Monday Message
2/26/18
5-11th graders: It’s time to choose your classes for next year!
From February 26 - March 9, students in grades 5-11 will have the opportunity to plan their classes for the next school year.
Grades 5, 6, 7
Students will receive articulation sheets listing course options for next year during study groups the week of Feb. 26. Parents should review course options with their student at home. Students must return the articulation sheet with a parent's signature to their supervising teacher. If there are any changes needed, please mark the change before returning. For questions, please contact the student's supervising teacher.
Grades 8, 9, 10, 11
Mr. Zappala will meet with each student individually to assist in choosing course options for next year, including community college courses for students entering 11th and 12th grade. Parents should review course options with their student at home. Students must return the articulation sheet with a parent's signature to Mr. Zappala. If there are any changes needed, please mark the change before returning. For questions, please contact Mr. Zappala.
Meet with Mr. Zappala
SIGN UP HERE TO RESERVE YOUR MEETING TIME
If parents would like to schedule a conference with Mr. Zappala regarding next year's course options and to review their student’s four year plan, appointments will be available from March 12 - March 23, in half-hour increments between 8:30-2:30.
Articulation Sheets
If you would like a head start on the process, articulation sheets are also available on our school website for students who will be in grades 6-12 next year.
This is Spirit Week!
Celebrating Shakespeare
After taking tests on Act III and Act IV of Romeo & Juliet, Mrs. Finney's 9th graders enjoyed a Shakespearean party!
******** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ********
Fitnessgram Testing
Fitnessgram testing is scheduled in the Auditorium for the following grades and times:
- Tuesday, February 27 / 10:20-11:20 / Grades 7, 9, designated 10-12
- Wednesday, February 28 / 9:10-10:10 / Grade 5
- Wednesday, February 28 / 12:30-1:30 / Grades 7, 9, designated 10-12
- Monday, March 5 / 9:30-10:30 / Make up testing for students that couldn't make the previous times
The Fitnessgram is a state mandated exam. There are six parts to the exam, and students must pass five of the six parts to pass the overall fitness test. Students are encouraged to practice these exercises ahead of time.
For 9th graders, passing the Fitnessgram cannot be stressed enough. Students are required to take 2 years of PE to graduate high school. However, if you do not pass the Fitnessgram test, you are REQUIRED to take PE additional years.
Please remember to wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes!
Improv Shows
Tuesday, February 27 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
Wednesday, February 28 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
The MEA Improv Club is offering some lunchtime entertainment this Tuesday and Wednesday. Come enjoy the shows! Also, the Improv Club will be competing against Clairemont High on Thursday, March 1.
Spirit Week
Tuesday, Feb. 27 - Thursday, Mar. 1
Our ASB is sponsoring Spirit Days this week!
Students (and Staff!), now is the time to show us your creative and funky attire!
- TWIN DAY - Tuesday, February 27 (you can match up with more than 1 person)
- CRAZY HAIR DAY - Wednesday, February 28
- WACKY WARDROBE DAY - Thursday, March 1
Secondary Awards Ceremony
Thursday, March 1 / 3:15 pm / Auditorium
All Mt. Everest Academy families are invited to attend the 1st Semester Awards Ceremony and take part in honoring students in grades 6-12 who have demonstrated excellence in either academics or citizenship. Come celebrate this occasion! Light refreshments will be served.
Modern Masters of Latin America Art Exhibit
Friday, March 2 / 10:00-1:00 / SD Museum of Art
All MEA students (K-12) are welcome to accompany Mrs. Mullen and Mr. Cate on a field trip to the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park to tour the Modern Masters of Latin American art exhibition.
Link to details on the MEA calendar
Questions? Please contact Mr. Cate at acate1@sandi.net
Midsummer Night's Dream
The Mt. Everest Academy Theatre Company proudly presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream," directed by Erin Petersen. Show times:
- Tuesday, March 13 / 6:00 pm
- Wednesday, March 14 / 4:00 pm
- Thursday, March 15 / 6:00 pm
Tickets will be available at the door: $5 for students / $10 for adults.
Japanese Internment Camp and 442nd/100th Battalion Speakers
Thursday, March 15 / 10:30-12:00 / Auditorium
Come join us in welcoming Mas and Grace Tsuida on Thursday, March 15 in the Mt. Everest Academy Auditorium. Please come a little early to get seated, as we will begin at 10:30.
Mas and Grace will be speaking about their life in San Diego before World War II, and what it was like after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, to suddenly be declared "Enemy Aliens," and forced to leave their homes, friends, and family businesses behind to relocate to Internment camps in the western wasteland areas of the country. Mas will also share memories of being a part of the most Decorated Unit in American History- the 442nd Regiment. Mas was invited to Washington, D.C., to be awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for his unit's heroism in Europe during World War II.
Find out more about Mas and Grace Tsuida
This event is open to Mt. Everest students, parents, and family members. The content is more appropriate for middle school and high school. The Tsuidas are in their 90s, so there will be a third person facilitating the conversations.
Reminder: please make sure you are seated by 10:30 AM. Plan for time to drive and park. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Patterson at mydividog@yahoo.com
Movie Night: "Monsters, Inc."
Friday, March 16 / 6:30 pm / Blacktop
Come join us on the blacktop to watch "Monsters, Inc." Family and friends are welcome. Food and refreshments will be for sale.
Senior Portraits
Thursday, March 22 / 11:30-1:30 / Auditorium
Lifetouch Photography will be coming to Mt. Everest Academy to take Senior Portraits. You may choose what you'd like to wear; Lifetouch will supply Caps/Gowns and Tuxedos/Drapes, or you may wear your own clothes. Portrait packages will range from $24-$62. The portraits will be used in the yearbook. Please plan to be there!
**************** SAVE THE DATE ****************
Fitnessgram: February 27, 28, March 5
Senior Portraits with Lifetouch: March 22
CAASPP / SBAC Testing, elementary: April 30-May 4
AP Exams: May 7-18
CAASPP / SBAC Testing, secondary: May 21-25
MEA Family Picnic: June 1
Kindergarten Promotion: June 5
5th & 8th grade Promotion: June 6
Senior Graduation: June 8
************** ANNOUNCEMENTS **************
AP Test Registration
The deadline to turn in your form and payment is Wednesday, February 28.
AP exams will be given at Mt. Everest Academy from Monday, May 7 - Friday, May 18.
- Print the order form linked here and return with payment to the front office. This form is also available in the front office.
- AP exams cost $94 each
- Students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch pay $5/exam
- Payment can be made with either cash (EXACT CHANGE ONLY!) or check.
- Checks should be made out to "Mt. Everest Academy."
Cardboard Wanted
Maker Space Request! Our students are amazingly creative-it is so neat to see what they create while in room 7. If you have ANY cardboard you'd like to get rid of, please feel to drop it off to us. Your donation will gladden the hearts of our students who are so often in the mode of creation! Thank you!
Duckling Update
Unfortunately, our incubator malfunctioned and caused our ducklings to stop developing. We are getting a new incubator and trying again. Our new batch of eggs should be in the incubator mid March for a new hatch date of April 10 or 11. Stay tuned for details.
Elementary Students on Campus
To parents of elementary students,
Students in grades K-5 are supervised when they are in study groups and PALS. Any other time elementary students are on campus, they need to be supervised by a parent or family member. They should not be left on their own to go from one extracurricular activity to another. Please plan for your child's supervision, so they can enjoy all the wonderful activities and friendships that are available here on campus.
San Diego County Coupon Books Fundraiser
See a sample book in the front office
The ASB fundraiser continues! ASB students are selling San Diego county coupon books for $25. Half of the money raised goes directly to our school!
If you are interested in purchasing one, please see an ASB student or Mr. Nielsen. Payment can be made to Mr. Nielsen in room B16 with cash (EXACT CHANGE) or a check made out to "Mt. Everest Academy." Thank you for your support!
Link to see what coupons are in the book
You may also order the book online here.
This coupon book is only available for the month of February.
Thank you to Katherine Gillcrist for taking the photos below!
************* COUNSELING CORNER *************
Dual Enrollment Workshop
Last week, Mr. Zappala and Principal Browne presented information to interested 10th and 11th graders about taking a community college class while still in high school.
Mesa College Classes - Summer & Fall 2018
10th and 11th graders interested in taking a class at Mesa this Summer or Fall can begin the process immediately. You can choose your class for the Summer beginning in late May and late June for the Fall, but you must first do the following:
- Register at sdmesa.edu. Be sure to identify yourself as a high school student. Your Mesa ID will be e-mailed to you.
