Falcon Flyer
March 2010

Next PTA Meeting

Tuesday, March 9 7:00 pm in the library
 
We will be voting on the 2010-2011 PTA Board.
 
SOS Update
Days of Taste1

We have less than ONE week to get those checks in.

So refuel this week raise that money, turn in those checks!!!

Our goal is $60,000 by March 4th- we've collected a little over $10,000 so far.

Who wants to keep Science and Technology a huge part of our children's education?

For questions contact Kelly Sullivan: KSullivan211@verizon.net or 562-810-0737.

March Calendar of Events

March 4...
 Final Day of
 SOS Check Drive
 
March 9...
PTA Meeting
7:00 pm in library
 
March 9...
Dominos Pizza Night
 
March 9-10...
Early Dismissal Days
 
March 20...
Science Night
at Fremont 
 
March 22-26...
Spring Book Fair
 
March 25...
Open House

 

Movie at the
Art Theater 

Tim Burton's 
Alice in Wonderland is opening at the Art Theater on March 5.
 

 If you go see it on: 
 Fri. March 5, 
 Sat. March 6,
or Sun. March 7 
tell them you're
from Fremont and they'll
give our school back
$1.00 per ticket. 
No flyer needed!!
 
For added fun, why not
wear your Drama
Show costume!?!
 
Art Theatre 
 2025 E. 4th St.
Show times
 Friday & Saturday:
2:20, 4:40, 7:00 and 9:20  
Sunday:
2:20, 7:00 and 9:20 
 (4:40 show is closed for private party)
 
All movies before 5:00 are just $6.50!!!
 
Days of Taste1 
Upcoming Fremont
Community Market
 
 For the very first time
 Fremont will be having
 a Community Market
 on Saturday, April 17.
 
 There will be the
Cub Scout pancake
 breakfast and tomato
 & herb plant sale.
 We are also working on
 starting a farmers
market
as well as vendors selling art and jewelry.
 
 
In additon, there will also be an e-waste drive, so save those big TVs and
 computers to donate. We can make money and help the earth.
Do you have a business
  you would like to promote?
This would be a great way to reach out to the
community. Have an idea for a booth you would like to organize as a fundraiser?
 This is the place.
 
All proceeds will
 go to the S.O.S.
 More details
will follow, but if
you have any questions
e-mail Marky Morel:
 
markymorel@yahoo.com
 
We will also be having a book fair at the Community Market. 
 If you are interested in donating books or helping with the book sale, please contact Tina Barry at 562-433-4337.
 

Save the Dates for TV Turn Off Week in April!

TV Turn Off Week
(April 19 - 25, 2010)
 is a national program that promotes more time
 having fun with your
 family and friends
 and not in front
 of the TV!
Here's what we have
 planned to help you out:

Monday, April 19:
 2:30 pm
 (afterschool fun):
Kids and Parents do
 a fun project based
 on "How to Be the Best
 Boy/Girl" books with
 mom Shavaughn Thom.
 
Tuesday, April 20
:
 6:00 pm:
 Book Reading and
Book Fair at Borders in
Los Altos Center:
Author Suzanne Greenberg
 will read from her
"Abigail Iris" series.
 
Wednesday, April 21
:
 6:30 pm:
 Fremont Beach
 Path walk and
 Sunset viewing.
 
Thursday, April 22
:
 6:30 pm:
 6th annual
 Fremont Pajama Party
 and Kids Battle
the Grownups in
 Fremont Auditorium

 

  Fremont Players Club (Poker Night)
Friday, April 23rd
 
Rally your friends
together for an adult
night out at the JCC.
There will be gambling,
 great food, prizes,
 music, and fun for all
 (even if you're not
 the gambling type).  
So get your babysitter now!
 
If you can donate any
 prizes or parties, 
 please notify
 Joslyn Semichy:
Deltafly@aol.com
 562-505-3234
 
 

GATE/EXCEL Parent Advisory Meetings (GEPAC)

Purpose of the Parent Advisory - to share information about the GATE program between the GATE office, the teachers, and the parents and families.

We have 2 more meetings scheduled for this school year.
They are held at the Teacher Resource Center (TRC) Room #4.

 1299 E. 32nd St.
Signal Hill, CA 90755
10:00 - 11:30 am
Anyone is welcome
to attend.

*Monday, April 26,
2010
 (Summer in the  City)
 
 
*Friday, May 21, 2010

Contact Marcia Lee
562-857-4616,
if you have questions.

 

Fremont's New Garden 

Days of Taste1

 Have you noticed the beautiful garden that was recently planted behind the Memory Bench? 
 
It's a charming addition to the special place where we remember members of the Fremont family who are no longer with us. 
 
Thank you, Mrs. and Mr. Clanton, for creating this lovely space!
   
 
Home Reading Club 

Fremont students say a big "Thank You!"  to everyone who has donated their gently-used children's books to the Home Reading Club!  Doing your spring cleaning soon?  Keep the Home Reading Club in mind!  In particular, Magic Tree House, Junie B.Jones, Rainbow Fairies, and the Puppy Place series are always in great demand!  The 4th and 5th grade students have been asking for Percy Jackson, as well as the new cat series, the Warriors, too.  Thank you for sharing your library with the students!

Amazon Book Recommendations

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Once I Ate a Pie
by Patricia Maclachlan
by HarperCollins Paperback
Release Date: 2010-02-23
 
List Price: $6.99
Our Price: $5.45
 

 

 

 

 
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Paperback Boxed Set
(Books 1-3)
by Rick Riordan
by Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: 2008-09-16
 
List Price:
$19.99
Our Price: $10.99

 

Days of Taste1President's Message 

We are only a few months into 2010 and we have already been on many adventures. We have:
  • gone into space with Luke, Leia, Hans and the gang at Falcon Day at the movies with  Marky and John Morel
  • took a trip down the rabbit hole in our production of Alice in Wonderland Jr. led by our drama directors Karen Victor and  Sean McMullen
  • plumbed the depths of science at our amazing Science Fair and Scientific Raffle presented by Katie Hickox and Laura Malloy.
We are currently embarked on one of the most dangerous and challenging adventures of all - the SOS check drive.   Our enthusiastic committee Kelly Sullivan, Jennifer Williams, Laura Malloy, Michelle Pryor and Joslyn Semichy are doing a fabulous job at leading this school wide effort.  

I am extremely proud to be part of this amazing community of students, teachers, staff, parents, alumni and neighbors that make Fremont the best school in the west.   I only have a few months left a as president of the Fremont PTA, but it will be action packed.  I  am looking forward to all of our further adventures.

Days of Taste1Principal's Message

Many of you have been following the budget decisions that our school district has needed to make recently.  The state budget crisis has impacted the economy and business throughout the state including education.  Many measures have been taken in our district to lessen that impact on our schools.  Currently we continue to see tens of millions of dollars being added to needed budget cuts.  One example that will make a visible difference at our school sites next school year is the increase in class sizes at the kindergarten to third grade levels with a transition from twenty students in the classroom to thirty students.  As a school and district, we are preparing instructionally and logistically for this change.  For Fremont, enrollment projections and class allotments are being worked out at the district level which when shared with the school will allow us over the weeks ahead to get a better picture of how many classes we will have at each grade level for next year.  We are beginning kindergarten enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year on March 1.  Once decisions about how many kindergarten classes we will have is made then the time schedule of the kindergarten classes will be determined.  The budget climate is continually changing so your understanding during these times is much appreciated.  We will be taking this journey together and information will be shared as it becomes available along the way.

 

We are in the home stretch of our SOS (Support Our School) Check Drive fundraiser.  This important effort keeps our computer and

science lab programs at our school which provide enriching and essential learning for all of our students.  Check in the school office or Fremont PTA web site for ways to participate and support the SOS program.  Thank you for your thoughtful and considerate giving during these difficult financial times.  Our students definitely benefit by everyone's support of the valuable programs at our school. 
 

Please remember to use our valet parking service on Vermont Street by the cafeteria when driving your child to school.  This is a safe and efficient way to drop off your child in the morning.  Go in an east to west direction on Vermont and you will be able to let your child off at our doorstep.  When walking to school, please remind your child or children to use the crosswalks at the street corners.

 

When someone asks about the success of Fremont Elementary School, one need to go no further then its people - staff, students, parents, and all who make up the Fremont community.  Let's continue to pull together for our school and students.

apple2010 Teacher of the Year Contest
 
Fremont's teachers are the main reason that this is such an amazing school!  How about taking the time to recognize one or more of the teachers your child has been fortunate to have during their time here?  You can do so by submitting an essay to the annual Teacher of the Year Essay Contest, sponsored by the Long Beach Council PTA.  Essays may be written by a parent or student...or a joint effort!  Even alumni students looking back fondly on their time at Fremont can submit an entry.   Take the time to let a teacher know what they have meant to your child/family and how much you appreciate them.  All entries will be shared with the appropriate teacher, who will certainly be grateful for your thoughts.
 
There are very specific topics to address in your essay, so please review the Teacher of the Year Nomination Form for those requirements.
 
 
 All entries are due by 2:30pm on Wednesday, March 31, in the PTA mailbox, located in the office.  The selected essay will be sent to the Long Beach Council PTA for further consideration. 
 
A committee will be meeting immediately after morning drop-off (8:00 a.m.) on Thursday, April 1 in the cafeteria, to review the essays and select this year's winner.   If you are interested in participating on that committee, please contact Michelle Anderson, michellerob@verizon.net. 
 
 
Days of Taste1Drama Club Update
 
Wow! Thay have done it again! 
The Fremont Drama Club...and friends, put on a 'Wonder'ful rendition of Disney's Alice in Wonderland on Jan. 30.  The cast was fantastic; 3 Alices, 3 Cheshire Cats, a White Rabbit, a Dodo bird, the Tweedles, a Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse, The King and Queen of Hearts with their Royal deck, Bill and Golden Afternoon Girls not to mention the cutest Kinder Caterpillar, 1st grade Deck of Cards, 2nd grade Party Animals and 3rd Grade Seaside Sprinters to round out the cast of nearly 200!   The costumes, adorable; the crowd, incredible; and even the sound was on this year! 

Yes, the performance was grand but there were a few key people who helped make it happen.  We had Dance Captains and Chaperones with those kids at least twice a week for 8 weeks and costumers who worked tirelessly in the weeks prior to the show to clothe the nearly 200 performers.  

People like Tiffany Davis who choreographed the Cards, the Party Animals and the Seaside Sprinters and Lisa Edmison who whipped up an ominous Queen of Hearts and spiffed up 3 Alice dresses along with our resident wig designer, Nicole Littleworth, who dolled them all up!   

Marci Amierito and Kathleen Turner along with Kathy Triassi and Sarah Gomez who danced with a caterpillar to get the kinders on their feet and Dorothy Rosnick who made sure those kinders were as cute as butterflies.
 
Brenda Sheridan, Michelle Walker, Michelle Anderson, Roberta Jeanette and Teresa Hamilton who shuffled and re-shuffled those 1st grade Cards until they were perfect! Roberta and Marky Morel stiched the cards in place, while 'Ironing Chef' Jen Williams cut and ironed all those Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds in place!
 
Jennifer Scharnikow and Margerita Lynch along with Lillian Morell took tea with the 2nd grade Party Animals and Shannon Weaver made sure they were appropriately dressed for the party with the Mad Hatter!
 
Kelly Sullivan led the 3rd grade Seaside Sprinters round and round with Marky Morel, Jackie McKay and Elizabeth Ramos. Also included in the race were Melanie Tanaka's lobsters and Eve Lunt's jellyfish.
 
We had our own Green Thumb, Mrs. Phelps, doing her thing and getting those Flowers to grow with help from Anna Waters and Joslyn Semichy. Nicole Littleworth and Michelle Anderson really gave them their color!
 
