A TO Z...21st century learning

21st century learning--it's something you hear a lot about these days, but do you really know what it means? Doesn't it  have something to do with computers, the Internet and technology? With mastering the skills necessary to compete in our rapidly changing, global society? I have to admit I was a little fuzzy on the subject before reading Edutopia's A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning. Here's what I learned.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills defines the key competencies that form the basis of 21st century learning or the "4Cs" as:

• Collaboration: Students are able to work effectively with diverse groups and exercise flexibility in making compromises to achieve common goals.
• Creativity: Students are able to generate and improve on original ideas and also work creatively with others.
• Communication: Students are able to communicate effectively across multiple media and for various purposes.
• Critical thinking: Students are able to analyze, evaluate, and understand complex systems and apply strategies to solve problems.

If you're more of a visual person, check out the video above from Thesys International to see the 4Cs in action! So that's what all the hubbub is about! 

While the 4Cs won't replace reading, writing and arithmetic, they help push parents and educators to re-think the way we teach our children. Kids today will hold dozens of jobs in the course of their lifetimes--and who knows what these jobs will be. Chances are they haven't even been "invented" yet. What we do know is that students won't succeed unless we prepare them to be highly creative, flexible thinkers with the emotional intelligence to communicate and work well with others.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

THE FAIRMONT FIVE get moving for physical fitness month

The President has officially declared May National Physical Fitness month.  Today in America, one-third of all children and two-thirds of all adults are overweight or obese.  It's a serious problem, but taking steps to get healthier is actually lots of fun.  You don't have to overhaul your daily family routine to fit in a little more fitness.  Here are some simple ways to get moving this May:

1. Walk the dog. Fido needs his exercise too, so why not round up the whole family for a brisk trot around the block.
2. Pull weeds. Yard work can be very constructive exercise. Make a game of pulling weeds, raking up debris, and riding in the wheelbarrow.
3. Play hopscotch. Get out the sidewalk chalk and invite the neighbor kids over for an afternoon of hopscotch.
4. Have a hula hoop contest. If you have a few hula hoops collecting dust in your garage, great!  If not, a 30-minute dance party works just as well for showing off those moves.
5. Jump rope. Take it from Rocky Balboa, this is one effective way to get in shape.  Boys love the challenge of jumping rope and girls love the sing-song schoolyard chants.

Photo from letsmove.gov

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools 

FRIDAY FOLDER may 10

Anaheim Hills Preschool Celebrating Mother's Day with "Mommies and Muffins!"

Highlights From This Week

Anaheim Hills "A Typical Day in Music Class" Program

On May 2, the Jr. Kindergarten and Kindergarten students impressed their parents with a musical performance called "A Typical Day in Music Class." From beginning to end, the performance was conducted just like music class. Students sang nursery rhymes and songs, danced to music by Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi, played percussive instruments, and participated in critical listening games. The parents joined their children in games like "Johnny Get Your Haircut" and "Talking Piano."  The highlight of the performance was the special

finale when both the JK and Kindergarten students came together on stage to perform "Funga Alafia." This West African folk song has become a tradition for the students to sing each year because it is about friendship. During the song, the children played rhythm sticks, maracas, finger cymbals and our special African tubano drums, creating a magnificent sound of joy and unity!

We want to thank our teachers for all their help! Our music teacher, Mrs. Zavoral, directed the show with the tremendous support of Mrs. Foeldi, Mrs. Bush, Ms. Jensen, Miss Johnson, and Miss Dominguez.

Check out the pictures on FLICKR!

Bruce Hockman Carnival - May 24th 

Join your fellow Fairmont Private School students for a day full of fun, prizes, and activities at the Historic Anaheim Campus! Enjoy all carnival attractions for one low price. Snacks for all carnival guests include popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones. Pizza and drinks will be served to 2nd grade-7th grade students. Activities include inflatables, classic carnival games, hairspray, face painting and many other exciting booths. Don't miss out on the fun! The Bruce Hockman Carnival is created and staffed by 8th Grade students from the Anaheim Hills, Historic Anaheim, North Tustin, and International Academy campuses. All profits are used for 8th Grade end of the year activities. Please contact Karen Saturday (ksaturday@fairmontschools.com) or Christina Dodson (cdodson@fairmontschools.com) with any questions.

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/

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

May Lunch Menus 

Anaheim Hills Preschool-1st Grade

Anaheim Hills 2nd-8th Grade

Historic Anaheim Campus Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus Kindergarten

Historic Anaheim Campus 1st-8th Grade

North Tustin Preschool-Kindergarten

North Tustin 1st-8th Grade

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

THE FAIRMONT FIVE motherhood quotes

In honor of all of the loving, hard working, patient, beautiful...amazing mothers out there (many of whom are also teachers here at Fairmont), we wanted to share some of our favorite quotes about motherhood.  We hope you will take advantage of Mother's Day this Sunday to honor the women in your life who have helped you become the person you are today.  And if you're a mother yourself, give yourself a pat on the back for us.  You are your child's first and most important teacher and have an incredibly important and difficult job.  Kudos to you!

1. A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.  ~Tenneva Jordan
2. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.  ~Abraham Lincoln
3. Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother. ~ Lin Yutang
4. The mother is the one supreme asset of national life; she is more important by far than the successful statesman, or business man, or artist, or scientist. ~ Theodore Roosevelt 
5. There was never a great man who had not a great mother, it is hardly an exaggeration. ~Olive Schreiner

Image from webclipart.about.com

Contributed by Darcy, Fairmont Private Schools

SHORT STORY this is the place

As we wrap up the school year, we remember the moments that made it so special--the first day of school, winning the League Championship, making a new friend. We sign yearbooks and prepare for graduation ceremonies, and we enjoy our last few weeks with teachers and friends before saying so long for summer.

We invite you to celebrate the past year by watching the video above, a compilation of thoughts and memories from our students and parents! 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

SCHOOL NEWS junior high students win math awards

On April 13, 2013, eight junior high students from Fairmont’s Historic Anaheim campus participated in the third annual Sage Hill Mathematics Invitational held at Sage Hill School in Newport Beach, CA. Fairmont students took Second Place Overall in both the seventh and eighth grade levels and won a number of team and individual awards.

The Math Invitational is a one-day team-based competition for local middle schools with the goal of promoting and celebrating mathematics by providing a fun environment for middle school students to collaborate and share their interests. The Historic Anaheim Campus’ seventh grade team, coached by Michelle Paraiso, included Michael C., Adnan I., Michael K. and Jocelyn L. The 8th grade team included Ejay C., Han C., Tara F. and Ronik K.

“We have a wonderful group of students who work very hard throughout the year on building their skill and mastery in math. I’m very proud of their success,” said Fairmont Historic Anaheim Campus teacher and team coach Michelle Paraiso.

Congratulations to the Historic Anaheim Campus, Ms. Paraiso, and all of the students who participated in the Sage Hill Mathematics Invitational.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

ARTS & CRAFTS clever teacher appreciation card

May is Teacher's Appreciation Month at Fairmont and schools all across the country.  There are so many wonderful ideas for recognizing the teachers who do such an amazing job of preparing the next generation for success.  There's no shortage of clever crafts on Fairmont's Pinterest boards but we especially loved the witty sentiment behind these cards, created by Chickabug and available as a free download on our Elementary board.

Image from Chickabug.com
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools