February, 2013
Edition
e-news update Right click here to open a hyperlink for information on Springfield’s Instant Alert notification system!
e-news update
A Message from Superintendent Matt Geha
. . . what a “New Year” brings to Springfield Local Schools
On August 16th, we welcomed 16 new professional to team #springfieldstrong! Included are new teachers and school counselors hired to fill the vacancies resulting from both retirements and resignations. While some are new to our professional all bring with them a wealth of experiences that they’ve accumulated from their very first jobs, through attaining their degrees, and beyond. Despite what we know is an overwhelming first day, their enthusiasm to be part of Springfield Local Schools never wavered.
Imagine your first day at a new job and learning that despite your performance, your name would appear on a list of staff being “non-renewed” by the Board of Education. That is just one of the nuances that exists within the field of education –and one that each of our new teachers and school counselors accepts. Most of us have been in that same situation, and in my case, I used that knowledge as my motivation to become the best English Teacher possible and gain a longer term contract in the following years! Like me, there are a few other familiar names who now serve the district in new positions—a complete summary will be found as you read further in this edition. We will also welcome hundreds of new kindergarten and older students who will either begin with us their educational journey or bring with them the knowledge they gained in other school districts. We are confident that the efforts of our school counselors, teachers, staff and peer mentors will help them feel at home in Springfield Local Schools. The curriculum that all students will be offered is rigorous, interactive, and infused and complemented with technology. Speaking of tech, we have expanded the access of 1:1 ChromeBooks this year to include both SMS 7th and 8th grade students. We have two new buses to help transport students safely to and from school. A great deal or work was accomplished during the summer months to provide a safe learning and working environment for students and staff. This included work on roofs, flooring, parking lots and a lot of cleaning! As travel within our buildings, I marvel at how clean our classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias are thanks to staff that take a great deal of pride in their jobs—many still possessing the same enthusiasm they displayed one their first days in the district. All in all—we have an exciting year planned for everyone. It will be a very good year and we promise to share our successes with you through this publication, through area newspapers, television, 97.7 fm WNLB, and of course, social media!! There is no question that technology is constantly evolving, and almost every day offers users access to both the many familiar and many new tools and conveniences. We’ve shared the hyperlink above that allows parents to sign-up for the district’s Instant Alert program. In addition to notices via the media, this system is used by SLS to advise when the start of school will be delayed, schools closed due to weather or any emergency situations!
Thanks to community support, school counselors again have school supplies that can be shared with those struggling with “back-to-school” supply demands. Please contact your child’s school to request assistance.
Especially in the realm of “Social Media,” school leaders now have convenient, accessible vehicles that assist in communicating valuable, timely information to many people via Facebook, Twitter and other APPs. Please consider following Mr. Geha on Twitter at https://twitter.com/matthewgeha to catch a glimpse of what’s happening in the district, plus, keep current on school closings, delays, and information on important events and activities. Feel free to share the information and when you do, we encourage you to add #springfieldstrong to your tweets!!
www.springfield-schools.org
#springfieldstrong
Open House Dates:
(supplies lists are posted on the website)
Crissey Elementary School Dorr Elementary School Holland Elementary School Holloway Elementary School Springfield Middle School Springfield High School
August 23 September 7 August 23 August 23 August 29 September 6
K 5:30-6:30 pm; Grades 1-5 6:30-7:30 pm 6:00-700 pm 6:00-7:00 pm 5:30-6:30 pm 6:00-8:00 pm 6:30-8:00 pm
August 24 August 25
(All students except kindergarten attend!)
