Friday, January 29
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; Multipurpose Room, 2:45 pm
Cub Scout Pack 200 Pinewood Derby; Multipurpose Room, 3:00 PM-9:00 PM

Saturday, January 30
LASF Function: Starry Starry Night (more information to follow)

Monday, February 1
Cub Scout Pack 200 Leaders' Meeting; Library, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

Tuesday, February 2
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 5th grade

Wednesday, February 3
PFC Meeting
Executive Board Meeting; Lounge, 5:30 PM
General Session, Superintendent Fred Brill speaking; Library, 7:00 PM

Thursday, February 4
4th Grade Concert; Multipurpose Room, 7:00 PM

Friday, February 5
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; Multipurpose Room, 2:45 pm

Thursday, February 9
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 5th grade

Wednesday, February 10
SMILE TRAIN: 3rd GRADE FUND RAISER
Lafayette School District Board Mtg., Budget Focus; Stanley MP Room, 6:00 PM

Thursday, February 11
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; Multipurpose Room, 2:45 pm

Friday, February 12
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday; Holiday

Sunday, February 14
Chinese New Year
Valentine's Day

Monday, February 15
Presidents' Day; Holiday

Tuesday, February 16
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 5th grade

Wednesday, February 17
Ash Wednesday
PFC/PTA Legislative Advocacy Day; Sacramento
LASF Science Fair; MP Room, 6:30 PM
Lafayette School District Board Mtg.; DO, 7:00 PM

Friday, February 19 5th Grade Play Rehearsal; MP Room, 2:45 PM

Principal's Messages

A. 1st-5th GRADE REGISTRATION FOR 2010-2011:: We will be accepting 1st-5th grade registrations for the 2010-2011 school year starting Monday, February 8. 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. We also continue to accept registration for kindergartners for the 2010-2011 school year. Thank you.

B. H1N1 UPDATE:
In order to keep you apprised of the latest information we have regarding the H1N1 virus, we have compiled a list of H1N1 FAQs which you can view by going to: http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/springhill/

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

THE SIX PILLARS & PAY IT FORWARD CORNER

"Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose."
Evan Esar

CHARACTER COUNTS!

AS YOU GO FORWARD DAILY, STAND TALL UPON THE PILLARS OF TRUSTWORTHINESS, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, FAIRNESS, CARING & CITIZENSHIP!!!

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 WATCHING FOR THE ANNUAL 3rd GRADE SMILE TRAIN SEMI-FREDDI's GARLIC CROUTON SALE TAKING PLACE WEDNESDAY, 2/10. Every $250 raised sponsors a child's cleft palate surgery somewhere in the world. Semi Freddi's croutons for $2 and apple juice for $1. Let's Pay It Forward and support the pillars of Caring and Citizenship with this worthy cause! Thank you 3rd Grade!!!

B. SPRINGHILL DONATED 328 POUNDS OF DRIED/CANNED FOODS TO THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FOOD BANK IN DECEMBER! WELL DONE SCORPIONS! Thank you for supporting the pillars of Caring and Citizenship!

C. SOLES4SOULS: TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO DONATE SHOES FOR HAITI; 2:30 PM IS THE DEADLINE. WE HAVE RECEIVED A VERITABLE PLETHORA OF SHOES FROM THE SPRINGHILL COMMUNITY!!! WELL DONE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! CHECK THOSE CLOSETS ONE LAST TIME!!!
If you wish receipts for tax purposes, call Soles4Souls at 866-521-shoe and let them know that you have donated shoes at Sport Chalet and they will mail you a tax receipt within two weeks. If you wish to take shoes directly to Sport Chalet on Willow Pass Road in Concord, they are accepting donations until Sunday afternoon. Soles4Souls is working to provide millions of pairs of gently used boots and shoes to help survivors locate others trapped in the rubble and begin the rebuilding process. As you can imagine, the amount of broken glass, twisted metal and raw sewage is staggering. Now through January 30th, Sports Chalet is offering to ship for free gently worn shoes to Haiti through the Soles4Souls organization. Once received Soles4Souls will rush this protective footwear to Haiti as quickly as possible. There will be a collection bin in front of the Springhill School Office for shoes until Friday, 1/29. Please support the Pillars of Caring, Responsibility and Citizenship! Thank you!

D. WARM COAT DRIVE: Brownie troop #33005 is collecting warm coats for the community outreach program through the First Baptist Church in Pittsburg. They'll be collecting new & gently used coats/ jackets through 1/31 in a bin by the front office. Thank you, ladies, for supporting 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 Mrs. Finta's 1st grade in conjunction with the other 1st grades, Rotation Days are a focus upon an author, or unit of study. Each class moves to a different first grade teacher to learn one aspect of the topic. This continues until the child has been to each classroom. The Rotation Days include lessons taught using art, music, reader's theater and other techniques to capture the child's interests. An example of one of the Rotation Days is Penguin Day. Stories are read about penguins and and the children participate in a reader's theater story on penguins, art includes making a penguin, facts about the emperor penguin are made into folding books showing how the male takes care of the egg when the female is away at sea. It's a fun day for all and the students love being in other classrooms with new teachers.

*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.


TEAM GREEN CORNER
THE NEW FOUR Rs: Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle & Rot

A. SPRINGHILL CONTINUES TO ALIGN ITS GREEN EFFORTS WITH THE DISTRICT GREEN TEAM AND SUSTAINABLE LAFAYETTE. LOOK FOR UPDATES WEEKLY.

B. PAPERLESS NEWSLETTERS: Springhill School is looking to phase out the paper copies of weekly newsletter you receive from your child's teacher. We are hopeful that soon you will only receive electronic newsletters. Let us know your thoughts! Many thanks.

C. WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR SPRINGHILL TEAM GREEN? Help us find ways to:
1. Explore school and community green pursuits that allow us to better address the State Standards/ Benchmarks as well as the Lafayette School District Strategic Plan;
2. Explore school and community green pursuits that provide a fiscal benefit to the schools and community;
3. Explore school and community green pursuits that address and enhance character development programs already in place (e.g. CHARACTER COUNTS!) in the Lafayette School District).
Springhill School pays it forward by keeping it green, supporting the Pillars of Caring, Respect, Responsibility & Citizenship!!!

D. SOLAR ENERGY - Springhill School should be "flipping the switch" to solar energy within the next month and will have its own ceremony. At that time, we wish to acknowledge certain people who made solar energy a reality for the entire district: former Springhill parents Leon and Marion Lee; former PFC Presidents Kathy Hemmenway & Corrine Christensen; Science Teacher Kim Brast; and James Hatfield who provided two years of consulting free of charge to Springhill School when he worked for Solar City and Sun, Light & Power. We will let you know when the special day arrives!

Bruce L. Wodhams
Principal
Springhill Elementary School
3301 Springhill Road
Lafayette, CA 94549

bwodhams@lafsd.k12.ca.us

The next PFC General Meeting is February 3 at 7pm in the Library. If you only attend 1 meeting a year this is it! We will have a presentation by Dr. Fred Brill the Lafayette School District Superintendent on the Budget Crisis. This is your opportunity to speak your mind and have your voice heard. The information presented will be crucial to your understanding of the situation, why as a PFC we have a Direct Solicitation campaign, why we need to participate, and what this all means for your child/children. If you know an incoming/new family I would also encourage you to invite them to this meeting so they understand the crisis. Stay tuned for "incentives" - we want you there that bad!

FYI - Burton Valley had over 100 people attend this meeting at their site - we can do that or better! (yes I am encouraging healthy competition!) Also fill out your "green form" on the district website - lafsd.k12.ca.us - turn it to me or the district office before February 2nd. This is your first opportunity in this process to commit to paper your priorities for our schools - whatever they may be. This is also information that will assist LASF in their research on how to address the needs more effectively. The LASF committee looking at making changes is comprised of District, School Board, and Parent Club representatives. Take advantage of this chance - it's right there waiting for you!

Please check out the Legislative Report below for ways you can send a message to Sacramento that the current situation is unacceptable! We are a can-do community but the problem is not at our local level but truly at the State level. They need to know we will not accept the status quo. Hold the State accountable and work together for real change!

Off my soap box now! Have a great weekend and thank you for you support!

Truly,
Julie Donlon
2009-2010 Springhill PFC President
uvdonlon@aol.com

More Budget Cuts
California State PTA recently wrote, "Contrary to the Governor's pledge to protect education in his State of the State speech, the budget proposal actually reduces payments to schools by $2.4 billion over two years!"

You are encouraged to get informed and to participate in the following events:

February 3rd - PFC General Meeting, Wednesday at 7:00 pm in Springhill Library. Fred Brill, the Superintendent of Lafayette, will be coming to speak to us about the budget cuts that we will experience for 2010-11. Please come!

February 4th - Superintendents' Forum, Thursday at 7:00 pm, located in the small theater at Acalanes High School. All of our 6 local Superintendents will discuss the budget crisis and its affect on their school districts. Bring your questions.

February 17th- Advocacy Day - Bus trip to Sacramento, Wednesday from 7:15am to 4:30pm leaving from Lafayette. "California Schools in Crisis: Advocating for Solutions." We will hear from and communicate with education experts and our legislators on school funding, education reform, and budget reform. Registration deadline Feb. 1st. Please click here to register: https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=Y12V2K7
Click here for the flyer and Itinerary: http://www.srvcouncilpta.org/Public/teacherimages/advocacy%20day%202010%20registration%20flyer.pdf

Questions? Contact Springhill's Leg. Rep. Karen Yuen at kyuen@fbm.com or go to the Leg Team website at http://www.lastrampaspta.org/Legislation.html

LASF Science Fair "Inspiring Wonderment" will be held on Wednesday February 17th from 6:30-8:30pm

This just in!

• Elmwood Stationery next to Trader Joe's in Lafayette will give 10% off for Science Fair supplies, including removable adhesives, double sided tape and removable glue sticks. Let them know you are working on your LASF Science Fair project for the 10% discount.
• Yogurt Shack in Lafayette next to Noah's has offered EVERY science fair participant a coupon for a free 8 oz frozen yogurt. 


Do you wish you had gotten your entry form in? Although the date has already passed to order a display board you can still enter on-line at http://tinyurl.com/SpringhillLASF2010ScienceFair. You can buy or make your own display board or re-use one from a prior year.

WEDNESDAY, Feb 3rd @ Lunchtime your LASF Science Fair Chairs will be on hand in the School Library to answer questions, provide ideas and show examples from prior year Science Fairs. All parents and students are welcome!

Science Fair questions or comments? Contact LASF Science Fair Chairs: Kari Dahlen (kari@dahlen.com) or Heidi Rahlmann Plumb (plumbnest@mac.com).

Don't Miss Out on LASF "Starry, Starry Night" Annual Event - Sat. Jan 30th

Join together for an evening of celebration and support for our schools. The party is 6-9 PM at the Veterans Memorial Building; tickets are $75 per person.
Annual Event Proceeds Will Help Close the $350,000 Gap
And if you can't attend, you can still buy raffle tickets ($25 each or 5 for $100) or making a direct contribution.

• Donate On-Line Now at http://lasf.org/donate.html
• For a downloadable donation form, go to lasf.org

Lamorinda Community Night with the Golden State Warriors is Feb 27th

Buy discount tickets to watch the Golden State Warriors vs. the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 PM on Saturday, Feb. 27. Acalanes and Miramonte choral students will start the night off right by singing the national anthem. All ticket holders 18 and under are invited to try a free throw after the game. A portion of each ticket sold goes directly to LASF and EFO. Buy tickets - which include a food voucher - at https://www.gs-warriors.com/forms/secure/fct_larmorinda0910.html

Attention Kids Grades K-8: Be Part of Lamorinda Night with the Warriors!

Cassandra Montgomery of All That Entertainment is producing her annual Lamorinda evening with the Warriors where her "CHEER Experience Kids Camp" will perform. Kids K-8 - if you would like to perform at the Warriors game, enroll in the dance/cheer camp held Feb 23-25. For registration details, see www.allthatentertainment.com.

Preview raffle prizes, silent auction items and sign up parties by viewing our event program on line (lasffun.homestead.com). You can buy tickets online or by calling the LASF office at 925.299.1644.

First Garden Work Day of New Year!

Come see 'What's Growing On' in the Springhill School Garden, Wed. Feb.3rd 9-noon. (Rain day would reschedule to 2/10, same time)

We will be pruning the fruit trees and preparing to plant asparagus.

Come for as little or as long as you can.

If you have any questions, please call Kelly Bradley at 285-4087.

President's Day care: Springhill will be closed for President's Day on Friday, February 12th and Monday, February 15th. Hideout will be open on Friday the 12th from 7:30 - 6 PM. We will offer a "hot lunch" option. Please download the form at www.kidshideout.net/Forms under In-Service Days.

It's a Jungle Out There! Join Kid's Hideout for Spring Break April 5th through 9th. We will be having a jungle cake bake-off, jungle arts and crafts, jungle drink concoctions, sports and more. Join us on Wednesday as we heard the group to the Jungle in Concord for lunch and play. Registration can be downloaded at www.kidshideout.net/Forms under Camp Registration Forms.

Be a Star at Camp Hideout's Movie Madness - Summer of the Silver Screen.

We have chosen a kid's movie to feature each week. We will be doing activities and attending a field trip that tie in with that theme! For example: Week 1 is Finding Nemo - Undersea Adventures. Take a dive under the sea and explore the wonders of the deep. We will make jellyfish plates, macaroni crabs, sockotpus, puffer-fish and mini-aquariums. Don't miss our visit to the Steinhart Aqauirum in San Francisco on Friday!

Week 2 - 10 Themes & Field Trips:
Space Jam - Space is the Place - Chabot
The Game Plan - Sports Galore - Super Franks
Flubber - Super Silly Science - The Exploratorium
High School Musical - What's all the Drama? - The Zeum
Incredibles - Super Heros & Princesses, REPORT!! - Adventure Playgound
The Jungle Book - It's a Jungle In Here! - The Jungle
Ratatouille - Calling all Chefs! - Semmifreddi's
Get A Clue - I spy - The Metreon
Madagasgar - Escape to the Zoo - The Oakland Zoo

Registration/Camp Information:
~ Early registration discounts! Register and pay for all the weeks you need by Friday, February 26th and receive free extended care and 10% off your Camp Rate. Check out the fee sheet for more information on other discounts.
~ Invite a new friend to our summer camp and YOU and YOUR FRIEND will receive 25% off one week.
~ We have added a $5 bag lunch option for each field trip
~ We will work with you if your child is taking swim lessons nearby for swim team to see if we can assist on getting them to and from, if possible (depends on location, days and times... )
~ Daily routines include: art, crafts, sports, science, group games and themed activities and games
~ Weekly routines include: hikes, baking, field trips and swimming, Wheels Day (Mon), Tasty Tuesdays, Water Slide (Wed), Pool (Thurs) and Field Trip Friday

Please contact Beth at 283-7808 or beth@kidshideout.net for more information. You can download the forms at www.kidshideout.net/Forms (at the bottom of the page under Summer '10). Come join the Madness.

This Week in the Library

Remember, there are over 100 reasons to read. This week reason number 17 is "You can learn how to be better at anything."

Phyllis's old Uncle Phil is the famous Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who pops out on February 2 every year to let people know if winter is almost over or if spring is almost here. One year Phil simply will not wake up and Phyllis offers to take over his job. Uncle Phil reminds her that not only was she not born on February 2, but she's also a girl. Still, he allows her to go above ground with him. Kindergartners enjoyed hearing what happened next in Susanna Leonard Hill's book Punxsutawney Phyllis. We also talked about how the legend of Groundhog Day started.

I'm continuing to read the books that have been nominated for this year's California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) to the 1st-5th graders.

Millie's favorite thing to do each day is to scare the mail carrier and chase him off the farm. But the farmer is tired of receiving broken packages and the mail carrier has terrible nightmares. What to do? The mail carrier thinks that perhaps bringing a package for Millie might help. First graders predicted what would happen next as they listened to CYRM nominee Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier.

Frank is a frog that wants to fly. Time after time he tries but fails. His parents told him he could do anything, any "frog" thing that is, but Frank is determined. Then, when he rescues a baby bird from drowning and its mother asks Frank what she can do for him , it looks like Frank might finally get his wish. Second graders thought about what Frank learned as they listened to Eric Drachman's CYRM nominee A Frog Thing and then shared their thoughts with the group.

Pauline Poulet hears that the farmer is planning on a chicken pie dinner so she sets off through the woods in a desperate attempt to escape. One thing leads to another as third graders found out when they listened to, and then performed a Reader's Theater play of Ellen Kelley's CYRM nominee My Life as a Chicken.

The time is 1939. The place is Antwerp, Belgium. Two boys meet when Max's father comes to Willy's father's antique shop and buys a painting of a beautiful woman. The boys become best friends, "friends forever" they say. But in the spring of 1940 the Nazis invade Belgium and Max and his father, who are Jewish, are not safe. Before they flee, Max's father brings the painting of the beautiful woman to Willy's father and asks him to hide it so the German soldiers can't take it. Fourth graders listened anxiously to find out what happened next in Amy Littlesugar's suspenseful CYRM nominee Willy & Max: a Holocaust Story. We also talked about what led up to the happenings in Europe at that time.

On a rainy night in 1888 a stray mutt slipped into the Post Office in Albany, NY. Nobody claimed him and the dog, named Owney by the postal workers, became a valued guard of the mail pouches. Before long, he hopped on a mail train and began traveling all over the U.S., guarding the mail and the workers in their blue wool uniforms. The postal workers in Albany bought Owney a harness and tied a note to it asking workers who saw him to attach their depot tags to his collar. Over the next few years Owney visited cities in the U.S. and Canada. His true story is told by Mona Kerby in the book Owney the Mail-Pouch Pooch. Next, An American teacher, Seņor David, came to the dump in Tijuana, Mexico one summer and set up an impromptu school on a blue tarp for the kids whose families lived there. When a fire devastated the colonia, Seņor David helped the families to rebuild their homes and, using money from a woman in Tijuana, to build a "real" school with walls. Edith Hope Fine and Judith Pinkerton Josephson wrote about David Lynch and his inspiring work in their book Armando and the Blue Tarp School. Fifth graders heard both these CYRM nominees this week.

Check out our website at http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us/people/smattern/index.htm. You will find updates on what's happening at the Springhill Library, a revised library wish list, reviews of new books, and links to many helpful resources.

Sherry Mattern, Library Specialist

Attention Third Grade Parents: OLSAT INFORMATION UPDATE
Please Note: Time and date of meeting has changed

Results of the Otis Lennon School Abilities Test (OLSAT), administered to all third graders in the fall, will be available for you to pick up at the school office starting Monday, February 8th. Results must be picked up by a parent. If you would like to have the results mailed to you, please send a stamped, self -addressed envelope to the school office. A general interpretation of the scores will be provided with the results. If you would like additional information, you are invited to attend a Parent Information Meeting on Thursday, February11th at the District Office Board Room (3477 School Street) at 10:00 a.m.
Students who have been invited to participate in the Alternative Instruction Magnet class (AIM) at Burton Valley will be notified by February 26th. Questions regarding test results or placement in the AIM class at Burton Valley may be directed to the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Rachel Zinn, at the District Office (927-3511).

Fourth Grade Winter Music Core Concert:
To 4th grade parents, friends and families - The fourth grade Band, Chorus and Strings classes will perform in a Winter Concert on Thursday February 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the SP multipurpose room.
The students should wear a white shirt and black pants/long skirt, and bring all music and instruments.
6:30 p.m. - String students arrive for tuning and set up.
6:45 p.m. - Band and Chorus students arrive for set up.
7:00 p.m. - Concert begins!

We look forward to seeing you at the concert.

Mrs. Brummel, Mrs. Ghulam and Ms. Clymer

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Please turn in all Box Tops for Education coupons to the box in the main office. The deadline is aproaching soon so please turn them in as soon as possible. Box Tops for Education coupons can be obtained from General Mills and Pillsbury products. Springhill receives 10 cents for every box top. It all adds up when we all pitch in. Any questions email wendykmurphy@yahoo.com

BARGAIN BOOK BONANZA SALE IS TUESDAY, February, 2nd.
It's that time again...Bring your quarters to school on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd 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. We are especially in need of chapter books for the 4th and 5th graders. Please bag them, label the bag with"bargain book's and place them in the foyer of the multi-purpose room or call Farrel Vance 937-8230 or e-mail fvance5@comcast.net

MATH LEAGUE CONTEST FOR FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS
Ye Liu, parent of fifth grader Alexander Wang, would like to organize a group of fifth graders at Springhill to participate in the Math League contest after April 15th. The team is endorsed by Springhill PFC. The contest is voluntary and free. Study materials for interested students are available to use for study either together or alone. If needed, Ye Liu can help the students on the problem solving issues. If you are interested, please email: weiruandye@gmail.com .

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