A. DEAR PARENTS: If there is the possibility that your child(ren) will not be attending Springhill School next year (with the exception of current 5th graders) due to moving or attendance at a private school, please let your child's teacher know as soon as possible to assist us in planning for the 2009-2010 school year. Many thanks!
B. PLACEMENT INPUT: Today you received a letter and form outlining the process for providing relevant input for your child's placement for the 2009- 2010 school year. It is neither required nor suggested that you provide this information; if, however, you feel that your child has special needs that should to be considered for placement, please feel free to utilize this process. Please read the policy and procedure carefully and return the form to your child's current teacher by Friday, May 8. Thank you.
C. CONGRATULATIONS MS. SPAIN & MRS. JARVIS: Please join me in congratulating Ms. Laura Spain & Mrs. Marcia Jarvis, Springhill 2nd grade teachers, who have just been named by Prudential California Realty's Education Foundation as Outstanding Teachers of the year and recipients of a grant from this organization. They were nominated by parents in the Springhill community and will be publicly and formally acknowledged at a presentation at Las Lomas High School on Friday, May 15, at 7:00 PM. Well done, Laura & Marcia! We are very proud of you!
D. PARENT/COMMUNITY GARDEN WORK DAY THIS SUNDAY, 4/26, IN THE SPRINGHILL GARDEN FROM 2:00 PM-5:00 PM!!!

THE SIX PILLARS & PAY IT FORWARD CORNER

"Accept that you are totally, absolutely, 100 percent responsible for what's going on in your life - for where you've been, for where you are, and for where you're going."
- Roger Dawson, motivational speaker

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. PENNIES FOR PATIENTS, our annual drive for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society has begun!!! Bring that spare change to find a cure for leukemia and lymphoma. Collection boxes are in each classroom and the main Office for any change you can spare. Thank you for supporting the Pillar of Caring!!!
B. COMING SOON: OUR ANNUAL NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY JAMBA JUICE FUND RAISER SPONSORED BY THE STUDENT COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, 5/14. MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.
C. REDUCE SPRINGHILL's CARBON FOOTPRINT (and get some exercise as well!!!): Supporting our Pillars of Respect (for the environment) and Citizenship (a community effort), Springhill hopes to introduce a tradition of Wednesday Walkers--encouraging students to walk or ride bikes to school daily, but particularly on one day of the week. Of course, we would not encourage such a practice unless conditions were safe for our walkers and bike riders. With this in mind, Springhill School is partnering with the City of Lafayette to pursue a state grant to build a walkway on Springhill Road from the corner of Pleasant Hill Road to the corner of Goyak Road. Last week you received an online survey regarding this pursuit via e-mail. Thank you for your responses. Thank you also for supporting the Pillar of Respect, Caring 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 Mrs. Brenner's 2nd grade, the writing lessons being implemented involve a mini-lesson and a mentor text book. Students are prompted to write about a specific topic but are able to go as in depth as they would like to go. Some will take it to the next level because of their ability to write. Others may have a simplified version but it is their best work. By teaching a specific skill in the mini-lesson, students are able to learn the skill and apply it at their own level. This enables Mrs. Brenner to teach a skill and meet the needs of all students.

Reminder, the special election is May 19th. EdSource is a wealth of information both, pro and con about the propositions. The site starts with a two question survey that you can opt out and proceed to the site. Joining EdSource is a great way to have easy access to information concerning education. The link is http://w ww.edsource.org/election09.html

This Week in the Library

Remember, there are over 100 reasons to read. This week, reason number 26 is "It's the cheapest way to travel the world."

A young girl saves a larva from a hungry blue jay and then, with her grandfather's guidance, makes a house for it and raises it. Our kindergartners followed the transformation of the larva from the caterpillar stage through the chrysalis stage to the emergence of a beautiful butterfly. Could the girl who cared for it so faithfully set it free? Eve Bunting's book Butterfly House answers this question in a surprising way.

Our students know the four R's of being environmentally responsible.-reduce, reuse, recycle, rot. In Round and Round Again by Nancy Van Laan first graders heard about a woman who was a recycler extraordinaire. They then heard about and saw how aluminum cans are recycled in the book What Happens at a Recycling Center? by Kathleen Pohl.

How well do you use a library OPAC? Second graders learned what the term means (Online Public Access Catalog) and learned how to do their first kind of search- a search to find a book when you know the title. They were very excited to begin using the search stations and some even continued the lesson by searching for books using the call numbers they found on the OPAC. (Earlier in the year we had had a lesson on decoding call numbers.)

Do any of you remember hearing stories about your parents' school days? Maybe how they walked miles to get there, or how they had to practice their Palmer method of cursive handwriting for what seemed like hours? Third graders have been experiencing what it might have been like to be in school 100 years ago through Apple Valley School Days. In the book A School Album by Peter and Connie Roop they saw pictures of old time schools and learned even more about some of the differences between school then and school today.

Imagine living in a small world where you have everything you need. Then imagine what it would be like to be invaded by monsters from another planet who began to destroy all that you knew and who ultimately ruined your planet before they moved on to the next planet. Would there be anything left to salvage? Fourth graders heard Bill Peet's timely book Wump World, published in 1970, the year of the first Earth Day.

From Australia to South America, from Asia to North America, animal species are in danger. Mr. Fisher's class (away at Camp Loma Mar last week) heard about some of the species currently at risk, discussed some of the reasons for this-hunting, loss of habitat, introduction of new species, pesticides, and many other factors-and considered some of the things that make it hard to determine what's right and what's wrong. They also heard about some species that are coming back thanks to the efforts of concerned groups around the world in Steve Jenkins' book Almost Gone.

Don't forget to check out our website at http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/people/smattern/index.ht m. 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

Garden Work Day - THIS Sunday, 4/26 2-5pm

Stop by to help out at our monthly garden work day this weekend. Come help plant fruit trees, install native plants, complete picnic table area, plant material for the 3-sisters tee-pee (sunflowers, pole beans & squash), weed & mulch! Bring your work gloves, a shovel &/or rake, & bottled water. Kids are welcome!!

Sincere thanks to the Hamilton/Wagener Family for donating 12 fruit trees & the Buck Family for donating 2 olive trees, from the 4th Grade field trip to the Sonoma Mission; all just in time for Earth Day!!

Come see the many fruits, vegetables & herbs that are in full bloom! It's a beautiful time of year in the Springhill Garden. Questions? Contact Kathy Hemmenway - khemmenway@aol.com

Splish, Splash, Summer Bash at Hideout!
Kid's Hideout is now accepting registration for summer. Please visit our website at www.kidshideout.net/FORMS, then go to the "Summer - Camp Hideout '09" section at the bottom of the page. Register early for discounts!! We will be open EVERY WEEK this summer (that's 10 weeks of care!). Each week will include activities in baking, cooking, arts, crafts, sports, science and drama/dance. We will also have Wheels Days, Tasty Tuesdays, Field Trips, Pool Days & Bounce House Fridays each week.
Invite and enroll with a NEW family and you both receive 25% off of one weeks' "Camp" fees. See registration form for details! For more information, please call Beth at 283-7808 or beth@kidshideout.net. Come soak up some sun with us this summer!

"The following communications, activities or events are not school or district-sponsored, nor are they endorsed by the Lafayette School District."

Orinda Idol--CASH PRIZES
Sign Up Now

The Orinda Arts Council Invites K-12th Graders to Sing for a Chance to be an Orinda Idol Finalist! Lamorinda students are invited to audition for the group competition on May 30 at Orinda Intermediate School. (Note, solo competition for Orinda K-8 and Lamorinda 9-12 only.)

RESERVATIONS OPEN APRIL 17th and CLOSE MAY 24th. Email Student(s) Name, Grade, School & Email Address to orindaidol@bluestar.com FOR MORE INFORMATION: h ttp://www.orindaartscouncil.org/orindaidol.html

Stanley Open House May 14th at 7 pm

The Stanley School Open House date has been changed to May 14th at 7:00 p.m.

Come to the Stanley Library Spring Book Fair during Stanley Open House

The Stanley Library will be holding a Spring Book Fair during the week of May 11-15 and will be open during Stanley Open House on Thursday, May 14. If you are coming with your 5th grade student or middle school student we encourage you to stop by the library. You can meet the fabulous librarian, Mrs. Barbara Stevens, and find some great books for summer reading. There will be a great selection of paperbacks and new releases for students and parents. The One Book One School selection, Peak, will be on sale as well. Sponsored by The Lafayette Book Store and the Stanley Library, the spring book fair will be open 8:00-9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, during break and lunch on Tuesday through Friday, 3:00-4:00 on Monday through Thursday, and 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. on May 14th during Stanley's Open House. Thank you for supporting the middle school library program.

Stanley Wild Cat Days

Mark your calendar for Stanley Wild Cat Days ~ August 20th & 27th. At WCD's you can pick up your PE Jersey, Student Calendar & Student ID cards. You will also have the opportunity to turn in all of your required forms, purchase apparel, pay your annual fund, take class photos and find out about the many opportunities that are available at Stanley. The August 20th date will also correspond with 6th grade orientation.

Stanley Wild Cat Days Volunteers Needed

Calling all Stanley Parents--can you help staff at WCD? We need you and your kids to help Aug 20th & 27th. The shifts will be 3hrs. Kids can get community service or Opp Knocks credits.
Envelope stuffing will be July 14th from 9am-Noon. If you available to volunteer at please email at Balfrey@sbcglobal.net.

May 2nd!!!! Lafayette Nursery School's Annual Science Day of Discovery

Come join us and make volcanos explode, blast rockets into space, and explore the gooey texture of flubber. Become an archeologist for the day and dig for dinosaur bones, or play with huge bubbles. These are just a few of the activities at the Lafayette Nursery School's Science Day of Discovery. This hands-on science fair features exhibits and experiments designed for children preschool age through third grade. It's fun for the whole family!
Cost: Children preschool through Grade 3 are $4.00 each
When: Saturday May 2nd, 2009, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: LAFAYETTE NURSERY SCHOOL; 979 First Street, Lafayette
For More Information Please Contact Lafayette Nursery School at 925-284-2448 or visit our website www.lafa yettenurseryschool.com

Wizard of Oz Junior Theatre Production

The Walnut Creek Civic Arts Junior Theatre will be presenting Frank Baum's heartwarming classic, The Wizard of Oz, on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek (1963 Tice Valley Blvd.). The performers are all local middle school students. Tickets are $15 - $17 and can be purchased through the Lesher Center box office by calling 925/943- SHOW.

Girl Scout Summer Camp Open To All Girls Membership Not Required

Did you miss the annual registration flurry last September and wish you had joined Girl Scouts this year? Are you longing for a mission of Courage, Confidence and Character? Girl Scouts registers adults and girls year round with programs for all school-aged girls, kindergarten through high school. Juliette Girl Scouts are individually registered Girl Scouts not connected to a troop, it's especially popular among Girl Scouts 11-17 who love the program but are very busy with other activities.

Another enormous bonus is Girl Scouts of Northern California has resident and day camp programs for girls ages 5-17, from the High Sierras to the Pacific Coast. There is something available for every girl and interest. Any girl can go to Girl Scout camp, membership is not required. For more information about joining Lafayette Girl Scouts, go to the local website, www.lafayette girlscouts.org, or contact Linda Bailey Wurgley, Membership, (925) 330-8222.

Girl Scout & Guests Ice Cream Social

You're invited to join your Girl Scout friends at the Stanley Ice Cream Social "Cinco de Mayo Celebration" (For all 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade Girl Scouts and Guests)

DATE: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
TIME: 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
COST: Absolutely Free
LOCATION: Stanley Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Come on out for an hour of music, SWAP crafts, ice cream sundae making, and fun, with your Girl Scout friends. Just bring the permission slip (link follows), signed by a parent or guardian to the event. http://www.lafayettegirlscouts.org/Forms- EVENTS/08- 09/2009_Stanley_Ice_Cream_Social_final.pdf For more information contact Sandra Patterson at pattersonburr@earthlink.net, or 296-9281.

Acalanes Football Camp

Do you have a son that is interested in learning about football? Acalanes Head Coach Mike Ivankovich and his staff will be running a camp for those entering 3rd-8th grades. This is a non-contact camp where your son will learn the skills, techniques, rules and fun of football. WHEN? June 22-24 (Mon.-Wed.)..3rd-5th graders will go from 10:00-12:00. 6th-8th graders will go 9:00- 12:00. The camp will be held at Acalanes High School and will cost $100. Answers to questions and forms for the camp may be obtained from Mike Ivankovich by contacting him at: mivankovich@acalanes.k12.ca.us.

Football Summer Camp Grades 4- 8

Campolindo Head Football Coach Kevin Macy and his staff are once again offering their 10 day summer football camp July 13-24 Monday-Friday. 1:30-5 at Campolindo High School. Details and the registration form are available at www.campofootball.com Flyers will also be available in the office at school.

