|
Remain in the moment… The pace of life seems to pick up this time of year. There’s a frantic period of planning, organizing, and preparing for the Holidays. There’s shopping to do, rooms to clean, meals to prepare, wrapping of gifts, etc. The list goes on and on. It’s as if we are speeding up to slow down. I’ve been doing a great deal of work on the concept of mindfulness- both professionally and personally. Part of mindfulness is the concept of being fully present and in the moment; not dwelling on the past nor worrying about the future. This time of year gives us a challenge to remain in the present. Sure, things have to get done (last minute shopping) and plans have to be made (plane tickets purchased). However, it’s very important, perhaps even critical, that we all take time to be present, in the moment, and savor the good in our lives. While this time of year challenges our mindfulness, it also presents many opportunities to cherish and appreciate the goodness in our lives. It is my sincere hope that all of us have those beautiful, mindful moments when we realize what is truly important. That’s my holiday wish for all of us. I wish you a wonderful and mindful break. Wade Spenader- Principal |
Winter Concert is next Friday!
On Friday, December 18th, at 1:00pm in the multi, Springer will host its’ annual winter concert, presented by our 4th, 5th and 6th graders. This is a great opportunity for our students to show off their music talents (the 6th grader band is sounding really good, btw). I want to thank Los Altos Education Foundation for their funding of our upper grade music program- in all of our elementary schools. Thanks to LAEF’s funding, our students are provided outstanding music instruction by the traveling music team. The teachers’ work with our students has been magical.
I can’t think of a better way to be sent off to Winter Break than attending this great event. I hope to see you there!
Wade Spenader- Principal
Springer Gives Back!
On Thursday, Dec. 10th, Springer School will go into “workshop” mode. Working with their buddy classes, students will work on a number of useful crafts that will be given to local charities. Each craft will include a card so the recipient can see that their gift was handcrafted by Springer students.
We call this experience “Springer Gives Back”. This will be the 3rd year in a row that Springer will undertake the project. One of the 3 major character traits we wish to instill in children is the idea of empathy (along with responsibility and growth mindset). During the holiday season we take time to be thankful for all that we have. It’s important for our students to know that there are others very near to us, whether they are living in retirement homes, local shelters, or in hospitals battling illness, who do not have it as well off as the majority of us. Springer Gives Back helps our students learn that they can play a role in the greater community. Students learn that they can brighten the lives of others who could use a little sunshine in their lives.
I appreciate the work that Renee Johnsen, and her team, has put into making Springer Gives Back a relevant and worthy experience for all the students at Springer.
Have a great weekend.
Wade Spenader-Principal
|
Growth Mindset I’ll admit I’m not much of a basketball fan. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been short and never felt I could be any good at the game (fixed mindset), but I’ve not had much interest in the sport. However, it’s hard to ignore what our Golden State Warriors have done in the last month. I watched last night’s Warriors game, and as they fell behind by more than 20 points to the Los Angeles Clippers, I turned the game off- figuring an early bedtime would be more beneficial than watching the Warriors lose their first game of the season (again, fixed mindset). Imagine my surprise as I drove into school this morning, only to hear that the Warriors came back, and won the game by 7 points! Listening to the radio analysts trying to explain how the Warriors accomplished the feat, they used terms like, “perseverance”, “hard work and effort”, “belief in themselves” and “a will to never give up”. It made me wonder if the Warrior coaching staff had the team read Carol Dweck’s book on mindset. Those terms the analysts used described a growth mindset- a belief that you can accomplish your goals by hard work, effort, and grit. Why would I write to you about a basketball team? The correlation to a NBA team and our students is pretty clear. Our job is to continue to instill in our students the growth mindset attitudes. The next few days give us a golden opportunity to facilitate those attitudes with our students. As report cards come out today, every student and parent will receive feedback on student accomplishments towards goals (standards). While all of our students will receive feedback on areas of strength, there will also be areas where all of our students need to grow. A fixed mindset could cause a child to take on an incorrect assumption; that they may simply be “no good” at math, or writing, or science. As parents and educators, it’s important to point out that an incorrect assumption that a student cannot improve in an area is simply that- incorrect. The truth is: we ALL can get better and improve in multiple areas of our lives. We are never stuck being “bad” at math, a poor writer, or even a horrible basketball player. Through hard work, effort, learning about ourselves, and an attitude that we can improve, we ALL can get better and better and better. One of the many aspects of being an educator that I love is the idea that learning is life-long. Some learning comes easier to us (like a Stephen Curry 3 pointer). Some learning is more difficult. But, we must always believe that improvement is possible. And, we must accept that the road to improvement is often paved with hard work and occasional failure. We are all a work in progress! If we put in the work, accept the challenge, acknowledge that setbacks are part of the process, and commit to never giving up, then there’s very little that we cannot accomplish. The Warriors are just one example for us but the world is filled with so many. Many examples of success despite long odds are present in our Springer community. We can all learn from each other. We can all adopt a Warrior growth mindset. It is my sincerest hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Wade Spenader- Principal |
Rainy Day Mondays don’t always get you down!
Monday morning’s downpour was on my mind. As I drove to work in a heavy rain, I found myself singing aloud one of my favorite Carpenters’ songs (yes, I like the Carpenters). “Hanging around. Nothing to do but frown. Rainy days and Monday’s always get me down.”
An interesting natural phenomenon occurs at Springer when we get so much rain in a short period of time. The tan bark area under the swings tends to flood. The resulting massive puddle has been named “Lake Springer” by our students. While students are compliant with our plea not to go into Lake Springer, they can’t help but gather around the play structure to observe our new, yet temporary, geological addition. Both at recess and lunch, children flock to see the giant puddle.
I stand around them making sure no one falls in Lake Springer. On Monday at recess, I put on my sociologist hat and observed the students. What occurred was fascinating and enthralling to me. The students, of various grade levels, on their own, began to problem solve. The call came out, “let’s drain Lake Springer!” Working together, the students used various tools (water bottles, pieces of wood, and even a discarded soccer shin guard) to move water towards the corner of the tan bark area. A small team of students dug a trench to the drain the water out of area. The project couldn’t possibly be completed by the end of recess, so they were out there again at lunch to continue the job.
To see about 30 students, of various ages, collaborating on a “real world” problem was thrilling for me. They communicated effectively with each other, listening to each other’s suggestions and trying different techniques. Critical thinking and creativity was being activated. The group’s focus on the goal was steadfast. And as they saw their work achieving their desired outcome, they celebrated together. Sure, it was recess play. But to me, it was so much more. That rainy day Monday certainly did NOT get me down!
Have a great weekend.
Wade Spenader- Principal
Take a Breath and Savor the moment
Today, because of a substitute shortage, I found myself subbing in a 6th grade classroom. While I certainly had a pile of work on my desk and a to-do list on multiple sheets of paper, I actually relished the chance to get back in the classroom and work with students as a teacher. And, as a former junior high teacher, I find 6th graders to be a good fit for me!
After lunch today, we had a short discussion of mindfulness. I explained that mindfulness is the ability to be totally present and in the moment. Being in the moment means that we aren’t thinking about the past or worrying about the future. By being mindful, we are completely aware of ourselves, others around us, and our current surroundings.
To demonstrate, I asked the students to sit still and quiet. I told them that I was going to ring a chime and when they could no longer hear the chime, they were to put a finger on their nose. The room quickly became quiet. I hit the chime and we all silently listened. After what seemed like a minute (but was actually about 7 seconds), students began placing fingers on their nose. The room remained totally quiet even after that. Was there ever a more focused time than that 7 seconds? I asked the students if they would like to repeat the experiment- which they, of course did. Some commented that they felt relaxed and calm during the exercise. That’s a part of being mindful, I told them.
As we are about to enter the busy holiday season, on top of our already busy schedules, demands, and obligations, I invite all of you to take time to practice mindfulness.
“It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself” - From the book Arriving at your own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness
Have a great weekend
Wade Spenader-Principal
Dear Springer Community,
Welcome to the 2015-16 school year at Springer Elementary School. This school year promises to be a great one. We are busy getting ready for this fantastic year (as I write this, our entire blacktop is getting resurfaced!). Here is some important information to be aware of:
-
Class Placement Letters- we are finalizing class placements and will send to you, via email, your child's class placement for the 2015-16 school year either on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning at the latest. Class lists will be posted on Friday afternoon in the multi windows at our annual Pop N Stop.
-
InfoSnap Letter – emailed to you recently. InfoSnap online registration needs to be completed for each student every year. Current phone numbers and addresses as well as Emergency contacts are very important to have in our database.
-
Online Directory from Fourleaf – this year the school directory will be online. Included in your InfoSnap registration is the opportunity to select what you want to have included in the online (and print) directories.
-
SMS Messaging – (Text Messages) –LASD is excited to launch a new communication service that will allow us to communicate with you via SMS text messaging. This service will be used to enhance our existing methods of communication and will be used only to provide information that is timely and relevant such as emergency notifications and minimum day reminders.
In order to participate in the new service you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages via your phone. Please make sure to enter your cell phone number when you complete the InfoSnap registration. Your wireless number will receive an invitation to opt in during the first week of school. Be prepared to opt in when you receive the message!
Please note, although the district does not charge for this service, normal text message charges may apply according to your wireless contract.
-
School Supplies – This year, because of your support of the PTA fundraising events, the PTA was able to purchase the school supplies needed for ALL students. These supplies will be delivered directly to the classrooms and will be available on the first day of school. No more back-to-school shopping for school supplies! Thank you, Springer PTA! Students will need to provide their own backpack and lunchbox.
-
Stop and Pop – Friday, August 14, 3- 5pm – Drop by school to find out classroom assignments posted in the multi windows, catch up with friends and have a popsicle!
-
First Day of School – Wednesday, Aug.19th. Transitional Kinders and Kindergartners will be dismissed at 12:00pm each day until September 11th. Beginning on Monday, September 14th, TK and Kinders are dismissed at 2:15.
Dismissal for other grades:
- 1st/2nd at 2:25pm
- 3rd-6th at 2:45pm
Back-to-School Night- Thursday, September 3rd. This parents-only event will feature teachers presenting their program. Times for grade level presentations will be communicated later.
Please don't hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions. 650 943-4200
I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Wade Spenader- Principal
Thank You For A Great Year!
Before I wish everyone a great summer, I wanted to thank all of the Springer community for a tremendous year. Working together- teachers, parents, students, volunteers, support staff and more- we we’re able to give our students exceptional learning experiences throughout the year. I say this with confidence and couldn’t be more proud to be the principal of such a great school community.
Congratulations to everyone for an impressive year! And a special shout out goes to our graduating 6th graders who we promoted on to the junior high in a special ceremony this morning.
As a reminder, we start the new school year on August 19th. Placement letters (sent via email) will be distributed the week before school begins.
If I don’t see you in person, please know that I’m very grateful for all you do for the students at Springer. Now, go have a fantastic summer.
Sincerely,
Wade Spenader- Principal
Staffing for the 2015-16 School Year
As we move to the end of a fantastic school year, we are also very busy preparing for the 2015-16 school year. I want to share with you the staffing for next school year:
Transitional Kindergarten- Ms. Laura Bence
Kindergarten- Mrs. Linda Mooers, Mrs. Coleen Crew, and Ms. Autumn Hancock
1st Grade- Mrs. Christine Goldner, Ms. Shauna Fulcher, and Ms. Cassondra Becking
2nd Grade- Ms. Kim Bain, Mrs. Kim Farwell, and Mrs. Melanie de Monet
3rd Grade- Mrs. Kathy Panec, Mrs. Andrea Jones, and Mrs. Malia Lammay/Mrs. Michelle Hayden
4th Grade- Miss Judi Hultberg, Mrs. Kelly McLean (on maternity leave to start the year- Mrs. Karey Gutierrez will fill in for Mrs. McLean until November), and Miss Jayme Mitchell
5th Grade- Mrs. Jen Van Dyken, Mrs. Christina Buck, and Mrs. Elise Kuypers (formerly Ms. Heiting who is getting married this summer)
6th Grade- Ms. Beth Rubinstein, Ms. Alison Mort, and Ms. Julie Presant
STEM- Ms. Joanie Craddock
Primary SDC- Mrs. Ashley Morris
Upper Grade SDC- Mrs. Debarati Sen
Speech and Language Therapist- Mrs. Carol Rossi
School Psychologist- Ms. Kathy Hartley
As the list above indicates, we have a few changes in staffing for next year. We are losing two outstanding educators. Ms. Natalie Cannon has accepted a 6th Grade position over at Santa Rita, the school where she started her career. Mrs. Jessica Millman has decided to pursue opportunities outside of LASD. We thank them both for their fine work with our students and wish them the best.
Joining the Springer staff for the 2015-16 school year is Cassondra Becking. Ms. Becking has been teaching the last two years at Ida Jew Academies in San Jose. She is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has a strong background in literacy, technology, and science. Her current administrator writes in her letter of recommendation that, “she has demonstrated to be one of the most outstanding educators I have encountered in my career”. I’m very pleased that she will be joining our staff as a 1st Grade teacher.
New to Springer, but not new to LASD, is Miss Jayme Mitchell. Miss Mitchell will be teaching 4th Grade, the same grade level she has been teaching at Loyola for the last 3 years. She is also a LASD product, having attended Santa Rita! I had the pleasure of observing Miss Mitchell as part of her evaluation process the last two years. I was impressed with her energy, instructional practices that lead to high student engagement, and dedication. Loyola is losing 4th Grade sections next year so their loss is certainly Springer’s great gain. She has expressed great excitement in coming over to Springer- and we are very happy to add her to our staff.
Certainly not new to the Springer community is Mrs. Karey Guiterrez who will be filling in for Mrs. McLean who will start the year on maternity leave. Mrs. Guiterrez has done several long term sub assignments for Springer in the past- including one in 4th Grade. She and Mrs. McLean have already been working together to make sure there is solid continuity in Room 13. Mrs. G will be with us until November.
Besides two new staff members, we have some changes to grade levels for some of our teachers. Ms. Diane Sasaki will be returning to the Resource Program and Mrs. Ashley Morris will become the Primary SDC teacher. Mrs. Melanie de Monet will be teaching 2nd Grade while the team of Mrs. Malia Lammay and Mrs. Michelle Hayden will join the 3rd Grade team.
Next year will be an exciting one at Springer, as we move to a new system for reporting student progress (more on this when we get back in the Fall) and continue to improve instruction to personalize learning for all students.
Have a great weekend.
Wade Spenader- Principal
Honoring Volunteerism at Springer on May 28th
I was giving a tour to a prospective family the other day and I was asked the question about parent involvement at Springer. Do parents get involved here? My answer was an enthusiastic yes and I think I surprised the parent when I rattled off all of the things that parents, and others, do at Springer when they volunteer their time.
So many of you volunteer, in so many ways, that it’s impossible to encapsulate all the important work volunteers do across Springer in this small space. But, a couple of key points need to be made here. First, the parent volunteer component of our programs are key in giving our kids the very best experience possible. One example is the library program at Springer. Thanks to our dedicated library parent volunteers, a trip to the library for our students is made more efficient and richer. Secondly, and equally important, is the message our volunteers send to our students by simply being here and donating their time. Our students see that volunteers care, that everyone has an important role, and that education is a shared effort where adults play an integral part.
Our staff is so appreciative of any and all volunteer efforts. One small way we’d like to show you our appreciation is by asking you to attend our annual Volunteer Breakfast on May 28th (look for the invite in your child’s Friday Folder, put in there lovingly by a parent volunteer). We wish to honor you with a light breakfast in the multi at 8:15am followed by a school wide assembly at 8:45am.
Thank you for all you do!
Wade Spenader- Principal