Principal's Blog

Fairhill is a wonderful school filled with talented and caring educators and staff. I am very proud of the hard work and excellent outcomes that they achieve with students each and every day! I regularly hear stories of children who don’t want the weekend or break to come because they don’t want to leave school. This is a testimony to the dedication that our staff brings to work each day.
Please take a moment this week during Staff Appreciation Week to acknowledge one or more staff members for the difference they have made for the children and families of our fabulous school!

We are so blessed to be a part of such a great atmosphere around Fairhill School. Some of our most recent events including International Night, the big basketball game against Camelot, and Partners in Print show that our Fairhill families, students and staff enjoy having fun together in many ways! Thanks to everyone who lends a hand to help our school be the special place that it is!

It is an honor to support the most generous teachers and staff to be found! Recently we purchased a large assortment of math games for every grade level. In order to prepare all the games for use, we needed time to assemble the pieces, create game boards, and develop a system for full implementation. Thanks to the leadership of Miss Hickcox, and the incredible generosity of time from our staff, the games are almost ready to be used by our Fairhill students. Many hands truly make light work!

It has been a wonderful spring so far at Fairhill. With a supportive community and dedicated staff, we see our students blossoming before our eyes! We have enjoyed a number of great activities that continually build our school community and spirit. Thank you to everyone who has helped make our events so successful. See below for some great pictures from The Cat in the Hat Parade, Bingo Night, and our PBS Reward Assembly: Things that Go Boom! What’s your favorite Fairhill Fun event?

Lots of action has filled our school in the past month! We hosted author, Kalli Dakos, thanks to the generous support of the Fairhill PTA and coordination of our librarian, Miss Hamm. The students enjoyed the colorful poetry and interactive presentation.

The Falls Church HS Marching Jags paraded our halls and then played their show for the upper grade students in the gym. Their performance inspired students and staff alike. The talent and enthusiasm they displayed made it a memorable experience for Fairhill students. Thanks are extended to John Davenport, director of the FCHS Band Program, for bringing these wonderful musicians to Fairhill. Some of them were our own former Fairhill students!

We are appreciative of the dedication and hard work of Mr. Christensen and Mr. Peevy who organized our annual Pumpkin Pie Run which featured more than 80 runners! Our Fairhill community came out for a fabulous fun-filled morning of fitness with a slice of pie too!

The annual Thanksgiving Luncheon was another favorite and huge success! The Fairhill cafeteria served over 700 meals under the leadership of Mrs. Monts, our food service manager. Parents and students enjoyed time together at this very popular event.

A great deal of appreciation is extended to ALL the parents, students, and staff members who make fabulous opportunities like these a possibility. We are so grateful for the Fairhill family atmosphere that is shared at our school.

We celebrated our first spirit day of the year on Friday! Tiger pride was all around as the students and staff showed off their tiger colors! Thanks to everyone who joined in on our efforts to build our school’s community spirit!

Nam Le, former Fairhill student, 6th grade 2008, now at Woodson HS, gave back to his elementary school in a big way! He recently completed his Eagle Scout project at our school. Along with about 40 volunteers and a large collection of donated flowers, shrubs, and a variety of bulbs, they landscaped the back of our school. It is beautiful!

Nam shares a little about himself with us:
I’m 15 years old and currently attending W.T Woodson High school. I attended Luther Jackson for Middle school and I am also a former graduate of Fairhill Elementary school. I have been scouting since I was 4 years old. My dad was a scout leader and brought me in to learn and play before I was even the appropriate age. I have been a scout for 11 years now and still motivated to keep going. I was a Cub Scout from age 4-11 and became a Boy Scout at age 12-14. I am currently a Venture Scout now and working on my trail to Eagle. I am in Troop 1789, Lien Doan Hong Bang, and currently holding the position of Senior Patrol Leader which is the highest position in Boy Scouts. I have been scouting all my life and it has never let me down. I enjoy being a scout to learn and help others. Scouting is a lot of fun and that is why I do it. I have been on many activities with the troop such as camping, hiking, canoeing, and many more. I have had many great experiences throughout scouting. I am aiming to achieve the rank of Eagle now and continue my scouting life.

We thank Nam for coordinating this project to help Fairhill!

We had a great time last week at our annual Open House and Scavenger Hunt. I hope you enjoyed visiting the many different locations in the school! If you were not able to join us, parents, that’s OK. We have Back to School Night coming up on September 15 at 7:00 PM. This is another great opportunity to see the school and meet the teachers who work with your children each day! Enjoy thePhotos!

Over the past two Wednesdays, the Fairhill library has been open for business! We welcomed over 20 families each morning. Our new librarian, Miss Hamm, read stories and shared summer tales with the children. Students also checked out up to five books to read at home.

We hope all our students are having a super summer and are reading lots of good books. If you need a book to read, consider visiting the public library. The Thomas Jefferson Library is very close to Fairhill.

What great books have you read this summer? Students, we invite you to share your reading adventures here in this blog! Tell us… The name of the book and your favorite part!

Last night we enjoyed an evening of family fun at Fairhill! In gratitude for the support of our families throughout the year, the Book Fair sales this spring were “Buy one, get one free!” Mr. Rando, with the help of Ms. Mingo, created an awesome art sample display. The PTA sponsored a Lego-extravaganza and the Girl Scouts taught us how to fold paper cranes for their community project to support Japan.

We are so blessed to have such an active, talented, and dedicated community of staff, parents, and students! Because of this, Fairhill is a wonderful place to work and learn!

It has been a busy spring at Fairhill! Our students continue to grow and learn through many different experiences.
Miss Payack’s class, through their service learning focus and a partnership with Mr. Hirz, planted a bush outside their classroom window to help create a friendly environment for their bird friends!

Our first grade recently performed the Three Piggy Opera. What a treat to share in the talent of our little ones! They performed with great confidence and enthusiasm for their peers and parents!

Our Cub Scout Troop worked to sweep the parking lot and take care of the school yard. We thank them for their support and muscle power after a full day at school!

Just yesterday all of our students enjoyed a cultural arts musical of “Mulan” performed by Theatre IV and sponsored by the PTA.
We are so grateful for the dedication of all who care so very much for our students and school. It is through those efforts that our school shines as the special place that it is!

It has been a fabulous week of celebrating wellness at Fairhill! On Wednesday evening we enjoyed a great event organized by Mr. Mark Christensen and the Wellness Committee. Paricipants eagerly learned about healthy foods and active ways to stay fit. We ran, jumped, stretched, and kicked in various stations around the school. Then we visited the cafeteria for an opportunity to learn about healthy habits.
Tonight, March 17, under the direction of Mrs. Siddons and Miss Sternisha, and with the help of the second grade teachers, our second grade students culminated the week with the musical, “Make it Healthy!” With song and movement, they reminded us of the importance of eating right AND taking good care of our bodies!
We hope everyone enjoyed whatever activities they were able to be a part of this week. Wonderful activities such as these would not be possible if we did not have such a supportive staff and community. Thanks so much for your participation and dedication to Fairhill!

Online safety and social networking sites like Facebook are currently hot topics. I recently learned about the following information to help parents guide their children’s use of the internet. Please check out this guide, written by Anne Collier and Larry Magid of ConnectSafely.org, ahev written A Parent’s Guide to Facebook. Click the link to download this free, 34 page guide. Calm your fears by increasing your knowledge.

Our children need our awareness and guidance as they explore their digital world. How do you supervise your children when they are connected online? Please share your thoughts which might help other parents.

Friday at Fairhill was a special day! We welcomed guest readers who visited classrooms to share their favorite stories and then we paraded through the halls of Fairhill in character…and with style! Dr. Seuss would be proud! What a great way to end a week of reading fun! Thanks to Mrs. Klieber for organizing a week focused on reading. Many students pledged to turn off the TV and read, read, read! All the children who achieved their goal received a decorated pencil!

