A. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED in our annual READ ACROSS AMERICA/DR. SEUSS' BIRTHDAY BASH on Monday, March 2. We had guest readers for each classroom and we are appreciative of everyone's efforts. Thanks also to the PFC and Mrs. Rhodora Del Rosario for providing exquisite food for our hungry volunteer readers. READ ON, SCORPIONS!!!
B. GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE 5th GRADE MUSICAL "WILLY WONKA" at Lafayette's Town Hall Theatre, March 16 and 17, 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM. Check the Town Hall Theatre Kids website for details. Thank you to Lyenne Denny, Cindy O'Connor and Director Rena Wilson for all of their efforts in making this production possible! See you there!
C. REMIND YOUR CHILDREN to be wary of strangers at all times, to walk in groups and to always tell a trusted adult if other adults are making them feel uncomfortable. This is a message that cannot be repeated too often for all of our children.
D. 3rd GRADE PARENTS: You may pick up the results of the OLSAT Test your child took in November from the School Office beginning Monday, February 9. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Rachel Zinn at the District Office (927- 3510) or Mr. Wodhams (927-3580) here at Springhill. Thank you.
E. 1st-5th GRADE REGISTRATION FOR 2008- 2009: We have begun accepting 1st-5th grade registrations for the 2008-2009 school year. 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.
F. Join the PFC! Register for e-SCRIP!!

THE SIX PILLARS & PAY IT FORWARD CORNER

"When I dig another out of trouble, the hole from which I lift him is the place where I bury my own." -- Norman Vincent Peale, preacher, author (1898-1993)

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.

A. RUN FOR KIERAN; Stanley Middle School, 9:00 AM, SUNDAY, MARCH 8, supporting Stanford Children's Research Center and the Lafayette School District's Special Ed Program!! Support the memory of one of our dearest former students by upholding the Pillars of Caring and Respect!!
B. JUMP ROPE FOR HEART IS COMING THE WEEK OF MARCH 16, supporting the American Heart Association and the lifelong health of those who participate! Thank you, Nik Kosach (Mr. CLUB FIT), the students of Springhill School and the American Heart Association!
C. THE ACALANES LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD is beginning a drive to collect preschool supplies and sandbox toys for the JF Kapnek Trust Pediatric Aids Fund. The trust promotes health and education in Zimbabwe by supporting communities in their fight against AIDS and its related challenges (see www.JFKapnekTr ust.org). Collection bins will be in front of the school from Monday, March 9, to Friday, March 13. If you have any questions about the project or need to contact Ellie Stern at ellieskates@aol.com or (925)899-3903.

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. Hirsch's 2nd grade on Mondays, the children take a pretest. If they spell all of the words correctly, they are given differentiated words. These are words are the words that the students learn and practice for that week. There are homework reinforcement pages as well. All children are given an opportunity each week to do these type of words and activities.

This Week in the Library

Remember, there are over 100 reasons to read. This week, reason number 20 is "There are no commercials."

March 2 was the anniversary of Theodor Geisel's birthday (whom you may know better as Dr. Seuss). Here at Springhill we celebrated the day, also referred to as "Read Across America Day", by having guest readers in the classrooms, followed by a recess reception for them in the staff lounge. Each classroom (including the library) was decorated and some students even made Cat in the Hat tall hats. We continued the celebration at Spirit Wednesday with a song which Mrs. Ghulam had taught the students about Dr. Seuss.

While he was a boy living in Springfield, MA Ted's father became superintendent of parks there and "ran the zoo", which was six blocks away from where the family lived. Ted was fascinated by the exotic animals and his zany imagination came up with even more exotic animals, which the kindergartners heard about in his book If I Ran the Zoo.

Stanley the dog is tired of being stuck in the same old yard. One day he finds a hole and begins to scratch at it until it's big enough to crawl through. Then he helps several other friends to escape and their adventures begin. First graders enjoyed hearing about Stanley's escapades in Stanley's Wild Ride by Linda Bailey. This book is one of the nominees in this year's Primary division for the California Young Reader Medal.

Jack the Cat is building a nest to attract the perfect chicken, who will lay an egg to make the perfect omelet. The only problem is his nest attracts more than the perfect chicken! Second graders enjoyed Catherine Friend's humorous book The Perfect Nest, another one of the nominees in this year's Primary division for the California Young Reader Medal.

Do you like to square dance? Maybe do a rumba or a samba? Or is boogying more your style? Hilda the hippo dances to every beat much to the dismay of all the other animals. Third graders were amused by Karma Wilson's book Hilda Must Be Dancing as they found out how the animals solved the problems created by Hilda's dancing, yet another nominee in this year's Primary division for the California Young Reader Medal.

In 1933, work began on the "impossible bridge." Facing incredible odds and daily danger, carpenters, skywalkers, riveters, painters, and many others built the Golden Gate Bridge over the next three and a half years. Fourth and fifth graders got a taste of what it meant to a nation deep in the Great Depression and to two boys in particular in Eve Bunting's book Pop's Bridge.

A café singer who has lost her marbles, a dropped ostrich feather and a smudge of peanut butter, several suspects including a chef, a magician, and an assistant, and a hard-boiled detective who works for peanuts. Students enjoyed the clever homage to film noir and detectives like Sam Spade in Doug Cushman's Mystery at the Club Sandwich. Both of these books are nominees in the Picture Books for Older Readers division for the California Young Reader Medal.

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.

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

Work Day in the Springhill Garden this weekend! So far, the forecast for Sunday calls for apartly cloudy/dry day. We'd love to have you, your family & friends join us for a variety of projects from 2-5pm on Sunday. Projects will include:

• * erosion control - begin trenching hillside, laying straw-waddles, move soil, plant seeds
• * finish extending table area with soil, compactor & spreading gravel
• * weeding, weeding & more weeding!
• * prep garden gates for installation

Remember to bring your shovel, rake, gloves & shoes that can get down & dirty! Also, if you have any of the following tools, please let me know if you are able to bring with you on Sunday:

• * drill with 1/2" + bit
• * gas powered compactor
• * 3 + trenching shovels
• * wheelbarrows
• * laser level

Thanks so much for your continued support of the Springhill Garden!
Kathy
933.5266
khemmenway@aol.com

SPRING BREAK:
Hideout Goes Hollywood - Please join us for Spring Break - March 30th through April 3rd as Hideout Goes Hollywood! We will be having competitions in drama, dance, sports, art & baking! The children will be creating awards and playing in sports competitions, too! This week is sure to be lots of fun. Sign up forms can be picked up from the school office or HIdeout, and will be available on our website at the end of February. Register early for discounts! For more information, please contact Beth Brown at 283- 7808 or beth@kidshideout.net.

SUMMER CAMP AT HIDEOUT:
Summer Camp registration packets will be available soon. We will have nine camp sessions this summer ranging from June 15th through August 14th. Stay tuned for details!

DISTRICT WIDE CHORAL FESTIVAL SUCCESS
Congratulations to the Springhill 5th Grade Chorus who participated in the 2nd annual District Chorus Festival Thursday, March 5 at the Acalanes Performing Arts Center. Choruses from all elementaries, Stanley Intermediate, and Acalanes High School sang for each other and then together in two mass numbers. Go Springhill Chorus! Go Lafayette Music!

PHOTOS NEEDED FOR YEARBOOK
We need digital pictures of your kids to round out the yearbook. Up to two pictures per child per subject. Pictures received in the next week (including March 6) are guaranteed to appear. The three subjects we need are:

1. Girl Scouts (including Brownies, etc.) Please email to scampillo@comcast.net
2. After School Sports (soccer, swim, baseball, karate, etc.) Please email to nicole.rogers@marriott.com
3. After School Activities (hobbies, clubs, music, service, etc.) Please email to nicole.rogers@marriott.com

If you have any questions, please email Jim White at thewhitefamily@comcast.net

Start putting your foursome together for the
******Springhill Annual Golf Tournament*****

Friday, May 8th, 2009
At the Boundary Oaks Golf Course, Walnut Creek

Lunch, Dinner, Raffle, Prizes, Contests and loads of fun.
Come join us!!!


Run for Kieran
On March 8, Special Education Enrichment and Development Foundation of Lafayette (SEED) will be participating in a very special event that commemorates the life of one of Lafayette's children with special needs. Run for Kieran is an annual fundraiser held by the Quinn family to remember their son Kieran who died three years ago from a degenerative genetic disorder. Kieran was incredibly near and dear to the hearts of so many in the Springhill and greater Lafayette community. He was a loving compassionate child with an infectious smile and dogged perseverance who touched the lives of so many.

This year's Run for Kieran will benefit SEED and the Department of Genetics at the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. The Run is a wonderful way for us to come together as a community of families, teachers, and friends in support of our children with special needs. SEED hopes that all of you can join us for this wonderful event.

To learn more about Run for Kieran, to sign up for the run or to make a donation, please click here: http://web.me.c om/bridgetquinn

2009 LMYA DOLPHINS SWIM TEAM
APRIL STROKE CLINICS and SUMMER SWIM TEAM
Registration on THURSDAY MARCH 26, 6:00- 9:00pm--Acalanes High School Cafeteria

~OPEN TO ALL TEAMS - LMYA Dolphins are offering April Preseason Stroke Clinics conducted by Acalanes High School Swim Team Head Coaches Marc Cavallero & Jeff Miller. The clinics begin on April 6 and run for 4 weeks Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs sessions available.
Register Online at www.LMYASWIM.com or in person on Thursday March 26, 2009, 6-9:00pm

~Join our community swim team, the LMYA Dolphins-- the only swim team in the area to offer the option of regular season evening practices. Swimmers age 4-18 are welcome to enjoy high quality training, stroke instruction, competitive swimming and lots of summer fun and fitness at Acalanes High School Pool. Our dynamic and experienced coaches Jeff Miller & Marc Cavallero, who are currently head coaches for the highly competitive Acalanes High School Team, subscribe to the SWIM SMART Program which promises success and fun.
~Registration is Thursday, March 26 from 6:00- 9:00pm at Acalanes High School Cafeteria in Lafayette. Bring your calendar and checkbook to sign-up. Preseason practices begin May 4th. Regular season morning age group practices begin June 15 and evening practices begin June 16.

~LMYA Swim Team also offers a "Gutter Guppy" introductory program for water-safe 4 - 6 year olds. Gutter Guppy evaluation/registration will be held May 19 & June 1.

For more information about stroke clinics, fees, meets, practice times, volunteer requirements, Gutter Guppies or to Register On line go to www.LMYASWIM.com Or Email - Registration@LMYASwim.com

HOST FAMILY SUMMER 2009 PROJECT
Participate in our summer programs for European teenagers, who spend a few weeks in the Bay Area working on their conversational English fluency while sharing their Spanish, French or German with their US host siblings, all while enjoying a taste of American life.
We seek great, fun, dedicated people as local coordinators & local leaders for our groups (paid positions), as well as interested volunteer host families.
To learn more, please contact Carla Orvis Hunt a.s.a.p. at our main office in Berkeley: 510.845.2230.

GREASE IS THE WORD
Miramonte High School presents the musical Grease at the Miramonte theater, 750 Moraga Way, Orinda. Shows are March 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 PM and March 15 at 12 noon. Tickets are $15 students and seniors and $20 adults, and can be purchased online at the MHS web store www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/miramonte.

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: KIDS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
On Monday, March 16th there will be a special presentation and event on climate change just for kids, organized by the 5th Grade Girl Scout Troop at Lafayette Elementary School and Sustainable Lafayette (www.sustainablelafayette.net). The evening will feature a presentation by Doug Grandt and Paul Valva of The Climate Project (www.theclimateproject.org) , which was developed in partnership with Girl Scouts. The program is designed for kids (especially 3rd-7th grade) and their parents and will cover what "climate change" is and what kids are doing and can do to make a difference. Kids will also share what they're doing already in the community and there will be "By Kids, For Kids" educational displays. Please join us!

WHEN: Monday, March 16th at 7-8:30 pm
WHERE: Our Savior Lutheran Church at 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette

Admission is free, but space is limited and pre- registration is required. To register, email aej@cpdb.com and state the number of kids/adults in your group that will be attending.

AFTER SCHOOL HOOPS
Join ONE on ONE BASKETBALL for After School Hoops at Springhill Elementary School. Throughout the winter and spring, skilled and experienced basketball instructors will conduct a one hour clinic, once a week, for you and your friends. These clinics will help you become a better basketball player through drills, contests, and game competition. Classes will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 2:40-3:40 PM. Starting March 3rd running thru May 12th, no class on March 31st. Cost will be $95 for the 10 week class. Please go to this page and register www.1on1basketball.com/ if you have any questions please call (925) 451-5888.

SUMMER RESOURCES FAIR - NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!!!
The American Camp Association and Seven Hills School are sponsoring a Summer Resources Fair, Saturday, March 7, 10:00am - 1:00pm at Seven Hills School (not March 21)
975 North San Carlos Dr , Walnut Creek (near Heather Farms).
Come meet camp directors and recreational professionals and learn about the many summer programs for kids 4-15 years of age. Admission is free as a public service to families.

SUN VALLEY SWIM TEAM
Want to join a great swim team? Come join Sun Valley Swim Team (SVST) this summer for the perfect combination of competitive spirit and team fun! Non- pool members are welcome to join our team. You'll love our sense of community and our new pool! In addition to swim team (ages 5-18) we also have a Pre-Team program for ages 4-5. We are also offering an after-school Spring Stroke Clinic by the Cal Women's Swim Team. Clinic is open to all swim teams. Swim team registration is Sunday, March 15th 12pm-2pm at Sun Valley Pool (1000 Leland Drive, Lafayette). For more information, check out www.SwimSu nValley.com or contact BVE parent Tracy Broback at GoRays@SwimSunValley.com

ARTS, ADVENTURE & ACADEMICS 2009
Arts, Adventures and Academics Summer Camp will be held June 22- July 24th at Walnut Creek Intermediate School.
NEW ! This 5 week program is for all campers entering K through 9th Grades. All activities are hands-on and discovery-based, allowing kids to learn by doing. Our high quality programming and caring staff have made this program a favorite for over 25 years!
For more information, please visit our web site at www.arts-ed.org or call (925) 943-5846.

Acalanes High School International Night
Acalanes High School will be hosting their 3rd annual International Night next Thursday, March 12, from 6:00 - 8:30 PM in the Small Gym. Please come celebrate various cultures from all around the world with us that night! Indulge in an international feast with your family, and witness traditional dancing, music, and even a cultural fashion show put on by Acalanes students. Do not miss this event; it will be an unforgettable night!
All monies fundraised from International Night will be given to our chosen charity, the Central Asia Institute - they strive to provide education for women in remote regions of Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan who are not privileged with that opportunity. This charity's projects focus on building schools, training potential teachers for these schools, and promoting public health and conservation; each project they undertake involves local people in all phases of the project: to plan, implement and evaluate. You can learn more about this charity by visiting their official website at https://www.ikat.org.

Friends of the Lafayette Library
Come to the Lafayette Library on March 16 to hear Blake Taylor talk about his book ADHD and Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table. This story is a must-read for parents of children with ADHD and those who live with the condition. Program begins at 7:30. Coffee and desserts served.

ARTISTS WANTED!
Forms are available in your Library to enter the Lafayette Library Bookmark contest which begins March 2 and ends March 18th. Winners will be notified and an Award Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, April 7th.

Study Skills & Learning Styles
Kim Koppenhaver-Klute, Parent educator, speaker
Thursday, March 12, 2009, Noon - 1:30pm, library
Walnut Creek Intermediate School, 2425 Walnut Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Why does my child listen to music while doing homework?
Discover Your Child's Learning Style!
There are many ways your student can succeed in school.
Come and find out how to help your student learn more effectively and efficiently by tapping into his/her learning style.
We will discover how sensory and emotional stimulation play an important part in your student's learning process.
We will also be discussing the role of stress in your student's life.
You will also learn how to encourage your student to become an active rather than a passive learner.

Topics on every Middle School Parents' Mind
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 7-9 pm, MPH
Orinda Intermediate School, 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda
Irene Coleman (MFT) with practice in Lafayette and
Mark Bressler, Owner and Academy Parent of the Lafayette Academy

Together they will deal with the many different aspects of a middle school students' life and how it impacts the family around them - their concerns, their stresses, their challenges etc.
Some of the topics that will be covered and questions that will be answered are:
-Why reading comprehension is even more important than soccer?
-The significance of your child's learning style (includes a take home assessment)
-Why grades don't tell the whole story
-The emotional and physical challenges faced by middle schoolers and their parents and families- including information on alcohol and drugs.
-How to nurture your child along the middle school path.

The REAL Impact of Sports in Lamorinda
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 pm
Stanley Middle School Library
Join us for an exploration into the physical and emotional impacts of sports on our middle schoolers. How do we avoid 'over participation', which leads to physical injuries and mental burnout? How we can help to build athletes of character, not just ability? Why, when we get on the playing field, do we overlook disrespectful behavior, bullying and unsportsmanlike behavior, all in the chase for a win? And how do we help our kids enjoy sports in our community?

Robin Bousquet, Senior Physical Therapist, Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes, Children's Hospital, Oakland
Erika Carlson, Sports Psychology Consultant, Excellence in Sports Performance, Walnut Creek

No fee, register at the event or on-line (course #05- 6115) at acalanes adult ed, course 0561
Questions & Comments? Vera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us

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