SUMMER anchors away for week 2

Argghh...Little Pirates at Fairmont Summer Camp

Highlights From This Week

Week Two of summer is well underway. This week kicked off our six-week summer school program. Students attend summer school from 9am-12pm Monday-Thursday. Then many students continue on to join the summer camp program after lunch. Participating in summer school is the most effective way for kids to beat summer brain drain and ensure that they remember all the fascinating  things they learning this year. 

Today is the second Thursday Theme Day, and today's theme is Animal Face Painting. When you pick the kids up from camp today, they'll be transformed into their favorite animals. They just might start responding to you with a "grrr" or a "meow." 

Speaking of animals, this week's field trip is the Los Angeles Zoo! The zoo is always one of our campers' favorite field trips of the summer. Check out your campus' weekly newsletter below for tips about what your child needs to bring and wear for the day. 

Weekly Newsletters 
Anaheim Hills Campus 
Citron Campus 
Edgewood Campus 
Mable Campus 

Summer Orientation Videos 
Anaheim Hills Campus 
Citron Campus 
Edgewood Campus 
Mable Campus 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

THE FAIRMONT FIVE unique powers of camp

We all know that kids benefit in many ways from participating in summer camp programs. They develop leadership and teamwork skills, make friendships, and explore their interests. 

But what is the "secret sauce" of summer camp? What really makes camp such a special time for kids? At Fairmont, we know that it's moments like these...throwing your head back to fully experience the misting Rainforest exhibit at the Zoo or catching some Z's on your Camp Counselor's shoulder during the bus ride home. These moments are magical and memory-making for kids (and they just happen to be our favorite moments too!) 

We also loved this Top 5 list of the "unique powers of camp" compiled by educator/author Michael Brandwein. He credits the magic of camp to these things: 

1. Camp leads the way in using the best methods to help children learn and grow. For almost 150 years, camps have been the leader in using the number one secret to teaching: children learn most from doing. 
2. Camp communities remove the typical pressures from school and support children in a positive atmosphere that cherishes effort and persistence. One fast way to explain the incredible power of camping is in two words: "no grades." 
3. Camp has distinctive value in preparing children for future success. Camp creates communities where kids make daily decisions about activities and learn how to get along with others. 
4. Camp offers an unequaled variety of opportunities to develop well-rounded children. Camps cut like a laser through the negative expectations and beliefs that can stick to children and hold them back. 
5. Camp combats youth isolation by offering positive and accepting communities. Camp is all about belonging - belonging to a group that respects and values each member. 

What makes camp special for you? While that definition might be slightly different for each person, the "super power" of summer camp is undeniable.

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

SUMMER a'hoy mateys, it's week 1

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the 
two most beautiful words in the English language.  
-Henry James

Highlights From This Week

Summer is here! And Summer Camp at Fairmont is off to a grrrrreat start! This year's summer theme is Treasure Island, and our pint-sized pirates are just starting their adventure. This week we welcomed our new campers with fun activities like swim day, pirate eye patch crafts, and our first Themed Thursday: funky socks & sunglasses. 

This week's Friday field trip is a Treasure Hunt at our Anaheim Hills Campus. Check out your campus' weekly newsletter below for tips about what your child needs to bring and wear for the day. 

Weekly Newsletters 
Anaheim Hills Campus 
Citron Campus 
Edgewood Campus 
Mable Campus 


Summer Orientation Videos 
Anaheim Hills Campus 
Citron Campus 
Edgewood Campus 
Mable Campus 


Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

FRIDAY FOLDER june 15

Highlights From This Week

Congratulations on Another Great Year! 

Today marks the last day of the 2011/2012 school year! And what a fantastic year it's been! Congratulations especially to our 8th Grade Class of 2012 who we said goodbye to in our promotion ceremonies this week. We wish you all the best in high school and your future adventures!  

We would like to thank all of our students and parents for their dedication to Fairmont all year long. We wish you, and our teachers, a restful and enjoyable summer. We look forward to seeing you next fall! 

Fairmont Summer Programs 

Summer is here! Fairmont Summer Programs is setting sail for a summer to remember, and you won't want to miss it!  Whether you are joining us for summer school, summer camp, or specialized enrichment workshops, Fairmont guarantees that this summer, adventure awaits you! Read about the benefits of summer camp in this blog post. Enroll today for a week or the whole summer at www.fairmontsummerprograms.com

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Citron Campus 

Edgewood Campus 

Mable Campus 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

SNACK TIME celebrate flag day

Today we celebrate Flag Day, a patriotic holiday that falls right between Memorial Day and the 4th of July--giving us even more reason to break out the red, white, and blue. Flag Day marks an important date in U.S. history--the anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777. 

As the quintessential American symbol, our "grand old flag" deserves some special recognition. We love these patriotic after school snacks to share with the family. The fruit skewers are great for the whole clan, and these mini flags on toast are just too cute. 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

HOW TO bbq or grill for dad's day

It's usually Dad who fires up the grill for summer gatherings, but why not reverse the roles for Father's Day and and whip up some of his favorite from-the-grill treats?  I love this primer from Epicurious packed with all the information you need to grill with confidence plus some recipes you can try out on Dad this Sunday.  Here's an excerpt:

Grilling Tips and Techniques

Who can deny the thrill of the grill? There's nothing quite like cooking over a live flame. But if you're one of the many who find grilling intimidating, that irresistible fire-kissed flavor can feel out of reach. Fear not: Whether you're a newbie or want to expand your repertoire, a little know-how is all you need for grilling success.

In this guide you'll find an explanation of how to set up your grill, the classic techniques of live-fire cooking, and extras such as grilling safety. And at right are basic recipes for everything from steaks, burgers, and chicken to whole fish, pork chops, and shrimp. Plus, see our equipment guide for the lowdown on what kind of grill to get and other essential gear.

Read on and, before you know it, you'll be the one hosting the next cookout.

Grilling Versus Barbecue

In America, we tend to call just about anything that has a red color or a red sauce on it barbecue, but it's important to distinguish barbecue from grilling. While both involve cooking with live fire, barbecue traditionally refers to food that is cooked slowly over a low (indirect) heat and flavored by wood smoke. Grilling, on the other hand, is a hot-and-quick method that uses high (direct) heat.

The distinction gets a little blurry when you start talking about grill-roasting, grill-baking, or the combo method, all of which employ indirect heat but generally not wood smoke. But to keep it straight, remember that authentic barbecue is flavored by time and smoke—the food cooks a long time and must be kissed by wood chips, chunks, or logs. Read More

Need more help?  Check out the FAQs at Girls at the Grill.

Photo from  Microsoft Office Photo gallery

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SHORT STORY anaheim hills 8th grade promotion

Today we said goodbye to our Anaheim Hills 8th graders in a beautiful Promotion Ceremony on campus. All of the students were dressed in their very best to celebrate with teachers, administrators, family, and friends. 

Fairmont President Mr. David Jackson addressed the crowd and congratulated the students on their accomplishments. He shook each student's hand as they came up on stage to receive their certificates. 

The class gift was a $500 donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of 8th grade classmate, Shelby K. (shown above). Shelby has attended Fairmont since pre-school and was diagnosed at 2 ½ with Cystic Fibrosis.  Fairmont CEO Rob Chandler matched the $500 gift for a $1000 donation to Team Shelby USA. Shelby was honored by the donation and support from her classmates and school. The presentation was a very special moment for all. 

Congratulations Fairmont Anaheim Hills Class of 2012! We wish you all the best in high school! 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

THE FAIRMONT FIVE beat summer brain drain

For a summer's worth of brain boosting crafts, like this memory keeper, check out the June issue of Family Fun magazine or visit familyfun.com.

Woo hoo!  Summer is just a few days away.  For all those kiddos who've been crossing off their calendars, it's almost time to let loose!   And for us big kids too, summer gives us an excuse to loosen up a bit at home and at work and make time for doing, well, nothing.  It's good for all of us to escape the structure of the school year for some long overdue R&R;  however, summer's laid back attitude can morph into a vacation for the brain that's not so great for kids.  Re-think summer to turn lazy days at the beach, a trip to visit relatives, even a pick up game of baseball (with the sprinklers going full blast) into a learning opportunity.  Here are a few simple strategies for packing brain boosters into your kid's summer:

1. Tackle a new skill--check out the summer camp and course offerings in your area and encourage your child to try something new.  Studies show that novel experiences (learning or doing something new) boosts memory, creativity and overall learning.  Don't forget Fairmont's Summer Program offers lots of great enrichment workshops
2. Keep a journal--writing about his/her trip to the Grand Canyon seems less like a language arts lesson and more like a fun way to keep track of summer adventures.  In addition to journaling, kids can write and send postcards and create scrapbooks to keep writing skills sharp this summer.
3. Start a small business--lemonade stands, yard sales, dog walking services...imagine the possibilities for your young entrepreneur this summer!  Creativity, critical thinking skills, leadership, these are just a few of the skills your kids will develop when they dream up "the next big thing".
4. Research your family tree--a family reunion can become a hands-on history or genealogy lesson if you frame it correctly.  Hand over the video camera and encourage your child to make a film about the experience.
5. Join a summer reading program--where's the coolest place in your neighborhood this summer?  Yep, the library.  Sign your kids up for the summer reading program at your local library and you'll be rewarded with weeks of reading and fun activities, plus air conditioned comfort!

Photo of camp craft memory keeper from spoonful.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER june 8

Highlights From This Week

Promotion Ceremonies 

As the end of the school year draws nearer, we are preparing for our 8th Grade and Kindergarten promotions. See the schedule below of all the ceremonies next week: 

Anaheim Hills 8th Grade Promotion

Tuesday, June 12 at 5pm 

Citron Kindergarten Promotion 

Tuesday, June 12 at 5pm 

Edgewood 8th Grade Promotion 

Wednesday, June 13 at 5pm

Mable 8th Grade Promotion 

Thursday, June 14 at 6pm 

Fairmont Summer Programs 

Summer is just around the corner! Fairmont Summer Programs is setting sail for a summer to remember, and you won't want to miss it!  Whether you are joining us for summer school, summer camp, or specialized enrichment workshops, Fairmont guarantees that this summer, adventure awaits you! Read about the benefits of summer camp in this blog post. Enroll today for a week or the whole summer at www.fairmontsummerprograms.com

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Citron Campus 

Edgewood Campus 

Mable Campus 

June Lunch Menus 

AH Preschool-1st Grade

AH 2nd-8th Grade

Citron

Edgewood Preschool-Kindergarten

Edgewood 1st-8th Grade 

Mable

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

EVENTFUL hooray for rae

We look forward to celebrating with Mrs. Rae Douglas tomorrow as she prepares for her retirement. Please join us at the Citron campus to celebrate and send her your well wishes!

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

SHORT STORY writing workshop

On Tuesday, June 5, author/illustrator Troy Howell visited Fairmont's Anaheim Hills campus for a series of events to celebrate the grand opening of the new library including this writing workshop with Mr. Bloomingdale's fifth graders. Students collaborated on a story about an orphaned narwhal named "Lahwrah" (narwhal in reverse) dealing with an identity crisis. Best seller material?  Maybe!

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SHORT STORY fairmont's young scientists honored in washington dc

Fairmont's ExploraVision team preparing for their press interviews at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. 

The four winning students explaining their Hearing the World's Silent Side Project at the Congressional Science Fair during the ExploraVision Awards Weekend. 

Learn more about their project and trip to D.C. in this OC Register article. 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

SCHOOL NEWS fairmont prep congratulates class of 2012

Fairmont Prep's 158 seniors graduated on Thursday, May 31 in a beautiful ceremony in Historic Anaheim's Pearson Park. 100% of grads will be heading to college this fall, following a knock-out college acceptance season where seniors gained admission to over 200 different colleges and universities in 32 states (and the District of Columbia) and 5 countries. 

The nation's top colleges and universities acknowledged their merit by awarding the Class of 2012 with over $2.8 million in renewable funding and scholarships-an average of $17,722 per student per year. Particularly noteworthy in this year's graduating class are Fairmont's fine and performing arts grads who boast admissions to some of the finest conservatories in the country including the Rhode Island School of Design, the Pratt Institute, The School of Visual Arts, and Parsons School for Design. Read more about the Class of 2012 here.

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

FRIDAY FOLDER june 1

Highlights From This Week

Fairmont Summer Programs 

Summer is just around the corner! Fairmont Summer Programs is setting sail for a summer to remember, and you won't want to miss it!  Whether you are joining us for summer school, summer camp, or specialized enrichment workshops, Fairmont guarantees that this summer, adventure awaits you! Read about the benefits of summer camp in this blog post. Enroll today for a week or the whole summer at www.fairmontsummerprograms.com

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Citron Campus 

Edgewood Campus 

Mable Campus 

June Lunch Menus 

AH Preschool-1st Grade

AH 2nd-8th Grade

Citron

Edgewood Preschool-Kindergarten

Edgewood 1st-8th Grade 

Mable

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools