The Spencer Scoop
Spencer Elementary August 20, 2019
News From the Office
Welcome!
Welcome Families to Spencer Elementary!
We want to welcome our new Spencer Road Runner Families and welcome back our existing ones. Please allow me to share some of the latest happenings from the summer, to get everyone caught up to speed.
This letter contains many essential pieces of information to help start a smooth year. Please read it carefully as some things have changed from last year.
Again, welcome or welcome back to our AMAZING school. We are glad you are here! Let us know how we can help you,
Bill Renner
Principal, Spencer Elementary
Classroom Placements - UPDATED INFORMATION
Classroom placement notifications will be available through Parent Connect on August 19th. If you're not sure what this is, we will walk you through the process to ensure your success.
How to log on: https://sisweb.resa.net/ParentPortal/
Parent Connect
This year BAS is using a web-based program called Parent Connect. This will allow you to update your child's emergency information, pay for lunch accounts, and learn who your child's teacher is. Please use the links below to help guide you through the process to create an account and receive a pin.
Parent Connect FAQ's https://www.brightonk12.com/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=14&dataid=14&FileName=ParentConnect-MISTAR-FAQ.pdf
Parent Connect Walkthrough Guide:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kltVG1B1LpWIAnuzqEmC76_H4VRRZ6_M7Cc14p5tcdI/edit?usp=sharing
Daily Start Time
First Bell - 8:46
Starting Time in class- 8:50 AM
Dismissal Time - 3:42 PM (Please note this is earlier than previous years)
Attendance Line*- 810-299-4354
*Please remember to call your child's absence in as early as possible.
Opening Day
Our opening day, Monday, August 26, will be an exciting one. JK and Kindergarten students are invited to come with their parents for an almost full day of school. More details are below.
First through Fourth-grade students will meet their teachers in front of the building at the start of the day. Each teacher will have a designated area and a sign with their name posted.
Breakfast and Lunch
Milk - .50
At Spencer, the students will go outside for recess first and then come in and eat lunch. We will have hand sanitizer available for the students. Feel free to attach a keychain hand sanitizer to your child's lunchbox. Below you will find the grade levels and their recess time and lunchtimes.
Recess will be 20 minutes and lunches will be 25 minutes
K- 11:35 - 12:20
2-12:00 - 12:45
4- 12:25 - 1:10
1 - 12:50 - 1:35
3 -1:15 -2:00
The individual classroom teachers will notify you of snack time in the classroom.
The lunch menu can be found here: https://brightonareaschools.nutrislice.com/menu/spencer-elementary/lunch/2019-08-14?mode=browse
ONLY FOR JK OR KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES
First Day for JK/K Schedule - Monday, August 26
9:15-9:30 Meet your child's teacher with your child
9:30 -10:00 Families meet with Mr. Renner in the gym.
Children go with their teachers.
10:00- 10:30 Families meet with their child's teacher
Children outside to play with assistants
10:30 Families dismissed, and children continue with day
3:00 - Return to pick-up your JK/K child in the multipurpose room.
Don't forget your ID Number! We'll use it to match your number to your child's
We'll tour the pick-up procedures and check numbers for dismissal. These will be sent to you soon.
3:15 -Dismiss for JK/K Students ONLY
Family Passes
NOTE: NEW AS OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR!
You will now keep your Family Pass throughout your time at Spencer and your number will stay the same from year to year! You will need this Family Pass to pick your student up at the end of the day. This year we are asking that you bring in the Family Pass when you come to pick up your child during the day for an appointment so we can match the number with the number on their backpack.
Student Pick-Up:
All students will be issued a number ID card that must be attached to their backpacks. Teachers will take care of attaching the number to your child's backpack the first day.
Parents will also be issued matching cards that will be sent home with their child on the first day. At the end of each day, if you are picking up your child, please park in the larger lot and walk around the back of the building to the multi-purpose room doors, which face the soccer field. At 3:42, we will open the doors for the parents who are picking up their child. At this time, you'll proceed inside. When you've connected with your child, you'll walk to the other set of doors to exit. A staff member will ask you to present your number, and he/she will check your card number with your child's number and make sure they match.
Lastly, you can exit and continue the dialogue of what thinking and learning your child did for the day. It is important to remember that you must have your ID number card to pick up your child.
*For the first day only, your teacher will dismiss your child to you. On August 27, you will need to present your pick-up number.
We all have additional responsibilities beyond the hours of school. I am asking that you try to protect the learning time of your child. I understand it may be more convenient to pick-up your child a bit early to avoid traffic and lines. In doing so, the office staff is taken away from other responsibilities that come with the end of the day.
It also is a disruption to the other students that are learning. If anyway, please try to protect all of the student's learning time and respect the office staff's time.
Other Fun Stuff @ Spencer
We will continue the Recess K.L.U.B. which stands for Kindness and Leadership Uniting Buddies. This is a homegrown program initiated by a Brighton student. It’s a great way to have the students help other students by just being friendly!
Our WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dad’s of Great Students) program was a big hit last year! If you didn't hear, It’s a program that involves father figures, dads, grandparents, uncles, etc. to provide support inside Spencer and out. They will help in the classroom and keep us all safe. I’m currently setting up events and ways that you can help.
Spencer is a Michigan Heart Safe School! What this prestigious honor means is, we have a cardiac response team made up of Spencer Staff. This team responds if there is a medical emergency with anyone that enters our doors.
Current Grade Levels and Classrooms
We are continuing to register families. As of 8/17/19, below are the classroom sections:
(Please note *The number of classrooms could change)
JK – 1 Classroom - Cower/Thomas
K – 5 Classrooms - Morrow, Price, Andrews, Bridson, and Phillips (all full-day)
1st – 3 Classrooms - Stamper, Hillman, Clark
2nd – 4 Classrooms - Burns, Hukkala, Kahl, Miller
3rd – 4 Classrooms - Copenhaver, Ferguson, Garza, Urso
4th – 4 Classrooms - Howe, Rucinski, Sobolevski, Vollmer
Electronic Devices
Please do not send your child to school with electronic devices. The school will not be responsible if these items are lost, stolen, or broken. If something does come to school, it must remain off and in a backpack.
Playground Rules
Lunchroom Rules
Birthday Treats
Spencer Elementary faced a medical emergency in the lunchroom with regards to a child eating something that she was allergic too. After review of the situation with the district nurse and staff, we have decided as a building to no longer have birthday food items in the building. We are not trying to dampen the day or the excitement of your child's big day. This is a safety issue that I cannot have our lunch staff personnel try to memorize over 500 students dietary needs and hoping the students will be honest and tell us if they can or cannot have a treat.
To help, let's think of other creative ways we could celebrate your child, such as possibly bringing in a book for their class. What about a special pencil for the classmates? There are a lot of different options to consider that will still make the day special without jeopardizing the safety of others.
You can continue to send in your regular lunch favorites. And as always we would invite you in to share lunch with your child on their special day!
Click HERE for some other non-food celebration ideas.
The McKinny-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 temporary foster care placement 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 Mr.Renner or Starr Acromite at 810-299-4040 for information/assistance.
Medication
If your child needs to take medication during the school day, please come to the office to fill out the necessary paperwork. For safety reasons, students are never allowed to carry medications. Medications must be brought to school by a parent/guardian in its original container.
Spencer PTO
We have many enjoyable activities and programs planned for this school year. We encourage you to get involved in your child's education and events. As always, there are opportunities to volunteer with our active and superb PTO and your child's classroom.
Bus Routes
The Brighton Transportation Department is sending bus and route information soon for those that are in the district. If your child is to be picked up or dropped off anywhere but home, you will need to fill out an Alternate Destination Form before school starts. The form is available in our office.
Parking Lot
With respect to Student Safety, we want to take a moment to remind parents of the morning drop off procedures. Please remember that our staff members are out there with the intention of keeping our students safe. Please be courteous to fellow parents and staff members.
To Parents using the Drop Off Lane:
- Please do not park in the drop off lane. Use the large lot to park and walk your child(ren) in.
- The parking lot is to be used as a roundabout.
- Children are only allowed to exit the RIGHT side of the vehicle, NEVER the left side, as it is not safe.
- Please have your child exit the vehicle as soon as you are stopped.
- Do not drop your child off at the Kindergarten doors, move all the way to the front of the crosswalk.
- Kiss and go, we'll get your child where they need to be. The drop-off procedure should take about 10-15 seconds.
To Parents parking in the lot:
- Only cross at the one crosswalk area located in front of the building.
- You may not cross in front of busses.
- NEVER drop your student off in the parking lot and allow them to cross alone.
- If the busses have already left for the morning, you'll need to walk your child through the main doors and sign them in.
- It's easier and less congested if you walk your child up to their designated area, give a hug and kiss and away you go. Doing it this way will help with the flow of students inside the building.
In General:
- Please be courteous to other drivers – our children are watching.
- Please, refrain from using your phone while driving through the parking lot, is it not safe and it slows down the process.
- The speed limit is 5 MPH.
Save the Date
Friday Newsletters
Please plan to join us to learn more about your child's teacher, the classroom routines, and grade-level expectations.
You'll begin in your child's classroom and around 6:15 join Mr.Renner in the gym to discuss what makes Spencer unique.
Picture Day
Please watch your student’s backpack for information about picture day within the next couple of weeks. Spencer's Picture Day is scheduled for October 3rd this year. Re-take picture day will be November 14th.
Spencer Elementary
Email: rennerb@brightonk12.com
Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/238
Location: 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton, MI, United States
Phone: 810-299-4350
Twitter: @SpencerElem