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


Monday, February 22
George Washington's Birthday
Student Council Mtg.; Room 23, 12:20 PM
School Site Council Mtg.; Office, 3:00 PM

Tuesday, February 23
RAPPORT Mtg.; DO, 9:00 AM
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 5th grade
Exploring New Horizons Parent Mtg.; Lafayette
School, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM

Wednesday, February 24
Exploring New Horizons Presentation, 5th Grade; MP Room, 8:30 AM
LSD Board Mtg., Budget Focus; Stanley MP Room, 6:00 PM

Thursday, February 25
Yearbook photos (Student Council; Band; Orchestra; Chorus); MP Room, 10:50 AM
Dr. Richard Freed, "Don't Lose Your CHild to Video Games, Internet & Texting"; Stanley Library, 7:00 PM-9:00 PM

Friday, February 26
STUDENT COUNCIL SPIRIT DAY: Superhero Day!
5th Grade Play Rehearsal; MP Room, 2:45 PM

Saturday, February 27
"Grease" Dress Rehearsal; Stanley MP Room, Time TBD

Monday, March 1
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS, National Leukemia/Lymphoma Foundation Drive
"Grease", 5th Grade Musical; Stanley MP Room, Time TBD
Cub Scout Pack 200 Leaders' Mtg.; Library, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

Tuesday, March 2
Read Across America Day: Dr. Seuss' Birthday
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 5th grade
"Grease", 5th Grade Musical; Stanley MP Room, Time TBD

Wednesday, March 3
PFC Executive Board Mtg.; Lounge, 5:30 PM

Thursday, March 4
AIM Parent Mtg.; DO, 10:00 AM

Friday, March 5
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 3rd grade

Saturday, March 6
RUN FOR KIERAN; Lafayette Reservoir, 10:00 AM

Monday, March 8
Apple Valley, 3rd Grade; March 8 - April 2
Student Council Mtg.; Rm. 23, 12:40 PM-1:05 PM

Tuesday, March 9 Lunch outside
PFC Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 5th grade

Wednesday, March 10
Pennies for Patients Drive Speaker at Spirit Wednesday; Leukemia/Lymphoma Foundation
Lunch outside
LSD Board Mtg.; DO, 7:00 PM

Thursday, March 11
5th Grade Colonial Days; Samman Barn

Friday, March 12 PFC
Sponsored Poets-in-the-Schools, 3rd grade
End of 2nd Trimester

Sunday, March 14
Daylight Savings Time begins; set clocks forward one hour

Principal's Messages

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 Heidi Plumb, Kari Dahlen & Sally Fonstein and all of the parent volunteers and volunteer scientists who made it happen! Thank you also to LASF and all they do to keep us on the cutting edge of Science and so much more. A job well done by all!!!

B. MANY THANKS TO MR. ED MEEHAN AND HIS ACALANES DRAMA STUDENTS who provided a fabulous presentation of original CHILDREN's THEATRE to our 1st-5th grade students on two different days this past week. We thank our very creative neighbors at AHS for sharing their talents with us. WELL DONE, AHS DONS!!!

C. VANDALISM/DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Please be aware that over the last several holiday weekends, we have had cases of vandalism and destruction of school property, particularly in the garden and garden greenhouse. If you are on campus during weekends, especially long weekends, or evenings please keep a watchful eye on the well being of our school and feel free to call the Lafayette Police Department (925-284-5010) to report any suspicious activity. Many thanks for supporting the Pillar of Caring and Citizenship!!!

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. ATTENTION 3rd GRADE PARENTS: OLSAT INFORMATION UPDATE: Results of the Otis Lennon School Abilities Test (OLSAT), administered to all third graders in the fall are available for you to pick up at the school office starting. 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. 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).

F. PARENT ED OPPORTUNITY: Don't Lose Your Child to Video Games, the Internet, and Texting: Thursday, February 25, 7-9pm, Stanley Middle School Library: Children are losing their 'attachment' to the real people in their lives as the power and intensity of new interactive devices and media overwhelms normal activities and relationships. Please join Dr. Richard Freed, a psychologist in private practice in Orinda and with Kaiser Permanente, in a discussion of the issues and strategies for parents to combat the ever- increasing draw of the new technologies. Dr. Freed completed his training at Harvard Medical School and now works as a psychologist in private practice in Orinda and with Kaiser Permanente. He speaks nationally on the health effects of children's media use. His work has appeared on CBS Bay Area TV news, and he's been published in Pediatrics and Mothering Magazine.

G. 1st-5th GRADE REGISTRATION FOR 2010-2011:: We will be accepting 1st-5th grade registrations for the 2010-2011 school year starting Tuesday, February 9. 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.

