Greetings Fairmeadow Community,

I'm eager to welcome our stellar students back after the week-long break from school. With four weeks of learning left in 2017 at Fairmeadow, classrooms are sure to be alive with energy, curiosity, and expression! I can't wait to see our firebirds at work in classrooms this week!

Before the break our 5th grade students spent four full days with their peers and teachers in the coastal Redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains. At the Outdoor Science School of Santa Cruz County, the children studied forest ecology, conservation strategies, social responsibility, and shared leadership. I observed first-hand our students' acute growth in decision making, collaboration, ownership, and reliability through this unique outdoor education experience. I look forward to the increased positive influence our 5th grade student leaders will have on the rest of our student body at Fairmeadow after this growth at science school.

While the 5th graders learned life skills and science among the Redwoods, our kindergarteners learned about trees back at school, and contributed three new trees to our Fairmeadow landscape! A part of the kindergarten life sciences curriculum calls for the children to observe living objects in our natural world, learn what trees need to survive, and compare/contrast properties of trees and leaves. This year our teachers and students worked closely with the PAUSD landscaping department to plant three trees together, one from each class, as a culminating experience for the module. Please be sure visit the three Chanticleer pear trees by the ball wall at the back of our school, a wonderful gift from our kindergarteners and a living contribution to our school grounds.

Through the social and emotional learning experiences in Project Cornerstone, Steps to Respect/Second Step, and Responsive Classroom our students are learning to stand up for kindness, respect, and inclusive behavior. Next week we place special emphasis on standing tall for inclusion through our participation in Inclusive Schools Week 2017. 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. 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 numerous 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 Friday, December 8th from 8:45-10:00 am for a presentation and discussion on Inclusion and meaningfully supporting all learners at Fairmeadow.

In closing, I'd like to thank our student council and our community for efforts to help the victims of the tragic North Bay Fires. Our student council worked to raise over $1,100 to be donated to a school in need in the North Bay. I'll share the outcomes of our contributions once they are finalized.

I'm thankful for the amazing students and families that make up our vibrant school community. I look forward to seeing you at Fairmeadow soon!

With kindest regards and appreciation,

Have you ever made a resolution to start eating healthier? Not sure where to start, or what to feed your picky kids? We're faced with an often indecipherable barrage of health claims and warnings: low carb, low fat, high protein, omega 3 (flax or fish?), trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, glycemic index (or is it glycemic load?), gluten free, Paleo. What does it all mean and what's right for us?

Join us in the MP Room on November 29th at 6:30 pm and learn from Fairmeadow dad Christopher Gardner, a PhD nutrition scientist and professor of medicine from the Stanford Prevention Research Center. Christopher is the father of Zachary (4th grade) and Joshua (7th grade) and the husband of Melissa Michelson.

Christopher will offer solutions and insights to your dietary conundrums with an engaging blend of science and humor.

Childcare will be provided for the elementary school-aged children of those attending, courtesy of the PTA. Please RSVP here  by providing your name, email address and the number of children who will be with you. For any questions, please contact Tracy Ballard-Tal.

Ongoing Recruitment

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study will enroll  10,000+ healthy children and follow them from ages 9 to 10 into early  adulthood to understand how children's experiences affect brain  development and other aspects of their lives. Researchers are conducting the

ABCD study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, across the  country. You may be eligible to participate at SRI International in Menlo  Park. Financial compensation for participation, families can earn up to  $350.  Contact information: 

Call:    Dr. Aimee Goldstone (650) 859-3320

Email:  ABCD@sri.com

Text:  (650) 687-7742

Visit the study website