EVENTFUL: Black Friday Survival Guide

The season of giving has arrived and the mad dash of holiday shopping will commence this coming Friday. If you’re planning on braving the late night shopping on Black Friday, here are a few survival tips to consider:

1. Don’t

If at all possible, don’t leave the safe, warm embrace of your house. Enjoy your turkey coma and don’t get trampled upon by mindless shoppers frantically searching for the last $50 flat screen television. Cyber Monday is a great alternative for those who seek not to be bombarded by humanity, but shop alone while snuggled in pajamas. Amazon and many department stores have plenty of online deals to satisfy savvy shoppers. If participating in Black Friday shopping is a must for you, proceed through the following rules.

2. Don’t Buy Into the Hype

Remember that stores carry a small quantity of sweet-deal items to get consumers through the door, so the chances of making a once-in-a-lifetime purchase are slim. Don’t worry though, because most of the regularly advertised deals are available frequently throughout the year.

3. Scout the Stores and Make a Plan

Make a list of stores most important to you and outline the items and/or sales that you’d like to take advantage of in each store. Plot a shopping route for easy access and efficiency. Understand parking limitations and plan an alternate route.

4. Research the Products

Sometimes a deal really is too good to be true. Research the most tantalizing sales advertisements, especially those for electronics. Is there a reason why a store would want to give away that particular brand or model of laptop? To make your trip worthwhile, make sure you’re really getting what you want and are getting the most for your money.

5. Skip Starbucks

An almost blasphemous suggestion, but skipping Starbucks will prove to be most beneficial when executing the shopping route established in Rule #3. Brew some coffee in a travel mug before leaving the house, or better yet, have two cups with your pumpkin pie. This will not only save you money on that $5 grande latte, but will save time and hassle. Remember, everyone and their mother will be pre-gaming at Starbucks. Avoid drive-through coffee shops like the Plague.

6. Get the App and Clip the Coupon

See if there are any apps for the stores you’re going to be shopping at. Think Target’s Cartwheel app. Remember to bring any coupons and membership cards, as well as install any coupon apps that will help you to save money or earn incentive while shopping. Have these items ready before getting to the checkout stand. Don’t be that guy.

7. Pack Light and Dress Tight

For the ladies, take a small purse packed with only the essentials. This will lighten the load while running through crowded store aisles and hurdling small children lying exhausted on the floor. Also, if you’re clothes shopping for yourself, wear leggings and a tank-top, with the idea of throwing clothes on for a quick fit-check, and skipping the dressing room all together.

If you must shop on Black Friday, remember these rules and don’t forget to complete your pre-shopping calisthenics in the parking lot to avoid straining a hamstring.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by 3DPrint.com

EVENTFUL: A History of Veterans Day - The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 resulted in the end of “the war to end all wars.” The armistice agreement of World War I between the Allies and Germany led to the creation of a day celebrating peace and honoring those who fought during the Great War. While celebrating the first Armistice Day, President Woodrow Wilson stated, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

During the early celebrations of Armistice Day, business transactions were briefly halted beginning at 11:00 am, proceeding parades and public gatherings to honor those who served in World War I and brought peace to America. In 1954, after the conclusions of World War II and the Korean War, veteran service organizations persuaded the American government that the Act of 1938, which made Armistice Day a legal holiday, should be amended to include veterans of all wars, thus changing the name to Veterans Day.  

Over the years, several other military changes and commemorations came into effect on November 11th. On November 11, 1942, the draft age was expanded with on the onset of World War I. The registration of men between the ages of 21 and 36 was changed to include men between the ages of 18 and 37. By the end of the war, approximately 34 million men had registered, and 10 million had been taken into military service. On November 11, 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown was dedicated by President Warren G. Harding at Arlington National Cemetery during an Armistice Day celebration, a tradition which has been followed by the nation’s presidents ever since.

   

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images & Videos by History.com, Preceden.com, American-Hisorama.org

EVENTFUL: Spruce Goose Flies on this Day in History

 Movie producer and founder of the Hughes Aircraft Company, Howard Hughes was a successful aircraft designer and builder who is most famous for the design and creation of the Spruce Goose. Affectionately known as the “Flying Boat,” the Spruce Goose took its one and only flight on this day in 1947 in the harbor of Long Beach, California.

