Friday, October 24
United Nations Day
RED RIBBON WEEK
Wear Green and/or Purple Day representing the Pillars of Responsibility & Citizenship
5th Graders plant Red Ribbon Tulips; 1:05 PM

Sunday, October 26
Lafayette Reservoir Run; 8:00 AM

Monday, October 27
Student Council Mtg.; Rm. 23, 12:20 PM
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM

Tuesday, October 28
RAPPORT; DO, 9:00 AM
Wellness Committee Mtg.; DO, 3:15 PM

Thursday, October 30
KidzArt; Rm. 25, 2:45 PM

Friday, October 31
Halloween
Halloween Parade; 2:00 PM

Sunday, November 2
Daylight Savings Time ends (set clocks back an hour)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk; Heather Farms, Walnut Creek

Monday, November 3
3rd Grade Pilgram Feast; Upper Yard, 10:45 AM
Chess Club; Library, 2:45 PM
Cub Scout Pack 200; Library, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM

Tuesday, November 4
Election Day (Multipurpose Room closed all day)
Lunch outside
Bargain Book Bonanza; 12 Noon

Wednesday, November 5
PFC-Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools; 4th grade
Countywide Shelter-in-Place Drill; 11:00 AM
PFC Executive Board Meeting; Lounge, 5:30 PM
PFC General Session; Library, 7:00 PM

Thursday, November 6
KidzArt; Room 25, 2:45 PM

Friday, November 7
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; Multipurpose Room; 2:45 PM

Monday, November 10
Holiday

Tuesday, November 11
Veterans' Day; Holiday

Wednesday, November 12
PFC-Sponsored Poets-In-the-Schools; 4th grade
PFC Teacher Appreciation Luncheon; Lounge, 12 noon
LASF General Board Meeting.; Stanley Library, 7:00 PM

Thursday, November 13
KidzArt; Room. 25, 2:45 PM

Friday, November 14
Fall Music Assembly, Gr. 1-3; Multipurpose Room, 11:05 AM
Book Fair Set Up; Multipurpose Room
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; Library, 2:45 PM

Saturday, November 15
LASF Function; Orinda Country Club

A. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENT BODY OFFICERS:
President: NIC WARREN
Vice-President: NATHAN EDWARDS
Secretary: ERIN NOLAN
Treasurer: JULIA LAUER
Sports Chairperson: SABBA JWEAINAT
Congratulations also to all 5th graders who participated. All were very close races. Each of you did an excellent job of demonstrating democracy, responsibility and good citizenship at Springhill School!!!

B. RED RIBBON WEEK/NATIONAL CHARACTER COUNTS WEEK
Check out the calendar for the variety of activities for Springhill students during this important character building week that will set the character expectations for the rest of the year and beyond. Many thanks to Karen Elliott, Corrine Christensen, Doreen deRoque and Beth Brown for all of their efforts in putting this important and beneficial calendar of activities together! Pay It Forward during Red Ribbon/National Character Counts Week!!!

C. HALLOWEEN is approaching. We will have our annual Halloween Parade through the halls at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 31. All kindergartens will have their parade earlier in the day. Please check the calendar for specific times. Please remember the following: NO costumes of violence (e.g., dripping blood, slashers, Freddie Kruegers, Friday the 13th characters, terrorists, etc.), costumes with weapons or lookalike weapons (e.g., swords, guns, knives, etc.), or any negative representations of currently or historically-maligned ethnic groups or nationalities will be allowed. Thank you.

D. 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. COINS FOR A CURE: As one of several initial PAY IT FORWARD Projects this fall, Springhill School is again participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) COINS FOR A CURE Program. The drive will begin Monday, 10/13 and will continue through Friday, 10/31, 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 arrives in classrooms on Monday, 10/13. The actual WALK TO CURE DIABETES will take place at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek on Sunday, November 2, Time TBA. Several staff members will be participating. For further information regarding the walk, please contact Mrs. Heidi McLeod at: Heidi@ac3online.com Thank you so much as we begin another successful year of PAYING IT FORWARD!

B. THANK YOU ALL WHO ATTENDED the Annual LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK last Saturday evening at Civic Park in Walnut Creek for Lauren Bishopp's Team and others benefitting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

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. Deitch's 3rd grade, students engage in Reader's Workshop three to four days a week. In this format, a 10-15 minute mini-lesson is taught to the whole class, students practice the concept under teacher guidance, and then the students go back to their seats to apply the concept to their own reading. Since students are reading their own selected books at their own level, the Reader's Workshop automatically differentiates for differing abilities.

*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.

WOW! Doesn't the school look wonderful all decked out in RED! Thank you Doreen deRoque and all your volunteers for coming out last weekend to decorate. It's also great to see the kids' posters hanging down the halls with so many TeRRiFiCC character messages! Character really does Count!

Don't for about the Lafayette Reservoir Run this Sunday, October 26th at 8 AM. It's sure to be a lot of fun! Come out and support Springhill. Thank you Leslie Geannacopulous for being the Springhill Rep/Chair for this fun community event.

Halloween is right around the corner and so is Springhill's Halloween Parade. Please come out and join us on Friday, October 31st as the classes parade around the school at 2PM.

Friday, October 31st is the deadline for Box Tops for Education. Please turn your box tops in as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Shelli Shepherd at shelli.shepherd@comcast.net.

Escrip deadline for Safeway is also nearing. Please contact Sue Thoren at sthoren2@yahoo.com for more information.

Have you been FISHING for a good book? Well, fish no further than Springhill's Multi Purpose Room. The PFC will be hosting its annual Book Fair during the week of November 17th. Thank you Melissa Johnston, Gabrielle Ohleyer, Sharon Swan & Darcy Cole for coordinating this event. Stay tuned to find out about the special events happening during the evening hours on Tuesday and Wednesday!

Thank you Scott Loughran-Smith for volunteering to be the Springhill Rep for the Emergency Preparedness program.

We are still looking for a Coordinator for the Before/After School Enrichment Program, and more specifically, we need a liaison for the Kidz Art class and the Spanish program 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, or the program chair, please contact me.

PFC still has a few other OPEN POSITIONS, too. Please be sure to visit the Springhill website at springhillpfc.org, under PFC Leadership, to see what's available. Don't forget, every position can be a shared with a friend!

Beth Brown
2008-09 Springhill PFC President
pfcprez@yahoo.com
482-7956

Thought for the Week:
If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life!

Fall Phonathon Update
A big thank you to all the families who donated to LASF this past weekend! You are helping LASF to finish reaching its goal of providing nearly $1 million in funds to the K-8 district and an additional $300,000 to Acalanes Union High School for the 2008-2009 school year. Half of all the money raised at the K-8 level goes to direct program support involving extra art, science, and humanities instruction. Instrumental and choral music programs as well as science lab teacher support are also funded in part by your LASF donations. The remainder goes directly to district needs.

If you would like to know how else you can help LASF complete its fundraising goals get involved with our annual event!!

The LASF Annual Event: You Gotta Love It!
Don't miss this community-wide celebration on November 15th, featuring great food and refreshments, live music and dancing, casino-style gaming, "must win" raffles and fantastic sign-up parties! Pay for your event and raffle tickets via snail mail, on line at http://lasf.org/annualevent/, or via phone at 299-1644.

Share Your Love for LASF: Raffle Prize Donations and Party Hosts Needed
· We are soliciting prizes for the "Going All In" Raffle available to casino gamers only - the kind of decadent luxuries you might enjoy while in Vegas. Scotch, cigars, spa treatments? You bet! Please contact Colleen McCarty at colleen.mccarty@yahoo.com to coordinate.
· Do you love to throw parties? Then please share your flair while showing that you care by hosting a Sign-Up Party of your own special creation. Please contact Stephenie Teichman at steichma@lafsd.k12.ca.us for details.

If you have any questions about these LASF events please contact Kathy Hamilton at Katsvetmail@yahoo.com

Red Ribbon Week not only brings red bows on all the poles and a renewed focus on the Six Pillars of Character Counts, but it also gives us a chance to focus on books that relate to the six pillars and to reinforce the message in a subtle, fun way.

How do a whale and a mouse become the best of friends? In Amos & Boris, by William Steig, kindergartners learned why these two loved and respected one another. They also saw how each was able to use his skills to help the other in a time of need.

Friends can teach us new things, lift us up when we're feeling down, and have fun with us. First graders heard George and Martha Encore by James Marshall. These five stories about two hippos that are the best of friends showed them the many different faces of friendship. In each instance, George and Martha respected one another's personality and talents even when they were disagreeing.

Last week we focused on community with the second graders. This week we moved on to maps, reading the entertaining story Mapping Penny's World by Loreen Leedy. After her owner Lisa finishes a class assignment to make a map of her room, she and Penny decide to make a simple map of the neighborhood.

Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown is the story of a magical hermit who changes a small mouse he befriends into different animals to protect the mouse from danger. When the ungrateful creature becomes a royal tiger he lords it over the other animals and threatens to kill the hermit, who changes him one last time. Third graders had a chance to review what we had discussed several weeks ago about traditional literature as well as to discuss how this fable from India ties in to the six pillars.

I used two very different books to start a discussion of the six pillars with fourth graders. Thy Friend, Obadiah, by Brinton Turkle, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a boy and a sea gull. If I Ran for President, by Catherine Stier, follows six potential candidates from the process of deciding to run for president through the campaigning, primaries, conventions, debates, and glad-handing up to Election Day. While citizenship is the obvious pillar, students found several others as well.

Fifth graders also heard and discussed If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier. Their connections to the six pillars were thoughtful and, often, insightful.

Don't forget to check out our website at http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/people/smattern/index.htm. You can find monthly updates on what's happening at the Springhill Library, an updated library wish list, reviews of new books, and links to many helpful resources on the website, too.

Remember, there are over 100 reasons to read. This week, reason number 6 is "You'll be inspired."

Sherry Mattern, Library Specialist
smattern@LAFSD.K12.CA.US

Remember to Vote on November 4th

This November's election is expected to draw a record voter turnout. The following information is provided for parents who are registered to vote in Contra Costa County.

Find Your Polling Place
The sample ballot mailed to all registered voters in early October lists your polling place. If you no longer have this information, you can find your polling place by going to: http://www.cocovote.us/PrecinctFinder.aspx. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voting by Mail
The deadline for registering to vote by mail is October 28. If you know that you will be out of town or will have limited time to go to the polls on Election Day, you may request an absentee ballot online at: http://www.cocovote.us/EmbeddedPage.aspx?id=9. If you plan to vote by mail, your ballot must arriveat the Contra Costa County Elections Department by November 4th. Absentee ballots may also be delivered to any polling location in the county.

Vote Yes on Measure E
There are several items of local concern on the November ballot. One item that could be of particular interest to parents is Measure E, a $93 million school facilities bond for the Acalanes Union High School District that will not raise our current tax rates. The Acalanes District serves high school students in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, and portions of Walnut Creek. Our Parent Club has voted to endorse Measure E.

To learn more about Measure E, and to view a list of high school facilities upgrades that would be funded by this measure, go to: http://www.AboutMeasureE.org/

I have been struggling mightily, recently, trying to ascertain what, exactly, is a "glycemic index". Why is it that every time I try to fully understand the labels on the food I buy in the grocery store I find my self studying molecular structures? Don't these people know that I am an accountant for goodness sakes???

The glycemic index is the latest, greatest way for us to judge our food. The Glycemic Index or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. I certainly understand and agree with the concept. It is a way of judging foods based on how dramatically it elicits a response from our pancreas to start producing insulin. A bad glycemic response is one in which a food would cause your blood glucose to spike really high - so your pancreas will react by flooding your bloodstream with insulin, resulting in blood glucose levels that are then too low - which in turn causes your body to produce adrenalin. When observed in a 2nd grader it looks like this: At 10am a tired, lethargic, hungry second grader is fed -aaackkkk a cookie!! Blood glucose levels spike causing insulin surge causing rapid blood sugar dip. A now tired, lethargic, shaky 2nd grader feeling very sick can not concentrate on his lesson is flagged as academic problem, note is composed for parents. Now the dip in blood sugar causes a rush of adrenalin to counter act the low blood sugar - tired (still) hungry hyperactive 2nd grader flagged as discipline problem is sent to the principal's office. Longer note is composed for parents.

This is no joke - the glycemic response of your children's body can dramatically affect their behavior and abilities in school and elsewhere. So the concept of judging our food based on this glycemic response is not a bad idea. However, as in most cases in dealing with food there are many things to be considered. One downside to using a glycemic index to judge food is that interestingly fructose becomes a hero. Because fructose is not metabolized with insulin, it has a low glycemic response. Now I could write a book on why too much fructose is bad - and I will address HFCS in a different article. Suffice it to say, the GI can not be considered in a vacuum. Here is a good rule of thumb. You want to, as much a possible, feed your kids food that takes a longer time to metabolize so the insulin reaction is more measured rather than sudden. Think protein and fiber and complex carbs. Especially when the child has not eaten for a few hours because that is when the roller coaster ride of high blood sugar, low blood sugar, adrenalin will be the most intense. If you are going to feed you child something high in sugar or simple carbs or starch, try to combine it with protein, complex carbs or fiber. Piece of Cake. - I mean NOT A PIECE OF CAKE!

Diabetes Research Foundation Walk
Please support Sam Mcleod's team "Sam's Clan" and others.

Come Hang Out at Hideout
Sign-Ups are now being taken for Tuesday, Nov 11th (Veteran's Day School Closure) and for Thanksgiving Camp. Discounts will be given for early registration! Come joins us for lots of Arts, Crafts, Games, Science and Baking activities. Registrations forms can be found in the school office or at Hideout. You can also download the forms from our website at www.kidshideout.net/Forms, then go to IN-SERVICE DAYS or Camp Registration Forms. For more information, please contact Beth at 283-7808 or beth@kidshideout.net.

Watch Our Garden Grow
Springhill Garden's next work day is scheduled for Sunday, November 2 from 10-2pm. Bring your work gloves & sunscreen! We are looking for some help with a few larger projects.
If you, a friend or a local business are knowledgeable about:
* installing irrigation throughout the garden
* tree service; we'd like to use tree logs for hillside erosion control
* create an online newsletter featuring updates & progress reports, linked to our PFC website please contact Kathy Hemmenway at khemmenway@aol.com or 933-5266.

Keep sending in your clean and dry plastic grocery and shopping bags for the Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge. There is a collection bin in the office. We will be collecting bags through the end of March. So far, we have filled two 60 gallons bags with bags for recycling!

On November 1st, there will be free e-Waste recycling event at Diablo Valley College, at the Overflow Parking Lot #7- Across from Main Campus Go to this link for information on other events: http://www.noewaste.com/calendar/index.php

You can also recycle e-waste and other items at at: Recycle for Breast Cancer, 800-315-9580, 31 Beta Ct., Suite C, San Ramon, CA 94583

For more information please visit: www.RecycleForBreastCancer.org

Fall Vocal Music Assembly
This event will take place on Friday, November 14, from 11:05 AM to 11:50 AM for grades 1,2,3. Friends and families are invited to watch all the children sing. Other performers will be the 5th grade Springhill Chorus, and the Army Reserve Brass Ensemble, including our own Mrs. Liz Brummel.
Got questions? Contact vghulam@lafsd.k12.ca.us

Oakland Civic Orchestra Presents a FREE Family Halloween Concert
When: 4:00 PM Saturday, October 25, 2008.
Where: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave. Oakland, CA 94696
Featuring: New York City based Tugboat Music performing:
"Green Golly and her Golden Flute", a fairy tale featuring Barbara Siesel , Flute and Keith Torgan, Storyteller PLUS Night on Bald Mountain and Pinnochio : A Merry Overture.

There will be FREE activities for children and a reception following the concert. Children are encouraged to wear costumes!

The Oakland Civic Orchestra is a 50 piece orchestra directed by Martha Stoddard (Artistic Director) and Kate McLoughlin (Assistant Conductor).
The orchestra is sponsored by the City of Oakland and is currently in residence at LMUMC. For more information visit: www. oakland.net.com/parks/programs/civicorchestra.asp

Risky Behavior: What is happening? What can we do about it?
Thursday, November 6, 7:30p.m. Stanley Middle School Library
What is 'risky behavior' for our middle schoolers today? Which behaviors should parents worry about? Please join Principal Schrag, Police Resource Officer Birch, Counselors Tiffany Sullivan and John Barakos, Drug, Alcohol and Violence Prevention Coordinator for the County Office of Education Ralph Cantor, Sandra Lessenden MFT, and Beth Feree PhD Psychologist for a lively, up-to-date review of the current risky behaviors in our middle school, and how we as parents can identify and address them.

Attention all 5th grade boys.
Boy Scout Troop 243 invites you and your parents to attend our open house/ice cream social. Come meet fellow Boy Scouts and see all the cool stuff we do! No previous scouting experience necessary.
When: Tuesday, October 28th
What time: 7:30 - 8:30 pm.
Where: Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette, CA
Contact: Eva Woo 299-1047 or evawoogle@gmail.com for more information

STANLEY SCHOOL BOOK FAIR - Need that perfect gift for a child or teacher? Start holiday shopping early at the Stanley Book Fair! October 27- 30th 8am-4pm in the Stanley School Library. The Fair is run through Lafayette Book Store so gift certificates are local & make great gifts too! Bring the kids to meet real authors: Author Night Tuesday, Oct. 28th from 6-8:30pm.

Acalanes Cheer and Dance Clinic
Come perform with the AHS Cheer and Dance Team!!!
Be a part of a night full of FOOTBALL, SPIRIT and FUN!!!

Who: All are eligible from age 2 to 13
When: Clinic: Tuesday & Thursday November 4th and 6th from 4:00-5:30pm
Football Game: November 7th meet time 6:30pm
Where: Clinic: Acalanes High School (follow workshop signs)
Football Game: Acalanes High School football field
Cost: $35 per child if registered before November 3rd
$65 for a family of two, $90 for a family of three or more
$45 if after November 3rd

Details: The clinic will take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, November 4th and 6th. Children will learn a warm-up exercise, a dance to perform at halftime that night, and the different sidelines to cheer the team on during the first half of the game. The game will be held on Friday November 7th. Participants will need to be there by 6:30 pm. Parents and family members need to purchase their own tickets. Each child will receive pompoms and a t-shirt for the game, snacks and drinks at the clinic, and an experience of a lifetime! GO DONS!!

Email or send in registration form to reserve your spot today!! Questions? Want to Register? Contact Alyson Thomas at AcalanesSpirit@gmail.com

To submit entries to the Friday Flyer, email Traci Lawrence: 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