Dolphin Digest
November 2016 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Dolphins Everywhere,
Think Thankful! Love. Learn. Lead.
Think Thankful. By being proactive we can choose our own weather everyday. It is easier for the human mind to focus on the negative, our minds naturally seek the negative and connect with it. Finding ways to think positive and notice appreciation throughout every day takes a great deal of effort and work. So how can we begin to think better? I believe it is by thinking thankful and focusing on our proactive behaviors.
As a school family we will focus on being Proactive (Habit 1) for the month of November. To continue this mindset beyond the classroom and school I encourage families to take time to review Habit #1: Be Proactive (You are in charge of you!) with your child and as a family. Being proactive means, I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
I have included a handout here that can help guide your child on how to be proactive at home.
I am thankful for the colors of the trees in Clarkston during this first week of November. I am thinking about being thankful for this time of the year when the air turns crisp, and we cozy up inside as a family. I am thankful for the holiday events approaching where we gather with others, spend time and find joy together.
I am thinking thankful about our 514 plus kids and sixty-three staff members that walk through our SPE doors everyday. I am thinking thankful about the opportunities we have every day.
Thinking Thankful,
Matthew Gifford, Principal
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
A sincere Thank you to our PTA
Jennifer Mareches and Jennifer Theuer for the Fun Run
Janel Sadowski and Kristen Pace for the Boo Bash
Stacy John for the Box Top Contest
Holly Seldon and Maggie Benson for Donuts with Dad
Holly Seldon and Maggie Benson for Parent Teacher Conference Dinners
All the Homeroom Parents for the Halloween Parties
Sarah Schneider and Amy Partchenko for the beautiful front hallway display and outdoor fall decorations
Paul Carpentier, Mary Warner, and all of the volunteers for the gaga pits and other great additions to the playground
We truly appreciate all you do for the staff and students here at Springfield Plains Elementary. We couldn't do this without you and your volunteers. THANK YOU!
Donuts with Dad
Thursday, November 10 - Last names A-L from 8:00-8:30 a.m.
Friday, November 11 - Last names M-Z from 8:00- 8:30 a.m.
If you can't attend on your scheduled "name day" you can come on the alternate day. We look forward to this wonderful event and hope you can attend!
2016-2017 Student Lighthouse Captains
Congratulations to all our captains!
Charlee Jones, Nathan Drouin, Marisa Sopoliga, Stephen Hyer, Curtis Westerman, Grace Bessert, Evan Jakubiak, Taegan Davis, Natalie Schatz, Miles Bordine, Hayden Houghton, Brandon Hoffmann, Kolby Marks, Brooks Warner, Audrey Heinrich, Ava Lonteen, Addison Davis, Brooklyn Farnsworth, Elisha Lopez, Kaitlyn Parks, Ashlynn Brooks, Sammie Carpentier, Madeline Caldwell, Aubrey Drouin, Makenna Theuer
Art Inspiration Day
The SPE PTA presents Art Inspiration Day on Wednesday, November 9th 4-6:30 p.m.
Drop in anytime between 4-6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria to learn more about the upcoming PTA Reflections art contest while your child experiences hands-on art techniques in all the contest focus areas! Including dance, choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts.
SPE Ski and Snowboard Club
SPE Ski & Snowboard Club Informational Meeting
Thursday, November 10, 2016 @ 6:30pm
NEW INFORMATIONAL MEETING LOCATION:
Pine Knob Ski Resort - upstairs in the Pinery Cafe
Who: Students 7 years and older who would like to learn or already know how to ski or snowboard. Parents can join too for big savings on lift ticket/rental prices purchased on Thursday nights.
Where & When: SPE Ski & Snowboard Club will meet Thursdays at the Pine Knob Ski and Snowboard Resort in the Pinery Café after school at 4:30-7:00pm, weather permitting.
