The Spencer Scoop
Spencer Elementary November 21, 2025
REMINDER!
Due to the shortened week, there will be no Spencer Scoop next week. Here's just a friendly reminder that there is NO SCHOOL from Wednesday, November 26th through Monday, December 1st for Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on Tuesday, December 2nd. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Chelsea Boyd - Principal
Email: boydc@brightonk12.com
Website: https://spencer.brightonk12.com/
Address: 10639 Spencer Road, Brighton, MI 48114
Phone: 810-299-4350
Home of the Roadrunners
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.
November
25 - Pajama Day
26-28 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
December
1 - NO SCHOOL - Records Day
2 - School Resumes
19 - Popcorn Friday
22 - Holiday Break (School Resumes on January 5, 2026)
A Spencer Thanksgiving
In the bustle of our school days,
in the hallways filled with cheer,
we pause to share our gratitude
for this community we hold dear.
For every student’s bright new question,
every “look what I can do,”
for their courage when they struggle
and their joy when learning grows through.
For families who walk beside us,
lifting, guiding, cheering on—
your partnership reminds us
that we never teach alone.
For the moments small and mighty
that make our classrooms shine—
a shared laugh, a breakthrough,
a hand slipped into mine.
For the pride in each child’s journey,
their stories still unfolding,
we’re grateful to be trusted
with the future we are holding.
So as Thanksgiving time surrounds us
with its warmth and gratitude,
we send our heartfelt thanks to you
for shaping this school’s spirit and mood.
Together we create a place
where every child can learn and thrive—
and we’re thankful, every single day,
to be part of their school lives.
As we approach the end of the 1st trimester on November 25th, attendance letters will soon be mailed out to those students who have excessive tardies and absences. Excessive absences = 10% or more of the marking period. Medically excused absences do not count against your student's attendance, so send in those doctor's notes if you have them. If you have any questions regarding your students attendance, feel free to contact Lisa Berry via email at berryl@brightonk12.com.
Our Design Studio is Open for Creativity!
The Design Studio is officially up and running, and our students couldn’t be more excited! Every grade level is diving into the Engineering Design Process during their STEAM special (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). One of their favorite steps is the “build” phase — when they get to bring their ideas to life using recycled and repurposed materials.
If you’re cleaning out a craft room, have a stash of recycled materials, or extra manufacturing supplies lying around, we’d love to give them a second life in our Design Studio!
A huge thank you to all our amazing Spencer families who have donated materials in the past — your generosity helps keep our makerspace buzzing with creativity and innovation.
Here are some of the materials our students love to build with:
corks, paper towel tubes, wrapping paper tubes, coffee filters, straws, pipe cleaners, rubber bands, pom-poms, Q-tips, popsicle sticks, cupcake liners, masking tape, glue sticks, cotton balls, felt, string, small wood pieces, nuts and bolts, and more!
If you have any questions about materials, feel free to email me at mccolgg@brightonk12.com.
Thank you, Spencer families, for helping our young engineers dream, design, and create!
— Gillian McColgan
Music Share Days
All students are invited to participate in Music Share Days starting next month. Music Share Day is an opportunity for students to share a musical talent with their class or show and tell about an instrument from home. Music Share Day also lets students practice their polite audience skills. Music Share Days will take place during students’ regular music class from 12/5-12/10 (see schedule below). If students have multiple instruments or shares, I will ask them to choose one to start with and then they may be able to share more if time allows. Sharing is voluntary. Students may choose to just be an audience member. Music Share Days are opportunities for students to perform for their class informally. Music Share Days are not a formal performance or talent show.
Click Here For More Music Share Day Details and Ideas!
Music Share Day Calendar
12/5 - Sobo, Llama Room, Rowe, Zebra Room, Haden, Urso
12/8- Juodokis, Price, Monkey Room, Gunn, Kahl
12/9- Jastrzebski, Flamingo Room, Phillips, Bear Room, Garza, Hukkala
12/10- Ball, Anderson, Frog Room, Cowgill, Ferguson
Michigan weather is so unpredictable. It is advisable to check the weather each morning and ensure your student is properly dressed for the elements. We have had some students on the colder days this week come to school without a coat. It won't be long until we will see some snow and colder temperatures, so students should wear adequate clothing. Coats, hats and gloves are mandatory during winter months and boots are necessary as the playground areas get muddy. If the temperature and/or wind chill is 0°(F) or below, the children will stay inside.
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.
Hello Reading Roadrunners!
We have some very exciting news to share with you. Our wonderful local booksellers, 2 Dandelions Bookshop, has provided us with an amazing author visit opportunity! Philip and Erin Stead, the author/illustrator duo of beloved picture books such as A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Amos McGee Misses the Bus, and their latest release A Snow Day for Amos McGee, will be coming to Spencer on Tuesday, December 2nd!
Students will have the opportunity to purchase books via 2 Dandelions, and The Steads will sign the copies the day of the visit. Please use the attached brochures to purchase your copies and have them delivered in time for the visit! Please note that the order form asks for the student(s) name simply so that we know who to deliver the books to, and not for a personalized signature. Books will be signed at the event and then sent home with students one day that week.
As a bonus, The Steads will be visiting 2 Dandelions on Saturday, Dec. 13th at 11:00am, which means parents will get the chance to see the author and illustrator too! Please join in the fun and support our amazing local booksellers while hearing from these talented creators!
Happy Reading,
Mrs. McBride
**NEW** Community Image Upload
I would LOVE your help in gathering photos! You can submit your candid photos to me by scanning the QR Code in the graphic above, clicking on the Yearbook URL below, or send them to me via email at: berryl@brightonk12.com. The attached PDF has all the information you need to send me photos through the Community Image Upload. Please remember to tag your photos with the teacher's name.
The Yearbook URL is: https://community.lifetouch.com/invite?code=SPENCER-ROADRUNNERS-26
The Yearbook Invite Code is: SPENCER-ROADRUNNERS-26
It's time for CLAY and your students are so excited for the opportunity to build, sculpt and carve. Our unit will start when we return from Thanksgiving break and will end when we go home for Winter break. Attendance is important for your student(s) to have a successful project.
Kindergarten Parents, have you been hearing about our fun mongo bongo tri-colored corn pieces? Well, they are heading home with your student(s) for Thanksgiving break. If your student does not bring one before break, look for a note in their red folder. There were several student pieces that were chosen to be hung in the school, and your student has a paper to explain that to you.
2025/2026 PTO Board
PTO News
2025/2026 PTO Board
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
Tuesday is Pajama Day and Sponsor a Sip!
November 25th - Travelin’ Toms’s will be here on Tuesday to treat our staff! It's an easy way to say thank you! Donations will go towards all Spencer Staff enjoying a beverage. We are thankful for our teachers! Sponsor a sip! https://customer.travelintomscoffee.com/#/T167X1371593
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.
**NEW LOCATION**
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.
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.
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.
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
