Springer Buzz!

March 14th, 2014

In This Issue

Calendar Dates

News and Announcements

Parent Education Opportunities

Student Extracurricular Activities

Quick Dates for your Calendar

March 22: Springer Auction

April 2, 7pm: PTA Board Election Meeting and Mid-year Budget Approval

April 3, 6-8pm: Open House

April 4: Minimum Day 12.15am dismissal 1st-6th; 11.35am Kindergarten

April 7- 11: Spring break – NO SCHOOL

April 21 – 25: Book Fair

April 24: Book Fair Family Night, Family Picnic and Art Show 5-8pm

April 26: Junior Olympics

May 24, 5 pm: Springer Day at the San Jose Giants

News and Announcements

LAEF: Thank you to our community donors! LAEF has received generous contributions from local realtors, merchants, and community members. Please visit www.laefonline.org and see the lists under Our Supporters.

Honor Roll of Realtors is a program that was developed in partnership with the Mountain View/Los Altos High School Foundation (MVLA). More than 50 Realtors contributed to this 2013-14 fundraising campaign. Some have been supporting Los Altos schools for more than 15 years. View the list on our Honor Roll Of Realtors page, at www.laefonline.org.

Many businesses also support our schools with special promotions, donations of a portion of their sales, discounted services to LAEF, and matching contributions. The list of participating companies can be found on our Corporate Sponsors page, at www.laefonline.org.

Please join us in thanking all of the Realtors and merchants for their commitment to a strong community and excellence in education.

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

Annual PTA Board Election Notice

Please join us for the annual PTA Board election to be held during the Association Meeting on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:00pm, in the Springer Staff Room.

Pick-Up Reminders

As a reminder, students who are not participating in an after-school organized activity need to leave campus by 3:00pm. There is a 3:00 bell that alerts students to this time and signals when it is time to go home. Children who remain on campus until 3:00 must be DIRECTLY supervised by an adult (parent, grandparent, nanny, etc.) who is responsible for that child. All students who are on campus after school are expected to follow school rules, which are based on safety. Adults supervising children should enforce those rules so students understand that expectations for safe play are in effect at ANY time on campus. Please contact Mr. Spenader if you have any questions.  

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 - for yourself or if you need a proxy

       Volunteer           

       More Information

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

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

The Sochi Olympics might be over, but the Los Altos Junior Olympics are just starting their training!

Our 4th through 6th grade kids will represent Springer at the annual Junior Olympics Field Day onSaturday, April 26th, doing fun events such as hurdles, basketball free throws, chin ups and more...

Mr. Heeb spends the next few weeks helping the kids practice and train for these events during PE andhe needs several volunteer parents to help time kids and keep them organized at their different practice stations.  We need more volunteer help, especially for the 5th and 6th grade PE times.  Please visit the volunteer schedule and sign up for any open spots where you can spend some time with the kids.  No experience necessary!

4th grade calendar:  http://vols.pt/p9qAbt

5th grade calendar:  http://vols.pt/vNwb9m

6th grade calendar:  http://vols.pt/yin2o8

Questions?  Email or call Katie Cowley (ktcowley[at]yahoo.com)

Cornerstone Corner

This month’s ABC book: “Empty Pot” by Demi tells the story of Ping, a young Chinese boy with a green thumb who wins the emperor's competition. Ping stands by his values even when it is not easy to do.

Goals of lesson:

• Model how to act with courage, honesty, responsibility, integrity and perseverance. (CHIRP).

• Empower students to act as UPstanders and create circles of trust with peers

• Stand by beliefs and stand up for them with courage and determination

• Use resistance skills to resist peer pressure.

To reinforce this lesson at home:

Tell your child about a time when you stood up for something even though it was difficult to do. Explain how you felt.

Share a time when you didn't stand up for something because you were afraid. Discuss why it's easier to act on your convictions in some situations than others.

Notice, name and celebrate when:

·       You or your child say or do something as an UPstander.

·       Your child tells the truth when it is hard to do so.

·       Your child accomplishes something small or large, especially when trying their best.

·       Family, friends and neighbors model positive values.

Talk Together (Questions to discuss with your child):

·       What happens in the book Empty Pot? (This is a great story!)

·       What does integrity mean to our family?

·       When is it easy to act on your beliefs? When is it difficult? Why?

·       What happened the last time you stood up for or spoke out about something you value?

When you “catch” kids modeling positive behaviors...Notice, Name it, and Celebrate it!

GOT PICTURES?

The Springer Yearbook is in full production and I need your help! I am looking for pictures from any school events, such as (but not limited to):

*Walk-a-thon

*Halloween parade

*Classroom parties

*Classroom field trips

*Winter Concert

Please send pictures in an email to this email address: yearbookspringer@gmail.com

Also include: child(s) name/grade/and event.

Any questions regarding this project can also be sent to: yearbookspringer@gmail.com

Finally, please note that I am working with a limited amount of pages and will do my best to include all pictures that are sent in.  Thank you!

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

Reading in Preterm and Full Term Children

Do you have a six year old?  Are you interested in how reading develops? Stanford Reading study continues, see here for details.

Student Extracurricular Activities

LASD Film Festival is Coming!

The countdown has begun! There are two weeks left to submit videos for the LASD Student Film Festival. The submission window closes on Friday, March 28th. The festival will take place on May 9th from 4-6pm in the Covington multi; we are hoping to showcase many original entries!

FILM FESTIVAL CATEGORIES:   EDUCATIONAL, MUSIC VIDEOS, ANIMATION/CLAYMATION, COMEDY, STORY, CLASS COLLABORATION

EACH CATEGORY WILL BE JUDGED BY GRADE LEVEL:  (K-2, 3-5, 6-8)

For more information, please visit http://lasdfilmfest.org/home.html . This website includes event information, submission information, rules, frequently asked questions, and a thank you to last year’s sponsors! The submission form is on the website, or can be accessed here.

If you have any questions, please email lasdfilmfestival14@gmail.com  

Thank you, and have a great week! We’re looking forward to receiving all entries!

Film Festival Team

Covington 6th Grade

DezignKidz Summer Camp @ Springer this Summer!

DezignKidz, a fun, locally-run program for aspiring designers (which made its debut at Springer in 2009) is returning to its roots on Rose Avenue with even more options for creative kids.

Choose from our popular Fashion and Accessory Dezign sessions (including Fashion Dezign 3 for middle school fashionistas), add some style to your space with Interior Dezign, create beautiful handprinted fabrics in Textile Dezign, perfect your fashion sketching skills or try our BRAND NEW SESSIONS in Plush Toy Dezign and Cutting -Edge Quiltz.  "Dezigners" will learn turn hand and machine sewing and other textile arts techniques as they turn their ideas from sketches into completed garments, accessories or home decor items. Check out our web gallery for photos of last year’s fun!

Week-long programs run 6/16-6/20, 6/23-6/27, 6/30-7/3, 7/7-7/11 and 7/14-7/18.

Sign up online at www.dezignkidz.com or call 650 346-5896.

PRE-ENGINEERING WITH LEGO

Mondays from April 14 – May 19, 2:45pm – 4:15pm in the Springer library.

Open to grades K-3

See flier for more details

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