Snyder Park will empower staff, students, and families to engage in the growth and development of students as future leaders.

Snyder Park strives to be goal oriented, empowered, and successful leaders.

#1: Snyder Park will accelerate student achievement by increasing the percentage of students demonstrating at least one year's growth in reading and math by at least 10%, through consistent, high-quality Tier One instruction in every classroom as measured through district assessments.

#2: Snyder Park will empower students by providing opportunities for at least four student-led events throughout the year, creating meaningful chances for every grade level to participate and thrive.

#3: Snyder Park will increase the student average annual attendance rate from 90.5% to at least 93% through consistent implementation of Tier One attendance supports by the final student day of the 2025-2026 academic year.

We are finalizing our First Semester Plan and will communicate that with you in our next newsletter.

Penguin Patch Shop: Monday, December 15th - Friday, December 19th, 2025

Winter Concert: Wednesday, December 17th -  9:00 to 10:30am

Leader of the Month Breakfast: Friday, December 19th, 2025 - 8:30 to 9:30 am

Winter Break: December 22nd to January 2nd

January 5th, 2026 Classes Resume

Kona Ice: January 8th

Report Cards: January 9th

MLK Day January 19th, 2026

Snyder Park Family,

Happy New Year and welcome back for a new semester. I am thankful for all of the happy faces I see as I walk  the hallways and visit our classrooms. We have been consistently working towards accomplishing many of our goals, and we look forward to having a great second semester.  We will continue our focus on being exceptional leaders!

Please make sure we continue challenging our students at home and in school. The expectation level is raising!

Have a Great New Year!

~Mr. Sledge

The Health Center at Springfield High just celebrated 1 Year! It is located on the lower level of the High School with the main entrance behind the football stands. The Health Center provides sick office visits, routine health screenings, updated vaccines, and counseling services. Any Springfield City School District student with guardian consent can be seen and will be given priority. This facility is also a service for family members and SCSD staff. Appointments can be made by calling 937-717-2578. If a student is ill while at school they will need their school nurse to help decide if a sick appointment is needed and if so the nurse will help the family make arrangements. All major insurances accepted. Discounted services are available for those who qualify. Please click here for more information.

We are celebrating Snyder Park's "New Chapter."  With a heavy focus on attendance, we have  incorporated scooter rides during the school day.  On most Friday's, students with perfect attendance have the opportunity for a spin in the hallways.  It has been very encouraging and we are noticing students doing their best to attend school everyday. In addition to scooter rides, the grade level with the highest attendance percentage will get a trophy for that week, and there will be periodic giveaways for those students with perfect attendance.

Snyder Park had the best attendance in the entire district for the month of  November! The attendance trophy is currently sitting in our main office for. It will be here for the entire month of December!

Snyder Park students who show exemplary leadership qualities can be chosen by their teachers as the Leader of the Month. Leaders of the month will get their picture taken and posted within the school, a certificate, and their families are invited to a celebratory breakfast of light refreshments here at Snyder Park. 

As a partner in your child's education, we want to empower you with practical strategies and activities to support and improve their reading, writing skills at home. These activities are designed to align with Ohio's Learning Standards, ensuring your child stays on track and excels in their academic journey.

Reading Strategies

To foster a love for reading and improve literacy skills, consider the following activities:

• Create a Cozy Reading Nook: Designate a quiet, comfortable space for your child to read, free from distractions.

• Read Together: Set aside time each day to read with your child, taking turns and discussing the story.

• Make it Interactive: Ask open-ended questions, such as "What do you think will happen next?" or "How does the character feel?"

• Visit Your Local Library: Explore the library's collection and participate in reading programs to discover new authors and genres.

Writing Activities

To develop your child's writing skills and encourage creativity, try these activities:

• Journaling: Encourage your child to write about their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

• Storytelling: Ask your child to create a short story or poem, using their imagination and descriptive language.

• Writing Prompts: Provide prompts, such as "If I could be any animal, I would be..." or "My favorite memory is...", to spark creativity.

• Editing and Revising: Practice editing and revising together, focusing on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Additional Tips

• Establish a Routine: Set aside dedicated time each day for reading, writing, and math practice.

• Make it Fun: Incorporate games, puzzles, and hands-on activities to keep learning engaging and enjoyable.

