The Triton Tribune
Be Kind ~ Be Awesome ~ Make The Right Choices
Volume 3 ~ Issue 3 ~ August 2, 2021
Amazing Triton Staff,
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” ~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Week Two was quite unexpected with our first positive cases reported to us. While it may have caused you a temporary panic as I know it did for me, I hope you know with certainty that we are doing our very best to carry out protocols that ensure everyone's safety while on campus. Unfortunately, reported cases are now part of our new normal. Everyone MUST do their part to ensure the safety of all students who enter your classrooms as well as outside during non-instructional time. Please make sure that you are following the protocols outlined below in the COVID Protocol Section. Additionally, I created a Covid-19 Positive Notification Protocol so that you understand the work that we are doing up in the main office.
This brings up the debate to be vaccinated or not. Know that at this time, SUHSD is NOT requiring staff members to vaccinate as there is an option to be tested regularly. Moreover, since there is no law requiring students to get vaccinated, we need to understand that families have as much right as you and I to decide their choice. In essence, getting vaccinated is a personal choice. We do not know why individuals are making decisions that might be contrary to yours so this is an opportunity to exercise our Triton Trait of Kindness. As stated in the quote above, "Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness." Now is the time to choose to be kind about individuals who may have chosen something entirely different that you. The only regulation I can enforce is that you and I do not get to ask each other or students of our choice in this matter. Let us be kind and honor each other's choices.
As we finish our 10-day SEL focus, I hope that you have followed our discussion topics. A shout out to PE-8 team for giving students voice and choice a place in their student expectations. It was great to observe. We start Monday with introducing restorative circles. Some of you may have trepidation in doing circles but I want to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. Click on this LINK to access the guidelines and topics that Courtney curated for you. It is also accessible in this year's staff handbook (link found at the bottom of the newsletter). I cannot wait to hear about your successes.
Tuesday, August 3rd is the contractual deadline for balancing classes. We made some major changes on Friday in order to meet this date. Please check your classes as you may have received a new class from another teacher or we may have added a new one. Also, Infinite Campus went through another update, so your IC console will have a different look this morning.
As we go deeper into the school year and more students and staff may be placed in self-isolation status, it is important to know that we need to have a way for students to access instruction and not just materials. I am currently assessing our ESSER II funds to determine how much of it I can use to pay you to create Screencastify Video Lessons for your students. This will be discussed in our first FAC meeting on August 10, 2021
A couple of reminders. Please make sure that you have submitted your emergency information to Lidia. Also, if you have not submitted emergency lesson plans, please make sure you submit it by clicking on this LINK no later than this Friday, August 6, 2021.
Finally, please read the newsletter in its entirety as there are many pertinent information regarding school for the next two weeks.
Here is the link to the parent newsletter.
Let's have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Finley
Due to an increase in COVID positive cases, the district has decided to limit in-person activities OUTSIDE of the school day; this includes open house, which was planned as in-person event. It was decided that all open houses will be 100% virtual.
Below is the tentative agenda, which will contain all the links to either a TEAMS or Google MEET Meeting Rooms. The classroom visits will follow the 10-minute rotation. If you have not added your meeting link yet please do so by Wednesday, August 4. Click HERE to add your meeting link. The final agenda will be released on Thursday at 12:00pm and will be available on our website, ELM app and all ELM social media.
New this year are the pre-classroom visits with me, counselors and assistant principals. Please encourage your students' parents to attend these meetings. Additionally, in preparation for for these meetings, I have asked parents to submit their questions BEFORE Thursday. Here is the link to the question submission form.
Finally, since your physical attendance to Open House is after the school day, those of you who are hosting LIVE meetings will be able to leave right after Period 6 on Friday as exchange of time. It is expected that teachers holding LIVE meetings will be doing so in their physical classrooms and not at home. If you are going to be absent, you need to let your administrator know and will need to stay during PLC time on Friday.
Schedule Change Request Criteria
Student class schedules are not changed except to correct placement, scheduling errors or change of elective. Final day for schedule changes will take place on the 10th day of school.
Reasons For Change
- Enrolled in the wrong grade level i.e. an 8th grade student enrolled in a 7th grade class.
- Missing a class period or two classes are in the same period.
- Placement level change i.e. a student changes from Math 7 to Compacted Math 7.
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that necessitates a change.
- Elective changes- these changes are based on space availability and impact on the student’s schedule.
What we cannot accommodate are requests for specific teachers or periods. All teachers are fully qualified to teach in their assigned subject area. If you have any concerns that arise during the school year, please contact your counselor.
Click on this link to request a class schedule change.
On Friday, July 16, 2021, Dr. Reyes sent out a memo regarding the use of face coverings.
There is one mandate: Staff and students will wear face coverings in the presence of each other.
The essence of the memo is this: in certain conditions, you may choose to not have a face covering in the presence of adult staff members as long as you provide documentation that you have received your vaccination and have completed the Vaccination Certification Form. We will be discussing this memo on Monday during one of the rotations.
- Notice to Employees Regarding Assembly Bill 1432: Mandated Child Abuse Reporting for School Employees - Training Deadline is August 27, 2021
- Sexual Harrassment Training Signature Page Deadline is December 17, 2021
- Bloodborne Pathogens Training by Nurse Flood. Complete this form when done. Deadline is July 30, 2021
We are seeing the COVID-19 virus still actively impacting our community. We understand that vaccination, mask wearing and testing are our main protections to stop the spread and ensure schools return to normal.
We will continue to offer Rapid Antigen COVID testing, in partnership with San Diego State University (SDSU) and Communities Fighting COVID, at various campuses throughout the week.
This week's site testing schedule is:
- Monday: Granger Junior High School
- Tuesday: Eastlake High School
- Wednesday: Chula Vista Middle School (Cancelled)
- Thursday: Southwest High School
- All sites will operate from 9:30am-12:30pm with a pause for lunch and reopen from 1:00pm-4:15pm.
Click on this link to register for testing. Or you can scan the image in the flyer below.
For the month of August, the testing calendar will be posted on the district’s COVID website here: http://www.sweetwaterschools.org/covid-19-information/#rapidcovidtesting
We are so excited for the new school year and ask for your continued help in keeping all students and staff safe by wearing your mask, washing your hands, getting vaccinated and getting tested.
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