CHALK TALK what every parent should know before your child turns 18 (pt 1)

Two years ago, Fairmont began hosting "Chalk Talks"--a bi-annual series of workshops and lectures open to Fairmont families and the community. We wanted to bring in great speakers on topics that parents care about (education, health & wellness, online safety, etc) and extend the Fairmont learning environment to parents and grown-ups, because we believe you should never stop learning. We've had some awesome events with speakers like Chef Tanya of Native Foods, Derek Sabori of Volcom, and Jack Lindquist of Disneyland. To share these speakers' knowledge with a broader audience, we've decided to start re-capping our Chalk Talks on our blog in this new "Chalk Talk" category. 

We kicked off our spring 2012 Chalk Talk series in early January with Becoming Bilingual at our Anaheim Hills campus and then heard from our Director of Education, Sandy Cosgrove about Fairmont's 2011 Academic Outcomes at our inaugural Fairmont Expo. At our third Chalk Talk last week, a panel of college admissions and child development experts shared "What Every Parent Should Know Before Your Child Turns 18." There was so much great content, we've decided to share it in a series of three posts over the next couple weeks. To start, here's an intro to our panelists and an overview of the modes of learning.

Re-Cap: What Every Child Should Know Before Your Child Turns 18

Panelists: 

-Rajeshri Gandhi, Educational Consultant
-Denise Hunter, Admissions Counslor, West Coast University
-Dipa Gandhi, ABC School District
-Erik Gutierrez, College Counselor, Whitney High School

Introduction to Topic: Students must undergo long-term preparation for long-term success and that requires a strategic focus by parents. Thoughtful academic choices, coupled with awareness of risk taking and understanding that today's students are complex, global, digital natives, are the keys to success.

Modes of Learning: While 60% of the population is now believed to be multi-modal, it’s important for students to understand what their top mode(s) of learning are and how to capitalize on them.

• Visual Learners – take notes on unlined paper where space is unrestricted by lines/graphs and blank space is conducive to little drawings and pictures.
• Auditory Learners – make songs to help memorize facts or use mnemonics like ROYGBIV. Listen to music while studying to get relaxed (music without lyrics at 60 beats per minute—like classical music from the Baroque period).
• Kinesthetic Learners – LOCI method to associate locations with certain topics.  Take a walk around the neighborhood with your stack of flash cards. Memorize a fact while standing in front of a certain tree or mailbox, etc so that you recall the fact when you think of the location.
• Read/Write Learners – Re-read text or re-write notes repetitively to memorize facts.

Next Wednesday, look for our second post on this topic, written by one of the event speakers, Rajeshri Ghandi, on the topic of self-efficacy. 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

HOW TO plan a kid-friendly super bowl party

Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner, which means it's time to plan that annual football-themed extravaganza! Between the appetizers, drinks and decor, planning activities for the kids can often slip through the cracks--leaving you missing the big play or the funniest commercial while you struggle to find Mr. Rabbit or the Toy Story DVD. We're making it easy to plan ahead this year with some simple ways to ensure your kids feel like part of the party. 

• Get the kids up to speed on their football vocabulary before the game by making flash cards with some of these football terms. Read out the definitions and see who can name the word or make it into a game of charades by giving each child one card that he or she has to act out while everyone else guesses the term. That way everyone is on the same page when the ref yells, "Touchdown!"
• Foster a little friendly competition with the Super Bowl Smackdown game. Print copies of this worksheet for each child and have them fill it out with their Giants vs. Patriots predictions before the game begins. Then have the kids follow along with the game to see who wins each round. Reward the winners with little treats or prizes. 
• Test the kids' NFL team knowledge with this awesome memory matching game. Download and print this document (courtesy of Toddler Approved and artist Charles Arey) and cut out the squares to make the cards. Then set up a kids table away from the main viewing area where the kiddos can play. 
• We all look forward to the food at parties, and so do kids! Make them feel loved by having a special "kids section" of the food table with finger-food favorites like mini croissant hot dogs, veggies & ranch, fresh fruit, string cheese and mini pizzas. When in doubt, keep it simple. 
• Make dessert a big event for the kids by having a cupcake decorating table. They can turn their cupcakes into footballs with a layer of chocolate frosting and  white icing "lace" lines, or they can decorate according to their favorite team with white icing and red or blue colored sprinkles. 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