As the United States entered World War II, Hughes was commissioned in 1941 by the United States government to build an aircraft capable of carrying mass amounts of soldiers and supplies across large distances. With a wingspan larger than a football field and costing over $28 million ($453 million in 2015 dollars) to construct, the Spruce Goose project resulted in an airplane made entirely of spruce and birch wood (due to wartime restrictions on heavy metals) capable of carrying over 700 men. Powered by eight propeller engines, the massive machine was finally completed in 1946, following the war’s conclusion.

Piloted by Hughes, who personally tested each of his own designs before manufacturing, the Spruce Goose was put into flight on November 2, 1947. While thousands of spectators crowded around the Long Beach harbor to observe the test flight, the Spruce Goose taxied on water, then lifted 70 feet above the water’s surface and remained airborne for one mile, turning disbelievers into true believers.

The largest plane ever constructed, the Spruce Goose never made it into production after critics doubted the plane’s ability to withstand the wear and tear of multiple flights. A tribute to American industry and ingenuity during World War II, the “Flying Boat” is currently housed in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images by History.com, Mediamerge.com, & Fridrichdesign.com  

EVENTFUL: A Grown-Up's Guide to “Treating” Trick-or-Treaters

"Trick or treat?" How you answer that question on Halloween night will impact your household’s reputation for the entire year. Children have a sixth sense when it comes to scouting out the best candy houses and are quick to discover which houses to swarm and which to avoid during their night of scavenging. Since this is the only time when taking candy from strangers is socially acceptable, remember to play by the rules in order to become the beloved Willy Wonka of your neighborhood. As any trick-or-treater will tell you, not all candy is created equal.

Golden Rule – While “fun size” is fun, “king size” is better.

Rule #1 – No Popcorn Balls or Homemade Pinterest Attempts

Popcorn balls are good for two things: pelting siblings and gunking up a child’s candy receptacle. And unless you’re hosting a Halloween bash, refrain from dispensing homemade treats to wandering children. Popcorn balls do not belong in a pillowcase or plastic pumpkin. No parent is going to let their child eat treats made by the hands of a stranger, no matter how nice and unassuming you seem. Give Pinterest a rest and don’t waste your time in the kitchen. Think pre-wrapped and store-bought.

Rule #2 – Chocolate > Hard Candy

Not only is chocolate far superior in taste and satisfaction in comparison to hard candy, chocolate also has the bonus of being less of a choking hazard. Lemon Heads, Jolly Ranchers, and the like are delicious, but no kid can resist the smooth taste of a Snickers or Hershey's Kiss.

Rule #3 – Fruit Spoils Happiness

Unless you want to be known as the Grinch of Halloween, do not answer the door holding a bowl of fruit. Nothing makes a child’s gleeful smile disappear quicker than an apple or clementine on Halloween night. The same goes for toothbrushes and raisins. Save yourself the embarrassment and keep the fruit for your own kid’s lunches.  

Rule #4 – Protect Your Candy

For one night only, candy is king. Like a scene from a zombie movie, parents allow their children to wander the streets in search of these nutrient-lacking nuggets. So, protect your stash. Don’t leave your candy bowl unattended on the porch. It only takes one punk teenager with a heart full of greed and a mouth full of cavities to ruin the fun for a gaggle of tiny trick-or-treaters. No one wants that.

Rule #5 – Stay Away from Wax Lips & Wax Fangs

No one knows what these are, or why they were created. Enough said.

Rule #6 – Mom & Dad Tax

Think about being the house on your street that caters to the Mom & Dad Tax. Candies such as caramels, Almond Joys, Good & Plenty, and Mounds are usually lower on a child’s candy-trading scale and therefore act as acceptable payment for the Mom & Dad Tax at the end of the night.

Rule #7 – Accidental Lighting

Don’t be the person who is clearly home and has left the porch light on, but refuses to answer the door. If you run out of candy or don’t wish to be greeted by ghouls and goblins, turn off the porch light. Think of those little tykes patiently waiting for candy, and then realizing there is none.

Have a happy Halloween!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by Clip Art Sheep  

EVENTFUL: Halloween Haunt Recap

Last Friday, little ghouls and goblins Fairmont-wide celebrated Halloween early by attending the Historic Anaheim Campus' Annual Halloween Haunt. An evening of face panting, wandering through haunted houses, skipping around pumpkin patches, and playing fun carnival games, the 2015 Halloween Haunt was a great way to begin the autumn season! Sponsored and organized by the Historic Anaheim Campus Parent Association, the Halloween Haunt created many memories as students and families arrived in costume to eat, laugh, and play together!

 

Click here for more event photos!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

  

A to Z: 10 DIY, Non-Scary Halloween Costumes

Halloween is only two weeks away! Still need to find a costume for your child? Here are ten non-scary, clever costumes that you and your child can create together without breaking the bank!

Garden Gnome

  

Pippi Longstocking

Alice in Wonderland

The Lorax

 Dwight Schrute

Where the Wild Things Are

Crayola Crayons

Where's Waldo

Mary Poppins and Bert the Chimney Sweep

Ninja Turtle

 

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Images by Free Halloween Images, Pinterest, Modern Kiddo, Mommy Shorts, Pottery Barn Kids, Costume Works, Zeppy, & The 36th Avenue

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 

EVENTFUL coach-dad (& coach-mom) basketball clinic

One of my goals as the Head Boys' Basketball Coach at Fairmont Prep is to build a basketball community throughout Fairmont Schools that offers 360* support of the programs at all levels.

I am pleased to start working towards that goal by offering our first "Coach-Dad" Clinic for 1st-8th grade students AND their parent/guardian on Saturday, September 22. We will concentrate on 2-person "Driveway-Drills" that can be taken home and used, not only to improve their basketball skills but to have some quality time between you and your child. To extend this quality time, we are encouraging attendees to caravan to that evening's football game vs Western Christian HS and offering free admission with a hot dog to all those who attended the basketball clinic. 

Please read the details below, and click here for more information. 

What: A basketball clinic designed for boys and girls in grades 1-8 and their parent/guardian 

When: Saturday, September 22 from 12pm-4pm 

Where: Fairmont Preparatory Academy 

Campers Receive: Four hours of instruction in the fundamentals instrumental to youth basketball success, including shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, and man to man defense. 

Special: At the conclusion of the clinic all attendees are invited to caravan to the football game between the Fairmont Prep Huskies & Western Christian Lancers. Each attendee received free admission and a free husky dog. 

Director: Ray Lokar, Head Basketball Coach at Fairmont Prep Academy, Lead Trainer for the Positive Coaching Alliance, Author of 101 Basketball Tips. 

Staff: PCA Double-Goal Coaches 

Fee: $50 a pair when pre-registered and $60 at the door. Pay online or checks should be made payable to "Sports'n'Stuff" 

Questions: All questions should be directed to 657-464-PREP 

Image via Top News Sports 

Contributed by Mr. Ray Lokar, Head Basketball Coach at Fairmont Prep 

EVENTFUL preview fairmont prep at fashion island

We invite all of our current 8th grade families and prospective high school families to attend a special Prep Preview event. This evening reception is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Fairmont's outstanding high school program--all in a convenient Fashion Island location. The event will begin with time for families to speak with Fairmont Prep administrators, current parents, and student ambassadors while enjoying hors d'ouevres and refreshments. Then our Headmaster, Academic Deans, and College Counselors will share a brief presentation highlighting the key elements of our program, followed by time for Q&A. 

Event Details

What: Preview Fairmont Prep at Fashion Island 

Where: 59th & Lex Cafe (outside Bloomingdales at Fashion Island) 701 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA

When: Thursday, September 28 from 6pm-8pm 

Click here to RSVP 

At Fairmont Preparatory Academy, we believe school should provide the options and opportunities that allow students to take smart risks, discover unexpected interests, and develop lasting passions. That's why we offer multiple academic pathways (including more AP classes than any other high school in SoCal), student-directed theater and art programs, and thirteen CIF sports. It's why we invest in technology-enhanced learning, free after school tutoring and enrichment, and low student to counselor ratios. By working with students to individualize their high school experience, Fairmont Prep prepares students for their best college fit and beyond.

We hope you can join us to discover our unique high school program for yourself. Click here to learn more and to RSVP. 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools