Fairmont Blog: March 2012

Mable

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Thursday, March 29

SCHOOL NEWS fairmont debaters win big

The Fairmont Preparatory Academy Debate Team traveled to Claremont McKenna College this past Saturday to participate with nearly 100 other high school debaters in this year's fourth tournament in the High School Public Debate Program (HSPDP). Three cheers to Fairmont students and their coach Mr. Matthew Brandstetter for bringing home the following awards:

2nd Place Overall in Debate: Nikhil N., Austin K., and Anjali N.
4th Place Speaker Award: Nikhil N.
4th Place Overall School Award
3rd Place Sweepstakes

Tiany Z., Jessica C., Justin L., Milan M., and Meeran I. also contributed to Fairmont Preparatory Academy's overall point total allowing Fairmont to receive its two school awards.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Wednesday, March 28

THE FAIRMONT FIVE sites to keep you smarter than your kids

I shouldn't pretend to keep up with Fairmont students! ;) But here are five websites with free content that keep learning alive for parents. Much of the content on sites like Khan Academy is appropriate for younger students as well, and can be useful to parents who like to plan educational enrichment exercises for their kids during the weekends or our upcoming spring break.

TED Ed --Illustrated videos that pair extraordinary educators with talented animators.
YouTube EDU --Videos of academic lectures, speeches, How-To's, etc.
Khan Academy --Educational videos about almost everything combined with practice exercises.
iTunes U --Entire courses from colleges and universities like Stanford, Yale, and MIT along with several other K-12 and higher ed institutions.
Fast Company's 30 Second MBA --Business tips from C-Level execs from every industry neatly packaged in 30-second clips--who doesn't have time for that?

Photo from iTunes U

Contributed by Courtney, Fairmont Private Schools

Tuesday, March 27

SCHOOL NEWS fairmont summer program receives aca accreditation

Jamie Gonce, Fairmont's Director of Summer Programs and 2012 ACA Rising Star

As Fairmont Private Schools unveils its summer program for 2012 it does so with a new feather in the schools’ cap—American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation. In order to receive ACA’s stamp of approval, Fairmont’s program was carefully scrutinized and was found to comply with or exceed over 300 ACA safety, security and program design standards. In addition, Fairmont Summer Programs Director Jamie Gonce has been recognized as an ACA Rising Star in the western region.

“Fairmont Private Schools started as a summer program 59 years ago, and though our schools are accredited through a number of organizations, 2011 was the first year our camp program sought accreditation,” said Gonce. “I am very proud of our staff for earning the accreditation and look forward to drawing on the ACA’s support and resources as our summer program continues to grow and improve.”

The American Camp Association’s Rising Star Award recognizes individuals who are new to service in organized camping and have shown great potential for leadership in and contribution to the field of camping.

"Four summers ago when I started with Fairmont Schools, I was new to organized camping--now I just can't get enough! Involvement with ACA has allowed me to access an incredible network of people--resources and support that strengthens and elevates Fairmont's Summer Camp Program. It has been such a highlight for me to volunteer with ACA and connect our program and staff with the best of the best in the Southern California camp community,” said Gonce.

The American Camp Association (formerly known as the American Camping Association) is a community of camp professionals who, for 150 years, have joined together to share their knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. As a leading authority in youth development, ACA and its 9,000 plus membership work to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience.

“Parents in Orange County have many options when it comes to choosing a summer camp experience for their children. ACA accreditation will help further differentiate Fairmont Summer Programs as a high quality program that balances fun with academic preparation and personal growth,” said Gonce.

This year’s theme of adventure on the high seas comes complete with pirates, mermaids and buried treasure and promises to be one of Fairmont’s most exciting summer programs yet. The program features day camp, enrichment courses and summer school and can be customized to fit each camper’s needs and each family’s busy schedule. For more information, visit fairmontsummerprograms.com.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Monday, March 26

SNACK TIME spring into national nutrition month

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to be aware of how our daily food choices can impact health. This year's theme is "Get Your Plate in Shape," reminding everyone to be more mindful of the foods we eat.

"Get Your Plate in Shape" Goals:

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

Make half your grains whole grains.

Choose lean proteins.

Choose low fat or fat free dairy products (or fortified soy milk)

“Getting your plate in shape” is a visual tool that replaces interpreting numbers on a label. The idea is to increase servings from vegetables, fruits and whole grains providing a plate that is high in nutrition density. Here are some ways to implement this program and improve your family's nutrition.

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

“Getting your plate into shape” automatically contributes color from fruits and vegetables. These colors represent the presence of key compounds known as phytochemicals, that work in incredible ways to protect the body from disease.

Color Counts...

Green (contains indoles). Try raw or cooked broccoli, sugar snap peas also make a great snack food. Brussel sprouts, green cabbage, green beans, spinach, kale and bok choy are also green choices.
Orange (contain carotenoids). Add carrots or carrot juice, mango slices, tangerines or sweet potatoes to meals.
Red (high in lycopene). Increase tomatoes, tomato sauce, red pepper, watermelon, or pink grapefruit.
Red/Purple (rich in anthocyanins). Examples include blueberries, red apples, grapes, strawberries, cherries, and eggplant.

Go with whole grains.

Whole grains such as wheat, rye, rice, barley, quinoa and oatmeal are found in bread, cereal, rice, crackers, and pretzels. Whole grains are high in fiber, B-vitamins, chromium and zinc. Substitute whole grain rice for white rice, Try whole grain crackers. Snack on whole grain popcorn!

“Get Your Plate in Shape” Homework:

Monday: Try for fruits and vegetables with natural green colors (lettuce, green beans, broccoli).

Tuesday: Try for fruits and vegetables with natural red/purple colors (blueberries, red apples).

Wednesday: Try for fruits and vegetables with natural yellow/orange colors (corn, nectarines, peaches).

Thursday: Try for foods with natural white green colors (cabbage, onions, celery pears, lettuce).

Friday: Try a whole grain cereal or rice!

Celebrate National Nutrition Month with whole grains and a colorful plate!

For more information about National Nutrition Month and ideas, check the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at http://www.eatright.org/nnm/

Contributed by Leslie K. Kay-Getzinger, MS, RD, Regional Dietitian for Nutrition Management Services

(Image from ChooseMyPlate.org)

Friday, March 23

FRIDAY FOLDER march 23

Highlights From This Week

Upcoming Events
Chalk Talk: How to Parent Your Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
Tuesday April 3, 2012, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Fairmont Edgewood Campus

If you've ever dreamed of being a better parent or educator, this is the event for you! Learn how to make the most of your parent/child/school relationship from acclaimed speaker, Scott Peebles, M.A., MFCC, H.B. Scott was one of the youngest licensed Marriage, Family & Child Counselors in California, and he has been deemed one of the most exciting and entertaining parenting speakers in the country. Scott calls his method "Slightly Off the Wall Parenting." We think you'll call it amazing! All Fairmont parents, faculty and friends are welcome!
Click here to RSVP

Homestay Program Info Session
Wednesday, March 28, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Fairmont Anaheim Hills Campus TEC Lab

The Fairmont Homestay Program is looking for Fairmont Families to host an international student for our short-term, long term, and summer programs at our Mable, Anaheim Hills, and Preparatory Campuses. Fairmont has a variety of student programs ranging from two weeks to an entire academic year allowing any family the opportunity to participate in this rewarding experience. Families will also receive financial compensation for their participation.
Click Here to RSVP

Mable ExploraVision Winners Receive Awards
On Thursday, March 22, two representatives from Toshiba visited the Mable campus to recognize the ExploraVision team who was just named one of 24 Regional Winners in the country. The ExploraVision Competition is the largest K-12 science and technology competition in the world. Only 24 teams were selected out of 5,000 total entries for this special recognition. Now the Mable team will go on to the national level and have the opportunity to win a trip to Washington D.C. and savings bonds. We are wishing them all the best!

Fairmont Parent Survey
You should have received an email this week with the annual Fairmont Parent Survey. Your feedback is valuable and we appreciate you taking the time to provide it to us. When you take the survey, you will be eligible to win $1,000.00 off tuition discount good for the 2012-2013 school year. One winner will be drawn from each campus and all survey participants will be eligible.

Weekly E-Newsletters

March Lunch Menus

Mable

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Thursday, March 22

CHALK TALK how to keep your kids safe online

On Wednesday, February 29 we hosted a Chalk Talk at our Mable Campus on the topic of Online Safety. We welcomed expert Monique Nelson, the Chief Operating Officer at Web Wise Kids to present to our families. Web Wise Kids is a Southern California based non-profit with the mission of teaching kids, parents and the community the value of making safe and wise choices in a technologically evolving world. The organization does this by creating and distributing interactive content through the same media that kids and adults use on a daily basis.

Monique has years of experience speaking on this topic, and she approached our audience with nonchalance and humor (much appreciated after a long day). She touched on some great points that we wanted to share here on our blog...

Age 11 is when kids really begin using the computer and when parents need to become cognoscente of online behavior
Kids are making the trends online, so there is a definite need for parents and teachers to understand those trends
What happens online stays online, and more people than just your immediate social network see your posts (friend of the friend of the friend rule)
Teens feel safer online than in real life; being online gives them a sense of anonymity that often results in them sharing very personal information
Parents should know the "Net Lingo." For example, PIR means "parents in room," POS means "parent over shoulder." Visit netlingo.com for more acronym definitions.
Photos taken on cell phones are automatically geo-tagged, and child predators sometimes use those tags to find children. Be sure to disable location services for photos on your cell phone.
When creating household internet safety rules, involve the children in making the rules and be consistent in enforcement.

Visit www.webwisekids.org for more parent tips and resources.

(Image from AssociaLiving.com)

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Tuesday, March 20

EVENTFUL oc egg hunts

If hunting eggs is part of your family's springtime celebration, then you'll want to mark your calendar for some eggciting events coming your way the first week of April:

OC Fairgrounds 6th Annual Easter Festival and Treasure Hunt
Irvine Park Railroad's Easter Eggstravaganza
For a list of egg hunts and other Easter festivities by city, visit orangecounty.net.

Photo from Microsoft Office clip art gallery.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Monday, March 19

TEACHER'S PET ms. bauman's canine family

After a long day at school, Ms. Patsy Bauman enjoys some downtime with Pizmo her Boston Terrior, Sadie Mae her rescue Cha-weinie, and Don Cheto her rescued Chihuahua.

Contributed by Ms. Bauman, Citron Campus Kindergarten Teacher

Friday, March 16

FRIDAY FOLDER march 16

Highlights From This Week

Upcoming Events
Chalk Talk: How to Parent Your Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
Tuesday April 3, 2012, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Fairmont Edgewood Campus

If you've ever dreamed of being a better parent or educator, this is the event for you! Learn how to make the most of your parent/child/school relationship from acclaimed speaker, Scott Peebles, M.A., MFCC, H.B. Scott was one of the youngest licensed Marriage, Family & Child Counselors in California, and he has been deemed one of the most exciting and entertaining parenting speakers in the country. Scott calls his method "Slightly Off the Wall Parenting." We think you'll call it amazing! All Fairmont parents, faculty and friends are welcome!
Click here to RSVP

Fairmont Parent Survey
Look out this coming week for an email with the annual Fairmont Parent Survey. Your feedback is valuable and we appreciate you taking the time to provide it to us. When you take the survey, you will be eligible to win $1,000.00 off tuition discount good for the 2012-2013 school year. One winner will be drawn from each campus and all survey participants will be eligible.

Become a Homestay Family!
Why Should you Host an International Student? Here is what some our Fairmont Families have to say about the Homestay Program.

"Not only is it a rewarding experience for the student, it also is for the Host Family. My son now has two new playmates. They can get another brother or sister at home to teach them about their customs and even a few words of their language. My son is just attached to his host sister.

Looking at it from your child's viewpoint, they become a part of the family. You're not just parenting a kid, its adding to the joy of your family."

- Carrise Moriyasu, an Anaheim Hills Parent who has hosted for over 2 years and is currently hosting two Russian students

"Homestay was an amazing experience for my family and I! We really enjoyed learning a lot about the Chinese culture and traditions as well as sharing ours with them. It was so much fun introducing them to things they had never experienced before, such as the beach and bowling. Overall it was a great experience and we definitely would do it again!"

- Michelle Anderson, a Fairmont Anaheim Hills Teacher who hosted 2 Chinese students for 5 weeks

The Fairmont Homestay Program is looking for Fairmont Families to host an international student for our short-term, long term, and summer programs at our Mable, Anaheim Hills, and Preparatory Campuses. Fairmont has a variety of student programs ranging from two weeks to an entire academic year allowing any family the opportunity to participate in this rewarding experience. Families will also receive financial compensation for their participation.

Interested families are invited to attend our Homestay Program Information Meeting at the Anaheim Hills Campus on March 28, 2012 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Families can RSVP for the meeting by visiting our website at http://www.fairmontschools.com/homestay. For more information, please contact the Homestay Office at714-999-5055 x 1689or email jgubersky@fairmontschools.com.

Weekly E-Newsletters

March Lunch Menus

Mable

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Thursday, March 15

SCHOOL NEWS fairmont mable team wins regional toshiba exploravision award

Four fifth graders from Fairmont's Mable Campus demonstrated their talent for scientific innovation in Toshiba’s national ExploraVision Competition. The team, led by science teacher Kathryn Baham, was named one of 24 regional winners in the country and will now take their project “Hearing the World’s Silent Side” to the national round of the competition. The team members include Chloe S. of Fullerton, Taylor T. of Orange, Riya B. of Buena Park and Raj S. of Anaheim.

The ExploraVision competition challenges fourth through sixth graders to propose how a current technology might be used 20 years in the future. Fairmont’s team of students studied the cochlear implant (hearing aid) and was shocked to discover that with today's technology doctors are still unable to help patients with deafness caused by auditory nerve damage. To find a solution, the students looked to the technology that is currently being tested for spinal cord injuries and wondered if that technology could be re-purposed in deaf patients. The answer, it turned out, was yes.

Applying this creative thinking, the students came up with their product: “Hearing the World’s Silent Side” [HWSS]. HWSS is a mixture of two components: nanofibers used in Spinal Cord technology and a 2012 Cochlear Implant. In HWSS the nanofibers are used to coat the auditory nerve. When sound waves enter the ear they are able to bypass the nerve damage. Combining this nanofiber technology with the regular cochlear implant results in a perfect solution for any type of hearing loss.

"I am so proud to be coaching this team of students. They are innovative thinkers who explore new ideas with enthusiasm. Cochlear implants and spinal cord procedures are complicated technologies to understand, but these students did their research and became experts on the topic, because they had a passion for helping the deaf to hear," said Kathryn Baham, Fairmont Mable Campus Science Teacher and ExploraVision Coach.

Each of the regional winning teams receives a Toshiba laptop for the school and each member of the regional winning teams will receive a Toshiba HD Camcorder. Toshiba will visit the Mable Campus to recognize the students in an awards ceremony on Thursday, March 22 at 2:00pm.

