Welcome to Fairmeadow Elementary's eNews -- the best way to stay informed about all things Fairmeadow. Our eNews will come to your inbox every Monday so be sure to have a look!
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Back to School Night
Tuesday, August 30, 6-8pm
Come join us to find out what this year will hold for your child at Back to School Night.
The kindergarten, first, and second grade presentations will run from 6-7 pm in classrooms, with the third, fourth, and fifth grade presentations running from 7-8 pm. Back to School Night is a wonderful opportunity to learn about your child's teacher, the instructional program and curricular approach for the school year, fun and engaging activities on and off school grounds, and volunteer opportunities.
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Picture Day
Friday, September 2
Picture Day is this Friday, September 2nd. If you need a copy of the order form to send with your student on Friday,
you can download it here
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The PTA is in Need of Family Party Hosts ASAP!
We ask families to commit by this
Friday, Sept. 2nd
to host a fun party this year. We are specifically looking for families to host 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Parties (party theme will be your choice).
Multiple families can co-host to divide expenses/work. Best selling parties from the past: Oktoberfest, Japanese Dinner, Cocktail Party, Camping Weekend, Kickball Party, Bollywood Dance Party, Spanish Tapas Party, Wine Tasting. New ideas are welcome. The generous parent-hosted parties raised
$24,345
for the PTA last year, which was 51% of the entire Walkathon earnings.
Thank you, former party hosts for your generosity and awesome parties!
Why do we have this tradition of parties at Fairmeadow, why paying to attend parties? Well, two really powerful reasons: First, the parties are a great way to build community. How wonderful to be invited to someone's home and sit with other families and get to know some of the parents in your children's classes. Second and mostly importantly, it's to raise funds for our PTA. The monies raised for the PTA help to fund
: computers and science equipment; noon sports and activities programs; school-wide bully prevention program; additional playground supervision; our new Design Studio; all new books for the school and classroom libraries; spring theatrical production; science materials; Green Team; many community events, plus much more.
To sign up to host a party and for party ideas and more info, please contact Nirmala Patni
nspatni@gmail.com.
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New Online Directory
The new Fairmeadow Online Directory on Konstella launched this week. You should have received an invitation email to 'JOIN' and create a password on the site. Please verify that your information is correct and set your privacy filter. Fairmeadow will not have a paper directory this year. All information can be printed directly from the site.
Fairmeadow PTA will regularly use Konstella for volunteer signups. Signups for our annual Walkathon are currently up on the site. If you have
questions or comments, contact
fairmeadowdirectory@gmail.com.
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That's right - you don't need to purchase school supplies!
Help support Fairmeadow's PTA with the one-check form which pays for the per-student cost of classroom supplies, recess equipment, technology, media, special programs, and community events. Your contribution also funds noon sports, teacher grants, and special assemblies. Please turn in the one-check form in the PTA drawer in the office or pay online at tinyurl.com/onecheckform.
Deadline: September 2nd.
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Labor Day - No School
Monday, September 5
Enjoy your three-day weekend! The next issue of the eNews will be sent on Tuesday, September 6th.
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Rock the Walkathon!
Get your walking shoes ready, Firebirds!
When:
Sunday, Sept. 25, 11am-3pm
What: The Walkathon is a fun family event. Walk with friends, teachers, and Mr. Althouse!
There will be t-shirts, face painting, tattoos, a bake sale, food trucks, and so much more!
Don't forget!
All parents can sign up for or bid on faculty events or parties for kids during the Walkathon.
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Join us! Together we strengthen our schools!
PiE has launched its 2016-2017 fundraising campaign. We ask to you to join us as our kids need the support of the whole community.
PiE funds go to every Palo Alto district school and give each principal the funding needed to staff many programs that make a difference for the students and families at each school location. From our classroom aides, to teachers for STEAM-focused electives, music and art, to caring counselors and mentors, PiE-funded staff make a positive impact on our kids every day.
Between now and September 6, you can double your impact via the $500,000 Back-To-School Challenge Grant which matches every dollar donated to PiE. Please donate today!
Click here to donate online.
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A Public Forum for Candidates for the PAUSD School Board
Thu, Sep 22, 7-9 pm, 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto
Be educated! The Palo Alto PTA Council and League of Women Voters have organized an opportunity for you to meet the the candidates for the PAUSD Board of Education. The Board of Education is the K-12 policy-making body for academic standards, curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and accountability. Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto for sponsoring this forum that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League and PTAC neither supports nor opposes candidates. The Candidates Forum is organized to provide equal and non-preferential opportunities for each candidate for Palo Alto Unified School Board to make short prepared statements and to answer questions written by audience members on cards provided at the event. Volunteers help make the event run smoothly.
The entire Forum will be videotaped by Midpeninsula studios and broadcast later on community TV channels. All other recordings, visual and audio, are prohibited.
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Join Cub Scouts Pack 14
Being a Cub Scout means you are a member of a worldwide youth movement that stands for certain values and beliefs. Cub Scouting is more than something to do. It's all about the boy you are and the person you will become. Some of the best things about Cub Scouting are the activities you get to do: camping, hiking, building and racing model cars, going on field trips, or doing projects that help your hometown and the people who live there. Cub Scouting means "doing." For information and sign-ups, meet us at:
- Fairmeadow Back To School night - Tuesday, Aug 30th 6pm
- Information Session - Saturday, Sept 3rd, 10am at Fairmeadow school picnic tables
- Pack 14 Opening Pack Meeting and Campfire - Thursday, Sept 15th, 6:30pm at Lucie Stern Center, Boy Scout Fire Circle
Fairmeadow Contacts: Sasmita Mohapatra sasmita_mohapatra@yahoo.com and Brooke Kember brookeamaden@aol.com
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Classroom Volunteers Needed - An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life
If you've enjoyed spending time in your child's classroom, please join other parents volunteering in east Menlo Park or East Palo Alto schools where there are virtually no parent volunteers. You'll help tutor kids in grades K-4. Over 80% of students are performing below grade level in reading and math. Work once a week in the same classroom for about an hour, building relationships with students. All Students Matter provides training and coordinates everything. We start in mid-September. You can make a real difference! To learn more or sign up, visit www.allstudentsmatter.org
or contact Keri Tully at
keritully@gmail.com
.
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Financial Aid for Students
Have
or know a college-bound student? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA will now open Oct 1 for the 2017-2018 school year for anyone seeking financial assistance. FAFSA offers grants, work-study funds and low-interest federal student loans. The program includes information on state funds that may be available to pay for a child's higher education.
More info at
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.
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Kids.gov
Kids.gov is the official kids' portal for the U.S. government. It links kids, parents, and teachers to information and services on the web from government agencies, schools, and educational organizations, all geared to the learning level and interest of kids. Kids.gov is organized into four audiences: Kids (Grades K-5), Teens (Grades 6-8), Teachers, and Parents. Each audience tab is divided into educational subjects like Arts, Math, and History. For more information, go to
kids.usa.gov
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Let's Talk, A SELPA 1 Support Group
Mon, Sept 12, 7-9pm, Orchard Community Room, Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, 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. For more information, see
www.selpa1cac.org
.
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Silicon Valley Boychoir Auditions
Thurs, Sept 1/Fri, Sept 2 by appointment, Palo Alto
Open to 2nd-12th grade boys. High school and middle school boys with experience may audition for upper levels. Auditions for the 2016-2017 season are held at the choir's rehearsal location near downtown Palo Alto (600 Homer Ave). SVB has four levels of choirs and provides a personalized approach to teaching singing, music theory, and sight-singing, and provides flexible scheduling for busy families. In addition to their own winter and spring concerts, SVB performs for local events including performances with West Bay Opera, Schola Cantorum of Mountain View, and at Stanford University.
Email
info@svboychoir.org
or visit
http://svboychoir.org
.
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El Camino Youth Symphony Fall Auditions
Aug/Sept, Palo Alto
Palo Alto-based El Camino Youth Symphony invites musicians ages 6-18 to audition for the 2016-17 season. Led by an internationally renowned faculty, ECYS offers six orchestras/ensembles for students at all levels of musical ability. Auditions are held in August and September. Apply online at
www.ECYS.org
. Call ECYS at 650-213-7111 for more information.
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PreSchool Family 70th Anniversary Celebration
Sun, Sept 25, 3-5pm, Greendell School, 4120 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto
PreSchool Family is turning 70. Celebrate with classroom visits, alumni class photos, and refreshments. Alumni and Current Families welcome. Hosted by Friends of PreSchool Family. For more information, visit
psf.pausd.org
.
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Free Community Day at Gamble Garden
Sun, Oct 2, 10AM - 2PM, 1431 Waverley St, Palo Alto
Gamble Garden celebrates our community with a FREE fun filled all ages day. The day's festivities include fun children's activities, a gorgeous plant sale, horticultural resources, educational displays, garden demonstrations, food, entertainment, and of course... digging for worms! This is an opportunity for the community to spend some time at Gamble Garden, meet neighbors, and enjoy some activities and hospitality. Please register at https://www.gamblegarden.org/event/community-day-oct/.
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Girls Basketball/Boys Basketball
The Palo Alto chapter of National Junior Basketball ("NJB") is opening registration to new players on September 12, 2016
at
panjb.com
. NJB has separate teams for girls and boys in 3rd through 8th grade. The Palo Alto chapter also runs a Clinic League for K thru 2nd grade boys and girls, and a High School league for boys (grades 9-12). More details at
panjb.com
or email
doug@panjb.com
.
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Community Discussion on Teen Suicide
Wed, Sept 7, 6.30-8PM, CHC, 650 Clark Way, Palo Alto
CHC (Children's Health Council) and the Findings from the CDC Preliminary Report on Teen Suicide: A Community Discussion. CHC's
Dr. Ramsey Khasho
will present the findings of the recent CDC report and will lead an open discussion about its implications for teen mental health in Palo Alto and the neighboring communities. Additionally, Dr. Khasho will discuss the results from our 8-week McKinsey & Co. study, and how all these reports shape our
Teen Mental Health Initiative
.
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The following events are sponsored by Project Safety Net. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training (2-day Training, Ages 16+)
Tues, Sept 6 and Wed, Sept 7, 3-7pm, Mitchell Park Complex (9/6) & Cubberley Community Center (9/7), Palo Alto
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and
teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. RSVP at
http://goo.gl/JY1xle.
Question Persuade and Refer (QPR) Training
Sat, Sept 10, 2-4pm, Palo Alto Community Health Fair, Mitchell Park Complex
Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) for suicide prevention is a FREE two-hour training available to anyone 18 years of age or older. QPR training helps you learn the signs of suicide, and what to do to help prevent this most preventable of deaths.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Silicon Valley Walk
Sat, Sept 17, Walk begins at 11am, Arena Green, San Jose
Put on your walking shoes-on-site or virtually--to join the Palo Alto Community and Project Safety Net for this important mental health awareness event. Your support will help change the perceptions about mental wellness, reduce mental health stigma, and promote suicide prevention. For more information, visit http://goo.gl/lkn9a9.
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eNews Publication Guidelines
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Previous editions of eNews can be found at the
eNews archive page.
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 contact information. Items submitted by Sunday 2 pm will appear in the Monday Edition.
- Announcements relevant to other schools in the PAUSD district can be sent 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 submissions from nonprofit organizations will be considered for placement in the 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, please contact Christy Moision, Fairmeadow's eNews editor, at fairmeadow.enews@gmail.com.
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| Aug 30 |
Back to School Night |
| Sep 2 |
Picture Day |
| Sep 5 |
Labor Day (No School) |
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Sep 7
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New Family Coffee
General PTA Meeting |
| Sep 9 |
Principal's Coffee |
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