SCHOOL NEWS choc toy run headed our way

So, maybe Santas on Harleys isn't the most traditional holiday tradition, still it has become one of Fairmont's most beloved and highly anticipated ways to celebrate the season. This is our 12th year to participate in the OC HOG chapter’s annual CHOC Toy Drive.

Fairmont students, teachers and staff spend a month collecting toys, and about 30 bikers make the campus rounds in early December to pick them up. The OC HOG members will officially deliver the gifts to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) on Christmas Eve. Fairmont’s presents, and thousands of other toys donated by area civic groups, will help lift the spirits of sick and injured children being treated at CHOC throughout the coming year.

Fairmont’s Judy Coderre has been the driving force (quite literally) behind Fairmont’s participation these 12 years. She’ll be one of the bikers making the rounds on December 9.

“Thank you all for your thoughtfulness and generosity. It’s a very rewarding experience to know that we all helped lift the spirits and put smiles on the faces of the young patients at CHOC,” says Judy.

Thanks so much to everyone who has already participated in this year’s CHOC Toy Drive. If you haven’t brought in an unwrapped gift, it’s not too late. You have until Friday, Dec. 9 to bring in your toy donation.  CHOC especially needs presents for toddlers and teenagers. For tips on what to donate, check out our blog post from last week.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SHORT STORY happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from the Fairmont Family!

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

THE FAIRMONT FIVE choc toy drive tips

The CHOC Holiday Toy Drive has become a Fairmont tradition.  We are so proud of our students and the entire Fairmont community for helping us collect dozens of boxes of holiday toys destined for the children who come to CHOC hospital throughout the year for treatment.  Sick children of all ages benefit from your generosity.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you make your toy selections.

1. The majority of CHOC's patients are under 3 years of age, so their greatest need is for toys and gifts for infants and toddlers.  Teethers, rattles, musical toys, shape sorters, dolls, cars and trucks, etc. are great gift ideas.
2. The hospital also has a great need for items for older children ages 13-18.  Electronics, video games, and craft kits are popular with teens. 
3. Make sure all of your donations are new and unwrapped. 
4. Non-toy items such as batteries, art supplies, and games are welcome. 
5. Due to the hospital's sanitation policies, please do not donate stuffed animals or hand-made items such as knitted/crocheted blankets, hats or socks, etc.

Be sure to get your gift donation in before the OC HOG Chapter Harley riders come rolling on to a campus near you on Friday, December 9.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SNACK TIME the pumpkin, a versatile vegetable

Traditional Thanksgiving feasting includes a variety of mouth-watering favorites, including roast turkey, stuffing, cranberries and especially pumpkin pie. Native to North America, the pumpkin has become a traditional sweet dessert, eaten during the fall and early winter, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the US and Canada.

Pumpkins and other types of squash such as butternut and acorn, provide beta-carotene, a type of carotenoid, that acts as an anti-oxidant and converts to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is required by the body for vision and for maintaining healthy skin and mucus membranes.

Current research suggests that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene and phytonutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin (other forms of carotenoids) may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Most often used to make pie, pumpkin can also be added to pancakes, custard, ravioli, soups, soufflés and more.

Even pumpkin seeds are popular. They are nutritious, tasty and make a great snack. Pumpkin seeds are great source of protein, minerals (such as iron and zinc), vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids (good for heart health). Check out this recipe for making pumpkin seeds at home. 

Enjoy this versatile vegetable, especially during the holiday season!

Contributed by Leslie K. Kay-Getzinger, MS, RD

Registered Dietitian/Clinical Nutritionist for Nutrition Management


(Image from Country Living)

ARTS & CRAFTS family thanksgiving activities

It’s the Thanksgiving holiday. Time to celebrate home, family and togetherness. Sounds great, but how do you translate these abstract concepts into real family fun? Here are a few ideas (that don’t involve a Wii).

Take a hike

Find a park or trail nearby and venture out into the great outdoors. Even if it’s just for an afternoon, you’ll soak up some sunlight (and extra vitamin D), get some fresh air, and give the whole family an opportunity to stretch their legs before (or after) the big feast. Make more of your hike by creating a family field guide where your kids can record the flora and fauna they discover.


Get crafty at the kids' table

When it comes to Thanksgiving preparations, the kids’ table is often an afterthought. This year, get the kids involved in dreaming up a fun theme and creating their own decorations. Think party hats, place mats, napkin ring...


Play a thanksgiving-themed game

Whether you’re headed over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house or hosting the relatives at your place, you may need an ice breaker or two to kick off the festivities. How about a game? Sure, there’s the traditional kids vs. adults football game, but here are some fresh ideas for fun and easy games, a few of which might become new thanksgiving traditions.

Photo credit: familyfun.go.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER november 18

Highlights From This Week 
Thanksgiving Feasting 

Each campus will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week with lavish feasts on campus! Check out the e-newsletters below for specifics. Please note that all campuses will be closed Wednesday, November 23 for a teacher in-service and will remain closed Thursday, November 24 through Friday, November 25 for the holiday. The Fairmont family wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving!! 

Edgewood Recognized at Robotics Tournament 

We would like to congratulate sixth grade students Pelin E., Priya K., Sahar K., and Florencia P. for their participation in the 2011 Robotics Qualifying Tournament. They won the Best Programming Award and were qualified to move on to the Championship at Lego Land, San Diego on December 3rd.

Mable Study Trips 

The Mable 4th and 8th graders recently returned from their study trips to The Ocean Institute in Dana Point and Washington DC. Check out the Mable e-newsletter for the highlights.  

Weekly E-Newsletters 
Anaheim Hills Campus 
Citron Campus 
Edgewood Campus 
Mable Campus 

December 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 

family theater...A to Z

Sometimes the best gifts are those that make lasting memories. This holiday season, consider treating the family to an evening of live theater for a fun and memorable cultural experience. With so many great Orange County theaters that offer family-friendly repertoire, it's easy to find something that will leave everyone applauding. Here are a few of our recommendations...

• Segerstrom Center for the Arts Located in Costa Mesa, Segerstrom offers a variety of family-friendly shows, including the holiday classic Irving Berlin's White Christmas, which runs December 13-January 1. 
• South Coast Repertory Theatre for Young Audiences Neighbor to the Segerstrom Center, SCR strives to provide "kid-friendly theatre at family friendly prices." Their holiday show, Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!, runs from November 4-20 and is followed by The Borrowers in February. 
• Irvine Barclay Theatre On the UC Irvine campus, the Barclay is a great spot to see a variety of live shows, and their Family Pack tickets are perfect for groups of 4 or more.  This winter's shows include: Circus Incognitus over Thanksgiving weekend and The Nutcracker performed by Festival Ballet Theatre from December 10-24. 
• Laguna Playhouse What better location to see live theater than Laguna? The intimate playhouse offers family-friendly main stage productions, youth theater and teen-centered dramas. This Wonderful Life, a re-imagining of Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, runs from November 25-December 24, followed by the youth theater production Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella in February. 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools 

(Image from ArtsPR)