Each of the regional winners will now move on to the national phase of the competition, where they will compete to be named among the eight national winner teams, including four first-place and four second-place winners. Students on the four first-place ExploraVision national winner teams will each receive a $10,000 US Series EE Savings Bond valued at maturity. Students on second-place teams will each receive a $5,000 Savings Bond valued at maturity.The eight teams will also receive an expenses-paid trip with their families, mentor, and coach to Washington, DC for a gala awards weekend in June 2012. Activities will include a visit to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress, a Science Showcase during which the students will display and demonstrate their winning ideas, and sightseeing around the nation’s capital.

This is the third consecutive year Fairmont Private Schools has placed in the annual Toshiba ExploraVision competition. Past awards include:

2010: 2nd Place Nationally for Automatic Correcting Eyeglasses by John W. and Valerie N.
2009: Regional Winner for The Smart Cane by Tera G., Justine G. and Victoria N.

Read the story in the OC Register and Parenting OC.

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Wednesday, March 14

THE FAIRMONT FIVE celebrate pi day

For all you math whizzes out there, today is a very special day--it's Pi Day! 3.14 Pi, Greek letter (

), is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts around the world on March 14th, seeing as Pi = 3.1415926535…

Even for those of us whose fortes are more...right-brained, math is always going to be an integral part of daily life (no pun intended). So why not spend Pi Day getting your calculate on?! Here are a few ideas:

Test the Domino Effect. Watch the video above and learn how to use pi to calculate the number of dominos used in a domino spiral. Then create your own (slighly smaller) version and test out what you learned.
Make (and eat) a Pie. Use your fraction skills and whip up one of these great pie recipes from NPR's Doreen McCallister. It'll make a very festive Pi Day dessert!
Count Your Letters. Being a writer, I loved this idea that a teacher contributed to the official Pi Day website: "In class we are using the first 20 digits in Pi and writing a story using the numbers. For example, with 3.14 you would use a 3-letter word, then a 1-letter word, then a 4-letter word and so on."
Meet Sir Cumference. Circumference, radius, diameter...if all this circle speak is a little over your little one's head, try explaining the concepts with the help of Sir Cumference! He stars in the books Sir Cumference and the First Round Table and Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, and he helps turn math into an adventure.
Channel Your Inner Einstein. Albert Einstein, the math genius himself, was born on Pi Day--March 14, 1879. The city of Princeton puts on a four-day celebration in honor of Einstein and Pi Day. Check out their activities and re-create some in your own home or school.

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Tuesday, March 13

EVENTFUL spring family events in orange county

Take advantage of these extra hours of daylight and spend the upcoming weekends out and about at some of Orange County's biggest family events! Be sure to stop by the Fairmont booth and say hi to our Admissions and Summer Programs representatives while you're there!

The Family Fun & Wellness Fair is in its third year at Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine. Hosted by Good to From Head to Toe, this event is dedicated to family wellness and offers complimentary health screenings for children. Every child that participates in three screenings will receive a ticket to Pretend City! There will also be live performances (including Irish dancers), food trucks, face painting and giveaways.

When

Saturday, March 17: 9am-2pm

Where

Pretend City Children's Museum

29 Hubble

Irvine, CA 92618

The Parenting OC Jamboree is an annual event that showcases summer activities for families, gourmet food and local youth talent. This year's Jamboree will feature 75 exhibitors in the areas of summer camps, classes and activities, family travel, products and services for health and safety, birthday parties, sports and more. Also be sure to show your support for our Fairmont students who are competing in the Spelling Bee competition!

When

Saturday, March 17: 10am-3pm

Where

OC Great Park

6950 Marine way

Irvine, CA 92618

The Summer Camp & Activities Fair is sponsored by OC Family magazine and is held in the heart of the Irvine Spectrum shopping center. This event is the perfect place for families to preview summer school and camp options in Orange County while enjoying live entertainment, balloon artists, face painters and more.

When

Saturday, March 24: 11am-4pm

Where

Irvine Spectrum Center

Irvine, CA 92618

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Monday, March 12

ARTS & CRAFTS lucky shamrocks

Spring starts this month, and that means facing the annual obligation of spring cleaning and organizing. So, if you're like me and looking for a great way to procrastinate these chores and keep your kids busy, here's a crafty idea. It's fun, it's "green" and it might bring your family a little extra luck (even better than clean baseboards)! Get directions for these toilet roll shamrocks from the creative folks at Childmade, An Idea Place.

