Monday Message
September 27, 2021
SSC and SGT
Please welcome our newest members of SSC and SGT!
- Kate Fries (Parent)
- Andrea Ausland (Parent)
- Katherine Brady (Grade 11)
- Fayyad Hassan (Grade 11)
- Petunia Rizo (Grade 11)
Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise!
Our first meeting is this week
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 29
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
Zoom link: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/89056497845
All parents are invited to attend the School Site Committee (SSC) meeting. The SSC is a shared decision-making body composed of parents, staff, and students. Our Council identifies needs for academic programs and sets budgets to support these programs. More information, agendas, and minutes can be found on our SSC/SGT webpage. For questions, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net
Collegeboard Exams
PSAT Sign Ups
PSAT will take place at MEA on Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 9:00-12:00 in the Auditorium.
- Please see this information sheet about the PSAT/NMSQT.
- PSAT is free this year for MEA 11th graders. Other grade levels are $18.
- Link to sign up for the test. (Everyone planning to take it must sign up, even 11th graders.)
Ordering AP Exams - due Oct. 15
Students currently enrolled in an AP class and/or who want to take the AP exam must make their decision and order their AP exam forms by October 15. Policies and information are available at http://aptsusa.com/mea
Yearbook - LOWEST PRICE OF THE YEAR!
Purchase your yearbook by September 30, and get 10% off.
- Go to https://tr5.treering.com/validate
- Our passcode is 1013183679162246
Your Response Requested
Our school needs information to help ensure it receives all the state funding (Title 1) to which it is entitled. It will not affect your child receiving free meals at this school as all children will have free access to meals this school year, however, it may affect our funding and student access to fee waivers for College Board exams, including AP and SAT.
Please complete the following:
Login to your Parent Portal Powerschool Account. (This will not be visible in your child's account.)
Click on LCFF icon in the left-hand menu (see large red arrow)
On the pull-down menu enter the number of people in your home
Click on the income bracket for your household
Click on the signature box and submit (see two small red arrows)
Click submit
If needed, here are instructions on how to set up and access your Parent Portal.
Elementary Extracurriculars
Covid-19 Protocols
Elementary Art with Mrs. Sink
First meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 28 / 12:30-1:30 / Room 3
- To ensure there are enough art materials prepared, please sign up here beforehand for the Tuesdays in Month 2. Your child MUST be signed up to attend and there are limited spaces.
- Sign your child in at the front office between 12:20 and 12:30 (Unless they are in 1st or 3rd grade and attending supervised lunch.)
- Students will be walked back to the front gate for parents to pick up at 1:30 (unless they are staying for Beginner Strings Class)
Music classes with Mr. Johnson
These classes are held every Tuesday. Let the playing begin! Please sign your child in at the front office and note which class(es) they will be attending. Please note the time changes as they are different than last week.
- 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
PALS Tutoring Center - Coming Soon!
Wednesdays and Thursdays / 12:30 -1:45 / Computer Lab
PALS tutoring will begin as soon as tutors are trained. We are hoping to start the week of Oct. 11.
6-12 Extracurriculars
Vote for Coop Group schedule
The MEA Coop Group wants more members! We will have fun hanging out with the chickens as well as cleaning their coop. We are also looking for a new time to have meetings.
This is the form to sign up and vote on when we should meet.
Ally Action
First meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 28 / 12:00-1:00 / Cafeteria
Ally Action is starting back up again! Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 28th from 12-1 pm in the Cafeteria. If you are passionate about social justice and creating a more welcoming community on campus please consider joining! If you are interested in joining the club please fill out this form so we can keep in touch with you through email. Here is the Ally Action website if you'd like to see what we've done!
Musicians Wanted!
First meeting: Thursday, Sept. 30 / 12:30-1:45 / Room B-15
MEA’s House band, The Sherpas, is looking for musicians for their new incarnation. Led by the guitar virtuoso Mark Fisher, the Sherpas want you to join them for a jam on Thursday’s 4th period (except for turn in week). If you like to sing or play an instrument, come join us! Starting September 30th!
Spanish Conversation Club
First meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 5 / 12:00-12:30 / Outside Room 1
¡Vengan a conversar! ¡Participen en la tertulia de español!
Students of all levels who want to practice speaking Spanish are invited to join a <<tertulia>>, or small gathering, on Tuesdays at lunch. We will meet twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the work month! Month 2's meetings will be on October 5th and 19th in the garden outside room 1. ¡Vamos a divertirnos! Let's have fun!
Upcoming Events
Spirit Week
ASB is sponsoring the following spirit days; express your creativity and show your school spirit!
Twin Tuesday - Tues, 9/28
Wow! (Picture Perfect) Wednesday - Wed, 9/29
Throwback Thursday (Decades Day) - Thur, 9/30
Picture Day
Wednesday, Sept. 29 / 8:30-1:30
Auditorium
School portraits are back and this year they will be taken by Gerardy Photography. Students can look "Picture Perfect" on this Wow! Wednesday for Spirit Week. The portrait will be used for the student's school ID card and the school yearbook. Families will also have the option to purchase a portrait package.
Meeting for all Seniors
Thursday, Sept. 30 / 12:00-12:30
In the Cafeteria
and on Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/82118442442
All 12th graders are required to attend this meeting with Mr. Rubin, who will be sharing important information and reviewing expectations for the year.
Meeting for all Juniors
Thursday, Oct. 7 / 12:00-12:30
Cafeteria and Zoom
Mr. Rubin will discuss what is important to focus on for 11th graders, and what to think about as they become seniors next year.
Make-Up Picture Day
Tuesday, Oct. 12 / 8:30-1:30
Auditorium
Students that aren’t able to make Picture Day on Sept. 29 can come on this day instead.
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)
Around Campus
Egg Drop Landing Pad Activity
Groups of AP Physics students used the class period to design a device that would catch a falling egg. The device should prevent the egg from breaking, at least, 2 times. The device must catch and hold the egg in place. The students were allowed to use ten or less pieces of paper and a reasonable amount of tape. The tape was only used to help build the paper shapes desired not create a sticky surface for the egg to land on. Students were given approximately 5 minutes to discuss their design and 20 minutes to create the egg landing pad. All devices were impounded before testing began. There was no practicing with an egg before the device check. Also, the devices were tested at 3 m, 5 m and 6 meters.
MEA Gardens and Chickens
Miss Shannon has been overwhelmed (in the best way possible) with the interest and support around the gardens and chickens the past two weeks! It’s been a productive few weeks!
Students are consistently showing up to help beautify the campus (succulent arrangements crafted by students—gearing up for a front-of-school fundraiser to help support the chickens and gardens), craft seed mandalas in the makerspace, plant seeds for garden starts, and spend time with the chickens (cleaning and socialization).
Both ASB and APES groups of students are committed to their service hour requirements and are greatly appreciated around the gardens and chicken area.
Miss Shannon will continue to offer opportunities for students to complete their on-campus service hours requirements when she is available.
Chicken news:
It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the passing of Aquafina just over a week ago.
Her health had been declining for a few weeks, and we made the best efforts to treat her overnight at the veterinarian—fluids, tube feedings, and oxygen. Unfortunately, her condition did not improve, and the decision was made to humanely euthanize her.
We only have preliminary necropsy results back, and we are not seeing anything we can name yet as the primary cause of her health decline.
She will be greatly missed by all of the students who loved to offer her treats and hold her.
We now have 3 chickens—with Zira being the last remaining chicken who enjoys being held by the coop group members! Chris remains our consistent (large) egg layer, and Cleopatra is in the middle of an intense molt!
Please stop by, say hello, and stay awhile—these chickens love the attention!
Gardens
We have BIG plans to create a larger growing area for future Farmstand goods. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of the garden space near the chickens. It will be a shared space with Mr. Zappala, who is providing the materials for a Zen garden.
Garden donation request
If there are any families interested in a specific garden donation, we are in need of compost bins, specifically ones that are school district approved (enclosed/no rodent access).
Multiples are great!
A favorite one is on sale at Costco right now:
https://www.costco.com/aerobin-400-composter.product.11532729.html
Helpful Information
Monthly Turn-In Calendar
For your convenience, here is a 2021-22 monthly turn-in calendar, in formats for downloading and editing.
Monday Message to Students
PARENTS:
If your student in grades 6-12 is not getting the Monday Message sent directly to their personal email, please forward this message to them.
STUDENTS:
Please sign up here to receive the Monday Messages directly to your personal email address. This can be helpful, especially for older students, so you can stay informed of what's happening here at Mt. Everest Academy. Your PERSONAL email address is needed (not an @stu.sandi.net email or a parent’s email).
https://goo.gl/forms/7hJxel2Zh4L3AJhf2
https://mteverest.sandiegounified.org/about_us/monday_messages
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 was created to support our school community. The foundation helps fund ASB and school events, senior graduations, mini grants for staff, and many enrichment workshops and activities for our students and families.
All parents, students, and staff can join 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.
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’s Giving Tree
This is the first year MEA Foundation has run a Giving Tree fundraiser! Your tax-deductible donations will be used for:
- Art/art supplies
- Classroom supplies
- Science
- Teacher/professional development
- Library
You can indicate your preferred donation category in the payment memo (any unspecified donations will go to an area of greatest need). There are 3 easy ways to contribute to the Giving Tree: Venmo, PayPal, or check.
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
Art Contest for Air Pollution Control Calendar
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is sponsoring an art contest for students in grades K-12 to create artwork about the importance of clean air and ways to reduce air pollution. The APCD, with students' help, will be putting together a 2022 calendar where each month will showcase their air quality artwork. Even if a student’s artwork is not used in the calendar, the APCD website will have a gallery of all the submissions. Submissions are due by 11/19/21.