ARTS & CRAFTS valentine craft round-up

Valentine's Day is a crafty gals excuse to let loose!  Every year I love gathering up supplies (lace doilies, heart shaped stickers, construction paper, glue sticks, glitter...) and sitting down with my kids for an afternoon of Valentine card making. There's nothing quite like a homemade card creation and a gift straight from the heart is especially appropriate to celebrate a holiday that's all about love.  Here are some of our favorite Valentine crafts from Fairmont's Pinterest boards.  Don't forget to follow Fairmont on Pinterest for pins related to educational content, parenting support, holiday inspiration and more.

Melted crayon hearts

Handprint cards

Friendship bracelet Valentines

Heart puzzle

Valentine madlibs

Image from artist Susan Farrington

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

THE FAIRMONT FIVE playdate ideas for all ages

Every child (and parent) loves a playdate. But even when a friend comes over, those dreaded words, "we're bored" will probably still be said at least once. Here are five playdate ideas to keep the boredom at bay.

1. For your preschool age playdate try playing Sit-Down Dance: Start some child friendly music and when the music is paused the kids have to scramble to find a seat (the floor counts). Someone can always find a seat so no one ever gets out. You can also invite some stuffed-animal dance partners to join in.

2. If your child is a little older try a Nerf gun playdate where everyone brings their favorite Nerf gun. But before the fun starts set ground rules such as no shooting others in the face, and have clear boundaries where shooting is allowed. Have plastic cup towers set up with action figures perfect for shooting down or just let them loose in the backyard. Be sure to have time-outs for finding Nerf bullets and reloading. 

3. Get ready for Valentines Day by having a valentine making playdate. Set up your table with paper, scissors, glitter, glue, stickers and anything you would want to put on your valentines. Encourage kids to bring special craft supplies that they would like to share. 

4. With our beautiful weather, an outdoor playdate is almost always possible. Get out in the sunshine with a scavenger hunt. Have the kids create their own list or find inspiration here.  

5. Create an "I am..." board. Older kids will love making collages about themselves. Get out your stack of old magazines and have the kids cut out and glue pictures and words that describe them or what they want to be. 

Image from Tiny Prints

Contributed by Darcy, Fairmont Private Schools 

FRIDAY FOLDER january 25

Visiting Korean students share a cooking demonstration about Korean cuisine

Highlights From This Week

Korean Student Visitors Present a Cooking Demo 

For the past two weeks we have had nine students from Korea at the Anaheim Hills campus.  These third and fourth graders have come here for an English Immersion Program.  They attend English school in Korea on Saturdays and we were so surprised to hear how wonderfully they spoke English!  They learned about American culture with their specialized teacher and tutor during their visit.  They lived with parents from our school during the two weeks and learned about the American family dynamic!  During their visit they visited Sea World and Disneyland and thoroughly enjoyed spending time on our campus.

  

On Tuesday they absolutely delighted us with a presentation about Korean cooking and traditions.  Each student stood up and spoke in perfect English about Kimchi and Jung, how to make it, and the importance of it in Korean culture!  At their school in Korea they have a large garden and grow many vegetables and herbs.  They had grown the cabbage for the Kimchi and prepared it at home in Korea and then transported it over to the US for their cooking demonstration.

  

While they have been visiting us, the students have had lunch and PE with our Fairmont students to get to know them.  It has been a wonderful experience for everyone.  On Wednesday they visited Mrs. Cornish's fourth grade classroom while she taught a science lesson about circuits.  It was so fantastic to see them making circuits afterwards.  They were all so proud when the lights on their circuits lit up!

Scholar Search OC 

Sunday, February 24 10am-5pm

We invite Fairmont parents and prospective parents to take part in the Orange County Scholar Search Educational Forum being held at Fairmont Preparatory Academy this February.  Fairmont has partnered with the Scholar Search Associates to co-host this special event.

   

To make reservations for the Forum go to the Anaheim Forum page on the Scholar Search site and click on "Reserve Your Spaces" located on the blue horizontal menu bar.

Special Academic Counseling Opportunity for 8th Graders 
Mrs. Weems, the 9th grade Academic Counselor for 2013-14 incoming freshman at Fairmont Prep, will be on site our 8th grade campuses for one day each in January. (January 29 at Historic Anaheim, January 30 at the Anaheim Hills Campus, and January 31 at the North Tustin Campus) Parents who sign up in advance for a 45-minute appointment will be able meet one-on-one with Mrs. Weems to create their student's Prep Four-Year High School to College Plan. Mrs. Weems will have the student's transcripts at the meeting, so she can suggest the best and most individualized course of study.

For those interested in the Medical Magnet or Engineering Magnet, an appointment with Mr. Prado, the Magnet Counselor is advised. Mr. Prado will be happy to schedule 45-minute appointments with those Fairmont 8th grade parents who contact him directly. Email Mr. Prado directly to meet with him at the Prep. His email address is rprado@fairmontschools.com.

