Fairmeadow Elementary School eNews

Where Learning is a Team Sport!
February 5, 2018
Fairmeadow News
Principal's Message
Greetings Fairmeadow Community,

Students are hitting their mid-winter stride in classrooms and it's an exciting time to note the significant progress students have made so far during this school year. Classrooms are heating up with rigorous teaching and learning, while this warm weather has us all wanting to get outside and get moving!

I hope that you' ll join the Fairmeadow community this Wednesday, February 7 th for our annual Family Math Games Night with K-2 students invited from 5:00-6:30 pm and 3-5 students invited from 6:30-8:00 pm. During Math Games Night, we present many challenging math puzzles and problem-solving scenarios to challenge participants of all levels, from our youngest learners to our most accomplished mathematicians. While Math Games Night is a fun and engaging event, it also emphasizes some of the key mathematical practices that we use through mathematics instruction daily at Fairmeadow. To make sense of problems and persevere in solving them, to make sense of structure, to reason abstractly and quantitatively, and to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others, are all important habits of mind to embrace and practice while working to solve problem scenarios. The 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice provide helpful guidance for skills to emphasi ze at home with your child's mathematics as well. We hope to see you at Fairmeadow next Wednesday evening!

Over the last month, our Asset Building Champion parent readers have presented the book When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry... with all of our students. The theme of self-control and safely monitoring one's emotio ns is an important social and emotional learning competency, and one that we can all benefit from working on personally, and with our families. The book tells the story of Sophie who becomes enraged by her sister, then compares her explosive expression of anger with coping strategies that she uses to eventually calm down. Following a discussion of the book, children brainstormed strategies to recognize emotions in themselves, and how to respond to extreme emotions using safe and healthy strategies. Teachers and school staff regularly revisit themes explored during our ABC Reader Program in classrooms and on the playground. You can help reinforce concepts too by talking with your child about recognizing and responding to emotions, and practice a role play as a family. Most importantly, we all must model the behavior we expect to see from our children!

Please take note of the long weekend coming up in February with two non-school days first on February 16 th for our Staff Development Day and February 19 th for Presidents' Day.  Thank you or the many ways that you contribute to our school community!

With appreciation,
Grant Althouse, Principal 
Family Math Games Night is Back!
Wed, Feb 7, 5-8 pm
Join us for a festive evening of math games that are sure to inspire even the most math-reluctant. This is a hands-on, self-paced exploration into the fun of mathematics, with activities for all ages, abilities and interests.  Play challenging games and puzzles related to logic, strategy, patterns, spacial skills, number sense, geometry, topology, pre-algebra and more. You'll see favorites from previous years, and new games too!

We have secured 3 hours of mathematical awesomeness in the MP room, and suggest the following schedule:
  • Kinder to 2nd Grade: 5pm - 6:30pm
  • 3rd Grade to 5th Grade: 6:30pm - 8pm
You can still sign up to volunteer to help Math Night is free to attend, and is hosted by parents.  Questions? Contact Nadia Priestley ( 650-665-3066).
PTA One Check Form Donation Raffle
It's February which means it's time to have our fourth raffle! Thank you to those families who have returned their donation forms! We were fortunate enough to have two summer camps donated by Run for Fun, a week of Adventure Day Camp and a week of Camp High Five Pinecrest. Raffle winners will be announced on Monday, February 19th.  If you forgot to bring back your  One Check Form , it's never too late. If you return your form to school by Thursday, February 15th you'll be included in the raffle. All donations go directly to our school and help with a wide range of supplies, activities, events, and enriching programs.
Roundabout Update
The Neighborhood Traffic Safety and Bicycle Boulevard Project is constructing a new roundabout at East Meadow Drive and Ross Road to improve the safety of student cyclists and help moderate speeds along the route. Construction will be completed over the next two weeks. Flaggers will be present to direct student cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicular traffic during construction hours (9 am - 4 pm, Monday-Friday). It is important that school staff, parents, and students review the educational materials on how to use the new infrastructure as we get closer to completion. Stanford University has also created a useful educational website on roundabouts . Please direct questions to Sarah Ratliff, Neighborhood Traffic Safety Bicycle Boulevard Community Relations Manager  (669-225-1617). More information about the Neighborhood Traffic Safety & Bicycle Boulevard  Project, including  FAQs, are available  here.

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.

PTAC News
2018 Annual Sweetheart Awards - Call for Nominations
Is there a bus driver, friend, teacher, administrator, neighbor, aide, crossing guard, coach, fellow student, therapist, physician, volunteer, or relative who has done something (however large or small) for your special needs child with an IEP or 504? Honor that person by nominating him or her for a CAC Sweetheart Award. Submit nominations using this online form before Thursday, February 15th (early submissions welcome) The Awards Ceremony will be on Wednesday, February 28th from 6-8pm at Nixon Elementary School. For more information or questions, contact  [email protected]  or go to  www.cacpaloalto.org . Co-sponsored by Palo Alto Community Advisory Committee for Special Education and the Palo Alto Council of PTAs.
2018 Honorary Service Awards - Call for Nominations
Each year, the Palo Alto Council of PTAs may bestow one of several California State PTA Honorary Service Awards to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service to children and youth in our community. The individuals or organization nominated must make far-reaching, notable contributions. The PTA Council HSA Committee selects persons or groups who have benefited children and youth on a district-wide or Palo Alto community level.  We also have a new award that debuted last year that honors exceptional PTA volunteers at the unit (school) level.  Each PTA may nominate one person.  If you know of someone or an organization that deserves to be honored at this level, please complete this form.  Recipients will be announced at our Honorary Service Award Reception on Thursday, April 26 th . Visit here past recipients here
Deadline for Nominations is March 1st.
The Smart Talk: Internet Safety
Tue, Feb 6, 6 pm, Gunderson High School, 622 Gaundabert Lane, San Jose
(6 pm refreshments, 6:30 pm program)
What you  hope  your kids (elementary, middle, and high) are doing online isn't always what they're  actually  doing. Join us to learn how you can use The Smart Talk to get on the same page with your kids and establish an open conversation about digital safety. This is a  FREE event . Sponsors include National PTA, State PTA, and Sixth District PTA.  RSVPs (appreciated but not required): [email protected].
How Does Sugar Affect Your Health and What You Can Do About It
Wed, Feb 7, 6:30-8:30 pm, SDC Room, District Office, 25 Churchill Ave
Join us for an educational night on sugar. Learn how sugar came to be ubiquitous in everything we eat, and became a number one health issue due to its harmful effects on the human body. As parents, you will also get some great tips on how to combat sugar in your household and diet, and reintroduce great nutrition to your kids. Patricia Caldera, Ph.D will be presenting on behalf of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation and Dr. Lustig education program dedicated to changing our views of processed food with the purpose of ending food related illnesses and promote good health. We encourage parents to bring their children.

Community News
Family Science Night at JMZ
Wed, Feb 7, 5:30-7:30 pm, Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, 1451 Middlefield Rd
Come experience a taste of the fun, hands-on, standards-based science lessons that the Junior Museum and Zoo brings to PAUSD elementary schools every week. Chat with science teachers from our award-winning education department. Meet zoo animals, identify geologic specimens, try out scientific equipment, and more. This FREE event is a "thank you" to our community that values and supports science for all ages.
Gunn Choir Staff Musical Extravaganza " Braveheart and Soul: The Birth of Moortown Music "
Wed & Thurs, Feb 7 & 8, 8 pm, Palo Alto High School PAC, 50 Embarcadero Rd
The King of England is off to Scotland to bring those wild gingerheads into line. But the Scots, led by the immortal William-The-Braveheart-Wallace, are going to give the King a fight he'll never forget. It's a musical stand-off between the forces of King Edward's Gilbert-and-Sullivan-singing troops and Braveheart's secret weapon: Moortown music. Featuring the Award Winning Gunn High School Choirs and dozens of your favorite Gunn Staff! The Terman Middle School Choir will also be featured on Wednesday, February 7th, and the JLS Middle School Choir will be featured on Thursday, February 8th. Tickets available online: $20 adults, $10 students.

Parent Chat
Tue, Feb 13, 7-8:30 pm, Los Altos Library, 13 S San Antonio Rd, Los Altos
Are you concerned about the emotional well-being of your child? Come to Parent Chat, peer to peer support for parents of teens. Hosted by the Mental Health Subcommittee of SELPA 1 CAC.
Let's Talk
Mon, Feb 12, 7-9 pm, Los Altos Library, 13 S San Antonio Rd, 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. Organized by SELPA 1 CAC.
Stanford Food and Mood Study is Recruiting!
Eligible participants are between 9-17 years old, are experiencing low moods or irritability, have a body mass index greater than 85%, do not have braces or metal in their body.  Participants receive $325 for completing the study. Participants come in for clinical and cognitive evaluations, an MRI brain scan and a blood test 3 times over 2 years.  To learn more about the study and to see if your child is eligible, contact Lizzy at 650-721-4049 or [email protected]. You can also find out more about Stanford's Pediatric Emotion and Resilience Lab (PEARL) here. For general information about participation rights, contact 1-866-680-2906.
Join Little Vikes Cheer & Dance Team at Paly Basketball Game
Feb 12, 13, 14 3:45-5:15 pm and Fri, Feb 16, 5:30-7:15 pm, Palo Alto High School
Join the Paly Spirit Squad for three afternoon workshops and the Paly basketball game on February 16th. Kids will cheer and perform with the Squad at halftime. Ages 3-14. $100 for workshops + game (25% discount before Feb 2). Your fee is tax deductible and helps the team pay for uniforms, training and other essentials. More information and registration here.
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra (PACO) Winter Concerts
Enjoy a series of winter concerts featuring PACO's talented young musicians. In addition to orchestral and chamber pieces by well known composers Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, you'll be enchanted by an array of works by Boccherini, Pleyel, and Dvorak to name a few. All concerts are admission FREE and for the entire family to enjoy. For more information about PACO, please visit  www.pacomusic.org  or email  [email protected]. Remaining performances:
  • Sun, Feb 18, 3 pm, Cubberley Theatre (Jory Fankuchen, conductor) Sinfonia Orchestra
  • Sun, Mar 4, 3 pm, Cubberley Theatre (Michel Taddei, conductor) Debut Orchestra
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 would like to make a submission, please contact  Christy Moision , Fairmeadow's eNews editor.

In This Issue
Important Dates
Feb 7 Family Math Games Night
Feb 16 No School (Staff Development Day)
Feb 19 No School (Presidents' Day)
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