OCTOBER
2026
Fall Is in Full Swing at Fairview!
It is hard to believe we are already into October! The school year is in full swing, and our classrooms are busy with high quality teaching and learning each day. Students have settled into their routines, relationships continue to grow, and we are excited about the progress we are already seeing from our Falcons.
October is always a busy and exciting month at Fairview! We are looking forward to another Fairview Fever Festival and all of the fun and community that comes with one of our favorite traditions. Our RTI groups will also be up and running soon, giving students additional targeted instruction or enrichment based on their individual needs. And, of course, excitement is already building for our Vocabulary Costume Parade later this month!
Believe it or not, the end of our first trimester is also quickly approaching. At the end of the month, we will invite families into Fairview for our first round of Parent Teacher Conferences. Conferences are always a valuable opportunity to sit down together, celebrate your child’s growth, talk through areas where they are continuing to develop, and make sure we are working together toward the same goals. Your partnership is an important part of your child’s success, and we look forward to those conversations.
As always, please save this newsletter and refer back to it throughout October. There is a lot happening, and you’ll find important dates, reminders, and details about everything coming our way.
We have another great month ahead. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Fairview!
With gratitude,
Tyler
Fall Conferences
In the Fall and Winter of each year, we invite families in for Parent/Teacher conferences. During that time, you'll hear from your child's teacher about how they are progressing in class. Most of our Fall conferences will take place on the week of October 26th:
- On October 27th, we will prioritize families who require English interpretive services. Other conferences may still be scheduled on this date.
- On October 29th , we will prioritize families who have multiple children attending Fairview. Other conferences may still be scheduled on this date.
Classroom Teachers will confirm appointment(s) with families the week of October 12th.
We are looking for volunteers to help with our annual Fairview Fever Festival on Friday, October 9, from 4:00–7:00 PM. Volunteers will help with carnival games, activities, and other parts of this fun community event. This is a great opportunity for families and students who need volunteer or service hours or who simply enjoy working with younger students and giving back to the community.
Interested in volunteering? Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/fff26-volunteers
Our Vocabulary Costume Parade is a fun Fairview tradition that combines creativity with learning! Students are welcome to wear a school appropriate costume and will choose a Tier 2 vocabulary word that connects to or describes their costume. Students will create a sign displaying their word, part of speech, and definition, and then carry it as they parade through the school in a costume that helps bring their word to life.
Tier 2 words are less common, more descriptive words that go beyond the everyday language students typically use. For example, a princess costume might be paired with monarch, noble, whimsical, or royal. A baseball player might choose athletic, professional, or talented. The goal is for students to have fun with their costumes while also expanding their vocabulary and making meaningful connections between words and their meanings.
As you begin planning your child’s costume, please start brainstorming possible vocabulary words together. A form will be sent home closer to the parade for families to share their child’s costume and chosen word.
A few costume reminders:
- Costumes may not include weapons or items that look like weapons, fake blood, or anything scary.
- Costumes should be comfortable enough to wear throughout the school day and should not distract from learning.
- Masks may only be worn during the parade.
We can’t wait to see our Falcons bring vocabulary to life!
PTA Meeting
Our PTA meeting is on Monday, October 12th. and will begin at 4:30 PM in the library. Please join us, if you're able! The next meeting will take place on November 9th
Ways to Be Involved
Our PTA plays a tremendous role in making Fairview such a special place for students, staff, and families. From organizing community events like the Fairview Fever Festival and Falcon Friday to supporting teachers, funding special projects, and celebrating our students, so much of what makes Fairview unique happens because dedicated volunteers step up to help.
The truth is, these events don't just happen. They rely on parents and family members who are willing to serve behind the scenes, whether that's leading an event, joining a planning committee, or simply lending a hand for an hour or two.
If you're looking for a meaningful way to get involved and make a difference at Fairview, we'd love to have you! Check out the volunteer opportunities linked here. Please note: This document will continue to be updated throughout the school year as additional events and volunteer opportunities are finalized.
Meet Your 2026-2027 PTA Leadership Team
Our new Fairview PTA leadership team is ready and excited to serve our school community this year!
- President: Jennifer Sykes: sykesj@health.missouri.edu
- Vice President: Molly Myers: myersmol1875@gmail.com
- Secretary: LeAnn Rehard: Leann.rehard@gmail.com
- Co-Treasurers: Kellen David: kellenburkett@gmail.com and Bridget Aldrich: bkdy96@gmail.com
- FFF Co-Chairs: Laura Arey (laurarowephoto@gmail.com) and Tammie Rowe (Trowe101069@gmail.com)
ANOTHER Falcon Friday on October 23rd
Falcon Fridays are special opportunities for Fairview students, families, and staff to connect throughout the school year. On designated Fridays, students are invited to arrive a little early for an all school morning recess while families and staff members have time to visit and build relationships with one another.
