Friday, March 22

FRIDAY FOLDER march 22



Junior Kindergarten celebrating St. Patrick's Day!

Highlights From This Week
Prep TEC Program Launch Gala
Please join us at Fairmont Preparatory Academy on Thursday, March 28 from 6-8pm for a gala event to launch our new Prep TEC Program. We invite you to join us to hear all about our technology program, including the two years of research and professional development behind it. See the program in action by visiting our department-specific "classroom experiences." You'll be amazed at the ways our 1:1 iPad program will enhance student learning in every class, from calculus to P.E. This event is open to all Fairmont families, preschool-12th grade. 
Click Here to RSVP

Fairmont Summer Programs: Now Enrolling! 
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Fairmont Summer Programs website is now LIVE and accepting applications for all the lords and ladies of the kingdom! Sign up before April 30th to receive a 10% discount on summer school and summer camp.  

Preschool-8th Grade:
http://www.fairmontsummerprograms.com/ 
High School:
http://www.fairmontsummerschool.com/

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Wednesday, March 20

A TO Z...gardening with kids

There are few things I enjoy more than gardening with my three children. I was delighted when Fairmont added gardening to the early childhood curriculum.  If you've ever spent a few minutes gardening with kids, you'll soon discover that it's an incredible activity for supporting any number of learning objectives (from science and math to literature and creative writing) as well as a great way to teach children to work together.  

In my experience, children who may be shy and reluctant to speak out in class "blossom" in the garden. Kids love being out in the fresh air and sunshine.  They enjoy the physical work that goes along with watering, weeding, planting and cultivating a garden. And it's so rewarding for them to experience the progression of the garden...seed, sprout, plant, flower, fruit.

I grew up in and around a garden, but you don't have to have gardening genes to be successful at creating a family-friendly garden.  It's surprisingly simple, inexpensive and you don't need lots of space.  In fact, a container garden is a great way to get started if you've never planted a garden before.

Here are some of my favorite tips and resources for gardening with kids--happy planting!

  • Start small--It's easy to get carried away when you visit the garden center and see all of the amazing flowers, veggies, trees, shrubs and seeds for sale.  Temper your enthusiasm to do too much, especially if you want to get your kids involved.
  • Take conditions into consideration--Plants are living things and they need the right conditions (light, water, soil) to thrive.  I'd suggest purchasing a Sunset Western Garden Guide to serve as your basic guide for selecting and caring for plants that work given your garden's conditions. Veggies need lots of sun and water, but there are other plants that love shade and many that are water-wise after a year of becoming established in the soil.
  • Buy kid-sized tools--Children will enjoy working in the garden more when they have the right tools, plus they're super cute!  I like the picks from Life on the Balcony.
  • Use seeds and seedlings--Many plants are fun and easy for kids to start as seeds. I like working with larger seeds when kids are involved (sunflower, squash, pumpkin, melons, beans, peas and nasturtium) since they are easier for children to hold.  Radish and carrot seeds are small, but kids can sprinkle them directly into garden soil.  Tomato and pepper plants may be easier to purchase and plant as seedlings since their seeds are teeny tiny.  For help picking plants that play nice together, refer to this handy companion planting chart.
  • Get creative with containers--Container gardening is often less intimidating for new gardeners. Containers require less space and you don't need a lot of prep before you can get started planting.  There are so many clever container garden ideas.  One of my favorites is a vertical garden you create by recycling a shipping pallet.
  • Have fun with critters--You may find your garden attracts ladybugs, butterflies, birds, worms and more. Make learning about the creatures in your garden part of the fun.  You can encourage beneficial insects by planting plants that attract them.
  • Eat what you grow--It's a proven fact that kids are more likely to eat their veggies when they've been involved in growing them.  Watch the Edible Schoolyard segment from Growing a Greener World for inspiration--these school kids are really getting a hands-on lesson on where their food comes from.
  • Start a garden reading list--There are some wonderful children's books about seasons, seeds, gardening, etc. that will help educate and excite your children about their garden.  I love The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. 
Image from Hearthsong
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools
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Monday, March 18

SNACK TIME eat right, your way, every day



The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has designated March as the time to focus on the importance of making informed food choices and developing good eating and physical activity habits. This year's theme, "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day”, is intended to encourage personalized healthy eating styles.

