Fairmeadow Elementary School eNews

Where Learning is a Team Sport!
August 21 , 2017
Fairmeadow News
PiE Announces Challenge Grant
PiE has just launched its 2017-2018  fundrai sing ca mpaign. Please join us and help make a difference in the education of all kids in our community. PiE funds go to e v ery Palo Alto district school a nd help principals staff programs that deliver a well-rounded education. In all Palo Alto schools, PiE's funding provides enrichment and support in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), the Arts, and Wellness and Support. PiE-funded staff make a positive impact on our kids every day.

Double your impact. Between now and September 5th, gifts and pledges will be matched by a $500,000 Back-To-School Challenge Grant.  Please donate today!
Welcome Back Social was a Huge Success!
A million thanks to parents, teachers, principal Grant Althouse, and staff who helped to make the PTA's Welcome Back/Back-to-School Social a fun, community event on Friday evening:

Abin Rahbar, Alicia Gonzalez, Amber Chang, Andrea Dinneny, Anjali Joshi, Annie Carl, Beth & Trystan Morris, Bill Howell, Brooke Kember, Christopher Gardner, Christy Moision, Chunlei Liang, Dandan Xue, Dave Carlson & Robin Kozina-Carlson, Denise Johnsen, Diana Bang, Donna Hill, Henny Bhushan, Imju Byon, Jenny Chang, Jessie Chen, Josette & Marius Domokos, Karen Lenke, Karrie Chen & 
Seang-wee Lee , Kendra Hornbostel, Laura Yu, Lei Wang, Lin Hur, Lindsey Hoole, Lucy Naidu, Manali Doshi, Mary Ann Kretschmar, Mathilde Lenoir, Melissa Peralta, Michelle Wang, Nadia Priestley, Nathalie Huynh, Nirmala Patni, Parvathi Belur, Patrick Smith, Patty & Abner Germanow, Ray Lin, Richard de la Garza, Ritu Upreti, Sachi Messerian, Sara Gilman, Stacey Clifton, Stephen Landt, Swati Gharse, Tiffany & Olivier Aubin, Tina Su  Lyn Lim, Tracy Ballard-Tal, Vasuprada Sriperumbudur, Warwick Cheung, Yang Chu, Yang Han, two unnamed Dads who helped put away tables, the unnamed Mom & Dad who helped move guacamole to tables, and custodians Alfred Cacal, James Pascual, and Tom Chheng.

If you helped in any way and somehow aren't named above, thank you so much for pitching in! Thank you so much too for bringing potluck and for your generous donations to the PTA.

LOST & FOUND ON FRIDAY! If these items belong to you, please either email us or  look for them in the lost & found b ox at school. (Click on the image to make it bigger.)
Raffle Winners
A big thank you to those families who've returned the PTA One Check Donation Form! All returned forms were entered into our first raffle and here are the winners:

Amber Chang - Minecraft Party at Tech Rocks
Melissa and Doug Thomas - Books Inc Gift Card
Jennifer Fryhling and Chang Kim - Cinemark Movie Tickets

We plan on doing another raffle next month! If you forgot to bring back your One Check Form please return it to school this week. All donations go directly to our school and help with a wide range of supplies, activities, events, and enriching programs. Every donation counts, and all returned forms get entered in our raffle.
Fairmeadow Online Directory
Fairmeadow is using Konstella as its online directory platform and community messaging. Konstella is password protected and you have control over your information viewable by others. When registering your student this year, you indicated via Infinite Campus your preference to be included in emails from PTA or in the school directory.  

You should have received an invitation email to 'JOIN'. To access the directory:
  • Please use the email address that you received the invitation from. This will be the same email address that you provide to PAUSD during Infinite Campus registration.
  • If you are already an existing Konstella user from last year, you can use back the same password. Otherwise, you will need to create a new password.
Please verify the accuracy of your information and set your privacy filter. Fairmeadow PTA will regularly use Konstella for volunteer signups. If you are not on the directory and wish to be included, please send an email us.

Fairmeadow Online Directory is replaced each year, so any changes you make are not shared with PAUSD's database. To make permanent changes to your information or preferences, please change it by logging into Infinite Campus. Volunteers who produced the directory have made every attempt to ensure the data are accurate and reliable. Online Directory information is available to families and Fairmeadow staff and may only be used for school related activities. It may not be used for commercial, political or marketing purposes.
Call for Fairmeadow Party Hosts!
Interested in having a great time while raising money for Fairmeadow AND getting to know other fabulous Firebird families? Now's your chance! We are currently looking for parents to host fundraiser parties. Multiple families can co-host to divide expenses/work. Parties can be for kids, parents, or the entire family. Best selling parties from the past include Oktoberfest, Japanese Dinner, Cocktail Party, Camping Weekend, Kickball Party, Bollywood Dance Party, Spanish Tapas Party, and Wine Tasting. New ideas are welcome! We are also looking for parents to host 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade parties (party theme will be your choice).

We are asking families to commit by Friday, Sept. 1st.

Why do we have this tradition of paying to attend parties at Fairmeadow?
  • Community building -- The parties are a great way to get to know other families within the community.
  • To raise funds for our school -- Monies raised for the PTA help to fund: computers and science equipment; noon sports and activities; school-wide bully prevention program; additional playground supervision; our new design studio; all new books for the school and classroom libraries; our spring theatrical production; the school garden; Green Team; many community events, plus much more.
To sign up to host a party and for party ideas and more info, please contact Tracy Ballard-Tal.
Girl Scout Interest Night
Wed, Aug 23, 7:30 pm, Fairmeadow MP Room
Scouting can be a wonderful way to make new friends, volunteer in the community, practice leadership skills, and explore the natural world. 

GS troops meet once or twice a month, sometimes at the school for meetings and also off-site for activities such as hikes, field trips, or volunteer opportunities. Parent participation is often required as the troops are 100% parent run.

If you'd like to learn more about how your daughter can join a Fairmeadow Girl Scout troop, mark your calendar for the info night on August 23, 7:30 pm in the Multi-purpose room. 
Please come and meet other interested families! For more information, email Nirmala Patni.
Top Tips to Stay Informed at Fairmeadow
  • Fairmeadow eNews is the main source of school information. The eNews is distributed on Mondays and contains school and activity information from the principal, the Fairmeadow PTA and the community. You are automatically signed up to receive the eNews at the email address given to Infinite Campus. If you do not receive the eNews, contact our eNews editor, Christy Moision.
  • Be sure to read through your child's Friday Folder. It will contain school projects, permission slips for upcoming field trips, reminders for Back to School Night and other school events, opportunities to join after-school activities, flyers for upcoming PTA events, and more.
  • The Fairmeadow website is a great source of information about the school, its staff, and the PTA. In addition, several teachers have their own webpages.
  • Add or check your contact information on the Fairmeadow Online Student Directory with Konstella. You can use the directory to search for student and parent email addresses and phone numbers.
  • Join the Official Fairmeadow Facebook Group to connect with your fellow Fairmeadow parents.
Safe Routes to School
Palo Alto is fortunate to have an active and dedicated Safe Routes to School partnership between the City, the School District, and the PTA. City and District staff, along with parent volunteers at each school, provide a number of programs to encourage students and parents to use safe, active transportation. Every year, we team up to provide:
This year, Fairmeadow families can also look forward to a "Bringing Up Bicyclists" class for parents and free bike repairs when Bay Area Bike Mobile makes a return visit to our Walk-a-Thon!

For tips and more information on our Safe Routes program, please click on the "Getting to School" tab on Fairmeadow's website.

If you would like help to find the best route to school, email Fairmeadow's Safe Routes representative, Christy Moision.

Community News
Navigating Boyhood
Sat, Sep 26, 7-9 pm, Parents Place, 200 Channing Ave
Let's face it. Boy behavior can be challenging. In this workshop, you'll learn how to meet your son's basic internal needs so that cooperation, confidence, and connection come easily in every area of his life. You'll gain practical tools for discipline that will help him cooperate before, during and after any challenge. With: Rachel Sklar, MSW. Register here.
Love to Sing? Ragazzi Boys Chorus Auditions Now
By appointment through September, 178 Clinton St, Redwood City
Ragazzi Boys Chorus, a CBS news 'best choir of the Peninsula,' will teach your boy to sing! Schedule your 7-10 year old boy for a fun group audition. He'll learn a song and have a blast; no prior experience or preparation needed to try out. Boys start slow, then grow. Ragazzi's opportunities include singing the National Anthem at a San Francisco Giants game, Opera roles, collaborations with Stanford's choruses and the San Francisco Symphony, and even worldwide touring. Appointments and more information here or  watch us!
Ragazzi Boys Chorus' Music and Movement Class Open
Register Now; Mondays, Sept 18 - Dec 4, 178 Clinton St, Redwood City
Ragazzi Boys Chorus' engaging class for active young boys is now open. It's a great option for boys not quite old enough for Ragazzi's main program. This class is tailored for boys ages 5-7 with little or no previous musical experience. A child-developmental approach fosters boys' creativity and curiosity. Students explore rhythm games, channel their energy through music learning, and learn concepts they can apply in any musical setting. $264 for 12 weeks; sibling discounts. Contact  lspaeth@ragazzi.org , 650-342-8785. More info and registration here.
Effective Discipline with Your Strong-Willed Child
Two Sessions: Thu, Sept 7 & 14, 7-9 pm, Parents Place, 200 Channing Ave
Strong-willed children want to cooperate, yet they need to be approached differently than easygoing children. Rather than ending up in power struggles, break this cycle and learn how to win cooperation effectively. You can bring out the best in yourself and your children. With Cynthia Klein, BA. Fee:$90 for two sessions. Register here.
Project Safety Net (PSN) Collaborative Action Teams Meeting
Wed, Aug 23, 3:30-5:30 pm, Rinconada Library, Embarcadero Room, 1213 Newell Rd
Please join PSN for a presentation from PSN Partner-In-Action, Nadia Ghaffari, founder of TeenzTalk.org, a website that serves as a platform for teens all over the world to share their stories regarding mental health. 
Beginning Sanskrit Classes
St. Marks Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave
Samskrita Bharati Palo Alto is organizing Sanskrit Classes for children (K-3rd grade) and adults for the school year 2017-18. Beginners are welcome. Classes will begin Sunday, September 10th at 3 pm. M ore info here.
Palo Alto Chinese School is Accepting New Enrollment for 2017-2018
Palo Alto Chinese School has been serving the community in Chinese language instructions for 54 years, and is still accepting new enrollment. Class meets every Friday 7-9 pm at JLS Middle School. There are two tracks. The Mandarin track is offered from Preschool to Grade 12, for students from heritage families. The Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) track is offered from intro, beginning, intermediate to advanced level for students with various exposure to Chinese language. Please join us for a school open house and classroom visit on 8/25. For more info, click here  or email us.
Enjoy! Palo Alto Photo Contest
Now until October 31, 2017
Calling all photographers! Submit your favorite photos to the Enjoy! Palo Alto Photo Contest that showcases all the great things that Palo Alto offers and win prizes! The contest calls on photographers across Palo Alto to celebrate the community parks, open space, special events, public art, theatres, and museums managed by our Community Service Department. Winners will be chosen in 11 different categories. The City of Palo Alto Community Services Department is proud to offer programs, activities, and parks to meet all the needs of your family and to sustain a positive quality of life! Click here for more info or to submit your photos.

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
Aug 21 Community Eclipse Viewing
Aug 29 Back to School Night
Sep 4 Labor Day - No School
Sep 6 New Family Coffee
PTA General Meeting
Quick Links