Friday, September 26
Parent/Teacher Conferences
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
Meeting of all fifth graders in MP Room at 10:50 AM

Saturday, September 27
PFC Parent Garden Workday

Sunday, September 28
PFC Parent Garden Workday

Monday, September 29
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM
Meeting of all prospective candidates in MP Room at 1:05 PM to receive petitions. Candidate may solicit student and staff signatures on petitions starting this day.

Tuesday, September 30
Rosh Hashanah
Candidates practice speech with Mr. Wodhams; Petitions due to Mr. Wodhams by 3:00 PM.

Wednesday, October 1
Candidates practice speech with Mr. Wodhams. Posters due--none accepted after 3:00 PM.
PFC Executive Board Mtg.; Lounge, 5:30 PM

Thursday, October 2
Election Assembly (VP, Sec., Treas. Speeches): Amphitheatre, 11:15 AM, grades 4-5
KidzArt; Rm. 25, 2:45 PM

Friday, October 3
Election Assembly (Pres., S.C. Speeches): Amphitheatre, 9:45 AM , grades 4-5. Voting will follow in the classrooms for all 4-5 graders. Results announced by end of school.

Monday, October 6
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM
4th Grade Staff/Parent Camp Meds Training, Nurse Meg; DO, 3:15 PM
Cub Scout Pack 200; Library, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM

Tuesday, October 7
Bargain Book Bonanza; noon
OLSAT 3rd Gr. Parent Information Mtg.; DO, 6:30 PM

Wednesday, October 8
Yom Kippur begins at sundown
PFC Teacher Appreciation Luncheon; Lounge, noon

Thursday, October 9
Yom Kippur
KidzArt; Rm. 25, 2:45 PM

Monday, October 13
COINS FOR A CURE DRIVE (Junior Diabetes Research Council), 10/13-10/31
Columbus Day Observed (not a holiday)
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM
LSD Board Mtg.; DO, 7:00 PM

Tuesday, October 14
Lunch outside

Wednesday, October 15
Coloma Gold Rush Camp; all 4th grade
District Advisory Council; DO, 6:30 PM

Thursday, October 16
Coloma Gold Rush Camp; all 4th grade
OLSAT; all 3rd grade, 9:00 AM
KidzArt; Rm. 25, 2:45 PM

Friday, October 17
Coloma Gold Rush Camp; all 4th grade

A. THANK YOU SO MUCH to Corrine Christensen and the PFC for the exceptional gourmet Teacher Appreciation Luncheon last Wednesday. As always, it was unbelievably delicious!!!

B. ALL PROSPECTIVE PARENT YARD VOLUNTEERS: Mr. Wodhams will be conducting a meeting for all classified Yard Duty Personnel (aides) and prospective parent yard volunteers on Thursday, October 2, 9:00 AM, in the Springhill Teachers' Lounge to go over yard rules and our new character development program, CHARACTER COUNTS!, and the 6 Pillars of Character we expect all of our staff and volunteers to promote and model. This meeting is mandatory for all adults who supervise on the yard, paid or volunteer. If necessary, there will be a second meeting to address those who do not attend the first. Thank you.

C. CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. ERIN CALDWELL, Springhill Special Ed Teacher Extraordinaire, Lafayette School District's TEACHER OF THE YEAR, and one of three finalists in CONTRA COSTA COUNTY's TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM who was honored last night by the county at the Concord Hilton!!! Congratulations, Erin, for this well-deserved honor. WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!

D. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL: Today your child will bring home a ballot with names of those persons interested in being parent representatives on the School Site Council for the next two years. Please vote for those candidates you wish as per the instructions on the ballot. There is also an option for a write-in candidate. Please send the completed ballot back to school with your child or drop it by the office as soon as possible. Thank you.

E. 5th GRADE PARENTS & STUDENTS: DEMOCRACY IN ACTION!!! Student Body Elections are coming up. Check out the calendar (above) for specific timetable of events!

F.Join the PFC! Register for e- SCRIP!!


THE SIX PILLARS & PAY IT FORWARD CORNER

CHECK OUT THE SIX PILLARS BANNERS HANGING IN THE CENTRAL COURTYARD!

Springhill School has recently sent a team of eight (four parents and four staff members, including myself) to San Francisco for three days this summer where we were introduced to an impressive, character development framework used nationwide known as CHARACTER COUNTS! It has an excellent track record primarily with schools, but also with sports organizations, businesses, nonprofit institutions, etc. We are eager to share what we learned at this workshop with the Springhill community. As parents, you will have opportunities to learn much more about how we might use CHARACTER COUNTS! as a framework for all that we do at Springhill. Through school communications, parent ed presentations from our PFC and your own children, you will be kept apprised of this endeavor as the school year progresses. CHARACTER COUNTS! is based on the Six Pillars: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. We are enthusiastic about every aspect of CHARACTER COUNTS! and are looking forward to introducing its components to the student body. Because of the way in which the framework is designed and the flexibility with which it can be implemented, it can serve as an umbrella under which we will continue our PAY IT FORWARD program and our regular SPIRIT WEDNESDAY activities, and, perhaps, can create the opportunity for a number of additional activities. You will be receiving much more news about CHARACTER COUNTS! as the year unfolds, but you may also access the following website for more information: http://charactercounts.org/

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 made a significant change in the Pay It Forward program last 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 no longer identify the specific students who performed the acts (e.g., "Two 2nd graders had a lemonade sale over the weekend and raised $30 for the school's Coins For a Cure Diabetes Drive.") 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.

A. UPCOMING PAY IT FORWARD EVENTS:
1. Monday, October 13: COINS FOR A CURE JUVENILE DIABETES DRIVE BEGINS
2. Walk to Cure Diabetes; Heather Farms, Sunday, 11/22/08, 10:00 AM

B. PAY IT FORWARD: DONATE TO THE KIDS OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: Beginning Monday, September 8, until Friday, September 26, you can donate items such as toys and school supplies to the patients of Children's Hospital in Oakland in bins in front of the school. Thank you to two of our 4th graders and their family for organizing this drive. Well done, gentlemen!!! For a complete list of items you might donate, check out: www.childrenshospitaloakland.org/join/join_other- donations.asp#always


DIFFERENTIATION CORNER

*Differentiated Instruction takes place in all of our classes. Starting this 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. Churchill's third grade classroom, students participate in math differentiation by testing out. Students are given the end of unit test prior to starting the unit. Any student who scores 90% or above, will then have tested out of the unit. Those students will then be given materials on the same topic, but at a higher level. For example, students testing out of the place value to 10,000 unit, would then focus on place value to 1,000,000. Each student is given the opportunity to test out at the beginning of every math unit.

*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.

Don't miss the garden work parties this weekend on Saturday, September 27th (9 AM - 12 PM) and Sunday, September 28th (2 - 5 PM)! Kathy Hemmenway is leading teams of volunteers as we work to build vegetable/herb beds, trench irrigation lines, treat the new worm/compost bins and a few other small projects. For more information, contact Kathy Hemmenway at 933-5266 or khemmenway@aol.com.

A huge Thank You goes out to Gabrielle Ohleyer, our Hot Lunch Coordinator, for helping keep this program running smoothly at Springhill. To find out more about Children's Choice Lunch, please log onto www.choicelunch.com.

Thank you Patsy Mickens, our Before and After School Enrichment Coordinator, for getting our enrichment programs off the ground and running for the fall. Patsy is looking for a replacement for the spring and is happy to help train the incoming coordinator. We are also looking for a liaison for each enrichment class in order to help communicate information between the program, the school and the families. If your child is currently enrolled in one of these programs, and you would like to be the liaison for your program, or would like more information on what this position would entail, please contact Patsy Mickens at PatsyMic2@aol.com.

I'd like to highlight one of the new programs that Patsy has secured for our school. Girls on the Run is a program for 3rd through 5th grade girls. This program meets on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:30 on the lower playground and focuses on self-esteem through active play and running games. For more information, you can contact Shelly Shepherd at shelli.shepherd@comcast.net or Kerry Bolen at KerryBolen@sbcglobal.net.

Do you have an accounting background? Are you familiar with Quickbooks? Are you looking to get involved with the PFC? We are looking for someone to fill the Treasurer of Budgeting and Reporting position. If you are interested, please contact me!

Beth Brown
2008-09 Springhill PFC President
pfcprez@yahoo.com

LASF Embarks on Strategic Planning Effort

Energized by a landmark year in donations, Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation (LASF) is kicking off a strategic planning process this month. Over the past 28 years, LASF has developed from a small grass roots organization focused on supplementing arts and science curriculum to a team of over 175 people that provides a broad range of educational support and raises significant funds. LASF is undertaking a strategic planning process to ensure that, after a quarter of a century, the education foundation continues to meet the most important needs of the Lafayette community in the best way possible. According to Darci Chan, LASF President, "We are taking LASF through this process because we want to ensure that LASF is serving both the Lafayette School District and Acalanes High School effectively, efficiently and in a manner that is cooperative with other community efforts."

