Elementary Knight News: May

It’s hard to believe we’re already in the final stretch of the school year! May is always a special time—filled with reflection, celebration, and a touch of excitement as we look ahead to summer. Our students have grown so much academically, socially and emotionally, and it has been an amazing opportunity to witness their progress each day.

This last month is packed with meaningful learning experiences, end-of-year events, and opportunities to celebrate all that your children have accomplished. From class parties and field trips to ceremonies and special projects, we are making these last weeks both memorable and fun.

As we wrap up the year, here are a few reminders and highlights:

Stay Focused – Learning continues right up to the last day. We encourage students to come to school each day ready to give their best effort.

Celebrate Growth – Whether it’s reading more fluently, making new friends, or mastering math facts, take time to celebrate your child’s individual achievements.

Mark Your Calendars – Be sure to check updates from your child's teacher for additional classroom events including field trips.

• 5/13- Field Day
• 5/26- No school for staff or students (District Closed)
• 5/29- Last Day of School (11:00 dismissal)
• 5/30- Kindergarten Screening 25-26 school year *new students*

Summer Learning – Keep an eye out for optional summer learning resources coming home soon. A little reading and exploration during the break can make a big difference!

To our families, thank you for your continued partnership and support. To our students—keep shining, keep learning, and finish strong! And to our fourth graders moving on to middle school, we are so proud of you and excited for your next adventure.

Let’s make this last month full of laughter, joy, and lasting memories!

As the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, we need to share important information with our families regarding our 1:1 Chromebook program for students returning to FASD for the 2025-2026 school year. This year, all students will retain their assigned Chromebooks over the summer vacation to continue supporting their learning and engagement with educational resources.

Key Information for the Summer:

1. Chromebook Retention: All students are expected to keep their assigned Chromebooks at home during the summer. This allows students to maintain access to educational tools and prepare for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

2. Device Lifecycle for Grades 4 and 8: Students currently in grades 4 and 8, who will transition to middle school and high school respectively in the fall, will keep their current Chromebooks over the summer. At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, these students will be issued new Chromebooks as part of our device lifecycle plan.

3. Insurance Coverage: For families enrolled in our optional Chromebook insurance program, coverage for device damage will remain active throughout the summer.

4. Responsible Use and Care:

• Please encourage your child to handle their Chromebook with care and store it in a safe place when not in use to prevent damage or theft.

• Chromebooks should be fully charged and ready for use when the new school year begins.

• We recommend parental supervision to ensure Chromebooks are used appropriately and in accordance with our Acceptable Use Policy, outlined in the Student Handbook.

5. Technical Support: If your child encounters any issues with their Chromebook over the summer, our tech support team is available to assist. Please email techsupport@fairfield.k12.pa.us to open a support ticket.

All library books will be due back to the library soon! Please help your child remember to bring their library book back to school by May 15th.

This month we were focusing on making safe choices. These amazing students went above and beyond demonstrating safety throughout the month. They celebrated with a dance party! All students that made safe choices throughout the month participated in a grade level Paper-Rock-Scissors tournament.

Families are invited to come and watch students participate in the track events on the bleachers in the Knights’ Stadium! **Families will be expected to exit the bleachers after the events.

• Grades 3-4 events: 9:30-10:45
• Grades K-2 events: 1:00-2:45

Please note:

• Students will be staying with their class for the duration of field day and not visiting with family on the bleachers.

• Dismissal will take place at normal time and we ask that you send in a note on Tuesday morning if you plan for your child to be a car rider.

***Students will be picked up in the normal car rider line at the end of the day.***

• Parents will not be permitted into the building unless it has been preapproved.

We’re excited to announce that Mrs. Taylor has been selected as this month’s Shining Knight for the Elementary School! Nominated by both a parent and an FASD employee, Mrs. Taylor was recognized for her compassion, positivity, and commitment to our students. Congratulations Mrs. Taylor!

Let’s keep the momentum going! If you know a Fairfield Area School District employee who deserves a moment in the spotlight, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Whether it’s a teacher, staff member, or colleague who consistently makes a difference, help us celebrate their impact. Individuals can't be selected if they're not nominated, so nominate your Shining Knight today and help us continue to recognize the heart of Fairfield!

Shining Knight Nomination Form

Tammy Deardorff is a retired teacher from Fairfield School District, who still dedicates most of her time to students at FASD! She was honored by ESS, our sub service, with a small token of our appreciation on Monday, April 28th. Thank you for all you do, Tammy!

Coming to school the other day with my son, he shared excitement that our state testing was soon over. Honestly, I also felt a bit relieved. It was what he said next that threw me a bit. He said, “After testing, we don’t need to learn anymore!” I was shocked . . . and a bit sad. I want all of our students to know that learning is not about standardized testing. Instead, it is something that is lifelong. It helps us understand the world, build life skills, and discover who we are. The most successful, curious, and fulfilled people continue to learn long after school ends. Needless to say, I have more to teach my son!

While I hope summer brings plenty of time with family, for play and rest, I also encourage every child to keep learning. Read together, explore nature, visit the library, or try out some simple science experiments in the kitchen. Little moments of curiosity and creativity can go a long way to creating the love of learning!

It’s been an incredible journey to work with your children as they have grown over the school year. I have watched as they built friendships, tackled tough challenges, and set and achieved goals. Their progress has been nothing short of inspiring. And none of it would be possible without our amazing partnership with you - our Fairfield families! Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and involvement in your child’s education.

As we close the year, we wish all our families a safe, sunny, and joy-filled summer. To our 4th-grade students moving on to middle school, we are so proud of you. You will always be a part of our elementary school family.