A to Z: Community Service

Young people these days are very busy. Between school, homework, soccer practice, and more, there doesn’t seem to be much time left over. However, teaching your child the importance of community service is incredibly beneficial for his or her transition into becoming a responsible adult. Instilling manners at home, along with encouraging good citizenship and a sense of community, will help to foster empathy and self-awareness in children of any age. Engaging in opportunities to serve may help your child become more culturally diverse, learn about socio-economic differences within your community, discover specific skills or interests, and most importantly, learn the value of helping those in need.

Most communities and local organizations are almost always in need of extra hands to volunteer. Public libraries, schools, churches, and civic organizations are great resources for identifying potential causes and opportunities that might be a good match for your child. Websites such as VolunteerMatch are great for finding local community service opportunities specifically for children. If you’re still in need of ideas, think about visiting your local food bank or senior living center, donating goods to the Salvation Army or local homeless shelter, or even simply having your child take a Saturday to help friends, relatives, or neighbors with household or outside chores. Explore some of these non-profit nationally-recognized volunteer organizations:

Wounded Warrior Project

Habitat for Humanity

American Red Cross

American Cancer Society

The seeds planted when serving one’s community will take root and help your child to grow into a well-rounded, giving individual. Making community service outings a family affair is a great option which will create stronger bonds between family members, create memories, and provide an outstanding example for your children to follow.

Click to read about the different ways Fairmont students are serving their communities!

3rd Grade Students Read to Kindergarteners

September 11th Remembrance

Fairmont Prep Students Cheer Participants of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Helping Student-Athletes Give Back

Innovative Wildfire Detector Earns National Recognition for Fairmont Alumna

Fairmont Alums Give Talk on Kindness and Self-Respect During Prep’s Opening Day

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools
Image by KCHA News

EVENTFUL: Total Lunar Eclipse

This weekend, you may have noticed a total lunar eclipse, or “Blood Moon,”  while looking out upon the evening sky. This rare phenomenon occurs as a result of light and shadows. As the Earth rotates around the sun, it becomes aligned between the sun and moon, casting its shadow onto the moon’s surface. The reddish color of the moon is created by the Earth’s shadow and the light from the sun that emanates past the outer edges of the Earth. This creates a sunrise-like effect that encompasses the entire Earth and causes the moon’s surface to appear red.

 Glastonbury, England courtesy of Getty Images

Geneva, Switzerland courtesy of the Associated Press

September’s eclipse was the fourth of a four-part series of total lunar eclipses, known as a “tetrad.” A very rare occurrence, only seven more tetrads are expected until the year 2100. September’s lunar eclipse was particularly special due to the lunar eclipse and “supermoon” occurring on the same night. A supermoon refers to the times when the moon is in the closest part of its orbit to the Earth, making the moon appear larger to us on the ground.

Watch NASA’s stream of the entire eclipse:

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images & Video by Associated Press, Getty Images, & Griffith Observatory 

FRIDAY FOLDER: September 25

Highlights of the Week:

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools
 

ARTS & CRAFTS: Pine Cone Owl

It’s the first day of autumn! Celebrate the commencement of this new season by decorating your home with a few of these adorable pine cone owls! Spend time with your child as you take them outside to gather materials for this quick and fun craft!

Materials:

Acorn Cups

Leaves

Hot Glue

Googly Eyes

Orange Craft Foam

Pine Cone

Cardstock

Instructions:

1. For a base, measure and cut a circle in a sheet of cardstock to fit the base of the pine cone.
2. Cut a beak and feet from the orange craft foam.
3. Glue the feet to the flat base of the pine cone.
4. Glue the base of the pine cone to the cardstock circle, ensuring that the pine cone will stand upright once dry.
5. For eyes, glue one googly eye into each acorn cup, then glue the cups near the top of the pine cone. In order for the eyes to sit into the pine cone, you may need to remove one or two of the pine cone spines.
6. For wings, glue one leaf to each side of the pine cone.
7. Glue the beak to the pine cone just below the center of the eyes.

For more great craft ideas, visit Fairmont’s Arts & Crafts Pinterest board!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Craft Instructions & Image by Broogly

A to Z: Better Breakfast Month

Is your child getting bored with eating cereal and toast every morning? There’s no better time to shake up your morning routine than in September, also known as Better Breakfast Month! In celebration of breakfast, here are a few fun, healthy, homemade recipes to try with your family!

