Dolphin Digest
January/February 2018 Newsletter
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Springfield Plains Families,
What are your BIG rocks?
In light of the recent events we have faced in Clarkston, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about my BIG rocks. My wife, three boys and my health are three of my biggest rocks. Professionally, staff and students are at the core of all important decisions I make. I notice that my BIG rocks are built around relationships.
BIG rocks can mean something different to each of us. BIG rocks might be the major things you want to get done in a week, such as a report, reading for 30 minutes each night, going to the gym, or spending time with your kids or spouse. BIG rocks might also be the things that are most dear to you like your family, a pet, daily exercise, a friend, learning something new, etc.
Our third graders taught us this week that we must understand what our BIG rocks are so that we can use Habit 3 and “Put First Things First.” By understanding we can plan to put our BIG rocks first or put “First Things First.” This simply means taking time for the Big rocks in our lives or the things that are most important and meaningful.
During the month of January 3rd graders are leading our learning with Habit 3. Students will focus on the BIG rocks at SPE. Here is the Habit 3 handout for use at home with your child.
Think Win-Win is Habit 4. During the month of February our 2nd graders will be teaching Habit 4 to our dolphins during our Super Pod Meeting and our Pod Squads. Think Win-Win is about having courage and consideration, considering other people's wins, and understanding that there is enough for everyone. There is no room for negativity in Habit 4. Here is the Habit 4 handout for you to use at home with your child.
As I think about my BIG rocks I will hug my wife and boys a little tighter, focus on a healthier new year and focus on making deeper connections with the staff, students and families I serve.
What are your BIG rocks?
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
GLOBAL PLAY DAY - February 7
RECESS
Please make sure your child comes to school with a warm coat, hat, gloves, boots, and snow pants. We go out for recess if the temperature is zero degrees or above.
Please check our lost and found periodically. It is located in our health room in the main office. We already have lots of lost coats and gloves.
Inclement Weather and School Closing
AM radio stations WWJ (950), WJR (760), and CKLW (800), as well as area TV channels will carry school closing announcements. The school District has no control as to the time closing announcements will be broadcast via these systems.
Springfield Plains Ski and Snowboard Club
It's never too late to join in. Students in 2nd-5th grade and their parents can join the SPE Ski and Snowboard Club anytime throughout the winter season. This is a great and inexpensive ski/snowboard program that also offers discount rentals. Don't worry if you don't know how to ski/snowboard. This is a specialized learn to ski/snowboard program where students can take weekly lessons lead by expert instructors.
All you need to do is find our table with the sign "Springfield Plains Ski & Snowboard Club" at the Pine knob Ski and Snowboard Resort int the Pinery Cafe located upstairs behind the ski shop. We are there every Thursday from 4:30-7:00 p.m. It's easy... come find the club, sign up, and hit the slopes all in the same night.
Visit the website for further club information. Club forms can be downloaded from our website and filled out ahead of time.
website: bit.ly/spessclub
Kayla Butki, Evelyn Chick, Nolan Curran, Patrico De Loza Velazque, Goldie Green, Mackenzie Harrison, Nathan Heinrich, Garrett Kister, Harper Mills, Nina Patrico, Evan Thon, Ethan Todd, Avery Wood
FEBRUARY
Gavin Bond, Katelyn Bradstreet, Sawyer Brandon, Camryn Farrell, William Gifford, Maxim Haun, Sarah Ostheimer, Aesha Patel, Trevor Theuer, Brooks Warner, Danielle Wiser
Student Lighthouse Team Announcement
Dates to Remember
*February 6 - Kindergarten & Young Fives Information Night, 7:00 p.m. (Clarkston Jr. High)
*February 9 - Half Day (Professional Development for Staff), dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
*February 12 - Kindergarten & Young Fives Enrollment begins
*February 14 - St. Valentines Day Classroom Parties, 2:45 P.M.
*February 19-20 - NO SCHOOL (K-12 Mid Winter Break)
*March 3 - School Fair, 11:00 to 2:00
Thank you so much for collecting snacks for our children at Carriage Town Ministries. They loved them! You also made it easy for the staff to get snacks out in the evening...all our rooms are full! We have approximately 20 kids right now and it was very helpful. Thank you again for caring about children in need!
Cindy Johns
Director of Community Engagement
Carriage Town Ministries
School Fair - SAVE THE DATE
CALLING ALL 2018-2019 KINDERGARTNERS AND YOUNG FIVES!
*KINDERGARTEN & YOUNG FIVES INFORMATION NIGHT will be held on Tuesday, February 6th at 7:00 pm at Clarkston Junior High School. Enrollment packets will be available on the District Home page https://www.clarkston.k12.mi.us
*2018-2019 Kindergarten & Young Fives Enrollment begins Monday, February 12, 2018, at the Central Enrollment Office.
Clarkston Family Farm offers two exciting programs available to all learners in our community!
Please check out these two upcoming programs at the farm! Winter Fun at the Farm Event and Winter Garden Club. Please feel free to click on the links below for more information and feel free to share. We are very grateful for your efforts to spread the work to your learning communities!
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
Student Absences in ParentVue
Due to limited software revision capabilities in the district's attendance/absence reasons, your child's absences will reflect that they are unexcused. Please know that this issue is being looked at by our Technology Department and your child is really excused at the elementary school level.
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