Greetings Fairmeadow Community,

I'm eager to begin this new calendar year with you and your children, working closely together to ensure that all students reach their fullest academic, social, and creative potential. The start of 2018 presents the perfect opportunity to refresh our goals and aspirations for the year ahead, and to head into our learning together with renewed commitment, persistence, and resolve. Please consider asking your child about the goals he or she would like to accomplish over the first six months of this new year. Teachers and staff are poised to launch 2018 with purpose, setting the tone for what promises to be a productive year of goal-oriented learning ahead for all students at Fairmeadow.

Prior to the Winter Break from school, our Fairmeadow School Site Council finalized our school's Single Plan for Student Achievement, setting inspiring goals for our school community and our students. Made up of parents and school staff, the School Site Council considered the areas of High Quality Teaching and Learning, Equity and Access, and Wellness and Safety to set ambitious yet attainable goals for our school in each area. I'll share these goals at this week's Parent Teacher Association meeting, and we'll publish the plan on the Fairmeadow website once it gets approved by the Palo Alto Board of Education.

As the rainy days increase in frequency and intensity this winter, vehicle traffic around school will become more congested and dangerous. If you must drive your child to school, please first consider parking in the Mitchell Park parking lot, and walking the short distance in with an umbrella. If you must drop your child off at school, please follow the drop off and pick up procedures in our front driveway. Always drop students off in the far-right lane, and pull up as far as you can (all the way to the orange cone at the end of the parking area if possible) to allow for more cars to pull in the right lane behind you. Once your child exits your vehicle, please pull forward as far as possible to allow for more cars to enter the safe right lane. The driveway between Fairmeadow and JLS is not a safe nor acceptable location to drop students off for school. Thank you for your attention to road safety on and around our campus.

A fun and entertaining Fairmeadow tradition continues this January with two ice skating parties at the Winter Lodge in Palo Alto. Next Wednesday, January 17th our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students are invited for ice skating and dinner from 5:30-7:30 pm. The following Wednesday, January 24th our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders have their chance to take the ice. Please consider joining us...students, parents, teachers, and principal are all welcome to skate! Also, encourage your students to dress warmly, bring gloves, and wear a helmet, especially for beginning skaters.

I hope that you and your family experienced an enjoyable Winter Break from school, and that you're as excited as I am to continue our learning journey together at Fairmeadow!