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Buzz Newsletter, 06/06/2014
Los Altos School District Weekly Newsletter
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Springer Buzz! |
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In This Issue |
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Calendar Dates |
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Quick Dates for your Calendar |
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June 6: Field Day & Minimum day; 12:15 dismissal |
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Principal’s Letter |
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In just a few short days the campus will grow quieter as we head off to summer break (well, that's not exactly true as we will be hosting Decathlon Summer Sports camp here all summer). Summer break serves as the transition between the end of a successful year of learning and the build-up to exciting things to come for the next school year.
One of the aspects I enjoy most about summer is the opportunity to "slow down" a bit. And, during these restful times, my summer reading list gets serious attention. One book I highly recommend to put on your summer reading list, is called Mindset by Carol S. Dweck. The book's basic premise is that people can fulfill their unlimited potential simply by adopting a growth mindset. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset; one that pre-determines expectations. A growth mindset allows individuals to improve in all areas of their lives because it sets within a person the notion that every thing can be learned and improved upon with hard work and effort. The impact of this concept is obvious in education. It helps us work with the child who says, "I'm no good at math" (a definite fixed mindset). This book is a great read for educators, parents, or anyone. I have found great value in it in my own personal life and I recommend it as a summer read. In fact, I bought a copy for all of Springer's teachers.
I want to wish all of the Springer community a wonderful summer. I also want to give thanks for all that you do to make Springer a special place. It is truly an honor to be principal of such an outstanding community, filled with dedicated, caring, and gifted people who give so much for the betterment of our students.
Have a great summer.
Sincerely, |
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News and Announcements |
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SPRINGER ROAD TRAFFIC CALMING WORKSHOP
Tuesday, June 17th; 6:00 pm to 8:00pm
The City of Los Altos is hosting a community design workshop to develop a traffic-calming plan for Springer Road. The City would like to hear your concerns and feedback regarding traffic calming measures on Springer Road between Foothill Expressway and the City boundary at Hollingsworth Drive to help reduce speeding. This workshop invites the community to get involved by sharing local concerns and ideas for improving traffic safety on Springer Road. Information can be found on the City of Los Altos |
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WALK-A-THON: Save the date, and volunteer!
Get ready to WALK... and get ready to ROCK! Springer's 2014 Walk-a-thon is coming on October 11, 2014. This year we'll be rocking and rolling around Springer’s Field at the "Springer ROCK-a-thon"! So save the date and dust off your dancing (and walking) shoes!
Walk-a-thon -- make that ROCK-a-thon -- planning starts now! If you'd like to get involved, from joining the committee to helping with decorations over the summer, drop us a line! karenhey [at] stanfordalumni.org or christine.gammons [at] gmail.com.
Karen McKinley & Christine Gammons |
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Used School Supplies
End of the year means backpacks full of used pencil boxes, markers and scissors. Don't know what to do with them? Donate them to Reading Partners, a Bay Area based company that serves over 130 schools across the nation. The last 2 days of school, boxes will be placed around campus to collect any useable school supplies. We will accept supplies like pencils, markers, scissors, glue, crayons, and notebooks.
Reading Partners - helping children to become lifelong readers. http://readingpartners.org
Any questions, please contact Jenni Tellefsen JLTellefsen[at]yahoo.com |
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Announcing the Top WOWers!!
We had a great turnout for the WOW program this year. The top WOW rider was Michael Tucker, zapping in 405 miles for the year. Congratulations Michael! The student with the most trips zapped in was Kimberly Bowman, with 169 trips. Congratulations Kimberly!
Please be sure to check your Friday folders for the last round of WOW mileage/trip tags for the year. |
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Got Fun?
Parlez-vous français? Do you have a pet guinea pig? Are you a cartoonist? Can you fly a plane? Do you write poetry? Are you a wiz at Origami? Is Yoga your passion? Can you knit? Is scrap booking your thing? Do you have too many tennis balls to know what to do with? Are you a coin collector? Our Springer Community has a wealth of talent and experience that would delight our students. Please keep Springer students in mind when you think of your volunteer plans for next year! We are hoping to recruit a diverse group of parents to come to noontime recess even just once next year to share with students their hobbies, talents and interests as Special Guest Funvisors. Our Funvisor schedule will be published each week in the Springer Star next year so students can get excited about things coming up.
There will also be opportunities once a month for 5th grader and 6th graders to plan and lead a noontime activity for younger grades. This will be an excellent opportunity for older students to engage and lead younger ones and provide good role models for the entire Springer Community. For more information or to sign up for the 2014/15 year please contact Laurie Pasmooij, laurie.pasmooij[at]mac.com or 650-224-7859. |
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Computer Lab volunteers needed!
The Springer computer lab is undergoing a transformation and we are in need of some volunteers. Currently we are looking for someone who can cut steel table legs (metal band saw needed). In a few weeks, we will need help in assembling TV carts. If you can help, please email Regina Regan at rregan@lasdschools.org. Thank you! |
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MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
Please pick up your child’s medications from the office on June 12- the last day of school.
Medications cannot be stored over the summer. If your child is attending summer school, please pick up their medications and paperwork and take them to summer school on the first day. Thank you!
Any questions, please email us.
Thank you kindly, |
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REQUEST FOR NEW OR GENTLY USED BOOKS AND TOYS FOR KINDERGARTEN
For 2014/2015 school year
The Kindergarten teachers are requesting donations for the following:
Books- picture books, easy readers/leveled readers, beginning chapter books-for the classroom libraries
Plastic Magnetic letters-upper and lowercase
Puzzles – letters, numbers, anything fun with not too many pieces
Toys – For example: Boggle, Hi Ho cherry-o, Candyland, What’s Gnu, Make 7, Shut the Box, Geometric Shapes, Math Memory Match
Legos, Lincoln logs, Brillo blocks, Unifix cubes, pattern blocks, Counting bears, Building blocks, strings and beads, or anything else at a kinder level
For the PE/Recess Shed:
Please bring by the Springer School Office.
Thank you! |
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The Springer Garden—Volunteer Opportunities
The Springer Garden has volunteer opportunities in the following areas:
Please contact Donna Murphy (at jcdrm[at]yahoo.com or 650-965-8320) if you have any questions or are interested in helping with any of these special projects. |
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Diapers For Care
The Springer 5th Grade Junior Girl Scout Troop is working on earning the Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Our project needs to address a problem within our community and provide a sustainable solution.
We have chosen to help “There With Care”, an organization that provides support to families with critically ill children. The items they are in most need of are diapers and baby wipes, so we have chosen to help them in this area. Our goal is to collect 2,000 diapers and 4,000 wipes.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
1. Donate packages of diapers and baby wipes - all sizes and quantities accepted. They have a significant need for preemie, newborn, size 1, 4T and 5T pull-ups. We will donate them to There With Care. Dates: May 8 – June 12
2. Coins for Care: Students and parents can donate coins to the Coins for Care jar in the office. Dates: May 8 – June 12
3. Recycling Collection: We will collect soda cans and plastic bottles that are CRV eligible. Please consider bringing your recyclables from home to add to our collection. Dates: May 8 – Extended till May 30.
All coins from the jar and money earned from recycling will be used to purchase diapers. Please look for diaper/wipes donation boxes and recycling collection bins on campus.
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal! Any questions please contact Anita Rao at sg.arao[at]gmail.com. |
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LAEF NEWS
Thank you LAEF donors! This year LAEF made its largest grant in the history of the foundation: $3.2 million. Your donations supported programs that parents in our district value highly: art, PE, libraries, Living Classroom, music, reduced class sizes, literacy aides, junior high elective choices, and innovative new programs such as the STEM labs and instructional/curriculum coaches for teachers. For 32 years the parents of Los Altos School District have remained committed to excellent education and a strong community through support of the Los Altos Educational Foundation. From the 4,600+ students enrolled in our nine schools this year, THANK YOU!
LAEF representatives at Springer are: |
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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 2014. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office as soon as possible! |
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Student Extracurricular Activities |
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Come Join Us For Music and Board Games!
Please join us for some music and board games on Sunday, 8 June (2 - 5 PM). This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
We will have an amazing musical performance by multi-talented Gustaff Besungu from Cameroon. His voice will uplift you and his drumming will bring you to your feet! The children and youth will love him for sure!
Following the music, we will have a fun-filled board gaming session with Game Master Kyle Talbert where he will demonstrate and teach several board games. Please feel free to bring your own family-friendly board games if you wish, but we will have several onsite for you to play with as well.
Please visit http://bit.ly/svf0614 for complete event information. |
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Girl Scout Cadet Troop 60785 Welcomes 5th & 6th Grade Girls!
Girl Scout Cadet Troop 60785 welcomes this year’s 5th and 6th grade girls to join our troop for the upcoming school year. We welcome girls new to scouting or seasoned scouts and their families who are interested in participating in scout-led badges and activities that are facilitated by a troop leader or parent volunteer. Our troop participates in many outings sponsored by the Northern California Council and the Los Altos Service Unit as well as our own activities that range from technical to crafty to community service oriented. We are a small troop and will cap out at 20-25 girls. We meet twice a month on Sundays at 4-6pm at the LAUMC. For more information about Troop 60785, contact Cheryl Quinn (cmiq[at]stanfordalumni.org) or Erica Lundmark (erica[at]lundmarks.org). |
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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. |
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How to submit an article to the Springer Buzz |
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If you have an article to submit to the 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. |
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5/8/25 11:42 PM