Dolphin Digest
September 2022 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Springfield Plains Families,
In order to maintain a safe environment for teaching and learning, Springfield Plains Elementary will be conducting a Safety Week during the week of September 12 through September 16. This will involve tornado, fire, shelter-in-place drills, and a review of our ALICE training and protocol. All students will be participating in age-appropriate review and training through the federally endorsed ALICE Institute to prepare our students with proactive, options-based strategies in the event that an armed intruder enters one of our buildings with the intent of doing harm. While this is review and training we hope we never need to use, it is important that all students know and understand how to respond in an emergency situation. You can read more about this review and training on our website at https://www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/departments/school-safety-security
At Springfield Plains, Safety Week will involve:
Classroom conversations led by teachers on Monday, September 12 in the classroom centered on situational awareness, evacuation routes, barricading, how to exit the building and tornado shelter locations. We will stress the importance of listening to your child’s teacher and following his/her directions, as situations can change rapidly and we want students to be prepared to adjust.
Building-wide tornado, fire, shelter in place, and ALICE drills throughout the week.
I encourage you to have a conversation with your child before our all-school review and training begins. If you do choose to discuss this as a family, here are some helpful tips from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
It is important that all of our students receive this vital review and training in order for us to adequately maintain a safe and secure learning environment. Thank you for your partnership and support!
Sincerely,
Matthew R. Gifford
Love. Learn. Lead.
Important Contact Information
SPE Main Office 248-623-3800, Secretary Heather Johnston
Attendance Line 248-623-3890Fax 248-623-3805
Email: hljohnston@clarkston.k12.mi.us
Website: www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/schools/SPE
Location: 8650 Holcomb Road, Clarkston, MI 48348, United States
Phone: 248-623-3800
Dates to Remember:
September 2-5 - No School for Students; Labor Day Holiday
September 6 - School Resumes
September 9 - SPE Fall Family Fest @ Clarkston Family Farm
September 12-16 School Safety Week
September 13 - 5:00 PM PTA Board Meeting
September 13 - 6:15 PTA General Membership Meeting
September 15 - Picture Day
**IMPORTANT** End of the Day Messages to Students
2022-2023 school start & end times
Start of Day:
8:25 AM First Bell
8:35 AM Tardy Bell
End of Day:
3:45 PM Dismissal
Half Day:
11:45 AM Dismissal
STUDENTS ARRIVING AFTER 8:35 PM
STUDENT ABSENCES
RECESS
SPRINGFIELD PLAINS ELEMENTARY BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB
Dear Parents,
The Springfield Plains Elementary Learning Commons will offer the Birthday Book Club this year. In years past, we have been able to purchase 160 new books as gifts from students and their families. Children who participate in the Birthday Book Club will be invited at the beginning of his/her birthday month to select a birthday book for the Learning Commons. Please note that August birthdays will be celebrated at the beginning of the school year and June and July birthdays will be celebrated in May. We will then place a dedication bookplate in the front of the book showing that it is a gift to the Learning Commons with your child’s name and birthday. A photograph of the Birthday Book Club members will be placed in our yearbook for all to enjoy. When the birthday book is ready for circulation your child will be the very first one to check out the book.
To purchase the gift of a Birthday Book, complete the form below and return it with cash or check for $10.00 made out to Clarkston Community Schools. Classroom teachers will direct the money and information to the Learning Commons.
Thank you for your interest in our beloved Learning Commons. With their Birthday Book gifts, the children experience a good feeling of contributing to the Learning Commons’ collection and they enjoy seeing the names and birth dates of their friends and siblings in favorite library books.
During this school year, please try to find at least a few minutes each day to read to or with your child. These moments can be precious learning and togetherness time.
Thank you,
Mrs. Shannon Cole, Springfield Plains Media Technician
Mrs. Sharon Crain, Elementary Division Media Specialist
__________________________________________________________________
Birthday Book Club
Student Name _______________________________________________________
Birthday ___________________________________________________________
Teacher ___________________________________________________________
Please attach $15.00 to this form
(Cash or Check made out to Clarkston Community Schools)MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
LOST AND FOUND
KID'S STOP CAFE
Clarkston Community Schools now publishes the school breakfast and lunch menus for all schools using Nutrislice. Nutrislice is an interactive digital school menu service designed to give students, parents, staff, and the community an in-depth look at the meals proudly served at Clarkston Community Schools.
Now you can view the menu, nutrition facts, carbohydrate counts, and allergy information for all Clarkston Community Schools. Nutrislice is very easy to use and allows access to the information you want in seconds! Families using Nutrislice also have the option to view the menu in Arabic, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Download the FREE Nutrislice app from the App Store or Google Play to have all the information at your fingertips. In addition, print menus are available directly from Nutrislice with the click of a button.
CLICK BELOW FOR THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENU
Please Join Our PTA
PTA PASSIVE FUNDRAISING
Clarkston Community Schools Student Calendar 2022-2023
Please visit the CCS website at www.clarkston.k12.mi.us for a full district calendar. The Springfield Plains website has a calendar with specific school events. Go to https://spe.clarkston.k12.mi.us/news-events.
ParentVue - Student Information System
Please make sure you access and set up your account in ParentVue. We need your email address for school and district communications while we strive to go paperless. You will find your student's attendance, transportation information, academic progress, and you can update important student information like phone numbers, emergency contacts, etc. This is our main communication tool with parents!
To access ParentVue:
Go to the Clarkston Schools’ webpage www.clarkston.k12.mi.us
Choose the Resources tab and then select ParentVue
First time users will need your Activation Code which you can get from the office.
Please make sure to take some time to review the information in ParentVue and make sure that we have the most accurate and updated information, particularly phone numbers, and emergency contacts.
REMINDER!!! SPE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT E-BLASTS
1. Go to our district webpage: www.clarkston.k12.mi.us
2. Choose the RESOURCES tab
3. Under PARENT, select CALENDAR
4. Choose the CLARKSTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR link
5. Select the EMAIL REMINDERS tab
6. Enter the email address you would like to use to receive information and select NEXT
7. Choose CCS - CLARKSTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS and select NEXT at the bottom
8. Choose SPE. You can also choose other schools, if you have children that attend other Clarkston Schools.
9. Choose SUBMIT at the bottom of the page
2022-2023 PTA OFFICERS
The following parents will serve as PTA Officers:
- President, Courtney Eastman
- 1st Vice President, Kelly Hyer
- 2nd Vice President, Ryan Koral
- Secretary, Mary Lynn
- Treasurer, Kristine Ferrell
- Asst. Treasurer, Kristina Kuykendall
- Membership Coordinator, Christe Mork
- Volunteer Coordinator, Erica Gillette
- Homeroom Coordinator, Bridget McCormick
- Communications Coordinator, Amanda Distasio
- Teacher Liaison, Kris Simek
Board of Education
- President - Kelli Horst, 248-755-0375
- Vice President - Gregory Need, 248-625-8416
- Secretary - Stephen Hyer, 248-922-0170
- Treasurer - Cheryl McGinnis, 248-620-6430
- Trustee - Stefanie Crane, 248-835-5062
- Trustee - Elizabeth Egan, 248-933-4621
- Trustee - Andrea Catalina
CCS Strategic Plan 2019-2025
Clarkston Community Schools Discrimination Acts
The Clarkston Community Schools, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, states that it is the policy of the Clarkston Community School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or ancestry, age gender, marital status, disability, height, weight, and/or any other legally protected characteristic, be discriminated against, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to, discrimination in any program or activity for which the Board is responsible or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.
If any person believes that the Clarkston Community School District or any part of the school organization is guilty of discrimination as noted above, he/she may bring forward a complaint which should be referred to as a grievance to the following public officials:
Deputy Superintendent (Section 504 Coordinator)
Clarkston Community Schools, 6389 Clarkston Road,
PO Box 1050, Clarkston, MI 48347-1050
(All other inquiries related to discrimination)
Executive Director of Personnel & Auxiliary Services
Clarkston Community Schools, 6389 Clarkston Road