and challenging math problems?  Fridays after school.  For registration and more information, click here.

Springer Singers: Mondays after school.  Gr.1-3 2:30-3:30pm; Gr. 4-6 2:45-3:30pm

Academic Chess Club, Thursdays after school, see flier for 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!