The Spencer Scoop
Spencer Elementary October 23, 2026
Election Day is November 3rd!
Note From the Principal
Roadrunner Families!
It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of October. I wanted to say how much it warmed my heart to see all of our families smiling and waving to me in the Homecoming Parade. It is one of my favorite days of the year and we had some amazing weather to boot!
A few reminders for the week coming up...
- We have our Spencer Trunk or Treat on Thursday. Thank you to our PTO for planning this event. It is always a good time!
- We will have our Halloween parade for students on Friday right after drop off around 9:15am. Students are to show up in their costumes and parents may watch the parade from the front of the building. See below for more information.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Next week is sure to be fun :)
Mrs. Boyd
Halloween Parade
- We are going to have the Halloween Parade at 9:15 in the morning on October 30th (weather permitting).
- Students are to show up to school in their costumes.
- Parent spectators should stay outside in the front & side of the building to watch the parade. See the map below for the highlighted area to view the parade.
- Costumes: No weapons or scary masks, blood or violent looking costumes, please don’t bring anything small that can be lost. You wouldn’t want to lose it for trick or treating.
- Please note that the parade route is in the drop off lane for the students, so parents please stay on either side of the drop off lane and utilize the sidewalk.
Conferences with "Specials" Teachers
If you would like to schedule a conference with one of the "Specials" teachers, please e-mail them to plan a time to sit down and discuss how your child is doing in art, music, physical education or STEAM.
Lisa Martyn - Art Teacher: martynl@brightonk12.com
Gillian McColgan - STEAM Teacher: MccolgG@brightonk12.com
Bonnie Muszynski - Music Teacher: muszynb@brightonk12.com
Jennifer Peters - PE Teacher: petersja@brightonk12.com
Music Notes
Dear Spencer 2nd Grade Families,
You are invited to join us for 2nd Grade Family Music Night! Family Music Nights are fun events when family members get to join their Spencer students in music class style singing, dancing, playing and learning. Family Music Nights are not formal concerts where students sing on risers and families watch/record from seats in the audience.There will be limited seating for those who need it. Otherwise, families should come prepared to move and sing and join in the fun! Dates and times for 2nd Grade Family Music Nights are listed below. If your family has a time conflict, you are invited to attend another time slot offered for their grade level.
2nd Grade Music Nights
11/12 - 5:30PM - Mrs. Cowgill’s class and Mrs. Garza’s class
11/12 - 6:10PM - Mrs. Gunn’s class and Ms. Niedbala’s class
Spencer Singers
Calling all 3rd and 4th grade singers! This is the sign up form for Spencer Singers. Spencer Singers is an extra-curricular group for 3rd and 4th grade Spencer students who love to sing, dance and perform. We will rehearse each Friday from 8:20-8:50 AM starting November 6th.
News from the Art Room
Your student's artwork is getting mailed out today for our fundraiser with Art to Remember.
The creative ideas and progress have been incredible to watch develop and I hope your student(s) have shared what they are making with you...
JK: Colors and Shapes
K: Sunflowers
1st: Shapes/Line/Color
2nd: Castle Adventures
3rd: Under the Water, Self-Portraits
4th: Exploring Lighthouses
Stay tuned to see their original artwork come home with a QR code to order personalized items that will make it in time for the holidays. All proceeds help support our artists at the amazing Spencer Elementary!
Spencer Directory
Thank you so much for filling out the Spencer Directory! Please see the link here to access the full directory list. I am so happy to help roadrunners connect with each other outside of school!
It is not too late! If you did not yet fill out our form, please click here! Have a fantastic weekend!
-Mrs. Hughes
Picture Retake Day is Wednesday!
Retake Day Reminders
- 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.
- The photographers start right away in the morning and leave when finished, so be mindful of that when scheduling appointments
Order Your Yearbook
Yearbook Ordering Tips
Last year was the first year that I have been the yearbook coordinator that we ran out of yearbooks to sell and some students were unable to receive one. So here are some helpful tips...
1) Order your yearbook right away and check that off the list :)
2) Save the confirmation email that you receive from Lifetouch
3) This order form will remain in the Scoop each week until the order deadline
Hearing Screening by LCHD
Livingston County Health Department will be at Spencer Elementary for Hearing Screening on November 5h and 12th with a Rescreening on December 3rd for our JK, KDG, and 2nd grade students, along with any other students that a parent or teacher may request to have screened. Please call or email the office if you do NOT want your child to be screened or if you have a concern regarding your child's hearing and your child is not in JK, KDG, and 2nd grade. If you have any questions regarding Hearing Screening, you can call the Health Department at 517-546-9850.
PTO News
2026/2027 PTO Board
Amanda Dennis- Co-President
Kendra Cupp- Co-President
Lindsey Kovacs- Vice President
Mandy Oswalt- Co-Secretary
Kasey Thompson- Co-Secretary
Michele Lewis- Co-Treasurer
Brandy Solanick- Co-Treasurer
GET READY FOR A SPOOKTACULAR NIGHT OF FUN!
The countdown is ON! Spencer’s Annual Trunk or Treat is happening NEXT THURSDAY, October 29th, 6-7:30 PM and we’re gearing up for a frightfully fun evening for the whole family! Get ready for a night packed with:
Food Trucks to satisfy those hungry little monsters!
Pumpkin Decorating to bring out your creative side!
Photo Station to capture those boo-tiful memories!
Fun Crafts for our little goblins!
Trunk or Treating with lots of treats and Halloween fun!
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SCREAM!
Our goal is to have 50 amazing trunks, and we need more creative trunk hosts, volunteers, and candy donations to make the magic happen! Whether you decorate a trunk, lend a helping hand, or donate candy, every little bit makes a BIG difference! THINK YOUR TRUNK HAS WHAT IT TAKES? A prize will be awarded to the MOST CREATIVE TRUNK! Bring your best Halloween decorations, dream up something spectacular, and show us what you’ve got!
CLICK HERE TO sign up for trunks, candy donations and volunteer opportunities! Let’s make this a Halloween night our Spencer families won’t forget! May the odds be ever in your favor… and may your candy buckets be FULL!
CURRENT EVENTS
Pencils down, Balls up! Airborne Night is right around the corner! This super fun-draising event is on 11/18 from 6-8pm. Enjoy a night out, jump with friends, and of course the popular staff vs student dodgeball event! Look for more information coming soon!
UPCOMING EVENTS
11/10 PTO Meeting
11/18 Airborne Night
11/20 Popcorn Friday
11/23 Brighton Ford Window Painting
11/24 Pajama Day ($5000 RRR Incentive)
11/25-11/30 Thanksgiving Break
PARENT AND SIBLING ROADRUNNER SHIRTS
Parent and sibling Roadrunner shirts will be ordered soon. Several orders came in without sizes, so we prioritized ordering student and staff shirts first, to get them in time for the Run. We’re reaching out to those who did not include sizes, so that we can place the order in the near future. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
LOST AND FOUND
Please check the Lost and Found to see if your student has any items in there. Items will be donated on November 7.
WYLIE WALKERS
This year, we would love to give Wylie some extra attention and help him get out for walks during the school day! We’ve created a sign up for anyone who would like to take Wylie for a walk. It’s a great opportunity to spend some time with our favorite four-legged friend while helping him get some fresh air and exercise! Thank you for helping give Wylie a little extra love this year!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We. Love. Volunteers! Our amazing events wouldn't be so successful without the help of our incredible parents. We would appreciate help this year with all these great events planned. Please take a moment to fill out our Volunteer Interest Form. If you have any questions on the committees, please reach out to spencerroadpto@gmail.com and we would be more than happy to go over any questions you may have.
LET'S STAY CONNECTED
For the most up-to-date happenings with Spencer Elementary PTO, follow us on Facebook, visit our Linktree for sign ups and forms, and view our Weebly.
Lunch Information
Student Nutrition is Hiring
Medication At School
If your child will be taking medication during the school day, either prescription or over the counter, the Medication Authorization Form must be on file in the office. The form can be accessed by clicking the button below. It MUST be filled out completely and signed by BOTH the physician and the parent and brought in along with the medication. For safety reasons, students are never allowed to carry medications. They must be brought to school by a parent/guardian in its original container.
Future JK/K Parent Info Meeting
Attendance Info
Parent Reported Absences
A convenient feature in Parent Connect will allow you to enter your student’s absence. Simply log into parent connect and click on the link Report Absence. The Report Absence link will open a screen for you to complete. If you have more than one student check the name of the student for whom an absence is being submitted. Add the applicable dates. If you check the All Day flag attendance will be submitted for the AM and PM periods. If you do not check the All Day flag times must be entered and attendance will be submitted for whichever periods meet during the time range (based on period schedule).
Signing Students In/Out
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 safety officer and/or office will then locate your student and send them out to you where you will show your ID. 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.
Volunteer Form
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.
You can access the form by clicking HERE.
Drop Off Cabinet
Forgotten Items?
You will find the Drop Off Cabinet (pictured below) outside 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, affix it to the item, and a staff member will deliver it to your student.
Water Bottles
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.
Just In Case Clothes
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.
Food Pantry and Lost & Found
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.
Lost & Found is also located next to the Food Pantry in the front of the school near Door #3.
Important Dates at a Glance
October
28 - Picture Retake Day
29 - Trunk or Treat
November
3 - NO SCHOOL - Election Day
5 - LCHD Hearing Screening (more info to come...)
10 - PTO Meeting in the Media Center at 4:10PM
12 - LCHD Hearing Screening (more info to come...)
12 - 2nd Grade Music Night
18 - Airborne Night
20 - Popcorn Friday
24 - Trimester 1 Ends
25 - 30 = Thanksgiving Break
Bell Schedule
Student Drop Off: 8:55 AM
First Bell: 9:00 AM
Second Bell: 9:05 AM
Starting Time In Class: 9:05 AM
Dismissal Time: 3:57 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.
School Calendar
Spencer Parent Resource Guide
This Spencer Parent Resource Guide is filled with important information and answers to most (if not all) the questions you may have.
Around the District
Brighton's Historic Scavenger Hunt
Spencer Elementary
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