The Springer Buzz

October 21  2016

In This Issue:

• Principal’s Message

• News and Announcements

• Parent Education Opportunities

Quick Dates for your Calendar:

• October 15  Saturday, 10:00am - 3:00pm: Walk-a-thon

• October 26, Wednesday: Photo Make-up Day

• November 2, Wednesday, 8:45am: PTA Meeting

• November, 6 Sunday: Daylight Savings--Move clocks back one hour

• November 8: Voting Day

• November 11, Friday: Veterans Day: No School

• November 14 - 18:  Book Fair

• November 21 & 22: Parent Teacher Conferences-No School

• November 23 -25: Thanksgiving Break, No school  

Principal’s Message

Dear Parents,

The Springer community came together last Saturday and created a monopoly in a most positive way!  I was in awe of the energy that was whirling around the Springer track--the students, the parents and many guest walkers (and some runners) participated in one of the most fun Walk-a-thons to date! The number of laps that the students completed was astounding, the parent and staff participation off the charts, and the fun factor couldn’t be matched!

Buzz.... Did you know that Mrs. Boskie played Division 1 softball?

Lynn Boskie, Principal

Office Friends

The Springer Office has fish once again--thanks to Mrs. Boskie!  Please come by and visit.  Also, can you see the stick bug on the branch on the left?  Come on by and see how many walking sticks you can count!

Photo Make-up Day October 26

Your child’s photo proofs will go home today in their Friday folder.  There are two poses to choose from.  You may order your choice online by following the instructions included in the packet, or you may return the form to your child’s teacher by October 13.  If your child was absent on the first photo day, they will be automatically put on the retake list.  If you would like to have your child retake their photo, please contact the Springer Office at 650-943-4200, and we will put your child on the retake list.

Attendance Policies

Absences and late arrivals are to be reported to the school by a parent or guardian by calling the Attendance Line at 650-943-4240 by 9:00 am. After 9:00 am, please call the office directly at 650-943-4200.   The office MUST be notified, separate from notifying the teacher.

Late Arrivals: Students who arrive after the school day begins must sign in at the office to receive a late arrival pass.

FEVERS & Vomiting:  A child may return to school after they have remained fever free and/or not vomited for 24 hours.

Thanks For Attending Springer-opoly!

Thank you to all our walkers, volunteers and sponsors for making this year's Walk-a-thon a success! In today's Friday Folder you'll find your student's sponsor card. It's time to share your walking results and collect pledges from your sponsors. For those students who were not able to get any pledges, a donation of $25 per student helps cover Walk-a-thon expenses, but any donation amount would be most appreciated. For those students who were not able to attend, any donation amount counts toward the class participation contest.  

Please attach payment to the sponsor card(s) and place it in the Walk-a-thon cubby in the office.  Checks should be made out to the Springer PTA.  Please combine payments for multiple students into one check per family, per donor.

Payments must be submitted by Tuesday, Nov 8 in order to be included in the class participation contest.

The PTA’s Tax ID is 94-6174514.  For payments under $250, the canceled check may be used as a donation receipt.  For payments over $250, the PTA will send a formal tax donation letter to the donor.

Cornerstone Corner

Here is an approach to reducing name-calling, put-downs, insults, and other forms of verbal abuse at Springer.  Every adult on campus who hears an offensive remark shares responsibility for taking 10-seconds to intervene.  Additional interventions may be required. But, every adult can be actively engaged in reducing bullying by using this technique:

The 10-Second Intervention

Here’s how it looks:

1. Stop.

2. Turn calmly to whoever said the inappropriate statement.

3. Say something like, “That’s inappropriate language for school. Please don’t say it again”.  Or “We are a bucket filling school.”

4. Then, move on – no lecture, argument or further discussion.

When every adult at school is doing this consistently, it really gets the attention of students! It also puts into the air that caring adults on campus are trying to do something about bullying and make school a safe and caring place for all kids. Frequent use of the 10-second intervention sends a consistent and strong message to youth about what adults will permit at our school.

Remember, “What we permit we promote”.

Parent Education Opportunities

Project Cornerstone- for parents and caregivers!

Join this parent/caregiver group to learn tips and tools to keep up with the fast changing growth of our children, tweens and teens. Each week, we explore new ways to build stronger kids, stronger families, and stronger neighborhoods. Data collected from our own Santa Clara county youth shows us 8 ways to help kids succeed in school, in relationships and in life, while supporting parents!

Class Title: Take It Personally

10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16

Time:  6:30 to 8 pm

Place/Host: : Blach Intermediate School’s  Library (Parents/adults from all schools welcomed)

Sign Up today :Click Here

Questions?  Contact Mary Crum at mary@projectcornerstone.org

Click here for the full description of the class.

Two weeks and $17,350 to go! Help LAEF meet our $100K Challenge Match by 10/31

The LAEF Phonathon was a big success with 119 parents, LASD staff, and community volunteers calling 1,000 families. Thank you! In the past two weeks, 202 families have pledged or donated a total of $284,858 (and counting!). The exciting news is that we have already reached $82,650 in new and increased donations towards our $100,000 Challenge Match deadline on 10/31. It’s not too late to double your gift. To learn more about LAEF, pledge or donate, go to LAEFonline.org.

It’s Not Too Late To Sign Up For Springer Singers!

Does your child love to sing? Then Springer Singers is where you want them

to be.

Springer Singers is a great way to get your kids singing and dancing with

their Springer friends.

The Singer are open to all Springer students.

We practice on Tuesday's immediately after school.

*NEW THIS YEAR*

Music instruction will be tailored for younger and older student groups.

We will perform together, but will practice separately to meet the needs of

different developmental levels.

      Grades 1-2 2:30-3:15 Multi

      Grades 3-6 3:00-3:45 Staff Lounge

Applications available in the office. Please complete form and return with

payment (scholarships available) to participate.

After School Student Activities

We have a lot of fun after school activities starting up very soon:

Chess starts on 9/8; click here for flyer.

We also offer Skateboarding, Art, Speak & Debate, Tennis, Legos, Tennis & Spanish--Click here for the link!

Parent Education Opportunities

Through enriching presentations from local and national experts on topics of interest to parents, faculty and staff, the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series seeks to contribute to the academic, physical, and emotional health of our students. All events are free of charge and are for parents, faculty and staff in Los Altos and Mountain View public schools. For a schedule of upcoming presentations, please click here.

How to Submit an Article to the Springer Buzz

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.