Bulldog Bulletin

• Message From the Principal
• Important Dates
• Welcome to Springer Middle School 24-25
• Frist Days of School
• Class Meeting Presentation
• Springer Bell Schedule
• 4 or Less = Success
• Fall Musical Tryouts
• Chromebooks
• Chromebook Repair and Replacement Costs
• Cell Phone and Dress Code Policy
• SAFE-DE
• SFA Dine Out Night
• Springer's Newest Bulldog Mural
• Transportation: WheresTheBus App
• Free Breakfast and Lunch for ALL Springer Middle School Students
  
• Fall Sports at Springer Middle School
• Sports Physicals
• Clubs and Athletics Available at Springer Middle School
• Supplemental Accidental Insurance Policy
  
• GoGuardian Parent Access
• Volunteering at Springer Middle School

Springer Families,

What an incredible first week back! We are thrilled to share that your children have started the school year with enthusiasm, positivity, and a strong sense of community. It’s been wonderful to see their bright smiles, hear their laughter in the hallways, and witness the energy they bring into the building.

Our bulldogs have already shown great adaptability as they’ve settled into their new routines, met their teachers, and reconnected with friends while making new ones! They’ve approached the start of the year with eagerness, diving into lessons geared around our BARK expectations and participating actively in class discussions. It’s clear they are ready to learn and grow this school year!

We’ve also been impressed by their respect for school rules and their kindness towards one another.

These first few days have set a positive tone for the rest of the year, and we’re excited to build on this strong foundation. Kudos to our staff who have helped guide students, particularly our 6th graders, as they acclimate to Springer Middle School’s high expectations.

Thank you for your ongoing support in preparing your children for a successful start. Your encouragement at home makes a world of difference in their readiness and attitude towards school. We look forward to continuing this journey with you, making this school year one of the best yet!

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

• 9/2/24: Labor Day-School and Offices Closed
• 9/4/24: Cross Country Interest Meeting & Fall Musical Tryouts After School
• 9/5/24: SFA Meeting in Library at 6:30pm
• 9/6/23: DIAA Sports Physicals Due to Nurse Grant
• 9/9/2024: Fall Sports Tryouts (need physical and DIAA form completed to tryout)
• 9/10/24: Schools Closed-State Election Day
• 9/20/24: School Picture Day
• 9/24/24: Open House Grade 6-5:30pm-7:30pm
• 9/25/24: Open House Grades 7 & 8-5:30pm-7:30pm
• 10/3/24: Schools Closed-Rosh Hashanah
• 10/7/24: Marking Period 1 Interims Distributed
• 10/18/24: Fall Dance 6:30pm-8:00pm
• 10/24/24: Schools Closed Pre-K through Grade 8-Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/25/24: Schools Closed Pre-K through Grade 12-Parent/Teacher Conferences

Please check out some of our favorite moments from opening week!

I have included our class meeting presentations that we went over with students during their first days back to Springer. We have high expectations for our students and want them to clearly know what is acceptable. Please take a moment to go through this presentation and have a chat with your child about what they can do to make this a successful year at Springer!

Welcome to the new school year--it's an exciting time for everyone! We're excited for a great year of learning and growth for all of our students!

This school year, the Brandywine School District is adopting the 4 Or Less = Success school attendance campaign to promote good student attendance. Good attendance means coming to school on time and staying all day, every day, which is key to every child’s success. After all, students must be present to learn!

All absences, whether excused or not, add up. Chronically absent students are more likely to read below grade level, have lower math and reading test scores, repeat a grade, and drop out of high school.

What you can do:

• Talk to your child about how going to school every day will help them do well in school and achieve their hopes and dreams.
• Keep an attendance chart at home to track absences.
• Recognize your child for attending school every day.
• Find a relative, friend, or neighbor who can take your child to and from school if you can’t.
• Set up medical appointments for weekdays after school.
• Make attending school every day a priority unless your child is truly sick

For more information and resources, visit www.brandywineschools.org/4orLess

The Brandywine School District wants all children to attend school each day so they can be successful in the future! We will be sending more information, materials, and tips about attendance throughout this school year. Please join us in making school attendance a priority so that we can help all of our children learn, achieve, and succeed.

There will be auditions for the Fall Play on Wednesday, September 4th from 3-6 pm in the Auditorium. The Fall Play is "The Internet is a Distract - Oh, Look A Kitten". Audition materials will be published in your Counselor's Corner 48 hours beforehand.

Students are expected to bring their Chromebook in on their first day of school. Please have students charge their Chromebook before coming to school. New students will receive their Chromebook over the first two days. Returning students will receive a replacement Chromebook over the next week or so. Students needing Chromebooks will be required to have their Chromebook Loan Agreement form signed by a parent or guardian and returned to school.

Students will be taking their Chromebooks home for the Summer. BSD provides Summer work that students can complete over the Summer to help ensure there is minimal to no learning loss. Students and families are responsible for Chromebook replacements and repairs. Please see the cost for replacement and repairs below.

Please take a look at our cell phone and dress code policies at Springer Middle School

Our amazing Springer Family Association helps recognize and support our students and staff for the wonderful things they do each day. However, this takes funding. The SFA will host Dine Out Nights throughout the year as one way to fundraise. Please consider ordering from Honeygrow on Concord Pike on Wednesday, September 25. Please use code GIVE106 so that the SFA will get a portion of the proceeds.

The transformative power of art and design is immeasurable. Take a tour around Springer and you will see many murals and pieces of art featuring bulldogs. These are all done by one of our Art teachers Ms. Levenson. Her work transforms this school and below you can see her latest installation where Ms. Levenson was able to turn an ordinary wall outside of our gym into a proud bulldog that exemplifies our school’s and students’ spirit!

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

We are excited to announce that breakfast and lunch will be offered at no charge to ALL students starting in the 2024-2025 school year! We strongly encourage students to take advantage of the amazing food our nutritional staff offers which includes a variety of salads, deli, pizzas, hot items, and vegetarian options. We will also offer breakfast in our cafeteria and a grab-and-go breakfast cart.

Springer offers cross country, field hockey, girls volleyball, and boys soccer in the fall. Students who are interested in trying out and participating in a sport at Springer must have a completed 2024-2025 DIAA physical form on file with Nurse Grant. If your student is interested in trying out for a fall sport, they should complete the signup form which is located on the sports website, springermiddlesports.com. This website is home to all of the sports schedules for Springer, a link to the DIAA physical form, as well as announcements. Any student interested in going out for a fall sport must also have their DIAA physical on file by 3:15 on Friday, September 6th. Tryouts for all fall sports will begin Monday, September 9th and run through September 12th. Stay tuned for information regarding our “Meet the Coaches” night. Any questions regarding the athletic department can be directed to Matt Oberholzer at matthew.oberholzer@bsd.k12.de.us

Students interested in participating in a sport next year will need a DIAA sports physical. The summer is a great time to get that done for the year. Please stop by the main office or go to our athletics webpage to download a DIAA sports physical form and schedule an appointment with your pediatrician or head to an urgent care clinic to get a sports physical complete. These are mandatory and need to be updated every year!

https://www.brandywineschools.org/Page/7397

Take a look at the various clubs and sports that are offered at Springer Middle School!

If you are interested in supplemental insurance should your child get hurt in after school sports or PE class, please check out the available policy information below.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) can create an account that will provide direct access to their student’s online activity.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) can block websites and pause internet access on school-issued Chromebooks after school hours.

https://support.goguardian.com/s/article/Guardians-Getting-Started-with-GoGuardian-Parent-1629773203295

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