About Fairmont
Welcome to Fairmont Elementary School, where we are proud to offer a rigorous academic program as a National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School. The vision of our staff and community is for every student to have the opportunity to excel.
The Fairmont motto, “Together in Excellence,” emphasizes the importance of teamwork, which is the foundation of everything we do. With parents, teachers, and students working together toward common goals, our level of successful achievement rises. Our excellent test scores are a credit to our outstanding teaching staff and also a tribute to our parents who are so dedicated to their children’s education. This strong partnership between school and home is the foundation of our students’ success.
Our very accomplished and veteran staff collaborates weekly in PLC meetings to plan, discuss student data, implement best practices, and push themselves to be sure that our students are succeeding. Students that meet specific criteria receive additional, more intensive support in ELA through our Response to Intervention (RTI) program. We also have English learners (EL) students receiving additional support outside of their regular classroom to help them master the English language and move from an emergent to a proficient English speaker. In addition to these measures, we have many teachers who open their classrooms before school begins to offer extra support and instruction with math and homework.
Fairmont is home to a high number of gifted and talented students who thrive in our unique and highly acclaimed GATE program. Students in this program receive instruction that is markedly more rigorous, complex, and accelerated. For all students, in grades 3-6 we have two classrooms dedicated as STEAM Labs for engaging instruction in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics that align with the Next Generation Science Standards.
Several programs are designed for students to have leadership and service opportunities where they collaborate and work for the betterment of the school community. Our Student Council meets throughout the year and organizes activities such as the community food drive, holiday toy drive, and support for the troops. They also promote positive behavior and school spirit. Upper grade students can serve as mentors to younger students to help them make friends, navigate the playground, and learn conflict resolution strategies. Many classrooms participate in Big Buddies/Little Buddies where reading skills, outdoor activities, or art experiences are shared.
The heart of Fairmont lies in the Shawn Knutson Library. All students visit weekly and benefit from an experienced librarian who knows books and loves children. Named for a former Falcon student, teacher, parent and principal, Mrs. Knutson, students are inspired by learning of her accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to Fairmont. Love Your Library and the Shawn Knutson Memorial Scholarship fundraisers are held annually.
Our students sing the school song “Fairmont is the school for me - it’s the place I want to be!” with honest energy and a smile. They feel safe, cared for, and confident while learning to show their Falcon PRIDE, prepared, responsible, inclusive, diligent, and engaged. Fairmont provides a quality education for every child.
Parental Involvement
There are various avenues for parental and community-stakeholder involvement at Fairmont Elementary. Opportunities for parents to be involved include:
- Classroom Volunteers
- PTA Board & Committees
- School Site Council
- English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC)
- Superintendent’s Community Advisory Council (SCAC)
- After-School Programs
- Student Study Teams
- IEP Teams
Fairmont Elementary’s level of excellence has been achieved and maintained because of the consistent and pervasive involvement of all members of the school community. A strong sense of mutual respect and purpose are shared by the staff and our parent community. Our parents and community members support our consistent standards, promote responsibility for learning, and enhance our academic program and social-interaction opportunities through their involvement. In fact, Fairmont parents contribute over 20,000 volunteer hours every year.
Professional Development
PYLUSD has long led the county in professional development offerings for teachers and staff members. Neighboring districts send their employees to attend many training workshops taught by our district staff. In addition to the district courses, Fairmont teachers meet monthly to learn about new technology programs, instructional strategies, or current curriculum offerings.
One afternoon a week is dedicated to Professional Learning Community meetings where teachers have the opportunity to share and learn from each other or attend school or district-based training. Each summer, the district Professional Development Academy offers many courses for teachers to enroll. All Fairmont teachers are highly-qualified according to the California State Department of Education and most have advanced degrees and/or specialized training beyond that. With a large staff and diverse talents, we are fortunate to have experts in our midst.
Teachers attended workshop presentations in grade level groups at school sites throughout our district. Trained district coaches and outside presenters provided instruction and support at the August pre-service.