Photo from Childmade

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Friday, March 9

FRIDAY FOLDER march 9

Highlights From This Week

Upcoming Events
Character Counts Workshop: Bullying
Tuesday, March 13, 7pm-8:30pm
Fairmont Edgewood Campus

Fairmont's Edgewood Campus is pleased to invite all Fairmont parents to a special Character Counts workshop on the topic of bullying. Fairmont believes in teaching students good character skills that will help them be positive contributors to our global society. We want to help our students learn how to interact in appropriate ways and to maintain our respectful campus environment.

As part of this Character Counts program, we've invited Mr. Mike Dreiblatt, author of How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression and national speaker, to speak with our parents about bullying and show us how to address potential challenges. You'll leave with a better understanding of what bullying really is and some great tips for promoting good character in your home. Click here to RSVP.

Chalk Talk: How to Parent Your Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
Tuesday April 3, 2012, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Fairmont Edgewood Campus

If you've ever dreamed of being a better parent or educator, this is the event for you! Learn how to make the most of your parent/child/school relationship from acclaimed speaker, Scott Peebles, M.A., MFCC, H.B. Scott was one of the youngest licensed Marriage, Family & Child Counselors in California, and he has been deemed one of the most exciting and entertaining parenting speakers in the country. Scott calls his method "Slightly Off the Wall Parenting." We think you'll call it amazing! All Fairmont parents, faculty and friends are welcome!
Click here to RSVP

Fairmont Parent Survey
Look out this coming week for an email with the annual Fairmont Parent Survey. Your feedback is valuable and we appreciate you taking the time to provide it to us. When you take the survey, you will be eligible to win $1,000.00 off tuition discount good for the 2012-2013 school year. One winner will be drawn from each campus and all survey participants will be eligible.

Open House Season
Open House season is well underway at Fairmont. Our Anaheim Hills and Edgewood campus events were huge successes, and we are looking forward to Mable and Citron's Open Houses this month. Please be sure to join us at the Mable Campus on Friday, March 9th from 6pm-8pm and at the Citron Campus on Friday, March 16th from 6pm-8pm. For tips on how to make the most of Open House, check out this blog post.

Weekly E-Newsletters

March Lunch Menus

Mable

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Thursday, March 8

ARTS & CRAFTS baby bird nest

Baby Bird Nest

This nest of baby birds is a cute and simple way to celebrate springtime. Here are the how-tos compliments of Parents magazine.

Make it: Cut a paper plate in half and staple the rims together (leaving the top of the "nest" open). After your kids paint it brown, help them glue shredded brown paper onto the front to add texture. Create the birds by gluing three blue pom-poms to the ends of Popsicle sticks. Add googly eyes and orange paper beaks for a little personality. Have your kids slide the ends of the Popsicle sticks between the plates so the baby birds can rest inside their new nest -- and even pop up when they get hungry!

Photo from Parents

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Wednesday, March 7

FAIRMONT FIVE raising readers

Reading is a skill that many of us take for granted. It's easy to forget how important it is to cultivate a "reading lifestyle" at home that supports classroom learning and fosters academic achievement. Statistics show that parents who provide reading materials in the home--books, newspapers, magazines--and who read daily to their children can greatly enhance their children's reading skills and overall academic success. Here are a few simple tips to make sure reading becomes a healthy habit in your home:

