jacksonville special needs charity

November 2021 Newsletter

MAINSPRING ACADEMY: October 2021 – Our staff and students explored their imaginations with a whimsical month of dressup days all month long – From a “blast to the past for National Back to the Future Day, to Mismatch Monday, Twin Tuesday, Pajama Day, Plaid Day, and Halloween costumes for our annual Trunk or Treat event. We are excited for the fun and eventful holiday season to come!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, November 1st – School T-Shirt orders with cash or checks, due to Ms. Peyton no later than 2:45pm

Wednesday, November 17th- Vision is Priceless student vision screening (9:30am-11:00am)

Wednesday, November 17th – Christmas Card Art Contest Pieces Due

Friday, November 19th – Thanksgiving Luncheon (Details coming soon!!!)

Monday, November 22nd – Friday, November 26th – SCHOOL CLOSED to staff and students for Thanksgiving Break

Friday November 26th-Monday, November 29th – Black Friday/Cyber Monday -Don’t forget to make your purchases from smile.amazon.com and choose Mainspring Academy as your charity so that a portion of your purchase will be donated to our school!

Tuesday, November 30th – Giving Tuesday Launch

Saturday, December 4th – Saturday Service Day for International Volunteer Day

Monday, December 13th – Staff Holiday Bakeoff

Tuesday, December 14th – Staff Christmas Door Decorating Contest

Wednesday, December 15th – Schoolwide Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Thursday, December 16th – Polar Express Holiday Pajama Party

Friday, December 17th – NO SCHOOL FOR TEACHER PLANNING DAY/ Staff Holiday Party

Monday, December 20th – Friday, December 31st – NO SCHOOL for WINTER BREAK

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday, November 17th – Vision Screening. (2) parents needed from 9:30am-11:30am to help facilitate. Please email Sabrena at [email protected] to sign up, first come first serve.

Friday, November 19th – Thanksgiving Luncheon. (2) parents needed to assist with preparation, serving, and cleanup. More information on this event will be given via email and Class Dojo in the coming weeks.

Monday, November 29th – Christmas decorations. (2) parents needed to help decorate the lobby and put up the Christmas tree. Please email Sabrena at [email protected] to sign up, first come first serve.

Tuesday, November 30th – Friday, December 31st – Giving Tuesday/ End-of-Year Fundraising. Parents may receive participation hours for funds raised or donated.

Saturday, December 4th – Saturday Service Day for International Volunteer Day. Volunteers will be needed to help sort and wrap student Christmas gifts, which will be distributed during the December 16th Polar Express event. Volunteers will also be needed to help address and pack donor Christmas cards and Gift Grams for mailing. All volunteers are asked to bring: scissors, tape, at least 2 rolls of wrapping paper, sharpies, (optional – gift label stickers and postage stamps). There may also be projects around the school needing completed (TBD).

Thursday, December 16th – Polar Express Holiday Pajama Party. Several volunteers will be needed to set up Christmas stations along the “train path” around the school. This event will be similar to Trunk or Treat, but parents can sign up for any of the optional table themes. More information on themes and this event will be sent out via email and Class Dojo towards mid to late November!

Parent-led Fundraiser Planning – Parents may receive participation hours for raffle prizes and sponsorships secured for the February parent fundraiser.


Parents, if you have not already, please join our MSA Parent Support Facebook Group here. Please join our MSA Community Group for volunteer, sponsorship, and donation opportunities here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Michelangelo
November 10th

Tanner
November 14th

Ms. Laney
November 16th

Jeremiah
November 18th

Anish-
November 18th

Amanda – November 19th

Ms. Paige – November 22nd

Mr. Dan – November 24th

Alex- November 25th


FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
Click here to view the schedule!

SUPPORT MAINSPRING ACADEMY

If you are interested in donating to our school, please click here. For our community supply wishlist, please click here. For our Amazon wishlist, please click here. Give us a call at (904)503-0344 or email our Director of Student and Community Affairs Sabrena Snow at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to set up a tour of the school!