Image from TVJab.com

FRIDAY FOLDER january 27

Highlights From This Week

Mable Students Win State of California Poster Contest 

Congratulations go out to 4th Grader Alexisse Y., 3rd Grader Yiyi O., and 1st grader Courtnie B.  for winning the 2012 California Department of Boating and Waterways "Safe and Wise Water Ways" poster contest.  California  elementary and middle school students are invited to participate in this contest. The contest has run for 19 years with the  primary goal of educating students to be safe and wise in or near the water. Read more in the Mable eNewsletter. 

Fairmont Expo Is a Huge Success!  

The inaugural Fairmont Expo was a wonderful success. Over 400 parents, students and teachers attended this event held on the beautiful Chapman University campus. There were exhibits of the high standards of Fairmont students' classroom efforts, art projects and music programs. Kindergartener's recited the "Gettysburg Address" and there were elementary mock classroom presentations. Several of Fairmont's finest musicians performed on the violin, the Junior High Debate teams showed us an exciting live debate with a hotly contested topic regarding the NFL Helmet to Helmet Contact Issues. The award-winning Fairmont Prep Concert Choir performed a spectacular show piece, and the Edgewood cheerleaders finished off the event with an example of their trophy winning routines. We are already looking forward to next year's event! 

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus 

Citron Campus 

Edgewood Campus 

Mable Campus 

January Lunch Menus 

AH Preschool-1st Grade

AH 2nd-8th Grade

Citron

Edgewood Preschool-Kindergarten

Edgewood 1st-8th Grade 

Mable 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

fairmont blackboard...A to Z

Did you know that Fairmont offers its parents and students access to a customized version of the learning management system Blackboard? Blackboard is an online dashboard that acts as a portal into the virtual version of your student's classroom. By logging in to your parent account, you can see your student's assignments, grades, upcoming class events and more. We'd like to kick off a series of posts about Blackboard, provided by our Education Department, with answers to the seven most asked parent questions our Blackboard team hears. 

7 Most Asked Parent Questions About Blackboard

1. WHAT IS BLACKBOARD?

Blackboard is Fairmont’s online learning management system. It facilitates communication, encourages collaboration and provides extended learning opportunities which enhance our students’ educational experience. This exciting tool allows students and parents to easily access assignments and grades, class and campus specific information, as well as enrichment activities.

2. HOW CAN I ACCESS BLACKBOARD?

You can access Blackboard directly by going to https://fairmontschools.blackboard.com. You can also go to QuickLinks on Fairmont’s website: http://www.fairmontschools.com.

3. WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE DIFFICULTY LOGGING IN?

The Blackboard help desk is ready to assist you Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Additional contact information is available at https://fairmontschools.blackboard.com.

4. WHERE CAN I FIND MY STUDENT’S GRADES IN BLACKBOARD?

When you first log into Blackboard, you will see a NetClassroom link. Simply click on the image and enter your NetClassroom username and password. If you need your NetClassroom username and password, please contact your campus registrar or the Blackboard help desk.

5. ARE STUDENTS EXPECTED TO LOG INTO BLACKBOARD THEMSELVES?

For students in grades four through twelve, students are asked to regularly check their Blackboard classes for assignments, important announcements and other class information. For preschool through third grade, Blackboard is used primarily as a communication tool between teacher and parent.

6. HOW OFTEN ARE PARENTS EXPECTED TO LOG INTO BLACKBOARD?

Information is regularly posted in Blackboard classes. Fairmont recommends that you log in at least once a week. Your student’s classroom teacher, however, may request that you log in more frequently. Your student’s teacher will provide you with more specific information regarding this during the first weeks of school.

7. WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE INFORMATION OR CONTENT POSTED IN MY STUDENT’S BLACKBOARD CLASS?

Your student’s teacher is responsible for all information and content posted in your student’s Blackboard class. Please contact the teacher directly with any questions or concerns. Teacher contact information is provided in the class.

