FAIRMONT FIVE spring day trips

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out and about.  Leave the spring cleaning for another day and strike out to these great So Cal destinations:

Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Coast--One of my favorite places in the OC for savoring the natural beauty of our California coastline.  Enjoy a long walk on the beach, hike along the coastal nature trails or check out the restored historic district complete with colorful beach cottages, gift shop and museum.  Don't miss lunch or dinner at the Beachcomber for delicious, no-fuss fare and a view that can't be beat!

Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach--In keeping with the aquatic theme, visit Long Beach's homage to the Pacific ocean.  Kids will love the playful otters, the shark lagoon and the hands-on animal experiences available every day of the week.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch--You don't have to be a plant lover to LOVE this excursion to one of the most colorful places in Southern California this spring. Stroll among 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers and be sure to bring your camera!

The Great Park in Irvine--Float 400-feet above the landscape in the Great Park's Balloon ride, open Thursday-Sunday. While you're there, ride the carousel and check out Kids Rock--a play area of misting shade structures, climbing rocks and “underground tunnels."

Catalina Island--Head off-shore for an adventure in Catalina Island.  In addition to the exciting ferry ride, you can enjoy hiking, kayaking, helicopter tours, parasailing, zip-line fun and more in this close-to-home island paradise.

Image credit Crystal Cove Alliance

Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

ARTS + CRAFTS yarn surprise eggs

We love spring crafts! The bright, beautiful colors and the flowers, bunnies, and eggs make everything cheerful. Spring break is the perfect time to have some craft time with your kids. Simply Modern Mom has a tutorial for creating yarn eggs with a surprise inside. This craft would be fun for kids of all ages. If you have toddler-age kids just leave out the small surprise so there is no choking hazard. Enjoy!

Image credit: Simply Modern Mom

Contributed by Darcy, www.fairmontschools.com

SHORT STORY crazy art day

Preschoolers get creative at Crazy Art Day on the Anaheim Hills Campus as part of the Week of the Young Child 2014 festivities.

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