First Days of School: Grades 1-6, 9 Grades 7, 8, 10-12 Kindergarten: Kindergarten Readiness Assessments Kindergarten Boys ONLY Kindergarten Girls ONLY All Students
August 24, 25, 28, 29 August 30 August 31 September 1
By Appointment
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SHS
Mrs. Rhonda Kimmons, Principal
Doors Open at 6:00 am 2-hour Delay Early Dismissal Schedule Pick-up:
Start Time 7:30 am Start Time 9:30 am
Meal Prices:
419.867.5633
Dismissal 2:30 pm Dismissal 2:30 pm Dismissal 10:45 am Grades 11, 12* August 17th 8:00-11:00am; Grades 9, 10 August 18th 8:00-11:00 am * Participants in Band, Fall Sports and all extracurricular activities should attend on August 17th Lunch (Choices of Two Hot, Two Cold) $3.00 Breakfast $1.35
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(supplies lists are posted on the website)
SMS
Mr. Jeff Pendry, Principal
419.867.5644
Doors Open at 7:15 am 2-hour Delay Early Dismissal Schedule Pick-up:
Start Time 7:30 am Start Time 9:30 am
Dismissal 2:25pm Dismissal 2:25pm Dismissal 10:40am August 8th 7:30 am-Noon; Schedules for students will arrive by mail (in mid-August) Breakfast $1.25
Meal Prices:
6th Grade Kick-off: 7th/8th Grade: Lunch (Choices of Two Hot, Two Cold) $3.00
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Elementary Schools Crissey
Mr. Oatis Amick, Principal
419.867.5677
Doors Open at 8:45 am 2-hour Delay Early Dismissal
Start Time 9:00 am Start Time 11:00 am
Dismissal 3:30 pm Dismissal 3:30 pm Dismissal 12:00 pm
Dorr
Mrs. Cheri Copeland-Shull, Principal
419.867.5666
Doors Open at 8:15 am 2-hour Delay Early Dismissal
Start Time 8:30 am Start Time 10:30 am
Dismissal 3:00 pm Dismissal 3:00 pm Dismissal 11:30 am
Holland
Mrs. Hilary Steinmiller, Principal
419.867.5655
Doors Open at 8:45 am 2-hour Delay Early Dismissal
Start Time 9:00 am Start Time 11:00 am
Dismissal 3:30 pm Dismissal 3:30 pm Dismissal 12:00 pm
Holloway
Mr. Robb Brown, Principal
419.867.5703
Doors Open at 8:15 am 2-hour Delay Early Dismissal Meal Prices:
Start Time 8:30 am Start Time 10:30 am
Dismissal 3:00pm Dismissal 3:00pm Dismissal 11:30 pm Breakfast $1.25
Lunch (Choices of Two Hot, Two Cold) $2.80
Mr. Kevin Olds
Mrs. Paulette Baz
Assistant Principal, SHS
Director, Federal Programs
Mr. Troy Armstrong Assistant Superintendent, Operations
Mr. Kevin Rupp
Mr. Robb Brown
Assistant Principal, SHS
Principal, Holloway Elementary
We’d also like to welcome these new staff members: District: Kellie Venett-Rice, Media Specialist Crissey: Sara Andrews, Art Teacher (& Dorr); Anthony Krerowicz, Autism Intervention; Christie Wilkins, Long Term Sub-3rd Grade Teacher Dorr: Karma Cook, Intervention Specialist Holland: Angela Enderlen, 5th Grade Teacher; Grant Toepfer-Gaver, School Counselor; SHS: Coti Klima, Science Teacher; Katelyn Collier, Art Teacher; Alexis Condo, Title I Tutor; Kelsey DePompei, School Counselor; Mary Kreuz, Science Teacher; Chelsea Sample, English Teacher SMS: Kailyn Bates, Math/Social Studies Teacher; Kimberly Bryson, Inclusion Specialist; Benjamin Miller, English Teacher; Kathleen Schimpff, Math/Social Studies Teacher
together, we are #springfieldstrong
February, 2013
e-news update
“In other classes when you make mistakes, that costs you points. In this class when you make mistakes, you are learning.” -1st year Clean Energy student Springfield Local Schools’ Clean Energy Pathway will enable students to apply fundamental science and operating principles of clean energy systems to authentic problems. Such problems involve motors and generators, photovoltaic systems, water and energy conservation, wind turbines, biofuel generation, bioreactors, water power, energy harvesting, fuel cells and nuclear power. Students will use an engineering design process to develop solutions to these authentic problems. In late summer, the district hosted area business leaders to share an introduction of the Clean Energy Coursework and what it offers students and the community. Also offered was an explanation of the K-12 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) connection followed by an energetic discussion of ideas for partnerships, including but not limited to: - mentoring a student, - offering field experiences or class trips, - class visits, and - sponsorship of the program Those in attendance were very impressed with the depth of the district’s commitment to engaging our students with this innovative coursework and encouraged the district to offer more information sessions - both to keep the community aware of what Springfield’s students are learning and to attract additional partners. Know that we will be sharing much more about the Pathways and seeking assistance from area residents and parents to identify potential partners in Springfield Local Schools’ K-12 STEAM or Clean Energy Pathway. If you would like more information or to share ideas, please contact Springfield’s Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at 419.867.5600.
