Fairfield Elementary
Week of November 13th- November 17th
Health Benefits of Gratitude
When was the last time you stopped to really acknowledge the things you’re thankful for? There’s a whole host of reasons why we should make gratitude a daily practice — research has shown that being thankful confers a whole host of health benefits, from improved immune systems, to feelings of connectedness, even higher team morale.
1. Good for the heart. A 1995 study in the American Journal of Cardiology showed that appreciation and positive emotions are linked with changes in heart rate variability.
2. Good for the immune system. Gratefulness is linked with optimism, which in turn is linked with better immun health WebMD reported.
3. Reduces stress. WebMD reported that negative events can boost gratitude, and that gratitude can help to boost feelings of belonging and decrease feelings of stress. For example, a survey showed that feelings of gratitude were at high levels after 9/11, according to WebMD.
4. Strengthens relationships. Being thankful for the little things your partner does could make your relationship stronger, according to a study in the journal Personal Relationships. The Telegraph reported on the study, which showed that journaling about the thoughtful things your partner did was linked with a beneficial outcome on the relationship.
5. Improves sleep. Writing down what you’re thankful for as you drift off to sleep can help you get better ZZs, according to a study in the Journal of Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.
6. Higher Grades. Grateful high-schoolers have higher GPA's— as well as better social integration and satisfaction with life — than their not-grateful counterparts, according to a 2010 study in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
IMPORTANT DATES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th-22nd
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH
9:00 AM-1:00 PM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST
2:45 PM-4:15 PM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND
ADJUSTED DISMISSAL
Morning Kindergarten 8:10 AM-10:10 AM
Afternoon Kindergarten 10:10 AM-12:10 PM
1ST-5TH Grade 12:10 PM
10:50 AM-12:50 PM
We are excited to announce our Lunch Buddy Program has started back up! This program is run by the PTA where volunteers come in every third Wednesday of the month to eat with different students. This program aims to give some students positive attention and a buddy to eat with monthly!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH
'Tis the season to be Jolly! The holiday season is upon us and with that brings our Star Tree once again! If you would like to participate please consider taking a Star and help us brighten someone's holiday. Please bring all unwrapped gifts by Friday, December 15th to Ms. Owens in the school counseling office. If you have any questions, please contact Blair Owens at 648-2492. Happy Holidays to all!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH
7:00 AM-7:30 AM
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ST
10:45 AM-12:55 PM (During your child's lunch time)
SCA EVENTS
PTA EVENTS
HELLO FAIRFIELD FAMILIES!
Just a friendly reminder that the 1st Monday of each month are Fairfield PTA board meetings, at 6:00pm in the Library and as a PTA member you are always welcomed to attend.
This year's scheduled meetings are:
- 12/4/2017
- 1/8/2018
- 2/5/2018
- 3/5/2018
- 4/9/2018
- 5/7/2018
- 6/4/2018
FALL RUMMAGE & VENDOR SALE
Fairfield Elementary School Parking Lot
Saturday, November 18th
9:00 AM-1:00 PM
BOOK FAIR & WINTER WONDERLAND BREAKFAST
Bookfair 11/27- 12/2
Winter Wonderland Breakfast
Saturday, 12/2 from 9am-12pm
Becoming a good reader takes practice. Kids are happy to practice the things they love and our Book Fair is the perfect place for them to find and choose the books they want to read.
Support our Book Fair and help your child build a collection of books at home they can read alone...and with you
PTA CARES
Items Needed Are:
Knit Hats and Gloves for Adults and Children
Please leave donated items in the big, blue tub located by the front display case in the school lobby.
Thank you for your generosity!
TECHNICAL TIDBITS
Typing Games to Improve Keyboarding Skills
There seems to be no shortage of typing games that help students develop their keyboarding skills. This collection of games are free, fun, and engaging.
- Nitro Type- https://www.nitrotype.com/ - Improve your typing skills while competing from other typers from around the world.
- Alphabet Rain -https://powertyping.com/rain.html You must type the letters as the fall from the sky before they hit the ground.
- Learn 2 Type -http://www.learn2type.com/typingtest/typingtest.cfm Type in a paragraph of text to see how many WPM you can type.
- Outerspace Fleet Commander -http://www.freetypinggame.net/play12.asp Type words or groups of letters before they run into your spaceship. Three different levels to choose from.
- Timed Typing Test - http://www.freetypinggame.net/play4.aspType quickly and accurately to see how many WPM you can type. You can set to allow for backspacing or turn this feature off.
- Typing on Ghosts -http://mathandreadinghelp.org/kids_games/the_typing_of_the_ghosts.html Type the letters that appear on the ghosts to make them disappear.
Find even more typing games here- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/11/typing-games.html#.WgSaf9enHct and here- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/04/10-free-typing-practice-activities-for.html#.WgSao9enHct.
RISING 6TH GRADERS-OPEN HOUSE
BRANDON MIDDLE SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH
6:00 PM-7:30 PM
Brandon Middle School will be having their student and parent Open House in the Auditorium. Come learn about your child's required classes and elective choices!THE A, B, C'S OF OUR CARLOOP FOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP PRODEDURES
Our carloop can be intimidating. If you follow these simple rules, it's a breeze.
A. Always follow the instructions of the staff members on duty in our car loop.
B. Be cautious and considerate of others drivers AND students on our school grounds.
C. Consider carpooling whenever possible to ease congestion.
STUDENT ABSENCES
Please call in all student absences to the absentee line at 648-2482 by 9:00AM for EACH day your student will be sick or late. If your student is going to be late to school for any reason, please make sure and let our office know ahead of time (if possible) by calling our office by 9:00AM that morning. You can also email the office attendance staff directly at pemobley@vbschools.com as well as your student's teacher for any absence.
EARLY CHECKOUT....
Students will not be called out of class until a parent is present to sign them out. Please plan ahead for appointments, as we would like to minimize missed class time
STUDENT ILLNESS
To prevent the spread of disease and to protect your student, please keep your student home and/or make an appointment with your health care provider for the following symptoms:
- temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- severe sore throat, headache, or cough
- eyes with inflammation, redness, and watery or purulent drainage
- live head lice
- undiagnosed and/or untreated skin rash
- communicable disease
If a student becomes ill during school, the parent/guardian of the student must be contacted before a student is allowed to leave the building. It is important to provide your student's school with updated contact numbers so parents/guardians may be reached concerning illness, as well as emergencies.
VvOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Watch D.O.G.S. Program
The PTA will be launching the Watch D.O.G.S.
(Dads of Great Students) program in January 2017.
What are the goals of a Watch D.O.G.S. program?
1. To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2. To provide extra sets of eyes and ear to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Who are Watch D.O.G.S and how does Watch D.O.G.S. work?
Watch D.O.G.S. are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official Watch D.O.G.s. school.
What do Watch D.O.G.S. do (while they at school)?
During the day, Watch D.O.G.S. may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, patrol the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well.
Fundraising Opportunities
Harris Teeter: Harris Teeter's Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands. Harris Teeter has donated over $24.6 million to Together In Education schools since 1998! When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to. There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn. Link your VIC card in store or online at Harristeeter.com/togetherineducation. Our school number is 4117.
Kroger: Kroger Community Awards makes fund-raising easy. All you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card! Login or create your account at Kroger.com/communityrewards to enroll your Plus Card.
Organization Name: Fairfield Elementary PTA
Our Organization: Number: 80339.
Farm Fresh: Our school earns one point for each dollar spent when a shopper scans their key tags. Points are cashed in for educational equipment and supplies. Need a key? Send an email to rmedding@msn.com
Box Tops: Look for Box Tops on products that you purchase, remove them any way you want and send them to school in your child's Star Folder.
Amazon Smile: Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way for you to support FES PTA every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
On your first visit to Amazon Smile (smile.amazon.com), choose Fairfield Elementary PTA as the organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon Smile will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.