BOOK REPORT minimalist parenting

Ever wanted to slow down and smell the roses when it comes to your family life?  Modern parents are busier than ever balancing our own personal needs with the daily schedule of must-haves and must-dos when it comes to our children. Being the best you can be for yourself, your spouse, your kids...it can be exhausting, but according to Minimalist Parenting authors Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest it doesn't have to be this way.  It's possible to be human, do less, and enjoy the experience of parenthood without all of the craziness and guilt.  Turns out that kicking back a bit could actually be better for your kids in the long run.  Need proof?  Read all about it:

Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less

by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest 

We're in the midst of a parenting climate that feeds on more expert advice, more gear, more fear about competition and safety, and more choices to make about education, nutrition, even entertainment.  The result?  Overwhelmed, confused parents and overscheduled, over-parented kids. In Minimalist Parenting, Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest offer a fresh approach to navigating all of this conflicting background noise. 

In Minimalist Parenting, Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest offer a fresh approach to navigating all of this conflicting background “noise.” They show how to tune into your family’s unique values and priorities and confidently identify the activities, stuff, information, and people that truly merit space in your life.

The book begins by showing the value of a minimalist approach, backed by the authors’ personal experience practicing it. It then leads parents through practical strategies for managing time, decluttering the home space, simplifying mealtimes, streamlining recreation, and prioritizing self-care. Filled with parents’ personal stories, readers will come away with a unique plan for a simpler life.

credit: minimalistparenting.com

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER august 30

Historic Anaheim Junior High students loved their first lesson in the new Science Lab! 

Highlights From This Week

Mark Your Calendars for Parent Night! 

Parent Night, also known as "Back to School Night," is our first big event of the school year. We encourage all of our parents to mark their calendars and attend this special evening to meet their children's teachers and hear about their plans for the upcoming school year. You will also have an opportunity to visit your campus' specialty classrooms, including the computer lab, Spanish classroom, and library, to see what your children will learn this year. 

Parent Night Dates: 

Historic Anaheim Preschool - September 4

Anaheim Hills - September 6 

North Tustin - September 6 

Historic Anaheim Campus - September 11

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

August/September 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

SCHOOL NEWS prep student completes prestigious biomedical research internship

Medical magnet student and incoming Fairmont Preparatory Academy senior, Megan Reddy, has pretty impressive fodder for her "What I did this summer" back-to-school essay.  She recently completed a 10-week internship through City of Hope’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy, an inquiry-based biomedical research program for exceptionally gifted undergraduate and high school students.  

The Academy gives curious and hardworking students the opportunity to learn about science by actually doing it. Unlike traditional high school or college classes where the course of study is entirely determined by the instructor, City of Hope’s summer program students select their own research project according to their individual areas of interest. Selected participants then spend 10 weeks working full-time as a member of a biomedical research team, receiving a stipend of $4,000 for their work.

Megan's research project was entitled: The Activity of SGN-35 in Conjunction with SAHA on CD30+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Parental and Resistant Cell Lines.  Congratulations, Megan, for pursuing your passion for medicine and research this summer. We are looking forward to following your career as you complete our senior year and undoubtedly head off to an amazing university!

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

HOW TO habits for a happy (and healthy) school year

The new school year has started, and maybe you're like me, and are already feeling overwhelmed. Plenty of other parents are still adjusting to the routine of a new school year, so it's okay to take a deep breath and regroup.  Here are a few tips to help you stay focused on what really matters:

Serve a healthy breakfast…+lunch, snack and dinner

It may sound old-fashioned, but even modern day experts say there’s plenty of merit to making sure your child has a nutritious start to the day.  Think about ways you can pack protein, whole grains, healthy fats, and a serving of fruit into this important start to the school day.  When it comes to after-school snacks, create a kid-accessible snack area of the refrigerator for pre-washed, pre-portioned snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, and yogurt.  A little prep time and you’ve got a week’s worth of healthy snacks lined up and ready to grab on your way out the door!  Avoid fast food at dinner time by planning your meals in advance, including shopping and advance prep work whenever possible. And don’t forget your slow-cooker--it’s a real life saver for busy families.

Support your child’s teacher

Start off on the right foot when it comes to connecting with your child’s teacher.  Teachers are professionals whose education and experience makes them uniquely qualified to provide children with the instruction, care, and encouragement they need to master academic and life skills.  Show your respect by scheduling appointments rather than “dropping in” for impromptu conferences.  Be sure to go over your child’s homework and assignments and help out on projects when your assistance is needed.  Let your child’s teacher know you value and appreciate what is truly a labor of love on his or her part and you’ll be rewarded with a partnership that helps your child thrive in the classroom.

Be positive

When talking about school, your child’s teacher or your child’s performance in school, try to be as positive as possible.  Children are great imitators and your enthusiasm will be contagious.  Cheer them on as they tackle new skills and all of the exciting “firsts” a new year brings.  Your positive attitude and loving support will go a long way to helping them overcome any anxieties they may be feeling about learning new things or making new friends.

