A TO Z kindergarten readiness

Is your child ready for kindergarten? The skills that kindergarten teachers are looking for may surprise you. You might think it’s important for children to enter kindergarten knowing their ABCs, numbers, shapes and colors so they can keep up with the curriculum. While teachers love it when children are familiar with these building blocks of academic learning, they are also looking for students with:

• Good listening skills. Loves listening to stories. Answers questions about a story. Hears and identifies letter sounds in words. Detects rhyming words and patterns. Concentrates on what the teacher is saying. Listens carefully for directions. Follows 3-step directions.
• Strong fine motor skills. Correct pencil grasp. Forms letters and numbers, and writes first name. Weaves and threads objects. Colors a simple picture. Cuts on a line. Copies simple shapes. Has mastered practical life skills i.e. buttons, zippers, and fasteners on clothing. Also beginning to learn to tie shoes.
• Solid oral language skills. Has a strong knowledge about their world. Uses words to convey needs, feelings, likes and dislikes. Uses language/words in the correct context. Identifies letter sounds. Responds to questions in complete sentences. Retells a story in own words.
• Ability to play with others. Invites other to play through conversation and body language. Communicates with others by expressing personal wants. Understands and respects rules--often asks permission. Takes turns and shares (toys and attention with others. Shows self-control by using words instead of hands. Pretends while playing (combines fantasy and reality). Is silly, playful and happy. Plays through gross motor skills (jumping, climbing, etc.)
• Enthusiasm for learning. Asks questions. Participates in activities. Becomes engaged in lessons. Wants to come to school. Is developing a habit of cooperation. Is curious and wants to investigate. Is willing to take risks and not afraid of making mistakes. Shows independence.

Watch your child's behavior and look for these key signs to ensure that he or she is ready to transition to "big kid school." Starting kindergarten when the child is truly ready is one of the first key steps towards academic success. 

Image credit: Fairmont Private Schools
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

ARTS + CRAFTS bat-o-lanterns

Halloween is such a fun time for arts and crafts. There are so many simple ways to decorate your home with things you and your children have made yourselves. One of the most popular crafts during Halloween is carving pumpkins!  But if you are like me, you have young children who you can't trust with a knife yet. Here is an adorable bat-o-lantern craft from Spoonful that will let your younger children join in on the pumpkin decorating fun!  For more great Halloween-themed crafts, check out Fairmont's Pinterest boards.

Image credit: Spoonful 
Contributed by Darcy, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER October 18

6th graders enjoying Outdoor Education

Highlights From This Week

Red Ribbon Week

Next week, Fairmont will celebrate Red Ribbon Week. This is a week to remind students to live a healthy lifestyle. Depending on the campus, there will be themed dress days through the week. In addition, all students will receive a red wristband to wear throughout the week. While wearing this wristband, students can receive discounts at various businesses around Orange County.

North Tustin JDRF Fundraiser

The North Tustin Campus had a JDRF Fundraiser on Wednesday, October 16th and we reached our school goal of $1,000! Students who participate will have their name written on a JDRF sneaker, which is hung on the car loading bulletin board. All collections go to the JDRF Walk on November 3rd. Thank you so much for your support!

Save the Date: JDRF - Walk to Cure Diabetes

Sunday, November 3rd, 2013

University of California, Irvine

Check in: 8:30 am  

Walk Starts: 10:00 am

Rain or Shine

UCI Parking: $7 per car

Fairmont as a community has registered for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes and accepted the challenge to form a team and raise money for JDRF, the largest nongovernmental supporter of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes raises funds, awareness, and hope for the millions of people living with and affected by T1D, a serious autoimmune disease. This year's walk is Sunday, November 3rd at UCI. Visit our campus team pages to register for the walk and donate: North Tustin - Historic Anaheim Campus - Anaheim Hills - Historic Anaheim Preschool

Historic Anaheim and Anaheim Hills 6th Grade Goes Outdoors for Education 

Each year, sixth grade students spend a week in the San Bernardino Mountains hiking, exploring, and observing nature. While there, they are exposed to hands-on lessons in biology, geology, and ecology that enrich the sixth grade science curriculum. While the experience is highly educational, students also gain the opportunity to meet sixth graders from other school communities and develop rich friendships with their peers. Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to walk alongside expert instructors and classroom teachers, learning about the wilderness that surrounds them. Additionally, they studied many topics covered in their science classes, including plate tectonics and the water cycle. It certainly was a week of learning about and engaging with nature! 

Some students exclaimed their favorite moments included: Skit Night, the astronomy hike, and their science sessions. The camaraderie gained through the five day experience was enough to last a lifetime. While each and every student learned more about the world in which they live, they also developed strong friendships and lasting memories. Outdoor Science School provided an experience unmatched for Fairmont's sixth graders!

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

August/September 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 Rickey, Fairmont Private Schools

SNACK TIME pumpkin soup

Feel that chill in the air? Warm soup is on the way! It’s October – why not make it pumpkin? That’s right, pumpkin soup is surprisingly yummy, creamy, and velvety-smooth. Made from scratch using real pumpkins is way more fun and tastier than making soup from canned.

 

Selecting a pumpkin is part of the fun. Kids can watch it transform in the oven and help scoop out the flesh. Remember that children are much more likely to eat food if they are involved in its meal planning and preparation.

 

Cooking tip: The best pumpkins for baking are sometimes called “pie pumpkins” and are smaller than jack-o-lantern varieties. Try Baby Pam, Autumn Kobachi, Hokkaido and Cinderella varieties for the best flavor.

 

Nutrition tip: Colorful plants are loaded with phytochemicals, compounds that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Orange and yellow squash and pumpkin definitely contribute to the “rainbow diet”.

 

Bonus: Scooping out the pumpkins seeds and roasting them is another kid-friendly activity and also makes a tasty and nutritious snack.

 

Imagine serving soup in hollowed-out tiny pumpkin as a special treat! Spooktacular!

Pumpkin Soup (from The Pioneer Woman)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 8

 

Ingredients:

§  2 whole Pie Pumpkins

§  1 quart Vegetable Or Chicken Stock

§  1/2 cup Heavy Cream

§  1/3 cup Maple Syrup

§  Dash Of Nutmeg

§  Salt To Taste

§  Extra Cream, For Serving

Preparation Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pumpkins on a cookie sheet and roast them until slightly shriveled and soft. Allow to cool slightly, then slice in half and carefully scoop out seeds and pulp. Scoop yummy flesh into a bowl. Set aside.

In a pot, heat up the pumpkin flesh with the stock and maple syrup until simmering. Mash out the big chunks, the transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor (or use an immersion blender) and puree until velvety smooth. Add cream and nutmeg, then blend again. Reheat if you need to, or just go ahead and serve in a hollowed-out pumpkin of whatever size you'd like.

Image credit: The Pioneer Woman 

Submitted by Leslie Kay-Getzinger, MS RD

Regional Dietitian for Nutrition Management Services Company

HOW TO make the most of your parent/teacher conference

Few things make a parent beam with pride more than a glowing review from a teacher. We love to hear that our children are bright, hard-working and responsible, and, chances are, that's just what you'll hear at your upcoming parent/teacher conference. Conference time is also a valuable opportunity to dig a little deeper and find out areas where your child may need support.

In order to make the most of this experience, it helps to do your homework. Think ahead about any concerns you may have and be prepared to share them with your child's teacher in an open and non-threatening way. Share important details about your child that the teacher may not know and that could help maximize your child's success in the classroom. Take advantage of the teacher's unique perspective to get a well-rounded picture of how your child is doing socially and emotionally as well as academically.

Let these tips from Scholastic be your guide and you'll be on your way to a super productive (and painless)  parent/teacher conference.

Before the Teacher Conference 

Start preparing early. Don't wait until the night before to get organized. Create a folder at the beginning of the year in which you store test scores, big homework assignments, and your notes (about things your child has told you or any other topics you want to address).

Talk to your child. Ask how he or she is doing in class, what's going on during lunchtime, recess, and when he or she goes to special classes like music or gym.

During the Teacher Conference

Arrive early. With only a few precious minutes to spend, you don't want to be late. It will shorten your time with your child's teacher and affect her day's entire schedule.

Enter with the right attitude. The goal of both the teacher and the parent should be the success of the student, but sometimes parents have a hard time discussing tough issues. Rather than put the teacher on the defensive, arrive with a compliment to start the conference off on the right foot. ("My son is really enjoying the unit on space" or "We had a great time on the field trip.") Then address any concerns in a respectful way.

Find out the communication protocol. Don't let this be the only time you talk to your child's teacher. Ask how he or she likes to communicate, whether it's by e-mail, notes passed through a folder, or phone calls.

After the Teacher Conference
Follow up. If the teacher brings something to your attention that needs to be addressed with your child, take steps to put the plan in motion, whether it's helping with organizational skills, getting extra help, or addressing a social issue.

Update your child. Start with the positive things his or her teacher had to say, then fill him or her in on any concerns you and the teacher discussed. Explain how you can all work together to ensure your child has a successful year.

Image credit: schoolimprovement.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FAIRMONT FIVE apple picking in oak glen

Romes and Winesaps and Braeburns, oh my! It’s apple season again! You can find these iconic fruits of fall at your local farmer’s market, but it’s so much more fun to harvest them yourself. Consider packing up the family and heading on an apple picking adventure. The little town of Oak Glen, California is just over an hour’s drive from Orange County, but you’ll feel worlds away. Pick your own apples, press a gallon of cider, hike in the San Bernardino wilderness, ride a pony, square dance…and gorge yourself on apple delicacies. Click on the farms below for apple picking and all manner of apple-related fun.

1. Los Rio Rancho
2. Mom’s County Orchards
3. Riley's Apple Farm
4. Snow-line Orchards
5. Willowbrook Apple Farm

Image credit: http://snow-line.com/
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

BOOK REPORT dark emperor and other poems of the night

 

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

by Joyce Sidman

Illustrated by Rick Allen

 

This October we are taking every opportunity to embrace the dark side, and no, we're not referring to The Force, Luke!  This exquisitely illustrated book of poetry celebrates the creatures that go bump in the night from bats and owls to mice and moths.  It's a great read for kids during this spooky month of Halloween and features both beautiful poetry and enlightening natural science facts about the featured animals.  It's an un-scary read for a cozy night around the campfire.  Oh, and did we mention that Dark Emperor is a Newbery Honor Book!

 

Image Credit: http://www.joycesidman.com/books/dark-emperor-and-other/

Contributed by: Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

BULLETIN BOARD october

From poetry to chemistry to apple picking road trips, we hope our inspiration board helps sets the tone for your "fall" into October.

1. Apple picking in Oak Glen
2. Moon poster free printable
3. Macaroni skeleton craft
4. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
5. Pumpkin spice playdough
6. Mad scientist-themed Halloween party

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools