Los Altos School District Weekly Newsletter
|
Springer Star Newsletter January 11th, 2013 |
In This Issue |
|
Calendar Dates News and Announcements Parent Education Opportunities Student Extracurricular Activities |
Quick Dates for your Calendar |
|
January 21st: No School (Martin Luther King Day) January 22nd: No School February 18-22: Winter Break March 8th: Vocal Music Concert (K-3): March 14th: Springer Science-O-Rama: March 21st: Minimum Day and Bike Rodeo March 23rd: Springer Auction |
News and Announcements |
|
Please follow our campus safety protocols. Some reminders: 1. All visitors need to sign in at the office. If you are going to be on campus during the school day for any extended period of time (volunteering in a classroom, handing out hot lunch, etc.), YOU MUST SIGN IN AT THE OFFICE AND WEAR A VISITOR BADGE. 2. Do NOT enter the classroom corridors ("The Learning Zone") during the school day to drop off lunches or student work. Those items should be brought to the office. Office staff will work to get the items to the student. As a reminder, the table behind the office is there to drop off lunches. Students know to go to that table if they are expecting a lunch to be dropped off. 3. Springer School is a closed campus during the school day. No one is allowed on campus who doesn't have official school business with the school. 4. Please, no dogs (no matter how cute!) are allowed on campus between 8:00am and 3:00pm. Service dogs are the exception. |
|
PTA Nominating Committee Congratulations to the newly-elected 2013-2014 Nominating Committee! This Committee consists of five (5) members and (2) alternates who are current members of the PTA and they are: Jennifer Dormady Kevin Beedon Rachel Michelson Dani Thompson Cheryl Quinn Alternates: Chris Brey and Rita Estrada The Nominating Committee has the important role of identifying a slate of qualified candidates for next year's PTA elected leadership. Board officer nominations will be presented at the March PTA meeting and the election will be held at the April PTA meeting. PTA members are encouraged to consider volunteering for a position on next year's board! It is a great way to learn about and support the many programs at Springer. Association members can recommend candidates, including themselves, for the board by submitting this form, which can be dropped off in the Springer office. |
|
IEPTA Please join us on January 24th for a presentation from Santa Clara County’s Special Education Department. Dollie Forney will speak to us about the County’s Learning Multimedia Resource Center. We will also hear from Susan Larkin who staffs the Inclusion Collaborative Warm Line, a call/email service for parents and professionals who have questions or concerns about inclusion in the classroom or community. This is sure to be an informative evening. Please save the date! Date: Thursday, January 24th, 2013 Time: 7-8:30 pm Place: Covington School, Room 31 The Individualized Education PTA (IEPTA) is a Los Altos District PTA that supports bringing parents and educators together to meet the individual educational needs of pre-K to eighth-grade children in the Los Altos School District. These needs include Special Day Classes, Therapeutic Special Day Classes, Speech and Language, and Resource. |
| 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 your school office by March 15, 2013. |
|
WALKATHON 2012 WINNERS AND FUNDRAISING UPDATE SPRINGER turned out in exceptional form at the 2012 Walk-a-thon! 94% of the school walked in this year’s walk-a-thon! Not only did you show up-you achieved the HIGHEST EVER Walkathon Sponsor Card Donations! The event alone raised $67,000 for SPRINGER! This money will be used towards instructional materials, supplies, and printing costs. This helps to offset the reductions in funding to the Los Altos School District from the state. Funds also support student programs at Springer such as The Living Classroom (the district’s hands-on science program), art and music enrichment, and noontime clubs and activities. In addition to the prizes the student's win at the Walk-a-thon, there are awards that are based on funds raised per student and overall class participation. Top 5 money-raising students will win a special outing with Mr. Spenader. They are: Katie Chatow - $727.00, Tyler Chatow - $760.00, Mica Horton- $800.00, and Kael Fitzpatrick- $1,660.00. The top earner will also receive their name engraved on the Walk-a-thon plaque in the office and be the official starter for the 2013 Walk-a-thon! That is Kelly Kokka - $3,512.50. A class from K-3 and a class from 4-6 with the highest percentage of student participation wins a special class party hosted by The Walkathon Committee. The classrooms with the most student participation were: Ms. Pforzheimer's 3rd grade class and Ms. Johnson's 4th grade class both with 100% student participation! And, three students were randomly selected to win a week long summer sport camps donated by Mt. View High School. They are: Aaron Golden, Matilde Pecora, and Sam Aoki. Congratulations to all winners and the entire Springer Community! We look forward to a great event in 2013! A few other Walk-a-thon notes: · JOIN US!!! The Walk-a-thon Committee is looking for a few people to take on roles for next year. Some parents are moving on and you'd have great training and a lot of fun. Please contact Christy Gammons at christine.gammons[at]gmail.com we could really use your help! The Walk-a-thon is a great way to give your time to Springer in a fun setting that includes your children and family! It is also a great volunteer opportunity being a one day event not a on-going year long commitment...and your efforts go a long way to help the school! If that suits you let us know and we will find a role that you are comfortable with!