What does “eating right” mean to you?
Does it mean eating breakfast even though you’re in a hurry? Does it mean eating a healthy school lunch, or maybe eating a few more vegetables at dinnertime? Or less dessert?
Think about what eating right means to you and identify at least one way you can improve on your eating habits.

Eat Right, Your Way.
Eating “your way” might mean including foods particularly familiar to you such as the foods you grew up with or that are passed along through family tradition. Not everyone might enjoy tofu or sushi or turkey! We are unique individuals with different tastes and varied likes and dislikes.

Lifestyle choices, cultural and ethnic traditions impact our food choices. Eating your way includes embracing foods that are unique to you. Think about a food that is unique to you or your family. Accept and embrace that uniqueness!

Eat right, Your Way, Every Day.
How do you eat right, your way, "every day"?
First, realize that it’s not one food or one meal that makes or breaks a balanced diet. Its about learning how to eat a variety of foods including the ones you love, in moderation, to create an overall healthful eating plan tailored to your lifestyle, traditions, and health needs. Being aware of what you eat is the first step towards making a change.

Celebrate National Nutrition Month with your personal choice and make it a great plate.

For more information about National Nutrition Month and ideas, check the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at http://www.eatright.org/nnm/

Contributed by Leslie K. Kay-Getzinger, MS, RD, Regional Dietitian for Nutrition Management Services
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Friday, March 15

FRIDAY FOLDER march 15


Our Locks of Love participants...before!


Our Locks of Love participants...after! 

Highlights From This Week
Anaheim Hills Students Donate Hair to Locks of Love
On Monday, March 11, ten volunteer students and five parents and teachers from the Anaheim Hills Campus went on stage in front of their classmates while a Cartel Salon cosmetologist cut at least 10 inches of their hair to donate to the Locks of Love foundation. Students received an educational lesson about why the wigs are made, who could donate hair, the donation requirements, watched a clip of the television show "How it's Made" regarding wig-making, and were able to ask questions about the process to the team of stylists.  Before the cutting began, each participant had a chance to tell the school why they made the choice to cut their hair.  

"My daughter and I are doing this for our close friend, who is currently fighting breast cancer." says Ashley Westlund, the school's secretary whose daughter participated in the event as well.  The responses from each participant didn't leave a dry eye in the house.  At the end of the presentation, an assembly line of students had their hair cut off one by one as the crowd cheered.  Each girl waved their pony tails in the air to celebrate their contribution. These donations will be used to create hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We are very proud of our students, parents, and teachers for their generous donations. 

Prep TEC Program Launch Gala
Please join us at Fairmont Preparatory Academy on Thursday, March 28 from 6-8pm for a gala event to launch our new Prep TEC Program. We invite you to join us to hear all about our technology program, including the two years of research and professional development behind it. See the program in action by visiting our department-specific "classroom experiences." You'll be amazed at the ways our 1:1 iPad program will enhance student learning in every class, from calculus to P.E. This event is open to all Fairmont families, preschool-12th grade. 
Click Here to RSVP

Fairmont Summer Programs: Now Enrolling! 
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Fairmont Summer Programs website is now LIVE and accepting applications for all the lords and ladies of the kingdom! Sign up before April 30th to receive a 10% discount on summer school and summer camp.  

 Preschool-8th Grade:
http://www.fairmontsummerprograms.com/ 
High School:
http://www.fairmontsummerschool.com/

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Wednesday, March 13

SCHOOL NEWS happily ever after summer



I know what you're thinking...it's not officially spring yet, so it's much too soon to start thinking about summer!  I guess that depends upon who you are.  Most of our students here at Fairmont think it's NEVER too soon to start thinking about summer.  And Fairmont Summer Programs' staff have summer on the brain all year long, dreaming up ways to make summer break fun, exciting, and educational for the children who attend Fairmont's camp, school and enrichment workshops.

This year, we put our heads together to create a whimsical "Happily Ever After" theme complete with dragons, princesses, castles, and knights-in-shining-armor.  We were inspired by the Albert Einstein quote, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." (Follow our Pinterest Board for fairy tale-inspired crafts, activities and more)

Studies show that today's kids need more practice using their imagination, developing their creativity, and strengthening their relationships with others.  These skills are must-haves for the big, wide 21st century world where our children are headed one day. In addition to building academic skills and confidence, Fairmont's summer programs help kids think beyond the textbook and learn how to connect with others.

If you're just warming up to the idea of planning your kids' summer schedule, visit fairmontsummerprograms.com for all the details about Fairmont Summer Programs.  Fairmont offers flexible scheduling to suit the needs of busy families with programs at all four of Fairmont's Orange County campus locations. Enroll before April 30th, and you can take advantage of 10%-off summer camp and summer school!

 Image artwork created by Sarah Anderson
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools
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Monday, March 11

SCHOOL NEWS fairmont announces mommy & me program



In response to demand by our Fairmont families and friends, we are pleased to introduce a new “Mommy and Me” program designed for our youngest learners and their parents!

Taught by Fairmont a preschool teacher, Fairmont’s Mommy and Me classes will blend academic fundamentals and child development with the fun and engagement that our littlest learners need. This program will give your child a head start and will prepare him/her for Fairmont’s preschool program. The Mommy and Me program is open to moms and dads with children ages 18 months to 2.5 years.

Mommy and Me program sessions will be offered on a monthly basis with two program options and two available class times:

Mommy and Me - $150/month
Includes 4 Classes
Tuesdays at 9:00am or 10:00am
Sessions include mommy & baby activities: informative parent-focused content paired with an engaging activity for your children.

Mommy and Me + Enrichment - $275/month
Includes 8 Classes
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9am or 10am
Tuesday classes include mommy & baby activities.
Thursday enrichment classes feature special workshops on P.E., art, and music.

Space is limited. Call to reserve a place in our next session today!
Melissa Ferguson

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

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Friday, March 8

FRIDAY FOLDER march 8



Preschool Visits with Mobile Tide Pools

Highlights From This Week
North Tustin 3rd Grades Visit the Environmental Nature Center 

This Tuesday, North Tustin third graders embarked on a brand new field trip to ENC (Environmental Nature Center) in Newport Beach. When we arrived, we were welcomed by three naturalists and students were divided into three different fauna groups: Coyotes, Bobcats & Hawks. Students traveled to six different hands-on activities on the gorgeous ENC property, which spanned a couple of acres behind the facility. Although we were a little cold with the cloud coverage, being outdoors was a fresh change to their traditional classroom environment.  

All the interactive games/lessons the ENC prepared reinforced our Science curriculum perfectly. Students learned about adaptation for plants and animals, but especially about the local cougar that can be found in Southern California. Students also learned how humans have drastically changed the environment and how we can help protect and preserve the environment/animals around us. This was a field trip the students will never forget. 


Summer Camp 2013 - Name the Mascot! 
Hear ye, hear ye! We are pleased to announce that the theme for our 60th Summer Program is Once Upon a Time! We're looking forward to a magical summer, and we want you to be a part of it! Your first opportunity to join in the fun is to help us name our Dragon mascot!
 
Here's how:
1. Become a fan of Fairmont Summer Programs at www.facebook.com/FairmontSummer 
2. Post your name suggestion on our Facebook wall March 1st - 11th 
3. Fairmont will choose the top 5 names and you can vote for your favorite name March 12th -18th 
4. The winning name will be announced on March 19th 
5. The winner(s) will receive a free week of Summer Camp!

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