Originally delivered on 12/1/2018 2:42 pm

SUBJECT: FAIRMOUNT FOCUS—December 2018


 

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: Alison Beck (secretary@fairmountpta.org)
Treasurer:Kristina Klug (treasurer@fairmountpta.org)
VP of Finance:Becky Asbury (finance@fairmountpta.org)
Fundraising Chair:Jessica Nauslar (jnauslar@yahoo.com)
3rd VP (Classroom Support):Mara Orchard (classroomsupport@fairmountpta.org)

4th VP (Enrichment):Laura Warren (enrichment@fairmountpta.org)
IT Vice President:Kristi Mladenovic (it@fairmountpta.org)


For a list of other coordinators, click HERE!


PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

—Sally Mills, Principal


New EnrollJeffco System


EnrollJeffco is Jeffco Public Schools’s new enrollment system for the 2019–2020 school year. This system has been created to make school information easier for families to access, streamline enrollment processes, ensure the same time line for all schools, and give schools more time to plan for the next school year. All students will need to use EnrollJeffco between January 22nd and February 8th to indicate where they will be going to school next August, including if they are returning to Fairmount. This system will also digitally manage the choice/open enrollment process. Once our Fairmount families have indicated if they are returning next year, then we will determine if there is extra space at Fairmount to offer open enrollment seats to students who wish to choice in to our school. You will be getting additional information sent home in the coming weeks that will explain how you will access the new system to complete the enrollment process for next year.

Mountain Vista Nursing Home


Our 5th graders will be spreading holiday cheer to our friends at Mountain Vista Nursing Home later this month. This is always a moving event for our students because the elderly residents are so grateful for their visit! Thank you to Janna Wertz for coordinating gifts for the residents.

Winter Break


Our students’ winter break starts on December 22, and they return on January 9. We hope all of our families have a magical and safe vacation! See you in 2019!


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.


GROCERY CARD PROGRAM


November Gift Card Raffle Winner!

Thank you to everyone who purchased or reloaded their grocery cards in November.
A $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas goes to TAWNYA CLARK!
Congratulations, Tawnya!


Who wants to win a $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas next month?

All you need to do is purchase a reloadable gift card OR reload the card you already have, and you will automatically be entered to win! It is so easy to help the PTA fund school projects, earn cash back, and even win a gift card! If you don’t have your reloadable gift card yet, visit the PTA website for more information. If you have a card from last year, keep using it!  We pick a winner each month, so don’t miss out!

So far this year, Fairmount has raised $16,275 with your reloads. That’s 40% toward our goal for the year. Keep reloading those cards! Each reload benefits our school and our children!

Did you know?

If you have a child going on the D.C. trip, Fairmount’s PTA will give you the entire 5% reward you earn from your reloads, from mid-July 2018 through February 2019, to be applied toward your final payment. You can also use any remaining account credits (2.5% on prior years) toward the trip.  Please email grocerycards@fairmountpta.org to have your account flagged for the D.C. trip.





 


 

BOX-TOPS PROGRAM

FALL RESULTS



Thank you to all of you who sent in Box-Tops this first trimester of school! We collected $338.90 to put toward color printer cartridges! Special thanks to Bob and Joi Huebel for their invaluable help in counting thousands of Box-Tops!

We are gearing up for our annual Box-Tops Race in January and February, and we know we can get to $1,500 this year, so start collecting at your house, and ask your neighbors and relatives to collect for you too! When you bring in your Box-Tops, please do not tape or glue them onto paper, check expiration dates printed on each Box-Top, and remember that all Box-Tops must be trimmed on the dotted line. Collecting Box-Tops is an easy way for us to make money for our school. We appreciate all your efforts!

—Amy Thomas, Box-Tops Coordinator

 


 

PTA HAPPENINGS


***Help Needed: Are you IT savvy? If so, we could use your help! The Fairmount PTA needs a new IT Vice President. This person will be responsible for the monthly updating needs of the Fairmount PTA website. They will need to be in close contact with the PTA Board to understand the updates needed on the website and will also transition the PTA website from the end of the school year to the new school year (usually 4–5 hours the first week in August). Overall, this person can work any hours needed from home. Please contact enrichment@fairmountpta.org if you are interested.

Amazon Smile Program: The holiday season is quickly approaching, and we are all looking for gift ideas. Did you know that your holiday Amazon shopping can help support Fairmount PTA? Just register with Amazon Smile, and every time you make eligible purchases, Amazon will donate to our PTA. It’s easy to sign up, it doesn’t cost you anything, and it will directly benefit our students. Click HERE to learn more.

Reloadable Grocery Cards: As well, giving the gift that keeps on giving is easy by simply reloading your King Soopers gift card, purchased from the Fairmount PTA. Every time you load money onto the card, you are helping support the Fairmount PTA and earning money for next year’s school fees. Using the card does not cost you anything extra, and 2.5% of everything loaded onto the card goes directly into an account for your family. The benefits of the King Soopers reloadable card can be enjoyed long after your last child has graduated from Fairmount! You only need to claim your annual reimbursement within two years of its issuance. Also, King Soopers’s car-side service, ClickList, now allows you to use our reloadable cards. Just remember that the card must be pre-loaded before you pick up your groceries. These reloadable cards are good at the gas pump too. To purchase a card, click HERE. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Kline at GroceryCards@FairmountPTA.org. Thank you to all our parents and teachers for your continued support of this program!

PROGRAMS & EVENTS TO WATCH FOR:


Fifth Grade to Visit Mountain Vista
—Each year, our 5th grade students collect gifts from Fairmount families to give to the residents at Mountain Vista Nursing Home. Students visit Mountain Vista the day before winter break begins to present a musical program and the gifts to the residents. The residents look forward to it, and our students really enjoy the time with the residents. Participation forms were already sent home in your student’s Friday folder. If you didn’t receive a form and your student would like to participate, please check the home page of our website, www.fairmountpta.org, or contact Janna Wertz at

jannawertz@hotmail.com.

Angel Fund—In response to feedback received in last spring’s survey, the PTA has established an Angel Fund. This Fund is available to Fairmount students in need of financial support and can be used for school supplies, clothing, enrichment programs, etc. All requests will be made to the principal, Sally Mills at smills@jeffco.k12.co.us, and names will be kept confidential. Since this is a pilot program, requests will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis until the $1,000 budget is exhausted for the year. This is subject to modification at any time. Click HERE for an Angel Fund Request Form.

Our next PTA meeting will be Tuesday, February 5th, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in the Fairmount Library. Thank you for all of your support of Fairmount PTA and our wonderful school! We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

A BIG THANK-YOU TO:


Stacy Atkins and all of the volunteers who helped with the Student/Parent Breakfast. The kids loved having breakfast with their parents at school, the food was wonderful, and the activities post-breakfast were great! Another annual tradition successfully done!

Soumita Datta for updating our student directory! If you wish to have access to this directory, simply purchase a PTA membership for $10.00, and you will have full access for free.

Carmen Bauer for updating the PTA bulletin board in the school entryway every month!


HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


Visit www.fairmountpta.org today

—The Fairmount PTA Board



THANK YOU

to

1st BANK of
ARVADA
at WESTWOODS

for their continued
support ofFairmount!

 

 


NEWS FROM THE LMC

(Library Media Center)

—Andi Johnson, Digital Teacher Librarian

 
Follow us on Twitter!

 
@FairmountES

The 4th Annual Hour of Code is Coming


For the fourth year, all students at Fairmount will participate in an Hour of Code at school in December or January using desktop or Chromebook computers. They will practice computer coding in a kid-friendly way. Corporate partners such as Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon have come together to expand participation in computer science. Besides supporting our district’s technology standards, it will give students a chance to try coding and hopefully spark their interest. There are tutorials and puzzles for every age. Go to code.org to try it yourself . . . it’s fun and will work your noodle!

Robotics Club

The Fairmount Library Robotics Club is rocking and rolling! We have 19 students who are designing and building robots to compete in a robotics competition on Saturday, December 15. They will compete in the Next Level Challenge and will score points by having their robots move hubs around the playing field and attempt to hang from the crossbars. We are coding away!

Old Technology

Our kindergartners have been studying about “Long Ago and Now,” so it seemed like a great time for an old technology display in the library. It’s been great seeing all students K–5 enjoying tinkering with old tech that doesn’t seem all that old to us adults! Leave it to our principal, Sally Mills, and a student to know how to have some fun!

Library Collaboration

  • Some 4th graders are using Canva to share what they’ve learned in their Africa unit.
  • The 3rd graders shared their learning from their Day in Denver with parents. They used Google My Maps to pinpoint the places they visited, and they included pictures they took.
  • The 1st graders are learning more about the three states of matter. They’re sharing examples using Padlet and creating class books using Google Slides.
  • Kindergartners learned about Long Ago and Now, including old technology.
  • The 5th graders are using equivalent fractions to program Sphero robots to complete a maze.

