FAIRMOUNT FOCUS
Published monthly by Fairmount PTA
Editor, Deb Hall
(editor@fairmountpta.org)
EXECUTIVE BOARD
President, Kristi Mladenovic
(president@fairmountpta.org)
Vice President
(External Enrichment),
Jodi Williams
(VP@fairmountpta.org)
2nd Vice President,
Sally Mills
(smills@jeffco.k12.co.us)
Secretary, Angie Parsons
(secretary@fairmountpta.org)
Treasurer, Becky Asbury
(treasurer@fairmountpta.org)
Fundraising Chair,
Jessica Nauslar
(jnauslar@yahoo.com)
3rd Vice President
(Classroom Support),
Mara Orchard
(classroomsupport@fairmountpta.org)
4th Vice President
(Internal Enrichment),
Laura Warren
(enrichment@fairmountpta.org)
For additional
coordinator info,
click here.
FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY
15975 W. 50th Ave.
Golden, CO 80403
Main Office: 303.982.5422
Attendance: 303.982.5400
Bus Terminal: 303.982.1998
GROCERY
CARDS
A big thank-you to everyone who purchased or reloaded their grocery cards in December.
December Gift Card
Raffle Winner A $25 gift card to Starbucks goes to: Kelley Vinnola!
Congratulations!
Earnings Update: Numbers published previously did not reflect the 2.5% we pay back to the parents. With that adjustment, as of January 13, we have net earnings of $13,400, with $5,600 ($11,200 in actual reloads) remaining to reach our target.
In December, Fairmount PTA raised $2,200 with your reloads!
Keep using those cards. Each time you reload, you earn money for your PTA and for your school fees!
THANK YOU! CLINIC CORNER
A reminder for this season of colds! Any over-the-counter medications, including cough drops, need to have a Jeffco Medication Agreement Form signed by the child’s doctor. We are not able to give medication to students without it. CLICK HERE for the form.
THANK YOU!
FLU INFORMATION: In the United States, millions of people get sick, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu and related complications every year. While it is not possible to predict how severe the 2016–2017 season will be or which viruses will dominate, one constant is the need for annual vaccination to help decrease the impact of this contagious disease. You can join the effort to fight the flu by getting your flu vaccine and encouraging people to protect themselves and their families by doing the same. Jefferson County Public Health will have flu vaccines available later this month at its regular immunization clinics and at its upcoming Shots for Tots and Teens clinics in Arvada. Click here for more info. Please call 303.239.7078 for flu vaccine availability or to make an appointment for any of the clinic’s services.
A BIG
THANK-YOU TO:
The numerous VOLUNTEERS at Fairmount. The level of involvement from parents and grandparents is what makes our community special! This includes, but is certainly not limited to, anyone who volunteers their time for the many PTA activities such as Read Naturally, Book Cart, Hospitality, as room parents providing classroom assistance, and anyone who donates items for parties or classroom needs. We want you to know how much we love and appreciate your time, energy, and commitment. Our school and the PTA would not be nearly as successful without you!
FAIRMOUNT FIREBIRD 5K CHASE 2017
FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION,
please click here!
Dates to Remember
FEB. 3: Talent Show
FEB. 6: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Golden—"Living and Working in the City"; Area Band Concert
FEB. 7: PTA Meeting @ 3:45 in the LMC
FEB. 7: Area Orchestra Concert
FEB. 8: Colorado History 4th Grade Field Trip
FEB. 9–10: Class Pictures
FEB. 10: Choice Enrollment–Round 2 begins
FEB. 13: 2nd Grade Group 2 (McQuaid/Portie) Performance FEB. 14: Valentine's Day Parties; Jump Rope for Heart FEB. 15–16: Spring Conferences FEB. 17: Early Release Day
FEB. 20: President's Day, no school
FEB. 22: 2nd Grade Group 1 (Robinet/Portie) Performance FEB. 24: Arvada Center 1st Grade Field Trip
FEB. 28: 2nd Grade Colorado Mountain Club; 2nd Grade Group 3 (Peters/Portie) Performance
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
—Sally Mills
. . . may be the shortest month of the year, but here at Fairmount we have lots going on!
