Los Altos School District Weekly Newsletter
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Springer Buzz! November 22, 2013 |
In This Issue |
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Calendar Dates Letter from the Principal News and Announcements Parent Education Opportunities Student Extracurricular Activities |
Quick Dates for your Calendar |
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November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break; NO SCHOOL November 25 & 26: Parent/Teacher conferences December 5, 7pm: Kinder and New Family Information Night in the Multi December 20 through January 5: Winter recess |
Letter from the Principal |
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Springer Site Council Update The Springer Site Council is a committee composed of parents, staff and the principal. In the past, when California had plenty of money in its budget, Site Councils at schools were given money to use for school improvement; in particular in the area of student achievement.
While Site Councils haven't seen money from the state in a long, long time, these important committees still function. Springer's Site Council has been used to write the Single Plan of Student Achievement, conduct Parent Surveys, and to make general recommendations to the various stakeholders at Springer.
This year the Site Council will be asking all Springer families to take a survey on various aspects of the school, including questions on climate, curriculum and technology. The data we collect from the surveys is important, allowing us to uncover areas where parents would like to see more emphasis or more communication. We can also gauge satisfaction with certain programs. The Site Council will analyze the survey and then make recommendations out to groups such as the Technology Committee and the PTA, and to the principal. Consider the survey a quality review check for our clientele. We are expecting to launch the survey in January, soon after the resumption of school after the Winter recess. It will be sent with a link via email. Your feedback is very important.
Another project Site Council will take on this year deals with campus safety. The Council will walk the campus and look at potential additions, such as fencing, that will make Springer a more secure campus. Recommendations for those improvements will be given to PTA for their consideration.
A Loss For Springer… It is with some sadness that I report that Mrs. Crystal Gippe, our Resource Specialist, will be leaving Springer at the end of December. Due to a job transfer for her husband, she will be moving out to chilly Colorado. We are excited for Crystal's new life journey, but we are saddened by her departure. Crystal has, in a very short time, made a tremendous impact on her students and on the Springer staff. I will be conducting interviews for a new Resource Specialist during the first week of December and anticipate hiring an equally skilled Resource Specialist as Mrs. Gippe. We wish her the best of luck and thank her for her great care and compassion for Springer students.
Happy Thanksgiving Lastly, I want to wish everyone a restful break over the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope it is time well spent with family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone back when school resumes on Monday, Dec. 2nd. |
News and Announcements |
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LAEF: Much to be thankful for!
We are so fortunate to live in a strong community and have the ability to provide our children with an excellent education. Parents like you support our schools with their time, energy and money, including so many donors to LAEF so far this year. We are also thankful for the volunteer LAEF board members, who share a commitment to education, enrichment programs and innovation in the classrooms. Without all of your efforts, the Los Altos School District student experience would look very different.
Thank you also to all of our business supporters who help us make our fundraising goal and build a strong community. Local businesses give support through employee corporate matching programs, realtor donations, and special offers such as our current Tiny Prints promotion: order your holiday cards here - 25% go to LAEF.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, Brooke Schiller and Marilyn Stanley, 2013-14 LAEF Co-Presidents |
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News from the District Nurse Sometimes it is difficult, especially early in the morning, to know whether or not to send your child to school. With the flu season right around the corner, the following guidelines are indications that you should keep your child home. Thank you for your help, to control the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses.
LOS ALTOS SCHOOL DISTRICT HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL
Keep your child at home when he/she has any of the following symptoms: Fever Chills Vomiting or diarrhea Nausea Sore throat or trouble swallowing Coughing, sneezing, and/or runny nose Rash or unusual sores or spots Headache Generalized muscle aches and pains Wheezing or trouble breathing Unusually red, crusted or burning eyes
If you or your child develops a cold that includes a severe cough or a cough that lasts a long time, it may be pertussis (whooping cough). The best way to know is to contact your doctor. You need to keep your child home until he/she has been symptom-free without mediation for 24 hours. |
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Lost and Found: It's that time of year where sweaters, sweatshirts, and umbrellas are left on campus. The Springer Lost and Found is full with clothing and miscellaneous items. Please come by and check to see if any items in the Lost and Found cabinet (located next to the multi) belong to you. All items that are still in the cabinet on Friday, December 6th will be donated to charity. |
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Drop Off Reminder: Springer has received a complaint from a neighbor who lives on Cuesta regarding cars dropping off students. Apparently, Springer parents are dropping off their child on Cuesta but blocking driveways. Please be courteous to our neighbors by not blocking access to their own driveways. |
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WALK-A-THON: Return Your Sponsors! It’s not too late! Did you forget to turn in your Walk-a-thon sponsor cards and collected donations earlier this month? It's not too late! Money and cards still can be turned into the Walk-a-thon cubby in the office. We appreciate EVERY donation! Checks should be made to Springer PTA - please attach securely to your form. Tax forms are online on the Springer website. Thank you for your support. |
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Cornerstone Corner This month the Springer students, staff, and community are being asked to do one kind thing for another student every day. The purpose in encouraging “intentional acts of kindness” is to help students develop empathy and express tolerance for others. Take this opportunity to have conversations around caring, empathy, and compassion. Encourage your child to actively seek out opportunities to help, care for, and encourage others. More than 500 students performing daily acts of caring for three weeks equals over 7,500 buckets filled! Check out this video on teaching Tolerance to our kids. |
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Dear Springer Families,
Are you ready to "Bee Generous" and make a difference this holiday season? Springer School and our Girl Scout Juniors Troop #61167 are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Family Giving Tree Holiday Drive this year!
The Family Giving Tree’s Holiday Program works with local social service agencies that register children and homeless persons in need. Their agency partners interview these families to evaluate their specific needs. Their requests are sent to the Family Giving Tree Elves who then print these individual wishes on cards and distribute them to host organizations like ours throughout the Bay Area.
Here's how you can help:
Choose a wish card in the Springer office and fulfill a child’s wish. Cards will be located in the office on our "Bee Generous Giving Tree", starting Monday, November 18. All gift donations should be unwrapped with the wish card securely taped to the package. Gift donations are due in the office by Monday, December 9.
Please contact Diana Rudolph (drudolph@lasdschools.org) or Linda Smith (lripley-smith@lasdschools.org) if you have any questions, or visit www.FamilyGivingTree.org for more information about the program. |
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2014 Springer Auction, Call for Amazing and Unique Experiences The Springer Community is amazingly well connected and extraordinarily unique! Your 2014 auction committee is looking for one-of-a-kind experiences that only the Springer Community can make possible. Here are some ideas: - Access to unique experiences: sports teams (high school to pro), behind the scenes tours (workplace or other), cultural experiences, etc. - Access to someone famous, unique or interesting - Vacation homes (flexible dates are best) - Air miles or hotel points Be creative and share your ideas and connections and benefit Springer! You can help make this year's auction amazing! Please note a follow-up call for Community party ideas will come a little later in the year. If you have an amazing or unique experience idea to offer, please contact the 2014 Auction Committee at: springerauction@gmail.com. Or if you prefer, you can fill out our form. |
Parent Education Opportunities |
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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 |
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Girls on the Run Program Sign Ups December 7st ! 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-6th grade girls at Springer this coming spring! Click here for more detailed information! |
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A Cheerful Noise Winter Concerts - Featuring Past/Present Springer Students! Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 5 pm First Congregational Church 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 4 pm Old First Church 1751 Sacramento Street, San Francisco Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 4 pm Cunningham Memorial Chapel Notre Dame de Namur University 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont Ragazzi Boys Chorus presents A Cheerful Noise. Take some time out of your busy Holiday schedule to enjoy the vocal beauty and youthful energy of our upper-level trebles and changed-voice singers. Classics of choral literature will be featured, including pieces by Mozart, Purcell and Handel. Patrons are invited to sing along with carols, and will be treated to the hushed intensity of Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria. Ragazzi will also present an exciting piece by Paul Halley that combines the ancient chant Ubi Caritas with African chants and drumming. |
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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, December 7th/8th and 14th/15th This wonderful holiday show, reviewed as a “charming alternative to the Nutcracker,” will be performed by children of all ages at Woodside Performing Arts Center on Saturday December 7 (4:00pm), Sunday December 8 (1:00pm and 4:00pm) Saturday, December 14, (1:00 and 4:00), and Sunday, December 15 (1:00 and 4:00). Tickets available at www.twasthenight.org or by calling 650-323-5292. Come support your fellow Springer student! For more details, click here |
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Los Altos Recreation Upcoming Holiday Events
And the holiday fun begins…Our annual Gingerbread House Exhibit runs the week of Dec 2. It is open all week, Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm. Come in and enjoy all the houses that fellow residents have made. The smell of the gingerbread alone will get you into the holiday spirit. Plus…it’s FREE! Santa Visits are on the books for Dec 13 and 14. Due to the popularity of the big elf, this allotted time fills up quickly, so don’t delay if you would like a house visit from the big guy himself. Get on the waitlist if your timeslot is taken. Next, we’re offering 3-day holiday camps (Dec 20, 23 and 24): Camp Candy Cane and PreTeen Holiday Camp. Great for kids and their parents (who might be a wee bit busy at that time). Lastly, the New Year’s Day Fun Run returns to downtown Los Altos at 9am sharp on…when else…January 1. A fun and free way to welcome the New Year!
For more information on all of these events—plus all our on-going classes—go to LosAltosRecreation.org and click on the photo of our Holiday Fun kids.
We have HOLIDAY FUN in Los Altos! |
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LOS ALTOS-MOUNTAIN VIEW PONY BASEBALL - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Registration is now open for the 2014 baseball season! LA-MV PONY Baseball is for boys and girls aged 5-19. This is the 29th year serving our community. We hope you and your families will join us on and off the field as we once again make this a very special year for our players, coaches, parents and the community. Practices begin in early March, and games go from late March through the spring. Please register as early as possible in the coming month for our league's planning purposes. For more information and to register please visit the league website at http://www.lamvpb.org/ |
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MVLA SOFTBALL SIGN-UP Registration for the Spring 2014 season of MVLA Girls Softball opens on November 1. Learn more about us at: www.mvlags.org |
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Public Speaking Cla
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