Monday Message
8/28/17
Message from the principal
I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful summer with friends and family. We are looking forward to another great year here at MEA! We have wonderful new staff members, including Ms. Rice, Mr. Cate, and Ms. Mullen. Teachers and staff have been working hard in preparation for the 2017-2018 school year and are as excited as ever to work in partnership with you.
If you are a returning family, please welcome our new students and families by saying hello. We hope you will become involved in our school community through volunteer opportunities, WASC, SSC, the new Parent Foundation, extracurriculars, and other school events.
My door is always open, so please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. Here's to a great year!
Courtney Browne
MEA Principal
Welcome new students!
New Mt. Everest Academy students in grades 6-12 attended an orientation today to learn about our independent study process. ASB students helped out by taking the new students on a scavenger hunt of our campus and then they formed a student panel to share their experiences on how to be successful at MEA.
******** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ********
Hot Weather Plan for Tomorrow (Tuesday, 8/29)
Due to anticipated excessive heat in terms of temperatures, humidity and the heat index,
afternoon study groups will be moved to air conditioned rooms as needed. Please be sure your child brings a water bottle to school and drinks plenty of fluids!
VAPA Music Classes Overview
Wednesday, August 30 / 8:15 am / Cafeteria
Back by popular demand!
Mr. Johnson from the Visual and Performing Arts Dept. will be returning back to Mt. Everest to teach our Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning music classes. Mr. Johnson will host a program overview, including a discussion of the proposed schedule and instrument rental opportunities, this week on Wed. 8/30 at 8:15 am in the cafeteria. Please plan to attend if you are in interested in taking part in VAPA music classes this year. These classes are open to all students in grades K-8.
Labor Day Holiday
Monday, September 4
School will be closed on Monday, September 4 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Classes will reconvene on Tuesday, September 5.
Back to School Night
Wednesday, September 13 / 5:00-7:00pm
Mark your calendars for the Mt. Everest Academy Back to School Night! More details to follow.
WASC Committee Meeting
Monday, September 18 / 9:30-10:30 / Room 2
MEA parents and students in grades 6-12 are needed for committees for our upcoming review by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). WASC accreditation is an ongoing six-year cycle of quality whereby schools demonstrate the capacity, commitment, and competence to support high-quality student learning and ongoing school improvement.
The first meeting for your input this year will be held on:
• Monday, Sept. 18
• 9:30-10:30 am
• Room 2
Your input is invaluable in this process! Please email Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net if you are interested in being a part of our WASC teams or would like to learn more about it. If you were a part of a WASC team last year, we look forward to your continued support!
************* ANNOUNCEMENTS *************
Welcome new teachers!
Mr. Aaron Cate
Ms. Nancy Mullen
Ms. Laurel Rice
Study Group Schedules
Here's a link to the Elementary and Secondary Study Group schedules.
PLEASE NOTE: If students are in a class that does not have a study group meeting, they must arrange to meet with the teacher of that class during lunch or another time the first week of school to review course expectations.
Extracurriculars
Most extracurriculars will begin the week of 9/11 (except VAPA music classes - see Overview Meeting on 8/30 above). The schedule is in-progress and will be posted on the MEA website soon.
Some extracurricular offerings include:
- Spanish for elementary students
- Blues Guitar on the Green
- Soccer
- Art
- Environmental Club for elementary students
- Meditation and Mindfulness
- Electronics
- Sewing & Embroidery
- Chess
If you are interested in offering an extracurricular class or workshop, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net. All required district volunteer paperwork must be submitted in order to lead a class.
Student Account Login Info (Active Directory accounts)
Advice for New Families
Written for parents, by parents
A few of our veteran parents have created this valuable resource for new Mt. Everest Academy families, to help in the adjustment process to independent study. These parents have combined their experiences to offer advice on the following topics:
- Organization/Study Tips
- Time Management
- Working with Teachers
- Turn-In Packets
- School Resources
- Supplemental Curriculum
- Extracurricular Activities
Many, many thanks to our veteran team of parents for sharing their knowledge!
Message from an MEA parent: Your help needed!
MEA is a spectacular school where parents and teachers work in an amazing and beautiful partnership to make a level of learning happen for our kiddos that many of us only dreamt of before coming to MEA. There are a few things more however, that I believe are just outside our grasp, that would be meaningful improvements.
In looking for ways to access community resources and fundraising opportunities, I discovered MEA does not have a parent foundation. And all funds currently raised are through ASB and inaccessible for direct education purposes.
I have seen schools with successful parent foundations. Foundations that pave the way for direct education "extras" such as: computer lab, VAPA programs, art programs, extra teachers, PE equipment, classroom materials, etc.
I wondered, "How hard can this be?"
It's a little trickier than I first thought...But I believe with some help WE CAN DO IT!
For now, I am learning as fast as I can and I am collecting the contact information from anyone who would like to help. If that's you, please email me your contact information (name, email, phone) as well as any skills or experience you may have. If that means no skills, but just a lot of heart - I'll take it. Skills that would be especially helpful are: legal experience starting non-profit corporations, CPA's or accountants, folks who have been on non-profits boards, folks with experience with prior school foundations.
I look forward to meeting more of our school community through this endeavor.
-Hallie Herbert (Mom to Macalan, 6th grade and Charlie, 7th grade)
808-489-6046
Parents and Students needed for SSC and SGT!
The Mt. Everest Academy School Site Council (SSC) and Site Governance Team (SGT) each have (2) open parent positions and (1) open student position for a two-year (2017 – 2019) term. If you and/or your high school student are interested in running for School Site Council and/or Site Governance Team, please submit your name and a short (3-4 sentence) biography to Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net or bring it to MEA’s Front Office. The deadline for submitting your name for candidacy is Tuesday, September 19, 2017.
You may be wondering, “What exactly are SSC and SGT?” The School Site Council consists of elected members representing parents, teachers, students, the school principal, and other school employees. This group is responsible for reviewing the school's improvement plan and allocating fiscal resources to support Mt. Everest Academy's goals in the areas of curriculum development and instruction. The State Legislature, as well as the Mt. Everest Academy teaching staff and administration, believes that the best decisions are made by those individuals who are most affected by them.
The Site Governance Team is a shared decision making body required at each school by the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education. The team discusses issues, gathers input and makes recommendations about topics affecting our school and our children with an emphasis on the instructional program.
The SSC and SGT will meet a minimum of six times during the year, and meetings will usually be scheduled on Wednesdays from 2-3. (This time is subject to change due to the availability of members.)
We greatly appreciate your willingness to support Mt. Everest with your time!
Testing for lead in our drinking water
Please click here for an update on the water testing at our school.
September Library Challenge
The first Library Challenge of this year is a crossword puzzle! Click here for the puzzle, or pick one up in the library. Turn your completed form into the library by 12:00 September 14 to receive a prize!
"Grab-N-Go" Lunches
Mt. Everest Academy has lunches available in the office three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday. If your child would like a lunch, please sign up in the morning. Lunches are available beginning at 11:00 am and cost $2.25 or are free to students who qualify on the free/reduced lunch application. Apply online for free/reduced lunches.
"Facts for Parents"
"Facts for Parents" is an annual publication containing updated information relevant to all San Diego Unified School District families. The "Facts for Parents" pamphlet can be picked up in the front office and is also available online.
******** COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS ********
Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) provides an opportunity for high school students to intern, earn a stipend, and participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer of 2018.
The application will close October 31, 2017.
For questions or additional information, please contact Carlette Lewis, carlette@xxaviergroup.com