A. THANK YOU TO ALL who attended this week's LASF SCIENCE FAIR. It was an amazing evening that showcased the exceptional scientific talent of Springhill students. Many thanks especially to Carol Davis, Rhodora Del Rosario, Heidi Plumb, Kathy Hamilton & Sharon Kidd and all of the parent volunteers and volunteer scientists who made it happen! A job well done by all!!!
B. AFTER SCHOOL ISSUES: All students waiting for rides to go home must wait either in the front of the school or in the Briones Regional Park Parking Lot. They are not to be playing on the playground, either the Upper or Lower Field, until parents pick them up. Too many injuries are being sustained by these unsupervised students. All students (unless parentally supervised) are to be off campus by 3:00 PM. Because there is no adult supervision before or after these times, there can be no exceptions. Students still on campus after 3:00 PM will be brought to the office and parents called to pick them up. The school cannot take on the liability of having unsupervised students playing on the yard after school. If you have daycare needs, please take advantage of the private daycare facility on site: the Springhill KID's HIDEOUT at 283-7808. If you have business on campus after school, DO NOT send your child to the yard to play unless you are willing to supervise your child and ONLY your child. Thank you for your understanding and support.
C. CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM #1: INTRAMURAL FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS!!! Sabba Jweainat & Jack Thoren, co-captains; Chris F., Nate W., John L., Roni M., Connor M., Cole C., Matthew K. CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO TEAM #7; 2nd PLACE: Nic Warren & Julian Hinds, co-captains, and to all other students who participated in a great flag football season!
D. ABSENCES: Please be aware that each day of a child's absence costs the District $43.50 per student per day regardless of reason for the absence. Certainly, if the child is sick, the child should stay home. We want to encourage families to schedule vacations on non- student days (whenever possible) and for absences of 5 days or more, complete an independent study. We must stress the importance of learning opportunities lost by missing school needlessly. Thank you for your cooperation!
E. KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: Kindergarten Registration for the 2009-2010 school year will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM, and Wednesday, February 4, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM and all days following. Registration packets may be picked up from the Springhill Office after January 12 and returned on the actual days of registration. Please encourage all those you know in the Springhill community with kindergarten-aged children for next year to register on these dates, even if they are not sure their children are ready for kindergarten yet.
F. 1st-5th GRADE REGISTRATION FOR 2008- 2009: We will be accepting 1st-5th grade registrations for the 2008-2009 school year starting Wednesday, February 18. Please inform any new neighbors or those whose children are currently in private schools who plan to have their children attend Springhill School next year. Remind them to bring the child's birth certificate, immunization record and two proofs of address. Thank you.
G. 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://charactercount s.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.

A. BE PREPARED TO PAY IT FORWARD IN 2009 with a variety of opportunities to uphold the Pillars of Caring, Responsibility and Citizenship!

DIFFERENTIATION CORNER

*Differentiated Instruction takes place in all of our classes. Each week we will be profiling a particular teacher's implementation of Differentiated Instruction every week in the Friday Flyer. Don't miss it!!!

In Mr. Wong's 3rd grade, students grade their book report projects. They are given a rubric and they decide what their book report grade should be.

*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.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE-TAKE ACTION
Support our Schools - February 18, 2009 Education Advocacy Day

The State budget crisis portends major cuts to public schools, adversely impacting our kids and the State's economic viability. Lots of interest groups will be advocating for their piece of the budget to be preserved. There has never been a more important year to be seen in Sacramento - Join concerned parents, educators and citizens on this year's Las Trampas Creek PTA Council trip to Sacramento . Parents ARE the voice of our children. If we don't show up in large numbers, school budgets will be severely cut. Meet with our elected leaders. Support efforts to minimize funding and program cuts to public education. SIGN UP at la strampaspta.org/2009_advocacy.pdf by, February 6, 2009. Trip includes bus transportation and lunch, meetings and a tour through the Capitol.

Questions? Contact Springhill's Leg Rep Karen Guthrie, 925.283.7956 or kfguthrie@earthlink.net.

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year!

This Monday was the first day of the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year), celebrated throughout Asia and by many from that area who have moved to other countries. Lunar New Year is celebrated for 15 days and is preceded by days of preparation-cleaning the house thoroughly; buying and cooking special foods thought to bring happiness, wealth, and good fortune; and buying new clothes if possible. Families traditionally gather for a New Year's banquet sometime during the holiday and the celebration climaxes in a parade. You can experience the excitement of this holiday in San Francisco's Chinatown and/or attend the parade on Saturday, February 7.

What should you do to keep bad luck away and make sure that your new year is filled with good luck? This Next New Year by Janet Wong told of one family's preparations and celebration through the eyes of their young son. I paired it with Ying Chang Compestine's book D Is for Dragon Dance to help kindergartners understand some of the elements and symbolism of the Lunar New Year's traditions.

This is also the time of year when we begin to read this year's nominees for the California Young Reader Medal. School and public librarians throughout the state read or provide the books chosen for different age levels and once students have read or heard all the nominees they vote for their favorite. The votes from all over the state are counted in April and the winners are announced in May. Each year our students get very excited about voting and anxiously await the results. (You can find the link to the California Young Reader Medal website at our library website if you want to see all the nominees in the different categories or the lists of previous winners.)

Many of our students have attended or taken part in weddings. They were able to compare their memories and experiences of these events with the very traditional Chinese wedding described in Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding by Lenore Look. Our first, second, and third graders could also identify with Jenny's fear that she was losing her favorite uncle.

Imagine what it would be like to have your brothers leave for a new country and not to see them for years. Then imagine coming yourself to the new country and being left in charge of a store with almost no customers where you don't know the language and have no friends. Ming deals with these experiences and not only finds a way to survive but to make friends and thrive in Yin's powerful book Brothers, one of the CYRM nominees in the Picture Books for Older Readers' category. The fourth and fifth graders were especially fascinated by Chris Soentpiet's detailed illustrations of 1850's San Francisco.

Don't forget to check out our website at http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/people/smattern/ind ex.htm.You will 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 too.

Remember, there are over 100 reasons to read. This week, reason number 13 is "You'll impress your parents and friends."

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

Yearbook Last Call

Our team of parent volunteers is working away on an extra-special 2008-2009 Springhill Yearbook. If you didn't pre-order in August, this is your last chance to do so. (FYI, over 90% of the students have pre- ordered.) Order forms are in the "Yearbook" cubby in the school office and need to be returned by Thursday, February 12. The cost is $18. Please contact Galina Kvitko with any ordering questions at galinak@comcast.net. Thanks.

Asian Art and Culture Celebration
All events are free! See www.laflib.com for more details.

Pajamarama Story Hour with a performance of a children's Chinese ribbon dance. Ages 3+ please. Tuesday, January 27th 7-8:00pm Lafayette Library.

Ping Pong Demonstration with Survivor finalist Yau-Man. Those who dare are welcome to test their skills against these veteran players. All ages welcome. Wednesday, January 28th, 7-8:30pm AHS gym.

Shirley Fong-Torres, TV chef and author of The Woman Who Ate Chinatown, speaks on the sights, smells and stories of Chinese cooking traditions. Thursday January 29th 7-9:00 pm Lafayette Library.

Hands-on opportunity to experience Chinese Arts including calligraphy, brush painting, and origami. Saturday January 31st 11am-1pm Lafayette Library

Children's story hour hosts "Dragon Day," stories and a special Chinese dragon craft. Monday February 2nd 11:15 am Lafayette Library.

Yu's Martial Arts School in Lafayette will present a demonstration by multi-level students, with a finale by Master Yu himself. A few audience members may be invited on stage to test out a few moves! Tuesday February 3rd 6-7 pm Stanley Middle School Multi Purpose Room.

Register Now for Town Hall Kids Winter Theatre Classes.
Join Town Hall Theatre this winter for the Bravo program's production of "Once Upon a Dream, " a classic story of Cinderella. Enjoy the excitement, drama, majesty and thrills of this ageless story where pumpkins become elegant coaches, mice become men, and rags turn to riches with the wave of a wand! This class is for kids ages 7 to 11 years old. Classes start in January. Town Hall's classes expose children of all ages to theatre arts while developing self-esteem, confidence, and leadership skills. Each class culminates in a performance. Hurry, space is limited. We have many more classes for preschoolers, middle-school kids, and teens. 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.

CAMP GALILEO RETURNS TO LAFAYETTE! Camp Galileo is a summer day camp serving kids in Pre- K through 5th grades. Founded in 2002, Camp Galileo inspires kids to imagine new ideas, collaborate with peers and express themselves creatively. Kids enjoy art, science and outdoor programming every day, wrapped in fun camp traditions and delivered by highly enthusiastic staff. Our hands-on curriculum is developed in partnership with The Tech Museum of Innovation, de Young Museum and Klutz. To enroll or learn more, visit www.galileo-learning.com or call 800-854- 3684.

Roughing It Day Camp is a traditional outdoor day camp located at the Lafayette Reservoir for children 4 1/2-16 years of age. We offer instruction in horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, fishing, sports, crafts, outdoor education and more. Roughing It has been helping children grow in wonderful ways since 1972. Our program builds friendships, teamwork skills, and confidence. Summer 2009 Day Camp Sessions run: June 22 - July 17, 2009 and July 20 - August 14, 2009. See www.roughingit.com for registration and program information. * This year we are proud to donate a $500 certificate to the Spring Hill Auction as a way of giving back to the community.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum Programs Available
Register now for exciting, discovery-based programs at Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Everything from one-day Spring Break Workshops, Summer Camp listings and education classes are offered for children (ages 2 and up), families and adults. Visit our website, www.wildlife-museum.org and click on programs to see the full listing of programs for families, children and adults and registration information or call the museum (925 935 1978) to request a brochure. Pre- registration is required.

Classes include:
Phun Physics
Sounds of the Wild
Camouflage Colors
Bugology
Bluebird Project
and more!

Attention Parents of Middle School Girls!
Ever wish you could be a fly on the walls, halls or lunchrooms of your local middle school to see what life for your girls is really like in school? Here's the next best thing: "The Truth About Girls' Middle School Experience", a Q&A with a panel of high school girls from all four schools in the Acalanes High School District. These girls have not only attended our local middle schools, but also work with current middle school girls in so they really have a pulse on what is happening in our community. The panel is brought to you and moderated by AAUW (American Association of University Women), aauwoml.org. Join us for a free and lively session Wednesday, February 18t h 7:00-8:30 at Orinda Intermediate School Multi Purpose Room. Light refreshments served.

Single Parent Series
Tuesday, February, 10, 2009-You're Not My Mother-Introducing New Relationships to Kids

Keys to Cultivating Trust, Respect, and Openness with your Teenager
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, 7:00-9:00pm
MHS Theatre, No fee
David Heckenlively, MS, MFT. And Ricardo Murguia, LCSW

This interactive workshop will focus on healthy ways to communicate with your teens. Topics will include tools for developing home agreements that work, setting limits with loving detachment, understanding risk-taking behavior, addressing drug experimentation, use and abuse, and understanding healthy differentiation versus unhealthy defiance. Learn new ideas and practical skills in order to play a more effective role in guiding your teen and family through healthy growth and change.

David Heckenlively, MS, MFT, is the founder of Integrated Teen Services, in Walnut Creek where he provides assessment, treatment planning and psychotherapy for teens and families. He leads weekly parent support and education groups, evaluates therapeutic schools and programs throughout the country and provides consultation regarding treatment settings.

Ricardo Murguia, LCSW, Executive Director of Coyote Coast. Coyote Coast provides specialized services to families with youth returning home from highly structured out-of-home environments such as wilderness therapy, therapeutic boarding schools and rehabilitation centers. They also work with families in crisis who may be facing or trying to avoid such options.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds
In High School, College, and Beyond:
Helping Your Teen Thrive With Positive Self Image

Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Acalanes Theatre, No Fee

Topics Include:
Parent Influence
Weight as a Cultural Obsession
Sexuality/Social Life---How self image affects decisions
Eating and Exercise---What happens when they leave home

Sponsored by Acalanes Parent Ed, for more information email lgsendme@sbcglobal.net.

To submit entries to the Friday Flyer, email Susan Candell: 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