Read nightly with your child

It’s not complicated, and it doesn’t take more than 15 minutes a day, but this simple step could have a huge affect on your child’s success in school.  Studies show that parents who read with their children, boost overall aptitude for learning, improve inter-personal skills, increase attention-span and discipline…the list goes on.  Make reading a part of your daily routine and you’ll reap the rewards throughout your child’s school career.

Keep to a strict bedtime

After winding down with a good book, it’s off to bed!  Keeping to bedtimes is important for all members of the family, especially young children whose brains and bodies use this downtime to re-group, repair and grow.  The National Sleep Foundation recommends 11-13 total hours of daily sleep (including naps) for 3-5 year-olds.

Image credit: www.nobiggie.net

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER august 23

Our students looked very sharp in their new uniforms on the First Day of School! 

Highlights From This Week

60 Years of Back to School

This Tuesday marked a special moment in Fairmont's history - our 60th First Day of School! It was a very exciting day for all of our students, parents, and teachers. We loved seeing our returning students back from summer break - hearing their summer stories and seeing how much they've grown since the spring. And we were thrilled to welcome our new students and their families to the Fairmont community! Our campuses were bustling with positive energy, and our students were so excited to start learning. Thank you to all of our families for your commitment to Fairmont, and here's to a wonderful 60th Anniversary school year! 

Mark Your Calendars for Parent Night! 

Parent Night, also known as "Back to School Night," is our first big event of the school year. We encourage all of our parents to mark their calendars and attend this special evening to meet their children's teachers and hear about their plans for the upcoming school year. You will also have an opportunity to visit your campus' specialty classrooms, including the computer lab, Spanish classroom, and library, to see what your children will learn this year. 

Parent Night Dates: 

Historic Anaheim Preschool - September 4

Anaheim Hills - September 5 

North Tustin - September 6 

Historic Anaheim Campus - September 11

Weekly E-Newsletters 

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

August/September 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

SHORT STORY first day of school

From preschool to high school, it's back to school time at Fairmont - a great start to Fairmont's 60th Anniversary school year! 

Contributed by Alyssa, Fairmont Private Schools

A TO Z saying goodbye to summer

The end of summer is such a bittersweet time for me. I love the excitement of "back-to-school" and the promise of growth and new experiences in the next grade level. But it’s still tough to box up the super-soakers, UV-beads and Model Magic. And when the tattered friendship bracelets get cut off, I know that another great Fairmont summer is coming to a close.

Summer at Fairmont Schools is about building confidence—and depending on the student, this may have an academic or social focus. To develop confidence, summer may mean experiencing or succeeding at things for the first time. At the elementary level, this may mean sharing a writing project up in front of the class or working independently in different learning stations in summer school. It may mean riding a school bus for the first time or actually being at a field trip destination for the first time without a parent! It could mean the first jump off a high dive, the first shriek on a roller-coaster or the first time petting a manta ray at the Aquarium.

Developing confidence over the summer also may mean experiencing academic success. This summer, a record number of Fairmont junior high students took advanced math courses at Fairmont Prep which will allow them to progress to the next subject level during the school year. This sense of accomplishment is the essence of what summer at Fairmont is about to me.

Just like our students, summer is a great time of learning and skill building for our faculty and staff. Fairmont teachers experienced teaching the new grade level they will teach this upcoming school year or had extra practice using Accelerated Math or technology tools. Summer Camp Counselors returned after another year of college under their belts, ready to take on new roles in teaching students and supporting families.

In my five years as Director of Summer Programs at Fairmont Schools, I’ve never experienced a summer so magical as the Summer of 2013--Fairmont’s 60^th Anniversary Summer. This summer seemed to fly by...but for a few moments, time stood still. I’d like to share a few of my favorite Summer 2013 memories:

• Sitting in on Ms. DeVane’ 6^th grade Language Arts class discussion on The Giver at the North Tustin Campus. As a kid, it was one of my favorite books but I hadn’t thought about it for years. After hearing our students’ discussion of the novel, I had to re-read it myself. 
• Seeing videos of the Jedi Training Academy taught by summer camp counselors Mr. Evan and Mr. Cody during an afternoon camp rotation. I love the creativity of our staff and the unique moments it creates for our Padawans, I mean campers! 
• Watching Oliver in swim cap and goggles give me a huge grin and thumbs up while “body surfing” at Corona del Mar Beach. It was a perfect summer moment for him and became one for me too.
• Hearing Mr. Al speak with a southern drawl all day on Western Wear Dress-Up Day.
• Having a pretend “tea party” with preschool campers while waiting for their pony ride and pictures. Since I was dressed up as Snow White for Fairytale Dress Up Day, I was treated as part celebrity, part best friend by the preschoolers.
• Pointing out sight words in Miss Dodson’s JK summer school class with “witchy fingers". Who knew plastic finger sleeves could be such fun and so educational?!

 I’ve already begun a countdown for Summer 2014…43 more weeks! See you then!

Contributed by Jamie, Fairmont Summer Programs