Valentine’s Day Party Schedule
We are planning Jump Rope for Heart on the same day as our Valentine’s Day parties, February 14, so our specials’ schedule needs to stay the same as usual. To accommodate this, second graders will have an early party at 1:30 and then go to specials afterward. First graders will have their parties at 2:45 directly following specials. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade will have their parties at 2:30. Kindergarten parties will be 10:30–11:30 so our morning students may attend. Conferences Winter conferences will be held February 15 and 16. These conferences are different from the fall conferences where we meet with all parents. For the February conferences, teachers may request conferences for students for whom they have concerns or new data to share. Please know that you can request a conference with the teacher even if the teacher does not request a meeting. Your child’s teacher will communicate with you regarding the need to set up a conference. ALPs—Advanced Learning Plans The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has changed the ways that students are identified for an ALP. The new criteria require a more extensive body of evidence than prior years and must include three different measures. These measures can be from cognitive tests (e.g., CogAT); criterion- or norm-referenced achievement tests [e.g., PARCC/CMAS state assessments, MAPS (2 test scores required), etc.]; norm-referenced observation scales (e.g., SIGS survey data); or performance evaluations (e.g. Math Olympiad, Destination Imagination, etc.). If you would like more information on Jeffco’s Gifted and Talented programing, please visit the website at Jeffco Gifted and Talented Information. As always, if you have a question, comment, or suggestion, please call the office, stop by, or email me at smills@jeffco.k12.co.us.
FAIRMOUNT TALENT SHOW 2017
* February 3rd at 6:00 p.m. *
Come and cheer on your friends and classmates at this year’s Talent Show! We have dancers, singers, magicians, karate, synchronized swimmers, soccer routine, different kinds of instrument players (piano, bells, violin, guitar, ukulele), and a Surprise Act at the end of the show!!! During the week of the Talent Show (Jan. 30–Feb. 2), guess who the Secret Act is and you could win this: 
Rules:
- Drop off your guess on a piece of paper with your name in a box at the office.
- Must be a student and be present at the end of the Talent Show to receive the prize.
- Winner will be announced before the Surprise Act!
Any questions or concerns:
Mary Sinesi, msinesi@sbcglobal.netor 817.879.2088
NEWS FROM THE LMC
(Library Media Center)
—Andi Johnson
Spelling Bee
 Our school spelling bee will be held on Friday, January 27th at 9:00 a.m. in the library. Congratulations to the nineteen students who qualified to participate:
Nula Burns (4th, Rogers)
Kayla Grenwis (4th, Lozano)
Cherisse Cassell (5th, Blomquist)
Haley Chu (5th, Blomquist)
Elliot Staub (5th, Blomquist)
Jack Schumacher (5th, DiGiosio)
Abigail Kos (5th, Tilton)
Noah Phillips (5th, Veldman)
Cooper Best (6th, Bymaster)
Scotty Hassett (6th, Bymaster)
Alex Mauger (6th, Bymaster)
Jillian Gee (6th, Dunn)
Joe Dixon (6th, Dunn)
Sarah Driscoll (6th, Dunn)
Gavin Watson (6th, Dunn)
Aubrey Pixler (6th, Dunn)
Sophie Anderson (6th, Kruse)
Wyatt Hussen (6th, Kruse)
Author to Visit Fairmount!
 Michael Anthony Steele is coming to Fairmount! He has written books, screenplays, and commercials. He’ll be here on February 15th to do four assemblies for our students. Flyers have gone home with his website info (michaelanthonysteele.com), so you can purchase his books, if you’d like, and your students can bring them to the library on the morning of Feb. 15 and he will autograph them during his lunch break. We hope our students will be inspired to write and read even more! Hour of Code!
All students have participated in one Hour of Code. The super-exciting part is that so many of the students are doing it at home and occasionally at school if there is choice time. As a reminder, here are the courses that your students have participated in by grade level: Grades K-1: code.org, then under the purple Students column, select Try Code Studio, then Course 1. Grade 2: code.org, then under the purple Students column, select Try Code Studio, then Course 2. Grades 3–6: code.org, then under the turquoise Hour of Code column, select Try the Hour of Code, then click the right arrow next to Code with Anna and Elsa, then click the Angry Birds Classic Maze.
Thanks for supporting your students as they learn this valuable problem-solving skill. Please let me know if you have any questions: andjohns@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Make Your Voice Heard
Students in grades 2 through 6 will all have completed our district’s Make Your Voice Heard survey by February 11th. The survey gives students the opportunity to provide feedback on our school’s climate, student-staff relationships, and rigor and relevance. Colorado Children’s Book Award
 All students at Fairmount will have had the chance to vote for their favorite Colorado Children’s Book Award (CCBA) picture book. Ten picture books and ten chapter books are nominated by students in Colorado each year. Your students have gotten to hear at least three of these picture books read to them, if not all. Grades K and 1 have voted using Smart Response clickers, and grades 2 through 6 are voting via a Google form. I will compile and turn in the votes to the state committee who sponsors this event, and they will inform me of the state winner. It has been fun to read all of these great books! Library Collaboration
All first graders will be incorporating a tech component into their Leaders and Achievers Wax Museum project. Some fifth graders are researching influential people who have made a difference in our world. They will share this information with other grade levels during our A Day Without Hate celebration in late April. Want to know what books your students have checked out?? - From the Fairmount Elementary home page, click the Library tab.
- On the left side under the picture of the puppy, click Fairmount Elementary.
- At the bottom of the blue box on the left side menu, click My Account.
- The Patron Number is the student ID number. Most kids in grades 2 through 6 know theirs.
- The PIN is the last 4 digits of that number.
- Then you can see what, if any, books are checked out.
PTA HAPPENINGS
We, as your PTA board, would like to take this opportunity to tell you how much we love our school community and your involvement in it. Studies have shown that parent involvement in their child’s education directly reflects in the child’s performance in school. We invite each of you to become involved in any way that you can. Fairmount’s PTA sponsors some wonderful educational and community events, and we hope to continue to do so. Believe it or not, it is time to start planning for our next school year. The PTA has several openings that add value to our school, children, and community—we truly need your support and hope you will consider joining us! Here is a list of positions that are currently open: Talent Show Co-coordinator, Learning Landscapes Coordinator, Fairmount Firebird 5K Chase Registration Coordinator, Fall BBQ Coordinator, and Reflections Co-Coordinator. Please contact Laura Warren, enrichment@fairmountpta.org, for more details.
Programs & Events to Watch For Most of us associate February with love because of Valentine’s Day. We here at Fairmount also have another event to love: the annual Fairmount Talent Show. Please join us in cheering on these talented students on February 3rd at 6:00 p.m.
Our next PTA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th at 3:45 p.m. Child watch will be provided free of charge. We hope to see you there! Happy Valentine’s Day — The PTA Board! Visit www.FairmountPTA.org today!
THANK YOU to 1ST BANK of Arvada at Westwoods for their continued support of Fairmount!
C.A.R.E. AWARDS
Each month, the Fairmount teachers recognize students who demonstrate C.A.R.E. behaviors by posting their accomplishments on the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in the hallway leading from the cafeteria to outside. Below are the students being recognized for the month of February 2017. Community
Tony True-Flores
Landon Vialpando
Cassia Crowe
Bella Marquardt
Ryan Kilgroe
Gavin Crow
Cole Trebilcock
| Attitude
Ben Ha
Matthew Hoerr
Parker Kelley
Kyleigh Gibson
Hayden Larsen
Isabella Classen
Owen Grimes
Aidan Johansen
Alyssa LaMaster
Nate Fritzler
| Respect
Kody Deng
Amanda Thomas
James Murphy
Brecken Saunders
Larson Best
Ben Beranato
Sarina Mueller
Jacob Brownell | Excellence
Madison Watson
Mason Trebilcock
Ryan Christiansen
Julianna Rogers
Ayden Corbo
Brandon Yu
Jack Hoxie
Will Stevens
Santana Sabus
Kayla Grenwis
Julia Wilson |
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE REPORT
The Accountability Committee met on Thursday, January 19, 2017. For the Principal’s Report, Mrs. Mills provided a midyear update. The most recent MAP math test results show that the goal of teachers to move students scoring low or low-average up to the next level is being achieved. Similarly, reading score comparisons between fall and winter show that fewer students are scoring in the lowest categories. Mrs. Mills also gave an update on the school’s budget process. The budget has been approved by the district budget advisor and the achievement director. Fairmount’s budget reflects several goals: maintain small class size; provide paraprofessional support; hire two interventionists next year; maintain technology; and continue the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) time for teachers.
In education news beyond Fairmount, the Committee learned that the Board of Education will hear new ideas for the Jefferson County Schools budget in light of the failure of 3A and 3B. Cost-saving solutions include new boundaries, moving sixth graders to middle school where possible, and possible school closures. Through an upcoming online budget tool, the district will be seeking input from the community as to budget priorities. It is not yet clear if this will be in the form of a survey. Teacher and principal evaluations will be published in aggregate form by the Colorado Department of Education. The Board of Education will be starting a search for a new superintendent. Molly Given shared a legislative update (see below). The state’s education budget is being cut this year, and the legislature is seeking ways to fund this shortfall. Next November, three seats on the Board of Education will be up for election. Within the Accountability Committee, the positions of Chairperson, Secretary, and two Voting Members will be open at the end of this year. At the next meeting, on March 16, 2017, the Committee would like to know the names of those interested in filling these positions, and voting will take place at the last meeting of the year, on May 18. This is a great way to be involved at Fairmount Elementary. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Mills or Suzanne Justus.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Welcome to 2017
Jefferson County
- The Board will not be renewing the contract for Superintendent Dan McMinimee—it will expire in June. The county now must begin the search for his replacement.
- The county’s 2017/18 budget process has begun. The Board will meet on Thursday, January 26 to receive the recommendations from district staff on how to best utilize facilities and make cuts. Community feedback will be solicited through a variety of channels. Below is the tentative budget timeline with public input opportunities:
- January 26: 2017/18 Budget Overview with Cabinet reallocation recommendations and Facilities Master Plan update, including boundaries, 6th grade moves, possible school closures, at BOE meeting
- January 21–February 10: The online budget tool is open to gather input from the public on priority recommendations for the 2017/18 budget
- March 16: Study session on 2017/18 Budget, including reports from the District Accountability Committee and community online budget tool results; BOE direction to staff anticipated
- April 20: Special BOE meeting with Public Hearing for 2017/18 Proposed Budget and legislative update
- May 4: Anticipated 2017/18 Budget adoption/appropriation at BOE meeting
- Please visit jeffcopublicschools.org for the most updated information.
- Three seats on the Board will be up for election in November of this year. Although these seats were turned over in a special recall election in 2015, the election cycle of the positions remain the same. The Board is elected to alternating four-year terms every two years.
- Negotiations for teacher contracts have begun. They are available for viewing through the website: jeffcopublicschools.org.
Colorado General Assembly - In his State of the State address, Governor Hickenlooper highlighted a $135 million shortfall coming to school districts due to the Gallagher Amendment. Gallagher mandates that a certain ratio of residential and commercial property tax revenue is maintained. In the event the ratio is off, property taxes must be lowed to make up the difference. The Governor is proposing an increase to the recreational marijuana tax, with this revenue going to the general fund for education ($42 million), as well as a change to the senior homestead property tax exemption ($65 million). Read more . . .
- The Joint Budget Committee recommended that the legislature consider referring a measure to the voters to establish a uniform mill levy for all school districts. Click here for more info.
- Governor Hickenlooper’s term will end in 2018. Candidates are beginning to emerge.
- CO State Board of Education continues its work to establish compliance policies for ESSA and define licensing requirements for Colorado teachers.
- Betsy DeVos has been named Education Secretary --- Senator Michal Bennet has invited her to come to CO to see our implementation of choice school options.
Fairmount Elementary
The Colorado PTA will hold its annual Legislative Conference on Friday, March 3 at the state capitol. It is a day of learning and discussion with our legislators. Speakers and agenda to be announced. All are welcome! We would also like to know what interests you. What education-related topics would you like more info on? Legislators and education interest groups are preparing for a proposition or amendment to address education funding shortfalls in the 2018 election cycle; the Colorado state budget and laws are multi-dimensional. What information do we need to be informed voters? Please email Molly Given with your comments and feedback at molly@thewildsource.com.
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