The Springer Buzz!

Our Mission

At Springer Elementary School, we will provide a safe and supportive environment that engages, inspires, and nurtures all students’ emotional and academic needs in order to become empathetic, productive global citizens and lifelong learners.

In This Issue: April 6, 2018:

• Principal’s Message

• News and Announcements
• Parent Education Opportunities

Quick Dates for your Calendar:

• Friday, April 6: Minimum Day, Dismissal 12:15pm
• April 9 - 13: Spring Break, No School
• April 23-27: Read-A-Thon
• Friday, April 27, 9:30-11:00am: 6th Graders Walk to Blach Campus tour
• Friday, April 27, 2:00pm: Jr. Olympics Pep Rally Grades 4-6
• Saturday, April 28, 8:00am - 4:00pm: Jr. Olympics, Grades 4-6
• Wednesday, May 23, 7:30am: Volunteer Breakfast
• Monday, May 28: Memorial Day: No School
• Tuesday, May 29, 5:00-7:00: 4th Grade Instrument Quest Covington Multi
• Wednesday, May 30, 5:00-7:00: 4th Grade Instrument Quest, Covington Multi
• Wednesday, May 30; 7:00pm: Springer Singers Spring Concert
• Friday, June 1; 8:30-12:00: Student Field Day
• Friday, June 1: Minimum Day; Dismissal 12:15
• Saturday, June 2: Springer Pack the Park Game San Jose Giants
• Thursday, June 7: Last Day of School, Dismissal 11:15am
• LASD 2018-2019 Calendar

Principal’s Message

Dear Springer Community,

Students have been preparing all year long for Open House to arrive.  It is an evening celebrating your child(ren)s achievements, creativity, innovation and their uniqueness.  As I’ve walked through the classrooms this week I have noted the stars hung from the ceiling with student goals written on them, penguins, clay heads and various art drawings and paintings pinned on the wall, writing and science and math projects.  I hope you all enjoyed the evening. 

And a special thank you to the Saturday Night Fever Mob Dance group who helped kick off our Spring Break!  They had the kids dancing with them.

Happy Spring Break to you all. Create new memories and enjoy your time with family and friends. 

Mahalo,

Lynn Boskie

Reading Corner

Reading Corner: Happy Spring Break!

We hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead. Spring break can be a great time for kids to get in some extra reading, whether they’ll be at home or traveling. Here are a few ideas:

• eBooks can be a great way to get more books to kids, especially if you’re out of town or don’t have the chance to get to the library. Students can access LASD Library eBooks with their library card number. 
• After children read, you might ask them to retell the story. If they need prompting, you might ask what happened at the beginning, what happen next, and what happened at the end. It’s good practice to use these transition words (first, after that, at the end, etc.) while retelling. They might also tell you if there was a problem in the story, how the character(s) reacted to the problem, and how the problem was solved. Children can also think about whether they would have acted in the same way as the character in the story, or if they would have chosen to end the story differently.
• If you’re traveling, it might be fun for students to read about their destination and then teach members of the family.
• Word games can be great practice, too—especially if you’re on a road trip. Younger readers benefit from practicing rhyming words and blending. To blend, you can name the sounds in a word (/c/ /a/ /t/), and the child tries to combine the sounds to name the word (cat). Older children might see how many words they can think of with a particular root (such as tri : triangle, trilogy, trillion, and so on). You might also brainstorm words in categories: pick a topic, and the first player thinks of a word in that category. The next player tries to think of a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word, and so on. For example, if the category is “animals,” and the first person says “elephant,” the game might continue: “tiger” — “rhinoceros” — “salamander,” and so on. Have fun!

Assessment Corner

CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance Progress)

This is a statewide test SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) that is given each year across the state of California to all 3rd-6th grade students. 

The test is completed online and untimed. Students will be assessed in English Language Arts and Mathematics.  An additional test in Science will be given to all fifth grade students.

When we return from Spring Break we will begin the training testing- April 16th-20th. The purpose of this training is to have the students become familiar with the assessment tools.  Our testing Window is April 23rd - May 18. 

Walk For Water

Everyday, women and girls must walk hours to collect clean water.  When communities have access to clean water, girls can attend school, parents can run sustainable farms, and families can break the cycle of poverty.  From April 16-27, we will raise funds for We Walk for Water.  Our student ambassadors will be in front of the school, accepting donations.  We are requesting at least a $10 donation to participate in our Water Walk at lunch on Friday, April 27.  Students will carry containers of water around the field, gaining a small understanding of the journey the women and girls make on a daily basis.  We will be joining groups from all around North America in this journey.  Here is an inspiring video to share with your family.  https://www.trackyourimpact.com/blog/2017/03/24/watch-nepapa-walk-new-path-clean-water-kenya/

Cornerstone Corner

In this month’s ABC book: “Sebastian’s Roller Skates” by Joan de Déu Prats, Sebastian gains confidence while practicing a new physical activity: roller-skating! His newly developed confidence empowers him to speak up and participate more fully in other areas of his life as well. This book shows how physical activity, perseverance, and hard work can bring about great leaps of confidence and skill.

To reinforce this lesson at home, ask your child:

• What dreams do you have for your future?
• Which mentors or role models who have a strong purpose in life do you admire? Why?
• If you could do one thing with your life, what would it be? Why?

• Here are some tips that might help your child find a sense of purpose:
• Cut down on television, computer, and telephone time to give your child time to develop her or his interests.
• Model having a sense of purpose. Do the things that matter to you.
• Compare passion lists. Have family members each write down five things they're passionate about and then talk about them.
• Model using positive self-talk and turn mud thoughts into clear thoughts.: “I hate spelling. I never will be able to spell.”=mud thought · “Spelling is hard for me, but I can practice and work hard to do better.”= clear thought.

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

4th Grade Instrument Quest

May 29th and May 30th

5:00 – 7:00

Covington Multi

In preparation for choosing a musical instrument to play in 5th grade, the LASD Music Department will be hosting two nights of “Instrument Quest.” Your child will see and be able to try out every instrument we offer in our Band (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone) and Orchestra (violin, viola, cello) programs.

This is a great opportunity to see which instrument best suits your child. Parents are welcome to ask questions and to meet the LASD Music teachers.

Come on either evening between the hours of 5pm-7pm.  4th grade students will be making instrument selections in their homeroom classes at the end of May.

Springer Auction

Congratulations Springer!

Together we raised $100K for Springer School. Thank you to all who came out and showed their Springer Spirit!

If you couldn't make it, it's not too late! Many community parties, exclusively for Springer students and parents, are still open. Please check out our OPEN PARTY LIST and contact the host listed to join the party.

Questions?

springerauction@gmail.com

Yearbook

Hello Springer,

This year, every student will receive a yearbook.  

You do not have to order or pay for one. Please read that again -- Every child will get a yearbook at the end of the year.  

Help us make this year's yearbook picture filled and send in pictures. We are using a new yearbook vendor (memory book) and their uploader tool is quick and stable. Instructions on how to upload are below. 

Pictures that are needed:

*Classroom parties/field trips

*Walk-a-Thon

*Springer Gives Back

*First Day of School

*Around campus

Here is how you can submit photos online:

   • Go to: https://images.memoryebooks.com/login

   • If it does not automatically log you into the site, enter username: 410253677

   • Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload.

   • Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information.

   • Click "Save Details".

It's that easy! Submit your photos today! The last day to submit photos is 04/13/2018.

If you have any questions about the yearbook, please email me at: ybspringer@gmail.com

Thanks and please send your pictures!

Rachel

LAEF

Double your Donation

LAEF still needs to raise $329,548 between now and April 27th to fully fund our 2017-18 grant to LASD, which will be presented to the school district at Junior Olympics.  Every dollar you give by April 27th will be matched by The John and Liane Davila Foundation, up to $10,000.They have generously offered this challenge to inspire you to help us reach our goal of 100% participation from every LASD family. Let's all work together and fully fund teachers and staff for STEM, arts, literacy, wellness, and personalized learning for the 2017-18 school year.

If you have yet to donate, now’s the time! Donate at www.laefonline.org or drop off a check in your school office.

#MarchMatching

If you've made a donation to LAEF this school year, thank you! Be sure to take the next step and request a company match, if you have not done so already.

Request your match now and, if your company is in our

 #MarchMatching tournament, your match might help them win!  We appreciate matches from all companies, whether they are in the tournament or not! All contributions to LAEF will help us reach our goal of $3.7M.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @LAEFonline

SELPA News

Wed. Apr. 18, 2018, 7-9PM, Santa Rita Elementary School, 700 Los Altos Rd, Los Altos

Taking Care of You: Mindfulness and Parenting with Challenges With Dr. Linda Lotspeich, Child Psychiatrist and Clinical Professor. Parenting a child with disabilities can lead to difficult emotions and stress. The practice of mindfulness, including meditation, can reduce stress, improve self-esteem and allow you to better manage these emotions.  Learn to move from coping to living a more meaningful life in the present moment, while still planning for the future.  Click here for English flyer. Click here for Spanish flyer.

Parent Chat

Are you concerned about the emotional well being of your child? Come to Parent Chat, peer to peer support for parents of teens. Click here for English flyer.  Click here for Spanish flyer.

Let's Talk

 A chance to ask questions and share ideas, resources, and support with other parents of students with IEPs, 504s, learning differences, mental health challenges, etc.

All are welcome, participants must respect confidentiality.  

Mon. Apr. 16, 2018, 7PM-9PM, Los Altos Library Click here for English flyer.  Click here for the Spanish flyer.

 A Note From The District Nurse

Pertussis Booster for Students in 6th grade:

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 2018. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office as soon as possible!

Please refer any questions regarding this requirement to our District Health Assistants:  Suzy Gough 302-1448 and Sandy Anderson 302-1449.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Health Services Staff

Parent Education Opportunities

Through an enriching presentations from local and national experts on topics of interests 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 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.