The building design, which needed to address eventual student capacity and the site of the school, was determined by Beaverton School District Facilities staff in working with the architectural firm, Mahlum Architects. The architectural staff also recommended an interior design and colors. District staff, including teachers and librarians, worked with Principal Cheryl Ames in making further decisions about the interiors. The overall goal was to create effective learning environments for students and teachers.

The first building phase, funded by the last bond, included 29 classrooms, a gym, multi-purpose room, cafeteria/kitchen, resource center for small group instruction, library, music room, administrative offices, covered play area outside, playing fields, playground and parking.

How was the school named?

The Beaverton School Board named the school at a public board meeting in spring 2008. The board members had been provided with a history of the area by local historian Sally Bunnell. They also had reviewed dozens of names suggested by Mrs. Bunnell and members of the community. Brian Torres, a fourth grade teacher at Aloha-Huber Park K-8 School and a Bethany resident, suggested Springville. He indicated that the area’s main road was named after several underground springs which bubble up within walking distance of the school. The board, in keeping with the practice of naming schools based on historical or geographical connections, selected Springville K-8 School.

What are the "green" components of Springville?

The site design includes several green features:

• Two-story building to reduce the footprint
• Storm water collection, detention, and treatment
• Minimal lawn area, as necessary for play areas and minor landscaping
• Minimal hardscape to reduce the "heat island" effect
• Drought tolerant plantings (although not exclusively)

The building also includes a number of green features:

• Classroom orientation to maximize available daylight and minimize solar heat gain
• High ceilings in classrooms to increase daylight
• Gym which is lighted 100% during the day with skylights and clerestory windows
• Gym and multi-purpose room with tilt-up concrete panels inside the insulation to reduce temperature swings and eliminate the need for cooling
• Occupancy and daylight lighting control to reduce energy consumption
• Wood products with no added urea-formaldehyde
• Low or no VOC sealants, paints, and adhesives
• Carpet tiles instead of sheet carpet, which reduces down-stream waste when replaced
• Some floor without vinyl to reduce fossil fuel consumption in the manufacturing process
• White roofing to reduce the cooling load on the building
• High efficiency low-e glazing throughout the building to reduce heat gain and loss

In addition, some interior decisions were made to reduce the need for updating later. For example: the natural color scheme from the outdoor environment should remain classic and not look dated over time.

How many students can attend Springville?

The school has capacity for 720 students, but there will not be that many children to attend Springville until more housing is completed and the middle school levels are added. A second building phase in the future will provide additional classrooms.

What “specials” are offered to students at Springville?

"Specials" refers to the classes besides reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and health. For 2010-2011 specials for students in grades 1-6 include PE, music, technology, and library. These classes will happen often enough for your child to experience a quality, complete program.

What about art? Art is very important at Springville. Since our educational approach involves "high quality products," students will be using art and technology to create those products. Staff teach to the craftsmanship involved in product creation and rely on local experts to help.

Springville also offers Art Literacy, in which trained volunteers teach monthly about an artist and facilitate an art activity which reflects the artist's technique.

If my family is moving to the Springville area, how can I help my child not be so nervous about the change to a new school?

Change can be both upsetting and exciting. Some activities in which you could engage your child to ease the change process include:

• Talk about how Springville will have fun activities like your child's previous school -- maybe even more. There also will be some special things unique to Springville that only our school will have!

• Find the "History" section of the website (beaverton.k12.or.us/springville) and learn about Springville's history.

• Also in the "History" section, click on "Groundbreaking" to see students who helped with the first digging. Read together the Readers Theater script, which was part of the groundbreaking ceremony.

• Walk around the school area and explore the playgrounds. Location: off Springville Road on Joss Avenue, right next to the THPRD athletic fields.

• Also on the website under "Special Events Gallery," view a slide show about the installation of our sculpture, "Nest."

• Participate in a school tour the week before school starts. You will receive information about the tours in an August parent letter. Dates and times will also be listed on the home page of our website.

Who do I contact if I am interested in volunteering?

Contact Principal Cheryl Ames via email (cheryl_ames@beaverton.k12.or.us). Also consider attending PTO meetings which occur each month. The PTO meeting schedule is posted on the PTO website: www.springtvillepto.org

Will there be open enrollment at Springville, for students who do not live in the Springville boundaries?

Open enrollment was not available for 2010-2011, since we are a growing school.

Will 5th students have to apply to attend 6th grade at Springville?

• Springville's kindergarten through 5th grade program is the neighborhood elementary school, for families who live within Springville School boundaries. Springville 6th to 8th grade is a middle school options program in Beaverton.

• Students must apply to Springville's middle school program. Application information is made available in December and January. All 5th grade parents will receive information in the mail at that time about the Beaverton School District's options programs for middle school. This letter will include dates for information fairs and open houses.

• Applications are selected through a lottery. The first lottery involves applicants from Springville's 5th grades, since Springville 5th graders have priority. A second lottery occurs for other applicants if there are additional slots available. Springville's 6-8 program includes two classes at each grade level. Once students are accepted, they do not need to reapply for grades 7 and 8.

• For more information about Beaverton School District options programs, go to: www.beaverton.k12.or.us/home/schools/options-schools-and-programs/

Will Springville 5th graders be able to attend Stoller Middle School?

Springville 5th grade students may choose to apply to Springville's middle school program or any other district options middle school. Or, they may attend Stoller Middle School, which is the comprehensive neighborhood middle school for this area. Bus transportation is provided if students do not live within walking range.


Updated July 28, 2010