Breakfast Sandwiches courtesy of Macheesmo 

Mini Berry Puff Pancakes courtesy of Super Healthy Kids Blog 

Ham & Egg Breakfast Cups courtesy of Recipe

Fruit Ring Pancakes courtesy of Listotic 

Peanut Butter & Banana Quesadillas courtesy of Listoti 

Breakfast Pizza courtesy of Listotic

 Fruit & Yogurt Cones courtesy of Listotic 

Omelette in a Bag courtesy of Favorite Family Recipes

For more ideas to spice up your family’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, visit Fairmont’s Snacktime Pinterest board!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images & Recipes by Macheesmo, Super Healthy Kids Blog, Recipe, Listotic, & Favorite Family Recipes

FRIDAY FOLDER: September 18

Highlights of the Week:

Historic Anaheim Campus

 Anaheim Hills Campus

 

North Tustin Campus

 

 

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

 

A to Z: Classical Music on the Brain

For years, researchers have been searching for links between music and cognition. Many parenting resources suggest that playing classical music to your infant promotes brain stimulation and cognitive growth in hopes that the child will develop more efficiently in a mental and social capacity. But does music really impact the IQ of your child?

1993 proved to be the height of music-brain research with the “Mozart Effect” study, which detailed the effects of Mozart on high school and college students while taking tests. The study demonstrated a correlation between receiving high scores on an exam and the students who listened to Mozart sonatas before the exam. The Mozart Effect, however, proved inconclusive due to the fact that other researchers were never able to duplicate the results. The outcome of the follow-up studies concluded that classical music aides in spatial awareness, but not overall intelligence. Spatial awareness is defined as the ability to recognize the characteristics or location of an object in relation to another object. Related subject areas include geometry, geography, art, and technology.

Researchers have identified that while classical music won’t directly increase intelligence, the complexity of classical music does play a significant role in opening the brain to more complex problems and solutions. The mathematics and patterns involved in writing music, playing an instrument, or simply listening to music with complex structures has been found to aid in the mental and visual solving of puzzles and patterns.   

Other benefits of classical music can include the lowering of blood pressure and an increase in the sensation of relaxation. Classical music has also proven to decrease the effects and frequency of seizures in epileptics. Essentially, studies have shown show that people who listen to complex music, such as classical or opera, are more likely to see an increase in creativity, concentration, and the ability to manipulate spatial relationships.

In honor of Classical Music Month, here are several great classical and operatic tracks to enjoy with your child:

Ave Maria, Schubert

Waltz of the Flowers, Tchaikovsky

Dance of the Swans, Tchaikovsky

The Flight of the Bumblebee, Rimsky-Korsakov

Sonata No. 12 in F Major, K. 332: III, Allegro Assai, Mozart

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by USC News

BOOK REPORT: The Best Book I Read This Summer

In honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month, several Fairmont students and faculty members have recommended their favorite summer reads! Visit your local library to sign your child up for their very own library card and to check out these great titles!

The Story of Ferdinand, Munro Leaf

A passive, young bull calf, Ferdinand desires to spend his days smelling flower instead of participating in the famous bullfights of Spain.

Recommended by Ms. Aguilar, 1st Grade Teacher

Junie B., First Grader - The Dumb Bunny, Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones is stuck is a bunny costume, but does her best to win the Easter egg hunt without getting egg on her face!

Recommended by Saba T.

 Bob the Dog, Rodrigo Folgueira

Bob the Dog and Mark must figure out what to do when Bob accidentally swallows a yellow canary!

Recommended by Yasmina S.

 Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl, Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones looks for ways to show everyone how grown-up she is at her Aunt Flo’s wedding.

Recommended by Sofia K.

What Makes Popcorn Pop?, Time Life for Children

A question and answer book for kids’ questions about food!

Recommended by Ms. Johnson, Junior Kindergarten Teacher

Spark the beginning of a life-long journey by encouraging your young learner to read! Before taking a trip to the library, be sure to visit Fairmont’s Pinterest board Literary Genius for great reading ideas and book recommendations!
  

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images by Pinterest, BTSB, Goodreads, Little Sprout Speech, Comidaconalta, & Sort It Apps