Please sign up for your time with Mrs. Weems at the front desk of your campus. Space is limited for this special opportunity. 

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

January Lunch Menus 

Anaheim Hills Preschool-1st Grade

Anaheim Hills 2nd-8th Grade

Historic Anaheim Campus Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus Kindergarten

Historic Anaheim Campus 1st-8th Grade

North Tustin Preschool-Kindergarten

North Tustin 1st-8th Grade

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

SNACK TIME sip some soup

January is National Hot Soup Month

 

Even though we live in Southern California, who doesn’t enjoy a hot cup of soup on a cool winter’s day? Served as an appetizer or as the main meal, this savory liquid can satisfy a hearty appetite or provide sustenance for a tiny appetite. Clear like broth or thick like stew, soup is easy to prepare and versatile--plus it’s good for you.

 

Every country in the world has soup recipes and family traditions from long ago. Here are some fun soup facts:

• Soup can be dated back to about 6000 B.C. and was first made of hippopotamus. Wow!
• The word “soup” is of Sanskrit origin and is derived from the words, “su” and “po”, which means "good nutrition."
• Americans sip over 10 BILLION bowls of soup every single year! That's a lot of soup!

Forget the spoon and sip directly from a mug or colorful bowl. Enjoy your soup, hot or cold and pass the crackers, please. For kid-friendly soup recipes, visit Fairmont's Pinterest Board.

Image with recipe from ziggetyzoom.com

Contributed by Leslie Kay-Getzinger, MS, RD

Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Management Services

THE FAIRMONT FIVE quotes to commemorate mlk day

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered today as an American hero who fought for civil rights and freedom for all.  We celebrate his legacy with some of his most powerful words:

1. The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
2. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
3. An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
4. I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
5. Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.

Image from bio.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER january 18

                      North Tustin preschoolers visit with Dr. Sue, the Traveling Insect Zoo

Highlights From This Week

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School on Monday 

"I Have a Dream." These four words are a famous part of American history. They were spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963. He was a Baptist Minister, an activist, and a distinguished leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He may be best known for his efforts in leading the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous speech, "I Have a Dream." He received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial equality through nonviolence in 1964. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986. It is celebrated the third Monday in January each year. Fairmont is proudly celebrating this holiday on Monday, January 21. We hope all our families enjoy the day off and remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and his bravery. 

Fairmont North Tustin Presents The Wizard of Oz 

Friday, January 25th @ 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 26th @ 3:00 pm

Tickets: $12 Angels Seats & $10 General Admission

The North Tustin Campus will put on a wonderful performance of The Wizard of Oz this month. Please be sure to attend to see the students act, dance, and sing. 

Special Academic Counseling Opportunity for 8th Graders 
Mrs. Weems, the 9th grade Academic Counselor for 2013-14 incoming freshman at Fairmont Prep, will be on site our 8th grade campuses for one day each in January. (January 29 at Historic Anaheim, January 30 at the Anaheim Hills Campus, and January 31 at the North Tustin Campus) Parents who sign up in advance for a 45-minute appointment will be able meet one-on-one with Mrs. Weems to create their student's Prep Four-Year High School to College Plan. Mrs. Weems will have the student's transcripts at the meeting, so she can suggest the best and most individualized course of study.

For those interested in the Medical Magnet or Engineering Magnet, an appointment with Mr. Prado, the Magnet Counselor is advised. Mr. Prado will be happy to schedule 45-minute appointments with those Fairmont 8th grade parents who contact him directly. Email Mr. Prado directly to meet with him at the Prep. His email address is rprado@fairmontschools.com.

Please sign up for your time with Mrs. Weems at the front desk of your campus. Space is limited for this special opportunity. 

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

January Lunch Menus 

Anaheim Hills Preschool-1st Grade

Anaheim Hills 2nd-8th Grade

Historic Anaheim Campus Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus Kindergarten

Historic Anaheim Campus 1st-8th Grade

North Tustin Preschool-Kindergarten

North Tustin 1st-8th Grade

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

HOW TO organize your child's room

January is a time for new beginnings. Use this time to create a new beginning for your child's room. An organized room means a happier child and parent. It might seem daunting but use these five tips to get started, and you'll be done before you know it. 

1. Start at the bottom

Get on your child's level and look at their room with a fresh eye. See what works and what doesn't. Are shelves too high? Is there space that isn't being utilized? Put together a plan. 

2. Purge

With new toys and clothes coming in, unused ones need to leave. Have your child help with this step and decide together what will stay, go to the trash, or be donated. Make this step go faster by agreeing that if a toy or item of clothing hasn't been used in X amount of months, it needs to go.

3. Buy

After buying countless gifts for Christmas, spending more might not sound positive. But there's a possibility you already have these organization items, and if you don't, the investment is well worthwhile. To make a difference in your child's room you need bins and hooks. Bins allow easy access to toys and books, and hooks help to use space that wasn't used before. 

4. Label

Labeling bins, boxes, and drawers will help everyone (including you) remember where things go. When everything has its place, the room will look a lot neater.

5. Rotate

Once you have organized you might see that you still don't have room for everything. Don't despair. Putting seasonal clothes in the garage is always an option. And for toys, you can always keep bins of toys in the garage and rotate them with the ones in the room every three or four months. Your child will most likely have forgotten about some of the stored toys, and it will seem like Christmas all over again!

If you want your newly organized room to stay organized, make sure you teach your child what is being done so they can keep it up on their own. And always remember to have fun doing it! 

Contributed by Darcy, Fairmont Private Schools 

(Photo via The Beauty of the Best House) 

ARTS & CRAFTS snowglobes

Who doesn't love a snow globe? I admit, I'm a big fan.  There's just something magical about these mini winter wonderlands enclosed in glass. We aren't likely to be getting snow for real this winter, but there's no harm in dreaming. This craft from Martha Stewart Living is sure to set your kids' imagination free to conjure their very own snow day.

Image from Martha Stewart Living

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER january 11

Let's Go FAIRMONT! 

Highlights From This Week

Fairmont Prep Community Open House 

Thursday, January 17 

6pm-8pm

We invite Fairmont P-8 families to join the Fairmont Prep community at our annual open house event. The evening will kick off with the Grand Opening of our brand new College and Counseling Center. Then you will have the opportunity to tour the campus, visit classrooms, and attend a student panel to hear more about our campus life and special programs.  

Click Here to RSVP  

How to Train Your Dragon Assembly 

The Anaheim Ducks & Dreamworks, How to Train Your Dragon crew came to Fairmont North Tustin for an Anti-Bullying Assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 9th. The students learned that it is OK to be different and how to be respectful of others in a fun, interactive way. Check out the video here! 

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

January Lunch Menus 

Anaheim Hills Preschool-1st Grade

Anaheim Hills 2nd-8th Grade

Historic Anaheim Campus Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus Kindergarten

Historic Anaheim Campus 1st-8th Grade

North Tustin Preschool-Kindergarten

North Tustin 1st-8th Grad

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

BOOK REPORT over and under the snow

Over and Under the Snow

Written by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Chris Silas Neal

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter’s snowy landscape in this magical book. 

The beautiful mixed-media illustrations and poetic prose has made this picture book a winter favorite at my home! For other great winter picture book recommendations, check out this pin on Fairmont's Pinterest account.

Book cover image and book description from katemessener.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

THE FAIRMONT FIVE family resolutions

It's a new year and plenty of people are already hard at work making their resolutions a reality. I have a few personal resolutions (lose those last few stubborn pounds of baby weight, read more, exercise...) but when you're a mom, there's no changing your life without changing the life of your family.  I love the opportunity a new year affords to take stock of things and begin, again, at the tough work of being the best mom I can be. I'm planning to channel this resolution-making energy into some doable goals for me and my family in 2013.  Here are some tips I found helpful from Dr. Phil for making my list of Family Resolutions:

1. Take inventory and prioritize. If you want to turn chaos into harmony and rhythm in your household, you have to be willing to challenge everything. Nothing is sacred. You may have to change your lifestyle, rearrange your schedule or drop some of your commitments in order to fully benefit your family. Are your children involved in too many activities? Are you so busy you never have time alone with your spouse? Ask yourself what's really important to you and your family.
2. Learn to delegate. Oftentimes, mothers take it all on themselves when their children are old enough to lend a helping hand. You can't do everything. It's admirable, but not realistic. Divide up the labor and responsibilities so you're not so worn out all the time. Give your kids specific tasks that they can each be responsible for. Your kids will appreciate it. It'll make them feel helpful and you'll have more to give them in return.
3. Create family rituals. Plan something fun for everyone to look forward to. Pick one night a week for game night. It's the time to de-stress, decompress, relax and have fun together without the TV on or the phone ringing. Do your children like to bake? Bake something new every week. Find special things to do every holiday or birthday. Your kids may roll their eyes, but their ears still work and they'll be grateful for the time together. 
4. Make each child feel special. Make a commitment to have "dates" with each of your kids. Find one thing you can do that's unique to each child that you don't do with the other kids. Know that you are very important to your children. The time you spend with them is vital to who they become as adults. 
5. Nurture your relationship with your spouse. One of the most important things you can do for your children is to take care of their mom and dad. Don't stop being friends and lovers because you've become parents. Schedule in date night for just the two of you. Remember why you fell in love in the first place. 

Image above from Design Sponge: New Year’s Resolution from Sierra of Poppies & Posies

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools