Monday Message
10/1/18
Clothing Drive
Extended through Tuesday, 10/2
Thank you for all the donations we've received for the Monarch school! If you missed bringing donations in last week, you can still bring them in tomorrow, Tuesday. For more information about the school and its mission and incredible work, visit www.monarchschools.org.
**** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ****
Club Fair
Tuesday, October 2 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
Wednesday, October 3 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
Calling all MEAers! Do you want to get involved at school, make a difference, or just have fun? Come to the Club Fair to learn about all the activities available to you!
Meeting for all Juniors
Wednesday, October 3 / 11:55-12:30 / Room B16
Mr. Zappala will discuss what is important to focus on for 11th graders, and what to think about as they become seniors next year. Free pizza will be served!
PSAT
Wednesday, October 10 / 8:15-12:00 / Auditorium
All students that will be taking the PSAT on October 10 need to sign up in the front office. All 10th graders can take the test for free, but you MUST sign up. For all other students, the cost is $16, payable by check or cash (EXACT CHANGE PLEASE).
PSAT practice booklets are available in Mr. Zappala's office and the front office.
Helpful links:
SPECIAL SCREENING AND MEET THE FILMMAKER
Friday, October 12 / 9:45-1:30 / Bus from MEA to Horton Plaza
On Friday, October 12, the San Diego International Film Festival is proud to present San Diego County High School students a special screening of TIGER. MEA would like to take 9-12th graders and parents who are interested.
- TIGER is inspired by the true story of Pardeep Singh Nagra, a practicing Sikh man who was banned from the sport of boxing due to his religious beliefs. Tiger follows Pardeep's journey as he, with the support of his coach and mentor (Mickey Rourke), does what any strong American would do, fight back! The backlash is a result of racial profiling, stereotypical threats, and the daily pressure to change, even from his loved ones who are caught in the midst of the cross fire. As a consequence, his legacy will be forever tied to his two biggest battles: one in the courtroom, the other in the ring.
- Discussion with Executive Producer Rocco Pugliese will immediately follow the screening.
- This screening is presented by the San Diego Film Foundation and is part of the FOCUS On Impact Educational Program.
All students and teachers who attend qualify to receive a complimentary San Diego International Film Festival screening pass to ALL films & panels on Friday, October 12, Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14th.
Please print this field trip form, or get a paper copy in the school office. Please turn in this permission slip no later than Monday, October 8. As we are providing bus service to and from MEA, we need to know who and how many will be coming. We will meet at school at 9:45. Film begins at 11 at the Horton Plaza movie theatre. We will return to school by 1:30.
Questions? Please contact Nancy Mullen at nmullen@sandi.net.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Friday, October 19 / 9:45am / Lawrence Family JJC
On Friday morning, October 19, come watch some of our MEA students perform in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the La Jolla JCC! 10th grader Brendan Dallaire is the star of the show! Transportation is on your own; meet at the Lawrence Family JCC on 4126 Executive Drive by 9:45 am. Students must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Tickets are limited and must be prepaid by cash or check for $8 each. Please sign up and pay by Friday, 10/12 in the school office. Tickets will be distributed on site before the show.
Make-Up Picture Day
Tuesday, October 23 / 8:30-12:30 / Auditorium
Students, if you weren't able to make Picture Day on Sept. 20, please mark your calendars to get your picture taken by Lifetouch on Oct. 23! The picture will be used for the student's school ID card and the school yearbook.
**** ANNOUNCEMENTS ****
Impact Aid Program Survey Forms
All families should receive an Impact Aid Program Survey Form in the mail. Please fill yours out and bring it to your supervising teacher right away and no later than Thursday, October 11. If you didn't receive a form, there are blank forms available in the front office, library or from your supervising teacher. We know this seems like yet another form, however, it is VERY important for our funding.
As a special incentive to help meet this important deadline, the students of the first supervising teacher that gets 100% of their forms turned in will get an Ice Cream PARTY! The district is also offering us $1,000 if we have 100% participation schoolwide!!
Sometimes we get questions on why the impact aid program survey form needs to be filled out every year. Each year our district receives over $10million in Impact Aid funding. This is not automatic – we must apply for it each year and we need the information from you. Thank you for getting this done and helping funds come to our school!
SSC/SGT Parent Representative Election
Parents, please make sure to vote this week!
COME TO THE OFFICE AND CAST YOUR BALLOT!
Voting is open for one more week. MEA parents have the opportunity to vote for their SSC and SGT members. Parent candidates for the two open positions in both SSC and SGT are as follows:
Niki Ahrens is parent to two elementary MEA students in first and fifth grade. She's a former teacher, now a naturalist guide and contracts for a school library publisher. Niki is passionate about the experiential and emergent learning possibilities at MEA, and ways that they intersect social justice learning.
Dan Strum has an 8th grader at MEA, and has put two older children through the San Diego School System. He is retired from his career at the Port of San Diego, where he served as the Director of Real Estate, overseeing hundreds of public sector projects over the years. He would be excited to have an opportunity to serve on the SSC and SGT.
Ataur Rahman Shuman is the parent of a current MEA 9thgrader and an accomplished electrical engineer and inventor. He has worked for both Qualcomm and Ericsson in many capacities and has over 47 patents, with 12 more pending! He has been a board member of the Islamic School of San Diego as well as an AYSO coach. He looks forward to being a part of SSC and/or SGT.
MEA Theatre Company
The MEA Theatre Company is back for the 2018-2019 school year! There will be a show in late winter as well as a special Shakespeare program in the spring. Exact dates for audition workshops, auditions, and the show schedule are forthcoming. However, the Theatre Company NEEDS YOUR HELP. Attached here is a letter from Adira Rosen, the MEA alum that started the company. In order to continue to offer this program, we need financial support. If every family involved gives what they can, anything from $10 to $500 or more, the MEA Company will be able to continue to thrive and bring joy to our entire community. Thank you!
Box Tops for Education
Submission date October 22
Tips to help make submitting Box Tops easier:
- Bundle your Box Tops in groups of 10 or using using an envelope, zipper bag, or rubber band.
- Tape, glue or staple your Box Tops on a collection sheet.
- Put them in the dropbox in the Parent Room, or in the office.
Thanks for your help!
**** EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ****
Please find the most up-to-date schedule on our website, This schedule is a work in-progress; we will continue to add to and fine-tune the schedule as needed.
Update:
Beginning Band on Wednesdays now starts at 8:05am
If you are interested in offering an extracurricular class or workshop, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net. We are looking for folks wanting to share talents in science, technology, robotics, and the arts! All required district volunteer paperwork must be submitted in order to lead a class.
MathCounts
Tuesdays / 1:50-3:00 / Cafeteria
STARTS THIS TUESDAY, OCT. 2
This activity is ideal for students who have a talent and passion for math and need to be challenged. Students will engage in exciting, "bee-style" contests in which they will compete against and alongside other bright, motivated students. Learn more about the national Mathcounts organization
Mathcounts is for grades 6-8 only (not for students under grade 6 even if they are accelerated in math).
IMPROV CLUB
The MEA Improv Club is starting soon - the third week of Month 2, on Tuesdays. It’s a great opportunity to improve social skills and fast thinking, as well as just a cool way to have fun! Here are some pictures of our team from last year’s performances:
There will be FREE PIZZA from Blaze on the first meeting! All middle and high schoolers are welcome, although only the latter are officially allowed to compete. If you’re interested, come to the Club Fair (10/2 and 10/3 at lunch in the auditorium) to register and get the info.
I’m Joseph, the team captain this year, and if you have any questions feel free to email me at joseph.kalyuzhny@gmail.com!
Guitar
**** COUNSELING CORNER ****
Meeting for all Juniors
Wednesday, October 3 / 11:55-12:30 / Room B16
Mr. Zappala will discuss what is important to focus on for 11th graders, and what to think about as they become seniors next year. Free pizza will be served!
Appointments for Seniors
From October 1-30
Choose a 1/2 hour appt. between 8:00-2:30
All seniors need to schedule an appointment with Mr. Zappala to discuss their college plans, including financial aid. This meeting will allow Mr. Z. to answer your questions in order to determine the resources available to you so that you can make the best decisions for yourself in a timely manner.
2018 Youth Awards
Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in various categories including: Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Education, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment, and Technology & Engineering. Deadline is October 15.
**** LIBRARY ****
October Library Challenge
Click here for the puzzle, or pick one up in the library. Turn your completed form into the library by Thursday, October 25, 12:30 pm to receive a prize!
BOOKIT!
Grades K-6: Sign up for BookIt! in the library.
Read books and earn FREE PIZZA!
All students need to do is come in to the library, sign up and receive a reading log. At the end of each month, turn in the completed reading log. You will then receive a coupon for a FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut! Pick up your new reading log and begin again for the next month.
Library Time
Ms. Vivian shows students how to use the library computers to search Destiny (the online catalog) for library books.
**** COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS ****
Kids Free in October
Kids Free in October
Fall is officially upon us! 'Tis the season to drink pumpkin spice lattes, wear cozy sweaters, carve pumpkins and get free admission (kids 12 and under) to 40+ museums in San Diego! Throughout the month of October, two kids get in free to the Museum with the purchase of one paid adult ticket. This promotion is not eligible for use with other discounts such as military, senior or Museums for All.
For more information about Kids Free in October and all the museums participating throughout San Diego, visit sandiegomuseumcouncil.org
Service Academy Nominations
Each year California Congressman Scott Peters has the privilege of nominating students to attend military service academies. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.
Students that are interested in a nomination can apply for one here. The application deadline is Friday, October 26.
Coastal Art & Poetry Contest
California students in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to submit artwork or poetry with a California coastal or marine theme to the annual Coastal Art & Poetry Contest. Entries are being accepted now, and must be postmarked by January 31, 2019 to be eligible for the upcoming contest.