The Spencer Scoop

Does your family need help for the holidays? If so, please let us know. We have programs in place to help provide some ease this coming holiday season for you and your family.

Please email Mrs. Andrews (andrrewss@brightonk12.com) or Mrs. McBride (mcbridem@brightonk12.com) BEFORE Oct. 8th if you would like to participate. Spots are limited. Once you reply, you will be notified of your status: included, or on the waitlist.

Warmly,

Mrs. Andrews & Mrs. McBride

Christmas Elf Program ~ Spencer Coordinators

Hello Roadrunner Families,

We had such a great week at school! We had amazing weather to play in, learned a lot, and had fun. Our Brighton Area Fire Department came to present to our kindergarteners about safety and show them a fire truck. Next week, our third and fourth graders take our NWEA assessment and next Friday is our Roadrunner Run! Thank you to all of our families who have donated so far.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

Mrs. Boyd

Hello Spencer Families,

Let me introduce myself, my name is Mike Bridson. (Yes, I am related to Mrs. Bridson, she is my cousin.) I am so happy to be here at Spencer for the last year. Previously, I worked and retired from the Detroit Police Department where I spent 24 years of my career. My last 8 years at the department I worked in special ops where I worked to track fugitives from all over the state. During my time with DPD, I played in national softball tournaments with the department. I am from South Lyon. I have been married for almost 20 years and together we have two sons, 14 and 11. Those boys take up most of my free time with coaching their football, wrestling and baseball teams. My favorite part of my job here at Spencer is seeing all of the smiling faces greeting me each day and the fist bumps I get as they pass by.

Our bus drivers work so hard to get all our students home safely and in a timely manner. Ms. Nancy came in to the office yesterday and asked if we could put a message in our newsletter to thank our parents for their courtesy and their patience behind the wheel when busses are present. Your courtesy has not gone unnoticed.

Spencer is looking to hire a full-time lunch aide. The hours are Monday through Friday from 10:55 AM - 2:10 PM, and the position pays $14/hour. A brief description of the duties required is opening food items for children, cleaning tables and floors in between lunches, emptying trash cans, and playground monitoring. The candidate would need to apply through Edustaff and a link to their website can be found by clicking here. Please contact the office if you are interested.

In addition to a lunch aide, we are in need of substitute teachers! You have to apply through Edustaff and can use the link above to access their website. Not only does a substitute teacher make $120/day, but they also make a difference in shaping young minds. If you are interested, apply through Edustaff and contact the office when your application is complete.

I delivered the Lifetouch photographs to your child's teacher this week so they will be coming home soon if they haven't already. If your student was absent on Picture Day or you are not happy with how they turned out, Picture Retake Day information follows...

• New students or students who were absent on picture day should come to the camera on Retake Day.
• Students who would like a retake must bring their original portrait packet to the camera and return it to the photographer.

Dr. Outlaw sent out a family communication in July with the TENTATIVE Student Calendar attached. We have had some inquiries, so I will attach it again here. Note this calendar is tentative as negotiations for new contracts are still ongoing.

It’s time to order recorders! Recorder ordering forms went home to all 3rd grade students and some 4th grade students this week. Please fill out and return the form (even if your child does not need a new one because they are using their older sibling’s instrument). Parents can use the QR code on the ordering form OR this link here to send payment for their student’s recorder. Mrs. Muszynski will order all of the recorders directly from the recorder company. Thank you for returning the completed forms as soon as possible. Here is the link to the payment page again:

Recorder Ordering Payment Link

Colleen Gaiefsky - Co- President

Amber Gaines - Co- President
Mandy Oswalt - Vice-President
Amanda Dennis - Co-Secretary
Lindsey Kovacs - Co-Secretary
Michele Lewis- Co-Treasurer
Brandy Solanick- Co-Treasurer

Katelyn Bill - Member-at-Large

Kendra Cupp - Member-at-Large

Amber Czajka - Member at Large

Stephanie Day -Member-at-Large
Ashley Kasmierczak- Member-at-Large
Angela Kissel - Member-at-Large
Melissa Rife- Member-at-Large

STUDENT T-SHIRT ORDERS

The 2025/2026 Spencer Roadrunner Run T-Shirt order has been finalized. If you did not place an order, a shirt was ordered for your student based on the grade size average. The shirts will come home with your student on October 8th.

