Nice Job, Remote Learners!
I want to compliment all of our students who are learning remotely this year and their teachers! These classrooms are caring learning environments that have strong routines in place for rigorous learning. Teachers have incorporated various tools for students to collaborate and work in small groups. Along the way, students have demonstrated perseverance and responsibility, working synchronously and asynchronously. I am proud of our remote Firebirds!

While we are tallying totals and looking forward to revealing official results and individual winners, we want to thank everyone who participated to make the inaugural Books with the Birds a success! We have reached our goal of $30,000+! Essential programs and necessary upgrades are possible because of your support! More details coming soon!

Also, thank you to Deb Brannon, Enrichment Coordinator, who organized this event with the help of Laura Freeman, Randell Davenport, and Fairmount staff! 

Join us on February 19 from 4-8pm at Panera for a fundraising night where Panera will donate 20% of their proceeds when you mention Fairmount! 

6408 Yank Way
Arvada, CO 80004

We need your help replenishing classrooms of essential supplies! Take a look at the Sign-Up Genius to see how you can help!

Please bring your purchased supplies to school or send them with your student—with the teacher's name who's requesting the supplies—by February 19, 2021.

While child sexual assault is one of the most difficult subjects to talk about with your kids and caregivers, it is one of the most important conversations you could ever have—and one that is much easier to have before a sexual assault takes place. The Parenting Safe Children workshop gives you all the tools you need to talk with your children’s caregivers and your children to build your Prevention Team.

In the Parenting Safe Workshop, you will learn:

• What makes children and their families vulnerable to sexual assault
• Grooming behaviors that precede sexual assault
• Language to talk with your children about sex and sexual development
• Language to speak with your children’s caregivers about body safety
• Body Safety Rules every child should know to decrease vulnerability
• Why forcing your child to hug a grandparent or loved one could make them more vulnerable to sexual assault in the future
• How to build a Prevention Team of caregiver

Don't forget to submit your talent show entry by Friday, February 5th. Videos should be 1 minute and can be recorded via phone. Please send through WeTransfer or GoogleFiles to Willowbradner@gmail.com.

Don't forget to include a photo, name, grade, and brief bio of your star! Videos can be of any kind of talent, the sky is the limit!

We want to thank our room parents, families, and teachers who have been working together to ensure our Firebirds are able to enjoy Valentine's Day in a fun and safe way! 

We are looking for a Sponsorship Coordinator to help us manage relationships with Fairmount's generous sponsors, as well as a talent show coordinator and volunteers to join our Virtual 5K planning committee. If you're interested in helping us, please contact Laura Warren for more information. 

Please consider joining us for our monthly PTA meetings. We welcome all parents and friends of Fairmount. Your voices are important and needed! Our PTA meetings will be held on the following dates and times via Zoom:
-February 2nd - 4:00 PM - today!
-March 2nd - 9:00 AM
-April 6th - 6:30 PM
-May 4th - 3:45 PM

Please note the following redemption period date: 

● April 20, 2021-April 31, 2021

If you'd like more information on enrolling in the grocery card programs, please click here. We appreciate your support! 

Congratulations to Carson Warren, our $5 gift card winner! 

Be sure to send in CLEAN caps with properly labeled bags that include cap count and student's name, and grade for your chance to win a $5 Golden Sweets Ice Cream gift card.

Visit the Milk Caps for Moola page for questions. 

Check out this month's menu. As a reminder, students who choose hot lunch will come to the cafeteria to pick up their selection and return to the classroom to eat.

Congratulations to the following students who qualified to participate in our school Spelling Bee: Aubry Grieve, Beckham Hall, Bella Willis, Charlie Kline, Chase Robinson, Eli Baron, Emmett Blackwell, Grayson Donaldson, Hannah Dill, Kaylee Vest, Max Badolato, Natalie Helmer, Owen Earl, Owen McWilliams, Ryder Schneck, Rylee Devitt, Sage Barbour, Shawna Pei, Shriya Chakraborty, and Willow Merrigan.

Congratulations to our winners! Hannah Dill is our back-to-back champion, winning the competition two years in a row! Congratulations to Emmett Blackwell, 1st runner up and, Shriya Chakraborty, 2nd runner up. We're proud of all of you!

Make Your Voice Heard
Students in grades 2-5 will all have completed our District’s Make Your Voice Heard survey by February 4. The survey allows students 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 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 heard at least 3 of these picture books read to them, if not all. The votes will be compiled and turned into the state committee that sponsors this event, and they will inform us of the state winner. It has been fun to read all of these great books!

Battle of the Books
The Fairmount Battle of the Books competition will take place on Wednesday, February 24th. 17 teams of 5th-grade students will test their knowledge of 10 different books. Our top 2 teams will compete in the Jeffco Battle of the Books competition to be held virtually on March 2nd. Good luck to all of our competitors!

Digital Citizenship
During February, our students will engage in digital citizenship learning related to Relationships and Communication. Students will learn the importance of communicating respectfully with others while online. Whether they are chatting in games or texting with family members, having certain skills will build positive relationships. You can best support your child by modeling positive online behaviors.

Family Tips: Help Kids Make Friends and Interact Safely Online
English  Spanish

Family Activity: Relationships & Communication
English Spanish

K – January kicked off a new year with new designs from kindergarteners who had a chance to be innovators designing a specific object for a particular audience. Creativity was shown in our youngest learners with the least inhibitions! 

1 – In science, first graders are learning some ways animals meet their needs to survive and grow. Our STEM focus was on animals who spend the winter hibernating. Using just marshmallows and toothpicks, these young engineers built an animal den. Perseverance was needed as students troubleshot problems and enhanced final designs. Trust me when I say these animals would stay safe, warm, and protected! 

2 – Second graders are learning about the earth’s surface in science. The focus in building a model of a watershed was answering the question, “How does land change, and what are some things that cause it to change?” They were able to watch the water path and see where in a landscape it collected and why. Students then added “pollution” to their watershed and were able to see both the speed and degree to which it spread throughout their landscape. 

3 – Engineering was the name of the game for third graders as they designed an innovation after determining the problem/solution, empathizing with their target audience, ideating, sketching the prototype, and finally building their new invention. 

4 & 5 - Fourth and fifth graders followed the design process as they selected an item of interest to design. Engineering brains met imaginations as students used a familiar process in a new way. Imagining life in the future and what that might entail was the inspiration for many new exciting inventions. 

All students, K-5, participated in a Choose Your Own Design STEM activity. Students first had to select a character. Choices included, but were not limited to, a knight, a mermaid, and a giant. With a character in mind, designers chose what type of building they needed. Was their character in need of a hide-out to stay incognito and out of the spotlight, a new home to relax and unwind, or a sports venue to show off their vast skill set? Final builds showed imagination and ingenuity!

Check out the STEM website for more information and photos!

Check out Fairmount's Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health website for many resources from crisis intervention to supporting unique learning styles. There are also pandemic-specific articles and activities.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255 (TALK) or 911. The Colorado Crisis Line is staffed by very kind and professional counselors who can help you and your loved ones through the darkest times.