To date, LASF has initiated an internal organization review and has conducted research on other education foundations and their strategic planning efforts. Most recently LASF has hired an exceptional facilitator to lead the organization through the process. The next step will be to conduct focus groups and surveys within the Lafayette community for feedback and ideas. For LASF board members, this is perhaps the most exciting step. Ultimately, the goal is to have a strategic plan in place in time for the Spring budget process.

To ensure your voice is heard, offer to participate in a focus group or survey. Just email LASFstratplan@gmail.com with your contact information. To stay abreast of LASF strategic planning, watch your school e-newsletter for progress reports or forward your questions to Anne Granlund at LASFstratplan.com

Ten Percent Savings AND Donation at Misto Lino

Treat yourself to beautiful, quality linens at a 10% discount while treating LASF to a 10% donation from the sale! This generous offer from Lafayette's Misto Lino (located at 3585 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) is valid on Sunday, September 28th only. Shop ahead for the holidays and benefit LASF and your child's education.

SUPPORT QUALITY EDUCATION IN TWO HOURS: VOLUNTEER FOR THE LASF FALL PHONATHON!

Do you want to make an impact on the quality of education in Lafayette? Are you short on time? Then the perfect volunteer opportunity for you is the LASF New Family Fall Phonathon. For two hours you can make phone calls to families new to Lafayette schools for their annual LASF donation. The LASF Fall and Spring Phonathon are the main ways that LASF raises money to pay for the top-notch humanities, science and technology curriculum and support that Lafayette schools rely on. The Fall Phonathon will take place on the following dates:
      Sunday, October 19th 5:00pm-8:00pm
      Monday, October 20th 6:30pm-9:00pm
      Tuesday, October 21st 6:30pm-9:00pm

To volunteer, please contact Springhill's LASF Fundraising Rep, Julie Novak at thenovaks@sbcglobal.net or 930-9435.

Trans Fat, What's That?

Trans Fatty Acids? Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil? What is this stuff? In 2005 Kraft Foods issued a statement saying they spent 100,000 hours reformulating many of their products, most famously the Oreo Cookie, to take out Trans Fats. Wow, Trans Fats must really be bad. Or really good...

Both are true of course. It depends on your point of view.

If you are a food scientist trying to raise the melting point and extend the shelf life of food that is processed for mass consumption, then trans fatty acids are great. It turns out that if you attach hydrogen atoms to a portion of the carbon atoms in the molecules of unsaturated fatty acids (liquid oil) - partially hydrogenating them - you can turn them into a more stable ingredient. The stability of the molecule in part comes from its "trans configuration" ("trans" is Latin for "across"). If you partially hydrogenate the fatty acid, the configuration of the molecule changes from its original configuration to a "trans" configuration, thus the trans fatty acid is a by product of partial hydrogenation. For food scientists this is really great stuff. It means instead of using butter (expensive!) in your baked goods, you can use cheaper liquid vegetable oils and furthermore, they will not turn rancid for a very long time. High Fives all around for those really smart food scientists!

If you are a human person then what those scientists just did was take liquid oil (does not cause heart disease) and turn it into solid oil i.e., solid at human body temperatures (does cause heart disease). Before trans fatty assets were invented, the big culprit in heart disease was saturated fats - solid fats like butter - which caused "arteriolosclerosis" or "arteries blocked by gunk". "Gunk" is not a scientific term, but I understand some doctors use it along with "yuck" and "gross" when they are surgically removing it. When trans fatty acids were invented and products like Crisco and margarine came into being they were billed at healthy alternatives. Not So Much. They are in fact worse. Butter merely increases your "bad cholesterol:" - i.e. the gunk that blocks your arteries. Trans fatty acids do that and in addition lower your good cholesterol (the means by which the body rids itself of the gunk.). So they are double extra bad for humans.

But great for baking. And Cheap. Alas.

In defense of food scientists, they did not know how bad this stuff was when they created it. In defense of humans, we all know it now! But it is still everywhere in the grocery stores and you should definitely not eat it. Because it is man made, you will not find trans fats in whole natural foods. If you are buying and eating a lot of processed foods (and most of us are) you must read your labels. If it says partially hydrogenated or shortening then it has trans fatty acids so don't buy it. Large food companies are starting to come around under the weight of public pressure and threat of lawsuits. But because it is a cheaper alternative to more natural ingredients, I tend to still find it in a lot of off- brands.

One more caveat. The label can say "O% TRANS FATS!!! YEAH FOR US!!!!" and still legally have <.5 grams of trans fats. So if you or the children eat a lot of processed foods (and most of us do) then contrary to what Mrs. Brenner is teaching Katie in 2nd grade math, all those "Zero's" do add up to more than Zero.

For a great explanation of cholesterol and heart disease, go to this web site:
http://adam.about.com/reports/000023_1.htm

For a great scientific explanation of trans- fatty acids and the hydrogenation process go to this web site:
http://www.bantransfats.com/abouttransfat.html

"Consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids and less than 300 mg/day of cholesterol, and keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible. "
USDA dietary guidelines for 2005
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/docu ment/html/chapter6.htm

Shary Trux
Coordinator, Health and Wellness
bucktrux@comcast.net

Bargain Book Bonanza Sale
It's that time again... Bring your quarters to school on Tuesday, October 7 to buy your favorite gently used books. Kindergartners can buy books between 11:10 and 12:10 in front of the kindergarten classrooms. 1st through 5th graders can buy books after they finish lunch in front of the multi-purpose room. All proceeds go to our school library. We also gladly except donations of books. Please bag them and place them in the foyer of the multi-purpose room or call Farrel Vance @ 937-8230 to assist you.

Watch Our Garden Grow!
Springhill's garden, located on the Upper Playground, has some exciting plans for the Fall!
Next up is a weekend work party on Saturday, September 27 (9-12pm) & Sunday, September, 28 (2-5pm) to build vegetable/herb beds, trench irrigation lines, treat the new worm/compost bins & a few other small projects.
Bring your work gloves - stop by for an hour or two!
For more information, contact Kathy Hemmenway at 933-5266 or khemmenway@aol.com

Girls on the Run After-school at Springhill
Girls on the Run of the Bay Area is an after-school program that uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. We offer 10-week programs during the fall and spring seasons to girls ages 8 to 13. Volunteer coaches engage the girls in games and running-based workouts that encourage emotional, social, psychological and physical development. The girls meet twice each week after school for a total of 20 one-hour sessions. The curriculum covers important issues facing girls today such as why drugs hurt your chances of success, how to make healthy choices, the importance of community, media awareness regarding body image, and self- respect. The program culminates in a non-competitive community running event that gives the girls a chance to shine and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
Signup forms online http://gotrbayarea.org/programs/enroll/enroll1.asp or they can contact Tristen Davis at runandcreate@gmail.com or 925.262.7790. Enrollment forms call also be picked up in the office.
Grade 3-5
September 22nd through December 6th
Monday and Wednesday from 4:30pm-5:30pm
Cost is $225 per girl, and scholarships are available, we do not turn anyone away.
Will be accepting new sign-ups through Oct 10th.

Town Hall Kids - Art and Design for Theatre
Join Town Hall Theatre this fall for a brand-new art class: Art and Design for Theatre on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5PM for 3rd through 5th graders. Art is a big part of the theatre. Costumes, sets and even puppets have to be designed, drawn, and made. Join us as we explore all kinds of different arts that relate to the theatre. Our projects will include drawing characters and costumes, creating (and playing with) different kinds of puppets, making stories using storyboards and comics, and designing masks and headgear that you can use for Halloween! Class starts Wednesday Oct 1. Located at 3535 School Street, Lafayette. For more information and to register on-line visit www.townhallkids.com, call 262-1159 or email classes@townhallkids.com.

Lamorinda Lacrosse Club is a non-profit organization run by volunteers and a member club of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association (NCJLA=League). Our club is a feeder program for boys and girls high school lacrosse programs mostly at Acalanes, Campolindo, Miramonte and De La Salle. We are an instructional club whose goal is to teach the sport of Lacrosse while providing an opportunity for all to play so that skills can be developed and improved. We promote and encourage safety, integrity, responsibility, personal growth and sportsmanship.
Boys ages=U9, U11, U13, and U15
Girls ages=U11, U13, and U15
Please visit our website for more information. www.lamorindalacrosse.com.
Registration for new members begins Oct 1st!!

Lamorinda Rugby Football Club Registration Open
Lamorinda Rugby Football Club is recruiting youth (grades 1-8) and high school players for its upcoming 2009 season. Rugby is a great game for players of all sizes and skills. Players enjoy learning safe tackling skills early on and experiencing the fast pace of the game. Every player handles the ball every game! Lamo is one of the premier youth rugby organizations in the nation, and our varsity players have represented our community across the world, including England, Whales, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. Many of our players go on to play in college, including six '08 Lamorinda grads now playing for CAL.
Come join the fun! Registration has begun. Go to www.lamorugby.com to sign up. Informational meetings will be held November 12th for youth and November 13th for high school in the Campolindo Library. Meetings start at 7:30pm. For more information you may contact Nancy or Matt Taylor at 925-253-1435.

Sweet Thursday with Cal Professor, Rich Muller
October 2 at 7:30 pm at the Lafayette Library
Immediately following the vice-presidential debate on Thursday October 2 at 7:30 pm, the Friends of the Lafayette Library will host Distinguished Cal Professor and MacArthur "Genius," Rich Muller, author of Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines. This book, inspired by Muller's eponymous course, named The Best Class by The Daily Californian, is intended to educate non-scientists on the scientific basics of issues such as global warming, alternative energies, nukes, chemical warfare etc. -- all issues that any informed president or citizen should understand. Join us for this fascinating and oh-so-timely conversation!

LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES NIGHT
Lafayette Homeowners Council is sponsoring a Candidates Night on October 6 at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 Saint Marys Road in Lafayette beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Sequoia Room. Four people are vying for three slots on the Lafayette City Council. Three incumbents, Carl Anduri, current mayor Mike Anderson and Carol Federighi and one newcomer challenger, Gabriel Froymovich, round out the slate.
All residents who are eligible to vote in the November election, including our high school students are urged to come and listen to the candidates and ask each of them questions about matters that are important to all Lafayette residents, including by way of example road repairs, parks and ball fields, public safety, the City budget, traffic issues and the status of the draft Downtown Plan with its traffic, housing and other important development issues.

BULLYING IN OUR SCHOOLS: WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 7:00 - 8:30pm, no fee
Parkmead Library, Parkmead Elementary School, 1920 Magnolia Way, Walnut Creek
For your rsvp, questions and comments: Vera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us
Speaker: Karen Lingenfelter, Life Issues Training & Education, Certified Anger Management Instructor
Bullying is a serious problem in our schools today and is not just an unpleasant rite of passage for our children. The affects of bullying can be detrimental to a child's self-esteem, social and academic success.
Learn common characteristics of bullies and victims, and how you can support and empower your child to develop bully resistance skills. Also, learn ways to intervene and provide guidance for children that are bullying others.

Thinking Strategies: A Special Evening for Parents
Parents... Please join us for an evening with Thinking Strategies Coach and Expert Dina Macdonald.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008, Stanley Middle School Library, 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
This evening is about what it means to understand. It's about how we use books and language to discover, alongside children, the power of the human intellect. It is about focusing on what matters most in literacy teaching rather than teaching a little of this, a little of that, until we've squandered every opportunity for children to explore ideas in depth. It is about learning from intellectual mentors whose lives provide insight and direction for a nation of young scholars. This evening is about capturing the essence of understanding and bringing it to life in our own and our children's hearts and minds. This evening is about what it means to understand.
Please note: This is a repeat of last April's session. Look for Session 2 coming this winter!
R.S.V.P. to Sheryl Saindon at 927-3500 or ssaindon@lafsd.k12.ca.us no later than October 9 as seating is limited. Thank you to District Parent Education for sponsoring this event.

Help Needed for the Lafayette Reservoir Run
The Lafayette Reservoir Run is on Sunday, October 26th. Many volunteers are still needed to help conduct this great Lafayette tradition. The time commitment is minimal. Most jobs are from 7:30am - 10am on the morning of the race... and it is FUN to be a part of this unique community event! Jobs include timers, police assistants, water stations, goodie bag distribution, and more.
MIDDLE AND HGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE DOUBLE CREDIT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR WORKING AT THIS EVENT SINCE IT IS ON A SUNDAY.
Anyone interested in helping with this event, please contact Leslie Geannacopulos at lgeannacopulos@comcast.net or 979-1796.

To submit entries to the Friday Flyer, email Beth Roosa: fridayflyereditor@yahoo.com

All entries due Wednesday before 3:00pm. Entries must be kept brief, please.
Subscriber info: bethhutson@comcast.net

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