Our 13th Annual Roadrunner Run Fundraiser has launched!

Save the date for our 13th Annual Roadrunner Run, which will be held in the afternoon on Friday, October 10th!. A background check is required for Spectators and Volunteers. 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 can be found here: Roadrunner Run Volunteer Sign Up

Please note that fog machines, bubbles, and confetti cannons will be used during the Roadrunner Run. We will also be having a DJ! Fundraising paperwork was sent home with students again today. The link to create a fundraising page can also be found below!

• Currently we have raised - $10,740

• Goal to turn Mrs. Boyd into an Ice Cream Sunday - $20,000!

• Please register your students below:

FundHub

• October 9th PTO Meeting 4:10pm in Media Center

• October 10th Roadrunner Run 2pm to 3:30pm

• October 15th Red Robin Dine Out Night

• October 23rd - Trunk or Treat 6pm to 7:30 pm. Sign up for a trunk or to volunteer HERE

Popcorn Friday Sign Up

The PTO is excited to announce that they are funding Popcorn Fridays this year! Below is the sign up to volunteer (must have background check completed).

Popcorn Friday Volunteer Signup

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/

Self-confidence is an essential part of everyone’s mental health. Self-confidence can boost your resilience and self-perception while helping you to stay on a positive path. There are many essential pieces to this, but knowing your strengths and continuing to apply them is critical.

Self-Confidence Video (Elementary) Identifying Strengths Video (Secondary)

Consider some of these tips to start your year off strong:

Identify Your Top 4 Strengths

Find the times that you apply them most often and pay attention to how your mind and body feel.

Strategically apply these strengths in areas that are more difficult.

Strengths are like a muscle; you have to use them to keep them in shape.

Set Small Goals

Choose how much and when you are going to apply these strategies.

Talk It Out

Often, it is hard to identify our strengths, talk to a trusted friend or adult to see what strengths they think we have.

* Check out this week’s lesson on our website to help you identify and apply your strengths.

* Additional information and resources can be found on our Mental Health & Wellness website or the BAS app.

You will find the Drop Off Cabinet 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.

Spencer has a Food Pantry that was gifted to us by our Spencer Class of 2024 students and PTO. It is located outside in the front of the school behind the Teacher's Retreat near Door #3. Feel free to visit if you need some assistance with food. We are also accepting donations to stock up the Food Pantry. If you are so inclined to help with that, it would be greatly appreciated.

We have a brand new Lost & Found in a brand new location this year. It is now located at the front of the building near Door #3 next to the Food Pantry.

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.

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.

Please remember to bring your ID with you EVERY day you come to pick up your student! We frequently have substitute teachers that will not recognize you and will send you back to your vehicle to get your ID before releasing your child to you. This is for the safety and security of your student.

October

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

10 - Annual Roadrunner Run

13 - NO SCHOOL for Students - Professional Development for Staff

15 - Red Robin Dine Out Night Fundraiser

23 - Trunk or Treat (more information to come)

29 - Picture Retake Day

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

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

We are continuing our efforts 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, and will again use the QR code system for parents/guardians when either 1) signing in your student tardy or 2) picking up your student early. The QR codes will be affixed outside Door #1 (the main entrance door) and you will simply use the camera on your phone to scan the QR codes (NOTE: one code is for signing IN a student and one code is for signing OUT a student). After you scan the code, it will direct you to either the Student Sign In or Sign Out Google Form. The office and/or safety officer will then locate your student and send them out to you where you will show your ID. **NOTE** This year you will have to wait outside for your student to come down for an early pick up so be mindful of the weather conditions (ie: bring an umbrella if it's raining). To expedite this process, it will be helpful to you to send in a note with your student in the morning to give to the teacher if you will be picking up your student early.

Here are the QR Links. You can always save these to your phone for quick reference.

GOOGLE FORM FOR STUDENT SIGN IN

GOOGLE FORM FOR STUDENT SIGN OUT

Student Drop Off: 8:55 AM

First Bell: 9:01 AM

Second Bell: 9:05 AM

Starting Time In Class: 9:05 AM

Dismissal Time: 3:58 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.

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