SHORT STORY fairmont kicks off week of the young child

Fairmont's early childhood program is celebrating Week of the Young Child this week with special visitors, activities and events designed to showcase Fairmont's youngest learners. The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.  Anaheim firefighters visited the Anaheim Hills campus on Monday to kick off their week-long celebration.

Submitted by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

FRIDAY FOLDER pennies for a famous pooch

Highlights for the week of March 31, 2014:

This week, students at the Historic Anaheim Campus donated a check for $2,200 to the Anaheim Police Department's K-9 Fund for the recovery of the now-famous police dog "Bruno". Bruno was recently shot and critically injured in the line of duty for which he has needed two life-saving surgeries. In addition to collecting thousands of pennies during the Penny War drive, students wrote and illustrated get well cards for Bruno. Way to go students for pulling together and showing your support for your local community and one brave K-9 officer!  Check out KTLA's broadcast of the flag salute. 

Weekly Newsletters

Anaheim Hills Campus

Historic Anaheim Campus

North Tustin Campus

April Lunch Menus

Anaheim Hills (2nd - 8th Grade)
Anaheim Hills (P - 1st Grade)
Historic Anaheim Preschool
Historic Anaheim Campus (1st - 8th Grade)
Historic Anaheim Campus (Kindergarten)
North Tustin Campus (1st - 8th)
North Tustin Campus (P - K)

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SCHOOL NEWS cheer team celebrates awesome season

Fairmont Private Schools’ North Tustin Cheer Team has wrapped up a very successful competition season, including several top regional wins and a top-10 finish nationally.  At the final competition of the season, Best of the West in Long Beach, CA, the team took 2^nd place in their division.

The North Tustin competition team consists of 13 members ranging from grades 4-8.  The team practices several times a week and is coached by Joanna Yujuico and Fawn Weaver.   The school began competing in 2009, and has since participated in numerous state and regional competitions as well as UCA’s Nationals in Orlando, Florida in 2010 and 2013.

“I’m very proud of how hard our team has worked to advance in their technique, showmanship, and level of difficulty.  The girls learned so much this year and had a wonderful time in the process.  I can’t wait for next year!” said Coach Joanna Yujuico.

Way to go, girls!  We're looking forward to another great season next year.

2013-2014 North Tustin Campus Cheer team results:

• Tustin Tiller Days- 2^nd place
• UCA Southern California Regionals- 1^st place
• USA regionals- 3^rd place
• CA State Championships-1^st place
• USA Nationals- 8^th place team,  1^st place Junior High Novice Stunt group division
• UCA West Coast Championships-1^st place
• Best of the West- 2^nd place

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

THE FAIRMONT FIVE preschool readiness

How do you know your child is ready for preschool?  The answer really depends upon your child. In my case, I noticed that my children were becoming more independent and enjoyed spending time at grandmas without having me close at hand.  They talked about school and were curious about colors, shapes and learning their ABCs. And (here's the biggie) they were confident about going to the potty.

Preschool paves the way for a lifetime of learning.  Here are five questions to ask yourself to determine if your child is ready for those first, important baby steps:

1. Is your child potty-trained? While not all preschool programs require that children be potty-trained, at Fairmont we believe that giving up diapers is one clue that your tot is ready for the big kid world of preschool.
2. Can your child separate from you without melting down? Every child has moments when leaving mom, dad or another caregiver can be particularly tough.  If your child is ready for preschool, you'll notice a burgeoning independence as your little one looks forward to striking out on his or her own.
3. Can your child properly feed him/herself with utensils and remain seated in a chair while eating?  Preschool-aged children are notoriously "wiggly" in their seats, and that's okay.  But he or she should be able to feed him/herself without needing adult help.
4. Can your child play with other children or independently without requiring constant adult intervention?  Playing well independently and with others is a skill that builds as preschoolers mature; however, they'll need to start moving in this direction before it's appropriate to enroll them in preschool.
5. Can your child follow other adult’s directions?  If you're the only one who can get your child's attention, he or she may not be ready for preschool.  Make sure your child has the opportunity to experience other caregivers--family members, friends, etc.--before starting preschool.

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

BOOK REPORT vintage i can read books

Sometimes it's a familiar smell or taste that brings back a treasured memory.  Sometimes it's a photograph, note or drawing.  Yesterday it was a book. 

I came across a stack of books I remember from my childhood. Books like Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff and Little Bear by Else Minarik, with illustrations from the late, great Maurice Sendak.  The memories came rushing back!  

The ability to read, to read well, and, ultimately, to read for pleasure is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.  It will help them succeed in school and in any chosen profession. And it will open worlds of thought and feeling to them as they mature into grown-up human beings.

What I loved about my "I Can Read" book find is that these little gems of literacy are accessible to children just learning to read.  The stories go well beyond those boring basal readers we all remember from kindergarten and the vintage illustrations are delightful.

Maybe you have some old childhood books stashed away in your closet, garage or attic. If not, hit up your local thrift store or log-on to Etsy and search for vintage children's books. Sharing your favorite books from childhood reminds your children that you were little once. You had to memorize your sight words and "sound-out" just like them. You struggled along sometimes, but, over time, you got better and better.

It's gratifying to reminisce and it helps us connect with our kids...who are growing up faster than spring weeds!  Hopefully this post inspires you to make time to share your childhood learning-to-read memories with your own children.

Image credit: Annie's Book Corner

Contributed by: Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

SNACK TIME salads for kids

Going Beyond Green - Salads for Kids

Mention the word "salad" and most of us imagine a bowl of leafy greens. But salads go way beyond green, venturing into a carnival of colors, textures and flavors. Think fruit salad, veggie-salad, pasta salad, tuna macaroni salad, and three-bean salad just to name a few.

 

Getting children to eat salad requires a bit of strategic planning and preparation. Salads for kids need some basic elements to entice children to eat them.  When planning a salad think about color, flavor, fun, familiar foods and bite-size pieces. For example, children are attracted to bright colors, especially red.  Try tomatoes, watermelon, red peppers, grapes, strawberries and carrots.

 

Familiar flavors will also enhance success. Kids prefer plain foods so too many ingredients might be a turn off, especially if none of the ingredients are recognizable. Keep it simple by limiting the number of ingredients to a familiar few and slowly increase from there.

 

Creative, enticing shapes are a draw as well as easy-to-eat, bite-size pieces. Alphabet, elbow macaroni and wagon wheel pastas create visual interest and help make a fun salad.  Combine with edamame or diced cheddar cheese to add color, nutrition and flavor.

 

Color plus creative shapes equals fun! Use a melon baller or cookie cutters to create interesting shapes in bite-size pieces.

 

Remember that children enjoy preparing meals as well as eating them. Have them participate in selecting the ingredients from the grocery store, farmers market or garden. Encouraging children to mix in their favorite colors and shapes will increase the likelihood of a successful salad experience! 

Image credit: www.alwaysorderdessert.com

Submitted by Leslie Kay-Getzinger, MS RD

FAIRMONT FIVE orange county spring break stay-cation ideas

What is your family doing for spring break?  If you don't have plans to travel, consider a staycation right here in the OC.  Here are 5 places nearby that you can visit that are both fun and educational.

Environmental Nature Center

Discover 15 native California plant communities, habitats, and walking trails through hands-on learning at the Environmental Nature Center.  The Butterfly House, home to several butterfly species native to the county, opens on May 4th.  Admission is free.

Discovery Science Center 

Head to the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana to really get your "hands on" some science! Have a blast with more than 100 science exhibits that you can actually touch. Don't miss the laser bubble show running March 29-April 20. Hours are 9am-6pm. Children (ages 3-14) are $12.95 and adults (ages 15+) are $15.95. There is also a yearly family membership for $99.

La Habra Children's Museum

Located in a historic 1923 Train Depot, the hands-on children’s museum features seven galleries and 14 exhibits. Unique to the museum is its outdoor dinosaur topiary and 1942 caboose. Children can ride an authentic Dentzel Carousel, take a walk in T-Rex’s footprints, pet an Arctic fox, and dig for fossils. Kids under two are free. Tickets for older kids and adults are $8.

Fullerton Arboretum 

The Fullerton Arboretum is the largest botanical garden in Orange County. It boasts 26 acres with 4,000 unique and unusual plant species from around the world. Enjoy its ponds, streams, and wildlife as you enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful oasis in the city. Visit 7 days a week 8am-4:30pm.

Santa Ana Zoo

It's always fun to go to the zoo. And we have one right in our backyard. The Santa Ana Zoo focuses on the animals and plants of Central and South America and is known for its extensive primate collection with over a dozen species from around the world. It is open daily from 10am-4pm and costs $10 for adults and $7 for kids.

Image credit: La Habra Children's Museum

Contributed by Darcy, Fairmont Private Schools