If you have trouble viewing or submitting this form, you can fill it out online here |
|
Please join us at the 2013 Springer Auction! March 23, 2013 at the University Club of Palo Alto Check your Friday Folder for more information and to find out what's new, what's not and what's HOT! Or find more details at: www.biddingforgood.com/springerauction Have questions? Contact Renee and Wen at springerauction@gmail.com |
|
Great Green News!! Please join the fun for our First Anniversary party to celebrate the enormous success of our Green Lunch Program!!!! Our Springer Stingers have diverted 17,400 POUNDS of compostables and recyclables from landfills in just one school year. (And that's a conservative estimate). Come give our students the "props" they deserve for such a stellar effort! Friday- Jan. 24th from 12:10-12:45. Please come!!!! |
|
Springer Singers A Big thank You to all the parents and Kids for a great Springer Singer season! The Holiday concert was a big hit, and many kids are asking to join the Springer Singers for the balance of the year. The new season, a Broadway theme, starts this Monday, January 14th. If your child wants to join us for the remainder of the school year, sign up now by contacting Heidi Rockett, and pick up a form in the office. |
| Springer Swap & Reuse Day coming soon! March 2nd, 9-1pm: Save the Date! |
|
Still seeking a Hot Lunch volunteer! The Hot Lunch team needs to fill one volunteer spot starting immediately. 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 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. |
Parent Education Opportunities |
|
Upgrading the Curriculum with Common Core Standards January 25, 2013, 8:45 am, iLearn Studio (located at the District Office next to the Board Room) All LASD teachers have committed to upgrading units of instruction this school year. Come learn more from Alyssa Gallagher, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, about what it means to upgrade curriculum and how Los Altos School District is aligning instruction to the Common Core Standards. |
|
MVLA School Speaker: Dr Deborah Gilboa on "Raising Kids Who Can Launch" Thursday, January 24 at 7 pm, LAHS Theater In this workshop, Dr. Gilboa applies her straight-forward, 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! This talk is directed toward parents of 4th-12th graders, but all parents are welcome Click here for more details. |
|
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 our website. |
Student Extracurricular Activities |
|
It’s Pinewood Derby time! The Pinewood Derby will be held on Sunday January 27th in the Springer Multi. Springer Cub Scout Pack 36 welcomes any Springer Student or Springer parent to participate. In addition to the race there will be a raffle and a food truck. Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of race fun! If you would like to participate, show up at any of the workshops, fill out a race registration form and pay a $5 registration fee which includes the car kit. Please note any student attending the workshops must have a parent with them. For more details see the Pack 36 website (www.springerpack36.org) · Workshop - Sunday January 6th, 1 to 3pm, Springer Multi · Workshop - Sunday January 13th, 1-3pm, Springer Multi · Workshop - Sunday January 20th, 1-3pm, Springer Multi · Race - Sunday January 27th, 1pm, Springer School multi |
|
Los Altos Recreation Department New Year…new opportunities for FUN with the Los Altos Recreation Department! It is the beginning of January and we have many, many activities taking place. Next week alone these following classes start: Academic Fun classes Intro to Leadership & Public Speaking (7-9, 10-13, 14-17yrs) Art classes My First Art (1.5-3 and 2-5yrs) Cartoon Drawing (6-12yrs) Elementary Drawing (6-12yrs) Music & Performing Arts classes Private Singing Lessons (9+yrs) Beginning Piano (4-5, 5-7yrs) Guitar (7-10, 10-13, 8-12yrs) Sports classes Golf (7-17yrs) Ice Skating (3-5, 6-12yrs) Soccer (for ages ranging from 2-10yrs) Tennis (for ages ranging from 5-14yrs) To check out and/or register online for all of our upcoming classes, 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! The Los Altos Recreation Department wishes you a Happy New Year! |
| After School Soccer Program for Grades 1 – 3 Wednesdays, 2:45pm – 3:30pm starting February 6 For more info or to register, please go to http://tinyurl.com/mvla1-3 or visit www.mvlasc.org and click on after school programs. |
|
It’s not too late to sign up for Girls on the Run! But please note that fees increase by $25 beginning January 21st . See attached Flier for more detailed program information. |
| After School Art Club for grades K-3, Thursdays, Jan. 10 - Apr.18, 2.30-3.30pm in the Art room. For more information, click here. |
| 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! |