| Mar 10 |
End of 2nd trimester; report cards come out |
| Mar 11 |
No school - local holiday |
| Mar 14 |
Spring book sale starts |
| Mar 22 |
Elementary band concert |
| Mar 23 |
Spring art fair opening reception |
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(click through to the website)
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 A huge and sincere thank you to everyone who participated in Fairmeadow's online auction! We had a fabulous turn out with lots of excitement as bidding drew to a close last night. Stay tuned for more information about how much money we raised for our fantastic school. And in the news this week:
- Fairmeadow's Annual Spring Art Fair starts on Wednesday, March 23rd with an opening reception in the MP room from 6 - 7:30 pm. Submissions are due by Friday, March 18th. All welcomed to participate in this fun, non competitive art show.
- Fairmeadow's PTA Executive Board is seeking new members! Contact Karrie Chen (swkarrie@yahoo.com) to get involved.
- Living classrooms is offering training programs for people who are interested in volunteering in our community garden. Training sessions are being held on March 7, 14, and 21 from 9 am - noon. For more information, see the description below and contact Shawn Shahin: shawns@living-classroom.org.
- Fairmeadow's Spring Book Sale starts on Monday, March 14th.
Thanks all -- enjoy this short week and remember not to send your children to school on Friday :-).
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| From the Principal's Desk |
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Dear Fairmeadow Community,
This last weekend over 80 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Fairmeadow students impressed packed audiences with their performance of Annie Jr., produced by Hope Musical Theater. The familiar songs, expressive acting, and colorful costumes told a unique version of this wonderful story for our community to enjoy.
By the end of this week teachers will distribute second trimester progress reports to each family. These reports capture the most essential academic standards from each grade level as well as the most critical social competencies developing in students. The progress report will provide you with a picture of your child's strengths and areas for growth as we start the final trimester of the year. I suggest that parents/guardians review the progress report in its entirety to fully understand its contents prior to sharing elements with your child. If you have questions about why a standard is marked a certain way, or if you would like to discuss the contents of the progress report in more detail, please contact your child's teacher.
As you know, on Wednesday, February 24th the Palo Alto Police Department initiated a Code Blue Shelter in Place protocol for Fairmeadow and surrounding schools for approximately 45 minutes due to police activity in the area. I would like to thank the police department, our calm, resourceful staff, and our students for the outstanding job they did in initiating this protocol. While the protocols and language associated with Code Red and Code Blue procedures are familiar with school staff, I have outlined some important information below for your reference should you have any questions about these important safety procedures in our school district.
Under what circumstances would the Code Blue protocol be enacted?
A Code Blue Shelter in Place would be enacted if there is possible danger in the area that does not directly affect the school, but could affect the school. This could include a gas or chemical leak, a wild animal in the area, or police activity off-campus related to a potentially dangerous person in the neighborhood.
What does the Code Blue protocol entail?
The shelter in place protocol requires doors to be locked and windows to be locked and covered. However, teaching and learning continues as usual in classrooms. Students and staff must remain indoors until the police give the "all-clear" signal.
Under what circumstances would the Code Red protocol be enacted?
If there is a dangerous person on campus seeking to harm students and/or staff the Code Red Lock Down protocol would be enacted.
What does the Code Red protocol entail?
During a Code Red Lock Down students are directed to the nearest classroom if outside. Once inside, doors are locked and students take cover in closets, under countertops, or behind barricades created from desks, bookshelves, or other available materials. Teachers lock and barricade doors, close windows and blinds, and students and staff remain barricaded in silence until police physically arrive at each door to release them.
What communication would a family receive during a Code Blue or Code Red event?
The first priority as principal of the school is to assure that students, staff, and parents on site are as safe as possible. The Palo Alto Police Department recommends that parents be notified about an event via Infinite Campus, email, or phone call (depending on the situation) as soon as the building has been secured and any immediate threats have been removed. The notification may come directly from the school, or from a contact at the district office. The district is currently working on communication protocols with local authorities.
On Thursday, March 17th we will partner with the Palo Alto Police Department to practice a Code Red drill at Fairmeadow. We as adults understand the context that has led to the need for these drills in our society, but we would like to shield students from specifics as much as possible. To that end, teachers will be informing students that the purpose of the drill is to make sure our school community is safe if an 'unwelcome and unsafe person' is ever on our campus. At 10:25 a.m. on Thursday, March 17th an announcement will signal teachers to initiate the drill with students. District personnel, school resource officers, and myself will tour the campus and check each classroom to gauge student and teacher effectiveness with the protocols. By 11:00 a.m. an announcement will signal the end of the drill, and students and adults will resume their regular Thursday schedule. Following the drill, the Palo Alto Police Department will offer our staff suggestions for how to improve our process. Our school staff will be working with students to ensure that this process is as calm and relaxed as possible. Please contact me at any time should have you have questions about Code Red or Code Blue drills or protocols.
