Mission Statement

The mission of Fairmont Elementary is to provide an academically engaging education in which students are able to demonstrate excellence in core curriculum subjects as measured by local, state and national standards, as well as health, citizenship and social responsibility.

Fairmont Elementary - National Title I Distinguished School 2017

Fairmont Elementary earned the rare distinction of being named a National Title I Distinguished School. Fairmont is one of two schools in Tennessee and one of 100 across the nation to earn the honor.

The National Title I Distinguished Schools Program is a project of the National Title I Association that publicly recognizes schools for their positive educational advances. Fairmont was selected by the Tennessee State Department of Education based on their outstanding performance in one of these three categories: Category 1: Exceptional student performance for two consecutive years; Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups; Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students.

The National Title I Association implemented the National Title I Distinguished Schools Program to highlight selected schools that have successfully used their Title I federal funds to improve the education for economically disadvantaged students. More information about all National Title I Distinguished Schools is available on the National Title I Association website: www.titlei.org

Fairmont Elementary - Reward Performance School 2017

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced Tennessee’s 2017 Reward schools, which include the top five percent of schools for academic achievement. “These schools represent what is possible for students in Tennessee as they exemplify excellence in performance.” said Commissioner McQueen. “We want to replicate this success across the state and continue to celebrate the hard work of our educators and students happening in classrooms every day.”

The Johnson City School System was named an Exemplary School District by the Tennessee Department of Education. Fairmont Elementary was one of 59 schools across the state that earned Reward School status based on their academic performance. The top five percent of the schools with the highest success rates in the state received the Reward designation. Of the 2017 Reward schools, 59 were recognized for performance!

Fairmont Elementary - A Blue Ribbon School

The National Blue Ribbon School award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at high levels or where the achievement gap is narrowing. Since 1982, more than 6,500 of America’s schools have received this coveted award. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, honors public and private schools based on one of two criteria:

• Schools whose students are high performing. These are schools ranked among each state’s highest performing schools as measured by their performance on state assessments or, in the case of private schools, that score at the highest performance level on nationally normed tests; or

• Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that improve student performance to high levels as measured by the school’s performance on state assessments or images nationally-normed tests.

Fairmont Elementary - Tennessee 2011 National Title I Distinguished School

The National Title I Distinguished Schools Program is a project of the National Title I Association that publicly recognizes schools for their positive educational advances. Fairmont was chosen by your State Department of Education based on outstanding performance in these categories:

• Schools that exceeded adequate yearly progress for two years or more.

• Schools that significantly closed the achievement gap between student groups.
  

Because only two schools per state can be selected as a National Title I Distinguished School each year, this award is an especially prestigious honor for our school, staff and students. Both this award and the National Blue Ribbon award are treasured!

Fairmont Elementary - Reward School 2013

Govenor Bill Haslam announced 169 schools across the state at the top 5 percent of all schools. This list includes only 70 Title I schools. To add to Fairmont’s top honor, Fairmont is one of only 8 Title I schools honored for their PERFORMANCE. Performance schools had the highest achievement scores of all schools across the state. Some other schools earned Reward school honors for their progress. Fairmont’s honor is due in large part to the dedication of our teachers, students and parents. This honor would not be possible without the school’s magnificent parent and community support. Students are able to attain the highest achievement at Fairmont. Our goal is to always strive for the very best for our students.

To all our students, parents and community, CONGRATULATIONS for your terrific support!

Fairmont Elementary Family Engagement Plan

(Based on the JC Schools plan)

Updated September 2020

The Family Involvement Plan is reviewed annually and updated, as needed. The school’s PTA board and Parent Advisory Council will review, revise and provide input for the best strategies and policies to involve the parents, families and community. The plan are posted on the school’s web site.

The Family Engagement Plan is based on the School Board’s Five Year Strategic Pan and school and system level Inform TN/eplan. The Plan will support initiatives found in the system’s Consolidated Federal Projects Application. The plan will create a common vision for family engagement opportunities and resources to sustain the vision and goals. Ultimately, Fairmont’s Plan should increase and improve the level of family involvement in our school community.

Plan Components

Part I Policy Development

1. Parents will have an opportunity to provide input by calling the school directly, responding to the PTA web site, and to the monthly PTA board and parent meetings.

2. Parents will be represented on our school’s site based council and our parent advisory council.

3. Parents are represented on all planning committees.

4. Parents will have the opportunity to provide input through the school and system surveys posted on the school and system web site.

5. Cultural, economic, language, demographic and equity issues will be given attention through focus groups, as in our system level Equity Team.

6. The school further provides all families with information about the school’s Title I designation.

7. ELL’s are specifically provided system and school opportunities to give input at specific community meetings through our system interpreter, Fernando DeSousa..

Part 2 Family Engagement

1. Title I Parent Involvement activities will be coordinated with other programs such as 21^st Century Grant programs, PreKindergarten and ESL programs.

2. School and Classroom Newsletters, parent conferences, grade level meetings, school and system Bloomz messaging, official school messenger and the PTA web site offer continuous open communication. Monthly student performances include the third and fourth grade choruses, recorder and ukulele groups. All the Kindergarten through Second graders participate in grade level programs for some of our parental involvement offerings. The school also provides yearly Open House, Tech nights, PE day with your child for parents, Fall Festival, Spring Fling, Family Reading and Math events.

3. Parent and community volunteers are an essential component of our Family Engagement strategies. Each year the system hosts a volunteer training process. Fairmont has many volunteers who have been on our campus, working with our students several times weekly. Among those organizations are: America Reads, First Christian Church volunteers, SHHS Beta Club and the CTE

4. Each parent and family are invited twice yearly to the school for parent/teacher conferences. These further strengthen the personal contact efforts to assure student success.

5. Sign-in participation sheets are in place at every parental involvement activity.

6. Parents who are not able to attend conferences are offered phone, zoom.

Indicators:

1. The Title I budget will reflect the position of Family/School Coordinator as an outreach to assure parents are always offered needed resources and opportunities to be a part of their child's education.

2. Sign-in records, agendas, surveys, and parent participation provides us with feedback concerning the quality of our involvement programs.

3. Student conference signed record cards are kept in their permanent records for review to assure all parents are participating in the “in-person, individual” conferencing.

4. The Parental Advisory and PTA Executive Board keep extensive notes, minutes and records which include expenditures, attendance and parent feedback.

5. Our Guidance Counselors also conduct student surveys which highlight the family participation aspect from their view point.