October 2021 Newsletter

MAINSPRING ACADEMY: September 2021 – Our students celebrated National Day of Charity with a School Spirit Week in gratitude of all of our volunteers, donors, and Board of Directors. On Tuesday, students and staff wore green to represent their kindness and compassion and decorated each classroom door with kind messages. On Wednesday, they dressed as their favorite superheroes and received a special visit and storybook reading from Zone 2 of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. On Thursday, each classroom celebrated Team Player Day by wearing their favorite team jerseys; they also chose their favorite school vendor and completed a Kindness Project to send them. We closed out the week on Friday by celebrating the many cultures at Mainspring with a Diversity Day banquet which included a special visit from our Board of Directors.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, October 11th – SCHOOL CLOSED to students for Teacher Planning Day

Tuesday, October 12th – Friday, October 15th – SCHOOL CLOSED to students unless enrolled in Intersession

Thursday, October 21st – Back to the Future Day. Students and staff are encouraged to dress like they’re in their favorite decade!

Friday, October 22nd – Each parent is asked to bring the equivalent of 50 pieces of Halloween candy by this date. Candy with nuts will not be accepted. We will also not accept candy that is expired, removed from original packaging, or easily twisted open (no Tootsie Rolls, twist-open lollipops, twist-open mints, etc.) Ms. Amy, Evie, Michelle, and Lisa’s classes, please send gluten-free candies (Skittles, Swedish Fish, Airheads, Sour Patch, etc).

Saturday, October 23rd – Saturday Service Day for “National Make a Difference Day”.

Monday, October 25th-Friday, October 28th – FALL FESTIVITIES WEEK

Monday, October 25th- Mismatch Monday – Staff and students are welcome to dress in mismatched clothing!

Tuesday, October 26th –Twin Tuesday– Students and staff are welcome to pick someone (student or staff) to dress alike.

Wednesday, October 27th – Pajama Day

Thursday, October 28th – Plaid Day and School-Wide Fall Field Trip (pending COVID status) – Staff and students are welcome to wear flannel/ plaid. Typically, we schedule a school-wide field trip to a farm or corn maze.

Friday, October 29th – Trunk or Treat – Students and staff are welcome to wear Halloween costumes! Parents, please send your child with a bag or candy bucket! Several parent volunteers will be needed to use their creativity skills to decorate their vehicle trunks to distribute candy to the students.

Monday, November 1st – School T-Shirt orders with cash or checks, due to Ms. Peyton no later than 2:45pm

Wednesday, November 17th- Vision is Priceless student vision screening (9:30am-11:00am)

Friday, November 19th – Thanksgiving Luncheon (Details TBD)

Monday, November 22nd – Friday, November 26th – SCHOOL CLOSED to staff and students for Thanksgiving Break

Friday November 26th-Monday, November 29th – Black Friday/Cyber Monday -Don’t forget to make your purchases from smile.amazon.com and choose Mainspring Academy as your charity so that a portion of your purchase will be donated to our school!

Tuesday, November 30th – Giving Tuesday Launch

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Silent Auction – Our teachers have put together a silent auction to go towards their fundraiser for playground equipment. Please click here to participate!

Saturday, October 23rd- Saturday Service Day for “National Make a Difference Day”. – Volunteers will be needed to help touch up the school! This is a great opportunity for anyone that needs to make up parent participation hours or get a head start on yours for the upcoming school year. It is also a great opportunity for any families with employee, mission, sport, school, or other groups that need volunteer credit. In addition, we get many comments from parents who enjoy the opportunity to get to know other parents and staff and build a sense of community. We highly encourage families and staff to attend. Help will be needed in general school cleaning and organizing, painting, moving furniture, building furniture, patching holes, minor repairs, hanging décor, and helping any teachers who may need it in their classrooms. A lot more work inside the building will be needed than the last service day in April! Future Saturday service days will be scheduled for: 10/23 for National Make a Difference Day, 12/4 for International Volunteer Day, and 4/23 for National Volunteer Week.

Thursday, October 28th – Fall School-wide Field Trip (pending COVID-19 status). Parents are welcome to earn participation hours by assisting with this event. Please keep in mind that hours are not given for chaperoning. Parent volunteers will be assigned to specific roles and tasks to assist teachers.

Friday, October 29th – Trunk or Treat. Several parent volunteers will be needed from 11:30pm-1:30 to decorate their vehicles and distribute candy. If you will be participating, please contact Sabrena at [email protected] to sign up!

Wednesday, November 17th – Vision Screening. (2) parents needed from 9:30am-11:30am to help facilitate. Please email Sabrena at [email protected] to sign up, first come first serve.

Monday, November 29th – Christmas decorations. (2) parents needed to help decorate the lobby and put up the Christmas tree. Please email Sabrena at [email protected] to sign up, first come first serve.

Tuesday, November 30th – Friday, December 31st – Giving Tuesday/ End-of-Year Fundraising. Parents may receive participation hours for funds raised or donated.

Parent-led Fundraiser Planning – Parents may receive participation hours for raffle prizes and sponsorships secured for the February parent fundraiser.

2020-2021 SCHOOL T-SHIRTS

Show your Mainspring Pride and support our school with a 2021-2022 school t-shirt! Ms. Peyton will be taking orders until no later than 2:45pm Monday, November 1st, 2021. Sizes come in Youth Small, YM, and YL, Adult Small, AM, AL, AXL, A2XL, and A3XL. Youth t-shirts are $20 and Adult $25! The t- shirts are 60% cotton and 40% polyester in a dark navy blue. If you would like to purchase some, please email Peyton at [email protected] or order at the front desk. Cash or checks only by no later than November 1st, 2021! (Once they come in, they must be picked up or we can send them home with a student or staff member. We unfortunately cannot ship them.) Thank you so much for your support!!!


Parents, if you have not already, please join our MSA Parent Support Facebook Group here. Please join our MSA Community Group for volunteer, sponsorship, and donation opportunities here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Aiden
October 1st

Julia
October 10th

Ms. Jen W.
October 13th

Taliyah
October 15th

Nathan
October 24th


FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
Click here to view the schedule!

SUPPORT MAINSPRING ACADEMY

If you are interested in donating to our school, please click here. For our community supply wishlist, please click here. For our Amazon wishlist, please click here. Give us a call at (904)503-0344 or email our Director of Student and Community Affairs Sabrena Snow at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to set up a tour of the school!

September 2021 Newsletter

MAINSPRING ACADEMY: August 2021 – After a busy planning week preparing our classrooms and thanks to the help of our wonderful parent volunteers, our students had a productive, engaging, and well-adjusted first month of school. Students have even had the opportunity to enjoy the return of programs such as art, yoga, music, and Food Truck Fridays!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, September 6th – SCHOOL CLOSED

Wednesday, September 8th – Signed Intersession Contracts and Deposits Due

Tuesday, September 7th – Friday, September 10th – MAINSPRING SPIRIT WEEK

Tuesday, September 7th – Show Your Kindness Colors. In color psychology, GREEN symbolizes compassion, nurturing, and kindness. Students and staff are encouraged to wear green in honor of the kindness of our donors, volunteers, and Board. Staff will decorate their doors with a green theme.

Wednesday, September 8th – Superhero Day. Students and staff are welcome to dress like their favorite superheroes! The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will be visiting the school beginning at 10am and a special guest will be stopping by to read the students a superhero story at 1:00pm.

Thursday, September 9th – Team Player Day and Kindness Challenge. Students and staff are welcome to dress representing their favorite sports teams! Each class will complete their kindness challenge in honor of the kindness of our donors, volunteers, and Board.

Friday, September 10th – Diversity Day. Students and staff are encouraged to dress in traditional clothing and bring in their favorite dish from their family’s country of origin. Our Board will be joining us from 11am- 1pm to celebrate the many different cultures of Mainspring!

Monday, September 13th – Intersession Full Payments Due

Wednesday, September 15th – School T- Shirt Order Forms and Cash/Checks Due from Staff and Students.

Friday, September 17th – Jaguar Spirit Day. Staff and students are welcome to celebrate the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Homecoming Game by wearing their favorite Jags apparel.

Friday, October 8th – Special Olympics Basketball (pending COVID status) (12:00pm-2:00pm), duPont Family YMCA 7373 Old King’s Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32217

Monday, October 11th – SCHOOL CLOSED to students for Teacher Planning Day

Tuesday, October 12th – Friday, October 15th – SCHOOL CLOSED to students unless enrolled in Intersession

Thursday, October 21st – Back to the Future Day. Students and staff are encouraged to dress like they’re in their favorite decade!

Friday, October 22nd – Each parent is asked to bring the equivalent of 50 pieces of Halloween candy by this date. Candy with nuts will not be accepted. We will also not accept candy that is expired, removed from original packaging, or easily twisted open (no Tootsie Rolls, twist-open lollipops, twist-open mints, etc.) Ms. Amy, Evie, Michelle, and Lisa’s classes, please send gluten-free candies (Skittles, Swedish Fish, Airheads, Sour Patch, etc).

Saturday, October 23rd – Saturday Service Day for “National Make a Difference Day”.

Monday, October 25th-Friday, October 28th – FALL FESTIVITIES WEEK

Monday, October 25th- Mismatch Monday – Staff and students are welcome to dress in mismatched clothing!

Tuesday, October 26th –Twin Tuesday– Students and staff are welcome to pick someone (student or staff) to dress alike.

Wednesday, October 27th – Pajama Day

Thursday, October 28th – Plaid Day and School-Wide Fall Field Trip (pending COVID status) – Staff and students are welcome to wear flannel/ plaid. Typically, we schedule a school-wide field trip to a farm or corn maze.

Friday, October 29th – Trunk or Treat – Students and staff are welcome to wear Halloween costumes! Parents, please send your child with a bag or candy bucket! Several parent volunteers will be needed to use their creativity skills to decorate their vehicle trunks to distribute candy to the students.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Teacher Fundraiser Nights – Parents may receive (1) participation hour per night for attending a teacher(s) fundraising night! A percentage of proceeds from meals will help our school towards our Fall staff-led fundraiser for playground equipment.

Sunday, September 12th – Ms. Michelle’s Fundraiser Night– Smoothie King (4:00pm-9:00pm), 550 Durbin Pavilion Dr. 20 RSVP’s needed in order for the event to take place. Please RSVP HERE and attend!

Tuesday, September 14th – Ms. Paige and Ms. Amy’s Fundraiser Night – Chipotle (5:00pm-9:00pm), 4865 Towncenter Pkwy Ste 1. You can also order online on this date and within this time frame with the promo code W9QV2W4 . $150 in total sales are needed for the restaurant to donate to the school.

Friday, September 24th – Mr. Dan’s Fundraiser Night – Flame Broiler (4:00pm-9:00pm), 7159 Phillips Hwy. 20 RSVP’s needed in order for the event to take place. Please RSVP HERE and attend!

Parent-led Fundraiser Planning – Parents may receive participation hours for attending the Zoom parent-led fundraiser meeting on Monday, August 30th at 5:30pm and any subsequent independent arrangements and planning.

Friday, September 10th – Mainspring Spirit Week Diversity Day – Volunteers will be needed to bring in food from their countries of origin to help celebrate the many cultures of Mainspring Academy. Staff and families, please sign up HERE to indicate the dish you will be bringing. We will also need parents to help serve to students!

Friday, October 8th – Special Olympics Basketball (pending COVID status). 12-15 volunteers will be needed to run each station and calculate scores. Volunteers must be at the location no later than 11:00pm and help with cleanup at 2:00pm. Please contact Sabrena at [email protected] if you or your group are interested in helping!

Saturday, October 23rd- Saturday Service Day for “National Make a Difference Day”. – Volunteers will be needed to help touch up the school! This is a great opportunity for anyone that needs to make up parent participation hours or get a head start on yours for the upcoming school year. It is also a great opportunity for any families with employee, mission, sport, school, or other groups that need volunteer credit. In addition, we get many comments from parents who enjoy the opportunity to get to know other parents and staff and build a sense of community. We highly encourage families and staff to attend. Help will be needed in general school cleaning and organizing, painting, moving furniture, building furniture, patching holes, minor repairs, hanging décor, and helping any teachers who may need it in their classrooms. A lot more work inside the building will be needed than the last service day in April! Future Saturday service days will be scheduled for: 10/23 for National Make a Difference Day, 12/4 for International Volunteer Day, and 4/23 for National Volunteer Week.

Thursday, October 28th – Fall School-wide Field Trip (pending COVID-19 status). Parents are welcome to earn participation hours by assisting with this event. Please keep in mind that hours are not given for chaperoning. Parent volunteers will be assigned to specific roles and tasks to assist teachers.

Friday, October 29th – Trunk or Treat. Several parent volunteers will be needed from 11:30pm-12:30 to decorate their vehicles and distribute candy. If you will be participating, please contact Sabrena at [email protected] to sign up!


Parents, if you have not already, please join our MSA Parent Support Facebook Group here. Please join our MSA Community Group for volunteer, sponsorship, and donation opportunities here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Jaelyn
September 4th

Sam
September 10th

KJ
September 11th

Olivia
September 13th

Luke
September 15th

Ms. Kim
September 16th

Molly
September 22nd

Ms. Jenn
September 29th

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
Click here to view the schedule!

SUPPORT MAINSPRING ACADEMY

If you are interested in donating to our school, please click here. For our community supply wishlist, please click here. For our Amazon wishlist, please click here. Give us a call at (904)503-0344 or email our Director of Student and Community Affairs Sabrena Snow at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to set up a tour of the school!

August 2021 Newsletter

MAINSPRING ACADEMY: Summer 2021 – Thanks to HEAL Foundation’s support for our Nature Discovery Summer Camp Program, our campers had a wonderful time exploring with weekly community outings. Students stayed dry during a storm and bowled at Main Event Jacksonville, hiked at Tree Hill Nature Center, explored Jacksonville history at Ft. Caroline Monument and Timucuan Trail, and had a wild encounter with Amy the ball python from the Jacksonville Zoo 2 You Educational Outreach Program!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, July 31st – Saturday Service Day (10:00am-3:00pm)

Tuesday, August 10th – Meet the Teacher (Time TBD)

Wednesday, August 11th – First Day of School for Mainspring Students

Tuesday, August 17th – National Nonprofit Day Fundraiser Launch

Monday, September 6th – SCHOOL CLOSED

Tuesday, September 7th – Friday, September 10th – MAINSPRING SPIRIT WEEK

Tuesday, September 7th – Show Your Kindness Colors. In color psychology, GREEN symbolizes compassion, nurturing, and kindness. Wear green in honor of the kindness of our donors, volunteers, and Board. Staff will decorate their doors with a green theme.

Wednesday, September 8th – Superhero Day. Students and staff are welcome to dress like their favorite superheroes! The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will be visiting the school beginning at 10am and a special guest will be stopping by to read the students a superhero story at 1:00pm.

Thursday, September 9th – Team Player Day and Kindness Challenge. Students and staff are welcome to dress representing their favorite sports teams! Each class will complete their kindness challenge in honor of the kindness of our donors, volunteers, and Board.

Friday, September 10th – Diversity Day. Students and staff are encouraged to dress in traditional clothing and bring in their favorite dish from their family’s country of origin. Our Board will be joining us to celebrate the many different cultures of Mainspring!

Friday, September 17th – Jaguar Spirit Day. Staff and students are welcome to celebrate the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Homecoming Game by wearing their favorite Jags apparel.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Saturday, July 31st – Saturday Service Day – Volunteers will be needed to help prepare our campus for the students’ return! This is a great opportunity for anyone that needs to make up parent participation hours or get a head start on yours for the upcoming school year. It is also a great opportunity for any families with employee, mission, sport, school, or other groups that need volunteer credit. In addition, we get many comments from parents who enjoy the opportunity to get to know other parents and staff and build a sense of community. We highly encourage families and staff to attend. Help will be needed in general school cleaning and organizing, painting, moving furniture, building furniture, patching holes, minor repairs, hanging décor, and helping any teachers who may need it in their classrooms. A lot more work inside the building will be needed than the last service day in April! Future Saturday service days will be scheduled for: 10/23 for National Make a Difference Day, 12/4 for International Volunteer Day, and 4/23 for National Volunteer Week.

Friday, September 10th – Mainspring Spirit Week Diversity Day – Volunteers will be needed to bring in food from their countries of origin to help celebrate the many cultures of Mainspring Academy. A SignUpGenius will be sent out for this event!

Parents, if you have not already, please join our MSA Parent Support Facebook Group here. Please join our MSA Community Group for volunteer, sponsorship, and donation opportunities here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Jude
August 2nd

Ms. Bianca
August 2nd

Logan
August 10th

Julian
August 21st

Alison
August 25th

Lincoln
August 30th

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
Click here to view the schedule!

SUPPORT MAINSPRING ACADEMY

If you are interested in donating to our school, please click here. For our community supply wishlist, please click here. For our Amazon wishlist, please click here. Give us a call at (904)503-0344 or email our Director of Student and Community Affairs Sabrena Snow at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to set up a tour of the school!