Expressive Art Camp

Join us June 22 through 26, 9:00am - 3:00pm, for the wildly popular Expressive Arts Camp held annually at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill. The Expressive Art Camp is a five day artistic extravaganza that encourages personal growth and creative expression in children ages 6 - 12. Our campers spend each day in small groups experimenting with various art forms and engaging in both individual and collective art projects such as mask-making, poetry, puppet-theater, murals, and story-telling. While children create and share their artwork with their peers, they build self- confidence and cultivate positive notions of themselves and of their relationships with others. All art activities are designed by JFKU graduate students to be developmentally and age appropriate for varying levels of physical and emotional maturity. The camp fee is $200 per child and includes all art materials. Kids bring a bag lunch each day and we provide snacks. For more information or to register your child by phone, call 925.969.3437. Registration forms can be downloaded from the JFKU website at http://www .jfku.edu/schools/gspp/eac/. Be sure to view the gallery of pictures from last year's camp at http://www.jfku.edu/schools/gspp/eac/eac_gallery/ . Looking at it will leave you with a lasting smile!

JF Kapnek Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run April 26, 2009 at 9:00 am

Bring your friends and family to celebrate our accomplishments in Zimbabwe with the J.F. Kapnek Charitable Trust's 6th Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run on April 26 at Miramonte High School in Orinda. There will be races for children as well as adults along with music of Zimbabwe, children's crafts and activities and a delicious brunch. Proceeds from this event will go to the Trust's efforts to diminish the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the children and families of Zimbabwe. Registration fee includes brunch and a T- shirt. Register online at www.active.com (keyword: Kapnek) or go to the Trust's website at www.jfkapnektrust. org.

Socially Responsible Lifestyle -Changes Start at Home

Join us for an Elementary School Parent Education event at
Murwood Elementary School, 2050 Vanderslice Ave., Walnut Creek
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 7:00-8:30pm, library
no fee, register at the event or on-line (course # 05- 6113) at http:/ /adulted.acalanes.k12.ca.us/onlinereg/default.asp? txtAction=ReturnToCourses&txtCourseGroupID=1
Questions & Comments? Vera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us

Speaker: Roberto Giannicola, Provokare Presentations, www.Provokare.com
In the first part of the presentation Roberto will be talking about how the choices we make everyday have an impact on people, animals and the planet, locally and across the world; and how we can take small but meaningful changes to make a difference.

In the second part, Roberto will talk about what is behind our school lunches, the waste generated and what parents can do to minimize waste and needless consumption.
Everyone will receive a free Eco-Brief booklet: Consumerism.

Computer Crime Awareness - Online Child Exploitation an eye opening presentation

Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 7:00- 9:00pm, no fee
in the Multi-Purpose-Room (MPR) at Orinda Intermediate School, 80 Ivy Drive , Orinda
You may register at the event or on-line (course #05- 6114) at http://adulted.acalanes.k12.ca.us/onlinereg /Classes.asp? txtAction=LoadSections&txtCourseGroupID=1&txtCourse Code=0561
Questions & Comments? Vera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us

Speaker: Officer Steve DeWarns
Get a glimpse into the "Dark side of the Internet" and see first hand how our children are being solicited for sex online. Learn about the growing crime trends on the Internet while we show you how to protect yourself and your children. This presentation is for parents of children who are active online. The first half hour of the PowerPoint presentation will take you through the various types of crimes committed online as well as real life examples.

We then show an online demonstration of what happens to children in chat rooms as well as Social Networking sites, such as Myspace.com. At the conclusion of the presentation, there will be an opportunity for questions and answers.

Sweet Thursday -- April 30 at 7:30 pm

The Friends of the Lafayette library invite you to meet Melanie Saxer, author of What My Father Saw, a moving tribute to her father and his unforgettable testimony to what he saw when he liberated Buchenwald Concentration Camp in April of 1945. The photographs Major Saxer took after entering Buchenwald leave no doubt that the horrors of the Holocaust did happen and should not be forgotten. This book is not filled with grisly statistics of the Nazis but with heart and authenticity. Johnston's true hope is to remind us how precious freedom and the United States are. While the subject matter is difficult, this book may offer a thoughtful entry to WWII history for young people. Amy Tan wrote "I am so thankful you wrote this."

To submit entries to the Friday Flyer, email Maria Pratt: 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