Springer Buzz!

February 14th, 2014

In This Issue

Calendar Dates

Principal’s Letter

News and Announcements

Parent Education Opportunities

Student Extracurricular Activities

Quick Dates for your Calendar

February 17-21: Winter break – NO SCHOOL

March 5, 8.45am: PTA meeting

March 13: Science Fair

March 22: Springer Auction

April 3, 6-8pm: Open House

April 7- 11: Spring break – NO SCHOOL

April 26: Junior Olympics

Letter from the Principal

An Update on the Smarter Balanced Spring Field Test from the LASD Curriculum Office

In transitioning to the new Common Core Standards, LASD has been focusing on ensuring that all students have experiences that include rigor, application of knowledge and deep levels of understanding of essential concepts.  As the methods of instruction change to include critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity, the methods of assessment will also change to adjust to the new expectations of rigor and understanding. You are probably already aware that the State of California will no longer administer the traditional STAR testing for 2nd-12th grade students, and will begin implementing the new Smarter Balanced online assessments.

LASD will participate in the Smarter Balanced Field Test for 3rd-8th grade students, during the April 14-May 16 testing window. Students will take both the English Language Arts and Math online assessments.  The Field Test is not designed to provide achievement information for students, but rather to help the test creators and administrators to refine the test and testing implementation process.  No student data will be provided to schools, parents or districts.

Because the Field Test requires the use of computers, grade levels at Springer will be testing on different days throughout the testing window to ensure we are utilizing our technology efficiently.  

In the next few weeks, students will be taught the technical tools needed to successfully experience this new online format.  You can access the tests that students will be using to practice these skills by following this link to the practice tests.  Simply click the “sign in” tab to view the tests.  These practice tests will provide students with experience using testing tools such as highlighting, click and drag, strikeouts and the online calculator.

The main difference between traditional STAR testing and the new Smarter Balanced assessments is that students will be expected to reason and analyze information, and to explain their thinking in English language arts as well as mathematics.  We are confident that the LASD vision of revolutionizing learning, and the focus of providing students with innovative and engaging ways of displaying their knowledge, will continue to support student success.

If you have any questions about the Smarter Balanced Testing, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Wade Spenader- Principal

News and Announcements

It’s not too late to make your LAEF donation for the 2013-14 school year! Our goal: 3.2 million and 100% participation. Funds are already at work in support of: smaller class sizes, extended library hours, STEM, physical education, Living Classroom lessons, art docent lessons, vocal and instrumental music. Who helps make LASD schools so outstanding? YOU DO! Donations can be made online at www.laefonline.org. Annual Fund suggested donation is $1,000 per student, and corporate matching is available. Invest in excellent schools and a strong community.

LAEF representatives at Springer are:

Nancy F

Susan Longyear, sue.longyear[at]gmail.com

Brooke Schiller, bbwc[at]sbcglobal.net

Kristin Najarian (member-at-large), kristin_najarian[at]yahoo.com

Make Your Tax Deductible Donation Today!  www.laefonline.org

Volunteers Needed to Serve on the PTA Board

Interested in helping decide what programs and activities the PTA funds?  Looking for a fun, rewarding way to get more involved in the Springer community?  The PTA Board Nominating Committee is currently seeking volunteers to serve on the PTA Board for next school year.  If interested in learning more, please contact Anne Hartman at verucakitty[at]yahoo.com

Don’t forget! Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6 - Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office by March 14, 2014.

NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER TODAY!

For the past 22 years, Mason-McDuffie’s Education Foundation has been recognizing deserving teachers in Northern California by awarding them unrestricted cash grants. To date, they’ve given $818,000 to 1,365 special public school teachers. It’s their way of giving back to the communities in which they do business.

Let's recognize and reward our best teachers! They are accepting nominations of outstanding teachers for their 2014 grant program. You can nominate a teacher by clicking here and using their online form. Or, click here for those who prefer to print out and type or hand-write their nomination. Please make as many copies as you need. In May of 2014, the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate will host an award ceremonies throughout Northern California to give acknowledgement to the teachers chosen for these grants.

Please note that the deadline for nominations is March 15.

*

You are Invited!

Prom Night:

Springer School Auction 2014

March 22, 2014, 6:30-10:30 pm

Michaels at Shoreline

This is more than just an auction, it’s the party of the year! Join your fellow Springer parents and teachers for an evening of fun and fundraising benefiting Springer School.

       Buy Tickets

       Volunteer     Secure your babysitter, check out Abracadabra for details of their babysitting service here

       Host a party (deadline is February 7th)

       Donate an item (deadline is February 7th)

       More Information

Donate wine for the Springer Auction

The Springer auction is looking for donations of wine for the wine wall! The wine wall is a Springer auction tradition. It works like a raffle and raises lots of money for the school. There are two ways you can help:

· If you have a bottle you would like to donate, please bring it to the office. If you would like a receipt for your donation please email Hilary Burcell (hilary[at]burcell.com) with your name and the value of your wine.

· If you have a connection to a local winery that might be interested in making a donation, please contact Hilary Burcell or Doug Isaacson (doug_isaacson[at]yahoo.com).

THANKS for supporting the auction!

Questions? Email 2014 auction co-chairs, Rachel, Kirsten & Elizabeth at springerauction@gmail.com

Support your school – by shopping at Sports Basement!

Get 10% off your purchase and give 5% back to your school, every day, in every Sports Basement location – just say Springer Elementary School at the register!

Stores are in Campbell, Sunnyvale, San Francisco and Walnut Creek, with one coming soon in Berkeley.

Parent Education Opportunities

“How Parents Can Help Their Children Learn and Love Math”

Please join Professor Jo Boaler from Stanford University in a discussion on how students learn math and how parents can support a growth mindset for continued success in math.

Thursday February 27, 2014 7:00 - 8:30 pm, at the Bullis Charter School MultiPurpose Room (MPR) 102 West Portola Ave
Los Altos, CA 94022

This event is free – click here for more details

Student Extracurricular Activities

Join Springer Singers for our Spring season singing selections “From the Movies.”  Songs from Cars, Oliver, Yellow Submarine, Mary Poppins, Disney movies and more! Grades 1-6 rehearse Tuesdays in the multi from 2:30 – 3:30.

For more details about the Springer Singers, please contact Heidi Rockett, rockettland[at]comcast.net

String Fling Concert  Wed., March 5, 7 pm  Blach Intermediate School

6th Grade String students from Springer, Loyola, and Oak will join Blach Junior High students for a large orchestra performance.  Rehearsal is Mon., March 3 from 3:10 – 4pm at Blach.

Peninsula Youth Theatre presents "The Sound of Music" at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on March 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9, with matinee and evening performances. Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for children at the box office.     http://pytnet.org/shows/SoundOfMusic/tickets.htm

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 a Spring Session twice a week - Thursdays for 2nd & 3rd grade girls, and Tuesdays for 4th, 5th & 6th grade girls.  It is an 8 week program, starting on 2/25.  For more information, contact Tracy Stone, tracygstone[at]yahoo.com, or Anita Mathew,anita.mathew10[at]gmail.com.

Medaka no Gakko

Registration applications are now being accepted for Medaka no Gakko, a Japanese cultural summer program for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade. The parent cooperative program features arts and crafts, music, literature, cooking, social studies and language. Classroom activities are enriched by demonstrations and performances by artists and community members. Dates:  June 23 - July 11, 2014; Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple in Palo Alto. After school care available until 3:00 p.m.  For more information, please visit www.medakanogakko.org or email medakanogakkopaloalto@gmail.com.

30th Annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest

2014 Theme: “Los Altos Art Works Enrich Our Lives and Community”

Take a journey in your mind and imagine what would happen if your favorite work of art came alive! Describe an experience or adventure that happened one day. Within your writing, identify your work of art and tell where it is located. Be sure to include a beginning, middle, and end. Think about developing an organized flow of ideas. As you write, use interesting vocabulary and creative ideas.

For the complete essay prompt, go to http://www.losaltoshistory.org/

Deadline for the essay is March 7.

Winter Break Basketball Camp

Learn valuable skills from MVHS basketball coaches and alumni in this half-day camp. Shooting, ball-handling, and defense will be among the topics covered in a high-energy, fast-paced environment. This is a great opportunity to stay active, have fun, and work on your game during winter break.

This half-day camp takes place Feb 17-21 from 9 am-12 pm and is open to boys and girls in grades 4-8.

Sign up today at www.SpartansSportsCamp.com or call 650.479.5906 for more info!

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.