Dolphin Digest
March 2018 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Springfield Plains Families,
As always, I spend a lot of time with kids. Five hundred thirty-three to be exact. All five hundred-thirty three matter. All five-hundred thirty-three were born to be great, to be extraordinary and leave their painting on this canvas of a world. It is my job, our teachers jobs, to help our kids find their passions, inspire them to pick up their paint brush and to teach them life lessons so that they may become outstanding independent citizens.
We can only accomplish this if we understand each other. I recently spoke with our 5th graders about the human existence and being kind - because above all else - it matters. Above all else - kindness matters.
Our kids need our guidance and our support. Our kids need to literally look others in the eyes so they can see with empathy and understanding. We are all human beings with feelings. We are the best products of what our parents have or had to offer the world. Each child has the God given right to be respected. To be loved. To be treated with kindness and understanding.
I will not tolerate anything less at Springfield Plains. It is my duty to ensure that our young Dolphins carry our mission to Love. Learn. Lead. with them at all times. Kindness and understanding should preside in all facets of our school day; the classroom, the hallway, the playground, the cafeteria and the bus.
We teach kindness through Leader in Me and the 7 Habits. We teach kindness in our lessons throughout the day at school, but we cannot teach kindness at home. We need your partnership for that. And so I call upon all families and households to focus on kindness, understanding and empathy for the wellbeing of our children and their future.
During March we will be teaching our kids at school about Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. I encourage you to have many conversations with your child about kindness, seeking to understand and how to show empathy. Here is an at-home activity you might find helpful to get the conversation going.
On behalf of five hundred thirty-three students, kindness matters, and it has to start at home.
Kindly,
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
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Natalia Czar, Patrico Vincent, Lukas Schmidt, Keira Theuer, Zahra Doolen, Liv Warner, Samuel Villella, Grace Bessert, Stephen Ryeson, Madelyn Novak, Addison Selden, Ashby Muzzy, Paul Lemieux
Dates to Remember
*March 9 - Muffins with Moms M-Z,8:00 a.m./PTA Gen. Membership Meeting on both days
*March 9 - Half Day dismissal @ 11:45 a.m. (Professional Develop. Day for Staff)
*March 13 - Battle of the Books @ Davisburg Elem. 7:00 p.m.
*March 20 & 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
*March 27 - District Battle of the Books @ Independence Elem. 6:30 p.m.
*March 30 - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
School Fair - Thank You's...
Thank you to all of our wonderful PTA Board members for the countless hours of preparation to make the fair a huge success! Special thanks to Nicole Dean-Kraatz and Kelly Hyer for organizing and assisting with the class baskets. Also, Laura Hoffmann, Stacy Griffiths and Melissa Taylor for doing a great job with the Auction!
Also a big Thank You goes to all the Homeroom Moms and Parents for donations to create fantastic baskets for the raffle!
Tuesday, March 20 - 4:30 - 7:30
Thursday , March 22 - 4:30 - 7:30
Scheduling directions through Sign-up Genius.
"Muffins With Mom"
The PTA at Springfield Plains Elementary is hosting "Muffins with Moms" in the SPE cafeteria!
Thurs, March 8 - Last Names A-L from 8:00-8:30 a.m.
Friday, March 9 - Last Names M-Z from 8:00-8:30 a.m.
If you are unable to attend on your scheduled "name day" you can come on the alternate day. Also,If your child has a special female person they would like to invite, they can bring them! We look forward to this wonderful event and hope you can attend!
*PTA Meeting will follow on both days, as well as Bond update information from Mr. Gifford.
MARCH READING MONTH
"Reading Around the World"
March 1 - March 31
Your child will be “Reading Around the World” for the month of March. We are excited to showcase all of the amazing opportunities reading can reveal! We have a lot of reading opportunities planned for our ‘travelers’.
A letter and a “Minutes to Miles” recording sheet was sent home on March 2nd. Each child has a goal of reading 100 minutes PER week throughout the month of March. Each Thursday, have your child cut and return the odometer with your child’s name and number of miles (minutes read). The date due will be specified on each odometer. Every Friday morning a “Minutes to Miles” ticket will be drawn. Your child will have a chance to win a book if s/he turned in her/his ticket for the week! Springfield Plains will be keeping track of total miles (minutes) traveled around the world! Our March is Reading Month will conclude on March 29th.
Our hope is that while at home every child is reading alone, with someone or is being read to for the recommended amount of time.
Let’s go Dolphins...Love, Learn, Lead and READ!!!
KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT PROCESS
2. Click on the Enrollment menu at the top of the screen.
3. Choose the Enrollment Packets from the list located to the left of the screen.
4. Select Kindergarten packet.
5. Click on the "Book Appointment" button to schedule an enrollment appointment.
6. Bring the completed packet and documents needed from the checklist to the Central
Enrollment office, located at the CCS Admin Offices, at the time of your appointment.
*****To ensure attendance at your home school Orientation, please enroll your child by April 13, 2018. *****
Dr. Sharon Devereaux Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: One scholarship in the amount of $1,520.
This is the tenth annual Dr. Sharon Devereaux Memorial Scholarship for a CHS graduating senior who attended Springfield Plains Elementary for at least two years.
Just as each child mattered to Dr. Devereaux, all children matter to the staff at Springfield Plains.
To honor and continue Dr. Devereaux's legacy, the staff at Springfield Plains annually donate money to this scholarship fund. Applications are now available at the CHS Counseling Office.
Clarkston Foundation "Teacher of the Year!"
Have YOU nominated a Clarkston Community Schools "Teacher of the Year" for the 2017-2018 Academic Year?
We have some pretty amazing teachers within Clarkston Community Schools! There are countless educators throughout our district that go above and beyond what is expected of them. These are individuals that have a deep passion for what they do, and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that their students will get the absolute most out of their time spent with them.
The Clarkston Foundation feels that these teachers should be rewarded for their commitment to excellence, and their dedication to what they love.
Consider nominating a teacher for the 2017-2018 academic year! This year, the focus is on secondary staff, grades 6-12. Applications are available on our website, here https://www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/community/clarkston-foundation
If you have any questions please contact Anne Collias at 248-623-5413.
KEEP THE FLU OUT OF OUR SCHOOL
Please do not send your child to school if they have a fever, cough or have been vomitting prior to 24 hours. Let's try and keep germs contained and everyone else healthy.
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, Kathy Jakubiak
Treasurer, Shannon Doyle
Asst. Treasurer, April Love
Membership Coordinator, Maggie Benson
Volunteer Coordinator, Kelsey Jones
Homeroom Coordinator, Nichole Kraatz
Ways & Means, Janel Sadowski
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