Read with your child daily. Just 15 minutes a day of independent reading can expose children to more than a million words of text in a year. All of those words add up to greater reading comprehension, improved fluency and a stronger vocabulary.
Become “regulars” at your local library. For kids today, visiting the local library is something of a novelty. You might be surprised by just how much fun they can have browsing the shelves for books, perusing the kids' magazines and wielding their own library cards.
Turn off the TV, computer, gaming device, etc. There's nothing wrong with screentime in moderation, but most kids get too much of the aforementioned electronic media. Consider setting aside one day a week when you "unplug" and encourage your kids to play a board game, work on a craft project or read.
Engage in activities and experiences that require reading. This recommendation comes direct from Fairmont's Director of Education Sandy Cosgrove. When she cooks with her first grade granddaughter, she encourages her to read the recipe. If questions come up in discussions with her grandchildren, she employs the classic teacher answer, "Look it up!"
Model it! Here's another tip from Sandy. Parents, don't forget that you are your child's first and constant teacher. When you read the morning paper, pick up a magazine or join a book club, you are modeling behavior that says reading is a fun, informative and vital part of your life.

Photo from Microsoft Office photo gallery

Contributed by Danyelle and Sandy, Fairmont Private Schools

Tuesday, March 6

BOOK REPORT dr. seuss' sleep book

Sleep Book

By. Dr. Seuss

Kudos to my mother-in-law for introducing my kids and I to what has become one of my all-time favorite Dr. Seuss books. It's a lesser known tome when compared to Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, but it's really worth looking up at your local library if you haven't yet read Sleep Book. What better time, considering that this month commemorates Dr. Seuss's 107th birthday! All of the zany rhyming and crazy characters you'd expect from Dr. Seuss are here, in spades. The book starts off with a yawn...

A yawn is quite catching, you see. Like a cough.

It just takes one yawn to start other yawns off.

What follows is a run down of how that yawn spreads from "the County of Keck" to "Culpepper Springs" to "Finnigan Fen" and well beyond. Hundreds and thousands and millions and billions of strange creatures are finding themselves very, very sleepy. The hope is that this yawn will even spread to your own home by the conclusion of the book, bringing the "sleep number" to "Ninety-nine zillion/Nine trillion and three." I've tried a lot of sleep training methods in my time, but this one is by far the most fun!

Book jacket image from Barnes and Noble

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Monday, March 5

SHORT STORY happy birthday dr. suess

Friday, March 2nd is a special day indeed

Especially for those kids who especially love to read!

It's the birthday, you see

Of one masterful he

Who weaved rhymes into tales

About loraxes and whales!

Dr. Suess, of course, is the man we speak of

For whom we all have lots of love.

Our preschoolers helped celebrate his birthday

In an extra special, bookish way!

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

Friday, March 2

FRIDAY FOLDER march 2

Highlights From This Week

Orange County Spelling Bee Results!
Yesterday, the OC Register announced the top fifty-six spellers from across Orange County who have been selected as Spelling Bee finalists. These students will square off Saturday in the final of The Orange County 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The winner will head to Washington, D.C. for the national championship in May, an event televised on ESPN. We are pleased to congratulate our very own Liza M., Lauren L., Nicole K. and Sherry X. for making the finals! We wish them the best of luck on S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y!

Anaheim Hills American Cancer Society Relay Recess

The Anaheim Hills campus is excited to be hosting the American Cancer Society's Relay Recess the week of March 5-9. The American Cancer Society Relay Recess brings education and community service to your child's classroom in a fun and exciting way that allows students to help save lives from cancer. Through our Relay Recess program, your child will learn about cancer and steps they can take to reduce their risk of developing the disease and stay well. Learn more in the Anaheim Hills newsletter.

Peer to Peer Days at Fairmont Prep
On Friday, March 9th (Anaheim Hills) and March 16th(Mable & Edgewood), our 7th grade students will visit Fairmont Prep for Peer to Peer Day. Our students will get a taste of the high school life as they sit on a class, tour the campus and enjoy themed "Around the World Days" activities. Check the weekly newsletters below for the full schedule. Please be sure your student's permission slip has been signed and returned to make sure he or she can attend Peer to Peer Day.

Weekly E-Newsletters

March Lunch Menus