Dolphin Digest

Dear Dolphin Families:

Welcome to a new school year! This is a very exciting time for students, staff and families. It marks a new beginning and all of the opportunities that await.

This week I had the opportunity to meet with all of the students in each grade level. I read the book “Where the Wild Things Are” written & illustrated by Maurice Sendak. In the book, the main character Max is sent to bed without anything to eat because his body was out of control and he “talked back” to his mom. Max goes on an imaginary journey and concludes that he wants to be where he is loved the most so he returns home. When Max re-enters reality he finds his dinner still waiting for him in his room, “and it was still hot,” signifying his mother’s care and love for him.

I explained to the students that Springfield Plains Elementary (SPE) is their “home away from home” and just as Max is cared for and loved at home, each of them too will be loved and cared for at SPE. Our big theme this year at Springfield Plains is family. We are one big SPE family, you included!

Each of our classrooms has been outfitted with a copy of “Where the Wild Things Are” for teachers and students to revisit throughout our school year together.

I am excited for the school year to be underway and to see our hallways filled with kids and energetic excitement once again. I look forward to partnering with you. Welcome to our SPE family.

Sincerely,

Matthew R. Gifford

Principal

Love. Learn. Lead.

8650 Holcomb Road, Clarkston, MI, USA

Administrative Assistant Shannon Cole

smcole@clarkston.k12.mi.us

SPE Main Office 248-623-3800

Attendance Line 248-623-3890

Fax Line 248-653-3805

August 30 -No School: Labor Day Recess

September 2 - No School: Labor Day Recess

September 3 - School Resumes

September 9 - School Safety Week Begins

September 10 - 5:00-6:15 PTA Board Meeting

September 10 - 6:30-7:15 PTA General Membership Meeting

September 12 - Picture Day

October 4 - SPE Family Fall Fest @ The Clarkston Family Farm

Out of the ordinary end of day plans should be sent to your child's teacher via note when your child arrives at school in the morning. Refrain from calling the school office with end of day plans unless it is of an urgent nature.

Start of Day:

8:25 AM First Bell

8:35 AM Tardy Bell

End of Day:

3:45 PM Dismissal

Half Day:

11:45 AM Dismissal

Please walk students into the school office after 8:35 AM and sign them in. At that time students can order a hot lunch if needed. Thank you!

If your child will be absent, please remember to call the SPE Attendance Line 248-623-3890. This information will be shared with your student's teacher.

Students must have a doctor's Plan of Care on file at school to use any type of prescribed or over-the-counter medication. This includes eye drops, cream, sunscreen and cough drops. Forms are available in the school office.

Please remember to check our lost and found for any misplaced items. We have many items that have not been claimed. please check the lost and found located in the SPE Heath Room in the Main Office.

ALL STUDENTS GO OUTSIDE FOR RECESS UNLESS A DOCTOR'S NOTE IS PROVIDED. WE WILL HAVE INDOOR RECESS IF IT IS RAINING.

Clarkston Community Schools now publishes the school breakfast and lunch menus for all schools using Nutrislice. Nutrislice is an interactive digital school menu service designed to give students, parents, staff, and the community an in-depth look at the meals proudly served at Clarkston Community Schools.

Now you can view the menu, nutrition facts, carbohydrate counts, and allergy information for all Clarkston Community Schools. Nutrislice is very easy to use and allows access to the information you want in seconds! Families using Nutrislice also have the option to view the menu in Arabic, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Download the FREE Nutrislice app from the App Store or Google Play to have all the information at your fingertips. In addition, print menus are available directly from Nutrislice with the click of a button.

CLICK BELOW FOR THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENU

This is a friendly reminder to please join the PTA here at SPE. For those interested, please turn your membership forms in along with your check for $15 and you can become a proactive voice for our school community. Our General Member PTA meeting dates are September 10, November 7, November 8, February 5, February 6 & April 15. Please visit our PTA Website https://spe.clarkston.k12.mi.us/pta

Don't forget our PTA participates in the following Passive Fundraising Opportunities. Passive Fundraising Programs offer opportunities for our school to earn year round rewards and provides benefits such as CASH and products that can be used in the classroom. More information can be found on the SPE PTA Website:

https://spe.clarkston.k12.mi.us/about-us/pta/fundraising

Please visit the CCS website at https://spe.clarkston.k12.mi.us/pta for a full district calendar. The Springfield Plains website has a calendar with specific school events. Go to https://spe.clarkston.k12.mi.us/news-events.

Please make sure you access and set up your account in ParentVue. We need your email address for school and district communications while we strive to go paperless. You will find your student's attendance, transportation information, academic progress, and you can update important student information like phone numbers, emergency contacts, etc. This is our main communication tool with parents!

To access ParentVue:

1. Go to the Clarkston Schools’ webpage www.clarkston.k12.mi.us

2. Choose the Resources tab and then select ParentVue

3. First time users will need your Activation Code which you can get from the office.

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.

The following parents will serve as PTA Officers:

• President, Kristine Ferrell
  
• 1st Vice President, Ryan Koral
  
• 2nd Vice President, Courtney Eastman
• 3rd Vice President, Kristina Kuykendall

• Secretary, Mary Lynn
  
• Treasurer, Kathryn Hardcastle
  
• Asst. Treasurer, Tara Hanson
  
• Membership Coordinator, Katie Keeler
  
• Volunteer Coordinator, Erica Gillette
  
• Homeroom & Volunteer Coordinator, Bridget McCormick
• Teacher Liaison, Kris Simek

• • President - Greg Need
  • Vice President - Elizabeth Egan, (248) 933-4621
  • Secretary - Cheryl McGinnis, (248) 620-6430
  • Treasurer - Stefanie Crane, (248) 835-5062
  • Trustee - Steve Hyer, (248) 922-0170
  • Trustee - Amanda Love, (248) 383-5829
  • Trustee - Jaclyn Sivers

Attached is a link to the Clarkston Community Schools Strategic Plan 2019-2025:

https://www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/about-us/strategic-plan

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