The Spencer Scoop
Spencer Elementary September 6, 2019
News From the Office
Volunteer Form for Parent Volunteers
If you are planning to volunteer in your child's classroom or attend any field trips this year, you must complete an online background check. Only one form needs to be filled out for the entire district - you do not need to complete a form for each building/event. Forms must be completed by volunteers for each school year and are only valid for one year. Forms must be submitted at least 5 business days prior to any field trip or event to allow for ample processing time and approval.
Here is the link for the Volunteer Form (also posted on our website):
http://www.applitrack.com/brightonk12/StartForm.aspx?id=3993825
Drop-Off Procedures
Where your child should line up in the morning
Parking Lot
With respect to student safety, we want to take a moment to remind parents of the morning drop off procedures. Please remember that our staff members are out there with the intention of keeping our students safe. Please be courteous to fellow parents and staff members.
To Parents using the Drop Off Lane:
- Please do not park in the drop off lane. Use the large lot to park and walk your child(ren) in.
- The parking lot is to be used as a roundabout.
- Children are only allowed to exit the RIGHT side of the vehicle, NEVER the left side, as it is not safe.
- Please have your child exit the vehicle as soon as you are stopped.
- Do not drop your child off at the Kindergarten doors, move all the way to the front of the crosswalk.
- Kiss and go, we'll get your child where they need to be. The drop-off procedure should take about 10-15 seconds.
To Parents parking in the lot:
- Only cross at the one crosswalk area located in front of the building.
- You may not cross in front of busses.
- NEVER drop your student off in the parking lot and allow them to cross alone.
- If the busses have already left for the morning, you'll need to walk your child through the main doors and sign them in.
- It's easier and less congested if you walk your child up to their designated area, give a hug and kiss and away you go. Doing it this way will help with the flow of students inside the building.
In General:
- Please be courteous to other drivers – our children are watching.
- Please, refrain from using your phone while driving through the parking lot, is it not safe and it slows down the process.
- The speed limit is 5 MPH.
Reading Essentials for Families
Daily Start Time
First Bell - 8:46
Starting Time in class- 8:50 AM
Dismissal Time - 3:42 PM (Please note this is earlier than previous years)
Attendance Line*- 810-299-4354
*Please remember to call your child's absence in as early as possible.
Breakfast and Lunch
Elementary Lunches are $2.75 includes milk
Milk - .50
At Spencer, the students will go outside for recess first and then come in and eat lunch. We will have hand sanitizer available for the students. Feel free to attach a keychain hand sanitizer to your child's lunchbox. Below you will find the grade levels and their recess time and lunchtimes.
Recess will be 20 minutes and lunches will be 25 minutes
K- 11:30 - 12:15
2-12:00 - 12:45
4- 12:25 - 1:10
1 - 12:50 - 1:35
3 -1:15 -2:00
The individual classroom teachers will notify you of snack time in the classroom.
The lunch menu can be found here: https://brightonareaschools.nutrislice.com/menu/spencer-elementary/lunch/2019-08-14?mode=browse
Family Passes
NOTE: NEW AS OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR!
You will now keep your Family Pass throughout your time at Spencer and your number will stay the same from year to year! You will need this Family Pass to pick your student up at the end of the day. This year we are asking that you bring in the Family Pass when you come to pick up your child during the day for an appointment so we can match the number with the number on their backpack.
Student Pick-Up:
All students will be issued a number ID card that must be attached to their backpacks. Teachers will take care of attaching the number to your child's backpack the first day.
Parents will also be issued matching cards that will be sent home with their child on the first day. At the end of each day, if you are picking up your child, please park in the larger lot and walk around the back of the building to the multi-purpose room doors, which face the soccer field. At 3:42, we will open the doors for the parents who are picking up their child. At this time, you'll proceed inside. When you've connected with your child, you'll walk to the other set of doors to exit. A staff member will ask you to present your number, and he/she will check your card number with your child's number and make sure they match.
Lastly, you can exit and continue the dialogue of what thinking and learning your child did for the day. It is important to remember that you must have your ID number card to pick up your child.
We all have additional responsibilities beyond the hours of school. I am asking that you try to protect the learning time of your child. I understand it may be more convenient to pick-up your child a bit early to avoid traffic and lines. In doing so, the office staff is taken away from other responsibilities that come with the end of the day.
It also is a disruption to the other students that are learning. If anyway, please try to protect all of the student's learning time and respect the office staff's time.
Picture Day
Please watch your student’s backpack for information about picture day within the next couple of weeks. Spencer's Picture Day is scheduled for October 3rd this year. Re-take picture day will be November 14th.
Birthdays
Due to the increase in food allergies, we will no longer have edible birthday treats at Spencer.
PTO Meeting is Tuesday
It's Time to Celebrate America
BAS School Board Meeting is Monday
PTO News and Information
Annual T-shirts
Each year the PTO designs an annual Spencer t-shirt that is worn by students and staff throughout the year at special events such as the Road Runner Run and Field Day as well as for field trips and other special days. The T-shirt represents our annual theme, which this year is Road Runners Imagine. Each grade level has their own shirt color. We ask families for a $5 donation per shirt. Information and order form should have arrived home with your student and is due September 13.
We are looking for annual sponsors of our Road Runner Run that will take place on October 11. For $200, you really become a sponsor of the entire school year as your company logo will be printed on the back of 700+ t-shirts that the students, staff and parents will wear all year long. If your company is interested in being a new or repeat sponsor, please contact Kristie Hopka asap.
September PTO meeting
Our first PTO meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, September 10 right after school in the media center. Childcare will be available. Meetings occur the second Tuesday of every month, so mark your calendars now and plan to join us!
Shoe Drive for BAS Pack of Dogs
Are you going through closets this fall and clearing things out? If so, donate your new or gently used shoes to our district wide shoe collection fundraiser! We take adults or kids: cowboy boots, dance shoes, golf shoes, sandals, slippers, snow boots, tennis shoes, really anything besides ice skates. Proceeds benefit our BAS Pack of Dogs. Tie the laces together, or rubber band shoes without laces together, and place them in the donation box located in the lobby outside the office. Thank you!
I Will Right Now Foundation Bake Sale
The I Will Right Now Foundation is holding a bake sale at the home high school football game next Friday, September 13th. To do this, the foundation is seeking baked goods donations. 100% of the money raised goes to the foundation, which helps Brighton families in times when they are experiencing life altering circumstances. If you are interested in donating baked goods, please use the sign up genius here. You can take donations to the Maltby or Scranton drop-off line that morning or to the stadium entrance at the high school between 4 and 5pm. Thank you!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044aa8a623abf94-baked2
Did you know that Kroger gives back around $600 PER QUARTER just for you selecting Spencer PTO as your charitable organization linked to your shoppers card? That is with only about a quarter of our families participating. Imagine if we all participated! It is so easy to sign up, just follow these steps:
- Log in to your account (or sign up for an account) on www.kroger.com
- Under the SAVE heading, select Kroger Community Rewards
- Select I'm a Customer
- Choose Spencer Elementary PTO as your organization
If you need help, please contact Kristie Hopka.
Join our Facebook group for the latest news, events, sign-ups, and more: Spencer Elementary PTO - Team Spencer
Spencer Family Picnic
News & Events From Around the District
BASE Foundation - Parenting Series Workshops
Cub Scouts
Boys K-4th grade, Come Join Cub Scout Pack 3343!!!
Wednesday, September 11th, 7pm
Spencer Multi Purpose Room, 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton
Girl's Hockey Day
Important Dates:
10 - PTO Meeting at 4:00 PM in the STEAM Center
19 - Spencer Family Picnic - 5:30-7:30 PM
Spencer Elementary
Email: rennerb@brightonk12.com
Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/238
Location: 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton, MI, United States
Phone: 810-299-4350
Twitter: @SpencerElem