Bulldog Bulletin

• Message From the Principal
• Important Dates
• Winter Concert Series
• Deck the Halls
• BARK Bands
• Entrepreneurship Class's Winter Market
• Middle School Visitation Day
• 8th Grade Field Trip to UD
• Morgan G. Wins Reading Contest
• Choral Students Go Caroling
• Artist of the Month
• Springer Students Picked for Art Exhibition
• Homework Club
• SFA Dine Out Night
• School Choice Window
• Toys for Tots
• Wrestling
• Schoology Access for Parents
• SAFE-DE
• Transportation: WheresTheBus App
• Volunteering at Springer Middle School

Springer Families,

Over the past week we have had the pleasure of having our building filled with excitement and joy. This began last Sunday with our Middle School Visitation Day, which welcomed future bulldogs and their families into Springer. We were thrilled to show what programs we have to offer, the growth that we have made over the past year and half, and demonstrate why we are the best choice for middle school! We got to end our week with our Deck the Halls event, which took place late in the afternoon on Thursday. Our staff wrote at least one note for each student in the building to walk into on Friday morning. Having students leave our building for an extended period of time knowing that there are people who love and appreciate them is important to us. We love and care for our students and our staff spent time writing each student a personalized note and sticking it to their lockers. To see the smile on students’ faces as they read their notes in the morning, shared them with one another, and put them away someplace safe reminded us why we do this job.

To the members of our Springer community who are celebrating Hanukkah, "Chanukah Sameach"! To the members of our Springer community celebrating Christmas, "Merry Christmas"! To everyone, I hope you have a happy holiday and wonderful New Year!

Our office and school will be closed on Monday, December 23. We are planning to be open on Friday, December 27 and Monday, December 30. Should this change, we will make sure to have proper signage on the door. However, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly should you need anything over the break.

If you have any questions, concerns, or need additional information please do not hesitate to contact me or one of my administrators. We are eager to help.

All The Best,

Dr. Sterling H. Seemans

Principal

2024-2025 Middle School Daily Rotation Schedule

BSD School Calendar

Athletics Calendar

• 12/23/24-1/1/2025-Schools Closed for Winter Break
• 1/2/25: Students' First Day Back
• 1/8/25: SFA Dine Out Night at Chipotle in Glen Mills

Our amazing students from Choir, Choral, Band, and Orchestra performed over the past two weeks to packed houses. Students have been preparing all Fall and Winter for these productions. Congratulations to Mrs. Kimball, Mrs. Ferrara, Mr. Baronio, and Ms. Lee and the Orchestra for their wonderful performances.

On Thursday evening our staff spent their time after school writing and attaching personalized notes for each and every student in the building. As students are leaving for nearly two weeks off, we want our students to go home knowing we love and care for them. This is just our little way of making sure each student starts their break off in a positive and supportive manner.

We are excited to recognize our November BARK Band recipients. These students exemplify our BARK expectations each day and were selected by a staff member. All BARK Band students will receive random rewards and entry into school related events free of charge.

Students in our Entrepreneurship class had the opportunity to sell items and services they have created as part of the curriculum. Students sold these items at all three lunches to packed crowds! Our students learned marketing, price points, salesmanship, and more in preparation for this wonderful day.

On Sunday, December 15 we welcomed potential new bulldogs into our school to learn more about what we have to offer at Springer Middle School. Our jazz band, choir, and Tri-M Music Honor Society, and National Junior Honor Society students all helped out. It was a wonderful event and kudos goes to the staff members and district office leadership who helped us pull this day off. If you were unable to attend or have a friend, neighbor, or relative who would like more information please see the presentation and fliers that were shared on Sunday.

Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QDowoC8Jr6IZjz7s7VWOiWRdhXV4nKarqY7arMu__cU/edit?usp=sharing

The 8th Grade faculty had a wonderful time taking the 8th Grade students to the University of Delaware on December 17th. The purpose of the field trip was to facilitate the opportunity for 8th grade students to participate in the University of Delaware’s “Education Day”. This consisted of food, fun, and exposure to a college sports atmosphere. The highlight of the day was being able to watch the UD Men’s Basketball game.

Congratulations to Morgan Galloway who won the New Castle County/BSD Reading Challenge for Springer. Morgan completed the most reading activities over the Summer. She was the winner of a Target gift card!

Students in from our Choral welcomed staff and students into the building on Friday with holiday themed songs as Mrs. Ferrara accompanied them with the ukulele. It is a wonderful tradition we look forward to each year!

There are three new students for December’s artist of the month! Congratulations to Katelyn Fleming, Nick Blakely and Khloe Hyland. Their work is now on display outside of Mrs. Dooley’s room, 161.

The following students were accepted into the 9th annual visionary peace youth art exhibition! Congratulations to the following bulldogs!

When Springer students return in January we are excited to announce our return of our Homework club! The Springer Homework Club is a voluntary after-school program providing academic assistance to students. Homework Club is a program which is held from 3:15 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. on Wednesdays. They meet in room 184 which provides a quiet place to study for each student to assist them in completing their assignments. There will be supervision and access to teachers and school tutors who have been trained to assist students in their studies. A Google form will be added to students' counselor corner page in Schoology for students to sign up.

Apply now for school choice for the 2025-2026 school year! Families interested in enrolling their child in a school outside of their designated feeder school may submit an application through January 8, 2025. However, kindergarten applications remain open through the 1st day of school. Please note that current choice placements are specific to the school for which an invitation was accepted. Students currently in 5th or 8th grade who wish to attend a non-feeder school for the 2025-2026 school year must also apply during this enrollment window. All applications should be submitted online at www.SchoolChoiceDE.org. For questions, please contact: Choice@bsd.k12.de.us or (302) 793-5014.

Toys for Tots is a cherished initiative founded by the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1947. The program’s mission is simple yet powerful: to bring joy to children in need during the holiday season by providing toys to those who may otherwise go without. It began when Marine Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane, sought to deliver Christmas toys to children whose families could not afford them.

Springer Middle School will have a Toys for Tots collection box in our main office and will be collecting donations. Please bring unwrapped gifts to the main office to placed in our Toys for Tots box.

These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Brandywine School District. The Brandywine School District has neither reviewed nor approved the program, personnel, activities, or organizations announced in this flyer. Permission to distribute this flyer should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement of the program by the school district. The Brandywine School District shall be held harmless from any cause of action or claim filed arising out of the distribution of these materials, including all costs, attorney’s fees, and judgments or awards.

The wrestling team finished off their dual-meet schedule with a home win over PS, 57 – 28. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Individual wins were posted by Chase Salvatore, Drew Covell, Jaxon Kohr, Tyler Overly, Niko Vasko, John Hession, Wes Fiske, Carlos Martin-Moran, Landon Aston, Jason Lockwood, and Ava Cuerden. Next up for the wrestling team is the District Champs next Friday at Concord.

If you need help access Schoology as a parent to help support your child, please click the following link to access a document that will provide you step-by-step directions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZjlNYAoqfGxHO3dciOvXU5JOb11Zj7-E69a7-lPn4w4/edit?usp=sharing

Families, you are encouraged to visit the following link on the BSD website to find out more information about Transportation. For your convenience, we have Where is the Bus app and a brand new bus scanner to help you see when your child(ren) are boarding the bus. Students will either enter their school IDs or lunch numbers. You will receive information in the upcoming weeks on when students will receive their school IDs. Happy Riding!! https://www.brandywineschools.org/families/transportation/bus-scanners

Springer Middle School relies on the generosity of time from our great families within the community. We welcome those who want to help be apart of our village and have a plethora of opportunities for volunteers to engage with our students and staff to better the middle school experience of our youth.

Parents who are interested in volunteering at Springer Middle School will need to follow the Brandywine School District's policy for background checks. Please follow this link: Volunteering at BSD to be properly cleared to work with our students. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the main office.

Background checks are good for 1 calendar year