The Springer Buzz

March 27, 2015

In This Issue:

• Principal’s Message

• News and Announcements

• Parent Education Opportunities

Quick Dates for your Calendar:

• April 2, Thursday: Open House & Art Show

• April 6 - 10: Spring Break - No School

• April 25, Saturday: Junior Olympics for Grades 4, 5 & 6 at Mountain View High School

Principal’s Message

When it all comes together

Perusing the STEM Expo exhibits this week, I found myself absorbed in a couple of projects where students deconstructed a clock.   Lifting the lid of a clock is fascinating as it exposes all the cogs, springs, and other parts intricately pieced together, each part performing a specific function to help the machine work as a whole.   The analogy of the clock and the STEM expo was not lost on me; we had so many pieces of it behind the scenes, working together to make the event happen.  First and foremost were the hours of student work displayed in each project.  Behind the scenes of each project was parent help, support, and  collaboration.   The STEM expo event itself was put on by a team of staff members headed by Ms. Craddock-- each person responsible for a distinct element of the event.  And on the day of the event, the very important “piece” came into play-- that of our parent and community volunteers who came to review every project.   I was so pleased to see their dedication as they facilitated a discussion with each student about their work.    Behind all of this is the larger community’s support of Los Altos Educational Foundation that makes our STEM program possible.   

A couple of weeks earlier, I saw the same type of “clockwork” at the Springer auction.  Similarly, a team of parent volunteers, each taking on a specific function, worked together to put on one of Springer’s most successful auctions by raising over $100,000 for Springer’s PTA.  This money ensures that our students continue to receive instructional materials, supplies, music, art, and other clubs/activities.  Critical to the work of PTA is the continuation of upgrading classroom AV systems.  Thanks to very generous donors during our Fund-a-Need session at the auction, we were able to raise enough money to outfit 5 more classrooms with efficient and effective audio/visual equipment that has become so essential to our students’ classroom experience.   

At both the STEM Expo and the Auction, I was again overwhelmed with the Springer community’s support and enthusiasm.   I invite you all to continue to get a sense of this tremendous community by attending Open House on Thursday.   When you walk through the classrooms, see the great student work, talk to the teachers and the students, you will get a view of how it all comes together.  

Auction Update

We raised $100,000 for Springer!

Thank you to our generous donors and community-- we rock!

• Sign up for Open Auction Parties

• Look up party dates and info in the electronic catalog

Questions? Email auction co-chairs, Rachel, Kirsten & Elizabeth

STEM Expo

Thank you to the entire Springer community for making the Springer STEM Expo a huge success!

We had over 150 projects and over 220 students participating. Students spent the day sharing their experiences with Guest Reviewers and the evening exploring all the amazing projects. The multi was buzzing with excitement! The Rube Goldberg videos were streaming on the big screen and robots were scooting along the floor. I had trouble getting down the aisles (which is a wonderful problem to have.)  

STEM Expo Guest Reviewers

Thank you to all the volunteer STEM Expo Guest Reviewers . Each child was met by a friendly reviewer interested in hearing all about their project. We had 37 people willing to share their time with our students.

Our volunteers ranged from high school students, to parents of Springer alumni, retired volunteers, and of course, our wonderful Springer parents. It is great to be a part of such a supportive community!

Open House, Thursday April 2

Art show is at 6:00pm in the Multi
STEM Lab is open from 6:00 to 7:00pm
Classrooms are open from 7:00 to 8:00pm

Friday, April 3rd is a minimum day with a 12:15 dismissal (12:00 for TK)

Art Show April 2

Springer’s annual Art Show will be on Thursday, April 2.
6:00pm in Multi

We are need of help with the following:

• Matting and Labeling Art

• Labeling/Packaging Ceramics

• Art Show Set-up and Take-down

• Labeling and Bagging Portfolios

• Organizing and Replenishing Art Materials for Summer Storage

Contact Anne Barsi (at abarsi@arts4all.org) for more information.

Jump Rope For Heart Update

Thank you so much for your support and donations for Jump Rope for Heart!  Springer did an incredible job raising money for the American Heart Association!  The student council members will announce the final amount raised next week.  Prizes will be arriving in 4 - 6 weeks, as they are being shipped from the headquarters.  We will notify students and families upon their arrival and distribute them promptly. Thanks again for your active participation in this wonderful fundraiser! Please direct your questions to Elise Heiting at eheiting@lasdschools.org.

Did you Know?...LAEF funds STEM for K-6th graders

This year, the LAEF Innovation Grant includes funding for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) lab and a dedicated teacher at each elementary school. STEM teachers offer opportunities for special class projects, provide grade level support, and hold very popular lunch club activities for students. LASD parent input and financial support have made this exciting program possible.

This month, all LASD elementary schools will be hosting LAEF sponsored STEM Expos. Students in Kindergarten through sixth grade will participate and showcase their work; designing hands-on STEM projects and exploring just how fun STEM can be!

If you have already donated to LAEF, we appreciate your support.  If you have not, please donate before April 24th to assure that our STEM program is fully funded for this school year.  LAEF strives for 100% participation from our LASD families.

Book Fair Coming April 20 - 24!

Monday April 20 –

Friday April 24

Open daily in the Multi

8:00 am – 3:30pm

Book fair Family Night & spring Picnic: Thursday

April 23 5:00-8:00pm

Sixth Grade Basketball Tournament

Bob Celeste "Everyone Plays" 6th Grade Basketball Tournament

May 15th Girls Tournament
May 29th Boys Tournament
Location: Egan
Time: 3:30p-8:30p

Yearbook Pictures Needed!

The Yearbook team is asking for pictures. Specifically, we need pictures of:

• First Day of School

• Walk-a-thon

• Halloween

• Classroom field trips/activities

• Around campus

• Springer Gives Back

There are two ways to upload your photos: viahttp://community.pictavo.com/ website or download the pictavo app to your phone. You will follow the same registration prompts as below if you chose to use the app.

To upload pictures via the website:

Create an Account.

Find your school using the drop-down menus: Select the state, city and school name.

​ (Springer is in MOUNTAIN VIEW)​

• Verify that the school is correct.

• Enter your personal information.

• Agree with the Terms and Conditions.

• Verify your account.

• Click ‘Upload Photos.’

• Select the photo(s) you want to upload from your computer or mobile device.

• Enter details about the photo(s): • Who’s in the photo(s)

• Category/folder into which the photo(s) should be placed • Date(s) taken

​Please note, that the team will do it's best to include all pictures that are submitted.

Questions? Please email: ybspringer@gmail.com

Thank you!

Yearbook team​

Part-time Nurse Needed

NURSE NEEDED:  The Los Altos School District needs Registered Nurse substitute(s). Must be available on short notice. Approximate times needed are minimum of three hours, 9:30am-12:30pm. Job will entail covering snack & lunch time to supervise students with type 1 diabetes blood sugar levels and insulin administration; both injection and insulin pump.  Monday-Friday.  To apply, call Marlene Revelo 650-947-1153.

Sixth Grade Students Bridging to Blach & Egan

For more information about bridging to Blach, please check out the Blach School website here.

For more information about bridging to Egan, please check out the Egan School website here.

Sixth Grade Immunization Requirement

Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6

Students currently in 6th grade 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 7th grade in August of 2015. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office by March 13, 2015.

Fun!visor

We had a record turnout for our Fun!visor Program Springer Scribes last week! Students worked on limericks, graphic novels, poems, letters to service men and women, and stories during lunch under flowering trees and on warm grass. To prepare for the upcoming publication, Springer Scribes will be on every other week over the next several months. All Fun!visor Programs are at lunch and free to all students 1st through 6th. Questions? Please call Kathy Thompson.

Spring Sessions Starting for Soccer

MVLA Soccer with Coach Ken starts the Spring session on April 15. Click here to sign up.

Student Extracurricular Activities:

Check out the other after-school activities at Springer for all grade levels.  For a list of all of the activities and more information, please go to Springer’s website by clicking here.   

Parent Education Opportunities