Spelling Bee . . . Save the Date!

The Fairmount Spelling Bee written qualifying pretest for 4th and 5th graders will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Lists with practice words will be sent home after January 17 with those students who qualify. The school spelling bee for those students who qualify will be held on Friday, January 25, 2019, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the library.

Cyberbullying Tips for Parents!


Below are 6 tips for identifying and dealing with cyberbullying. They’re from Common Sense Media, a reliable source for helping kids stay safe online. The link and the actual text are both below. These tips can help your family keep the conversation fluid about your student’s online activities.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-tips/k-12-cyberbullying-digital-drama-and-hate-speech


"Help Kids Fight Cyberbullying and Other Mean Online Behavior"

Most kids will encounter mean behavior at some point in their digital lives. For some kids, this experience is a blip that's easily forgotten, while for others it can have deep, long-lasting effects. For parents, the key is staying involved in kids' lives -- both online and off -- so they can step in and offer help if necessary. With guidance from parents and educators, kids can learn how to dodge the drama and stand up for others.

Check out these 6 tips.

  1. Define your terms.

Make sure kids understand what cyberbullying is: repeated and unwanted mean or hurtful words or behavior that occur online (through texts, social media posts, online chat, etc.).

  1. Check in about online life.

Just like you'd ask your kid about their sleep, exercise, and eating, stay on top of their online life. Who are they chatting with? How do people treat each other in the games and on the sites they're using?

  1. Role-play.

If kids feel like they might have trouble removing themselves from digital drama, experiment with some different ways they can make a graceful exit. Talk through words they can use, ways they can steer conversations in positive directions, etc.

  1. Encourage upstanding.

Let kids know that supporting a friend or acquaintance who is being bullied can make a big difference. If they feel safe confronting the bully, they should. If not, a private message to the victim can be enough to help someone through a tough time. Speaking up against hate speech is important, too.

  1. Take breaks.

If you notice your kid getting pulled into digital drama, help them take a break. It's great if they can determine for themselves when they need to step back, but they might need some help setting limits. Putting devices to bed at a specific time, plus breaks for mealtimes and face-to-face connection, can help kids recharge.

  1. Review worst-case steps.

Walk through what to do if your kid is being bullied online. First, step away. Ignoring a bully can be very effective. If the bullying continues, take screenshots or print out evidence. Then block the person. If it gets worse, report the behavior to a trusted adult. Talk about who those people are and make sure your kid has their contact information.

 



 


MINDSET MASTERS

At Fairmount, “We C.A.R.E.” (Community, Attitude, Respect, and Excellence) has been a standing phrase through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system (PBIS). Aligned with this focus, we promote and teach five growth mindsets within the classrooms:

Persistence
Empathy
Resilience
Optimism
Flexibility


Every month students are recognized as “Mindset Masters” for their use of the different mindsets. The following students were chosen by their teachers for this month, and their names will be posted, throughout the entire month of DECEMBER, in the hallway leading from the cafeteria to outside.


If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kruse at christine.kruse@jeffco.k12.co.us.

 

Persistence

Empathy

Resilience

Optimism

Flexibility

Arthur McIntire

Rex Koss

Liam Cochran

Gia Smith

Nora Epke

Graham Hoppes

Scarlett Hamilton

Hazel Carroll

Maverick Armitage

Aliana Hefti

Mason Hamilton 

Ainsley Saunders

Siena Mondragon

Walker Zweifel

Mason Conely

Lillian Pember

Kevin Kim

James Millard

Travis Peters

Carson Flick

Aden Cowhey

Ethan Rohweder

Broden Stroup

Landon Broome

Jackson Flora

Owen Weber

Elle Buchanan

Julia Becker

Brooklyn Hart

Slade Shifflet

Easton King

Trystyn Powell

Max Badolato

Ty Williams

Ashley Beck

Will Becker

Bella Willis

Greyson Donaldson

Elise Meier

Oskar Murrell

Matteo Quinto

Kyleigh Gibson

Edward Sum

Zoe Klang

Everett Konegni

Mason Hahn

Teagan Peters

Cooper Wicken

Alayna Brannan

Brendan Marquardt

Shawna Pei

Gus Rutherford

Tattum Riggs

Blake Corbin

Alexa Vorthman

Ben Bontrager

Seb Pei

Devin Weidenhamer

Kyler Martinez

Julia Wilson

Rylee Devitt

Max Bianco 

Tanner Vessely

Elena Sekirnjak

Nieve Hooyer

Gavin Snyder

Jack Fuller

Alexia Kroll

Rory Carver

Ian Boeckman

Hannah Bravman

Adriano Lombardi

Camden Powell

Charlie Allen

Lela Cozzi

Parker Kelley

Chloe Teeter

 

Marty Eckert

Landon Vialpando-Pallotto

Mya Lee

Emily Murphy

 

Ferryn Jones

Ryan Payne

Audrina Dries 

  

Kyle Brownell

Kaasen Pass

Larson Best

  

Elizabeth Pember

Eden Kaplan

Sadie Griffin

  

Ryan McKellips

 

Joey Lucerna

  

Karlie Brannan

 

Blake Ferguson

  

Sadie Weborg

 
   

Leela Metzinger

 
   

Zoe McConnell

 
   

Luke Ozment

 
   

Ruby Stewart

 

 


 



 


 

FROM THE CAFETERIA
—Leanne Alton, Cafeteria Manager


Click HERE to access the

December lunch menu!



FAIRMOUNT LEARNING GARDEN UPDATE


For a detailed update on the Fairmount Learning Garden,

including delicious recipes and tips, CLICK HERE!


 

Saving Milk Caps =

$ MOO-LA for Fairmount!

Thank you to those families who have contributed to the success of our partnership with Longmont Dairy for the “Milk Caps for Moo-la” program!

With your support, so far this school year we have collected 4,200 product caps, raising $210 for our school! Not only does Fairmount benefit by receiving 5 cents for every cap we collect, but we save many caps from going to a landfill by returning these to the dairy so they can be recycled.

How can you help if you aren’t already participating? Just start saving Longmont Dairy product caps if you already have products delivered to your home (or sign up with Longmont Dairy if you wish to be part of their delivery program: http://www.longmontdairy.com/sign-up.php). Collect caps from family, friends, and neighbors, too! Clean caps should be placed in plastic bags with the student’s name, grade, and number of caps enclosed written on the outside of the bag. Place bags of caps in the “Milk Caps for Moo-la” collection box right inside the main entrance of our school.

Our Fairmount PTA sponsors the monthly prize drawing from students who have collected and contributed caps. To compete in the monthly drawing, students must place caps in the collection container by the last school day of each month. The monthly winner is then revealed the next week during the morning announcements.

This school year’s “Moo-la” monthly winner has received a $5 gift certificate to Little Caesars:

August/September               Talon King, 3rd grade
October                                 Charlotte Kline, 1st grade
November                             TBD, drawing Dec. 3


Be sure to have your milk caps in by January 31 to be included in the next drawing! Feel free to contact the Fairmount “Moo-la” parent volunteer, Candace Vorthman, at candace@vorthman.com, with any questions you may have.

 


FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY
TALENT SHOW 2019

*** Save the Date ***


Friday, February 8th at 6:00 p.m.

Tryouts

January 15th and 16th

Dress Rehearsal

February 7th

More information coming soon in Friday folders!


FAIRMOUNT FIREBIRD 5K CHASE

*** Save the Date: May 5, 2019 ***

Calling all artists for the 2019 Student Fairmount Firebird 5K Chase Logo Design and Race Slogan Contest! Art contest details for the 2019 race T-shirt logo and race slogan will be sent home prior to winter break. Winning entries will be selected from each grade level for prizes. The grand prize winner will have their design used on all T-shirts, brochures, banners, and flyers. We’re excited to see all the new entries this year!

Support for this race comes in many forms. We wouldn’t be able to put on such a fun, exciting, and super successful event without the support of our generous business and family sponsors and volunteers. Thank you, Fairmount community, for 13 years of Fairmount 5K Chase support! Please consider helping with our school’s largest fundraiser! Sponsorship details will be coming home soon along with details about volunteering for many pre-race and race-day opportunities, some of which include judging our student art contest, managing classroom registration competitions, assisting our sponsors with race entries and booths, stuffing race bags, and cheering on our runners at one of many hydration stations on race day. Be on the lookout for more details to come!

If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Carolyn Smith at goldensmitty@q.com.




 

YEARBOOK SALES &

YEARBOOK BABY PAGES


Deadline to purchase a yearbook baby page for your student is December 8th!
Click HERE for more details!

Deadline to purchase a yearbook for your student is March 29th!
Click HERE for yearbook package info!


 



Fairmount Elementary PTA
15975 W. 50th Ave.
Golden, CO 80430