• Message from the Principal
• Important Dates
• New Cell Phone Policy for MP4
• Spring Performance: Finding Nemo Jr.
• Spring Sports Sign-Ups
• Golf Club
• Order Your Yearbooks Now!
• Black History Month Scavenger Hunt
• Black History Month at Springer Middle School
• Art Club Needs Wooden Chairs
• Course Selection Night at BHS
• Wings Lacrosse
• Homework Club
• SFA Dine Out Night at Simple Greek
• Schoology Access for Parents
• SAFE-DE
• Transportation: WheresTheBus App
• Volunteering at Springer Middle School

Springer Families,

As we wrap up Black History Month I wanted to share an individual who has been extremely influential in my career as an educator. Rita Pierson, Ed. D., was born in Houston, Texas. Dr. Pierson was a child of educators and carried on the family tradition. Dr. Pierson graduated from Elmhurst college in 1972 and a storied career in education as an elementary and middle school teacher. She taught special education, served as an assistant principal, testing coordinator, and consultant.

I came across Dr. Pierson’s Ted Talk video, which I have linked below, and I was energized by her core values and beliefs as a child advocate. Her work with students of poverty in high-needs schools, particularly her hyper focus on personal connections, is something I have tried to replicate in my daily work. Dr. Pierson saw the need to be a champion for her students. In her Ted Talk she reflects on this by saying “Every child deserves a champion-an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can be.” Ultimately, the words she said with her students everyday resonated with me when I first saw her video and still do to this day, which were “I am somebody. I was somebody when I came in. I’ll be a better somebody when I leave”. These words are simple, but powerful and can have a lasting effect on students.

I would encourage you to watch Dr. Pierson’s Ted Talk video. Moments, lessons, and individuals like this are what make Black History Month so special. It is important to highlight the strength and successes of people who have made a difference in this world. Dr. Pierson has definitely made a difference in mine.

https://youtu.be/SFnMTHhKdkw?feature=shared

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

• 2/17/25: SCHOOLS CLOSED for Presidents Day
• 2/21/25: Sneaker Ball School Dance
• 2/24/25: 3rd Marking Period Interim Date Ends
• 2/28/25: Ramadan Begins
• 3/5/25: 3rd Marking Period Interims Distributed
• 3/7/25: SCHOOLS CLOSED for Parent/Teacher Spring Conferences
• 3/14/25: Spring Performance- Finding Nemo Jr. 7pm
• 3/15/25: Spring Performance- Finding Nemo Jr. 2pm & 7pm
• 3/28/25: SCHOOLS CLOSED Professional Responsibilities Day
• 3/31/25: SCHOOLS Closed Eid al-Fitr

Starting in the 4th marking period Springer Middle School will be implementing a 1-to-1 cell phone pouch system for all students every day. Students will be required to place cell phones and smart watches into a pouch each morning. Students will be responsible for the pouch each day and will return it before dismissal. If staff see any cell phones after dismissal they will be required to turn their phone into the main office and repeat offenders will require having a parent or guardian come pick the phone up at Springer.

Our focus should be learning each day. We have seen an increase in cell phone related offenses. Additionally, we feel strongly that their is significant learning loss and undesirable behaviors occurring, which can be directly linked to the access students have to their cell phones. Our staff feel implementing this strategy, which has been done at schools across the state and country to rave results, will have a positive impact on the educational, social, and emotional experience our students will have at Springer Middle School.

I will be hosting Town Hall event on the evening of March 6 at 6:30pm to discuss any parent concerns with our new policy. I have attached a brief presentation below for review, which I will speak to more in depth on March 6. Any questions or concerns regarding this new policy can be directed to Dr. Seemans at sterling.seemans@bsd.k12.de.us.

Spring sports begin March 3rd. Anyone interested in signing up for baseball, softball, tennis, track, or girls soccer should complete the signup form on the Counselor Corner page or use the link below. You must also have a DIAA physical on file with Nurse Grant by Friday, February 28th. Any questions can be directed to Mr. Oberholzer (matthew.oberholzer@bsd.k12.de.us). Softball will have an interest meeting after school on Friday, February 28th, in the gym.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvUsDDUtUv18BT095OY-nrRbP_z6U8O7LX58hO92bYpikdXg/viewform

Interested in learning to play golf or perfecting your skills in the game? Join the Springer Golf Club. Signups and information are available in your counselor’s corner schoology page. All grade and experience levels accepted! Please fill out the google form and then stop by the choir room to see Mrs. Ferrara for a permission slip. All golfers must have a DIAA physical on file with the nurse before the first practice.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8Yrphiug7bT4hMOcV9pgOVszmSwn3y96VVBgxgTfCRjH5wA/viewform

Students should be on the look out for red, green, and yellow hearts which will be hidden throughout the building next week. On them, students will find questions and facts. Students will need to look up which historical black figure the heart is referring to. Students can turn the heart they found into the main office and will receive a prize for correctly identifying the historical black figure!

The 2025 Springer Middle School Yearbook is now available for purchase! This is a wonderful way for your child to look back on their school memories for years to come. Don’t miss the chance to secure a copy!

Order online: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01129600
Need assistance? Call 1-877-767-5217 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM CST)

Reserve a copy today to ensure your child doesn’t miss out! Any questions regarding yearbooks can be directed to Mrs. Koons at elizabeth.koons@bsd.k12.de.us

Last Saturday Springer Middle School and our Orchestra Director, Ms. Lee, welcomed students and families from across the district for an Honors Orchestra performance. Top students were selected from each orchestra department and were led in three different songs of different genres to a large crowd of families and supporters. Congratulations to all students who participated!

Springer Middle School is celebrating Black History Month through highlighting important Black figures in our morning announcements, the Black History Month gallery walk in our cafeteria hallway, rotating presentation in the lobby, various fun and interactive lessons and activities, and a culminating performance at the end the month where students will have the opportunity to listen to musical performances from an outside group. We are excited to educate and inspire our students with valuable and impactful information and experiences all month long.

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, but it can also be found below:

https://forms.gle/KMqsPqenddDJFy8Q7

Please join us for the next SFA Dine Out Night on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 12:00pm-8:00pm at Simple Greek! A portion of the proceeds will go directly to the SFA, which helps make Springer a better place to learn and work for our students and staff. Please bring the flier below or show a picture of it on your phone to ensure the SFA receives the donation!

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