Fairmeadow Elementary School eNews

Where Learning is a Team Sport!
November 28 , 2016
Fairmeadow News
Principal's Message
Greetings Fairmeadow Community,
 
Welcome back after what I hope was a joyful break from school filled with family, friends, nourishment, and gratitude. Our remarkable students top the long list of things I am thankful for at Fairmeadow. Representing countries across the globe, diverse experiences, varying abilities and interests, more than twenty languages, and a multitude of hopes and dreams for their futures, each student is a unique and essential member of our one school community. We welcome and encourage all students daily, working to develop their fullest academic and social potential through nurturing health and wellness, providing for equity and access, and achieving high quality teaching and learning.
 
Next week we place special emphasis on the importance of all members of our one school community through our participation in Inclusive Schools Week. Sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network, Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event where schools across the world celebrate the progress made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population. While meaningful inclusion of all learners is a focus of our daily work, Inclusive Schools Week provides for a special focus on the importance of creating a safe and supportive school environment for all regardless of gender identity, socio-economic status, disability, cultural heritage, language preference, and more. Throughout the course of the week we will provide students with the opportunity to explore the differences between us all, to discuss what qualities make each of us unique, and to practice strategies we should all employ to welcome and include all learners in our classrooms, our playground, and our community.
 
Our students will have many opportunities to learn and discuss important themes throughout Inclusive Schools Week, and parents will have the opportunity as well. I encourage you to please join me for our monthly Principal's Coffee next Tuesday, December 6th from 8:45-10:00 am for a presentation and discussion on Inclusion and supporting all learners at Fairmeadow. Please note the date change from Friday to Tuesday. I'll bring the coffee, please bring your questions, comments, and your reusable mugs!
 
Our students have tremendous leadership capacity, and we need them to influence and guide school-wide initiatives at our school through our active Fairmeadow Student Council. I'm thrilled to officially welcome our new Fairmeadow 5th Grade Presidential Cabinet, charged with leading our Student Council this year! Sophie Chapman, Sharvari Vartak, Carlin Lee, and Bryan Xiao were elected by their 5th grade peers to serve in this important role. Two class representatives from each 2nd through 5th grade class will round out the membership of our student council, charged with designing spirit days and service projects for our school and our broader community. Keep a look out for details about the upcoming Second Harvest Food Bank Food Drive organized by our student council!
 
With the start of December, the cold and wet weather forces our assemblies inside the MP Room, and we start our rotation of Buddy Assemblies at Fairmeadow. The Buddy Program pairs an upper grade class with a lower grade class to encourage partnership across grade levels, and to provide an opportunity for upper grade students to act as role models and to form caring connections with younger students at our school. One task that Buddy partnerships take on is preparing a Buddy Assembly presentation, where students present a play, poem, song, dance, or activity for the rest of the student body. Please keep a look out on classroom newsletters and websites to learn when your child's Buddy Assembly will take place; we encourage parents of participating students to attend!
 
With a full three weeks of learning remaining in 2016, we have a lot to look forward to at Fairmeadow. Thank you for the enumerable ways you and your children contribute to our one school community!

Grant Althouse
Principal

PAUSD  News
PAUSD Code Fest Version II
Sat, Dec 10, JLS Middle School, 480 E Meadow Dr, Palo Alto
The second version of PAUSD Code Fest comes for you and your students on Saturday, December 10th during Computer Science Education Week (all free). The number of offerings has doubled, and we have several excellent presenters including a few experienced Gunn students. You do not need to have any Computer Science experience to register for the event. This is an entirely volunteer-driven operation, so I am looking for parents who can help and for students who may be interested in community service hours helping with logistics on the day of the event. Please email Smita Kolhatkar  if interested. For more information and registration, click here.

Community  News
Be Safe. Be Seen. Bike Lights are Required by Law for Riding After Dusk
With shorter days, students are bike commuting in the dark when bicycle lights and reflectors are required by law. Visibility begins to decline at dusk, so bicyclists should turn on their lights as soon as light begins to fade. A handlebar headlight makes a bicycle visible to others and illuminates the road so the rider can see. Higher powered lights do a better job. Tail lights and reflectors should be mounted on something stable where they won't be obscured by bags, panniers, or other gear on the bike. Lights are vastly superior to reflectors, so a rear red light is recommended for maximum visibility.  Outfitting student bikes for a safe and legal ride is a smart investment (and a great holiday gift!). For information about safe school commutes, visit  saferoutes.paloaltopta.org.
Project Safety Net Community Collaborative Meeting
Wed, Nov 30, 4-6 pm, Rinconada Library, Embarcadero Room, 1213 Newell Rd, Palo Alto
Are you interested in reducing youth mental health stigma and supporting youth voice? Please join Project Safety Net at its next community collaborative. At this month's meeting, local youth will talk about the Palo Alto Art Center's teen programs and representatives of Kara will talk about its grief services for children, teens, families, and adults. Please register here for this event. For more information, visit psnpaloalto.com.
Open House for Neighborhood Traffic Safety & Bicycle Boulevard Projects
Tue, Nov 29, 6:30-8:30 pm, Mitchell Park Community Center, Adobe Room, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto
The City of Palo Alto is hosting an open house to present final design progress on several neighborhood traffic safety projects throughout the City. These projects are designed to reduce traffic speeds and improve connectivity for people biking and walking. City Council has approved these concepts. This is a review to comment on the accuracy of the plans for construction. 
Family Holiday Volunteering
If you're looking for a way to get your family into the holiday spirit by helping others, check out Family Holiday Helpers, a non-profit website created by a mom of two PAUSD students to help families find local volunteering opportunities during the holiday season. There are a variety of local opportunities for families, such as prepping/serving food for Thanksgiving, working a shift at a food bank or holiday warehouse, or donating food or gifts for those in need. Happy volunteering!
Make a difference: Tutor Low Income East Palo Alto 5th Graders in Reading or Writing (8 one-hour sessions)
If you've enjoyed helping in your own child's classroom, or just love literacy, please consider tutoring 5th graders at Brentwood School in East Palo Alto (near IKEA). It is a special project to work with low income students from February 6th to March 31st. Volunteers would work in the same classroom one day per week for an hour, either at 9:45 am (reading) or 11:40 am (writing). All Students Matter provides a brief training in January and coordinates all details. You can make a real difference! To sign up, visit allstudentsmatter.org or to learn more contact Keri Tully.

Archives and Publication Guidelines
Fairmeadow eNews is a publication of the Fairmeadow PTA. Previous editions of eNews can be found at the  eNews archive  page.  Please see the PTA website for the eNews Publication Guidelines If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact  Christy Moision , Fairmeadow's eNews editor.
In This Issue
Important Dates
Dec 6 Principal's Coffee
Dec 16 Minimum Day Dismissal for Winter Break
Jan 3 Return from Winter Break
Quick Links