Springer Buzz!

September 13, 2013

In This Issue

Calendar Dates

Letter from the Principal

News and Announcements

Parent Education Opportunities

Student Extracurricular Activities

Quick Dates for your Calendar

September 18, Wednesday:  Picture Day!

September 20, Friday:  Coffee with the Principal

October 2, Wednesday, 7pm:  PTA meeting

October 12, Saturday: Walkathon

October 25, Friday: Coffee with the Principal

October 31, Thursday: Annual Costume Parade

Letter from the Principal

Time Well Spent

Yesterday afternoon, I was able to spend some significant time in many of our classrooms.  We are now in full swing and the instruction and learning were on full display.

In a 2nd grade classroom, I watched the teacher skillfully lead the students in a math discussion involving the concept of Algebra.  The math thinking being asked of the students, as well as the academic vocabulary used by teacher and students, would make an observer think they were watching a much higher grade level.

In a 4th grade classroom, I witnessed the teacher pull small groups of students to the back table so that she could re-teach a difficult math concept.  The positive coaching used by this teacher left me with the impression that students could not help but feel fully supported by the teacher.  

In a 5th grade classroom, I observed a teacher reading the students a story about 9/11.  The students were fully engaged, asking relevant questions.  The teacher used the story to teach the students about word choice and descriptors.  Captivating!

In a 6th grade classroom, I was mesmerized by the dynamic instruction of the teacher, as she introduced the students to the writing of a personal narrative.  Her engaging style had all of her students hanging on her every word.

I have often said to people that I have one of the best jobs in the world because I get to visit every one of our classrooms.  I certainly felt that way yesterday.

Thank You

On behalf of our Springer family who lost their home last Saturday in a fire, I want to thank the entire community for your concern and support.  I know it means a great deal to them and they feel very lucky to live in such a caring community.   We are all very lucky to be part of the Springer community.

Have a great weekend.

Mr Spenader

Follow us on Twitter @SpringerSpenade

News and Announcements

Welcome back, Springer! The school year has officially kicked off  and we are looking forward to another great year of collaborating with all PTA members to maintain the high quality of our children's educational experience!

Please join us for our first PTA Association Meeting on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, 845am-10am in the Teacher's Staff Room. For this initial meeting, we will be discussing our 2013-2014 Program & Goals and also hold a vote to approve the 2013-2014 Preliminary Budget. Hope to see you there!

LAEF: Welcome to the 2013-14 School Year!    

For more than 30 years, LAEF has helped bring enrichment programs to LASD students.  Staff for Physical Education, Music, Art, and reduced student-to-teacher ratios are all supported by your donations.   In addition, this year's innovation grant includes funding for a new STEM lab and full-time teacher at every elementary school in the district.  Combined with PTA funding for the supplies and equipment that help deliver these programs and others, your contributions to both are critical.

Please click here to pledge and/or donate now.

Would you like to be more involved?  LAEF needs ambassadors from each school to spread the good news in your school community.  For information, please contact one of the representatives listed below.

Please join us.  It's our largest fundraising year yet and we need your help!

Nancy F                        Susan Longyear                        Kristin Najarian                      Brooke Schiller

Springer's LAEF Representatives   laefonline.org

October 12: WALK-A-THON info is here!!  

Check your Friday Folders, everyone -- the eagerly anticipated Walk-a-thon materials are coming home today! Each Springer student will receive a green sponsor form. Students are encouraged to ask friends, family members and neighbors to sponsor their participation to benefit our school. (Sponsors can pledge per lap walked, or a flat donation.) Record your sponsors on the green form, sign the waiver on the back, and turn in by Friday, October 4 or sooner for a special treat!

Your family will also receive a blue Walk-a-thon handbook which has all the information you could hope for regarding the big event and the days leading up to it. You will also receive a hard-copy food pre-order form. (Please note if you already pre-ordered Walk-a-thon food via the online Back-to-School form you do NOT need to submit this form as well -- it's simply an alternative.)

Finally, we'd love for every family to volunteer for at least one fun, easy one-hour Walk-a-thon job shift by clicking here!

Questions?  Contact Karen McKinley karenhey[at]stanfordalumni.org or Christy Gammons  christine.gammons[at]gmail.com

The Springer Back To School (BTS) Order Form is a quick, easy, on-line tool that allows you to make donations, sign up for PTA memberships, order Birthday Books, select your child(ren)'s Walk-a-thon T-shirt size, and purchase 6th Grade T-shirts, Walk-a-thon Food Pre-Orders, Auction Tickets, Spirit Wear, and more.  This is a convenient way to make a single payment for your donations and orders!  Click on the link below to open the form.  We recommend reviewing the 2013-2014 Spirit Wear selection with your child(ren)before opening the form.

New this year: We've added the option to pay by e-check.  Please consider registering with Intuit so that you can make payments to Springer (and LAEF and the MVLA high school foundation) using an e-check.  Intuit charges the PTA a flat fee of 50 cents per pay payment.  PayPal, on the other hand, charges the PTA ~3.5% of your payment.  Please help us greatly reduce our banking/processing fees by choosing to pay by e-check rather than PayPal.  Making your payment by check is of course still an option, but e-check payments are preferred as it is the fastest/easiest way for us to process the payments and meet our ordering deadlines.

The link to the form is: Springer 2013 BTS Order Form

The password is "stingers" (all lower case)

The online form will close on Sunday, September 15 and payments are due by Friday, September 20.

Thank you for your support of the Springer PTA!

Project Cornerstone

Project Cornerstone is a school-wide program designed to help all children feel valued, respected, and known.  Each month a trained parent volunteer also called an “ABC Reader” (Asset Building Champion) will read a book in your child’s classroom.  The book will present opportunities to discuss and explore developmental assets that are important to positive values, relationships, skills and experiences that help young people thrive.

You don’t have to be a trained volunteer to be a part of Project Cornerstone.  In fact, the success of the program depends on every adult supporting every child in the school.  This means that in addition to reinforcing the skills at home with your own child, you encourage all students on campus and around town.  We want every child to have many caring adults in their lives.

Stay tuned for more information about what you can do to help create a caring community of learners.  

Girls on the Run at Springer is looking for Coaches!

This wonderful program has been at Springer for 8 years. It is for 3-6th grade girls. No running experience necessary, just a love of working with girls and promoting a positive self image.

The program starts the first week in March and goes Thru the 3rd week in May. GOTR meets twice a week right after school.

If you are interested in coaching, please contact Diana Rudolph gdrudolph@comcast.net www.gotrsv.org

Parent Education Opportunities

MVLA SCHOOLS – Upcoming Speaker: Jeffrey Selingo

College Unbound: The Changing Landscape of Higher Education

Tuesday, September 17, 7:00-9:00pm

Target Audience: Parents of 6^th through 12^th grade students

Click here for more details

Reading in Preterm and Full Term Children

Do you have a six year old? Are you interested in how reading develops?  Here at Stanford, we are 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.

If you are interested in having your child participate in this study, please click here for more details.

Student Extracurricular Activities

Cub Scouts

When you sign up your son for Cub Scouting, you're signing up for much more than an after-school activity. Whether he's camping for the first time or catching his first fish, your son will be taking part in activities that are fun, as well as building his character and starting him on a path to success. While there are lots of cool badges to earn, the experiences he and you have along the way will be the true rewards.

Cub Scout Pack 36 is inviting all first grade boys and their parents to join our new Tiger Cub den at its first meeting on Friday, Sept. 13 (today!) at 5 p.m., as well as the broader pack's first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings are in the Springer Multipurpose Room. Discover the Scouting experience!

GirlSPARC

GirlSPARC - a Science Plus ARithmetic Club - is an after-school extracurricular STEM program for 2nd - 6th grade girls, with the goal of exposing girls to engineering, math & science topics in a fun, supportive environment.  We are offering the program twice a week - Mondays for 2nd & 3rd grade girls, and Thursdays for 4th, 5th & 6th grade girls.  It is an 8 week program, starting on 9/23.  For more information, contact Tracy Stone, tracygstone[at]yahoo.com, or Anita Mathew, anita.mathew10[at]gmail.com.

Play In A Box After-School Fall Drama Class

Springer Elementary is teaming up with Peninsula Youth Theatre to offer after school drama this fall! Students will learn the basics of acting, character development, story-telling and theater terminology while having fun and rehearsing a show.

Parents will provide a simple costume for their child (instructions included), help gathering props, and assisting their child in memorization.

Classes are open to 4th - 6th graders held Mondays from 2:45-4:15 from 9/23 - 12/9 (no rehearsal on 11/11 or 11/25). Final performance on 12/9 at Springer.

A maximum of 20 students will be accepted per session.  Cost $225 per student.  

Register online at:  http://pytspringerfall2013.eventbrite.com

LEGO CLUB

Springer's noontime LEGO Club kicks off its third year on Wednesday September 18! Our first theme of 2013/2014 is American amusement parks and attractions in honor of the Springer Walkathon. Students will be encouraged to design their favorite attractions for display during the week of the Walkathon. We have created a LEGO model of Disneyland for students to guess how many LEGO were used for our first Estimation Contest of the year. Winners will be announced at Assembly and LEGO prizes awarded to the top estimators. This year we will be offering a new program to support any student who wishes to come to LEGO Club to help our newer builders. They will join our "LEGO Worker Bees" team and have a special badge to identify them as student volunteers.

Springer is the only school in the district with an extensive collection of over 200 pounds of LEGO and an active noontime LEGO program run by volunteers. LEGO Club is a free Funvisor club open to any student and boasts just as many girls participating as boys.  Students are able to do multi-week builds because our collection is so large. We gladly accept donations and welcome volunteers.

Lego Club is held on Wednesdays at lunch recess in the Multi.

Questions?  Please contact Laurie Pasmooij, Kimiyo Straw, Anita Leo, or Jenni Tellefsen.

Is your child interested in volunteering at Springer? Two noontime clubs, LEGO Club and Art Club, are recruiting student volunteers to help make the newer students feel welcome and provide valuable assistance with projects. An informational meeting on these volunteer programs will be held for students at lunch recess on Tuesday September 16in the Multi. We hope that our student volunteers will provide good role models for other students and continue to encourage positive interaction between grade levels at Springer. Volunteers will be known as the Springer Worker Bees for LEGO Club and Arterrific Stingers for Art Club. A Springer Worker Bee can be any student who is willing to help other students build with LEGO. They will wear a badge so they can be easily identified by other students. Arterrific Stingers volunteers should be in Grades 4-6 and will help with tasks such as paint distribution, creation assembly, operation of glue guns and heavier duty scissors, etc. during Art Club at lunch. Arterrific Stingers have the option to wear aprons provided that identify them as a volunteer. LEGO Club and Art Club are held weekly on Wednesday and Thursdays respectively at lunch recess.

Questions? Please contact Laurie Pasmooij,laurie.pasmooij[at]mac.com.

Art Club

The first Art Club of 2013/2014 will be held on Thursday September 19 at lunch recess. In honor of the "Springer Goes Coast to Coast" Walkathon, our first Art Club will be held at the large United States map on the Springer blacktop. Our Arterrific Stingers and parent volunteers will be there to help students draw famous places on the United States map with chalk. We have tourist maps handy as well as over a hundred pictures/post cards of famous U.S. destinations to color as well. Art Club will be held every Thursday at Lunch. We welcome all students and parent volunteers...and art supply donations.

Questions?  Please contact Laurie Pasmooij or Kimiyo Straw.

Public Speaking Classes

"Public Speaking Classes" for grades 3.4.5.6 on Wednesdays 2:50pm - 3:55pm (starting 9/25/13) (There will be supervision for 3^rd graders from 2:25-2:50pm)  For registration and more information, click here!

How to submit an article to the Springer STAR

If you have an article to submit to Springer Buzz, please send it to the editor at springer.buzz@gmail.com by noon on Monday for inclusion in the next edition.  Late arrivals will be included if possible but can’t be guaranteed! All flyers must be in either WORD or PDF format, accompanied by a brief summary of the activity in the email.