Fairmeadow Elementary School eNews
Where Learning is a Team Sport!
March 5, 2018
Fairmeadow News
Important Dates:
March 8 - PTA Coffee & General Meeting ( New date )
March 9 - Kinder 12 pm Release
March 12 - No School
March 16 - Principal's Coffee
March 21 - Spring Walk & Roll to School Day
Principal's Message
Greetings Fairmeadow Community,

The month of March is now upon us, and spring is right around the corner ! With fresh sprouts appearing again on previously bare trees, the season of renewal and growth approaches. It’s also a stretch of the school year when our children mature in their grade level, and advance their thinking and learning in profound ways. I can’t wait for the start of spring!

Last Monday marked the start of our third and final trimester of school. Teachers are working collaboratively together to plan for the remaining months of school. They are also working hard to prepare second trimester progress reports to send home soon . The grade level progress reports are designed to capture your child’s development on key social and emotional competencies, as well as your child’s growth in main academic standards per grade level as defined by the California Common Core State Standards. At this point in the year a mark of ‘P’, progressing, indicates that a child is making adequate progress toward meeting the standard by the end of the school year, while a ‘C’, concern, would indicate areas of challenge that may impede a student from meeting that particular standard this year. Progress reports will be sent home by this Friday, March 9th. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions about the progress report.

Our nation’s focus on safety in schools following the incomprehensible act of violence on February 14th in Florida causes us all to evaluate our emergency preparedness and our plan to respond if the unthinkable were to occur at our school. We have a comprehensive School Safety Plan that outlines how our students and staff would respond in the case of a declared emergency or an active shooter scenario. We update our School Safety Plan annually, and practice our roles regularly, including a Code Red training and drill in partnership with the Palo Alto Police Department. We completed our Code Red Drill for this school year in November, 2017, so that students were familiar with protocols for their current classroom. I’d like to welcome you to join me for our March Principal’s Coffee where we will review and discuss our School Safety Plan, how parents can support the plan, and the role of a parent and community member during a declared emergency or Code Red scenario. Also, at the end of the meeting, architects from fs3|Hodges  will share a 20-year school plan which shows improvements to our site that will be recommended through a future bond measure. Please join us on Thursday, March 15th from 8:45 am to 10:00 am for this important Principal’s Coffee discussion .

Lastly, if your child must bring a Smartwatch or cell phone to school, please be sure that the watch or phone is set to airplane mode during the school day so that text messages or phone calls do not disrupt teaching and learning in classrooms. If cell phones are present at school, they must be in backpacks and not in the classroom. If you need to get a hold of your child during the school day, please call the main office.

With only two more weeks of winter in California, renewal and growth abound! I look forward to enjoying this most exciting time of year with you and your children.

Warm Regards,
Grant Althouse, Principal
PTA Coffee and General Meeting
Please join us this Thursday, March 8th in Room 27 for the PTA General Meeting. In addition to the normal proceedings, we will have special guest, Penny Ellson, to talk about the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Project which is very important for our Fairmeadow, JLS, and Gunn students' commutes. We will have coffee on the playground before the meeting so come by for a morning boost!
Introduction to Mindfulness -- Help Your Kids Become Happier and More Relaxed: A Talk by Hemla Makan-Dullabh
Tue, Mar 13, 6:30 pm, Fairmeadow MP Room
Join  Hemla Makan-Dullabh  to learn all about mindfulness and how it can help improve your child's mood, sleep and concentration. Hemla will teach us some simple, fun techniques to add mindfulness to your child's day. Childcare will be provided for the elementary school-aged children of those attending courtesy of the PTA. Please  RSVP here . For any questions, please contact  Tracy Ballard-Tal .
Fall Safe Routes to School Travel Tally Results
From the City of Palo Alto Safe Routes to School team :
 
  • Fairmeadow had its highest reported percentage of kids walking, biking, riding a scooter and skateboarding compared with the past 4 years.
  • Reported single occupancy vehicle use decreased by 4% compared with last year.
  • Fairmeadow has the highest yearly percentage increase of ALL PAUSD neighborhood schools in 2017.
  • According to PTA reported bike count data, Fairmeadow reported a 2% increase in the number of bikes parked in the racks compared with last year.

Mr. Althouse, on behalf of our Safe Routes to School City, PAUSD and PTA Partnership, congratulations on your achievement, and thank you for encouraging staff to complete the survey. Survey results are instrumental to building the case for improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
 
Many thanks also to your wonderful Safe Routes to School staff liaisons Alicia Gonzales, Cheryl Tsuruda and Valarie Sabbag; Safe Routes Parent Champion Christy Moision; Safe Routes Bike Rodeo Coordinator Denise Johnson; and all Fairmeadow parents for supporting one of Palo Alto’s key quality of life initiatives.

Congratulations Fairmeadow! Keep up the good work!
PAUSD News
Superintendent's Weekly Message
We will re-post Karen Hendricks'  Weekly Message  here each week, in case you missed it on her previous Infinite Campus email to you.
PAUSD Secondary Art Exhibition
Gunn & Jordan, Feb 12 - Mar 9; JLS, Mar 13 - Apr 13, Mon-Fri, 8 am - 4 pm, Closed Sat-Sun, Main Hallway, District Offices, 25 Churchill Ave
This exhibition features artwork by PAUSD 6-12 Visual Art students in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, graphic design, sculpture, ceramics, and glass.

PTAC News
We Want YOU to be on the PTA Council Board
The PTA Council Nominating Committee is currently seeking both nominations and expressions of interest from individuals in the community who would like to learn more about becoming a member of the PTA Executive Board for the 2018/19 school year. We are looking for community members who demonstrate strong leadership skills and have a passion for improving the educational experience of all students, preferably have experience on their school PTA or site council, and are interested in stepping into a leadership role at the district level. PTA Council Officers and VPs: President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, VP Advocacy, VP Communications, VP Community Outreach, VP Education, VP Health & Wellness, VP Parent Education, Auditor, VP Leadership Services. To find out more contact:  PTA Council Nominating Committee Chair .

Community News
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s Spring Theatre Camp
Mon-Fri, April 2-6, 9 am - 3 pm, Nixon Elementary School, Grades: K-5, Extended Care available 8-9 am & 3-6 pm, with ONLY morning care on Friday
During this week long camp, students will:
  • Learn acting, movement, and stage craft skills in a fun, playful, and engaging way
  • Make new friends and work together in a team
  • Learn from professional Teaching Artists who are experienced artists and educators
  • Create a new character to bring to life with their new theatrical skills
  • Show off all that they have learned during a final presentation for family and friends
Tuition: $350. Extended Care: $100. Need-based scholarships are available. To take advantage of the sibling discount when registering online, please use the following discount codes: Two children in family: 2SBSIBS ($40 off); three children in family: 3SBSIBS ($80 off). For more information on Spring Theatre Camp , call 650.463.7146, email at learn@theatreworks.org or visit TheatreWorks’ website .
Afternoon Adventure @MP 
Wed, Mar 28, 3:30-4:30 pm, Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd
Bread Clip Comic Strips - Join us for a creative afternoon drawing comic strip backgrounds and creating mini moveable characters out of bread clips in the Midtown Room. Registration required . Grades K-5 only.
El Camino Youth Symphony Annual Benefit Concert: A Celebration of American Composers
Sat, Apr 7, 7:30 pm, Flint Center, De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino
Joining the Symphony for  Rhapsody in Blue  is Bay Area native and award-winning pianist Taylor Eigsti. Program:  Rhapsody in Blue , “Symphonic Dances” from  West Side Story, and Lincoln Portrait  narrated by Maestro Michael Morgan, Conductor of the Oakland Symphony. ECYS will also debut a commissioned work by composer and SF Symphony violinist Mark Volkert!
2018 Palo Alto Middle School Math Summer Program
Jun 11-15 (Session 1) or Jun 18-22 (Session 2), 1-4 pm, Terman Middle School
Run by the Palo Alto and Gunn high school math clubs, the Palo Alto Middle School Math Camp aims to foster incoming 6th through 9th grader students’ passion for mathematics through individually paced training and one-on-one teaching. Students will learn problem-solving techniques geared towards the MathCounts and AMC 8 competition series. MS Math Camp will be suitable for any student who enjoys math and will be fun for students of all grades and math levels. We suggest a donation of $300-350 for new students or $250 for returning students, siblings, PAUSD Middle School Summer School students, and/or those also attending Paly Science Camp. All income from the camp goes towards supporting the Palo Alto High School and Gunn High School math clubs for the following year, in order to allow high school students to attend math competitions. If you are interested in registering, please fill out this form . Contact the Paly Math Club for any questions.
STEAM Lab Sunday: LED Origami Bugs
Sun, Mar 18, 1-2 pm, Children's Library, 1276 Harriet St
An interactive program featuring different S.T.E.A.M. related projects in the Tree Top Room. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math).  Registration required . Grades K-5 only.
City of Palo Alto Earth Day Event: Participate or Volunteer
Sat, Apr 14, Baylands Athletic Center
The City of Palo Alto is seeking participants and event volunteers of ALL AGES for their upcoming Earth Day event. The event kicks off with the Great Race for Saving Water, a 5K run/walk and kids 1K fun run to raise awareness about water resources, conservation, and environmental health. The fun continues with an Earth Day festival offering team awards, raffle prizes, live music, food trucks, electric vehicle ride & drive, guided bird walk, group bike ride, nature walks, zoo animals, arts & crafts, library book mobile, Smokey the Bear, community booths, environmental and public safety resources.  Register here to volunteer , and  register for the race here . Questions? Contact PAUSD Sustainability Program Manager  Rebecca Navarro . 
Family Film Festival @ MP
Sat, Mar 10, 4-6 pm, Mitchell Park Library
Enjoy a movie with your family at the library. March movie: Tangled. All ages are welcome!
Festival of Colors
Sun, Mar 11, 1-3 pm, Mitchell Park Library
Ready to get a little messy with colored powder? Spring season is almost here, and we are going to have fun with colors!  Register to participate  in the colored powder activity, henna tattoo, arts and crafts, and enjoy music. Families of all ages welcome. 
Paly 5K Fun Run
Sat, Mar 24, 8 am, Paly Viking Stadium, 50 Embarcadero Rd
Paly Sports Boosters and the Paly Track & Field Team will be hosting the Paly 5K Fun Run & Walk. Along with the 5k run (or walk), we'll have a 2K Stroller Walk and Tot Trot, and sprint races for elementary school kids. The Riekes Center will be hosting a challenge course for the kids. There will be jugglers, ukulele players, balloon artists, and more! In partnership with Paly's Best Buddies program, all races are accessible.  Sign up here .
Stanford Interactive Literacy Promotion Event
Sat, Mar 10, 1-3 pm, Stanford University IM Fields, 641 Nelson Rd
"A, B, Trees," a free, open event promoting literacy around the Bay area is welcoming all students growing in their reading skills. Run completely by Stanford Student-Athletes, there will be games, activities, reading stations, and some food and drinks provided. English and Spanish speakers will be present to interact with the readers. Stanford Athletic events will also be taking place throughout the day and around the time of the event for additional activities on campus. Contact  eeastin@stanford.edu  with questions.
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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 would like to make a submission, please contact Christy Moision , Fairmeadow's eNews editor.