Dana Falkenberg, Springfield’s Director of Grades 6-12 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment provided an overview of the district’s innovative, creative and project-based-learning Clean Energy Pathway
WELCOME TO REVTRAK February, 2013 To offer additional convenience to families, Springfield Local Schools has contracted with RevTrak to manage student and staff food service accounts. Please remove any EZPay APPS or online bookmarks used in previous years and please do not attempt to place any new funds in your student’s EZPay account. Any balances that exist from EZPay will migrate to REVTRAK. Directions to establish accounts are offered at the left of this message—if you have any questions or concerns, please contact our building secretaries.
e-news update Below is the text of a letter sent to each Springfield family containing the exciting news that the district now offers POWERSCHOOL. We appreciate everyone’s patience as all student data is migrated from our prior systems. We hear from parents in other districts using POWERSCHOOL that they LOVE all the features! Parents can access to student grades, attendance and other information—please follow the directions offered below to get started.
A letter will arrive to homes through the US Postal Service
see list below
A confidential student ID and Password will also be Crissey Elementary School offered this area of the letter and can be detached Dorr Elementary School from the letter to share with your child/ren. Holland Elementary School LOOK FOR THIS ICON ON THE WEBSITE !
Holloway Elementary School Springfield Middle School
419.867.5678 419.867.5666 419.867.5655 419.867.5703 419.867.5644
SLS Elementary Curriculum . . . S.T.E.A.M.ing along!
February, 2013
Taryn Miley, K-5 Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Springfield Local Schools is proud to offer S.T.E.A.M. classes in grades K-5 for the 2017-18 school year. S.T.E.A.M. is an acronym for “Science, Technology, Engineering. Arts and Mathematics” and was introduced by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Elementary students at every grade level will visit a S.T.E.A.M. specialist one day a week for a 45 minute block. During class, students build skills in each of the five S.T.E.A.M. areas to both raise achievement in the areas of science and math and create interest in a future S.T.E.A.M. career. Mr. Mike Ransford, (Crissey & Holloway) and Mrs. Kristen Quigley, (Dorr & Holland) will serve as Springfield’s S.T.E.A.M. grades K-5.specialists.