For more information regarding Blackboard, please visit: https://fairmontschools.blackboard.com

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

THE FAIRMONT FIVE organizing your child's study area

With the New Year comes a refreshed sense of purpose.  It's time to tackle all of those items on the to-do list that have gathered dust over the past year.  If you've never gotten around to creating a study area that's both attractive and functional, maybe it's time to get intentional about this important area of your living space.  Here are a few suggestions from the uber-organized folks at the Container Store. 

1. Find the right study area and desk. Find a desk, table or other smooth surface with room to spread out all study materials. Select a chair that’s comfortable, but not too cozy. When selecting a workspace, choose a modular system that will grow with your child through high school and even into college. Make sure the room has adequate lighting.
2. Limit the distractions. If possible, try to create a study area in a location without a telephone or television — these may be too tempting for even the most disciplined students. For older kids, implement a cell phone-free study zone to avoid distractions like text messaging. If you set up a study area in a high traffic area of the home, set aside a firm study time where everyone in the family respects the student’s time to study and finds things to do in other areas of the home.
3. Create a schedule and filing system. At the beginning of the school year, create a scheduling system with a large monthly calendar and place it near the workspace. Color code the calendar items, such as homework and project due dates, exams and birthday parties, in order to easily identify school versus personal entries. This makes it easy for students to manage responsibilities and is also simple for mom and dad to check on the status of kids' projects. Create a color-coded filing system that works in conjunction with the schedule.
4. Keep the area clutter-free. A cluttered study area is not only frustrating, but also will cost valuable study time looking for items. Make sure enough room is available to adequately store books and supplies where they are visible and easily accessible, yet out of the way of the main study area. Include room for writing as well as computing when setting up the space.
5. Keep supplies on hand. It’s frustrating to sit down for a study session and then find out you don’t have the necessary materials. Stock up on the essentials, such as pens, pencils, notepaper, printer paper, ink cartridges, index cards, construction paper and scissors, then make sure they’re organized. Keep reference materials close at hand.

photo from containerstore.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SNACK TIME kick off a healthy new year

Get a jump-start on a healthier new year by making good nutrition a regular habit.  Planning ahead and having healthy foods available and in sight are great ways to start building good nutrition habits that last.

Begin with Breakfast

Studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better on cognitive tests and in school. Balanced breakfasts include a source of protein, fat and carbohydrate, to help satisfy hunger and fuel the brain until lunch time. Low-fat meat, eggs, nuts, tofu or dairy products provide good sources of protein. A healthy breakfast doesn't need to be extravagant or take a long time to prepare. Try something simple like a hard boiled egg, whole grain toast and 100% fruit juice. Or a bowl of whole-grain cereal with banana and reduced-fat soy, rice or regular milk.

If you’re not hungry in the morning, a fruit smoothie made with yogurt can make breakfast easier to swallow and tastes great.

Get Creative With Veggies

School-age kids need between 1 1/2 to 3 cups of vegetables and 1 to 2 cups of fruit each day. After-school snacks are opportunities to help get the fruits and vegetables needed every day for good health.  Have ready: sliced fresh fruit for after-school snacks or raw veggies such as carrot or celery sticks, and bite size tomatoes for munching.

Make Smart Snacks

Edamame (young soybeans) are fun to eat and make a great and satisfying snack.  Classic “ladybugs on a log” are ever popular. Just slice celery into two- or three-bite pieces, fill with peanut or almond butter, and line with raisins or dried cranberries, and, presto, you have a high protein, high fiber snack.

Homemade mini pizzas are easily prepared with pasta sauce, grated cheese, olive or pepper slices on whole grain English muffins or pita bread popped in the toaster oven.

Yogurt smoothies are also a great way to satisfy a sweet craving while providing protein calcium and B vitamins.  

Studies show that the earlier healthful habits are formed, the easier they are to maintain. If children grow up with more healthful and flavorful snacks, it will support eating habits through their teens and young adulthood.

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

Image Credit: Bowers Chiropractic Center 

SHORT STORY inaugural fairmont expo

We were thrilled to see the whole Fairmont family out at Chapman University yesterday for our inaugural Fairmont Expo. Here is a sneak peak of our pictures from the event...

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools