Monday Message
November 1, 2021
Welcome Vanessa Starr!
Please welcome the newest member of the Mt. Everest Academy staff. Vanessa Starr will be supporting students in and out of the classroom as a teaching assistant.
Introduction from Mrs. Starr:
I am a San Diego native, born and raised in Mission Beach! I love to surf and everything beach, I've been doing martial arts since 2003, began training Capoeira and have just begun training Tang Soo Do this summer with my whole family. I studied Japanese Language and Graphic Design at SDSU, studied abroad in Japan for a while, and graduated in 2005. I married my best friend in 2008 and we have two beautiful children, 10 and 8 years old who attend Holmes Elementary right nearby. I've been volunteering in the elementary school setting since 2016. I most recently worked at Bay Park Elementary and am excited to be at Mt. Everest for this school year!
Halloween Festivities
Last week students (and some staff members!) brightened up the campus with their clever, cute, and scary costumes. Below, elementary students parade from room to room, collecting treats from the welcoming staff.
Upcoming Events
Parent Conferences: No K-5 Classes This Week
November 1-5
Just a reminder that this week we will not be holding our K-5 grade level classes due to parent/student conferencing (via Zoom.)
However, there will still be elementary art, music with Mr. Johnson, PALS (Thursday only this week), and our fun Fall Festival.
Zoom conference links have been sent out by each elementary teacher. Please contact your supervising teacher if you did not receive it.
Fall Festival
Wednesday, Nov. 3 / 12:30-2:30
Outdoors on the blacktop
On Wednesday November 3rd, from 12:30 - 2:30, the ASB is proud to present the Fall Festival! Students will be facilitating a variety of games and booths for children of all ages.
- The cost for the event is $5 per child
- Parents should accompany students in grades K-5
- Snacks will be available for purchase.
Note that on this Wednesday afternoon, there will be no PALS and the library will be closed.
Pictured below, the ASB is preparing for the big day.
Seeking Pumpkins for the Fall Festival
Do you have any leftover pumpkins from Halloween? Put them to good use by donating them to the Fall Festival. You can drop them off at the front office. Some of the smaller pumpkins will become part of the exciting Pumpkin Catapult Launch activity!
Catapult construction photo gallery
Clothing Drive at Fall Festival
MEA’s GSA club is inviting everyone to bring them any unwanted, outgrown clothes - any form and size - to their booth at the Fall Festival.
The clothes will be directly donated to the San Diego Youth LGBTQ+ Center. LGBTQ+ students can swing by the LGBTQ+ Youth Center to pick out clothes for free. LGBTQ+ Youth can pick what clothes THEY want to wear, to freely be themselves in a safe environment.
Instead of throwing away your clothes, they can be used for this awesome cause!
MEA Foundation General Meeting
Date: Friday, November 5
Time: 12:30 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/6894821840?pwd=N1VDN1QxeGtmVlBKQWRyMEpXWjdqZz09
Meeting ID: 689 482 1840
Password: 239216
All MEA parents and guardians are invited to attend this MEA Foundation General Meeting. We will discuss goals and future projects to benefit our school community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Coffee with the Principal
Date: Monday, Nov. 8
Time: 9:00 am
Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/5177169155
Bring your own coffee or tea and join Principal Browne to discuss school happenings. This is an informal opportunity to hear about school planning, ask questions, and provide suggestions to improve our program. Hope to see you there!
Daily Mindfulness and Meditation
These daily sessions will include about 10 minutes of mindfulness and meditation as well as other activities to foster health and wellness and connectedness in our community. All MEA Community members are welcome!
- When: Monday through Friday (holidays and scheduled school concerts/events excluded!)
- Where: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/7588584792 . . Passcode: MEA!
- Why: Optimum Health, Wellness, and Well-Being!
- Who: The whole MEA Community
- Time: 12-12:30 (You must login by 12:00)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Progress Report Grades
For students in grades 6-12, Progress report grades will be available on the Powerschool Portal soon. These grades will be utilized for eligibility purposes for students in grades 9-12 playing sports at their neighborhood school. Please note, SDUSD has adopted a new format for reporting citizenship grades. Please review the new Mt. Everest Citizenship Rubric with your student(s), which can be found on the school website.
Site Governance Team
Students in grades 9-12, please vote for one of your peers to represent you on SGT. Voting will close on Friday, November 12.
Please VOTE HERE. Thank you!
See’s Candy Fundraiser
Our annual ASB See's Candy Fundraiser is underway! Please help support Mt. Everest Academy and the ASB by participating in this MEA tradition.
Order forms are going home with students ASAP. Additional forms can be picked up in the office and from this link. Thanks for helping us raise money to support school events like dances, festivals, clubs and field day!
All orders and money must be returned to MEA by Nov. 29th so that we can fill them in time for Winter Break. Checks should be made out to MEA ASB. Prizes will be awarded to the top three sellers!
Hello from the Library
Look out for Non-fiction November!
And an alert to all K-5ers: we’re busy packing up BOOK-BUNDLES for you to take home, hopefully to last through winter break! No hibernating with your books… wink, wink…
When you finish your bundles, bring back the completed charts and earn a small surprise!
Heights Literary Magazine
Hello, we are the Heights Literary Magazine. Please check out our website for more information regarding our club, magazine, and submitting your work for our coming issue if you are interested.
Also, if you wish to join the club, please email the Editor-in-Chief, Jody Huege, at jodyrh0215@gmail.com.
Pandora’s Box of Secrets
MEA’s Ally Action is organizing a community event for all students. They will be anonymously collecting students' secrets to create a poster for the school, similar to the Museum of Us's PostSecret exhibit.
STUDENTS: You can submit your secret here (everything is anonymous).
Free Electronics Recycling
Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Thursday, Nov. 4
MEA senior, Hasan Abdurrahman, volunteers at “Computer 2 Kids” and he is accepting all working and nonworking electronics on their behalf. C2K recycles and also refurbishes the electronics for low income families. Please see this recycling flyer for more details.
Dia de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos - come learn about this Mexican tradition!
Because we are a community of inclusive and respectful learners, we will be setting up an altar outside of room 1 on Tuesday, November 2 (that's tomorrow!) to commemorate el Día de los Muertos. If your family would like to participate, please contribute something to make our altar a beautiful reflection of our passed loved ones (animals included). Please feel free to bring in photos, flameless candles, flowers, food or drinks (non-alcoholic, of course), or any object that the people we love would like to experience again (games, books, music, kitchen items, etc). Please make sure your item is labeled with your name and grade.
If you do not want to add anything, come by and see it anyway! We will have a way for you to contribute on the ofrenda. ¡Gracias!
If you are looking to celebrate Dia de los Muertos around San Diego, here's a list:
- Artelexia - fun place to shop; most items are imported from Mexico, in North Park
- Dia de los Muertos procession - Walking procession on Nov. 2 from Sherman Heights to Chicano Park - fun and family friendly (bring a flashlight!).
- Altar viewing at the Sherman Heights community center - Beautiful altars created by neighbors around San Diego
- Casa Xovi - Fun place to shop for goodies in Barrio Logan (stop by ¡Salud! tacos while you're there)
- Pan de muerto and pan dulce at Pancho Villa's
I hope the students in the Spanish conversation club will participate in this cultural event! We will play Lotería de calaveras during our meeting tomorrow!
~ Nancy Mullen
Update on School Portraits
The delivery of school portrait proof packages and ID cards is taking longer than usual this year. Gerardy Photography would normally have these back to us a couple of weeks after pictures were taken, but this year they are experiencing the same supply chain delays as a lot of businesses. We expect that portraits and ID cards will be distributed to students before Thanksgiving break. Thank you for your patience!
PARENT EDUCATOR I.D. CARDS
Thank you to all the parents that sent in their headshots for ID cards. Unfortunately the timeframe for getting these printed will be later than the student portraits. When they do get delivered to us we will let you know!
Extracurriculars
* * * Click box above for Elementary Extracurricular Schedule * * *
Daily Mindfulness & Meditation
Elementary Art
Music with Mr. Johnson
PALS
Covid-19 Protocols for Elementary Students
PALS Tutoring
Wednesdays & Thursdays / 12:30-1:45 / Room 6
Note that PALS will be closed this Wednesday, Nov. 3, for the Fall Festival.
Trained tutors are ready to help you get your classwork done. All students grades K-12 who would like some extra help can come to room 6 every Wednesday and Thursday during 4th period (12:30-1:45pm). All grades are welcome, as we have tutors for all grade levels. PALS is a great way to build community and academic skills!
Parents, K-5 students attending PALS must arrive with a check-in form so tutors know what to work on with your child and you receive a report on how things went. (Extra forms will be available when you drop off in case you forget or can't print one at home.)
- K-5 students attending studygroup and PALS on the same day should be signed in when parents drop off at 9am. Parents must indicate if their student is staying for supervised lunch and PALS
- K-5 students attending ONLY PALS on any given day should be signed in outside the front office.
- 6-12 students can report directly to Room 6.
Music classes with Mr. Johnson
These classes are held every Tuesday. Please sign your child in at the front office and note which class(es) they will be attending.
- 8:05- 8:55 - Beginning Band
- 9:05- 9:55 - Choir
- 10:05- 10:55 - Advanced Band
- 11:05 - 11:55 - Music theory (for upper grades)
- 12:30- 1:20 - Advanced Strings (open to secondary)
- 1:35- 2:25 - Beginning Strings
* * * Click box above for Secondary Extracurricular Schedule * * *
Academic League
Ally Action
Anime
Chess
Coop Group
Daily Mindfulness & Meditation
Gaming
German
GSA
Literary Magazine
MathCounts
Mental Health
Music with Mr. Johnson
PALS
Rubik's Cube
Sherpa’s Jam Band
Spanish Conversation
Sports Club
Young Investors Club
MEA Mental Health Club
First meeting: Thursday, Nov. 4 / 12:00 / Room 2
Calling all middle and high school students! If you are looking for a new club to join, consider coming to the MEA Mental Health Club’s first meeting this Thursday, November 4th from 12:00-1:00 in Dr Rodenberg’s classroom (you’re free to leave early if you have a class at 12:30). Learn more about our club on our Mental Health Club website. Contact Leena Iwamoto at leenayumi1@gmail.com with any questions!
Rubik’s Cube Club Interest Form
Ever wanted to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube? Or wonder how people manage to solve cubes in under 6 seconds? If so, this is the club for you!
- No experience or cube required! We have extra speedcubes that anyone can use.
- Led by multiple-time World Cube Association competition medalists.
- Learn the latest tips and tricks!
- Friendly competition and casual cubing.
Please sign up with this form if you are interested.
Anime Club
The Anime Club will meet from 12:00-12:30 on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the work month, in Room 6. We will discuss, learn about, and watch anime. This club is open to both beginners and gods of anime. No sign up is required, just come and enjoy the show!
The first meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, 12:00-12:30, room 6.
AROUND CAMPUS
Oooh, spooky music!
"Papel Picado"
Perky Pumpkins
Bean Soup Days
The elementary students created soup kits in their Nutrition science classes last week. They learned about the concept of food dehydration and the importance of measuring for recipes. One student was so excited, he went home and turned his beans, rice, and spices into soup for his family! Thank you, Garcia family, for sharing this delightful photo!
Link to more bean soup days photos
Helpful Information
Meet with Mr. Rubin
For students and parents that would like to meet with Mr. Rubin, you may sign up for an appointment.
SDUSD Covid Testing Acknowledgement Form
This is a reminder that all families are required to make a choice on Covid testing at the start of the new school year. Every family must complete the form (access link below) and submit their response online at this time for each student. Free Covid testing in school not only helps prevent the spread of the virus, but it also helps more students stay in school and continue their education.
Covid-19 Testing Acknowledgement Form
(Note: A PowerSchool Username and Password will be required to complete the form. If you do not have the Access ID and Password for your student, please contact Ms. Ramos in the front office.)
Student Handbook
Technology Support and Resources
MEA FOUNDATION
MEA Foundation Update
MEA Foundation has reached our first $1000 for the school year, thank you to all donations! Our biggest support is future fundraising at MEA, starting with a Farmers Market. Help us fund new garden beds to be installed in November. And watch the garden grow.
All parents, students, and staff are members of MEA Foundation! If you want your voice to be heard and to have a say in the foundation programs, priorities, and finances, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net or the Foundation at info@meafoundation.org.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MEA Foundation is able to accept your donations, which are 100% tax-deductible, in order to enhance the overall experience of Mt. Everest Academy students. There are several ways you can easily give.
MEA FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- We need a few volunteers for updating our in-kind contact spreadsheet. Can you search the internet or make a phone call to help update 25 to 50 of our contacts?
- Are you interested in leading/teaching a workshop or extracurricular (art, STEM, engineering, content area, etc.)? This could be a weekly class, one time workshop or series.
- Are you familiar with accounting softwares? If so, we need some help researching a system to use for the Foundation. Or you can help research a pledge or donation system.
Please send an email to info@meafoundation.org and let us know how you would like to help.
AmazonSmile
MEA Foundation is fully registered with AmazonSmile as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon.com will donate to MEA Foundation at no cost to you!
- First, go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-2089378 and set your charity to "Mount Everest Academy Foundation".
- Then, always start your shopping at https://smile.amazon.com and shop as usual while supporting our school!
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Volunteer Opportunity at C2K
Do you want to start high school volunteering as soon as possible? Computers 2 Kids, C2K, is a nonprofit San Diego organization looking for volunteers. You can learn more about this organization and what it does at this link: About C2SDK | C2SDK. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at C2K, please click on this link and fill out the short form: https://forms.gle/jQ4gtWvEpiKSa4aQ6.
If you have questions, please contact hasanabdurrahman2015@gmail.com