H. 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/

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

Parent Volunteers Needed

We are ready to move onto our next session of before school reading intervention program. We will be working on reading fluency and comprehension for those students who are in need of support in these areas.

We are looking for enthusiastic, conscientious parent volunteers who are willing to put in time before school to work in the computer lab with two teachers, Helen Hirsch (2nd grade teacher) and Jeannine Pitney (retired reading specialist).

This program has already begun and we are short helpers. If you have the time to help out it would be greatly appreciated. The program will end on April 30th. The program will run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00-8:30 am.

If you are interested in helping us one, two or all three of these days please contact Helen Hirsch or Susan Manzano at (925) 927-3580.

THE SIX PILLARS & PAY IT FORWARD CORNER

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., civil-rights leader, minister (1929-1968)

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. THANK YOU 3rd GRADE FOR THE ANNUAL SMILE TRAIN SEMI-FREDDI's GARLIC CROUTON SALE THAT TOOK 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. Thank you all for Paying It Forward and supporting the pillars of Caring and Citizenship with this worthy cause! Thank you 3rd Grade!!!.

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. Anke's 4th grade, students use accelerated math which is differentiated by speed and knowledge of material. Students may work individually, at their own speed through the fourth grade math curriculum. If they finish all the benchmarks for that grade level, they move on to the next grade level.

*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. 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!!!

C. SOLAR ENERGY - Springhill School should be "flipping the switch" to solar energy within the next month and will have its own ceremony.

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

bwodhams@lafsd.k12.ca.us

I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend! Now we start running downhill towards the end of the year - hard to believe we - the PFC - are already talking about next year! Do you want to get more involved next year? Now is the time to let us know! We have some Board positions open and committee chairs that are moving on to Stanley. If you are interested please contact me or Jean Follmer and let us know what you would like to do - there are so many great opportunities! We are currently looking for party planners to put together the Fall Fun Fest - a great way to start the new school year. Sarah Mould and Devra Elze did a fantastic job last year - they have notes and advice for the next Chairs. We are also looking for someone who loves to cook - Lorraine Miller our personal Springhill Chef is moving on with her youngest Joey. Lorraine has put together the Welcome Coffee and Teacher Appreciation Luncheon - we need someone to take over! Are you handy with the computer and possess great editorial skills? The Friday Flyer needs editors - the more we have the fewer weeks each editor is "on duty". This is a great job to do in the comfort of your own home!

The Boots and Buckles Bash is heading your way! The invites will be going out electronically this year - if this poses a problem please let us know and we will get you a hard copy! The Silent Auction and Parent Party sign ups will also be online so sign up! We also need you party planners to get online and donate your party. The Parent Parties raise more than $30,000 - our single biggest fundraising effort! Get together with other families, be creative, and throw a party! Not only do we raise money for our school but we build community!

The 5th Grade Play is coming soon! The Performance dates are March 1 and 2 - make sure to buy your tickets! The 5th Grade along with the Parent volunteers have been working very hard - let's show our support! Shama Lama Ding Dong! More information is available on our website calendar.

The Yearbook Committee is looking for photos. If you photos of any event at Springhill please forward to Julie Novak at thenovaks@sbcglobal.net. It is always a treat for your child to see themselves in the yearbook so get those photos to Julie!

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

Education Support Letters Still Needed

This past Wednesday, Advocacy Day participants delivered over 13,000 letters supporting education to legislators and the Governor, with over 1,250 letters coming from Springhill. (Great job, Springhill!) If you haven't signed the letters yet, you can still do so. Download the letters here, sign them, and then leave them in the box marked "Letter Writing Campaign" in the school office for forwarding to Sacramento. The Governor has proposed $2 billion in additional education funding cuts this year, and letters are an excellent way to oppose funding reductions.

State PTA Endorses Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act"

The California State PTA has endorsed the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act ballot initiative and is helping to collect signatures to get it on the November ballot. This ballot measure would lower the vote threshold to pass a school parcel tax from two-thirds to 55%. It limits the amount of the tax to $250 and requires that an exemption be offered to those age 65 or older. You can print out a copy of the initiative petition at: www.improvedschoolfunding.com

Questions? Contact Karen Yuen, Springhill's Legislative Rep, at kyuen@fbm.com.

LASF Science Fair Corner

The LASF Science Fair was a wonderful success! Thank you to all the participants and their friends and families who helped them with their projects. Thank you to the teachers for accomodating the class tours of the projects on Wednesday.

And, a most sincere THANK YOU to every one of our incredible volunteers! We could not do this without you.

Thank you to the LASF Science Fair Chairs, Heidi Rahlmann Plumb and Kari Dahlen, for planning and putting on a great event!! Their dedication and hard work were key to its success.

PROJECT "Pick Up" Reminder:

Any projects left in the Multi-Purpose room after today will be discarded.

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.

Remember, there are over 100 reasons to read. This week reason number 20 is "You can learn to make something new."

February is Black History month across the nation. Many public and school libraries have special displays, many librarians' story hours feature books by and/or about African Americans, and many students are studying African American history, art, and well-known African Americans.

Chris Paul dreamed of playing basketball with Michael Jordan but everyone told him he was too small to even make the team tryouts for boys that were coming up soon. But Chris's grandfather told him that, while he couldn't make himself taller, he could get faster and stronger. Kindergartners could identify with Chris's problem of being too small and enjoyed hearing how his family helped him to focus on what he could do and how he could do it better in his book Long Shot Never Too Small to Dream Big. Today Chris Paul plays in the NBA and was a member of the 2008 USA Olympic team which won gold in Beijing, China.

For a small black boy, living in segregated South Carolina in the 1950s meant that he couldn't check out books on airplanes and space from his public library; he could just read them in the library because only white people could check out books. One day in 1959 Ron jumped up on the counter and asked to check out books. The librarian called the police and then, when Ron refused to move, his mother. Ron held his ground until the librarian made a courageous decision and finally gave Ron his own library card. As I read the book Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden to them, first graders found it hard to imagine that Ron was denied a card because he was African American. Ron grew up to become Ron McNair, pilot and astronaut. Today the Lake City Public Library in South Carolina is dedicated to Ron McNair. Anyone can get a card and check out books there.

Second graders worked with World Book's Student Discovery Encyclopedia, learning how to use the guide words at the top of each page to find the entry they need. Each student received a worksheet with the name of a famous African American. They then learned why that person was famous and wrote it down on their worksheets.

Paula's parents in New York heard about the Freedom Riders (blacks and whites riding buses together from North to South to protest unfair laws) and decided to move back to the South with their three girls to help bring about changes in the Jim Crow laws. Third graders listened to Paula Young Shelton's book Child of the Civil Rights Movement, written from a child's point of view, and got a sense of the ups and downs Paula's parents, Andrew and Jean Young, and other leaders of and participants in the civil rights movement experienced in those turbulent years.

After reviewing the purpose and mechanics of using encyclopedias, fourth graders worked with the World Book Encyclopedia to learn some basic facts about various well-known African Americans. They noted when and where their person was born and gave two interesting facts about their person's life and achievements.

Due to the President's Day holiday fifth graders didn't come to the library 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

Springhill Fifth Graders Present Grease

Come watch our fifth grade students (directed by Leslie Noel) as they sing and dance in "50's style". Performances will be on March 1st and 2nd at Stanley Middle School. Show times are 6pm and 8pm on both evenings so there are plenty of opportunities to watch this spectacular performance. Tickets are on sale now, either turn in the order form from your child's Friday folder or contact Heather Stanford (heather3k@comcast.net) for more information.

YEARBOOK PHOTOS NEEDED

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 two weeks are guaranteed to appear. The subjects we need are:

1. After School Activities (sports and clubs outside of Springhill) - email: miki@astound.com
2. Springhill Happenings (Book Fair, Sports Day, Spirit Wednesday's, etc) - email: delze@comcast.net
3. Celebrations (Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine's, Mardi Gras, etc) - email: lovingpatty@mac.com
4. Clubs and Group (Chess, Garden, Book, etc) - email: plumbnest@mac.com

If you have any questions, please email Julie Novak at thenovaks@sbcglobal.net

YEARBOOK LAST CALL

Our team of parent volunteers are working away on the 2009-2010 Springhill Yearbook. If you didn't pre-order, 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 Friday, March 5th. The cost is $18 each. Please contact Galina Kvitko BEFORE ordering to make sure there are no duplicate orders. She can be reached at galinak@comcast.net. Thanks.

The Parent Parties Submission Deadline Has Changed!

The Boots and Buckles Bash is swiftly approaching, and in order to give folks ample time to sign-up for the parties they want to attend, we have moved the Party Submission Deadline up to Friday, March 12, 2010. We already have one great party (thank you!!!), and I have heard rumors of several others, so let's come together and have some fun, while bringing in some much needed funds.

If you are interested in hosting a party, now is the time to make your plans and submit your party! Dates available will be mostly first come first served, so if you have special date needs, the sooner you submit the better. The online form will even let you know immediately if your date is already taken.

To submit your party, just fill out this quick and easy form by 3/12/10:
http://www.loveless.net/parentparties/

Please contact Kendra Loveless with any questions: kendra@loveless.net

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