Back to School at Fairfield

Fairfield Elementary students are back to school, with the first day of school last Wednesday, August 24. According to Fairfield teachers Mrs. Ryan and Mr. Defty:

“The first day of school was wonderful, happy children working and playing. Thanks to everyone who made the day such a success. Special shout out to Caitin McCalla, our social coordinator and of course to Mrs. Armstrong! ”

Students received a special visit from recently hired Davis Joint Unified School District Superintendent John Bowes, who spent the first day of school making the rounds at several schools. Fairfield was honored with a visit in recognition of its 150th Anniversary year. According to the Davis Enterprise, Mr. Bowes arrived during student recess: 

“The joy and exuberance of kids being able to be kids on a school playground is an important component of every school day.”

— "First-day excitement: School’s back in session!" By Jeff Hudson, August 26, 2016. The Davis Enterprise

The superintendent went from the smallest campus in the district (Fairfield) to the largest, Davis High, on Wednesday, which is perhaps an appropriate metaphor for our effort to support Fairfield students on their journey into the larger world.

Sounds like a busy day at Fairfield, and an exciting opening week. This is why Fairfield teachers have recommended "regular bedtimes," which "are very important and will help your child be a productive, cheerful student." They also recommend a "relaxing weekend" and "lots of TLC."  

And don't forget the Ice Cream Social next Thursday!

Pony Rides Mark Fairfield Memories from the 1980s

These photos depicting Fairfield School memories from the 1980s show how much things have changed. 

Memories from 1981-1986

There were Pony rides . . . 

There were pony rides to be won at the Halloween potluck

And old-fashioned school buses. 

Also known as a hay ride

More on Ernie's Reopening Drive

Ernie Pfanner's effort to reopen Fairfield School following its closing in 1978 is described in this article from California Farmer shared by Carolyn Pfanner at the Fairfield 150 celebrations (see below). 

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Photo of article highlighting Ernie Pfanner's effort to reopen Fairfield, leading "Ernie's Army" of supporters. Ernie is seen as a Fairfield student in the class photo at the bottom (he is in the back row on the right). 

The articles depicts the unique rural school element to Fairfield that has been a source of diversity and connection to the agricultural heritage of Davis. 

It also highlights the rural "can-do" spirit that has often guided Fairfield's parent participation and efforts to get things done to improve the school for its students. For example, Pfanner was able to cut the cost of a reopening the school by doing things like bringing in his own pump repairman to look at a broken water pump that was budgeted at $2,200 to replace: it turned out it only needed a new $10 valve.   

“Pfanner says that if rural people are left alone they can work things out for themselves. There are still rural people in California who can get the job done within the system. ‘We faced a solid wall of opposition to the school when we started, but through dedication the job was accomplished,’ Pfanner says. ”

— California Farmer, January 17, 1981

Having grown up in a small rural town in the Sierras, the rural element and its can-do spirit were also a big part of what my mother loved about Fairfield.

How The Song was Born

As noted a few days back, Linda Book introduced her performance of the Fairfield School Song at the 150th birthday celebration by talking about how it was born. 

Note how the school students contributed to the lyrics - that's cool. 

Also, there were two songs in the running and she convinced my Mom to go with the the ballad over the upbeat "pep" song. 

A song is born

Fairfield School Song on Its 150th Birthday

Linda Book sings the Fairfield School song she wrote in 1993 on the occasion of Fairfield's 150th Birthday last Saturday.

Most future recipients of the Barbara Neu Memorial Scholarship should know this song (and its signs) by heart. 

As Linda explained in introducing the song, Mrs Neu (it was written during her tenure at Fairfield) was not in favor of a ballad at first and wanted her to do something more upbeat. However, Linda convinced her in the end to go with it. As the song has endured, I think my mother would agree it was the right call. Click here for the full song. Thanks Linda!

For more Linda Book songs visit LindaBook.com

Memories of How Ernie Pfanner Reopened Fairfield

Memories shared at the Fairfield 150 celebration May 7 at the school in Davis, CA included this one about how Ernie Pfanner, who had attended the school as a young boy, helped reopen Fairfield in 1982. Carolyn Pfanner, who did the sharing (with support from Eileen O'Farrell), is a Fairfield icon and repository of stories and historical facts about the school.

She was also a school bus driver and drove on a field trip to Dillon Beach that my father organized for Emerson students when I was a young boy. It included a bit of a roller-coaster ride in a large bus on some windy roads and around cliff-turns that is still etched in my boyhood memory.  

Neu Family Announce Scholarship @Fairfield 150

Barbara Neu's children announce the memorial scholarship project to Fairfield community at the 150th Anniversary party last Saturday.

Barbara Archer shared this great photo from Fairfield Elementary's 150th Birthday Party!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Here are three ways you can help:

1. Ensure the Barbara Neu Memorial Scholarship Fund becomes fully funded this year so we can start offering scholarships in 2017. A scholarship fund with the local community foundation requires a minimum of $25,000 to launch and we are just 1/5th of the way there. If you are not in a position to further support the fund financially, we would welcome volunteers to help promote the fund and its activities, via the website, social media and working with the local press and other parts of the community.
2. Assist to develop the selection criteria and application process for the scholarship award(s) - this includes a means to ensure that applicants meet the criteria and a way to keep in contact with Fairfield students/alumni, their parents and others supporting Fairfield School to make sure that those eligible to apply for the scholarship are aware of the opportunity at the appropriate time.
3. Work with us on the process to award these scholarships and promote the award recipients so that the fund can continue to serve its purpose going forward.

We have already received suggestions and ideas that will require volunteers to make them happen. Keep the ideas coming and we'll share the ones that need engagement. Thank you!

The Reardon Family Has Four Generations of Memories

We enjoyed meeting Elizabeth via Virginia and learning about the Reardon family history with Fairfield. Four generations (and counting) of Fairfield alumni in that family! 

I loved this artboard of photos, memorabilia and paintings  

Memories to Share?

One of the ideas suggested at the Fairfield 150 celebration was to ask alumni to share a fond memory from their time at Fairfield, including how it might have helped them later on in life.

This will help show how the scholarship is consistent with the Fairfield experience serving its students well throughout their life. 

Inspired by the timeline...share your Fairfield memories. 

To share, leave a comment or send an email and we will create a memory post (send to memories@mrsneufund.org). If you'd prefer to share anonomyously, please note this in your email. You can also share on our Facebook page.

A Great Day at Fairfield 150

Despite the clouds and some misty rain that fortunately stopped for the festivities, we all had a great day at Fairfield. 

Most gratifying was gaining so much more insight and appreciation for the history of the school our mother loved so dearly. 

The more you know, the more there is to love about Fairfield. 

Thanks to Mary Ryan and Jonathan Defty for allowing us to update everyone on the scholarship.