- Take the placement test. This is not required for all courses, so call 619-388-2718 and ask. Testing is on a walk-in basis at the student services building, 14-201
- You will receive an e-mail directing you to meet with a counselor, and given a day and time to select your class online.
Summer School 2018
All 9th-11th grade students needing to repeat a course in Summer school where they received either a D or F grade should see Mr. Zappala. You must complete the application, both you and your parent must sign the form and you must select a school site to attend. Course options are limited, so check to see that the course or courses you want to take are offered. See Mr. Zappala with any questions you have.
FAFSA & Cal-Grant
Deadline March 2
Attention Seniors! Remember to complete your FAFSA and Cal-Grant before the March 2nd deadline!
********** extracurricular activities ***********
Please find the most up-to-date schedule here. This schedule is a work in-progress; we will continue to add to and fine-tune the schedule as needed.
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.
Spanish Enrichment
Tuesdays / 12:30-1:15 / Room 9
Just a friendly reminder - this is the first week that grades K-6 are all meeting together for Spanish Enrichment!
Garden Explorations
Every Tuesday / 12:30- 1:30pm
New tasks await us in the garden this spring! Come out and help plant, harvest, and make art. Have something specific YOU want in the garden? Come create it! All parent and student participation is welcome!
Craft Circle
Every Thursday / 12:30-1:30pm / Makerspace
For the month of March we'll be creating Monster Dolls! This is a great project for learning hand and machine sewing skills. All skill levels and ages welcome (K-4 with parent).
******************* LIBRARY *******************
BookIt!
Bring your February reading logs to the library to get a free pizza certificate and pick up March forms.
************* STUDENT SPOTLIGHT *************
As Mt. Everest Academy offers students the “flexibility to pursue your passion,” our school has a wealth of students that are pursuing their passions while meeting their educational goals. The "Student Spotlight" is a way to share some of the exciting endeavors our students are involved in with the rest of our school, and a way for students to learn about other students with similar interests.
If you've got a student accomplishment or special activity that can be included in a Monday Message, please email it to Linda Ele, lele@sandi.net.
PJ Eisan's team wins gold medal in Ice Hockey
PJ Eisan, grade 5, plays on the SDIA Oilers Squirt BB ice hockey team. Competing at the California State 2018 Winter Games, PJ's team won almost a perfect tournament shut out (7-1, 6-0, 7-0, 7-0). PJ helped his team achieve 3 out of the 4 shut outs. This is PJ’s 7th tournament win and the third championship game in a row where he has scored a goal (he plays defense so goals are rare). Gold Medal Game Video Highlights
PJ also presented this slide show to his classmates explaining what the California State Games were about. Note: the slide show needs to be opened using a San Diego Unified account.
********* COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS *********
Empowerment Photo Shoot
Saturday, March 3 / 11:00-4:30 / Balboa Park
Hey, all you fashionistas out there! A student from our school has set up a photo shoot with the theme "Empowerment of the People". Everyone will meet at Balboa Park. If you're interested in participating, please call Chloe at 619-933-2257.
Science Fun for kids 9-99
Saturday, March 3 / 9:00-12:00
Miramar College, at the Mira Mesa Campus
Bring your family and join Miramar College's science faculty for science fun!
- How to Get DNA from Anything
- Sensory Perception
- Critters
- Blast Off with Diet Coke/Slime
- Crime Scene lab
- Robots and Alternative Energy
- Fun with Math Games/ Puzzles
- An Epidemic
This is a free event with free parking on campus! No RSVP needed. This event helps kick-off the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering taking place around San Diego County from March 3th-11th, 2018.
Weekend for Homeschool Students at Pali Institute
April 27-29
Join Pali Institute for a special weekend for Homeschool students.
Homeschool students (ages 9 and up) and their parents are invited to experience the Pali Institute curriculum. 4th through 10th grade students will be assigned to pre-determined age appropriate classes in Science, Leadership and Outdoor Education, along with games and evening activities through the weekend.
Introduce your student to outdoor education and experiential learning, meet other homeschool families, and enjoy a weekend in the mountains! Call (909) 867-5743 with any questions.