BOOK REPORT madeline says merci

Madeline Says Merci: The-Aways-Be-Polite-Book
by John Bemelmans Marciano

The pages that follow offer advice
Oh how to be polite and nice.
As you read, please keep in mind
It all comes down to being kind.
Don't forget to think of others--
Parents, pets and little brothers.

So begins a charming spin-off of the original Madeline book by Ludwig Bemelmans.  Children won't mind learning to say "please and thank you" from Madeline and her friends.  This clever etiquette handbook helps children understand how to behave in a variety of social situations--from how to greet the Queen to how to properly express gratitude for a gift.  Both boys and girls can relate to the rambunctious Madeline and will enjoy the lively prose and witty illustrations.  This is a wonderful addition to your home library that will bear reading and re-reading as your children grow and encounter new people and experiences.

Related Activities:

After reading Madeline Says Merci, encourage your children to put their good manners into action.  Set up a special snack-time tea party for practicing table manners.  Reinforce reading and writing skills by having older children write thank you notes when they receive gifts.  Get theatrical and have your children act out some of the scenes from the book.  There are a myriad of ways to reinforce good etiquette and this book helps make it fun!

For an entire reading list of books about cultivating good manners, check out the recommended reads at Children's Books Guide including my personal favorite Dude, That's Rude.

Contributed by Danyelle

THE FAIRMONT FIVE helpful homework tips

How much time should children spend doing homework? Should elementary school children do any homework at all? What role should parents play in the homework process? 

According to The Battle Over Homework, elementary students should be doing homework and the ideal amount of time ranges from about 20 minutes in first grade to 60-90 minutes in sixth grade. 

Since homework is a vital part of the learning process, we asked our Director of Education, Sandy Cosgrove how to create the ideal homework environment and experience for your child. Here are her top five tips: 

1. Assess your Child. Notice where and when your child is most thoughtful and creative and create a homework environment that matches those inherent preferences. Know what your child typically struggles with and what comes easily and help him or her balance time spent in those subject areas to avoid discouragement. 
2. Establish a Routine. Routine is essential. Doing homework at the same time in the same place as much as possible is often helpful, especially to young students. Help your child stay organized by setting up a process for checking assignment sheets/agendas and “checking off” assignments as they are completed.
3. Use Natural Consequences. This means you do nothing when it comes to discipline for not completing homework. Alternatively, let homework consequences come from your child’s teacher in the classroom setting to help him or her learn responsibility. Communicate with the teacher yourself if you have specific concerns or questions. 
4. Use the “Positive-Negative-Positive” Method. Whenever a child brings any piece of schoolwork to you, the first thing you say must be something positive – some type of praise. Your child will never want to show you anything if you constantly start with criticism. Instead start positive, then make corrections, and conclude with another positive.
5. Always Be Encouraging and Supportive. Remember that your attitude is contagious and will influence how your child feels about homework and school. 

Happy homeworking! 

Contributed by Alyssa and Sandy 


(Image from The Comics Curmudgeon)

SHORT STORY johnny appleseed day

An "Apple-licious" Way to Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day

Contributed by Alyssa

EVENTFUL fall family events in orange county

Kick off October with a weekend full of great family events! Celebrate community, cultural awareness and reading with these three annual festivals. 

The Tustin Tiller Days began in 1957 as a tribute to the Orange County's agricultural heritage. Now the event is Tustin's most anticipated family fair, complete with thrilling rides, great food, kids crafts, live performances, and more. Click here to check out the schedule of entertainment. 

When  

Friday, September 30th: 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Saturday, October 1st: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

*Don't miss the parade Saturday morning at 10am

Sunday, October 2nd: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Where 

17522 Beneta Way

Tustin, CA 92780

The Irvine Global Village Festival is celebrating its 10th year. Voted "Best Festival" by OC Weekly, this annual event offers live entertainment representing over 50 cultures in addition to ethnic food tastings and an international marketplace. Be sure to visit the Kids Village for engaging arts and crafts projects, face painting and a bounce house--stop by Fairmont's booth to make your own playdough globe while you're there! Admission, parking and shuttles are free. 

When  

Saturday, October 1st: 10 AM - 6 PM

Where 

Bill Barber Park, adjacent to the Irvine Civic Center

4 Civic Center Plaza

Irvine, CA 92606

Parking Details 

The OC Children's Book Festival is an annual community fair celebrating the importance of reading. This year, the event will feature: over 100 popular authors and illustrators, books to buy, local exhibitors, family entertainment, live animals, professional storytellers, food and crafts. There will also be a Book Drive held at our Fairmont Schools booth organized by our very own student Megan Mettler! You'll receive a coupon for $2 off at participating author booths for every 2 books you donate (limit 1 per person, 4 per family). 

When
Sunday, October 2nd: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Where 
Orange Coast College 
2701 Fairview (at Arlington) 
Costa Mesa, CA 92628 

Contributed by Alyssa 

FRIDAY FOLDER september 23

Highlights From This Week

Grandparents Day Celebrations 

We had a truly grand time hosting our Fairmont grandparents this week at our campus luncheons and breakfasts in honor of Grandparents Day. Lots of great moments were captured on camera and can be seen on our Flickr page. 

Give Me A F-A-I-R-M-O-N-T! 

Our Tri-Way & DSL Football and Volleyball seasons are in full swing! Come out and help cheer our teams on to victory--see your campus e-newsletter below for game schedules. Also, don't miss Fairmont Prep's Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 8th. Citron will get in the spirit with Spirit Week Oct 3-8 and will be singing the National Anthem at the game. 

Fairmont Prep Info Night 

Save the date for Fairmont Preparatory Academy's annual Info Night on Tuesday, October 4th. Fairmont Junior High families are invited to a 5:30pm canapé reception with Headmaster Bobby Mendoza to kick off the event. Info Night will begin at 6:00pm. Click here to RSVP.

Donate Books at the OC Children's Book Festival 

Anaheim Hills student Megan Mettler will be hosting a Book Drive at the OC Children's Book Festival on Sunday, October 2 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. The drive will be held at the Fairmont Schools booth (right by the main entrance) and all books will be donated to local schools and non-profits. Be sure to come out and show your support! 

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus 

Citron Campus 

Edgewood Campus 

Mable Campus 

September Lunch Menus 

AH Preschool-1st Grade

AH 2nd-8th Grade

Citron

Edgewood Preschool-1st Grade

Edgewood 2nd-8th Grade 

Mable 1st-3rd Grade 

Mable 4th-6th Grade 

Contributed by Alyssa 

EVENTFUL book drive at the oc children's book festival

Thanks to the dedication of Megan Mettler, our very own 8th grade student and budding philanthropist, the OC Children’s Book Festival will once again include an official book drive this year! Barry Ackerman, the co-founder of the Book Festival, heard about Megan's passion for collecting and donating books and her service trip to Joplin, Missouri this summer. Wanting to bring back a book drive element to the 8th Annual Book Festival, he reached out to Megan and Fairmont to coordinate a book drive to benefit Megan's Kids Read! project. 

We are thrilled to announce that the book drive is on and will be held at the Fairmont Schools booth during the event on Sunday, October 2 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Be sure to bring along all your extra books to donate--both used and new books will be accepted. You'll even receive a coupon for $2 off at participating author booths for every 2 books donated (limit 1 per person, 4 per family). Megan will deliver all of the books she collects to local non-profits and schools, and she will be talking more about her Kids Read! project on stage at the event at 12:25pm. 

We look forward to seeing lots of our Fairmont families out enjoying the event and supporting Megan's efforts. 

Contributed by Alyssa 

SNACK TIME all american apple pie

What better way to use the apples from your apple picking adventure than to bake a homemade apple pie?? Learn more about America's favorite dessert tradition in this post from our school dietitian Leslie. 

The apple pie we know and love today is the result of centuries of innovation and good taste. Only crab apples were native to America, so the Pilgrims brought their favorite family pie recipes along with barrels of apples for planting seeds in the New World. 

Pioneer women often served pies with every meal, and as settlers moved westward, American regional pies developed.  The idiom “As American as apple pie” is a saying in the United States, meaning "typically American". In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, apple pie became a symbol of American prosperity and national pride. 

The best apples for pie provide a combination of sweet (e.g. Golden Delicious) and tartness (e.g. Granny Smith) and hold their shape when cooked. 

Here are a couple tasty apple pie recipes to try out at home: 

-Epicurious Old Fashioned All American Apple Pie 

-Diana's Desserts All-American Apple Pie 

Contributed by Leslie Kay-Getzinger, MS RD, Regional Dietitian for Nutrition Management Services