Spalding STEM Academy

March 25, 2024

Dear Families,

I hope that you had a wonderful spring break. As we head into spring, please be sure to continue working with your students on routines for success, such as homework, bedtime, and morning routines. Teachers will be sharing information about spring testing that will be starting in the middle of April. We are excited to see the growth our students are making. You can help by continuing to provide encouragement for your student to show what they know and persevere through hard things.

We are noticing that personal devices are causing some problems for students and staff. We have had multiple instances where students are calling friends and family at the end of the day to change the way they are supposed to go home. Please make arrangements about how your student is going home prior to the school day. If something changes, call the office before 3:00 and we will get a note to your student in writing. Teachers will not change the usual way of students getting home unless it is in writing.

This spring we start working on setting up classes for the 2024-25 school year. If you would like to provide input, please complete the Parent Input form below and send back by April 8th.

Family volunteers have been essential in the morning to supervision and allowing teachers a few extra minutes to prepare for their day. If you would like to volunteer, please use the link to sign up for a day (or more) morning playground sign up genius. You can also contact our coordinator, Rachel Funk, at rajfunk@icloud.com.

If it is too wet, too cold or too icy to be outside, we still need help monitoring the hallways where students wait until their teacher is ready. We are grateful for your time and help!

Please feel free to check in with teachers to find out about your student's learning. We are happy to share!

Respectfully,

Jamie Dobson, principal

dobson.jamie@westada.org

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Parent input form.docx

Tell us more about your learner if you have something you would like us to consider when we make class lists for next year.

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Safety in the Parking Lot

Families,

Please follow the guidance of the Spalding staff during pick up and drop off times. If you are walking to the playground to pick up your student, please use the cross walk instead of weaving through the parking lot. Students can arrive at school at 8:45 am on Mondays-Tuesdays, Thursdays-Fridays. They can arrive at 9:00 am on Wednesdays. Students need to be picked up or exit the school grounds by supervision after school until 4:15 pm.

THANK YOU!

Parent Tip from our Counselor

Always Be Consistent

Do your absolute best to be consistent at all times and in all things. Does this sound daunting? Sure. But it’s actually easier than you might think. What wears us out as parents is making decisions all day long.

"Mom! Can I have this? Can I do that? Can I stay up later?"

Instead of making a decision about every little thing during the day, plan ahead and stick to the plan. Make bedtime the same time every night. Make the evening routines the same every night before bed. Put all electronics on the charger in the kitchen.

These are not rules, per say, simply routines and consistencies in place that make your life a bit easier and give your family some structure they can understand as they go through the day. The consistency happens when you do not give in one day and hold the routine the next. Remember, YOU are the parent, you set the rule and it's not negotiable. Consistency pays off in the end because there is nothing to argue with.

From the Spalding PTO

Coming later this week! The order form for your Spalding yearbook! If you would like to order a yearbook for your student, look for the form at the end of the week and send in $25 cash or check by April 12th. Special thanks to our amazing paraprofessional Jamie Eason for taking charge of the yearbook again this year!

Join us for the PTO meeting April 11th at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom using this link: Launch Zoom Meeting. We will be making sure we've got everything ready for our Fun Run fundraiser and planning for end of the year activities! The Fun Run is coming up on Friday, May 3rd.

We have been saving up to put a new climbing structure on the middle playground, and we finally got approval! It will be completed in two stages, with the first stage starting this summer. Did you know that the Spalding PTO has also helped fund the following projects:

Classroom grants
Homework folders
Technology, such as helping with the classroom TV installations
Monthly reader magazines for students, such as Scholastic News
Playground equipment
Special grade level or school assemblies or celebrations
Staff appreciation
Just to name a few!

Here are some other ways to get in touch with us and stay involved with the PTO:

pto.spalding@gmail.com

Yearbook Orders are due by April 12th.

Look out for the order forms will be coming home later this week.

Spalding Website

You can access the Spalding STEM Academy website from the westada.org website or from this link. You'll find information about the calendar, school supplies, helpful links and staff information. A printable calendar can be downloaded as well (see below).

March 27th by appointment Kindergarten Registration
March 27th 4:15-4:45 Open House for new families
March 31st Happy Easter!
April 8th Parent input forms due
April 11th PTO meeting at 6:30 pm via Zoom
April 12th Yearbook orders due
April 15th ISAT testing starts for 3rd-5th grades
May 3rd Spalding Fun Run sponsored by the PTO

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