Thanks to the support of Fairhill’s Parent Liaison, Mrs. Barrientos, the Fairhill Parent Center sponsored a special presentation last week: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk. What does that look like? Almost 40 parents joined us for two sessions, one in English and the other in Spanish. Our parents enjoyed learning some effective communication techniques to build harmonious relationships with their children. Some useful skills that the participants plan to use:
“I will plan more family meetings and respect my children for who they are.”
“I will listen actively, really put myself in their shoes, and try to feel their feelings, so that I can be a parent who provides a safe place for them.”
“I will begin these strategies immediately!”

We celebrated the many world cultures represented at Fairhill on Friday, February 25, 2011. Our wonderful families and students shared a part of their heritage through food, games, displays, and delightful performances. Thanks so very much to the efforts of our PTA president, Carol Ku, who coordinated a night to remember. Thanks are also extended to the parents and students who volunteered or provided delicious samples of food from every continent! When we celebrate the rich diversity represented in our school, we continue to bring our community closer together! This is just one reason that Fairhill is a fabulous place to learn and work!

Last week our totally terrific third graders performed ‘Temples and Tombs’, a musical adventure of Ancient Egypt. Each student played an important part of bringing the life and culture of Ancient Egypt alive through music, song, and narration. We are thankful to all the families who were able to support the evening performance by attending and joining us to celebrate the success of the children. We are equally grateful to all the teachers who helped make the production possible!

Last week, Governor McDonnell and Virginia’s Board of Education announced this year’s school divisions and individual schools that earned the 2011 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) awards for advanced learning and achievement. Congratulations went to a number of FCPS Cluster II schools, among others, including Fairhill and its feeder schools, Luther Jackson Middle School and Falls Church High School!

2011 Board of Education Excellence Awards:
Fairhill ES, Flint Hill ES, Lemon Road ES, Madison HS, Marshall HS, Marshall Road ES, Shrevewood ES, Stenwood ES, Vienna ES, and Westgate ES

2011 Board of Education Competence to Excellence Awards:
Falls Church HS, Jackson MS and Pine Spring ES

More info about the VIP incentive program for schools and school divisions is available on the VDOE website:

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/va_index_performance_awards/index.shtml

Congratulations to the staffs, students, and families of schools who earned recognition. This is a testimony to a strong dedication to learning for all students and effective partnerships between schools, families, and the community.

At Fairhill we had a fabulous evening of family fun last week. The Bingo games were exciting and the prizes abundant! We had a great turnout and tons of community spirit. Thanks to Carol Ku, our PTA President, for organizing all the details- and to all the volunteers who assisted to make this another wonderful Fairhill event!

Congratulations to our Fairhill Geography Bee participants and to Jason, our winner for the second year in a row! Last Thursday 10 fourth through sixth grade students took the stage to participate in the annual Geography Bee. The students did a fantastic job answering a variety of questions which challenged their knowledge and understanding of geography. We are so proud of our participants and are thankful to Mr. Kingsbury who organized and facilitated the event.
National Geographic invites you to test your skills in the GeoBee Challenge online and to learn about Why Geography Matters using Google Earth! Enjoy!

5th and 6th Grade Chorus
Click on “5th and 6th Grade Chorus” to watch a fun clip of Music in the Air!

Fairhill students are so very talented! It was a rewarding evening as our families gathered at Baja Fresh to enjoy “Music in the Air”. Tonight, under the direction of Mrs. Siddons and Miss Sternisha, our fifth and sixth grade chorus students serenaded us with joyous winter music! It was such a treat to watch our dedicated parents beam with pride as their children sang with great enthusiasm! I am also so very grateful for the dedication of our art teacher, Mrs. Zehmer, who helped the students create such beautiful artwork that lined the walls of the restaurant. It is such a delight to share the happiness of the season with all our students and families!

What a treat on Friday to visit Miss Gavin’s second grade classroom as the students “Skyped” with the editor of Time for Kids! Not too long ago the alert students in Miss Gavin’s class noticed a typo in their Time for Kids magazine. Embracing the moment, Miss Gavin led her students to write letters to the editor to notify her of the misprint. They were delighted to receive a response and in the exchange made arrangements to communicate face to face…well almost! On Friday, Miss Gavin’s students spoke with the editor through Skype, an online video conferencing site. The editor, a former second grade teacher, engaged the children by answering their questions about the magazine and explaining how it is published. She highlighted the importance of teamwork and brainstorming. What a wonderful experience. The excitement and engagement of our Fairhill student writers was contagious!

I am continually grateful for the dedication of our students, staff, and families. Recently we hosted two events which experienced fabulous involvement on the part of the entire Fairhill community: The Pumpkin Pie Run and the Thanksgiving Luncheon. Thanks to Mr. Christensen for organizing the big race and to Ms. Ferguson for coordinating all the details for a successful feast! Our school is a great place to work and learn because of the dedication and hard work of our staff, the support of our families, and the engagement of the children!

At the beginning of the school year I shared with our families my interest in visiting small gatherings throughout the community to engage in conversation about our school. On Friday, October 22, I was privileged to spend time with a group of nine Fairhill moms for our first community coffee. I was joined by Mrs. Barrientos, our parent liaison, who shared about upcoming parent programs offered in the community, and Mrs. Wines, fourth grade teacher.

It was a wonderful opportunity for me to hear about our school from their perspective and to discuss questions and thoughts about happenings at Fairhill. I enjoyed answering questions regarding homework, buses, field trips and how our teachers work together to help students learn. I am appreciative of the involvement of these moms in the educational process of their children and grateful that they took time out of their day to host me for coffee, treats, and great conversation! Thank you to each mom who attended!

Thanks to the dedication of so many parents, Fairhill enjoys fabulous students who are focused on learning and growing each day!

I look forward to scheduling additional coffees with parents in small group community settings as the year continues.

First Grade Friday Video
What a wonderful experience! One Friday each month our fabulous first grade team joins together to celebrate all the learning the children accomplished during the month. They read and sing the poems that were learned and recognize students for wonderful work in Language Arts. Please enjoy the video I captured for a taste of the fun that was had!

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our awesome PTA Board and a host of wonderful families, Popsicles on the Playground was once again this year an outstanding success. Many parents, students, and staff joined together at 7:00 PM last evening to welcome the start of a new school year with fun and friendship… and popsicles, of which there was no shortage! I think one student told me she had seven! Thank you to our PTA for hosting events such as this that bring our community together.

Our PTA also sponsors a number of support efforts to help raise funds for our school. Watch this coming week for a flyer with an opportunity to support Fairhill by purchasing an assortment of yummy pretzels and a variety of cookie dough flavors to enjoy with your family and friends.

We are looking forward to a fantastic year of learning throughout the school. Our teachers are focused and are ready to meet the needs of the children at Fairhill each day. I am so grateful for their professionalism and dedication to their work!

Here’s a cute Popsicle Poem by John Bransfield. It describes our enjoyment last evening!

popsicle popsicle
tickle tongue
liksicle sticsicle
please don’t run
dripsicle slipsicle
melt,melt tricky
stopsicle plopsicle
hand all sticky
Enjoy your weekend!

I am continually impressed with the students and staff we have at Fairhill. Today we welcomed almost 600 students back to school. We have many returning children and many new students too! We also welcomed our new assistant principal, Ms. Linda Ferguson. It was a day of excitement for all!

Like our students, many teachers also reported their eager anticipation of the first day. All of the time and energy invested to prepare their classrooms to get ready for the first day became worthwhile when the children arrived. Some of our new little ones were a little unsure about what it meant to come to school, but by lunch time, we were all in sync and the day flew by!

I recently found a website which gave some tips for helping to ease children’s back-to-school jitters. I thought you might also find the tips helpful whether your child is in kindergarten or sixth grade. Essentially, it came down to four steps: 1. Listen to your child’s worries and anticipate their concerns, 2. Help your child learn school routines and the lay of the land, 3. Prepare for separation before the big day, and 4. Have a positive send-off. Although the first day is over, you may find some of these ideas and thoughts helpful throughout this first week of school.

Welcome back! We are so glad our journey of learning is underway for 2010-11!

I had the honor of visiting Mrs. Klieber, Fairhill’s reading specialist, a number of teacher volunteers, and a great group of students yesterday at the Bruen Chapel on Cedar Lane. Ruth Burgess, the church pastor and friend of Fairhill School, offered Fairhill a room to run a summer reading program. The reading program was organized and facilitated by Mrs. Klieber, and staffed by numerous Fairhill staff volunteers who faithfully came to support 25 students over the past five weeks. Yesterday was the culminating day for the program. The children celebrated their work with a Reader’s Theatre presentation. We are truly grateful for the dedication of our staff to keep children learning during the summer, and equally grateful to the parents who brought their children each day to be a part of this opportunity! Thank you to all involved!

As our blog is new, we are trying to see how many visitors we can get from all over the world to check out the great happenings at Fairhill. If you know someone who lives outside of our area, please send the link to this blog to them so they can read about Fairhill. Each time we are visited, the map to the right will register the visit!

Happy summer everyone! As the warm days of the season continue, our thoughts begin to turn to the opening of school. At Fairhill, we are looking forward to welcoming you back for another year of learning! We have been working during the summer to register many new students and to prepare for the exciting year ahead.

As you begin to think about the upcoming school season, please consider how you can support your child in school. Joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is one way you can do this. In addition, we look forward to our families participating in the various activities and fundraisers that the PTA sponsors. Among a variety of benefits, did you know that supporting the PTA brings special cultural arts assemblies to the school and supplements the cost of the wonderful field trips that the children take?

At Fairhill, we also value the time you can share with us. The PTA will initiate a new program this year called “Three for Me”. The goal is for all parents to pledge to give just three hours of their time to support the children and school between September and June. Perhaps you are willing to chaperone a field trip. Maybe you can be a classroom volunteer, or even the room parent. You might also consider participating on one of the committees that the PTA is organizing to help the school. If every parent in our school gives three hours of support, that would be more than 18,300 hours of involvement! That is exciting!

If you have not done so already, please check out the Fairhill website for the updated school supply lists. If you choose, the PTA will actually do the shopping for you! Simply complete the form, write a check, and return both to the school. Your child’s school supply kit will be ready for pick up at the Open House on September 2 at 2:00.

I look forward to seeing everyone in September!

It was such a great evening last Thursday! I enjoyed seeing so many families gathered together to share a meal, shop at the bookfair, experience the amazing display of student artwork, and of course, play with Legos! The mini silent auction was also a hit! I couldn’t help but smile while watching the excitement as the bidders hovered and the bids continued to rise for the dog walking experience with Miss Payack and her precious Autumn! Thanks to all the teachers and parents who donated items and time to the auction, and to everyone who lent a hand to make this fabulous evening possible! Because of your dedication, the PTA is able to support the efforts of the school which help Fairhill bring fabulous experiences to the children. I am blessed to be a part of such a great school community!

Recently our second grade welcomed a special guest – Meteorologist Adam Caskey from ABC7! (Video Link)  He taught the students all about reading weather maps, weather instruments, predicting the weather, and what the job of a meteorologist entails.  They even got a sneak peek behind the news desk and learned how he presents his weather segment on TV (and learned he has to wear make-up!).  They then traveled to the blacktop and checked out his mobile weather unit, StormChaser. 

Checkout the pictures below!

Welcome to the new Fairhill Principal’s Blog!  Fairhill is moving into the 21st Century with communication!  I look forward to using this site to keep our community up to date on the happenings around Fairhill.

 Last Friday evening we enjoyed sharing our cultural heritage with each other!  There was food from around the world that provided us a “Taste of Fairhill”.  We enjoyed a variety of performances from dancing to singing and everything in between!  A number of displays were arranged in the hall complete with an assortment of beautiful artifacts. It was a pleasure to see so many families and staff members take an active role in facilitating this annual event at our school.  Thanks so very much to Mrs. Carol Ku who was our coordinator and leader. It was a wonderful night for all!