May 2- 6
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Staff appreciation wk |
| May 4 |
ELAC meeting |
| May 6 |
International
Night |
| May 10 |
Whole school learning celebration & Science Fair |
| May 18 |
Gold Rush Day |
May 26
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Discovery Day |
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(click through to the website)
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Thanks to everyone who participated in Friday's International Night, and for the fabulous organizers -- it was so much fun! Coming up this week:
- The Science Fair is this Tuesday, May 10th from 6:00 - 8:30 pm in the MP Room.
- The Whole School Learning Celebration is also this Tuesday evening, May 10th starting with an assembly at 6:45 on the black top.
- Please bring socks for the Student Council's sock drive, on till Friday, May 13th. Donation boxes are available in each classroom.
- Crazy Hair Day is this Friday, May 13th. Get creative, folks!
- Please consider signing up to do something fun, funny, creative, interactive, and/or educational with our kids on Discovery Day, coming up on May 26th.
Please continue to check out the Fairmeadow
calendar for upcoming events. Thanks!
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From the Principal's Desk
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Dear Fairmeadow Community,
International Night at Fairmeadow provided for a fantastic community celebration last Friday. The performances representing cultures across the globe, the expansive spread of homemade cuisine, and the inquisitive conversations around heritage and family filled hearts and stomachs throughout the evening. The music kept playing past nightfall, with students K-5, parents, teachers, and one principal in a dance circle, enjoying each other and the energy of the event. I extend my sincere appreciation to our International Night parent organizers Tam Truman, Valerie Pierre, and Sudipta Guha for their tireless efforts to coordinate this important event. Our global diversity is among our greatest resources; thank you to all for celebrating each other and our heritage.
Last Friday evening we celebrated our community, and this Tuesday evening we showcase learning! Please join us for our Whole School Learning Celebration this Tuesday evening, May 10th at Fairmeadow. Our annual school Science Fair will open in the MP Room at 6 pm, with the Learning Celebration launching at 6:45 pm on the blacktop. The purpose of this community gathering is to celebrate student growth and to showcase the student learning achieved during the 2015/16 school year. Our whole school assembly on the blacktop starting at 6:45 pm will feature student speakers and an introduction to the evening, followed by tours by your student to present their work and their learning in their classrooms. While the focus on Tuesday will be the showcase of learning in your children's current classroom(s), at the start of school the next school day, teachers will tour students through the next year's classrooms in our 'Move it Up Gallery Walk'. This will provide the children with an important opportunity to experience the next grade level's classrooms in anticipation of the transition to the next school year. 5th graders will welcome the 4th graders to their classrooms, and 5th graders will tour the middle school this upcoming Thursday. I look forward to seeing you all at this important school gathering, starting with the school-wide assembly at 6:45 pm on the blacktop. Be sure to visit the Science Fair before or after the Learning Celebration; the MP Room will be open from 6-8:30 pm!
Fairmeadow would not be the welcoming, creative, comprehensive, and nurturing learning environment that it is today without countless contributions from a multitude of volunteers. All parent and community volunteers: please join us for a special event in your honor, next Thursday May 19th from 8:10-8:50 am. In our school library our staff will assemble the annual Volunteer Breakfast, a delicious spread of sweet and savory bites to start your day off right. So whether you've worked in your child's classroom, spent time in Science Lab, the Library, or Spectra Art, whether you drove students in your car on a field trip, led a lunchtime activity or contributed time in any other way to our school, please be sure to join us for breakfast next Thursday.
On Thursday, April 21st the 2nd Harvest Food Bank of San Jose recognized Fairmeadow with a bronze medal award for this fall's Student Council Food Drive. Our Student Council's Presidential Cabinet accepted the award on behalf of our school, and toured the 2nd Harvest Food Bank to see the impact of our school's service project. This spring, the student council is sponsoring a sock drive to provide warm and clean socks to people in need. An often-neglected clothing item in clothing drives, new, clean and functional socks are critically important for health, safety, and comfort of children and adults in need. Please consider donating money for the purchase of socks, or donating new socks to this important cause. Donation boxes are accepting donations in all classrooms through this Friday, May 13th. To celebrate the end of the sock drive, and to show our school spirit, the Student Council will sponsor our final spirit day of the year, Crazy Hair Day on Friday, May 13th. Please help your child express their school spirit through 'crazy hair' on Friday!
With four weeks remaining in this school year, take time with your child to reflect on the unique parts of this year's experience, and the growth they have accomplished. I look forward to seeing you at Fairmeadow soon to celebrate the end of the year, and to participate in one of the many end of year experiences at our school. Be sure to mark your calendars for our End of Year Learning Celebration on May 10th at 6:45 pm!
Grant Althouse
Principal
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| Fairmeadow Discovery Day: Sign up to help! |
Thursday, May 26th is Discovery Day!
This is a parent led, PTA sponsored, biannual Fairmeadow tradition that brings together our talents, hobbies and passions to share with kids. In order to make Discovery Day happen, we need at least 45 "stations" so that we can provide spots for all of Fairmeadow's 525 kids. Parents, teachers, and volunteers lead or volunteer to help with the events. Activities run from 9-10 AM and 10:30-11:30 AM.
What activities we have to offer the kids is up to you!!
Please sign up by TODAY (May 9) either online at
http://tinyurl.com/fmdiscoveryday
or fill out the slip from your Friday Folder. The slip can be returned to the PTA drawer in the office.
See the examples of activities tab on sign up sheet or make up something new! If necessary, the PTA is able to reimburse up to $50 for the cost of materials.
Parents of 4th and 5th graders: given that this is a biannual traditional, this year's Discovery Day is your
l
ast chance
to sign up! Please consider giving some time to make this day special for our students.
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Calling all Parents of JLS 6th Grade-Bound students!
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Come volunteer with next year's JLS PTA!
There are just as many opportunities to be a part of your child's JLS experience as there were at Fairmeadow, and the JLS PTA welcomes whatever level of time and talents you can contribute.
Volunteering on the PTA will accelerate your familiarity with the campus, staff, and fellow parents; there's no better or faster way to become a part of the JLS community. And we have a lot of fun!
Current "hot" jobs still open:
Jump Start Day and First Day assistance (forms, PE uniforms, etc)
6th Grade Parent Networks co-chairs
6th Grade Panther Camp co-chairs
Dance Chaperones
Community Service Day chaperones
Science Fair, Book Fair helpers
Co-chairs for Back-To-School Pizza Dinner (September 2016)
Co-chairs for Many Faces Potluck (May 2017)
Special Education Inclusion Rep
Health and Wellness Rep
Advocacy Chair
Ways and Means chair
Click
here to see a full list of the open positions on the JLS PTA committees and events, and fill out the form to indicate any interests you may have. This is not a commitment! We will contact you with more information which will help you decide if you would like to join us.
Click
here for job descriptions of most of the PTA jobs.
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| Science Fair is coming MAY 10! |
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Come join the annual Fairmeadow Science Fair. Open to all ages, the fair is a non-competitive way to share our scientific discoveries. The fair will be held on the evening of
May 10
in the M.P. room, from 6:00 - 8:30 pm. Posters need to be in TODAY, May 9th.
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| This is our Lost and Found! |
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Please retrieve your lost items some time in the next few weeks, before donation day!
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Support Noon Activities with Lego and Yarn Donations!
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Have your kids outgrown their Lego collection? Perhaps a knitting project has occupied closet space for too long?
It's time to restock Fairmeadow's Lego and Yarn supplies in preparation for the year to come, so if you're ready for a Lego and/or yarn clear out, why not donate it to your school?
Give your Lego a new lease of life!
Rehome your abandoned yarn stash!
Please bring your donations to the office.
Thank you!
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Register for Summer Camps Using ActivityHero and Raise Money for Fairmeadow
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You can now earn money for our school by registering for camps and kids' activities through ActivityHero! Be sure to use Fairmeadow's unique link (
https://camps.activityhero.com/fairmeadow/) so the money is donated to us.
Don't forget that we will also have camps and activities for you to bid on through our online auction in February. Stay tuned for more details!
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Friendship Circle: Parent Support Group for Fairmeadow Kids with Special Needs
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Next gathering:
Thursday, May 12th
from
9.30am - 11.30am
At: Bumble cafe (child friendly!)
145 1st St, Los Altos, CA 94022
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To Incoming 6th Grade Jordan Parents and/or Guardians
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Jordan's Jaguar Journey is a great orientation program for 6th grade students held on August 16th and 17th. The teachers and staff of Jordan use these first two days of school to orient the new 6th graders to life at Jordan. It's fun and festive and allows the students to get to know each other, their teachers and their new space at school. The teachers have developed a terrific program but they need parent volunteers help to make it happen. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here https://www.uptous.com/communities/JJ . Questions? Please email JaguarJourney2016@gmail.com.
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| Bike Boulevard Proposals for City-Wide School Routes |
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Mon, May 9, 6:30 PM, Council Chambers, 1st Floor, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto
On May 9th, the City Council will consider approval of plans for Bike and Pedestrian Improvements at various stages of design and specification for Amarillo Avenue, Bryant Street Bike Boulevard extension, East Meadow Drive, Montrose Avenue, Moreno Avenue, Louis Road, Palo Alto Avenue, and Ross Road, Maybell Avenue, Park Boulevard-Wilkie Way Bicycle Boulevard projects. See agenda here http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/52192). An Executive Summary of the proposals is here http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/52165 preceding a longer report that includes maps and traffic and parking study data. Comment at the City Council meeting or write to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.
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Month of May, 10am-6pm. Mitchell Park Library, Children's Library, or Rinconada Library
Support Palo Alto students as they prepare for finals at our library! Parents, school librarians, and teachers of PAUSD, consider writing a quick note to inspire students as they study hard for big tests during Finals Week. Messages can be heartfelt, humorous, or anything in between. Fill out a post-it at Mitchell Park, Rinconada or Children's Library. You can also submit to: paloaltoTLAB@gmail.com
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| PAUSD Annual Youth Art Show - April 30 - May 22 |
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Palo Alto Art Center, 1313, Newell Rd. Palo Alto CA 94303
K-12
student artwork exhibit at the Palo Alto Art Center. Friends, family and members of the public welcome. Additional Youth Art is on display from May 2 to May 20, at the Palo Alto Unified School District Office (Mon - Fri, 8am-4:30pm).
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Eprep Class for 7-12 yrs old
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Sat, May 14, 10 - 11 AM, Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto 94303
Is your family prepared for an emergency or natural disaster? Have you discussed with your children how you all will contact one another and where your designated spot is to regroup? The City of Palo Alto Department of Emergency Services now provides you with an opportunity to discuss these important topics with your children in a fun way. Kids will learn, through a multitude of hands-on activities, some of the most essential information on how to become prepared for different sorts of emergency situations (specifically earthquakes). Kids will receive their "Preparedness Passports" and a starter emergency kit
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| Children's Used Book Sale to Benefit Palo Alto Libraries |
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Sat May 14 & Sun May 15 10 AM - 4 PM, Cubberley Community Center (FOPAL Children's Sale Room)
More than 13,000 kids' books, games, puzzles, CDs, and DVDs will be on sale at incredibly low prices at Friends of the Palo Alto Library's monthly book sale- everything from board books and picture books to school age fiction and nonfiction titles to early teen fiction. All items are lightly used or new and are sorted by age level and subject matter. Many books in foreign languages. Over 50,000 adult books available in FOPAL's Main and Bargain Rooms. www.fopal.org
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| Let's Talk - (parent education event is sponsored by the SELPA 1 CAC) |
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Mon, May 9, 7 - 9 PM, Orchard Community Room, 13 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos
A chance to ask questions and share ideas, resources, and support with other parents of students with IEPs, 504s, learning differences, mental health challenges, etc. All are welcome, participants must respect confidentiality. SELPA 1 CAC is an all-volunteer group of parents of children with special needs. All events are free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit. No registration is necessary.
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| Courage and Compassion: A conversation with Andrea Gundmundsson |
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Thursday, May 17, 7 pm, Rinconada Library
Free event at Rinconada library on
May 17 at 7pm
, a conversation with Andrea Gudmundsson,
about empathy and connection. Andrea will share her journey and insights of living with a terminal illness."
For more info and registration:
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WHOOOO: A Celebration of Owls
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Sun, May 22nd, Palo Alto Junior Museum, 1451 Middlefield Rd., CA 94301
Go to the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo for an event in celebration of owls! Free and open to Club JMZ members only 10:30am - 12:30pm, and to the public 1 - 2pm. Meet the JMZ's resident Western screech owls, Olive and Scooter and see owls from the San Francisco Zoo, Wildlife Associates, and more. Club JMZ members: Join us10:30am-12:30pm for extra-special fun, including owl pellet dissection and coffee and breakfast in the zoo.
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| Palo Alto Philharmonic Family Concert -This Means War |
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Sun, May 22, 3 PM, Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
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| National River Clean Up Day |
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Sat, May 21, 9 AM - 12 PM, Baylands (Matadero or Adobe Creek)
The City of Palo Alto is hosting one Clean Up site (Matadero: site 16) and Acterra is hosting site 17 (Adobe) to clean up litter in the Baylands. Please go to www.cleanacreek.org to sign up and be sure to bring your waivers. Three hours of community service will be available.
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League of Women Voters Meetings about Pros and Cons on June 7 Spring Election Ballot
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Volunteers from the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto will present pros and cons for all the ballot measures on the spring election ballot in four free public meetings during May. In addition to giving the arguments for and against the ballot measures, speakers will provide information on how the primary process works in California. The program is part of the league's non-partisan Voter Education Service to the community Times and location in Palo Alto are:
May 16, 2 PM
. Avenidas, 450 Bryant Street, Garden Room; May 17, 7 PM, Channing House, 850 Webster Street;
May 21, 2 PM
, Downtown Library, 270 Forest Avenue; and
May 24, 7 PM
, Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Road, Midtown Room.
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Paly Robotics Summer Camp 2016 (for middle school students, incoming 6th - incoming 9th)
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Jul 18-22, Jul 25-29, Aug 1-5, The Paly Robotics Lab (Room 903 at Palo Alto High School)
Do you want your child to experience what it is like to design and build robots? Or how about learning how to program and create 3D animations? What about creating a business plan and promoting it with a website? This year, Paly Robotics will be hosting our annual summer camp for incoming middle school students (incoming 6th - 9th). We are offering three sessions to choose from - Robot Design and Hardware; Programming and 3D Animation; and Entrepreneurship and Website Design. For more information about our camp and the different sessions, visit our website at palyrobotics.com/summercamp.
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| Summer Of Service (SOS) - YCS |
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Want to make a difference in the community? Join Summer of Service (SOS) and develop leadership skills, meet new friends and have fun while helping out in the community - with Youth Community Service. Each day students will go out in teams to local schools, senior centers, food pantries and parks for service. At SOS you will have fun while learning how to tackle community issues. We also enjoy one fun BBQ day each session and an end of program celebration. SOS has four 2 week sessions that run from June 13th through August 5th for students who will be entering 6th - 8th grade in the Fall of 2016. For more information, visit the Enjoy Online or contact YCS at (650) 858-8019.
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Sat, May 14 & Jun 4, 2:30 - 3:30 PM. Children's Library, 1276 Harriet St.
, Palo Alto
Try a new maker project each month! May is an Egg Drop Challenge, June is program your own Lego robot. Grades K-6.
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| FREE WEBINAR! Raising a Highly Sensitive Child (for parents of children 2 - 8 years) |
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Fri May 13, 5.30 - 8.30PM, Gunn Robotic Lab, Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto CA 94306
BrainVyne - LEGO® Camps & Birthday Parties, is proud to offer a fun-tastic evening with the award-winning Gunn Robotics Team (GRT) for your pre-school to middle school children. Kids will build BrainVyne's highly rated LEGO® Zoom creations like chairoplane or jet-ski. They will also have a chance to play with GRT's Red Giant Robot, which won the Innovation in Control Award at the 2016 First Robotics Competition.
Have a delightful date night while your kids enjoy pizza between building and playing with robots. A portion of the proceeds from this event will help GRT buy robotics components and supplies.
Reserve a spot now!
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The City of Palo Alto has declared Sunday June 19 as World Music Day. World Music Day is a free music festival that takes place in cities around the world every year around the Summer Solstice. 50 professional and amateur musical groups will perform a wide variety of musical genres: jazz, pop, rock, classical, world music, choral, etc. All performances are FREE and open to the public. This is a fun and unique family event not to be missed. The organizers are also looking for musicians and event volunteers from our community, including students from our schools. Info:
www.pamusicday.org
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| eNews Publication Guidelines and Archive |
| For old versions of eNews, go to the eNews archive . Fairmeadow eNews Publication Guidelines:
- Fairmeadow eNews is a publication of the Fairmeadow PTA. It is sent out each Monday morning, with special editions sent out as required.
- If you want to publish an announcement relevant to Fairmeadow, send an email to fairmeadow.enews@gmail.com. Include the following information: title, date, time and location of the event, a brief description and who to contact. Information submitted by Sunday 2 pm will appear in the Monday Edition.
- Announcements relevant to other schools in the PAUSD district can be send to enews@paloaltopta.org
- Our PTA has a noncommercial policy, which states that we do not associate with any commercial activities of other organizations including, but not limited to, the promotion of their goods and services. Only information from non profit organizations will be considered for placement, if submitted to eNews.
- Announcements will generally be published in two consecutive issues. To have further announcements made after that, please submit your announcement again.
If you have any questions or suggestions, e-mail Susan Leech, Fairmeadow's eNews editor.
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