Los Altos School District Weekly Newsletter
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Springer Star Newsletter April 27th, 2012 |
In This Issue |
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Calendar Dates Principal’s Letter News and Announcements Student Extracurricular Activities Parent Education How to Submit an Article to the Springer Star Newsletter |
Quick Dates for your Calendar |
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April 28: Junior Olympics April 30–May 4: STAR Testing May 4: Fire Chief and Crew, Project Cornerstone Guest Presenter at Flag Assembly May 6: Springer Garage Sale Extravagaanza! May 8, 3:15 pm: Site Council Meeting May 9: Minimum Day May 11: Coffee with the Principal May 12, 5 pm: Springer Day at the San Jose Giants May 16, 7pm: PTA Meeting |
Letter from the Principal |
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STAR Testing Begins Next Week
Starting on Monday, April 30th, Springer will begin the California Standardized Testing for grades 2nd through 6th. Known better as STAR testing, these annual tests, given to all students in California public schools, test students on grade level standards in Language Arts and Mathematics. In addition, 5th graders take a Science test and our 4th graders have already taken a Writing test (given in March).
STAR testing is important for several reasons. Scores on these tests help us measure student growth in subject areas. These tests also help guide our teaching for the following year, showing us where we are doing a good job in certain areas and where we might need to bolster our instruction in other areas.
The STAR scores also give Springer something known as an API (Average Performance Index) score. Springer, as well as the other schools in our district, consistently score in the 900's on the API.
It is important to emphasize that, while these test are important, they are only one measure of our students and of Springer school. While a high API score certainly can be used to indicate a quality school program, APIs don't measure all of what a school does in providing an excellent educational experience for our students. Along with STAR scores, other measurements and data are also used to help us direct our constant drive to improve our programs. Parent, student, and teacher surveys are also used to guide our decisions to create the most effective school environment possible.
During STAR testing, which lasts from April 30th through May 11th, we test students during the first part of the day. Therefore, it's important that students arrive on time during the STAR testing window. Please avoid making appointments for your child during the testing window. We ask that you make sure your child gets a good night sleep and eats a healthy breakfast during testing (good advice all year round, actually). Teachers lighten the homework load significantly during STAR testing as well. |
News and Announcements |
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Last PTA Meeting of the Year: May 16, 2012 at 7:00 pm!
At April's meeting we voted on our new 2012-2013 PTA Executive Board (see a meeting summary). Please congratulate your new officers: President: Linda McCartney EVP: LeeAnn Steffen VP of Volunteers: Wen Crane VP of Fundraiser: Renee Johnsen VP of Membership: Amanda Steele Secretary: Kathy Grundhofer Treasurer: Lara Rahn Financial Secretary: Donna Murphy Historian: Fanny Mueller
To give the incoming PTA board more time for planning, we have postponed the final PTA meeting of the year by two weeks. The May meeting will feature a presentation on plans for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. This planning will provide the framework for the goals, programs, and budget that will be approved at the first PTA meeting of the next school year. Please save the date. We hope to see you at the meeting. |
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Wanted: 6th grade boys and girls basketball coaches. The annual 6th grade boys and girls basketball tournament is scheduled for May 18th at Blach School. Springer's 6th grade boys and girls compete with the district's other elementary schools in this fun tournament. But, we need coaches. Traditionally, coaches hold a few practices for the one day tournament. Emphasis is on participation and fun. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in coaching a team, please contact Mr. Spenader. |
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JUNIOR OLYMPICS THIS SATURDAY! |
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First Ever Springer Garage Sale Extravagaanza! Sunday May 6th, 8am to 5pm Please consider donating your unwanted items to the Springer Garage Sale Extravaganza. We are accepting tax-deductible donations of good quality second-hand items. Acceptable items include: good quality items you might consider buying yourself.
Gently-used clothing free of tears and stains and packed in bags or boxes. Please separate and mark infants, boys, girls, men or women! Safely packed knick knacks, small appliances or other house hold items: books, videos, CDs, toys, electronics, household, lawn and garden items (in sturdy boxes). Furniture and used cars are also accepted.
Donations will be accepted May 5th from 9 am to 4 pm. Please bring your items to the children’s drop off area of the Springer parking lot. You will be responsible for determining a fair market value of your donated items.
Everyone is invited, so bring your friends and family to this fun-filled event and have a great time!
For further information or to volunteer for this event, please contact David Chung at dchung[at]apr.com or at 650-302-6027 (we need all the help we can get, thank you.) |
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Attention photography buffs! We're looking for photos of what members of the Springer community are up to, to showcase on the Springer website or the Springer Facebook page. So pull out that camera to capture those moments, and then upload them here |
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YEARBOOKS ARE COMING! Extended ordering deadline to April 30th!!! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YEARBOOK ORDERS ARE BEING TAKEN FOR THE 2011-12 SCHOOL YEAR. Usually, yearbook orders have been done with back to school forms and some of you may think you already ordered, but if you haven't ordered in the past few weeks, you aren't on the list! Yearbooks will be delivered the first week in June. Don't miss out! The cost for the 2011-12 yearbook is $20 and there are two ways to order:
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Continue a Springer tradition with Springer Community Day at the San Jose Giants! If you believe in the Church of Baseball come watch the Giants play the Visalia Rawhide Saturday, May 12 at 5pm.
A Springer student throws out the first pitch, and our super-star Springer Singers sing, "God Bless America" during the Seventh-inning stretch.
Tickets are available in the office for $5 each, or $40 for ten. You may also purchase from Warren Horowitz (warren616[at]earthlink.net) or Karen Eichstadt-Coy (eichcoy[at]yahoo.com) on the quad most mornings during assembly.
Come support the Singers, enjoy baseball in a fun and casual setting, and show off our community's amazing school spirit! Saturday, May 12 at 5 pm. |
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Springer Family Dinners Out Mountain Mike's Pizza (1724 Miramonte Ave, MV): Every Thursday & Sunday Chevy's (2116 El Camino Real, MV): Every 3rd Thursday of Month Pizza My Heart (El Camino @ El Monte): June 6
Flyers are available in the office, Abracadabra and online via the Star newsletter. Questions? Contact Contact Lara Rahn at lara.rahn[at]yahoo.com |
Student Extracurricular Activities |
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SCIENCE AND NATURE SUMMER PROGRAMS—SNAKE CAMP AND EXPLORE! There's still time to register for SNAKE Camp and Explore!, the Environmental Volunteers' fun and exciting summer programs. SNAKE Camp, for kids entering grades 1-5, will consist of 4 weekly themes: All About Animals; Native Ways; Nature Adventures; and Trekking,Tracking & Treasure Hunts. SNAKE Camp will be held from June 18-July 13. Explore!, for youth entering grades 6-8, will consist of 3 weeks of exciting eco-adventures, including ziplines, rock climbing, whale watching, surfing, and lots more! Explore! will be held from July 16-August 3. Scholarships and discounts are available. Both camps will meet at Barron Park Elementary School, in Palo Alto. For more information, and to register, please visit www.evols.org. |
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Spend a Special Los Altos Day at the Computer History Museum The Computer History Museum invites all Los Altos residents to enjoy a fun-filled day at the museum on Sunday, May 6th. You’ll see the Museum’s new, state of the art large-scale exhibition, Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing. Revolution celebrates the spectacular history of computing, from the mysterious ancient devices to technologies of the future. Journey through 19 galleries displaying over 1000 unique artifacts; Discover, in our multi-media displays, the back-stories, development drama, and astonishing breakthroughs of the gadgets, gurus and companies you love, or love to hate!
When: Sunday, May 6, 2012 10:00 to 6:00 Where: 1401 Shoreline Blvd in Mountain View Cost: Free to all Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents, and Los Altos School District families |
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MVLA Soccer Offers *New* School Based Soccer Program MVLA Soccer Club, in sponsorship with SJ Earthquakes and Adidas, is extremely proud to offer a co-ed recreational soccer program for elementary schools in Los Altos for children in Grades 4- 6. This co-ed soccer program allows children to participate in an after school sport proudly representing their school and playing games against teams from other Los Altos schools. Everyone will Play!!! Everyone will be trained by professional coaches!! Every school will have a school jersey for games!! Special visits from SJ Earthquake Players!!!
MVLA will provide reversible soccer jerseys and practice t-shirts for players to keep AND 1 ticket to a SJ Earthquake soccer game for the 2012 season.
MVLA Soccer Club is giving back to Los Altos schools! All residual income after expenses will be donated to the elementary schools in Los Altos.
Registration is now open!! Program starts Monday, April 23. Space is limited to 22 players per school. Early bird pricing before April 22 is $150 and sibling discount is $130.
Practice Days: Mondays 3:00pm - 3:45pm - Santa Rita (4/23 - 5/28)
Tuesdays 2:10pm - 2:50pm - Montclaire (4/24 - 5/29)
Wednesdays 3:00pm - 3:45pm - Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis, Loyola, Oak, Springer, Bullis-Charter (4/25 - 5/30)
Game Days: Fridays 3:30pm - 4:30pm *first game will be on May 4 (after Junior Olympics)
This is recreational and we want the kids to have fun so perfect attendance is not mandatory. We understand there are many conflicts with other activities. Join in when you can!
To register, please visit www.mvlasc.org. If you have questions, please contact: mvlaprograms@gmail.com. |
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Summer Camp Spots Still Open! The Media Center is currently accepting registrations for our 2012 Summer Camps! TV Studio Production, Advanced Animation and Special Effects. For more information visit: www.midpenmedia.org/digiquest/ or contact Brad Sanzenbacher at brad@midpenmedia.org |
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SPARTAN SPORTS: Free basketball clinics: Spartans Sports Camp is offering another free basketball clinic on Sunday May 6th, from 10am - 1pm at Mountain View High School. The clinic will be open to girls and boys in grades 3 - 9. This is a great opportunity to learn valuable skills from MVHS basketball coaches while having fun at the same time. There will also be a free pizza lunch! Special discounts for the 2012 summer camp will also be available. www.SpartansSportsCamp.com or call 650.479.5906 |
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Summer Fun at Starting Arts - Summer Arts Escape (grades K-8) - Film Camp (grades 6-12) - Musical Theatre Camp (grades 3-12) Visit www.startingarts.com for more information. |
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Summer Camps and Lessons at Foothills Tennis & Swimming Club For more info see www.foothills-club.org or phone (650) 493-8540. |
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DezignKidz Summer Camp 2012 registration is open! Sign up online at www.dezignkidz.com or call 650 346-5896. |
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MVLA Soccer Club Wednesdays, 2:45pm - 3:30pm for grades 1 - 3. www.mvlasc.org |
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ScholarKids, Summer 2012 Summer enrichment program for incoming 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades. www.scholarkids.net . |
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CTC Summer Theatre Conservatory 2012: Programs for Ages 5-14 For more details including costs, dates and locations, click here. www.ctcinc.org, or email education@ctcinc.org or call (408) 245-2979. |
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Los Altos KidzAdventures See www.lakakidz.com for details and registration |
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Academic Chess at Springer: Thursdays 2.30-3.30, starting March 1. See flyer for details. |
TGA, Premier Junior Golf. For more information and to-register please visit our website at www.golftga.com/peninsulavalley or call us today at (760) 295-6622. |
Parent Education |
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Parent Education Opportunities Available through the Palo Alto JCC Study Skills: Working Smarter, Not Harder Thursday, May 3 Miss Representation - Film Screening & Panel Discussion Tuesday, May 15
For more information or to RSVP for a program, click here |
How To Submit an Article to the Springer Star |
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Please send your submission to the editor at springer_star@yahoo.com by noon on Monday for inclusion in the next edition. All flyers must be in either WORD or PDF format, accompanied by a brief summary of the activity in the email. Late arrivals will be included if possible but can’t be guaranteed! |