MEA Monday Message
May 1, 2023
CALENDAR
Tuesday, May 2
- 9:30-10:15 Coop Group
- 12:00-12:30 6th Grade Fundraiser
Wednesday, May 3
- 9:30-11:30 PALS Tutoring - Maker Space
- 11:30-12:30 Open Coop Hour
Thursday, May 4
- 9:30-11:30 PALS Tutoring - Maker Space
- 12:00-12:30 6th Grade Fundraiser
Upcoming Events:
May 8-12 Staff Appreciation Week
May 11: Spring Art Show (Postponed)
May 12: Prom
May 16-June 8: Re-enrollment & Book Return (click here for more info)
May 16-18 Elementary Mini Olympics
May 17, 18, 24, 25 Community "Paint and Plant" Days
May 22-25 CAASP
May 22-26 SHEP
Principal’s Message
Can you believe we are beginning the month of May? The theme for the year was re-connection and it has been wonderful to see students re-connecting with peers, teachers and staff and forming new connections through classes, activities, and clubs. The end of the school year is quickly approaching and we hope to see more connections happening at the many upcoming community events including the art show, community “paint and plant days,” and our annual school picnic at the bay.
The end of the school year also means that it’s testing season. We have AP testing the next two weeks and the CA state assessments (CAASPP) the week of May 22 for all students in grade 3rd-8th, 11th and 12th graders that did not take the science assessment last year. As an independent study school, the importance of having your student(s) participate in these assessments cannot be stressed enough. We must show that our program is effective and these scores are the main source of validation from both the district and the state. If we do not have 95% participation rate, we are penalized, so the participation of all students is very important. Our scores are continuously some of the highest in the state and the main reason we were awarded the CA Distinguished School Award and are currently rated the #1 public elementary school in the state of CA on Niche (and #5 in the country)! The state test scores are how schools are rated on the CA Dashboard which is where websites like Niche and Great Schools pull their data. Most importantly, Mt. Everest teachers and staff analyze this yearly data extensively and adjust curriculum and assignments based on student performance. Additionally, elementary students must take the CAASPP assessment in order to be considered for our new accelerated math pathway. 11th graders planning to apply for the State Seal of Biliteracy must take the CAASPP English assessment this year in order to be considered. I view taking these assessments as community service, and offer all 11th graders community service hours for their time, which can be put towards the special community service cord worn at graduation. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Also happening during testing week is the Sexual Health Education Program (SHEP) for students in grades 8, 9 and 10. Taught by our science teachers, these valuable classes are important for all of our teens and we highly encourage you to ensure your students attend. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or suggestions.
Announcements
AP Testing
Community Paint & Plant Days
The Student Lighthouse Team (through Franklin Covey’s Leader in Me Program) has taken on a campus beautification project in the lunch court. We will be planting new plants, painting a mural on the cement boarders, and adding a few other "surprises" to help create a more inviting area that brings students together. All MEA students and families are invited to help. We hope you can join us! Please sign up here for one or more hour long sessions. Students in grades K-5 must be accompanied by an adult. Once completed, the official unveiling/celebration of the space will be held on June 8.
Revising our school Mission and Vision
We are in the process of updating our school’s Mission and Vision statements, along with our Student Learner Outcomes. We will be offering input sessions for both students and parents. Please join us!
Student input sessions
- Tuesday, May 9 at lunch time in the auditorium (pizza provided)
- Thursday, May 11 lunch time in the auditorium (pizza provided)
- Tuesday, May 16 at lunch time in the auditorium (pizza provided)
Parent input sessions
- Tuesday, May 16, 9am, MakerSpace
- Tuesday, May 16, 3:30pm, Zoom https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/5177169155
ASB President for 2023-2024
Applications for 2023-24 ASB President are now open (other officer positions will be filled next fall). If you will be a senior next year and you have at least one semester of ASB experience under your belt, then you are invited to apply. Completed applications are due May 5.
Lost & Found
2023 Young Investors Society Stock Pitch Winner
Hi MEA! Christiana Sung, the founder of our Young Investors Club, is thrilled to announce that she has won the 2023 Young Investors Society Stock Pitch competition in the Southern California territory! She will be competing with 50+ teams in the upcoming Global Stock Pitch Extravaganza held in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is excited to share her knowledge and experience with the Young Investors Club on Wednesdays from 12 to 12:30, in B-16. Feel free to walk in if you're interested!
Yearbooks!
