The Spencer Scoop
Spencer Elementary November 18, 2022
Dear Spencer Families,
Educators have long realized that we are entrusted with a family's most previous gifts; their children. On behalf of the amazing staff here at Spencer Elementary, I want to express our sincere gratitude for sharing your children with us each day and your continued partnership. While the past few years have certainly brought challenges, each day we are moved and inspired by your children. I have personally only been a part of this school community for a short time, but I marvel at the tenacious support of our parents and community. As we near our Thanksgiving break, we would like to send our warmest wishes for a safe, healthy and happy holiday with your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Danielle Schmidt
Report Cards - 1st Marking Period
Report Cards will be viewable through your student's Parent Connect account on Dec 5th. Please note we no longer send report cards home and you will need to access them through Parent Connect. If you need a hard copy printed, please contact your student's teacher. For instructions on how to access your child's report card, please reference the Parent Connect tab in the Spencer Parent Resource Guide below.
Spencer Parent Resource Guide
Our AMAZING Administrative Assistant, LeeAnn Brick, put together this Spencer Parent Resource Guide! This is filled with important information and answers to most (if not all) the questions you may have.
Remember Your Family Pass
PLEASE remember to bring your Family Pass with you EVERY day you come to pick up your student! Officer Ken will be asking to see your Family Pass number when you pick up your student before the end of the day. We also frequently have substitute teachers that will not recognize you and will send you to the office to get a temporary pass before releasing your child to you.
New Board Policy on Medication Administration
As stated in the new Board policies published November 1st, all student medications that may be required while in school must be provided by parent/guardians and have an accompanying medication authorization form signed by both a parent/guardian and a health clinician. This does include cough drops and all other OTC medications. To review the full policy, click here. For a medication authorization form click here.
Note from the Attendance Secretary
Attendance letters were mailed out last week for those students with excessive absences. Excessive Absences = 15% or more of the marking period. Since then, I have had a few families drop off medical notes from the doctor and I have adjusted the attendance record to reflect the medically excused absence. I have had a few calls this week, so I will try to clarify what is stated in the Student Handbook regarding Attendance. The Student Handbook section on Attendance is pictured below. Essentially, there are 3 types of absences: Unexcused, Excused, & Medically Excused. Unexcused Absences occur when there is no call into the Attendance Line to excuse your student's absence and you will receive the Attendance Robocall at 3 PM. Excused Absences occur when you do call in to the Attendance Line to excuse your students absence for an illness, vacation, religious reason or any other type of absence. These 2 types of absences will impact your student's attendance negatively if they become excessive. Medically excused absences occur when a doctor's excuse is submitted to the office with the dates of the absence excused by the doctor on the note. Medically excused absences do not count against your student's attendance. With regard to half-day absences, student who arrive after 10:45 AM and leave before 2:15 PM are considered absent for half of the day. I hope this answers any questions/concerns you may have had. If you feel like you received the letter in error, please contact Lisa Berry via email at berryl@brightonk12.com.
From the Student Handbook...
PTO News
Your 2022/23 PTO Board is:
President: Jen Lumsden
Vice President: Nicole McGhee
Treasurer: Anna Gibson
Co-Secretary: Jacquelyn Turkovich
Co-Secretary: Amber Gaines
Cold Weather Clothing Drive
Our first ever Cold Weather Clothing Drive has begun! If you are able to help, we will be collecting new or (clean) gently used coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, and boots for local people in need now through November 22nd. Donations will go to LACASA, Hope's Closet, and other local families in need. Personal hygiene items are needed at these facilities as well. We will be collecting these items as well. If you would like to participate in this drive, please send items in with your students. We will have collection bins in the hallways, similar to food drive bins in the past!
Lost & Found
The Lost and Found is heaping again! We will be collecting items at the end of the day on November 22nd and donating any items that are not labeled! If you are missing anything, please take the time to check the bins!
Community Cares Bingo
We have put together a Community Cares Bingo sheet for students to complete, if they wish. Those who turn it in by 12/5 will receive a small gift from the PTO. Further instructions are on the sheet, which should have gone home this week, but is also attached here!
Airborne Adventure Fundraiser
Airborne Adventure has contacted us to do a Spencer Family Fun Day with them. On November 28th, if you would like to get out of the house, Airborne has graciously offered us 3 time slots for a passive fundraiser. Times are: 3:00pm, 3:30pm, and 4:00pm. Tickets ordered ahead of time will earn $5 for the PTO, tickets purchased at the door will earn $4. Please see attached flyer for more information.
Holiday Shop
Our Holiday Shop will be held after school on December 9th (4-8pm) and Saturday December 10th (10am-3pm). More information will be coming home in the next week or two, but we do need volunteers! If you are interested, please sign up for a slot here!
Upcoming Events:
11/22 - PJ Day, last day for clothing drive, last day to collect from lost and found
11/28 - Airborne Day (3:00, 3:30, 4:00)
12/2 - Last day to sign up for Teacher Wish List items
12/5 - Last day to turn in Community Cares Bingo
12/9 - Holiday Shop (4-8pm)
12/10 - Holiday Shop (10am-3pm)
12/28 - Dine out at Chuck E. Cheese Novi
As always, check our website and Facebook page for the most up-to-date information!
Counselor's Corner
I am so excited to continue working with students this year to help facilitate and promote growth and learning! I am providing classroom lessons, small group activities, and individual support this school year.
As a reminder, your school counselor is here to support children in all areas of mental wellness that impacts their success in the classroom. We work with individuals as needs arise. If your child is struggling at school, we will work together with the classroom teacher to determine whether or not school-based services would be beneficial. We may also be able to offer resources or contacts if your family believes that outside support will best meet your child's or families needs.
The Elementary Counselor Team also has the BAS Elementary Counseling website for ideas and resources to be used at home! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have, and I will do my best to support your child.
Mrs. McKiddy
Spencer/Hornung
Website: https://sites.google.com/brightonk12.com/bas-elementary-counseling/home
Mrs. McKiddy Parent Referral Link: bit.ly/ParentReferral22-23
BAS Wellness & Mental Health
As a district we are increasing our efforts to support the Mental Health and Wellness of our students, families and the community by focusing on Relationships, Student Wellness, and Increasing a Mindset for Learning and Growth. Each week we will share a Tip/Resource.
Additional resources and information can be found on BAS Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on our BAS Wellness & Mental Health website.
“Pay It Forward”
Extra Change of Clothes
Parents - THANK YOU for packing a change of clothes in your child's backpack every day. Now that the weather is changing, please make sure that the clothes you pack are weather appropriate. This is for ALL grades, you never know when your student may have a nosebleed, or lose a tooth, or spill food on their shirt, or find a mud puddle outside, or have an accident. We have already had to contact quite a few families to come up with a change of clothing. If your student keeps a change of clothes in their backpack, then we can take care of it here, otherwise we will need you to bring up a change of clothing. Thank you for your cooperation.
COVID-19 School Guidance
Keep students home when they are sick.
- If your student does test positive for COVID-19, report the student’s illness to the school.
- Also report the student’s illness to LCHD using the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form for Students and School Staff
The Education Project Snack Pack Drive
Lunch Information
Important Dates at a Glance
November
Now thru 22nd - Cold Weather Gear Drive
23-28 NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break
28 - Airborne Adventure Fundraiser Event
**NEW** Daily Start Time
Student Drop Off: 8:55 AM
First Bell: 9:01 AM
Second Bell: 9:05 AM
Starting Time In Class: 9:05 AM
Dismissal Time: 3:57 PM
Students eating Breakfast may enter the cafeteria at 8:45 AM
Spencer Elementary
Email: schmidtd@brightonk12.com
Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/238
Location: 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton, MI, United States
Phone: 810-299-4350
Twitter: @SpencerElem