The Triton Tribune - Parent Edition
Be Kind ~ Be Awesome ~ Make The Right Choices
Wonderful Triton Parents/Guardians and Students,
"A the end of the day, we can endure more than we think we can.” Frida Kahlo
This weekend was a natural reflection of the 12 months that has been the COVID Quarantine. March 13 was the last day I saw students on campus. I remember thinking, "What are we going to do?" As a brand new principal, it seemed like a burden too much to bear in addition to what I had to learn as a newbie. And as I reminisce about that fateful day, I have to agree with Frida. We can endure more than we think we can. All of us have learned to live daily, to hang in there, to learn new ways of doing, to be innovative and much more.
Now here we are, ready to transition into another change: re-opening the school and the potential return of students on campus. And while we don't know every step, I have learned that even planning for every detail means I must embrace what I have embodied during the pandemic - the ability to be flexible and to embrace uncertainly.
I am looking forward to seeing more teachers and students on campus. I am continuing to embrace flexibility and uncertainty knowing that we will be able to make adjustments on the spot so that our teachers and students will have the best experience possible in spite of still being in a pandemic.
This Tuesday, I look forward to discussing our re-opening plan with you. I hope that you will be able to join me and my leadership team, especially those of you who fit the criteria of returning on campus. You will see how much we have planned to receive our students and teachers on April 12 and May 3.
Finally, the Online Registration (OLR) for the 2021-2022 school year opens on March 15. Please carefully read the section on registration below. For our 8th graders, Eastlake High and Olympian High have provided us with their protocols. It is also further down on this newsletter.
As we finish this week, I hope that you will take time to relax and refresh over spring break. Enjoy family time and I cannot wait to see you all in April.
Please read the newsletter in its entirety as there are a lot of information regarding upcoming events.
Let's have amazing week!
Mrs. Finley
This past week, ELM presented our Ten Percent Re-opening Plan to FAC on Tuesday, March 9 and with the entire staff on Friday March 12. Each staff was given an opportunity to comment and/or ask questions. As these appeared, administration answered or added to the presentation. This plan will be shared with ELM parents on Tuesday, March 16 during the two Coffee with the Principal meetings. I hope that you can join me on Tuesday. Please access the meeting by using the bit.ly link or QR code below.
This plan was also created to include the mandatory May 3rd return of all teachers. As of March 12, 2021, we have 19 teachers who have volunteered to return to teach at school on April 12. This allows us to re-open at 10% on April 12. If teachers cannot return to school on May 3, the district's Risk Management will assess teachers' requests not to return. This must done in advance of the May 3 return. In preparation to return, teachers must have been vaccinated. Additionally, per SEA teachers MOU agreement, all staff must get tested for COVID prior to returning.
Per California Senate Bill 86, students must fit one of the criteria outlined in the bill. On March 5, 2021, the district sent a commitment survey to the 292 students who qualified under the SB 86 selection criteria. So far, we also have 121 families who said they want their children to return with 59 stating no. To maximize the number of students, we have added a site-based criteria for other reasons. (See image below). Below are sample schedules of students A, B and C that reflect how a day might look like for a student.
Know that as we receive new or revised information, the plan will be modified accordingly. This plan was created utilizing the following documents as guides:
- Hillsdale Middle School Visit
- Bill Synopsis by ACSA [link]
- SB 86 PDF Access
- October 2020 SEA MOU
- February 2021 SEA MOU
- March 2021 SEA MOU
- October 2020 SCGA MOU
- March 2021 SCGA MOU
- October 2020 CSEA MOU
- ELM Comprehensive Safety Plan
- ELM Covid Prevention Plan
- ELM Single Plan for Student Achievement
- SUHSD Learning Loss Mitigation Plan
- SUHSD Distance Learning Plan
What Do I Do if I Have Grades that I Don't Like?
Students, please take advantage of the tutoring opportunities that are available for you.
The Most Important Action You Can Take:
Other than attending some or all the support below, the most important act you can do is to talk to your teacher. They are the ones who knows best how to help you succeed. I know that for some of you this is scary. However, you can ask any of your counselors, assistant principals, Ms. Quinn and me to facilitate a conversation with your teachers. Do not wait to do this. Right now, you have time to re-adjust your path of success.
YOU GOT THIS!!!
REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Our registration web page [LINK] is now LIVE and the Online Registration Process opens on March 15, 2021. Click on this [LINK] to access the Campus Portal.
Please watch the attached video that explains the page. It is important to understand in which category your child fits so that you click on the correct link. Once you have made that identification, all you will need to do is to click on that descriptor and complete the steps outlined. Your child will fit in one of the categories below. We have also indicated what date you can start.
In which category does your student fit? Click on the link that fits your description and it will take you directly to the action steps you need to complete.
- I am a 7th grader going into 8th grader - Parents, if you have your username and password from last year, you can start the OLR process March 15, 2021.
- I am a new student (7th or 8th grade) - No other sibling in the district - Parents, you have to wait until you get your activation key or GUID number in a district email or letter.
- I am new student (7th or 8th grade) with a sibling in the Sweetwater District - Parents, while you can complete the registration for your current student, you should wait for the activation key or GUID number for your new student so that you do both students as ONE family.
- I am a new student (7th or 8th grade) and we live with another family (Joint Residency) - Parents, you have to wait until you get your activation key or GUID number in a district email or letter.
- I am a student who lives outside the ELM boundary and want to attend here (Transfer) - Parents, you will have to wait until April 5 to begin and start at your school of residence because your activation key or GUID number will be for that school.
"This week, we are recognizing the 10 amazing Triton artists who will have art in the 2021 Sweetwater Union High School District student art exhibit! Congratulations to Kylie Fitzgerald, Luna Flores, Lorenzo Hernandez, Kaelyn Hickey, Hannah Ho, Kingston Jones, Alexis Mainwaring, Evangeline McClurg, Gabriela Ramirez, and Anthony Reavis. Your creativity and hard work makes ELM proud. Keep up the great art, Tritons!"
Purple Pride Announcement
This video is brought to you by ELM's Purple Pride Club. We want to promote awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ community and ALL people. Please contact Cindy.Reynoso@sweetwaterschools.org or Andrea.Arroyo@sweetwaterschools.org if you'd like to know more about the club. Thanks for watching!
Eastlake Middle School
Email: easter.finley@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: elm.sweetwaterschools.org
Location: 900 Duncan Ranch Road, Chula Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 619.591.4000
Twitter: @erfinleysd