CHALK TALK why it’s cool being on a middle school debate team

North Tustin Debate Team with Debate Coach Ben Hughes
at the OC Debate League Championship, May 2014 

Strong friendships, refined public speaking, exceptional problem-solving and effective research strategies are a few of the many benefits, which result from participating in competitive middle school debate teams. As members of a debate team, students can pursue excellent opportunities to sharpen a host of life skills that extend well beyond high school and college.

Fairmont has a proven track record of helping students harness these distinctive qualities and achieve significant accomplishments. Last year, Fairmont students finished among the top 32 debate teams in the nation and achieved notable success in major Orange County Debate League Competitions.

Students with polished debate-related skills are destined to stand above the crowd. Mastering disciplines such as research/analysis of data, the articulation of theories and the persuasion of complex subjects give students a firm foundation of confidence to take on the world. These skills are valuable for obtaining scholarships, entering a highly respected college, and later on, fulfilling career advancement goals.

Along with these highly respected attributes, students also enjoy making new friends, traveling to debate tournaments and building a lifetime of good memories. Participating on a Fairmont Debate Team offers many rewarding experiences. For more information, please contact Middle School Debate Coach Ben Hughes (Fairmont North Tustin Campus) at bhughes@fairmontschools.com.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools 

FRIDAY FOLDER october 3

Highlights of the week:

Color Fun Run 2014

The 2nd Annual Color Fun Run was a colorful success! The Parent Association's biggest fundraiser of the year always provides the kids a fun and exciting time.
 

Students began the day with stark white Color Run shirts and by the end of the day, they had colorful reminders of their laps around the track. After the running concluded, the students were treated to a Kona Ice snow cone to cool off! 

For more exciting news from the campuses, check the weekly newsletters below:

Weekly Newsletters:

Anaheim Hills Campus 

Historic Anaheim Campus 

North Tustin Campus 

October Lunch Menus:

Anaheim Hills (2nd - 8th Grade)

Anaheim Hills (P - 1st Grade)

Historic Anaheim Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus 

North Tustin Campus 

Contributed by Neha, Fairmont Private Schools

FAIRMONT FIVE warming up for sports

During the busy school schedule, it’s sometimes hard to remember setting aside adequate time for effectively preparing your child for a game. Whether it’s soccer, football, tennis, softball or swimming, gearing up your child mentally and physically will help your child perform well and thoroughly enjoy the sport.

Here are five tips that will help your child get ready for athletic activities:

• Develop a consistent pre-game routine for your child. Help your son or daughter understand that playing in an organized sport involves more than showing up and playing. It’s about having fun, being on a team, practicing good sportsmanship and staying fit.
• Limit eating before a game. Serve foods high in protein such as oatmeal, eggs, nuts, banana or an energy bar three hours before a game and avoid sweets. Young athletes should not eat during the hour leading to a game. Keep your child well hydrated, drinking plenty of water the day before a game. Your child then needs to moderate water intake right before a game to prevent becoming sluggish with too many fluids. Please note there is no better substitute than good old H20.
• A good attitude for the game rests on a child’s self-esteem and encouragement. Give your child positive reinforcement and take time to listen to his/her concerns. The game is about fun and building confidence, as well as developing character.
• A good night of sleep not only helps learning, it is also essential for making quick moves on the playing field. Experts point out that a child needs eight to eleven hours of sleep each night to become fully rested. For many children, particularly on Friday nights, getting a full night sleep is not a priority. Encourage your child that sleep is important for maintaining peak performance and a healthy attitude. Taking a shower and reading a book is far more effective in helping a child relax compared to watching television or playing video games. 
• Warming up and stretching before practices and games helps reduce injuries such as muscle tears and sprains. Find out what types of warmups and stretching are used in the sport your child is playing in. Encourage making it a habit to always warmup and stretch before any physical activity to gain flexibility, blood flow to muscles, joint range and motion.
  
  
  Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools
  Image Credit: Children's Directory.

FRIDAY FOLDER september 26

Highlights of the week:

Khashayar displays her project “Wildfire Early Warning System Using Computer Science.”

Click here to see OC Register News Article 

Fairmont Eighth Grade Graduate Selected as 2014 Broadcom MASTERS® Competition Finalist

One of 30 Finalists Entering in National Science Competition for Middle School Students

Sahar Khashayar, 2014 eighth grade graduate from Fairmont North Tustin Campus, achieved the status of finalist in the 2014 Broadcom MASTERS® (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) competition.  Khashayar’s project title is “Wildfire Early Warning System Using Computer Science.” For this year’s competition, she submitted her school science project in June 2014 during her eighth grade year at the Fairmont North Tustin Campus.

“We are very proud of Sahar’s accomplishment,” said Kristen Jansen, Campus Director of the Fairmont North Tustin Campus. “She is a shining example of how we help our students reach their full potential. We are rooting for Sahar the whole way!”

The Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) announced on September 17, 2014, the selection of 30 middle school students as finalists in the 2014 Broadcom MASTERS® competition– the nation’s most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition for middle school students. Finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers from among 300 semifinalists and 2,054 applicants representing 46 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. Winners will be named on October 28, 2014, in Washington, D.C., after completion of a rigorous competition that tests their abilities in STEM subjects, teamwork and collaboration. 

For more exciting news from the campuses, check the weekly newsletters below:

Weekly Newsletters:

Anaheim Hills Campus 

Historic Anaheim Campus 

North Tustin Campus 

September Lunch Menus:

Anaheim Hills (2nd - 8th Grade)

Anaheim Hills (P - 1st Grade)

Historic Anaheim Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus 

North Tustin Campus 

Contributed by Neha, Fairmont Private Schools

A TO Z habits of a good student

There are many online resources that provide advice for parents to help their children develop good study habits. Besides achieving good grades, these effective practices promote a solid work ethic. Listed below are some suggestions for reinforcing these beneficial skills.

Dr. Seuss said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

Develop a Love for Reading

Parents can help their preschool/kindergarten age children aspire to attain good study habits by reading to them on a daily basis and encouraging independent reading as they grow older. The entire family has much to gain by building its own culture of literacy. Reading together as a family presents many opportunities to create memorable quality times and interact as a family in exploring the world.

Feel Comfortable in Writing
The more students write, the more they feel comfortable and confident about writing, as well as expressing themselves and communicating. Similar to reading, polishing writing skills on a daily basis outside of school work is recommended whether it’s writing poetry, fiction or keeping a journal. Children need time to write on their own without the expectation of being graded or assessed for their work. Writing each day also develops a child’s critical thinking skills.

Preparedness, Preparedness, Preparedness!
Helping children build their own organizational system to manage tests and assignments is a vital component in the pursuit of academic excellence. Setting aside the necessary resources for them to properly study, making sure they have the right testing materials and having a backup plan when something goes wrong helps students gain the level of preparedness and organization they need to succeed. Organization comes down to goal setting, identifying tasks to accomplish it and taking action to reach the goal. As a result, the feeling of accomplishment when a child sets and reaches a goal is quite rewarding for the whole family. 

Never Stop Asking Questions

A sign of a passionate learner is constant inquisitiveness. Parents should encourage their children to always ask questions. When children ask questions, they are engaging independently in their own learning process to gain knowledge and understand the world around them. They are also exercising their critical thinking and communication skills. Effective learning starts with the natural curiosity that drives children to seek answers from parents and teachers. 

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, MA Fairmont Private Schools

Image Credit: WikHow

FRIDAY FOLDER september 19

Highlights of the week:

Preschool Grandparents Day Celebration at Anaheim Hills Campus

Grandparents Day Celebration at Anaheim Hills Campus

Wonderful memories and joy are not in short supply when it comes to Grandparents Day. 

Fairmont Anaheim Hills Campus preschoolers pulled all the stops to show how they love and appreciate their grandparents.

Thank you to all the “papas and nanas” who make the world of a child shine even brighter. 

For more exciting news from the campuses, check the weekly newsletters below:

Weekly Newsletters:

Anaheim Hills Campus 

Historic Anaheim Campus 

North Tustin Campus 

September Lunch Menus:

Anaheim Hills (2nd - 8th Grade)

Anaheim Hills (P - 1st Grade)

Historic Anaheim Preschool

Historic Anaheim Campus 

North Tustin Campus 

Contributed by Neha,Fairmont Private Schools

SNACKTIME when kids with food allergies visit your home

What do you do when your child's friend has serious food allergies? How do you prepare snacks and meals when kids with food allergies visit your home?

Food allergies are common—three million children, or about one in 13 kids under the age of 18, have at least one food allergy.  Your children may not have food allergies, but their friends might. Would you be able to meet the challenge and confidently serve food to children with food allergies? 

Here are some tips and guidance about food allergies and how to minimize the risk of exposure in your home.

   
Understanding Common Food Allergies

First of all, become familiar with the most common food allergies. This includes (but not limited to) peanuts and other nuts, seafood, such as shrimp, cow's milk, eggs, soy and wheat. Scrutinize labels for allergens.

Creating a Safe Environment to Help Avoid Potential Problems

Restrict eating to the kitchen or dining room only. Crumbs are likely to find their way onto carpets, furniture, counter-tops, toys and other surfaces. Everyone should wash their hands before and after eating to avoid the transfer of food allergens. Counter tops and tables should be scrubbed down after food preparation and after meals.  

To avoid cross contamination, make sure cutting boards, knives, slicers, spoons, measuring cups, mixing bowls and other food prep equipment (barbeque grills) are clean and free of allergens. Have separate sets of utensils for handling safe and unsafe foods.

Separate safe and unsafe food. Label either the foods with allergens or the safe ones — whichever is easier.

Beware of airborne allergens when cooking.  Keep a safe distance from the cooking area and allow the air to clear for 30 minutes afterward before entering the room. For young children, having fixed seating arrangements at the table is helpful in preventing little ones from sharing “tastes.”

Contributed by Leslie Kay-Getzinger, MS RD

Regional Dietitian for Nutrition Management Services Company 
Image Credit: DIY Health