FES
FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02
Message of Gratitude
11
Leader Spotlight
03
Campus
13
Spotlight: Ms. Royal
04
Scholar Photos
15
Spotlight: Ms. Vu
07
Notes of Appreciation
17
Notes of Appreciation
09
Scholar Photos
18
Scholar Photos
THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF FES PRESENT THIS BOOK AS A TOKEN OF OUR GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU DO!
FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth
“The root of joy is gratefulness.” - David Steindl-Rast
We Appreciate your HARD WORK
We Appreciate you BEING ALL HANDS
To the world you may an educator, and school leader, but to your students you are a HERO!
“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” – Flora Edwards
Christina Fritz "Leaders instil in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Postitive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals." Royal, I am so grateful to be apart of the FES team! You are one of the most passionate and inspirational women I know. The way you lead morning meeting and circle is flawless, and you are such a role model to our young girls at Fairmount. You are constantly pushing yourself to be the best version of you. Keep insulting the standard and pushing us all to be better! Vu, It is incredible to see the amazing partnership that you live out every single day with Royal. The two of you have built an amazing school together and I am so thankful to be apart of it now. You are the wiz of creating a schedule to ensure that you are meeting all of our wants and needs, even how crazy they may be. Thank you for everything that you do!
Mae Garcia
Tameka and TC- I cannot begin to thank you both enough for all that you do for our school and our community. Tameka- you have taught me so much and I cannot begin to express how much I appreciate you. You are always there for any support needed and have always cared about me as a teacher and as an individual. You inspire me everyday to become the best version of myself and I have grown tremendously under your leadership. TC- honestly I don't know how you put up with us crazy people including Royal hehe but you do. Thank you for always being there when we need you most and for being the best partner to Royal. Both of you together are a force to be wreckened with and your hardwork and dedication definitely does not go unnoticed. There are not enough ways for all of us to thank you but we hope that you feel all the love and appreciation that we all have for you.
Mihali Grispos
This is one of my favorite photos of us. TC had just dragged me 13,500 ft up a mountain in Malaysia and it was freezing cold but beautiful! It always reminds me of how she encourages me to reach new heights both literally and metaphorically and I love her for that.
K Team
"If your action inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more- you are a leader"- John Quincy Adams To two remarkable leaders- We wanted to take this most precious time to thank you for all of your sincere hard work, dedication, and commitment that you have show. Not only to us staff members, but to our students, families, and community! You both exemplify fearlessness, which echos amongst your daily accomplishments. Thank you for your continued helping hand in making our lives, our student's lives, and community at large, a better place. How would we describe our favorite leaders? Dedicated, resilient, fearless, confident, and inspirational. Keep up the great work, as we've come so far because of it. FES is remarkable because we have been led by powerful, exemplary leaders! With grateful hearts- K team
1st Grade Team
“Average will not be my legacy!” This quote describes you perfectly! From the beginning, you both saw the potential in our school and our staff. Between the both of you, you have inspired us greatly and allowed us to never settle for average. You both knew that we were capable of great things. With your help, today we continue to stand here forever grateful for all that you both do! We come for the mission but stay for the people. We continue to do the work we do, because of YOU! Happy Leadership Appreciate!
2nd Grade Team
"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to needs of others." - Douglas MacArthur The second grade team would like to say we appreciate you! Not just today, but everyday for the guidance and knowledge you provide us with, especially during these tough times. We are lucky to have you as our leader. - 2nd Grade Team
3rd Grade Team
“There is no magic to achievement, it’s really about hard work, choices and persistence.” As a third grade, dream team, of course we want to thank you both for everything! It is because of you both, that we have become successful teachers. It is because of you both, that we continue to grow each and every day. It is because of you both, that we have become a team that thrives working as an FES cohort. We are beyond appreciative for all that you do! Happy Appreciation Day!
4th Grade Team
“Leadership is a not a position or a title. It is an action and example.” Fourth grade thanks you greatly for your leadership. Your commitment to the vision has been the example in which we strive to replicate. Your ability to take action on making FES stronger has helped us all work towards our common goal, the success of the scholars. You both demonstrate what is possible and create leaders within us. Tameka, your actions inspire others to do more, learn more, and become the best versions of themselves. TC, your attention to detail and high consideration factor for FES has made you people-centered and a true leader of the people. Keep insulting the standard! You both help translate the vision into reality and without your leadership in this capacity FES would not be the same. Happy Leadership Appreciation week! Love, The Fourth Grade Team
We Appreciate Your KINDNESS & SMILE
We Appreciate You MAKING US FEEL HEARD
“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.” – William Hazlitt
"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." — Ralph Nichols
We Appreciate Your "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." LEADERSHIP -John C. Maxwell
We Appreciate Your STRENGTH
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve
MS. ROYAL, WE APPRECIATE YOU “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
MS. ROYAL WE APPRECIATE YOU
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
MS. VU WE APPRECIATE YOU “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert C. Chesterton
MS. VU WE APPRECIATE YOU
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
Rae Baum “We’re getting backpacks.” – TC Vu. Now, stating that you finally got teachers backpacks would be an obvious reflection of only one of the many things I appreciate most about you. But here, the backpack is a metaphor. It represents all the ways you go above and beyond for your staff and scholars. You don’t just hear us, you listen. And for that, I’m truly grateful to have you as Fairmount’s DOO.
Brittany Greco Dream big, work hard, make it happen! TC - you are the definition of, "make it happen!" You are continuously going above and beyond for our schools, our staff and our scholars. On top of that, you continuously inspire me to do better, be better and achieve greatness. I am beyond lucky to have you as a role model! <3
Ops Team Thank you for being wonderful examples of leadership! Fairmount is more than just a place where we work, it is a place where we change history with our family! You both have cultivated this family and we thank you for going above and beyond in all that you do!
Skills Team
“If your actions inspire other to dream more, learn more, and become more, you are a leader”- John Quincy Adams. The Skills team appreciates you for your leadership, inspiration, and guidance every single day. The support you have given us throughout the years, especially now during these tough and uncharted times, have shown your dedication to not only us as teachers and individuals, but also to our scholars and their families. For that, we can not begin to thank you enough! Your dedication does not go unnoticed and it is truly inspiring to everyone who has gotten the opportunity to see it! We are lucky to be able to be on this journey with you and learn from the best!
Brittany Greco
"If you talk about it, it's a dream. If you envision it, it's possble, but if you schedule it, it's real!" I am enternally grateful to have you as my leader, my role model and someone I know I can come to for any situation. Under your leadership, I have not only grown as a leader but as a person. You have taught me mindset is key. You have taught me anything is possible. You have taught me so many life lessons that I can never possible thank you enough for! I know my future is brighter than ever, because of you! Thank you for being an inspiring leader, always! <3
Rae Baum
“Started from the bottom, now we're here. Started from the bottom, now the whole team here.” – Drake. When I reflect upon what I am most appreciative of about Tameka, I think back to this quote. You have truly made Fairmount such a wonderful community of staff, teachers, and scholars. Your leadership is the foundation for teachers returning year after year. And that’s how you #insultthestandard.
Ade, Talia and Nadia Both then and now, thank you for being the leader of our family. We love and appreciate you! ❤
Specials Team
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle. Every year we come together to set our intentions and ready ourselves for the arrival of our beautiful and brilliant kids. With joy, excitement, gratitude and love our doors open; a new dynamic group of children that will one day change the world, already changing our hearts as they step into this school. Every single day, the both of you lead our team from all angles. You go before us, you work within us, and when we need you most, you are behind us. Tameka and TC, we are so grateful for the beautiful balance you have brought to our team and our kids. Day after day, year after year you have inspired us all to keep evolving, and to keep reaching for excellence. Our goal is a floating bar! Because of your leadership, we are constantly reminded that our best can always get better, and that there is no limit to what our kids can do or what we will do for our scholars. We believe this because we live in this mindset. THANK YOU for all you do for us and all that you are to our kids!
Angelica Aspiras-Liristis "I am not afraid…I was born to do this." -Joan of Arc. Tameka and TC, I saw this quote and I kept coming back to it. When I think of the two of you, I see powerful women. I see warriors of change with hearts full of love and purpose. Just like Joan you lead us through battle. Unflinching, you face the fire and you do this with Grace. If you’ve ever felt afraid, you’ve not shown it! You are the perfect pair, and your strengths combined are a thing of beauty. Thank you for inspiring all of us to trust in this path and to be the change we were born to be. I am so grateful for you and thankful to be on this amazing team you have built. Thank you for all you have done for our kids, our community and for me. I have so much love for both of you!
Sam Halloran
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence.” I am so grateful to do this work along side two of the most inspiring, dedicated, and determined individuals. Tameka- watching you grow into the amazing leader you are today has been such a pleasure to be part of. Your trust in me with skills has only pushed me to continue to grow as a better teacher and advocate for our scholars. Thank you for always being only a call or text away whenever I needed something, personal or professional. TC- thanks for dealing with my lack of technology skills and always being there for me not only as a teacher, but as an individual as well. You have a genuine heart of gold and I truly enjoy the bond we have created throughout the years. I am most proud of our (now) knowledge of the sped budget!! To be able to work alongside two of the most dedicated and inspiring females has been an honor, as I continue to learn from both of you every single day. Thank you for all you do and continue to do for our community! Love, Sam
Christopher Deoleo
As I reflect on the last couple of years of my life it has truly been a learning experience. At the center of that learning are both of you. You have both had such an important role in my life. While I appreciate partnership, the leadership and education I most appreciate the friendship. My circle of friends is small and I am so glad to count you both among them.
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth