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"The mission of the Springhill School Community is to learn,
work and play in a safe place where respect for each other and
responsibility for our own actions creates trust, teamwork and an
atmosphere of friendship." 2007-2008 Springhill Spirit Theme: PAY IT FORWARD: Gratitude and Caring OCTOBER SPIRIT REMINDER: Be grateful and caring of your global community by learning about and supporting the needs of other cultures!
Friday, October 12 Ramadan Ends Election Assembly (Pres., S.C. Speeches): Amphitheatre, 11:15 AM , grades 4-5. Voting will follow in the classrooms for all 4-5 graders. Results will be announced by end of school. Saturday, October 13 Light the Night Leukemia/Lymphoma Walk; Civic Park, WC, 7:00 PM Monday, October 15 Red Ribbon Assembly: John Abrams; Amphitheatre (MP Room if raining) 1:00 PM: Grades 1-3 1:50 PM: Grades 4-5 Springhill Measure J Phone Bank, 5:30 PM-8:30 PM Tuesday, October 16 OLSAT TESTING, all 3rd grade; 9:00 AM LSD Board Mtg.; DO, 7:00 PM Wednesday, October 17 4th Grade Gold Rush Camp; Coloma PFC Meeting Executive Board: Lounge, 5:30 PM DAC Mtg.; DO, 6:30 PM Thursday, October 18 4th Grade Gold Rush Camp; Coloma Friday, October 19 4th Grade Gold Rush Camp; Coloma Distribution of Red Ribbon Poster ("Good Character/Good Choices") materials Sunday, October 21 Springhill Measure J Phone Bank,3:00 PM-6:00 PM Monday, October 22 RED RIBBON WEEK Tuesday, October 23 Submission of "Good Character/Good Choices" Posters for Red Ribbon Week Wedneday, October 24 United Nations Day EVERYONE WEAR RED DAY Sunday, October 28 Lafayette Reservoir Run; 8:00 AM Walk to Cure Diabetes; Heather Farms, Walnut Creek, 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 30 PICTURE DAY; MP Room, all day Wednesday, October 31 Halloween K Halloween Parade; Lower Field, 11:15 AM Gr. 1-5 Halloween Parade; 2:00 PM Thursday, November 1 All Saints' Day RAPPORT Mtg.; DO, 9:00 AM Sunday, November 4 Daylight Savings Time ends (set clocks back an hour)
A Measure J Fact of the Week:
The "Revenue Limit" is the general purpose money each school receives per student. Lafayette School District 's revenue limit funds rank 16th among the 18 school districts in Contra Costa County . Within the 9 elementary school districts in the county, Lafayette School District ranks 7th. Good schools rely on parcel taxes for adequate funding. * Remaining Springhill phone bank dates: Mon., 10/15 6 - 8:30 pm Sun., 10/21 3 - 6 pm Thurs., 11/1 6 - 8:30 pm (reminder phone calls) Sat., 11/3 <12 - 2:30pm, 2:30 - 5pm (ALL SCHOOLS - reminder calls) Sun., 11/4 12 - 2:30 pm, 2:30 -5pm (ALL SCHOOLS - reminder calls) Please contact Kathy Hemmenway (933-5266 khemmenway@aol. com or Doreen deRoque (945-6499 or dderoque1@yahoo. com) * Absentee voters: All absentee voters need to mail in their ballots by Friday, Nov. 2 in order for them to be included in the election. * Lawn Signs: If you would like to have a lawn sign for your home, please contact Doreen de Roque (945- 6499 or dderoque1@yahoo. com) (Facts brought to you by the Measure J, Yes for Excellent Schools Campaign. www.yesfor excellentschools.net)
MEASURE J: LAFAYETTE SCHOOL
DISTRICT PARCEL TAX Although I do not use this space to promote Measure J, I do wish to make the Springhill community aware of the rational and motives for the district putting this measure on November's ballot. Those reasons include: ---to ensure stable, locally-controlled funding ---to support critical programs, including: preserving small class sizes, K-5 science teachers and instructional technology support ---to attract and retain teachers: our beginning teacher salaries are 6th out of 7 of neighboring districts ---to eliminate structural deficit caused by the State no longer funding vital programs such as K-5 reading specialists, instructional materials and library support ---to reduce parent subsidies of core instructional programs, e.g., instructional aides. I do strongly encourage all eligible Lafayette citizens to register to vote and to cast your vote on Tuesday, November 6! Thank you! Bruce L. Wodhams Principal PRINCIPAL's MESSAGES A. AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO THE PFC FOR THE DELICIOUS STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON LAST WEDNESDAY! IT WAS DELICIOUS AND MUCH APPRECIATED!!! B. 5th GRADE PARENTS & STUDENTS: DEMOCRACY IN ACTION!!! Student Body Elections are taking place today. Check out the results next week here in the Friday Flyer! C. Join the PFC! Register for e-SCRIP!! DIFFERENTIATION CORNER *Differentiated Instruction takes place in all of our classes. Each week, we will be profiling a particular teacher's implementation of Differentiated Instruction every week in the Friday Flyer. Don't miss it!!! In Mr. Fisher's 5th grade, students create a "Weather Flip Book" in which they write descriptions of various weather terms (e.g., water cycle, global warming, types of clouds, extreme weather, air pressure, etc.), include illustrations and create their own flip book. They are allowed to choose topics in which they are interested in to foster the exceeding of expectations. *Differentiated Instruction is not individualized instruction, but rather the delivery of curriculum to students in a manner that complements their learning style while always challenging them at their ability level. PAY IT FORWARD CORNER Every week we will be including different aspects of our Pay It Forward theme for this year in the Friday Flyer. Character development should be a major component in any well-rounded educational program and it has been for many years at Springhill. Ask your children what their classes are doing for Pay It Forward. Come to Spirit Wednesday, 8:30 AM every Wednesday morning in the main courtyard and find out how we promote character development at Springhill School. We do have a significant change in the Pay It Forward program this year. If you are familiar with how this program was originally designed, you know that all of the "pay it forward" efforts remained anonymous in order to promote the altruistic and selfless nature of the act. Although we will acknowledge all of the acts themselves in the weekly Student Bulletin, at Spirit Wednesday and in the Friday Flyer, we will no longer identify the specific students who performed the acts. We are hopeful the enthusiasm for the program will continue to be as strong as it has been the last several years with this change. Thank you. Keep up that PIF Spirit!!! A. COINS FOR A CURE: As one of several initial PAY IT FORWARD Projects this year, Springhill School is again participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) COINS FOR A CURE Program. The drive will begin Monday, 8/01, and will continue through Friday, 10/19, and will consist of a collection can in each classroom for students and staff to contribute any spare change they wish. Collection cans and a packet of information arrived in classrooms on Friday, 9/28. The actual WALK TO CURE DIABETES will take place at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek on Sunday, 10/28, 10:00 AM. Several staff members will be participating. For further information regarding the walk, please contact Mrs. Heidi McLeod at: Heidi@ac3online.co m Thank you so much as we begin another successful year of PAYING IT FORWARD! B. LIGHT THE NIGHT LEUKEMIA/LYMPHOMA WALK: Starting at 5:00 PM, the Annual LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK will take place Saturday evening, 10/13, at Civic Park in Walnut Creek. The actual walk begins at 7:00 PM. Walk with our own Lauren Bishopp's Team or other friends and neighbors for this worthy cause. For more information, check out: http ://www.active.com/donate/ltnSanFr1/1908_bishopp e OR www.lightthenight.org Thank you! ALSO: Thanks to all who attended the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Fund Raiser for TEAM LAUREN BISHOPP at Mangia Restaurant last Tuesday.