And of course there was Elizabeth Lambert who continuously and thankfully shuffled The Royal Cardsmen and Marcia Lee who not only gave the Cheshire Cats their stripes but designed those ever popular buttons we couldn't get enough of!
 
There were countless more on the day of the show who helped Carol Mort in the lobby. We had Deb Rojo on tickets, Lisa Edmison with decorations, Kim Foley at the snack bar and the DelRosarios with flower bouquets. We had Alan Mongeau and Ron Smith videotaping and Michele and ray Zimmerman on still photography. In the weeks before, we had Ms. Elizabeth, Mrs. Lee and Ms. Teresa copying and assembling programs. We also had Mr. Hammond working to secure space for rehearsals at every juncture, in addition to making a 'wonder'ful, Mr. Dodgson! Then of course, from beginning to end, the flying fingers of fdc.update, Tracy Cunningham-Backstrom kept us all on track.
 
Every year the Drama Club production is truly a labor of love. We are amazed by the outpouring of support and generosity and this year is no different. With over a hundred people making a mark in the volunteer column, we can certainly say "It takes a village" and we say,
 "This village rocks!"
 
A heartfelt thanks to all. We couldn't have done it without you!
 
Karen Victor & Sean McMullen
   
 
 
It's not too late to order amazing candid photos!
 Order them at http://zimza.zenfolio.com

Fremont Science Fair 2010

 Thank your Fremont students and families for turning in such excellent science fair projects that really reflected the scientific method of inquiry and discovery!  We had a wonderful turn out for our science fair event this year.

 

Big shout-outs to the following people: Katie Hickocx, mother of 4th grader Hunter, did a wonderful job organizing the entire fair. David Amerito, father to Skyler and River, did an awesome job spinning tunes and D.J.-ing the event! Thank you to all the parents and teachers who came out to evaluate projects and a big thank you to all the parents who sent in food and drinks and who gave up their evening to help work concessions and the raffle.

 

All I have to say is "Fremont Rocks!" because of the wonderful families, teachers and staff who care so much and help to make Fremont such a great school! Good job students on all that scientific thinking and experimenting!

 

Mrs. Malloy

Fremont Science Lab Teacher

 

Tanaka Farms
 
Tanaka Farms delivers a box of fresh, organic produce weekly to Fremont families.
 
$5 from each paid box goes directly to the
 Fremont PTA
for our wonderful programs!

 

WHAT WE OFFER:

*2 cycle options: 3-week cycle and 6-week cycle
 

*2 produce options: mixed produce (mainly veggies-

 with a few pieces of fruit) and all fruit 
 

 

NEW UPCOMING CYCLE:

3-week cycle: 3/8 (M), 3/22 (M), 4/12 (M): $90

6-week cycle: 3/8 through 4/19: $180

 (please note:  No delivery the week of 4/5 -
 Fremont's spring break.)

 

Delivery is on Mondays. When Monday is a holiday, delivery is the next day (Tuesday).  Pick up boxes at the lunch benches between 2:00 to 4:00 PM;

Kids Club families (only) can pick up at the
Kids Club bungalow.  
 

Contact:

Fremont parent and volunteer coordinator,

  Recycling Program

  Fremont has started a new recycling program in which we recycle consumer products and the PTA gets money for them.   This is a great way to help bring in money to our PTA and to help our environment.   These items would end up in a landfill and instead are being reused to make commercial products that you can buy.
 
There are purple recycle bins along the fence on Vermont Ave close to the cafeteria.   Teach your children to save the items listed below if they have them during nutrition or lunch and toss them in the bin collecting that item.     Save these items at home and collect them from your neighbors, friends and relatives. Here are the items we are starting with:
 
1.  CapriSun and Honest Kid Juice packets - the PTA gets $0.02 for each of these.   Please throw out the straws and only recycle the packets.
 
 Days of Taste1 
Days of Taste1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Frito Lay chip bags-
the PTA gets $0.02 for each of these.

Frito Lay chips

 
John C. Fremont Elementary
 4000 E. 4th Street
 Long Beach, CA 90814
562.439.6873