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11/06/15 - The Buzz Newsletter
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November 6, 2015 |
The Springer Buzz
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In This Issue:
Quick Dates for your Calendar:
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Principal’s Message |
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Rainy Day Mondays don’t always get you down! Monday morning’s downpour was on my mind. As I drove to work in a heavy rain, I found myself singing aloud one of my favorite Carpenters’ songs (yes, I like the Carpenters). “Hanging around. Nothing to do but frown. Rainy days and Monday’s always get me down.” An interesting natural phenomenon occurs at Springer when we get so much rain in a short period of time. The tan bark area under the swings tends to flood. The resulting massive puddle has been named “Lake Springer” by our students. While students are compliant with our plea not to go into Lake Springer, they can’t help but gather around the play structure to observe our new, yet temporary, geological addition. Both at recess and lunch, children flock to see the giant puddle. I stand around them making sure no one falls in Lake Springer. On Monday at recess, I put on my sociologist hat and observed the students. What occurred was fascinating and enthralling to me. The students, of various grade levels, on their own, began to problem solve. The call came out, “let’s drain Lake Springer!” Working together, the students used various tools (water bottles, pieces of wood, and even a discarded soccer shin guard) to move water towards the corner of the tan bark area. A small team of students dug a trench to the drain the water out of area. The project couldn’t possibly be completed by the end of recess, so they were out there again at lunch to continue the job. To see about 30 students, of various ages, collaborating on a “real world” problem was thrilling for me. They communicated effectively with each other, listening to each other’s suggestions and trying different techniques. Critical thinking and creativity was being activated. The group’s focus on the goal was steadfast. And as they saw their work achieving their desired outcome, they celebrated together. Sure, it was recess play. But to me, it was so much more. That rainy day Monday certainly did NOT get me down! Have a great weekend. Wade Spenader- Principal |
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The Springer Book Fair is Coming! |
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November 16-20, 2015 8:00am – 3:30pm
Grand Opening Monday, November 16, 8:30am - 10:00am
Bring your friends and come in for coffee, pastries and books!
Come to our Book Fair Family Night Thursday, November 19, 5:00–7:30pm Join us for food trucks and shopping Volunteers needed: We are looking for help with set up on Friday, November 13, pack up on Friday, November 20, and helping shoppers throughout the Book Fair. If you have some time to help us during our Monster Book Fair, please sign up at Volunteer Spot. If this will be your first time volunteering at the Book Fair, please join us in the Staff Lounge after assembly on Friday November 13 for a 30 minute training and information session.
Help us support the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. And if we make it to $250 you’ll earn an extra 5 min of recess on Friday Nov 20!
Shop Onlinefrom Springer’s website November 14 - 20 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. |
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Science & Technology Championship |
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Information Session Sponsored by Synopsys, the Championship is a regional science and engineering fair competition for students in Santa Clara County held on March 17, 2016. LASD 6th, 7th and 8th graders are invited to enter!! LASD students may compete in the middle school (grades 6-8) division for awards and prizes in multiple areas of study. LASD students have won prizes in prior years, and gained valuable experience with science, engineering and project management. Winners of the Synopsys Championship compete in the California State Science Fair and may advance to the prestigious Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, which presents nearly $4 million in prizes and scholarships each year. Students and parents are invited to attend the Synopsys Championship Information Session to learn more about this opportunity and how to enter:
Sunday, November 15 For more information, see the 2016 Synopsys Championship website at Questions? Contact parent volunteer Ann Hepenstal at annhep@yahoo.com or LASD STEM Coach Karen Wilson at kwilson@lasdschools.org |
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Tech Challenge |
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Information Session Come to the informational meeting for all LASD 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and their parents interested in participating in The Tech Challenge, hosted by the Tech Museum. You'll form a team to compete to solve a real-world problem in this annual design challenge. This year's challenge is "Taking Flight: "Your team will build a glider to deliver supplies to a remote location, and this year, you tell the story! What is your glider carrying? Where are you going? Why? New this year, there will be an award for the Top Tech Challenge story. Tech Challenge projects build skills in problem solving, time management, creativity, and teamwork, while working through the engineering design cycle as you build and test your design. Most importantly--it's great fun!!! Students and parents are invited to attend the Tech Challenge Information Session to learn more about this opportunity and how to enter:
Sunday, November 15 The event day will be April 23, 2016 for grades 4 to 6, and April 24 for grades 7 and 8. (No conflict with Junior Olympics this year!) For more information on the Tech Challenge, visit the website at http://thetechchallenge.thetech.org/ Questions? Contact parent volunteer Ann Hepenstal at annhep@yahoo.com or LASD STEM Coach Karen Wilson at kwilson@lasdschools.org |
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Project Cornerstone |
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Cornerstone Corner This month’s ABC book: “Say Something” by Peggy Moss is a powerful story in which the narrator sees and hears teasing, put-downs, pushing, and other forms of bully behaviors at her school. Because she’s confused about what to do, she doesn’t do anything at first. However, her responses change as she gains understanding and empathy. Goals of lesson:
UPstanders stand up to bully behaviors and advocate for targets. UPstanders know and practice tools that support peers in face- to-face situations as well as online in the digital world.
Your Silence is Your Agreement! When you “catch” kids modeling positive behaviors... Notice, Name it, and Celebrate it! |
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LAEF |
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LAEF Phonathon Was a Big Success – Thank you! In the past week, 228 families have pledged or donated a total $285,967 (and counting) to LAEF. Thank you! We are processing donations and will have an update about the LAEF Board’s $100,000 matching grant soon. To learn more about LAEF, pledge or donate, please go to LAEFonline.org.
Have you checked out the LAEF Annual Report 2014/15? Learn more about the amazing difference our community of supporters made in the well-rounded education of our students’ last year. Check it out at LAEFonline.org. Thank you! |
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Student Extracurricular Activities: |
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Springer has many after school activities! Please click here to link to the Springer website to see the selection and register for a class. |
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Parent Education Opportunities |
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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. |
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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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