Dolphin Digest
May/June 2018 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Springfield Plains Families,
Five weeks from today marks the end of our journey this year. Did you imagine the journey to unfold this way back in August?
I had the opportunity to talk to Walt Disney last night at our 5th Grade Expert Fair. He told me, “The real problem with the world is too many people grow up.” He said to never lose my imagination. This makes me think about our school family. Not just the kids, but the adults too. Our moms and dads, volunteers, grandparents and staff. We need to imagine. It is our imagination that dares us to think deeply, to dream about the impossible, and to inspire others. Our kids utilize their imaginations. They think deeply, they dream about the impossible, and they inspire. They are SPE (as depicted in the photo)!
You were once a child as well. You thought deeply, you had dreams and inspired others. Do you still? Remember elementary school and the days leading up to the end of the school year and the onset of summer break? A wonderful feeling indeed. An imaginative feeling of freedom, where dreams would be born and experiences shared to inspire us.
As we literally roll up the carpet where students walked for twenty-four years in our hallways, where will your imagination take you and your family this summer. Take the time to dream with your child and I encourage you to share at least one experience away from home that will long be remembered and possibly inspire you both.
I hear it way too much the older we get, “I wish I would have… or should have…” This summer I dare you to imagine.
Remind our kids to love, learn and lead around the community this summer. I am proud of each and everyone of them. I look forward to hearing about where our kids’ imaginations took them in the fall.
Sincerely,
Matthew Gifford, Principal
Love. Learn. Lead.
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
Thank You Volunteers & Community Partners from Mr. Gifford
Grateful,
Mr. Gifford
Dates to Remember
* May 18 - Half Day - 11:45 Dismissal
* May 28 - No School , Memorial Day
*May 30 - PTA Field Day
*June 1 - Half Day - 11:45 Dismissal (Professional Development Day for Staff)
*June 7 - 5th Grade Awards Ceremony @ 9:30 am/Half Day Dismissal @ 11:45
*June 8 - Last Day of School-Half Day @ 11:45 Dismissal (NO BACKPACKS, HOT LUNCH OR KID'S CONNECTION)
SPE May/June Birthday Book Club
Declan Hoffman, Avery Marshall, Nathan Drouin, Freddy Warner, Wyatt Wiss, Sylvie Farrell, Brooke Bond, Jackson Pace, Elise Thon, Luke Johnson, Brayden O'Kane, Noah Orlowski, Thomas McCormick, Nash Jones, Reese Latorre, Jaxson Mazza
JUNE
Mikayla Gabor, Aria Mikola, Matthew McCormick, Grant Phillips, Landen Myers, Jack Puzio, Breckin O'Neill, Kayla Doyla, Nicholas Botorogea, Lydia Adams, Daniel Szailer
Staff Appreciation Week Thank You's
Celebrate SPE "Thank-You's!"
SPE Dress Code
Reminder!!
SPE DRESS CODE (from the SPE Parent Handbook)
In early fall and again in the spring, a question of proper school dress for children arises. Without specifying what children may or may not wear, it seems appropriate to present a general guideline based on observation of children and their behavior and attitudes. Proper school attire is a parental responsibility and it is expected that all children will be sent to school tastefully dressed.
Children tend to behave or react as they are dressed. It is inappropriate for a child to wear summertime play clothing (tank, spaghetti strap, or halter tops, spandex clothing, short-shorts, etc.), or very unusual apparel. If shorts are worn, we request that they be at least as long as the tip of the hand when students’ arms are at their sides. Hats should not be worn indoors. In the interest of maintaining the highest quality education program possible, we would request that children appear at school in appropriate school clothing as opposed to summertime play clothing. We would hope that clothing would be comfortable for children, yet appropriate so that a good school attitude can be maintained.
Since students will have time daily on the playground, it is suggested that boots or other covering be worn during the inclement weather. Beach shoes/flip-flops, and sandals worn without socks are not appropriate for school and not safe for the playground.
Help your child at home to learn to manipulate the fastener, zippers, buttons, etc. It’s easier to have children remove heavier clothing rather than have them without proper clothes for warmth when it is cold.
All Inhalers, Medication and Epi-pens must be picked up before June 8, 2018. All will be discarded following that date. Thank you!
LOST & FOUND "LAST-CALL"
Media Center Materials
Summer Coding Club 2018
Coding Camp for Beginners using Scratch
Cost - $175.00
Date - June 11-16, 2018
Time - 8:30 - 11:30 am
Max. Participants - 20
Location: Administration Building
Instructors - Beth Rogers, CCS Instructional Technologist and Sharon Crain, CCS Instructional Technologist
Registration: http://bit.ly/SummerCoding16
Coding Camp for Beginners - A camp for kids ages 9 - 11 years old to learn about coding (computer science) using Scratch. This camp will introduce and help kids build a basic understanding of coding. This will include the terminology and processes to start thinking like a computer programmer. Students will complete group activities as well as individual projects to produce a final game or animation. There will be a student showcase the last day of camp to highlight student projects. Come code with us!
Game Design & Animation using Scratch
Coding Camp for Intermediate/Advanced
Cost - $175.00
Date - June 11-16, 2018
Time - 12:30 - 3:30 pm
Max. Participants - 20
Location: Administration Building
Prerequisite - Coding Camp for Beginners or member of one of the CCS elementary coding clubs.
Instructors - Beth Rogers, CCS Instructional Technologist and Sharon Crain, CCS Instructional Technologist
Registration: http://bit.ly/SummerCoding16
Scratchers Coding Camp - This camp is designed for kids ages 9 - 12 years old to take their Scratch skills to the next level. This camp will build upon the concepts of Coding Camp for Beginners or CCS elementary coding clubs to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of coding (computer science) using Scratch. Participants will work in collaborative groups as well as independently to create interactive games or animations. There will be a student showcase the last day of camp to highlight student projects. Come code with us!
Summer Reading
Fabulous Reasons To Read Over Summer Break
Gain new understandings of others
Meet new friends
Improve yourself and gain new skills
Travel to another place
Have a good laugh
Solve a mystery
Learn new information and knowledge
Appreciate works of art
Meet a narrative master
Read a good story
Reminder! SPE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT E-BLASTS
With possible school closings, please remember to 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.
ParentVue - Student Information System
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.
To access ParentVue:
Go to the Clarkston Schools’ webpage www.clarkston.k12.mi.us
Choose the Resources tab and then select ParentVue
Clarkston Community Schools Student Calendar 2017-18
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.
2017-2018 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