In other Fairmeadow news, the Spring Book Fair comes to Fairmeadow the week of March 14th, when our Multi Purpose Room fills with thousands of books for students and families to browse and enjoy. The Book Fair will be open before and after school each day the week of March 14th. Please visit and consider updating your reading collection at home with some new and engaging titles!
In closing, this Friday, March 11th is a local holiday on our district calendar with no school scheduled for the day.
Thank you for your continued support of teaching, learning, and community at our school. I look forward to seeing you at Fairmeadow soon!
Grant Althouse
Principal
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| Fairmeadow-licious -- One Last Chance to Buy! |
"Fairmeadow-licious" is our first-ever fairmeadow cookbook! It's filled with our children's art and has over 100 recipes donated by the Fairmeadow community including some delicious sounding international recipes, family recipes that have been passed down generations, our teachers' favorite recipes and Mr. Althouse's own chocolate chip cookie recipe! Even if you don't like to cook, why not buy a copy as a keepsake? All proceeds will be donated to the Fairmeadow PTA to help Fairmeadow continue to be the amazing school it is for our kids.
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| Fairmeadow's PTA Executive Board is seeking new members |
| Fairmeadow PTA Nominating Committee is recruiting volunteers to serve on the Fairmeadow PTA Executive Board for next school year 2016-17. The PTA Executive Board is responsible for planning community events and fundraisers to support our children and the school. Anyone interested in joining the board please contact Karrie Chen, swkarrie@yahoo.com. |
| Incoming Kinder Playdates |
Do you have an incoming kinder, or do you know someone who does? If so, kinder playdates are being arranged for summer, so the incoming kids can get to know each other before school starts.
Please email Emily Coviello at
emilycoviello@gmail.com
to join summer incoming kinder play date list.
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| Fairmeadow's Spring Art Fair |
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Calling all artists! It's time to get your art ready for our Annual Spring Art Fair sponsored by the
Fairmeadow PTA. Mark your calendar for the opening night reception,
Wednesday, March 23rd 6:00-7:30 p.m.
in the MP room. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.
This is not a competition! To be part of the art show, students just need to submit
original artwork on Friday, March 18th between
8-9 a.m.
by the MP room (2 piece limit per child).
Guidelines: The art can be work created in the classroom, at home, or in an outside art class. All
Fairmeadow students are encouraged to participate. Artwork can be of any media* (clay, paint, collage, pencil, etc.). Artwork can be of any size. All artwork must have a label (including: name, grade and room number - art will be returned to the room listed on the label by March 30th). Mounting or matting flat artwork is optional. *Fragile or breakable items will only be exhibited at the opening show on the 24th.
In case you can't attend the opening show, artwork will remain on exhibit in the MP room until March 29th. Thank you for encouraging your child to share his or her creative work! We look forward to seeing you at as we collect the art before school on Friday, March 18th!
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Living Classroom sees Students Blossoming!
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Seeking Volunteers to help Share Love of Nature with Children
Living Classroom, the garden-based education program, is well on track to providing over 400 lessons in grades K-3 this year at five Palo Alto schools: Duveneck, El Carmelo, Fairmeadow, Hays and Barron Park. At each school, both native habitat and edible gardens provide the setting for the lessons which cover important content in science, math, social studies and also nutrition. The lessons are aligned with Next Generation Science and Common Core Standards and are all hands-on to provide the most direct and engaging learning experience possible with living plants and animals as the subject of study.
We are able to provide so many lessons through the support of our volunteer trained docents. Although 8 docents are now generously giving their time and talent, we do need more help to allow more students to benefit from these nature-based lessons.
Please consider attending our spring training sessions on Mondays, March 7, 14 and 21st from 9 a.m. - noon to learn more about how you can share your love of nature and science with children.
Here's a quick sampling of lessons given during February and March:
Kindergarten: Kinders learn the parts of plants, their function and eat them during the Incredible Edibles lesson. Who knew that broccoli was a cluster of flower buds?
First Grade: During the Growing Vegetable Soup lesson, students harvest, clean and prepare vegetables they planted in the fall to make a healthy vegetable soup for the entire class to enjoy.
Second Grade: Who knew that earthworms were so important to our lives? During the Mighty Worm lesson, students meet worms up close and personal and build a layered worm home to observe their tunneling abilities, which are key to plant health.
Third Grade: Students set up an actual scientific experiment in which they hypothesize what impact the color of light shown on plants will have on their rate of growth. Three weeks later they measure the plant growth and assess the plant health and come to a conclusion based on their data.
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The Palo Alto Council of PTAs is looking for a few good candidates to help fill some vacancies on our roster for the 2016-17 school year. The Council works with the district staff, the Board of Education, community partners and the PTAs at all 17 schools to support the students and families of our district. It offers a great opportunity for individuals to get a broader view our district and build bridges between schools/PTAs in service of the broader community. The current 2016-17 roster is posted at http://ptac.paloaltopta.org/2016-17-ptac-board-nominees/
If you are interested in any of the open positions, send an email to ptacouncil@paloaltopta.org and specify the position that you are interested in.
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Palo Alto Council of PTAs Sports Page
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Parent-Child Communication Workshop
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Mon, Mar 14, 7 - 8:30 PM, Paly Haymarket Theater, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto
Mon, Mar 21, 7 - 8:30 PM, JLS Middle School Cafetorium, 480 E Meadow Drive, Palo Alto
The workshop will begin with scripted vignettes about teen stressors. Moderators will guide discussion to provide parents with different strategies, skills and advice for communicating and connecting with their child. Mandarin translation provided. Sponsors: Stanford Department of Behavioral Sciences and PAUSD.
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City of Palo Alto Community Meetings (Fall 2015 Palo Alto Shuttle Community Survey)
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Thurs, Mar 10, 3:00 - 4:30 PM, Embarcadero Room, Rinconada Library,1213, Newell Road, Palo Alto
or
6:00 - 8:00 PM, Community Room, Lucie Stern Community Center,1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Some of the items to be discussed:
· New service concepts for Palo Alto Shuttle Program
· New or modified shuttle routes
· Possible shuttle rebranding & awareness campaign
· Possible renaming of routes
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Gunn High School Theater Department Presents William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," set in 1996 Los Angeles
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Spangenberg Theatre, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto
- Opening Night Gala (Lecture and Reception): Mar 17 at 6:00 pm, all tix $20;
- Other performances: Mar 18,19, 24,25,26 @7:30 pm, $10.00 Students/$12.00 General;
- Matinees: Wed. March 23 @ 4pm and Sat. March 26 at 2 pm, all tix $5.
TICKETS available at gunntheatre.org, at the Gunn Student Activities Center, or at the door (until they sell out!).
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The Anxious Worried Child - Parent Education Event Sponsored by SELPA 1 CAC
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Wed, Mar 16, 6:45 - 9 PM, Santa Rita School Multi, 700 Los Altos Ave., Los Altos
Challenging academic expectations, advances in technology, and social pressure are all contributing to an increase in anxiety among our children. As a result, we are seeing a rise in behavioral issues, poor social interactions, and an inability to function at school. What are typical worries for children and when should you be concerned that your child is worrying excessively? There are several strategies that can help relieve stress, decrease anxiety and increase calm feelings. In a world that is constantly evolving, having the ability to manage the anxiety that comes with change is becoming an essential life skill.
Free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. Led by Dr John Brentar, a licensed psychologist who conducts evaluations and provides therapy to children and adolescents, and Amy Keezer , a licensed marriage and family therapist. Sponsored by SELPA 1 CAC, an all-volunteer group of parents of children with special needs whose service area includes all public school districts in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto.
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CHILDREN'S USED BOOK SALE TO BENEFIT PALO ALTO LIBRARIES
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Sat Mar 12 & Sun Mar 13, 10 AM - 4 PM, Cubberley Community Center (FOPAL Children's Sale Room)
Thousands of kids' books, games, puzzles, CDs, and DVDs will be for 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 items in foreign languages. www.fopal.org
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Paly Robotics Summer Camp 2016 (for middle school students, incoming 6th - incoming 9th)
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July 18-22, July 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). There are 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 palyrobotics.com/summercamp.
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Classroom Volunteers Needed - An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life
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Have you enjoyed volunteering in your child's classroom? Then consider visiting a classroom in east Menlo Park or East Palo Alto. Our All Students Matter volunteers work once a week for about an hour on reading and math skills with kids in grades K-4. Sign up now to start in September. Training will be provided. To learn more or sign up, visit
www.allstudentsmatter.org
or contact Keri Tully at keritully@gmail.com.
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Mon, Mar 14, 1 - 9 PM, Orchard Community Room, Los Altos Library, 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. Sponsored by SELPA 1 CAC, an all-volunteer group of parents of children with special needs whose service area includes all public school districts in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. All are welcome and participants must respect confidentiality.
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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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