e-news update
During S.T.E.A.M. class, students will use the Engineering is Elementary (EIE) program, which integrates engineering with elementary science topics. The goal of the program is to help students become better problem solvers by increasing their technology skills and applying the engineering process using science and math. Students will participate in hands-on classroom projects such as designing parachutes and bridges, evaluating a landscape, and cleaning an oil spill. In Kindergarten, the STEAM curriculum will focus on Fairy Tales to help primary students to begin developing deeper thinking skills. Students will participate in STEAM challenges such as exploring force and gravity with the story, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In another challenge, students help the three pigs by building a well-designed house that will keep them safe! The S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program offers a fully developed array of well-established interdisciplinary projects and other standards-based learning activities for students that integrate inquiry based learning, creative expression/problem solving, along with technology and engineering processes. By the end of fifth grade, students will integrate S.T.E.A.M. contents with other disciplines, answer complex questions, investigate global issues, solve real world problems, and meet real world challenges while engaging in project-
Transportation Update Especially before and at the start of a new school year, Springfield's transportation staff receive frequent requests for assistance! If you have questions or concerns and need to contact a member of the Transportation Team, we apologize in advance that your call may be answered by voice mail. Should that happen, we thank you for your understanding and promise that your email/call will be returned as soon as possible. Ron Smith, Director Heather Hawk, Secretary
419.867.5600 419.867.5615
We know many are interested in the results of our annual bus inspections (May/June, 2017). Thanks to the continued dedication of our transportation staff, each vehicle in the district’s transportation fleet passed the rigorous annual inspection conducted by state officials. Bus Routes for the 2017-18 school year will be posted online and at each school by 4:00 pm on August, 18th. Please make sure that any recent changes in address and contact information are reported as soon as possible so routes can be adjusted as necessary! Some new things happening in the department., too! First, the district was finally able to purchase two new buses—with the aging of our fleet, it is critical that the aging fleet is updated (total of five new in the past three years) using funds generated through our permanent improvement levy. Along with the new buses, the entire fleet has been equipped with video surveillance cameras. This enhances the safety and security of our students and staff and assist school administrators should issues arise on the school buses. Finally, with the implementation of Power School as our district’s data platform, many corrections and route verifications were accomplished during the summer months. Which heighten the department’s efficiency.
SHS Senior Nights - Fall Sports Boys Golf— 9/14 Girls Golf—9/11 Tennis—9/25 Cross Country—10/3 Boys Soccer—10/10 Volleyball—10/12 Girls Soccer—10/14 Football — 10/27
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ATTENTION BLUE DEVILS FANS
SHS Awards Banquets
2017-18 All Sports Passes and Packages are available:
Fall Sports: Soccer / Volleyball / Tennis / Golf - 11/6 6:00 pm Football / Cross Country - 11/20 6:30 pm Winter Sports: 3/21 6:30 pm Spring Sports: 5/29 6:30 pm
Athletic Booster Member/Non-Booster Member Adult $100 Adult $125 Student $ 75 Student $ 90 (Adult single ticket price—- $7)
Family Package - $275 (with a Family Booster Membership of $20+ the family pass package includes mother, father, and two children. The cost for each additional child is $5 and all passes are non-transferrable. We reserve the right to deny and confiscate any pass presented in a fraudulent manner.) A limited number of passes are available.
SAVE THESE DATES
S i g n i n g
D a y s
Homecoming/Alumni Celebration Bonfire—September 25, 2017 7:00 pm Game—September 29, 2017 7:00 pm Dance—September 30, 2017 7:00 pm
Springfield is very proud of our students whose commitment to both academics and athletics is rewarded with opportunities to continue their academic and sports careers at the collegiate level.
Powder Puff November 4, 2017 at 2:00 pm
This year, there will be three ceremonies to recognize and celebrate their achievements:
Winter Parent Meeting November 8, 2017 at 7:00 pm Spring Parent Meeting March 8, 2018—SHS Auditorium 7:00 pm Athletic Boosters Reverse Raffle March 16, 2018—TBD
NLL Signing Day—February 22, 2018 Spring Signing Date—May 22, 2018 All signings will take place in the school’s Media/Signing Room beginning at 2:00pm
#springfieldstrong Springfield Sportsmanship To ensure that all fans have the opportunity to enjoy the excitement, character and sportsmanship that take place during our athletic events, Springfield Local Schools asks that fans of all ages show respect towards our student athletes, to fellow members of the crowd, and to the game itself! Changes for the 2017-18 seasons include: . . . the requirement that parents must accompany K-X children to games
...fans remaining in/near their seats while play is underway
. . . fans refraining from inappropriate language or gestures
. . . fans ensuring that their children are supervised/attended in the stands
. . . fans respecting policies related to the use of tobacco/substances
. . . fans placing trash in receptacles provided throughout the facilities
Springfield Local Schools appreciates the support of our fans and thanks everyone for helping model for #springfieldstrong these and the many other aspects and responsibilities of good sportsmanship!
February, 2013
e-news update