Our next Falcon Friday will take place on Friday, October 23rd , from 7:50 to 8:20 AM. . We hope you will join us for a fun and relaxed start to the day!
Join the Fairview PTA!
The Fairview PTA plays an important role in supporting our students, staff, and school community — and we’d love for you to be part of it!
Your membership dues go directly toward supporting teachers and students, funding classroom needs, school events, and more.
📝 No time for meetings? No problem!
You’re welcome to join and support the PTA without attending meetings.
💙 Every membership strengthens our school. Join today and help make a difference!
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a free service from Columbia Public Schools (CPS) for families with children prenatal to kindergarten entry within the Columbia Public School District. PAT can provide families with:
- Developmental and social/emotional screenings for their young children and babies.
- Private visits with a parent educator specially trained in child development.
- Connection to helpful community resources.
- Group events for parents and children such as infant massage, mindful movement, messy play night and more.
- Ideas and support during the critical early years.
They currently have daytime openings or you can be placed on their waitlist for evening or weekend visits. Here is their website with more information: https://www.cpsk12.org/departments/early-learning/parents-as-teachers
Picture Day for Fairview Elementary School is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th during the day. Please check your child's backpack for order forms, or you may order online.
This event's "Order Code" is 0513RSF.
From the Home School Communicator
Nurturing the Nest: Helping Our Falcons Soar
Every Falcon deserves to feel strong, safe, and ready to fly when they eventually leave our nest. To help make sure all our students have their basic needs met right now, we’re launching the Nurturing the Nest Registry – an optional registry for essential hygiene items, snacks, and other classroom necessities.
By taking care of these fundamentals today, our community ensures that every student can focus on growing into their potential. If you are able to help, please consider purchasing an item for our school community. All items will be shipped directly to Fairview.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT The Nurturing the Nest Registry.
Thank you for being the wind beneath our wings & supporting the Fairview Falcon community!
From the Media Center
September was a great month in the Media Center! We reviewed procedures to follow in the library and tips for keeping books safe. Please help your child with taking care and returning books. We have many new books that students are enjoying. We try to highlight a new topic or genre of book each week and we display the books in prominent areas or bins for the students to find them easily. We have been also been looking at the new award books. Fairview media center has Open Checkout, meaning that if students need a new book on a day that isn’t their regular day, they can ask their teacher for a good time to come to the library, return the book they have finished, and get a new book. Be on the lookout for the Book Fair coming early this year, October 27 and 29 during Parent Teacher Conferences.
Valerie
Media Specialist
Fairview Elementary
From the Counselor
Happy fall, families!
In October, counseling classes will be learning about:
K- How to make and keep friends
1st- Identifying feelings in self and others, Expressing emotions appropriately
2nd- Identifying and coping with feelings
3rd- Coping strategies for complex feelings
4th- Working collaboratively with others
5th- Connections between thoughts, feelings, & actions, Reputation
Last year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) put out new Missouri Learning Standards for School Counseling. As I am adjusting topics and lessons to meet these new standards, I thought this would be a good opportunity to get your feedback as parents about which of these topics you feel your kiddos need the most. If you would like to share your input, please take the following survey: https://forms.gle/4RSgtcrkXKsLUEKEA.
Thank you!! I value your insight!!
As always, feel free to reach out if there are ways we can support your kiddos.
Lillian Hoell
For more information about our Counseling program, check out my website: http://counselorhoell.weebly.com/ or feel free to reach out at any time lhoell@cpsk12.org.
Lillian Hoell
From the Music Room
We have had a great start to the year in the music room! Students in all grade levels have been singing and moving every time they come to music. Grades 1-5 have spent a lot of time playing xylophones while kindergarteners have been learning the basics of our non-pitched percussion instruments. Most grade levels have also been celebrating Hispanic Heritage month through listening and dancing activities. A favorite dance among students has been Los Machetes, a dance from Mexico that is traditionally danced with machetes! Don’t worry! We’ve been using rhythm sticks.
Mrs. Dexheimer
From the Art Room
We’ve had a great six weeks in the art room, students are exploring different materials and settling into routines! The schoolwide project of Isometric Cubes has been completed, and it looks amazing! All students have been introduced to the basic Elements of Art, and we have been focusing on LINES in their work. Students use a site called Artsonia to keep a digital portfolio of their work. If you would like access to their art over the years just send me an email and I’ll get you connected, you can also purchase items with their artwork on it!
We’ve had a great six weeks in the art room, students are exploring different materials and settling into routines! The schoolwide project of Isometric Cubes has been completed, and it looks amazing! All students have been introduced to the basic Elements of Art, and we have been focusing on LINES in their work. Students use a site called Artsonia to keep a digital portfolio of their work. If you would like access to their art over the years just send me an email and I’ll get you connected, you can also purchase items with their artwork on it!
Mrs. Robb
From the Gym
Hello Fairview Families!
Well, we’re well into our school year now and many kiddos are falling right into the routines of the gym and seem to be having fun! Lately, depending on grade level, classes have been working on Battleship, Bull Dozers and Cranes, Green Beans and Carrots, Lucky Dog, Boot Scooting Boogie Tag, and Angry Birds. Good times!
Please check their A,B,C,D schedule and get those tennis shoes on. If they don’t have them, they may not get to participate in all the day’s activities. This has gotten better and there have been some situations where kids have had to sit out. Please help them be successful. It’s a real bummer if your child has to sit and watch because they have forgotten tennis shoes.
Finally, if you’ve been in the gym lately you might have noticed the pictures on the bulletin boards. They are our kiddos in action!! If you wish, send me a photo of your child doing something active or being outside and I’ll get it up on the board. You’re welcome to send in a hard copy pic or email me one and I’ll get it up! Thank you to those of you who have sent in pics!
As always, thank you for your continued support. Hope to see you at the Fever Fest!
Sincerely,
Mr. Wright
Raptor System
The Raptor Visitor Management System allows schools to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools. Upon entering a district building, visitors will be required to present a valid-government issued ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork. The visitor management process will only be used during school hours.
Thank you for your cooperation on keeping our campuses safe.
For more information on the Raptor Visitor Management System, please visit their website.
- Friday, 10/9: Fairview Fever Festival
- Monday, 11/12: PTA Meeting, 4:30 PM
- Friday, 10/16: Teacher Collaboration Day, NO SCHOOL
- Friday, 10/23: Falcon Friday (all-school morning recess from 7:50 AM- 8:20 AM. Families are welcome!); Grade Cards will be sent home in Friday Folders.
- Friday, 10/30: Teacher Collaboration Day, NO SCHOOL
- Monday, 11/2: Teacher Work Day, NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, 11/3: Election Day, NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, 11/4: Picture Re-take Day
- Monday, 11/9: PTA Meeting, 4:30 PM
- Friday, 11/13: Falcon Friday (all-school morning recess from 7:50 AM- 8:20 AM. Families are welcome!
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Our Grounds Department has asked schools for a little extra help keeping our campuses free of litter. Because litter pickup is not included in our mowing contract, trash left around the grounds can make it difficult for crews to mow thoroughly and keep our campus looking its best.
This is also a great opportunity for our students to practice being good stewards of their school and community! Throughout the year, you may see Fairview classes heading outside for a quick cleanup walk. If your family is visiting our playground, walking the grounds, or simply notices litter while coming or going, we would appreciate your help picking it up and disposing of it properly as well.
Fairview is typically mowed on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, so Mondays and Tuesdays are especially helpful times to give our grounds a little extra attention. Thank you for helping our Falcons take pride in the place we share!
Would you like to connect with other Fairview families outside of the school day? Consider joining our optional Family Directory!
This is a great way to make it easier to coordinate playdates, birthday parties, or stay in touch with classmates’ families. You can choose to share as much or as little contact information as you’re comfortable with. If you opt-in, please be sure to submit a response for each of your children who attend Fairview.
✅ Participation is completely optional
📱 Here’s the link to sign up: Fairview Family Directory 2026-2027
We hope this helps strengthen connections within our amazing Fairview community!
All CPS schools use these codes to help track absences:
PN (Parent Notified): This code will be used when a parent contacts us to let us know their child will be absent or when Mrs. Houston reaches out and the parent confirms they were aware of the absence. Please note: PN is considered an Unexcused absence, even if we’ve been notified.
Truancy: If we are not contacted by a parent about an absence, it will be marked as Truancy. This will also trigger an automated robocall.
M (Medical): This code is used when a student is sent home by the school nurse or misses school for a doctor’s appointment. Please make sure to send a doctor’s note so we can mark the absence correctly.
Keeping open communication about absences helps us support your child’s success in school.
Thank you!
Dr. Simmons
Mrs. Salas
Contact or follow us
Email: jhouston@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/16
Location: 909 South Fairview Road, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: 573-214-3590
Facebook: Follow us here!
Twitter: @FVEFalcons