Content Row
Blog
»
Buzz Newsletter, 11/14/2014
|
November 14, 2014 |
The Springer Buzz
|
In This Issue:
Quick Dates for your Calendar:
|
|
|
Principal’s Message |
|
One Day at Recess... Last Friday at lunch, I had this mini-epiphany which further confirmed the teamwork we, as the Springer community, do in order to give our kids the best. I decided to play soccer with the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at lunch. As a former player and coach, I like to get out there and kick the ball around with the kids- plus I haven’t been able to get to the gym as much as I’d like so I figured the exercise would do me some good! While engrossed in the game, I was able to look up and scan the playground. My quick view provided me with a warm feeling. Over on the baseball diamond, Mr. Heeb was leading a marathon kickball game. Further out on the field was the Friday volleyball clinic, run by some parents, and assisted by upper grade students. Assisting at the volleyball court was Ms. Mort, herself a former collegiate player, spending her lunch time with the kids and her passion. Meanwhile, around the field, was a flock of students running/walking laps in order to compile school mileage for our Run For Your Life program- again facilitated by a group of caring parents. There were no less than 10 dedicated adults working with our students, during their lunchtime! How could our students not feel the support from all of us? Combine this one snapshot in time with the countless hours volunteers spend in our classrooms- like helping out with math centers in first grade, or leading book club discussions in fifth grade- and my mini-epiphany was crystallized. Parents, teachers, and students really are a team. The recess bell rang and I went over to Laurie Pasmooij, who coordinates so many of these lunchtime events for our students. Almost simultaneously, we said to each other, “Isn’t this great?!” Yes, it was, and it continues to be one of the great strengths of our Springer community. Have a great weekend. Wade |
|
The Rock ‘N Read Book Fair is Coming! |
|
November 17-21, 2014 8:00am – 3:30pm Grand Opening Monday, November 17, 8:30am - 10:00am Bring your friends and come in for coffee, pastries and books! Get ready to sing a song at our Book Fair Family Night Thursday, November 20, 5:00–7:30pm Join us for food trucks, rock and shopping and a special performance by the Springer Singers What should Mr. Spenader sing? Vote with your donation for which song Mr. Spenader will sing for us on the last day of the Book Fair. All donations will support the school program of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital which allows hospitalized children to continue their education. Shop Online from Springer’s website November 17-December 05 If you can’t find it in the multi, you’ll likely find it on the online fair, with 65% more books than we can fit in the Multi. All orders are shipped to Springer free of charge. Please discuss your family’s purchasing guidelines before the event to help children make good choices. A hold area will be available daily if you prefer to make purchase decisions together after school. As this is a fundraiser, all sales are final. |
|
Festival of Lights Parade |
|
Festival of Lights Parade: Sunday, 11/30/14, 6:00 p.m. Join your friends and neighbors for an amazing Los Altos holiday tradition! Since 1977, the Festival of Lights Parade has brought "A Child's Holiday Fantasy" to life -- and with renovated floats and newly lit costumes, this year will be our brightest year yet! Visit www.losaltosparade.com for a route map and viewing guidelines (for example, please do not set up before noon on Sunday, and do not use chalk or tape to mark your spots), or even to volunteer. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the parade! |
|
Walk-a-thon Wrap-up |
|
Walk-a-thon Donations: Not Too Late! Haven't turned in your Walk-a-thon donations? It's not too late! Turn your green form and any checks (or a note letting us know you paid with e-check) to the Walk-a-thon cubby in the Springer office. And remember, full payment instructions click here. and printable tax receipts click here. Thanks for your rockin' support of Springer!! |
|
Springer Directory Update |
|
The Springer online directory is up and running! DirectoryBurst has introduced a secure app for Apple and Android devices that you can install to make it easier to use the directory on your mobile device. If you have any questions or updates to your directory information, contact SpringerDirectory@gmail.com. |
|
Coat Drive |
|
Girl Scout Junior Troop 61170 will be hosting a coat drive for One Warm Coat, benefiting Ecumenical Hunger Program located in E. Palo Alto. Coat drive will start Monday, 11/10/14 through Friday, 11/21/14. Collection box will be located in the Springer Office. Questions, please contact Wen Crane at wenbk[at]aol.com. |
|
Springer Gives Back |
|
Donate Your Travel Size Toiletries to Springer Gives Back Have a collection of hotel shampoo and conditioner filling up your bathroom drawer? Travel often and need something to do with all those airline travel kits? Just like the travel aisle? Springer Gives Back is collecting travel size toiletries as part of this year’s community service project. Please bring new and unused travel size toiletries to the bin in the Springer Office. Thanks! Contact Renee Johnsen chefskate[at]gmail.com with questions. |
|
Campus Beautification Work Day on November 22 |
|
The Springer Teaching Garden is in dire need of some TLC, and many hands make light work. If you are in town for the Thanksgiving break, please join us on Saturday, Nov 22, between 9am-3pm (for any amount of time you are able) to work in the garden. We will be repairing the fencing, installing new native plants and shrubs (which are used in the Living Classroom garden lessons), spreading mulch, etc. Bring a refillable water bottle, gardening gloves, and any gardening tools you have (such as a shovel, trowel, pick axe, wheelbarrow, mulch shovel or rake, etc.). Please contact Donna Murphy (jcdrm[at]yahoo[dot]com) if you are available to help us out that (or any other) day, or have any questions. |
|
Become a Living Classroom Docent! |
|
Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids! The Living Classroom is looking for docents to help deliver hands-on garden-based lessons to the students of the Los Altos School District. No experience necessary as we provide all the training needed! Our Winter Docent Training Session will take place on Monday mornings from 9 - Noon on December 8th & 15th and January 12th & 26th. Please click here for more details. Questions? Please contact the Living Classroom at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or visit our website: www.living-classroom.org. |
|
Project Cornerstone |
|
This month’s ABC book: “Big” by Coleen Paratore encourages students to become BIG people. The author defines BIG as being bright, imaginative, healthy, helpful, and valuable members of society. This month’s “It’s a Springer Thing” focuses on being Supportive. Students are encouraged to perform acts of caring for others. As part of this effort, the Student Council will be sponsoring a collection program in each classroom called “Change for Change”. LASD has adopted a village in Kenya and any proceeds raised go towards the pillar of alternative income: http://www.freethechildren.com/international-programming/our-model/alternative-income-and-livelihood/ The ABC Readers in each classroom will be discussing with the students ways they can raise money for this activity. Some ideas will be to do chores at home or have a bake sale or make and sell lemonade. Goals of lesson: *Encourage students to take small steps to achieve BIG outcomes at home, school and community. *Internalize intrinsic rewards of doing things for the right reasons-Being an UPstander. *Perform intentional acts of caring for others To reinforce this lesson at home: *Discuss ways your family contributes individually and together to making a difference in the world. *Encourage your child to “work” to earn money at home. Then donate the money to a good cause (like Change for Change at Springer). When you “catch” kids modeling positive behaviors... Notice, Name it, and Celebrate it! |
|
LASD Looking For Volunteer Interpreters |
|
Los Altos School District is looking for volunteer interpreters to assist us during parent/teacher conferences, student meetings and district events. We are seeking assistance with all languages but the most needed are: Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Japanese and Korean. Please contact Ann Haigh at 650-947-1180 or at ahaigh@lasdschools.org if you are interested. |
|
LAEF: Order Cards from Tiny Prints - 25% Donated to LAEF |
|
This holiday season, order your cards from LAEF's Tiny Prints storefront to benefit our schools. Thanks to Tiny Prints and an anonymous donor, 25% or your order will be donated to LAEF. Choose from a variety of traditional and contemporary cards. Browse cards and order at: http://www.tinyprints.com/storefront/laef Or you can make a tax-deductible LAEF donation today at www.laefonline.net Make your tax-deductible LAEF donation today at www.laefonline.net (or bring a check to the school office) LAEF Questions? Web: www.laefonline.net … Phone: 650.559.0445 ... Email: admin@laefonline.org Thanks in advance for your support of LAEF! The LAEF parent-volunteers |
|
Academic Chess Winter Session Starts 11/20/14! |
|
For Grades 1 - 6. The Chess Club meets on Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:45. See attached flyer for all of the info! |
|
Dodgeball with Mr. Heeb Friday, November 14! |
|
For 4th, 5th and 6th Graders |
|
The Springer Juggling Club |
|
The Juggling Club is a club that meets every Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 8:25 AM in the multi. Anyone in grades four and above can join for free, any time of the year. It's actually not that hard to start juggling, and should you encounter any problems, the juggling teachers and some helpful jugglers can get you through the bumps on the road. It can take only one year of being in this club for you to be able to learn several techniques, and even a few fancy tricks. Once you get juggling three balls down (and it's actually not that hard) you can spend the last 5 to 10 minutes of the class juggling with some cool objects including chinese yo-yos, rings, clubs... The Juggling Club is a really fun club to at least try, and before you know it, you'll be juggling 3-4 balls at a time! |
|
Fun!visor on Fridays |