The Spencer Scoop

Hello Spencer Families,

Happy Friday!!

As we reflect on the first week of school, I'm heartened by the positive connections and relationships that have already begun to form within our school community. Your students have settled into their classrooms with enthusiasm, and I've been impressed by their eagerness to engage with their peers and teachers. We believe that when students feel connected to their classmates, teachers, and the school as a whole, they are more likely to thrive academically and socially.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working together to create a wonderful and memorable school year.

Mrs. Boyd

When making any changes to student contacts on Parent Connect, you will need to use a desktop or a laptop computer, you can not make these changes with a phone or iPad. If you are still having issues you will need to contact Parent Connect via email at: pc@brightonk12.com

This year we will continue to provide an optional opportunity for academic enrichment during the school day in the areas of Music, PE, Art, STEAM, and Spanish. Here are some things to consider when signing up your student.

• The class is offered during the school day meaning they may be missing part of the classroom instruction (communicate with your teacher to determine the schedule)
• You may sign up for one, two, or three trimesters. Each trimester runs the same programming so there could be repeat activities.

Please use this link to sign up your student if you are interested.

This Spencer Parent Resource Guide is filled with important information and answers to most (if not all) the questions you may have.

Thank you for your patience as we get into the habit of using our new QR Code System for signing students in and out. For your convenience, a link to the codes is below and you can save these in your phone so you won't have to scan the QR code each time. Our top priority is to keep students safe, and in an effort to maximize security and minimize traffic in our lobby where students frequently pass through at any given time during the course of a school day, we are confident that the QR Code System helps us to achieve this goal.

Student Sign Out

After you have signed out your student(s), we ask that you wait on the bench outside and have your ID ready (Note there is no covering over the bench at the moment so bring an umbrella if it is raining). We have added a new question to the Sign Out Form (What time would you like to pick up your child/ren?) This way you can sign your student out to be in the lobby at a certain time and if all goes as it should, it will maximize the convenience for you.

Here are the QR Links to save to your phone for quick reference.

GOOGLE FORM FOR STUDENT SIGN IN

GOOGLE FORM FOR STUDENT SIGN OUT

You will find the Drop Off Cabinet (pictured below) outside Door #2 near the main entrance to the school. Here you will put those forgotten items that your student may need. Simply fill out the small slip of paper with the student's name and teacher, and a staff member will deliver the item to your student.

Student Drop Off: 8:55 AM

First Bell: 9:00 AM

Second Bell: 9:05 AM

Starting Time In Class: 9:05 AM

Dismissal Time: 3:57 PM

Students eating Breakfast may enter the cafeteria at 8:45 AM

Attendance Line: 810-299-4354

*Please remember to call your child's absence in as early as possible.

Our Spencer curriculum night will be September 12th from 5:30-6:45PM. This is a chance for parents to meet with the teacher without their students, learn about our curriculum, and get the flow of the school day! We ask that you leave students at home so you can attend to the information the teachers have prepared for you! If you have multiple Roadrunners, then you decide which presentation to attend. The schedule will be as follows...

5:30-6:00 Presentation option #1 for classroom

6:00-6:30 Presentation option #2 for classroom

6:30-6:45 Informal meet the principal in the Media Center (optional) ~ Mrs. Boyd

*Specials Teachers will be in their rooms 5:30-6:30 so you can meet with them and explore the classroom spaces!

Welcome back to the Spencer Art Studio!

What a fantastic week connecting with returning artists and welcoming all of our new ones.

Your student(s) enjoyed making connections together and reviewing procedures.

Next week we will begin our Art to Remember Fundraiser.

A copy of the Parent & Student Elementary Handbook can be found online by clicking HERE It is loaded with valuable information for families. Please read and go over the rules, policies, and procedures with your student(s). It is important that all students follow these rules to help create the best learning atmosphere for all.

Remember to call in your child's absence to the Attendance Line at 810-299-4354 as early as possible in the morning. Leave a brief reason for their absence so I can excuse it. As a safety precaution, there will be an automated call for any parent who hasn’t called into the Attendance Line to report an absence. If your child was absent for an illness and you have note from the doctor, send it in to the office and I will medically excuse the absence. Medically excused absences do not count against your child's attendance when I send Attendance Notifications home to the families of students with excessive absences.

Please remember to send your child to school each day with a refillable water bottle with their name on it. Spencer has water refilling stations throughout the building and we encourage students to drink water throughout the day.

Parents - Please make sure you pack a change of clothes (that are weather appropriate) in your child's backpack EVERY DAY. This is for ALL students, grades JK-4th, you never know when your student may have a nosebleed, or loose a tooth, or spill food/milk on their shirt, or find a mud puddle outside, or have a bathroom accident. If your student keeps a change of clothing in their backpack, then we can take care of it here, otherwise we need you to bring up a change of clothes. Thank you for your cooperation.

If your child will be taking medication during the school day, either prescription or over the counter, the Medication Authorization Form must be on file in the office. The form can be accessed by clicking the button below. It MUST be filled out completely and signed by BOTH the physician and the parent and brought in along with the medication. For safety reasons, students are never allowed to carry medications. They must be brought to school by a parent/guardian in its original container.

Brighton Area Schools will participate in the Michigan School Meals Program for the 2024-25 school year. Michigan School Meals is a state-funded program that provides reimbursement for meals, so all students receive the meals at no cost. Please see attached flyer below for more information. Lunchroom accounts can be managed on Parent Connect, this allows you to put money into your child's account for the week, month, or year. The computer keeps track of each child's lunch transactions and notifies you when the account is short of funds. Lunch money for your child can also be brought to school in an envelope with his/her name, teacher's name and amount of money enclosed on the outside.

Families are encouraged to fill out an Education Benefits Application, formerly known as the Free/Reduced Meals Application. This can be done online through MiStar, by downloading a PDF from the BAS website under Student Nutrition, or by clicking the button link below.

Please look over the following information. For the first week of school teachers will be greeting their students on the sidewalk at the front of the school. You may help your child find their teacher and return to your car. The second week of school students can be dropped off in the Student Drop-Off Zone. The Student Drop-Off Zone is the best option to keep traffic flowing and students arriving to school on time. Also, we won't have adults outside until 8:55. Please do not drop off your child before then.

Click here for the procedures

DROP OFF (8:55 AM)

1. Do not drop off your child before 8:55 AM. We do not have adults outside to supervise until 8:55 AM and the classrooms will not be opened before this time.

2. When entering the Student Drop-Off Zone, have your child ready with their belongings to exit the vehicle. Remain in your vehicle and have your child exit from the passenger side. Children and adults should never get out of the driver’s side while in the Student Drop-Off Zone.

3. Please pull all the way forward and then stop to let your child out.

4. After dropping off your child, wait for the cars in front of you to exit. Do not try to pass, as it puts students in danger.

5. After 9:05 AM the Student Drop-Off Zone will be closed and you must park and walk your child up to Door #1 at the main entrance to sign them in tardy from the QR Code on the door.

PICK UP (3:57 PM)

Important Reminders and Updates:

• Please access the crosswalk at the main entrance only

• Do not park in the crosswalk areas.

• Do not pull in handicap spaces to drop off/pick up. These spaces are for our students who need wheelchair access or for adults who are handicapped and need to walk in.

• Students of any age are not allowed to walk in the parking lot without an adult.

• The bus lot is not available for student drop off/pick up.

We will monitor this process and will make adjustments to the procedures to increase efficiency and safety. School traffic is challenging, and we appreciate and thank you for your patience as we work to make our parking lot safe and efficient. We anticipate long lines during the first week of school. Please do not pass cars to bypass these lines to access the parking lot. Again, I know that these changes may cause a slight inconvenience, however, they will allow us to better ensure the safety of our students.

Sincerely,

Chelsea Boyd, Principal

Click Here for Drop-off Directions

Picture Day is Thursday, October 3rd! There will be a Picture Retake Day on November 14th in the event your student is absent on Picture Day. Ordering instructions are below. I have also attached the order form for you to see the picture package information. Please note that Picture Day ordering is ONLINE ONLY.

Picture Day ID: EVT7JX8F8

If you are planning to volunteer in classrooms or on field trips this year, you must fill out a background check. This needs to be done each year and if you have students in other buildings around the district, you only have to fill out the form one time and indicate which buildings you would like to volunteer in. Here are the steps to get to the form...

Go to www.brightonk12.com

Click on District

Click on Donate & Volunteer

Click on Volunteers & Student Teachers

Click on ONLINE Volunteer/Student Teacher Form

2024/25 Board

Tiffanie Winnie - President

Amber Gaines - Co-Vice President
Colleen Gaiefsky - Co-Vice President
Amanda Dennis - Treasurer
Jacquelyn Turkovich - Co-Secretary
Mandy Oswalt - Co-Secretary
Nicole McGhee - Member-at-Large
Shannan Fisher - Member-at-Large
Lindsey Kovacs - Member-at-Large

Welcome Back Spencer Families! The PTO has been excitedly working on some fun events coming up for our students, staff and families. This year's theme is Roadrunners Connect. So, please keep an eye out for this theme to be incorporated into everything we do!

STUDENT T-SHIRT ORDERS DUE SEPTEMBER 11

Each year the PTO creates a special shirt to be worn on certain days throughout the year (Roadrunner Run, field trips, field day and more!). Each grade level is represented by a different color, and all students will receive a shirt regardless of ability to pay. So, please submit sizes for all students. This year we are asking for an $8 donation per shirt to help offset costs. Also, since our run is earlier this year, we ask that all sizes are submitted NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th. We appreciate your help with this! More information is in the flyer below. But If you are ready to order your student's shirt now, you may do so here: https://forms.gle/qc62fbfdQ834hfxs6

ADULT AND SIBLING SHIRTS

Families, if you would like to purchase this year's special Roadrunner shirt for yourself or for siblings, KVV has created a special shopping link just for you! They have also added a long sleeved option for you to choose from AND have added an additional Spencer design as well! https://kensingtonvalleyvarsity.com/spencer_elementary_2024/shop/home

SAVE THE DATES

*September 10th is our first PTO Meeting of the year! Please join us after school in the Media Center if you'd like to attend.

*Our Family Picnic will be held from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, September 25th. This is the perfect time to connect with other Spencer families while you enjoy hotdogs, games, crafts and more! It's a really fun night, and we hope you'll join us. (Are you free to help with setup? Please sign up here! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C48A4A729A6FB6-44321838-family#/ )

*Our 12th Annual Roadrunner Run will be held in the afternoon on Friday, October 4th. It's one of our biggest school fundraisers of the year, and it is a lot of fun for the kids! (Volunteer opportunities for set up and for cheer stations will be made available soon!) Please keep an eye out for your student's fundraising paperwork to come home today or early next week! Any student who registers online and creates a student webpage will receive a free pedometer!

SPONSORS NEEDED- Last Call!

The Roadrunner Run is such a huge success not only because of our students' fundraising efforts, but also because of the tremendous support Spencer receives from community business sponsors too! If you or someone you know is a business owner and would like to become a sponsor, please reach out to me at spencerroadpto@gmail.com. For just a $250 donation, your company's logo will go on the backs of nearly 700 t-shirts that Spencer students, teachers and staff will wear on special days throughout the year, including the Roadrunner Run! Please see the attached letter below for more information and for additional sponsor benefits! Thank you for your support!

NEW LOST AND FOUND PROCEDURES

We all know that the lost and found is quite a mess each year! We have tried purchasing a new cabinet to store things in, we’ve had wonderful parents volunteer their time to try to get items back to students, and it still seems to fill up very quickly! I have spoken to both Mrs. Blanton-Ball and Mrs. Boyd. For now, to start the year, this is what we are going to try: Once a week, Mrs. Blanton-Ball will have a couple of her students go through and return all items with names on them to their owners. Once a month, I will set up tables out front at pick-up with any unclaimed items for families to go through and pick up. Donations will be made more frequently to keep the amount of lost and found to a manageable amount. Hopefully this will help! We can try it for a couple of months and then adjust as needed. We are also exploring different storage options as well. If you have any suggestions, please send them our way!

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

For the most up-to-date happenings with Spencer Elementary PTO, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/402232026502881 or visit our page online at https://spencerroadpto.weebly.com/

Our Mission:

Fueling Kids' Futures (formerly known as Blessings in a Backpack) mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.

Our Vision:

Every school-aged child in America has the nourishment needed to learn and grow. As a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Fueling Kids' Futures strives to ensure children do not go hungry on the weekends by empowering individuals and communities to take action.

Why Do We Do It:

Did you know that 13 MILLION CHILDREN are experiencing food insecurity? That’s one in six American children who may be struggling with access to food.

The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs. We want to make sure they’re getting nutritional meals over the weekend, too.

Brighton has a local chapter and we would love to help. If you are in need or interested in your family receiving food for the weekend, please let the office know. Click on the button below, fill out the form and turn it in to the office. All of the information will be kept confidential.

September

10 - PTO Meeting at 4:10PM in the Media Center

12 - Curriculum Night from 5:30-6:45 PM

16-20 - Pink Week (more information to come...)

25 - Family Picnic (more information to come...)

October

3 - Picture Day (more information to come...)

4 - Annual Roadrunner Run (more information to come...)

14 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Development for teachers

Information from veteransconnected.org is below...

Parents, do you have a 4th grader who might be interested in participating in Brighton a Cappella Camp? The camp meets Tuesday, October 1st and Wednesday October 2nd, between 4:30pm and 6:00pm at Brighton High School. There will be a culminating performance at the beginning of Scranton Idol at the BCPA on Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00pm. Please see the form for more information, and let me know if you have any questions!

Brighton a Cappella Camp 2024

Email: boydc@brightonk12.com
Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/238
Location: 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton, MI, United States
Phone: 810-299-4350
Twitter: @SpencerElem