• Communicate with Teachers: Stay informed about your child's progress and ask for suggestions on how to support their learning at home.

• By working together, we can provide your child with a strong foundation in reading, writing, and math, setting them up for success in their academic and future endeavors. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or school administration.

Snyder Park's 6th Graders made neurons to go along with their lesson over the nervous system. They turned out really good! They had a great time making them and learned quite a bit about the inner workings of the human nervous system.

This time of year is all about giving back, and Snyder Park showed up in a big way with their Winter Food Drive 

Snyder Park's Student Lighthouse Team, Parent Club and staff (led by Ms. Wheeler) teamed up for this year’s collection, and the results speak for themselves:
 - 2,200+ items donated
 - 25 turkeys shared
 - 45–50 families supported (plus extra love sent home through latchkey and bus routes!)

Anything left over went straight to Second Harvest and the Springfield Soup Kitchen — both were incredibly grateful for the generosity from the Snyder Park community.

Way to go, Wildcats!

Ms Patrice, Nurse Pam, and many others decorated the main office prior to Winter Break. Their work was so excellent that Snyder Park was voted the best looking office in a competition! Check out these photos of our award winning office. 

Please see below for community resources and events in November. If you are looking for something fun to do this fall, click here for the National Trails Parks and Recreation Fall Activity Guide.

In January we are going to “Seek first to understand and then be understood.”

Habit 5, "Seek first to understand and then to be understood," it is emphasizing empathic listening—listening with the intent to truly grasp another's perspective, feelings, and meaning before presenting your own views, which builds trust, improves communication, and leads to more effective, win-win solutions. It involves setting aside your own biases (autobiographical listening) to see the world through someone else's eyes, a process requiring both consideration and courage. 

Core principles

Empathic Listening: Listening to understand, not just to reply or form a response.

Autobiographical Listening: The common tendency to filter what others say through our own experiences, which Habit 5 encourages us to overcome.

Balance: It balances the kindness needed to understand with the courage required to be understood.

Deep Connection: It's about building real connection and trust, not just hearing words. 

How it works

Listen actively: Give full attention, make eye contact, and suspend judgment.

Create space: Allow others to share their thoughts and emotions fully.

Express clearly: Once understood, articulate your own point of view clearly and respectfully, considering the audience's needs. 

Habit 1: Be Proactive (You're in Charge)

At Home: Take responsibility for chores, managing your screen time, and initiating family activities instead of waiting for others. 

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind (Have a Vision)

At Home: Set family goals (e.g., a fun weekend outing) and write them down. Plan your week on Sunday, aligning daily tasks with these larger goals. 

Habit 3: Put First Things First (Prioritize)

At Home: Use a weekly review to sort tasks into quadrants (urgent/important). Focus on "Quadrant 2" activities (important, not urgent) like planning or skill-building over reactive chores. 

Habit 4: Think Win-Win (Mutual Benefit)

At Home: When disagreements happen, find solutions where everyone feels heard and wins, like deciding on a movie where everyone gets a turn to choose. 

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Listen)

At Home: Practice active listening with family members. Let them fully explain their thoughts before you respond or offer advice, making them feel valued. 

Habit 6: Synergize (Work Together)

At Home: Collaborate on projects, like cooking or decorating, valuing different ideas to create something better than you could alone, suggests. 

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (Renew Yourself) 

At Home: Dedicate time daily or weekly to renewal:

Physical: Exercise, healthy eating, sleep.

Mental: Reading, podcasts, learning new things.

Spiritual: Meditation, prayer, spending time in nature.

Social/Emotional: Quality family time, helping others. 

What's the Grinch's least favorite band?
The Who!

Which one of Santa's reindeer has the best moves? Dancer!

What's worse than a reindeer with a runny nose?
A snowman with a fever!

Shout out to our Second Graders! They had the best attendance for five weeks in a row! Way to show up and set the bar high Wildcats!

We are currently recruiting Parent Leaders for this school year! If you would like more information on how to become a volunteer, please click here.

Our parent club meetings are designed for our parents and staff to come together to discuss important topics like: school events, student enrichment activities, fundraising, and community outreach. We meet the second Thursday of each month at 6p.m. in our cafeteria. Light refreshments are provided. We hope you can make it!