Time is running out to purchase and customize your 2022-2023 MEA yearbook!
Tuesday, May 2 is the last day to:
- Purchase a yearbook and have it shipped to the school for free.
- Design your custom pages (only printed in your copy of the book)
- Celebrate your student by purchasing a 1/4, 1/2 or full-page spread just for them! Unlike the Custom Pages, which only print in your copy of the yearbook, these Recognition Ads will be printed in everyone's copy for all to enjoy.
For more information, visit https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/mea-ms-rice/home/yearbook/mea-yearbook
This Week's Events
6th Grade Fundraiser!
The 6th Grade class is holding a fundraiser to raise money for their class to go bowling at the end of the school year. They will be selling earrings, bracelets, succulents, origami, and more at the blacktop on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 25th to May 11th! Any extra funds will be donated to the school.
Upcoming Events
Spring Art Show
Thurs, May 11th 11:30-1:30
Serenity Garden
The Spring Art Show is being postponed one week due to inclement weather. We hope to see you on May 11th, to celebrate all of the student artist at MEA! There will be an abundance of fresh cut flowers for families to build your own bouquet. In addition, our own MEA Jam Band will be performing during the Spring Art Show. Light refreshments will be provided. This is an event you won't want to miss!
5th and 8th grade promotion luncheon and ceremony
For our 5th and 8th grade families, we are excited to be hosting our traditional promotion luncheon again this year after a three year hiatus! Lunch will include sandwiches, chips, and salads.
- June 7, 2023
- 11:30-12:30/45
So we can best prepare food and seating for the event, please RSVP here.
Re-enrollment & Book Return
It is almost time to return your books and say goodbye to this academic year! In order to make the transition easier, we have linked below a schedule for families to come in to complete the necessary re-enrollment paper work and to return student's library & text books.
Prom Night in Old Hollywood
Mission Bay Yacht Club
May 12th, 6:30 - 10:00
All High Schoolers are invited to attend MEA's 2023 Prom Night in Old Hollywood! Mark your calendars for May 12th, and purchase your tickets now! This is the last week to get your tickets for $65, after that the price will go up to $70.
Each MEA student may invite ONE non-MEA guest and purchase a ticket for the guest online with your ticket's purchase. The guest needs to complete his/her own permission. The permission slip for your guest is available at the office.
How to purchase tickets?
Tickets are sold only online. No cash sale.
Please sign in to your account or use QR code to purchase the tickets for students and guests.
All tickets are non-refundable.
Please keep your receipt to show at the door. A screenshot of the ticket is acceptable.
No ticket will be sold after midnight on May 11th.
Garden Corner
Summer Coop Volunteers
Coop Group is calling volunteers to help care for the chickens during the summer! Signing up consists of coming to school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of a chosen week during the summer to clean the coop, feed and water the chickens, and give them some love and attention. The chickens still need care during the summer! All students must be accompanied by an adult. Please fill out the form below if you are interested!
Free Mulch
Complimentary mulch along Mt. Everest Blvd, near the fruit trees at the front of school! Please come take as much as you would like from the two mulch piles, leaving the smaller pile near the front garden gate untouched. This is clean mulch from a tree company and was delivered a few weeks ago. This mulch is great in your yard or surrounding your gardens, and helps with weed suppression, moisture retention, and quality soil building.
Mason Jars
We need and would greatly appreciate your unused mason jars—both small and large! We have several events in the next few months that will require flower adornments, and the mason jar donations will go a long way. Stay tuned for frogs to be offered with the jars and MEA garden flowers at the May spring art show, and the mason jars to be used as centerpieces at the 5th and 8th grade promotion luncheon! Please deliver them to the front office (stored on the floor to the right of the admissions desk) and Ms. Shannon will redistribute them.
Monday Message Readers
Can you solve this word jumble? Hint: you may be able to make one at an activity happening next week.
lwofer qoebtuu
Articulation
It is time for students, grades 5-11, to plan their classes for the next school year.
Students currently in Grades 5, 6, 7
Students will review articulation sheets/course options with Ms. Patterson during English class this month and parents should go over course options with their student(s) at home.
Students will receive and submit their articulation sheet, with parent approval, to Ms. Patterson, through Google Classroom.
Please contact your child’s supervising teacher or Mr. Rubin with questions.
Students currently in Grades 8, 9, 10, 11
All current 8th -11th graders must make an appointment to meet with Mr. Rubin. Please reserve a conference time at this link to discuss courses for next year, graduation and college entrance requirements, and community college courses.
Incoming 9th graders and their parents can meet with Mr. Rubin for a 4-year planning conference during the time of their articulation meeting.
Parents are encouraged to attend along with their student. If parents cannot attend, they should review the course options with their student at home.
Students do not need to return an articulation sheet, but should be prepared to share their course requests with Mr. Rubin during their appointment with him.
For questions, please contact Mr. Rubin.
Articulation Sheets:
Find all courses being offered next year here: Classes 2023-2024
Sign up for articulation meeting with Mr. Rubin (for next year's 9th-12th only).
If you would prefer to select courses over email, please download and complete the appropriate pdf above and email it to arubin@sandi.net.
Academics
PALS will be held in the Maker Space this week.
Academic Support
There are many ways for students to get extra academic support at MEA, on either on campus or via Zoom. Students can receive the support they need by attending PALS Tutoring, meeting with our UCSD Tutors, and/or attending their teacher's office hours. Please refer to the link below for further information.
Transcripts for College
Attention Seniors: As college acceptances are coming in, please follow the directions on the linked Google Doc to request your final transcript through Xello for the college you will be attending. Some schools may want a mid-year transcript now and a final transcript after semester 2 grades are in. After requesting through Xello, please send me a follow-up email at arubin@sandi.net.
Counseling Corner
His door is always open, but to ensure he is available when you can meet, make an appointment at the link https://calendly.com/mt_everest_counseling/meeting
College/Career Opportunities
The link below has some great opportunities for students in grades 9-12.
https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/ccte/student-opportunities
Extracurriculars
Cancellations
Elementary Cosmic Yoga is cancelled this week.
Music Classes
Music Classes will be held in the Maker Space this week and next week, May 2nd and May 9th.
MEA Esports Team
Help us get the an eSports team up and running!
An eSports Team at MEA is in its fledgling stages, we are still working on acquiring the necessary equipment. We had a family generously donate 2 Nintendo OLED Switches to the school, but we still need additional items, such as TVs, Games, and extra controllers. We have set up a DonorsChoose in order to garner the necessary funds to get this program up and running.
Please consider donating and sharing the link below, we need your help to get this program off the ground.
Calling all Artists
Hello, young artists at MEA. If you are looking to publish your work in a magazine, this is the place for you. Heights is MEA's literary magazine that offers a platform for young artists to amplify their voices and share their work. We are accepting submissions of original work for our winter issue now. We accept art, poetry, short stories, essays, short films, excerpts from novels, and more. For this issue, there is an Open Book section which has no theme, and a themed section called New Beginnings. Works in this category could be about new changes, starting over, new ideas and discoveries, and/or new chapters in one's life. Your work will featured in our issues on the Heights website.
Community Announcements
May Nature Walk Meetup in Marian Bear Memorial Park
Wonder and wander in nature with MEA friends! This MEA Nature Walk Meetup is a time to explore and enjoy our local open spaces, led by an MEA ASB student and a parent naturalist. Wear walking shoes and bring your sense of wonder. A water bottle and an extra layer can be useful. We’ll leave everything where we find it and will not take any found items with us. This is a community run event, students must bring a chaperone.
Friday, May 5 @ 1:00-2:30pm
Meet at Cobb Drive & Cobb Place, San Diego, CA 92117
Meet at Cobb Drive & Cobb Place sidewalk at the street signs (top of public staircase) Parking is only available on the street and no restrooms are available at this location.
Family Engagement Workshops
The following Family Engagement Workshops are being offered by San Diego Unified School District:
- Bullying: What Families Need to Know - Part 1 Zoom
- May 1st | 5:30pm - 6:30pm
- May 4st | 10:00am - 11:00am
- Being Involved: New Arrival Workshop for Refugee and Immigrant Families
- Bullying: What Families Need to Know - Part 2 Zoom
- May 15th | 5:30pm - 6:30pm
- May 18th | 10:00am - 11:00am
- Contact: Pamela King Event Calendar
Concert Master in the Debut Day Honor Orchestra
One of our MEA second graders, Talia Shaheen will be participating as a Concert Master in the Debut Day Honor Orchestra prepared by the San Diego Unified School District, VAPA Department.
Please come and give them your support.
When: Saturday, May 6th 6:00-7:30pm
Where: Lincoln High School
Please send any information for the Monday Message using the Google form by end of day Thursday for upcoming message. If you have any question please contact Mrs. Keck at mkeck@sandi.net.