Dolphin Digest
October 2016 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Springfield Plains Family,
Our mission: Love. Learn. Lead.
As a school community we have spent a great deal of time discussing what our purpose is as a school, as classrooms, and as individual citizens. It is important for us to understand what we want our legacy to be. Having a mission statement can bring clarity to both purpose and legacy.
As a school, the Springfield Plains mission statement is to love, learn and lead. We believe that individuals must first feel a sense of belonging and feel loved. Then learning can take place and evolve into individual leadership. This is true for all stakeholders of the Springfield Plains community.
Each classroom has developed a classroom mission statement. These statements are displayed outside of each classroom. Students are also working on their own personal mission statements. Teachers have done so as well, and they have posted their statements for students to see.
In order for your child to live out their legacy, their mission statement must live at home and in the community, not just at school. To help with this, I encourage each family to create a family mission statement.
As a family, ask yourself the following questions and consider the four areas; Body (health and physical welfare), Brain (learning), Heart (relationships) and Soul (inspiration):
How do we want our family to be known?
How do we want to treat each other?
What is most important to us as a family?
What are some of our talents, gifts, and abilities?
What brings us the most joy?
What makes us unhappy?
What kind of home do we want to invite friends to?
After discussing and considering the seven questions above, write your family mission statement down. You should keep the mission statement simple, maybe one or two lines so that the youngest member of the family can understand the statement. Examples could include, “No empty chairs,” “All for one and one for all,” “To serve others,” and “We are builders.”
Last school year my boys, wife, and I sat down and answered the seven questions above. From our discussion our family mission statement emerged; “Live. Love. Listen. Together we include each other, welcome others, and take pride in a clean and happy home.”
My family and I now need to display our family mission statement and I encourage you to do the same. It is a good idea to revisit your family mission together weekly, and more often if needed. Having purpose as a family can be powerful.
Loving, Learning & Leading,
Matthew Gifford, Principal
Please Join Our PTA
We hope you are settling into your school routine by now. This is a friendly reminder to please join the PTA here at SPE. If you would be so kind as to turn your membership forms in, we can become a proactive voice for our school community. We are also hoping to see your smiling faces at the general PTA meetings this year. Those dates again are October 11, January 17, March 14, and May 9.
Maggie Benson
PTA Membership Coordinator
Important Contact Information
SPE Main Office 248.623.3800, Secretary Karen Postal
Attendance Line 248.623.3890Fax 248.623.3805
Email: kepostal@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
Medications at School
Students Arriving After 8:35 a.m.
End of Day Phone Messages to Students
SPE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT E-BLASTS
Sign up to receive email notices (e-blasts) specific to SPE families and/or our district e-blasts. Here's how:
- Go to our district webpage: www.clarkston.k12.mi.us
- Choose the RESOURCES tab
- Under PARENTS, select CALENDAR
- Choose the CLARKSTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR link
- Select the EMAIL REMINDERS tab
- Enter the email address you would like to use to receive information and select NEXT
- Choose CCS- CLARKSTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS and select NEXT at the bottom
- Choose SPE
- Choose SUBMIT at the bottom of the page
You can also choose other schools, if you have children that attend other Clarkston Schools.
2016-2017 REVISED School Start & End Times
Start of Day:
8:25 a.m. First Bell (students can enter building at 8:20)8:35 a.m. Tardy Bell
End of Day:
3:45 p.m. Dismissal
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.
To access ParentVue:
Go to the Clarkston Schools’ webpage www.clarkston.k12.mi.us
Choose the Resources tab and then select ParentVue
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.
PTA FUN RUN
Our PTA Fun Run will be held on October 7, 2016 from 9:00 - 11:30. Rain or shine!!! This is the PTA's largest school-wide fundraiser for the year.
Boo bash!!!
Mark your calendar!
The Boo Bash will take place in the SPE Gym on Friday, October 28, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Please check Friday folders for more information in the upcoming weeks.
Halloween Parade & Parties - No kids connection!!!
As you plan ahead for Halloween, please keep in mind the district's guideline for costumes at school. The district is asking that children not wear costumes depicting violence or violent acts. Masks are allowed.
Please leave all toy guns, knives, and swords at home. Also, please reserve elaborate costumes, face paint, and make-up for trick or treating.
Halloween is an exciting time. let's all help to make sure it is a safe experience for the children. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Animals at School Policy
Friday Half Day dismissal information
Friday Half Day Dismissals have for teacher professional development have begun for the 2016-2017 school year. School will be dismissed at 11:40 a.m. Please see scheduled dates below.
- October 7
- December 9
- January 27
- February 17
- March 10
- April 21
- May 26
- June 9
- June 15, 16 (last day of school)
Student Lighthouse Team!
The Student Lighthouse Team is an important part of our leadership school. Our Student Lighthouse Team helps with fund raisers, charity drives, and creates a leadership school culture. We are busy all year! This is a great way to be more active in our school and to show off leadership skills. To be a Student Lighthouse member students will need to: demonstrate leadership skills; keep up with school work; and consistently work on the 7 Habits. Each classroom at SPE will be appointing a Classroom Captain this month! Stay tuned!
SPE Birthday Book Club
Happy Birthday!
September: Sammie Carpentier, Devon Dufour, Alivia Upchurch, Willa Schneider, Ryan Gifford, Jadon Gabor, Spencer Brandon, Taegan Davis, Lauren Navock, Mason Novak, Madelyn Popelier, Sophia Upchurch
October: Ashlynn Brooks, Dominic Carelli, Audrey Heinrich, Cameron Love, Travis Bordine, Stephen Hyer, Zackary Gifford, Joshua Caleca Jr.
Clarkston Community Schools Student Calendar 2016-17
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 www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/schools/Springfield Plains.
2016-2017 PTA Officers
President, Mary Warner
1st Vice President, Kristy Brandon
2nd Vice President, Tracy Bessert
Secretary, Kelsey Jones
Treasurer, Deborah Ego
Asst. Treasurer, April Love
Membership Coordinator, Maggie Benson
Volunteer Coordinator, Janel Sadowski
Homeroom Coordinator, Nichole Kraatz
Ways & Means - Paul Carpentier
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