Why: As a SPE Ski & Snowboard Club member, students purchase a SPE Club Card for $20. This card features 2 ski lessons or 1 snowboard lesson for the season. Additional lessons may be purchased as needed throughout the season by showing your SPE Club Card at the Pine Knob Ski School desk. On our Club Night, student ski and snowboard lift tickets are $20; ski and snowboard rental is $20. Adults wanting to ski with their children on the weekly SPE Ski & Snowboard Club nights need to purchase a SPE Ski & Snowboard Club Card for $20 to receive the discounted $20 lift/rental tickets throughout the season on Thursdays. Adults receive $5 discounts on lift tickets purchased on non-Ski Club days using their membership cards.
Informational Meeting: A Pine Knob representative will be our speaker and provide important insights into this special student program, answer questions, and be available to provide a tour of the resort. This is your opportunity to enroll early in the SPE Ski & Snowboard Club program by purchasing your $20 SPE Ski & Snowboard Club card/s for students and adults. This will be the only opportunity to purchase SPE Club Cards before the season. At no time throughout the season will SPE Ski & Snowboard Club business occur during school hours. Membership cards and lift tickets can only be purchased on Club Nights in the Pinery Café by locating us at our SPE Ski & Snowboard Club table (look for our sign). SPE Ski & Snowboard Club membership cards and lift tickets can be purchased this night using cash or a check addressed to Pine Knob. Credit cards ARE NOT accepted.
I look forward to seeing you at Pine Knob Ski and Snowboard Resort in the Pinery Cafe on Thursday, November 10 @ 6:30pm.
Your SPE Ski & Snowboard Club sponsor,
Heather Smith (3rd grade teacher)
Email: hasmith@clarkston.k12.mi.us
Club Website: bit.ly/spessclub
Clarkston Wolves Basketball Leagues
To register, visit the Independence Townships Parks, Recreation, and Seniors
6483 Waldon Center Drive,
Clarkston, MI 48346
or call at (248) 623-4326 ext. 1
Keep your eyes out for more information coming home soon in Friday folders!
Buidling Aide/Office Position Available
Monday - Friday, 6.5 hours a day.
Qualifications include: Playground supervision, computer skills, and good interpersonal skills.
Contact Mr. Gifford if interested!
SPE P.M. Pick up Procedure
1. For the students’ safety and your own convenience please don’t get out of your car unless you have business to take care of in the school. Stay in your vehicle and proceed around the parking lot to the pick-up area. (This area begins at the edge of the sidewalk and extends to the crosswalk.) Students will stay in the sidewalk area until their vehicle arrives. For your child’s safety, this is the ONLY area to get into your car.
2. If your student is delayed getting out to the pick-up area you will be asked to make another loop around the parking lot.
3. If you have business in school, please park in the parking lot NOT in the moving lane.
Option 1 – Please pick up your child(ren) in the Dolphin Hallway at
3:42. As you exit the building, please stop at the crosswalk.
Our custodian will stop traffic and help you safely cross to
the parking lot.
Option 2 – Parents may also choose to wait in the “Waiting to Cross”
area. Your child stops at the crosswalk and must wait until
a custodian directs them to cross over to you.
*Again, for the safety of the children we have a designated crosswalk area. Use ONLY this crosswalk when walking to and from the parking lot.
**If you arrive early and want to chat with other parents, please park in the SE corner of our parking lot in the yellow parking spots.
We are ALL in this together trying to provide a safe pick-up area. Whatever you can do to be ready to pick up your child/children and keep the pick-up lane moving is greatly appreciated. We all want to be aware and respectful of other people’s schedules regarding after-school classes, sports activities, etc.
SPE Birthday Book Club
Happy Birthday!
October: Ashlynn Brooks, Dominic Carelli, Nicole Lemker, Payton Brauze, Olivia Kramer, Audrey Heinrich, Cameron Love, Kaitlynn Suida, Travis Bordine, Sage Rousell, Stephen Hyer, Charlee Jones, Zackary Gifford, Joshua Caleca Jr.
November: Madline Caldwell, Matthew Smaltz, Brady Kujala, Matthew Bean, Alex Davis, Miles Foster, Gretchen Parks, Norah Evans, Audrey Esbrook
Reminder! SPE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT E-BLASTS
With possible school closings coming, 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 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