The weeks are moving past us quickly with Halloween right around the corner and beautiful fall days for all to enjoy. We are busy here at Springhill also with plenty happening in the next week. The Fall Fundraiser Packets are due on October 17! If you have any questions email Kathy Langner at klangner@comcast. net or call 925-943-6828. Remember to come by on Monday when we will be having a special assembly featuring John Abrams - The Bully Game. The assembly will be held in the Amphitheatre (MP room if it is raining) with grades 1 to 3 from 1:00 to 1:45 and grades 4 to 5 from 1:50 to 2:40. Parents are encouraged to attend! Our fourth graders, teachers & parent chaperones are leaving for Coloma Outdoor Discovery School next Wednesday. Have a wonderful time! We would like to thank Kathy Hamilton and all of her volunteers for working so hard this past month for LASF's Oktoberfest. I personally think Kathy should keep the orange braids! Enjoy the cooler weather and take the time to look at the foliage as they change to their beautiful fall colors. Corrine Christensen 2007/2008 Springhill PFC President joeandcorrine@msn.com
Don't be scared, be prepared! Your fall fundraiser forms are due in your child's classroom by October 17. This is one of our few fundraisers for Springhill School . This is a great opportunity to put together emergency supplies for your family. It is also a good time to think about an emergency preparedness plan for your family. You can get more Quake Kare forms in the Springhill office (in my box). The items you order will be shipped directly to your home! How convenient is that? Don't forget that your child can earn some great prizes, too! If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please let me know. klangner@comcast. net or 925-943-6828.
 LASF will be conducting its annual New Family Phonathon on November 12th and 13th. LASF provides top quality curriculum-based programs in science, humanities, technology and the visual and performing arts to children in the Lafayette School District and Acalanes High School. LASF relies on support from our parent community to provide the bulk of its funding. We will be contacting all new families plus those families who have not yet donated for the 2006/07 school year. To avoid that phone call and to help us target our limited volunteer resources, please make your pledge by November 9th. You can obtain a donation form from the LASF website (www.lasf.org). If you have any questions, please contact the LASF office at 299- 0644 or Springhill's LASF fundraising representative, Julie Novak at thenovaks@sbcgl obal.net or 930-9435. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! Please consider donating just a few hours of your time to help in this worthy cause. This is a critical fundraiser that will help LASF close this year's funding gap, and we need your help to make it happen. For dates and more information, please call Julie Novak at thenovaks@sbcglobal.net or 930-9435.
Did you know that bats are not flying mice? Bats belong to their very own group called Chiroptera, a Greek name that means hand-wing. Bat populations are declining. Half the bats in the United States are listed as rare, threatened or endangered. This week the kindergartners heard a story about a baby bat that was separated from his mother for three whole days! Ask your kindergartner how a mama bat cuddles her baby bat. Holy hairy eight legged creatures! Look out, it's spider and tarantula time. The first and third graders heard about spiders in the library this week. Here's an interesting fact about spiders. A spider's web is made of continuous strands of spider silk produced from about six silk glands beneath its abdomen, and there are about 3000 different kinds of spiders just in North America. Did you know that tarantulas can grow to be about ten inches across and they have tiny little hairs that act as barbs to keep predators away? That's enough to keep me away! Ask your first or third grader what they learned about spiders and tarantulas this week. North, South, East, West, let's go to the place that I like best! This week the second graders learned about maps. Maps can sometimes be tricky to read since they have scales, symbols, keys, labels, and a compass rose, which shows the direction of the map. You can make a map of any place you like, even one of your bedroom or your own backyard! Ask your second grader what the symbols on a map stand for. New Books in the Library No Talking, by Andrew Clements, is a book that will spark your interest right from the start as it demonstrates the quirkiness that only Clements can dish out. After reading about Gandhi, Dave Packer decides to see how long he can stay silent. However, Dave's fifth grade classmate Lynsey challenges his test with all of her jabbering and he ends up blowing his stack. Suddenly, Dave comes up an idea for the boys and the girls in his class to remain silent for two whole days. Do you really think it's possible for fifth graders to not talk for 48 hours? Read this book to find out how Dave creates a school wide frenzy with his challenge. Happy Birthday to our Author of the Week Happy September birthday to Ursula LeGuin! Some titles by LeGuin are Tom Mouse, Fish Soup, A Wizard of Earthsea, and Catwings Return. Check out these and many more of Ursula LeGuin's books at the Springhill Library. Springhill Library Website Explore our website at http ://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/people/smattern/index.htm . You can find a full update on what's happening at the Springhill Library, find more reviews of new books and links to many helpful resources. Sherry Mattern, Library Specialist Kimberli Sparks-Buckley, Library Aide
One of those Weeks?
School's back in session and new schedules are underway, but are your
kids still a little out of sorts? Perhaps it's lack of sleep. Kids'
health and behavior takes a nosedive when their sleep habits are out of
whack. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 10-11 hours of sleep for
school-age kids each night. With the days getting shorter it may be a
great time for kids to start getting more sleep. And you never know -
more rest at night may mean smooth (or at least smoother) days for mom
and dad. For additional wellness information, log onto lafsd.k12.ca.us/wellness.html.
John Abrams - Red Ribbon Week John Abrams is flying up from Los Angeles to be at Springhill Elementary on Monday, October 15 for our first ever THE BULLY GAME! This is a kick-off for Red Ribbon Week celebrations at the end of the month during October 22nd through 26th. The assembly for 1st through 3rd grades is from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM. The assembly for 4th through 5th grades is from 1:50 PM to 2:40 PM. Parents come join us! John Abrams is nationally known on stage and TV as an actor, magician, and emcee! The Bully Game includes the students as both contestants and an involved and interactive audience. Through magic and music in a game show format, the children will learn: the difference between friendly teasing and not- so-friendly taunting, how gossip works and why it's such a monster, when it's a good time to "tell" and when it's simply "tattling", how to be a good "Witness" and not just a bystander, when and how to use assertive words to repel a bully, how to keep your self respect even when things go badly, and more. This program ties in with our focus at the elementary school age level. The program focuses on children's self esteem and social skills, and children who develop these attributes are less likely to engage in drug use in later years. John Abrams uses interactive action and lots of fun to introduce and reinforce these important concepts. The messages are received loud and clear!! Any questions or feedback? Please contact Karen Elliott at karen@chelliott.com
All Boy Scout troops are
starting their recruitment process for the January cross-over from Cub
Scouts to Boy Scouts for all 5th grade boys. We will post items from
troops as they have events. BOY SCOUT TROOP #224 IS AWESOME!! Our troop has great scouts! You'll have lots of fun, develop leadership skills, be with kids of all ages from several different schools and have outstanding parental support. Come visit us at our OPEN HOUSE for S'mores, knot tying demonstrations and more on Monday, OCTOBER 22nd from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at our exclusive hut at Happy Valley Elementary School. RSVP to Cheryl Tyler at 283-2506 or Janet Shestakov at 283-9525 or just drop in!
Get Your Free School Bus
Passes! The Lamorinda School Bus Program is participating in Walk/Bike/Bus to School in October. Starting October 8th, special HOT PINK bus passes will be available at your school office. The passes are valid for one trip on the school bus (am or pm) until October 31st. There is a limit of two free passes per student. Get your neighbors and friends to join you on the school bus! Please call 925-299-3216 for more information.
Attention Third Grade Parents: In this week's Friday Folders you should receive information about the OLSAT (Otis Lennon School Abilities Test), which will be given to all third graders in the Lafayette School District during the week of October 15th. The OLSAT is a standardized cognitive abilities test that is taken by children all over the nation. It will be used in planning the best possible educational program for your child. Questions may be directed to Rachel Zinn at the district office at 284-7011, ext. 507. DAC Meeting The first DAC (District Advisory Committee) meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office Boardroom. This meeting is open to all parents interested in differentiated instruction. Please call Rachel Zinn at 284-7011, ext. 522 for more information.
Kid's Hideout - Now Accepting Enrollment! If you need care, whether on a daily basis, a few days a week, or just random drop-in, please contact Beth at 283-7808 or beth@kidshideout.net for more information.
LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR RUN- Fun
for the whole family -- Sunday, October 28 Join in on one of Lafayette's best traditions! Run/walk around the beautiful Lafayette reservoir in either a 2 mile fun run, 5K certified run, or 10K certified run. Send in your registration early to guarantee a t-shirt. Specify Springhill School on the registration form, and the school will receive an extra 10% of each entry fee. Registration forms will be sent home in Friday folders. If you cannot run this year, but still want to help out the community and take part in this fun event, you can! We need lots of race volunteers to help with the event: handing out water, goodie bags, awards, etc. Please contact Leslie Geannacopulos at lgeannacopu los@comcast.net or 979-1796 if you are able to help on the morning of the race. LASF and Wildcats On Stage Presents: "Pirate Bride" A musical for the whole family! Friday, November 2nd 6:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. shows. Saturday, November 3rd 5:30 p.m.& 7:30 p.m. shows. Stanley Middle School - Multi-Purpose Room Tickets are $7.00 and can be purchased at the door. Friends of the Lafayette Library Join the Friends of the Lafayette Library on October 18 at 7:30 pm for an evening with ELIZABETH ROSNER, author of The Speed of Light, Blue Nude and Gravity, a book of poetry. Rosner is the daughter of Jewish holocaust survivors, and her writing reflects her efforts to come to terms with the impact of her parents' experiences on her own life, the indelible imprints of their history on her language, her identity, and her imagination. The Speed of Light was the recipient of the Harold U. Ribalow Prize, administered by /Hadassah /Magazine. Blue Nude was a Book Sense Notable Book and was one of the Chronicle's Best Books of 2006. Rosner's thoughtful explanations of her work are almost as beautiful as the writing itself. Great Worldwide Star Count Kids and adults are invited to count the stars in the evening sky from Oct. 1-15, 2007, and report their results online. The event, sponsored by Windows to the Universe, is designed to raise awareness about light pollution and encourage learning in astronomy. All the information needed to participate will be available on the Web. At the conclusion of the event, the submitted data will be analyzed and a map will be generated highlighting the results. For more information, visit: http://www.starcount.org - ORINDA COMMUNITY CENTER AUXILIARY'S 32nd ANNUAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR - Sat. Nov 3rd 10-5 Sun. Nov 4th 11-5 Orinda Community Center at 26 Orinda Way Local Vendors - Entertainment - Raffle Prizes - Silent Auction - Kids' Art Drop Off 100% of the proceeds benefit Orinda Community Center programs such as: Summer Concerts-in-the-Park, Halloween Parade and Spring Egg Hunt. Show your support by attending this year's OCCA Holiday Bazaar! For more information: Call [925] 254-2445 Or visit: http: //www.ci.orinda.ca.us/parksandrec/auxiliary. html October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Tristan Uhl Melewicz in Mr. Begg's 4th grade class is once again co-captain for the 5 mile walk in Golden Gate Park on Saturday, October 20, 2007 to raise money to cure Breast Cancer. He and his Mom, Valery Uhl, have participated in the American Cancer Society's walk: "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" for the last 7 years. Tristan has a can for money/check/change donations in Mr. Begg's classroom #21 and you can also donate or join his team (Summit Medical Center) online at: http://main.acsevents.or g/site/TR//1431474542? pg=personal&JServSessionIdr008=iev9v6p381.app23 b&fr_id=3391&px=1204666 They would love to have you join them! Let's find a cure for breast cancer together! Join the Bishopp Family! Join us for the Light the Night walk, Saturday October 13th at Civic Park, Walnut Creek, food, music, entertainment from 5 pm, walk from 7 pm. A truly fun family night out. Lauren will be singing her favourite song "I will survive" and she'd appreciate your encouragement. We look forward to seeing you! With thanks, the Bishopp family
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