The Spencer Scoop
Spencer Elementary - February 16, 2023
Dear Spencer Families,
It was an amazing, albeit very busy week at Spencer Elementary! Throughout the week, we bottle up all of our school spirit and enthusiasm, directing this collective energy towards a strategic act of kindness through our service learning project. Each classroom learned more about the non-profit organization Fleece & Thank you, participated in making a fleece blanket and created a video message that will surely bring happiness and great comfort to a child facing hospitalization. This project brought so much joy to our school community and provided an opportunity for students to work together and feel the value of serving our broader community.
On Tuesday, we welcomed prospective families at our annual Kindergarten Round Up event. It was great to see familiar faces and welcome new families. Spencer Elementary has a well deserved reputation and that was evident in the conversations I was able to have with families throughout the evening. Wednesday evening was full of excitement as we hosted our annual STEAM night. Several students showcased their science projects; they did a fantastic job! Thanks to our outstanding PTO and STEAM teachers, students and their families had the opportunity to enjoy a variety of hands-on activities and to explore different STEAM phenomena.
Danielle Schmidt
BAS Pack of Dogs Visit MSU
This past week our BAS Pack of Dogs visited the MSU campus. All 14 Brighton "social emotional-learning" dogs were available for students and staff to interact with and deliver some love from the BAS community. Kensington Valley Varsity is sponsoring a fundraiser for MSU. They will be selling sweatshirts and will donate $4 from every purchase to MSU. To purchase a sweatshirt click on BAS Pack of Dogs & Spartan Strong for more information on the MSU fund click here.
Increase in Strep Throat & Norovirus Cases at Spencer
Note from the Attendance Secretary
Each week I send a report to the Livingston County Health Department with the various illnesses going around Spencer. I only report the illness and the number of cases, not the names of the students who are ill. It would help me to report accurately if you could please indicate the type of illness your student has when calling into the attendance line or when using the Parent Reported Absence feature in Parent Connect, so I can monitor if the flu, strep or other contagious illnesses are present in the school. I receive many calls that the student is "not feeling well" or "sick", so if I am given more specific details of the illness, I can report accurately to the health department and also let our custodians know to give a deeper clean to a specific classroom.
NEW Attendance Parent Connect Feature*
A new feature in Parent Connect allows you to enter your student’s absence. Simply log into parent connect and click on the link Report Absence. The Report Absence link will open a screen for you to complete. If you have more than one student check the name of the student for whom an absence is being submitted. Add the applicable dates. If you check the All Day flag attendance will be submitted for the am and pm periods. If you do not check the All Day flag times must be entered and attendance will be submitted for whichever periods meet during the time range (based on period schedule). If you use Parent Connect to report your child's absence you do not need to call the attendance line.
Extra Change of Clothes
Parents - PLEASE pack a change of clothes in your child's backpack EVERY DAY. With the ever changing weather, please make sure that the clothes you pack are weather appropriate. We had MANY students find their way into the mud puddles this week, and quite a few of them did not have a spare change of clothes in their backpack. 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. 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.
Remember Your Family Pass
Please remember to bring your Family Pass with you EVERY day you come to pick up your student! The best way to get you in & out quickly is to show Officer Ken your Family Pass # rather than showing your ID to the secretaries. Officer Ken will be asking to see your Family Pass number every time 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.
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
Important Dates at a Glance
February
20 - NO SCHOOL for students - Professional Development
22 - 2nd Grade Music Night
27 - Buffalo Wild Wings Dine Out Night
March
1 & 2 - Spring Book Fair - more info to come...
9 - PTO Meeting
10 - End of the 2nd Trimester
13 - NO SCHOOL for students for Records Day
16 - Book Bingo
22 - 1st Grade Music Night - more info to come...
27 - Spring Break Begins!
April
3 - School Resumes
7 - NO SCHOOL for students or staff - Good Friday
10 - NO SCHOOL for students
17 - Yearbook Ordering Deadline
19 - 4th Grade Music Night - more info to come...
Lunch Information
**Please Note** Menu items are subject to change based on food availability. Click HERE to view the menus on the Student Nutrition website.
Yearbook Ordering Information
Order Your Yearbook!
There is still time to order a yearbook for your student(s). See the form pictured below for the ordering information. The Order Deadline is: April 17, 2023.
**Note** if your student got a picture taken on Picture Retake Day, the retake photo is the one that will be used in the yearbook.
Library News
Attention First Grade Roadrunner Families:
I am excited to share that our school is partnering with the Brighton District Library for their First Grade/First Card initiative. This is a program that the library offers to district first grade students where children receive their very own library card. If you are interested in having your child participate, please fill out the form that will be sent home, and return it to school by Friday, February 16th. Students will be able to pick up their card from the Brighton District Library on Wednesday, March 22nd from 6-7 pm. I will be there to share stories and celebrate this fun opportunity with your family.
Happy Reading!
Mrs. McBride
More Library News
Calling all book lovers: Spencer's Spring Book Fair will be on Wednesday, March 1st and Thursday, March 2nd from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. Please save the date! More details to come...
Happy Reading,
Mrs. McBride
News from the Music Room
2nd Grade Family Music Night
Attention 2nd Grade Families! You are invited to attend 2nd Grade Family Music Night!
Here is what to expect: Family Music Nights are not a formal performance
where students perform a selection of songs for an audience. There is no need to dress up or arrive early to snag a front row seat. Come prepared to sing, dance and have fun playing music games on the floor with your 2nd grader. Siblings are welcome to join in on the fun, too!
When/Where: Wednesday, February 22nd in the Spencer gym.
Ms. Cowgill's and Ms. Haden's classes: 6:00 p.m.
Ms. Gunn's and Ms. Garza's classes: 6:45 p.m.
***If your family has a time conflict and would like to attend with the other classes, just let me know in advance.***
Save the Date! Grade Level Music Nights for 2023 are:
1st Grade: March 22nd
3rd Grade: May 10th
4th Grade: April 19th
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
STEAM Night Success
We would like to give a HUGE Thank You to all our volunteers this week (and last) for STEAM Night and our Fleece and Thank You projects! We certainly could not do these things without your support!
Girls on the Run
Girls on the run sign up has begun for all girls in 3rd - 5th grade. Practices will be at Spencer after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:45 beginning March 14th. In May (Saturday or Sunday 20/21st TBD) there will be a 5k event for all participants and a big celebration! Included is a link for information about the program and then the link for sign up!
Financial assistance is available for anyone in need. No girl is turned away! Please contact Mary McCann with any questions at Mcinto85@gmail.com .
https://www.girlsontherun.org
https://www.girlsontherunsemi.org/programs
Red Wings School of the Game
We have 39 Red Wings tickets remaining (31 upper level, 8 lower). These will be available until sold. We have opened this up to other schools, so if you are interested, please send your orders ASAP. *If you would like to make a payment via PayPal, we are asking that you include extra to cover the fees. I have included a fee schedule below, as well as a direct payment link.
Upcoming Events:
2/27 - Buffalo Wild Wings Dine Out (benefitting the Spencer STEAM Center)
3/9 - PTO Meeting
3/16 - Book Bingo
Check out https://linktr.ee/spencerroadpto for quick access to our Facebook page, website and more in one place!
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.
Circle of Control
BAS Volunteers
All parent volunteers must undergo a background check in order to work with Brighton Area Schools students and chaperone field trips. ONLINE Volunteer Form
Spencer Resource Guide
This Spencer Parent Resource Guide is filled with important information and answers to most (if not all) the questions you may have.
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
Job Opportunity
Brighton Area Schools is looking for Medical Assistant Substitutes. The job description is posted below for your consideration and you can access the link to apply online through AppliTrack by clicking HERE.
Events Around the District
The McKinney Vento Act
The Brighton Area Schools is part of a consortium to serve students in temporary living situations that provides financial support for educational needs, referral for housing, clothing and other needs, general support and technical assistance. To ensure compliance with federal law, all school staff must help identify student living in the following situations: emergency shelters/transitional housing, motels/hotels, car, parks or public spaces, shared housing due to a loss of housing or economic hardship, or living temporarily with non-parent or guardian.
The district’s homeless liaison is Starr Acromite and each building has trained staff members to assist in the endeavor. Our consortium contact at the Livingston Educational Service Agency is Candice Uyttendaele.
Please contact your building principal or Starr Acromite at 810-299-4040 for information/assistance.
Spencer Elementary
Danielle Schmidt - Principal
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