Sunday, November 4
Daylight Savings Time ends (set clocks back an hour)

Monday, November 5
Cub Scout Pack 200 Meeting.; Library, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM

Tuesday, November 6
ELECTION DAY; MP Room closed (PLEASE VOTE TODAY!!!)
Lunch outside
Bargain Book Bonanza; noon

Wednesday, November 7
PFC Teacher Appreciation Luncheon; Lounge, 12:00 PM---THANK YOU, PFC!

Thursday, November 8
Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By
Fall Music Assembly; Grades 3-4-5, MP Room, 1:30 PM

Friday, November 9
Book Fair Set Up; MP Room closed all day

Sunday, November 11
Veterans' Day

Monday, November 12
Veterans' Day Observed; holiday

Tuesday, November 13
Book Fair
Lunch Outside
District Wellness Council; DO, 3:15 PM
LSD Board Meeting; DO, 7:00 PM

Wednesday, November 14
Book Fair
Lunch Outside
PFC Executive Board Meeting; Lounge, 5:30 PM

Thursday, November 15
Book Fair
Lunch Outside
LASF General Board Mtg.; Stanley Library, 7:00 PM

Friday, November 16
Book Fair
Lunch Outside
End 1st Trimester

Monday, November 19
Staff Inservice; student holiday

Tuesday, November 20
Staff Inservice; student holiday

Wednesday, November 21
Holiday

Thursday, November 22
Thanksgiving Holiday

Friday, November 23
Holiday

Monday, November 26
School resumes

Measure J - Final Stretch!!!

From YES on Measure J

Measure J needs your YES vote!! Don't delay getting to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th! If you still have your absentee ballot at home, take it with you to the polls. If you have lost your absentee ballot, you CAN still vote: go to the polls and ask for a provisional ballot. Traditionally, parents have a low voter turn-out rate: Measure J is counting on you to defy this trend by VOTING! Your ONE vote is critical to this election, and critical for your schools.

Facts brought to you by the Measure J Yes for Excellent Schools Campaign.
www.yesforexcellentschools.net

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. GOOD DECISION MAKING was highlighted during this week's RED RIBBON WEEK; but, it does not end with this special week. It is a daily process. Direct your children in the skills of making good decisions at every opportunity! Go over the FOUR AGREEMENTS with your children:
AGREEMENT #1: Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
AGREEMENT #2: Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
AGREEMENT #3: Don't Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
AGREEMENT #4: Don't Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Many thanks to Karen Elliott, Corrine Christensen and all other parent volunteers for your efforts in bringing another exciting Red Ribbon Week to the Springhill students. Well done, Karen, Corrine & helpers!

B. THANK YOU TO ALL who participated in the Lafayette Reservoir Run last Sunday and a huge thank you to Leslie Geannacopulos and the many parent and student volunteers who helped make it happen! Well done!

C. Thank you to all who attended our annual Halloween parade last Wednesday! It was a blast! The Springhill culinary society is always happy to whip up a little educational souffle for the community!!! Bon appetit!!!

D. 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 Mrs. Miller's 2nd grade, a spiral review of addition/subtraction facts through time tests, flashcard practice, math games and worksheets is provided. The lessons are differentiated by student mastery. Each child will progress at his/her own pace as they master each section. The sections are as follows: 0-10+, 0-10-, 0-15+. 0-15-. 0-20+, 0-20-. These activities build the foundation to begin instruction with multiplication and division. As the child masters addition and subtraction, instruction can begin with multiplication & division.

*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: Springhill School collected $322 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through COINS FOR A CURE. Well done, Scorpions!!!

B. GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD BOOK DRIVE: Today is the last day to contribute books for AHS seniors Jane Appert's and Taylor Stern's book drive for the citizens of Botswana, Africa, through the organization "The African Library Project". Thank you to all who contributed!!!

C. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE NEXT SPRINGHILL STUDENT COUNCIL JAMBA JUICE SALE COMING UP SOON TO PAY IT FORWARD!!!

The Springhill PFC would like to remind all of our families to vote Tuesday November 6th. Surprisingly, traditionally, parents have a low voter turnout rate: Measure J is counting on you to defy this trend by VOTING! Your ONE vote is critical to this election, and critical for our schools.

Thank you very much Leslie Geannacopulos, Jen McQuet and all of the Springhill Families that either volunteered or walked/ran in this year's Lafayette Reservoir Run. Once again Springhill had by far the most volunteers of any of the elementary schools. Double the number of the next, in fact!! Well done! It also looks like we will again receive a donation of over $3000!!

Spirit Wear is here!! It will be coming home today and hopefully worn often, especially on Spirit Wednesday. Thank you Amy Delong-Martin and Katie Sowarby for all of your hard work from Scorpion Day to now on this project.

Thank you also to Susan Candell for her stint as the Friday Flyer Editor. Great job Susan, we appreciate all the hours that go in weekly to keeping the families here at Springhill in the know!

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Corrine Christensen
2007/2008 Springhill PFC President
joeandcorrine@msn.com

Shop 'til you drop for LASF!

Simply by registering your credit cards and grocery affinity cards with eScrip, a portion of your purchases at qualifying stores automatically goes to LASF. And with so many retailers participating, your contribution adds up quickly. For a list of participants and to sign up, visit www.escrip.com (LASF's eScrip account number is 0137956566). Your Albertsons Preferred Savings Card also allows you to support LASF as you shop. And mention LASF Reads! when shopping at the Lafayette Book Store or shop online through our link, and a percentage of your purchase will go to LASF!

What would happen if you dropped a great big pumpkin? It would probably go round and round, thumpety bumpety, and it might even become a runaway pumpkin! The kindergartners heard a story about a rollicking rolling pumpkin that gets totally out of hand. Ask your kindergartner what happens to the pumpkin in the end.

Bats can say boo too! What can a bat do when she can´t even scare anyone on Halloween? The first graders heard a story about a bat named Bertha that just wants to join in on the spooky fun. Ask your first grader who Bertha finally scares on Halloween night.

New Books in the Library
To honor her Mother who passed away when she was six, eleven year old Mildred is determined to win the Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Show in Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy. Unfortunately, something awful always happens to her pumpkins and they turn to mush. Mildred´s obsession with pumpkins alarms her Aunt Arlene so she tries to get Mildred interested in clothes instead of pumpkins. Will Mildred´s dream of growing a prize-winning pumpkin ever come true? This book is a sweet coming-of-age story that also introduces readers to pumpkin growing competitions. As Mildred finds out, it requires much more than luck to produce a thousand pound champion! If you are interested in this topic, take a look at the website featured in the book www.pumpkinshow.com.

Happy Birthday to our Author of the Week
Happy October birthday to Johanna Hurwitz! Some book titles by Hurwitz are lama in the Library, Aldo Peanut Butter, Teacher´s Pet, and School´s Out. Check out these and many more of Johanna Hurwitz´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

Giving Germs the Slip

With kids back in school sharing space and supplies and with cold and flu season underway, chances are your child will be bringing home more than homework from school. Kids catch about 8 colds per year. Combined, they lose nearly 22 million school days due to the common cold alone. To help prevent the spread of illness this winter, here are some simple tips - for kids and adults - to give disease- causing germs the slip:

• Wash your hands often and well, especially before eating.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Keep doctor recommended vaccinations up to date.
• Stay home when you are sick and check with a health care provider when needed.
• Eat right, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly to help strengthen your immune system and fight sicknesses.

For more information, visit www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/microbes.htm or www.cdc.gov/cleanhands.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE WELLNESS CORNER IN THE LIBRARY?

Note from a former Preschool Teacher about Head Lice

When I was teaching preschool, we had a serious problem for about three months. During that time, it seemed that half of the problem was that parents just didn't know what they were looking for so children returned again and again with nits. The Center For Disease Control has very good pictures comparing each stage of the louse's life with a penny for scale.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_h ead_lice.htm.

Chill Out With A Good Book

Come to the Springhill Book Fair Tuesday, November 13th - Thursday, November 15th. Choose from a variety of books for all ages provided once again by the wonderful Storyteller Bookstore in Lafayette. The book sale proceeds are the one re-occurring source of income that the library receives each year. Get your holiday shopping done all in one place and enjoy a week full of activities and fun.

Questions? Call Gabrielle Ohleyer 284-5968, Darcy Cole 938-1338, Melissa Johnston 280-1039 or Sheryl Lauer 962-9388.

Lafayette Little League

Registration is open ONLINE to all new and returning players. See www.lafayettelittleleague.com for details. Registration closes November 30.


Lamorinda Rugby Registration Now Open!

Lamorinda Rugby Football Club is recruiting youth and high school players for the upcoming 2007/2008 season. Youth season begins after Thanksgiving break and ends in March 08. High School season begins in December and ends in May. To register, log on to our website at www.lamorugby.com and follow the registration instructions. Parent Information nights are Monday, November 5 (Youth) and Thursday, November 8 (High School) in the Miramonte Cafeteria. Both meetings run from 7:30pm until 8:30pm.
ALL LEVELS OF PLAYERS WELCOME!


Lamorinda Soccer Club - LMSC

Boys & Girls Program presents Winter Soccer clinics for U10 players at all levels. The clinics will be held on Saturday and Sunday mornings from January 5th - February 10th at Miramonte High School For more information, go to LMSC website at www.lamorindasoccer.com.


Play Lacrosse!

Registration is currently underway for the Lamorinda Lacrosse girls spring '08 season. Openings still available for 3rd and 4th graders, as well as 5th and 6th graders. New players welcome! For more information and registration go to: www.lamorindalacrosse.com

Springhill Spirit Wear

Springhill Spirit Wear has arrived and will be distributed to your child's classroom on Friday, Nov. 2nd. Please contact Katie Sowarby katiesowarby@comcast.net or Amy Delong- Martin mikeamymartin@comcast.net if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks and enjoy your spirit wear!


Springhill Music Assembly - Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By

Friends and families are invited to attend the music assembly Thursday 11/8 1:30 to 2:30 in the Multipurpose room.
The choruses and instrumental players will include 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.


Join us for our 3rd Brown Bag

Helping Your Child Lead a Balanced Life

Thurs. November 8, 2007
Noon - 1:30pm, no fee, register in class
Walnut Creek Intermediate School, library
2425 Walnut Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Speaker: Kim Koppenhaver-Klute
Parent Educator, Parenting Consultant

Do your children act grouchy or irritable? Do they have trouble falling asleep or complain about stomachaches or headaches? They may be feeling the strain of being overscheduled.
Come and learn how to help your child manage stress, maintain positive self-image, create downtime and stay connected as a family.
A workshop not to be missed as we enter the holiday season!

Please rsvp to Vera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us


Friends of the Lafayette Library

Author Gene Yang, Tuesday November 6 at 7 pm at the Lafayette Library
The Friends of the Lafayette invites "Young Adult" readers to a special Tuesday's Child event with author and graphic artist Gene Yang. His most recent graphic novel, *American Born Chinese*, was a National Book Award Finalist and was the winner of the acclaimed Gene Printz Award for the Best Young Adult Fiction. This remarkable book weaves together severalstories, one of a boy who moves from SF's Chinatown to the predominantly white suburbs, and ultimately comments on the teenage struggles with fitting in. The library, in partnership with the Oakland Museum of California, is also proudly exhibiting the original work of Gene Yang, so come by the library and see his work (it's very cool!) for yourself.


Lafayette Juniors Annual Rummage Sale

Sunday, November 4, 2007 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lafayette Community Center. The rummage sale features great babies´ and kids´ clothing, toys and equipment (as well as loads of other gently used items). Proceeds to benefit local charitable organizations.


INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR 11- 18 YEAR OLDS

Come find out about international camp opportunities with CISV for your 11-18 year old children. CISV is hosting an information meetings about their international programs on November 4. CISV is a 50+ year old non-profit, completely volunteer-based organization that sponsors international camps and exchange programs for youth age 11 and up. In 2007, the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of CISV sent children to camps and exchanges in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, Brazil, and China. The family information meetings is scheduled for
< Sunday November 4, 2007 2-4PM in Lafayette at the Methodist Church at 955 Moraga Road.

For more information about this program, go to the website at: www.cisvsf.org, or call Teresa Gerringer, 943- 7911. You can also get first hand accounts from the following families who have had children participate in the program - Appert, Bulos, Gerringer, Gitomer/Weiner, Linfoot, Teichman, and Wurtz.

To submit entries to0 the Friday Flyer, email Sharon Swan: fridayflyereditor@yahoo.com

925-280-0141 All entries due Wednesday before 3:00pm. Entries must be kept brief, please.
Subscriber info: annmariemwarren@yahoo.com

Web: http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/springhill