Thursday, March 13
REPORT CARDS GO HOME WITH STUDENTS
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; MP Room, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM

Friday, March 14
Staff Development Day; Student Holiday

Saturday, March 15
PFC Parent Party; Contra Costa Country Club, 6:00 PM

Sunday, March 16
Palm Sunday

Monday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM
5th Grade Stanley Parent Orientation; Stanley School, 7:00 PM

Tuesday, March 18
5th Grade Stanley Student Orientation; MultiPurpose Room, 1:15 PM

Wednesday, March 19
District Advisory Council; District Office, 6:00 PM
PFC Executive Board Mtg.; Lounge, 5:30 PM
Cub Scout Pack 200; MultiPurpose Room, 6:45 PM- 8:30 PM

Thursday, March 20
Vernal Equinox
AIM Invitee Parent Mtg.; Library, 3:15 PM

Friday, March 21
Good Friday
STUDENT COUNCIL SPIRIT DAY: Crazy Hair Day
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; MultiPurpose Room, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM

Sunday, March 23
Easter

Monday, March 24
Student Council Mtg.; Rm. 23, 12:20 PM
School Site Council Mtg.; Office, 3:30 PM
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM

Tuesday, March 25
District Band Festival; Stanley Gym, 7:30 PM

Wednesday, March 26
"Quenchers" Fund Raiser for Sotuba School, Mali; 10:25 AM
Kindergarten Parent Orientation; Rm. K-2, 1:00 PM

Friday, March 28
Minimum Day
All K: 8:15 AM-11:35 AM
Gr. 1-3 students dismissed at 11:50 AM
Gr. 4-5 students dismissed at 12:00 PM
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; MP Room,12:15 PM-2:15 PM

Monday, March 31- Friday, April 4
Spring Break

Tuesday, April 1
April Fools' Day

Monday, April 7
School Resumes

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGES

A. TEACHER OF THE YEAR: It is with great pride and pleasure that I announce Lafayette School District's nominee for Teacher of the Year. Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Erin Caldwell, ISP Teacher at Springhill Elementary School. Erin has taught the Upper Grade Special Day Class at Springhill for the last nine years and her devotion and commitment to her students, colleagues and community during this time is unparalleled. Well done, Erin . . . Congratulations!

B. SPIRIT WEDNESDAY/PAY IT FORWARD RECOGNITION: At the March 11 Lafayette School District Board Meeting, Springhill School's SPIRIT WEDNESDAY/PAY IT FORWARD Program received special recognition from the Board of Trustees. A presentation was also made the next day at Sprit Wednesday and was accepted by Student Body President Sam deRoque. Many, many thanks to the students, staff and community of Springhill School who have made Spirit Wednesday and Pay It Forward a reality over the years!

C. THANK YOU TO PFC AND TO ALL THE SUPPORTIVE PARENTS OF THE SPRINGHILL COMMUNITY WHO HAVE STEPPED UP DURING THIS STATE AND DISTRICT BUDGET CRISIS TO COMMIT TO EXTRA FUNDS TO HELP MAINTAIN CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PERSONNEL AT OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS!!! Not only did you help in passing MEASURE J last November, allowing the District's current budget shortfall to be only $1.74 million instead of a $3.5 million, you are now joining in with the other parent clubs, LASF and other resources to address the shortfall. THE SPRINGHILL STAFF AND I THANK YOU FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!!

D. THANK YOU TO ALL 5th GRADE PARENTS who attended and participated in the Annual 5th Grade Colonial Days at the Samman Barn. It was a fantastic learning experience for our students and could not have taken place without your help!

E. PLEASE NOTE ON THE CALENDAR THAT FRIDAY, MARCH 14, IS A STAFF INSERVICE DAY AND A STUDENT HOLIDAY. THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL THAT DAY!

F. THANK YOU TO ALL ATTENDED LAST WEEK's LASF MATH NIGHT! As always, it was an entertaining and informative evening and enjoyed by all with many fascinating projects built. Thank you to LASF and especially to all of the parent volunteers and to Mrs. Kathy Hamilton & Mrs. Meagan Hagglund for coordinating the event. Well done!

G. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH to the PFC and to Dianne MacArthur for the exceptional gourmet Teacher Appreciation Luncheon last week. As always, it was unbelievably delicious and greatly appreciated!!!

H. 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 Ms. Bornfleth's Kindergarten, students author alphabet books. Each student is given a book page with the letter of the week on it. The students trace over the letter. Then they may draw things that start with that letter, some write words that start with that letter using their best guess spelling, some do both, and some just copy the sample. Each student has the opportunity to do as much with their page as they choose. At the end of the year each one will have published an alphabet book!

*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!!!


1. STUDENT COUNCIL JAMBA JUICE FUND RAISER FOR CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ: Thank you to all who participated in this fund raiser for the 10 year old Oakland boy who was paralyzed by a wayward bullet while at a piano lesson. It was a great success; over $350 was raised---thank you Student Council for your compassion and concern for this unfortunate boy.

2. MARCH FUND RAISER: Be looking for Student Council to sponsor a QUENCHERS fund raiser on Wednesday, March 26, to address school supplies for a classroom in the village of Sotuba, outside of Bamako, Mali, in West Africa. More information to follow!

3. PENNIES FOR PATIENTS: Starting last Monday, we began our annual Pennies for Patients drive to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The drive will extend from March 10-March 28. Leave that spare change in the collection box in each classroom and help find a cure for Leukemia & Lymphoma!!!

4. THANK YOU ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RUN FOR KIERAN LAST SATURDAY. It raised over $10,000 for further research and also the Special Ed program of the Lafayette School District. Kieran remains in our hearts and his memory continues to allow us all to Pay It Forward! Thanks again!

Due to California's current budget crisis, public schools are facing a challenging time. Many of you have come to me and asked how you can help. Here is something you may want to consider. Everyday that a child is absent from school, Springhill loses $43.50 for that absence. We certainly do not want your child in school if they are sick. However, Springhill has had 1678 absences, 464 of them unexcused, so far this year. That totals $20,184 in lost funding. If a child is missing school for something other than illness, please consider reimbursing the District. You can make your checks payable to the Lafayette School District. I would also like to note that the state does not accept any absence as excused and so the total loss of funding is actually $72,993. I would also like to reconfirm that we are not in any way encouraging you to send a sick child to school.

The PFC would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to our very own Springhill teacher, Erin Caldwell, this year's Lafayette School Districts nominee for Teacher of the Year. We are very fortunate to have Erin as one of our own!!

Please remember that there is no school on Friday the 14th due to a teacher in-service day.

I know that I will be seeing many of you on Saturday night at the Parent Party, I for one am greatly looking forward to it.

Remember to wear your green on Monday!!

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

LASF Corner/Spring Phonathon
(IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL PARENTS, PLEASE READ)

LASF Success Is But a Pledge Away

As Lafayette's school districts face extreme budget reductions, LASF plays a vital role in ensuring the continuation of our ongoing academic programs that are essential to giving our children the well-rounded education they so deserve.

This organization is privately funded by community members and all of us parents of Lafayette students and parents/grandparents of former Lafayette students. We urge you to realize the value LASF provides each and every student and continue to generously support our mission.

In this fundraising effort we are offering several ways to contribute to the cause:

1. Make your pledge and payment online at www.lasf.org by April 25th.
2. Make your pledge at school during Donation Day on Tuesday, April 22nd. (more information to follow in the coming weeks).
3. Mail your pledge directly to LASF at P.O. Box 923, Lafayette, CA 94549 by April 25th.

All three of the above will eliminate your receiving a phone call soliciting a donation.

Or, you may offer your contribution when contacted by LASF volunteers during our annual Phonathon (April 27th through May 6th).

EQUALLY IMPORTANT is the gift of your time in placing the necessary calls requesting relief for our organization. For dates and more information, please call Springhill's LASF fundraising representative, Julie Novak at thenovaks@sbcglobal.net or 930-9435..

We at LASF thank you in advance for heeding our call to donate your time and dollars to keep these programs alive and thriving in our community.

Remember, let's stay positive and work together to reach our common goal. Together we can make it happen!

This Week in the Library
Shamrocks, shillelaghs, leprechauns, pots of gold, green everywhere you look-St. Patrick's Day must be near! Our stories this week focused on some of the many wonderful stories with an Irish setting or background.

Fifth graders heard the story of Fergus by Jim Murphy. Murphy took some traditional elements (a lazy boy, a dark night, a mysterious, magical creature) and created a modern day ghost story. His creature is a blend of a dullahan and an air demon, two well-known terrifying creatures in Irish folklore. Ask your student how Fergus gets the better of the night-demon or if he gets the better of him...

Fourth graders continued their art in picture books study by learning about oils and acrylic paints and how these media are used by illustrators. Then we looked at several picture book examples and discussed what we noticed. Finally we read Janet Nolan's book, The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh, illustrated very realistically by Ben Stahl using acrylic paint. He did extensive research to get the details of Ireland and NYC in the 1800's and 1900's just right for this story of a family that emigrated from Ireland during the Potato Famine, but brought a small part of Ireland with them, which is then passed down from generation to generation. Ask your fourth grader which character was his favorite.

Can you imagine a bunch of buccaneer bunnies sailing around on a ship called the Salty Carrot? The third graders heard Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies, a story about Barnacle Black Ear and his son Henry, who has no taste for the sordid seas. Ask your third grader what Henry liked to do more than buccaneering and why that was important. This was the last of the nominees in the Primary category for the California Young Reader Medal award. To find out more about CYRM visit their website at http://californiayoungreadermedal.org/. Next week the primary grades will be voting on their favorite of the five nominees!

Have you ever wondered how the pot of gold got to the end of the rainbow? The second graders heard Too Many Leprechauns, in which Finn O'Finnegan discovers that while he was away leprechauns have invaded his home town; the noise of their shoemaking is keeping everyone awake. He comes up with an ingenious plan to force the leprechauns to leave. Ask your student how the rainbow fits into the story.

Imagine a leprechaun that has found the perfect park in which to live only to have a big, shaggy dog invade his home and cheerfully try to make him a friend. The Luckiest Leprechaun, the story of how Lucky wins Mac O'Shamrock over is truly heart-warming. Ask your first grader what Lucky does to earn Mac's friendship.

Tim O'Toole hasn't a penny or a potato but when some leprechauns give him a goose that lays golden eggs and a tablecloth that's filled with food all his troubles are over- not! The kindergartners heard Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk. Ask your kindergartner about what the evil McGoons did and what happened to them.

New Books in the Library
For all our young science lovers, Wired, by Anastasia Suen, describes how electricity is conducted and follows its route from a power plant to a home. Paul Carrick's illustrations use mixed media and acrylic paint in an entertaining fashion to help make the text even clearer. There is a glossary/index and a list of books and websites for those who want to explore the topic in greater depth.

Happy Birthday to our Author of the Week!
Virginia Hamilton was born on March 12. Her maternal grandfather was a slave who escaped to Ohio and settled on a farm there. Steeped in both her African American and her Native American heritage through the stories her parents shared orally, Virginia told stories all her life, using many of the oral story techniques with which she was familiar. Her books often explored the African American experience. She was the first African American to win a Newbery medal for her novel M.C. Higgins the Great. She has written many books for children, including The People Could Fly, A Ring of Tricksters, The Girl Who Spun Gold, and The House of Dies Drear. You can check out all of these and many others either here or at the public 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

Is Daylight Savings Time throwing your family off schedule? Springing forward in time has created sleepless nights and long days for some. Here is an article to help your children adjust.

http:// pediatrics.about.com/cs/spring/a/daylight_svg.htm

For additional wellness information, log onto lafsd.k12.ca.us/wellness.html. Also feel free to contact the Springhill Wellness Committee if you have any questions....Erin Benisek, Anne Bone, and Meagan Hagglund.

CALIFORNIA HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY
Every two years, the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is given to all California 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th graders. This survey collects data which will provide reliable assessment and information about our youth in the Lafayette School District. It is a tool that meets requirements for No Child Left Behind Act and Title IV Safe and Drug Free Schools. The data collection helps guide the development of more effective health, prevention and youth resilience programs. Additionally, the California Healthy Kids Survey is a vital component of the Lafayette School District's Strategic Plan on Healthy Kids - Healthy Adults.
Fifth and seventh graders in the Lafayette School District will be taking the survey on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. A consent form will be sent home on Thursday (March 13th) with your child. The consent form should be returned to your child's teacher by Tuesday, March 20th. This 45 minute survey is voluntary and anonymous.
You may examine a copy of the survey in your elementary school's front office, the District Office or on the Lafayette District website: http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us
If you have any remaining questions, please call Toni McShane, District Coordinator for the survey, at Stanley Middle School (925.283.6282).


Spring LegoĻ Engineering Fundamentals Class
Back by popular demand, the LegoĻ Engineering Fundamentals class is re-enrolling for a spring session! The curriculum (designed by engineers) builds off the math and science skills students learn during the school year, and applies them in real-world engineering scenarios/challenges utilizing LegoĻ bricks and pieces as a manipulative. Students will have access to over 100,000 LegoĻ pieces including motors, gears, leads, battery packs, etc., as they are given challenges appropriate to their skill level. During class students will build projects presented by an instructor who teaches them part names and how to build the different models.
The program is open to girls and boys grades K- 5, and will begin April 8, 2008 and run through June 10, 2008. Class is on Tuesdays from 2:45pm to 4:15pm in Room 25, and the fee for the ten week session is $165. Class minimum is eleven students with a maximum of twenty. To register pick up a form in the main office and mail it in, or go to the Springhill PFC web site (http://www.springhillpfc.org/), click on "Resources", then scroll down to "Programs" for a link to Play-Well Teknologies where you can print out a registration form yourself. You can also register online with a credit card at www.play-well.org. Don't miss your chance this session-- register early!


Grant Writing Chair/Co-Chairs Needed
Do you have Grant Writing experience? Are you interested in learning how to write a grant request? With the current state of the District Budget, PFC is looking to re-incorporate a Grant Writing Chair/Co-Chair position. There is a Grant Writing Workshop being held in Alameda on May 1 & 2. The PFC will pay to send 1 to 2 people to this workshop. If you are interested in attending this workshop and taking on this position, please contact Beth Brown at pfcprez@yahoo.com or 482-7956. Thanks!


The Wal-Mart Kids Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge will be ending soon. If you have clean, dry, plastic shopping and grocery bags of any type and color except black, please bring them in to the school office by Wed., March 26th.


Jump Rope for Heart
Thanks to the many of you who already completed the Jump for Heart event by returning your sponsor donations. All the totals and contest winners will be announced shortly!!
Unfortunately, there are quite a few who returned permission slips but have not gotten the pledges back (eek!)...this means that your child jumped in the event but will NOT receive prizes from the American Heart Association in a few weeks when they arrive... So it will not be a disappointment to them, please either send in your sponsor pledges as soon as possible (this week?!) OR!! let them know you have decided not to participate so we will not have any sad faces the day the prizes are passed out!! Thanks soooooo much!!
Ms. Noel/Club Fit

KIDS HIDEOUT -- LAST CALL!
Just a reminder that we are open on Friday, March 14th while Springhill is closed for Staff Development.
Also, we are still taking registration for Spring Break - Hideout Goes Hawaiian... Come join the fun as you will "Step into Hawaii when you step into Hideout-March 31 through April 4th. Discounts still available!
Lastly, we are also still taking registration for summer camps! "Oh the Places You Will Go" when you join us this summer at Camp Hideout.
For registration forms for any of the Camps, please contact Beth at 283-7808 or beth@kidshideout.net to receive an registration via e-mail!


COUGAR SUMMER FOOTBALL CAMP SAVE THE DATES!
This year's Summer Football Camp for grades 4-8 will be held Mon. thru Fri July 14-25 from 1:30 to 5:00 at Campolindo High School. Registration forms will be available soon at the school offices. Please Contact Coach Kevin Macy Head Football Coach at Campolindo HS for more information. 283 3950 X5103.


Diablo Water Polo
Diablo Water Polo is offering an introduction to competitive water polo for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 14 years old this Spring at Campolindo High School. These sessions are taught and coached by 3-time Olympic Water Polo coach, and current UC Berkeley Women's Varsity Head Coach Richard Corso, and 6-time World MVP and Olympic Silver Medalist Maureen O'Toole-Purcell, along with 2- time NCAA champion and 4-time Collegiate All-America Jim Purcell. These experts will be assisted by 4 local High School All-America water polo athletes who serve as 'in water' instructors and demonstrators to all of our 14 and under players.
Practice dates: Tuesday & Thursday classes begin Tuesday, March 4th and continue through Thursday, May 1st.
Practices times: 10 and under Boys & Girls 6-7pm, 12 and under Boys & Girls 7-8:30pm, 14 and under Boys & Girls 6:30-8:00pm
Cost: 1 player = $350.00, 2 in family = $600.00, 3 in family = $850.00. ****10/under cost is: $200.00
Cost Includes: Instruction, evaluation, tournament fees, water polo stickers and team shirt for all participants
For additional information please visit our website at www.diablowaterpolo.com or call Maureen and Jim Purcell @ 925-831-3454.

Sweet Thursday: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids*
Mothers, you need a literary night out!! It's a very Sweet Thursday on March 20 at 7:30 pm when the Friends of the Lafayette Library welcome Amy Nobile and Trisha Ashworth, authors of *I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids* and the just published *Dirty Little Secrets*.
Nobile and Ashworth have taken a hard look at modern motherhood, and they will offer up their thoughts on how to step out of the madness, give up on perfection and guilt, and raise happy, well- adjusted kids.
Admission is free, and books are sold by The Lafayette Bookstore.


9th Annual Tour of Lafayette's Kitchens
Save the Date!
Please save the date for Lafayette Juniors ninth annual kitchen tour on May 17th, 2008 . Lafayette Juniors is showcasing six residential kitchens throughout Lafayette, each carefully selected to inspire every taste and budget. Tour the homes at your leisure and enjoy a gourmet box lunch in one of the home's spectacular gardens.
The major beneficiary for this year's event is Contra Costa Interfaith Housing.
Tickets are limited and are sold in advance by Lafayette Juniors. Tickets may also be purchased at two Lafayette locations:
Douglah Designs, 3577 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Premier Kitchens, 3373 Mt. Diablo Blvd.


March 24th Benefit Concert for Christopher Rodriguez at Yoshi's
Christopher Rodriguez is a 10 year old boy who got shot last month while attending a piano lesson in Oakland and was left paralyzed from the waist down. Local flutist and flute teacher Carol Alban has organized a Star-Studded Benefit Concert to raise much-needed money for Christopher Rodriguez and his family, at Yoshi's Jazz Club at Jack London Square in Oakland on Monday, March 24th. Shows at 8pm and 10pm.
This event is expected to sell out early. Tickets are on sale now!
Call the Yoshi's box office at (510) 238-9200 or visit their web site at www.yoshis.com
Yoshi's is located at 510 Embarcadero W., Oakland, 94607.
Shows at 8pm/$25 and 10pm/$18
The 8pm show: Roger Glenn, John Santos, Narada Michael Walden, Kai Eckhardt, Zoe Ellis, Keith Terry, Tina Glenn, Rafael Manriquez, Matt Herskowitz, Alvenson, the Baguette Quartette (7:45), the Oakland Jazz Choir, the Fluteville Flute Choir, Carol Alban, Nancy Tyler and other members of the Bay Area Chamber Symphony.
10pm show: George Brooks, Kai Eckhardt, Frank Martin, Narada Michael Walden, Jose Neto, Anton Schwartz, Dan Feiszli, John Santos, Roger Glenn, Alvenson, Tina Glenn, Matt Herskowitz, Suellen Primost and Carol Alban.
Both shows will be emceed by KCSM (91.1FM radio) DJ Jesse "Chuy" Varela.
Please visit event web site for more info! http://www.myspace.com/benefitconcertinfo


Spring Egg Hunt
March 15, 2008 at Moraga Commons Park at the corner of Moraga Road and St. Mary's Road (1425 St. Mary's Road)
Two hunts: One at 10 AM and one at 11 AM
RAIN OR SHINE
Each participant should bring a basket for collecting eggs.
Tickets are $5 for children ages 1 - 6 (adults are free).
Proceeds benefit the Moraga Parks and Recreation Foundation and Orion Academy.
Tickets can be purchased in advance only at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Dr., Moraga, 888-7045 (they are open M-F only).

Child Exploitation on the Internet
Thursday, March 27, 2008, 11:30am - 1:30pm, library, no fee, register in class
Walnut Creek Intermediate School, 2425 Walnut Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
rsvp to Vera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us
Speaker: Officer Steve DeWarns
Get a glimpse into the "Dark side of the Internet" and see first hand how our children are being solicited for sex online. Learn about the growing crime trends on the Internet while we show you how to protect yourself and your children. This presentation is for parents of children who are active online. The first half hour of the PowerPoint presentation will take you through the various types of crimes committed online as well as real life examples. We then show an online demonstration of what happens to children in chat rooms as well as Social Networking sites, such as Myspace.com. At the conclusion of the presentation, the audience will have the opportunity for questions and answers.
Officer Steve DeWarns will be the featured speaker during the March 28 PRIDE day and will be making an internet safety and anti-bullying presentation targeted for middle school children.


Eat to Live! Nutrition for Children & Parents
Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, 1010 Camino Pablo, Moraga
Thursday, March 27, 2008, 7:00-9:00pm, auditorium
no fee, register in class
Please RSVP to Nancy Chilimidos at lpparented@yahoo.com
Speaker: Jane Fowler PhD, RD, private practitioner
Do you find yourself thinking about how to establish healthy eating habits for your children? Do you wonder if you're taking all the fun out of eating? Do you battle with your children about their choices?
Jane Fowler works with children, parents, and people of all ages to develop the self-awareness and eating skills needed to feed themselves in a positive manner. She is a strong believer that eating can be a celebration of culture, tradition, exploration, learning and social connection.
During this lecture, Dr. Fowler will help us understand what each individual brings to the eating experience and provides ways for parents & caregivers to feed their children well by following a division of responsibility.