Springer Star Newsletter

December 14th 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, 1pm & 7pm: Springer Singers Winter Concert  

December 20th: Holiday cocktails

December 21st: Winter Break begins (No school on Friday!)

News and Announcements

Springer Singers Holiday Concert – Wednesday, December 19th!

What better way could there be to begin Winter Break than a concert by our very own Springer Singers?

Come listen to our 1st – 4th graders as they fill the multi with their holiday cheer.

1pm School Concert

7pm Family & Friends

Holiday Cocktails with Springer Ladies

Thursday, December 20th

First and Main

7:00pm to ?

No RSVP required.

Come and join friends to celebrate the end of building gingerbread houses, organizing class parties and holiday concerts!! Take a load off and enjoy some cheer with the girls!  Drinks and hors d’oeuvres can be purchased as you wish!

Seeking Hot Lunch volunteers!

The Hot Lunch team needs to fill two volunteer spots starting in January. Hot Lunch shifts are from 11:35-12:15, and for each shift you work, you earn a free lunch for your child from Kid Chow! If you would like to serve lunch every other Thursday or every other Friday, please contact Hilary Burcell or Anita Leo.

Library volunteers needed! Would you like to meet students of all grade levels? Come help in the library at lunch! The library needs volunteers to shelve, check-in and check-out books. Contact Claudine Sheridan at claudine3c[at]yahoo.com for more information.

Flu Shots

Target is providing free flu shots for kids age 4 - 18 until December 31 through their ShooTheFluprogram.  Click here for more details.

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.

Save the Date!

Springer Auction  March 23, 2013 6:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.

You’re invited to the Annual Springer Auction. This is more than just an auction!  This is an opportunity to join your fellow Springer parents for an evening of fun and fundraising benefiting our very own Springer School. You’ll eat, you’ll drink, you’ll bid and, most importantly, you’ll have a great time.

Here is our recommended "to-do" list for the holiday break:

1.    Save the Date - mark your calendars!

2.    Secure your babysitter

3.    Consider hosting a party*  

4.    Consider donating an item**    

For more suggestions, click here;  for the community donation form, click here

Questions? Contact Renee and Wen at springerauction@gmail.com

Ever thought of becoming a Los Altos Art Docent?

Art Docent Betty Latta has served as an Art Docent with the Los Altos School District for 36 years. She loves to teach watercolor painting. She says, 'The look on a child's face the first time they mix red and blue and discover they've made purple is priceless.'

The Los Altos Art Docents is comprised of 89 active well-trained volunteers who teach hands-on art and art appreciation lessons throughout the Los Altos School District.

For more information about being an Art Docent, you can read their newsletter by clicking here.

Or visit their web site at www.losaltosartdocents.org or call 650.947.1195  

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. Simply mention Springer school when you check out!

The Kiwanis Tree Lot is located in the Lucky’s Supermarket parking lot at Foothill Expressway and Arboretum Drive.

Parent Education Opportunities

Packard Pediatric Weight Control Program - spaces available for winter groups.

Spaces are available now for the Packard Pediatric Weight Control Program, a 6-month-long weekly family program. Small groups of children (ages 8-15) and parents meet for 1.5hrs weekly to focus on establishing healthy eating and exercise habits. Call (650) 725-4424 for more information about the next groups in English and Spanish and for payment options. Or click on ourwebsite

Save the date!  The next MVLA School Speaker will be Dr. Deborah Gilboa: "Raising Kids Who Can Launch":  Thursday, January 24 at 7 pm, LAHS Theater.

Student Extracurricular Activities

Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Studies is having an open house on Sunday, December 9th, 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 call 650-724-8040

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

Sign ups for Los Altos Recreation Department holiday camps are now underway. Camps include the holiday-themed Camp Candy Cane (ages 3.5-5), the “day-trip” Pre-Teen Holiday Camp (ages 8-12) and all around-fun Ice Skating Camp (ages 6-12). 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! Check out the Newsletter for Holiday Season 2012 by clicking here.

After School Soccer Program for Grades 1 – 3

Wednesdays, 2:45pm – 3:30pm starting February 6 Join your friends and learn how to dribble, pass, receive, and shoot! Technical skills taught by TOP MVLA professional coaches AT YOUR SCHOOL one day per week directly after school. Supervision provided on the field from school dismissal. This fun six-week program is $90.00. For more info or to register, please go to http://tinyurl.com/mvla1-3 or visitwww.mvlasc.org and click on after school programs

Girls on the Run Program Sign Ups December 1st!

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! Fridays after school.  For 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.  See flier for details of 2013 sessions.

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!