Monday Message
September 13, 2021
Ms. Suzie Retires!
After working at our school for over 30 years, our faithful librarian, Ms. Suzie Wilson, has decided to retire. Yes, she’s “turning the page” to her “next chapter”! In recent years Ms. Suzie has distributed textbooks, checked out library materials, monitored elementary recess, supported school events, offered holiday crafts, and covered the front office.
And for a little Mt. Everest Academy history, here are a few things that Ms. Suzie remembers from how our school started. Our name used to be “Community Home Education School” (CHES) and our logo was a dolphin, swimming in the sea of knowledge. CHES was located in one big room in Hillcrest and was the first homeschool education offered through SDUSD. Parents stopped by to pick up books and curriculum and meet the teacher. There were no class meetings and no principal on-site. Similar to now, there were many community building activities, including trips to museums, the zoo, art in the park day, multicultural activities, and end of school picnic. Our school’s past sounds just as unique and wonderful as Mt. Everest Academy is today!
We’ll miss Ms. Suzie as she “closes the book” on her time at MEA and starts a “new story” in her life of retirement!
Ms. Suzie’s last day of work will be tomorrow, Wednesday, 9/15.
PLEASE COME SIGN A FAREWELL POSTER FOR MS. SUZIE, located in front of the school office.
Welcome Aurora Ballard, our new Education Assistant!
My name is Aurora Ballard and some of you may already know me! I graduated from Mt. Everest Academy a little over 2 years ago, class of 2019. After high school I attended San Diego Mesa College to achieve an AA degree in Computer and Information Sciences. Some things I enjoy spending my time doing are: gaming, reading books, doing anything art related and being an active Bible teacher. I feel privileged to be a part of the MEA staff. I look forward to working closely with students and parents and helping them to pursue whatever they desire to achieve!
Back to School Night
Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/5177169155
4:30 - 4:45 - Welcome and MEA Foundation Introduction
4:45 - 5:30 - Teacher Open Zoom Rooms
ASB Officer Candidate Speeches
It’s time to elect your 2021-2022 ASB officers! Candidates gave their speeches during lunch on September 14. If you weren't able to be there, here's a video of their speeches.
Students in grades 6-12 may vote.
The voting form is open until midnight on Thursday, September 16.
Voting Ballot: Vote for ASB Officers
Music classes with Mr. Johnson
- Beginning Band
- Beginning Orchestra
- Advanced Band
- Advanced Orchestra
- Choir
- Music Theory
An informational meeting was held Tuesday 9/7. If you were unable to attend and are interested in music classes, please complete the survey here. We will be setting the class schedule based on your feedback.
MATHCOUNTS Club for grades 6-8
The club will have a weekly meeting online, starting September 14th, and will continue in-person when the school allows it.
Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:00pm (except turn in weeks)
Zoom Information
Meeting ID: andreasteel
Meeting password: math
Students enrolled in grades 6-8 who enjoy math and challenging problems are welcome to come and join the MATHCOUNTS Club. The club will conclude with the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series which will be held online, beginning of 2022 (it usually happens at the end of February.)
For more information feel free to check out mathcounts.org
Please note that this club is only for students in grades 6-8.
GSA
First Meeting:
Wednesday, Sept. 15 / 12:00
Garden by Room 1
GSA Club - Gender and Sexuality Alliance - Everyone is welcome! Come hang out with us in an open, accepting, and loving environment - the more the merrier! 12 - 12:30 on every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the work month in the garden outside of Room 1. Learn more about the LGBT+ community, plan and participate in actions and build community. Allies are encouraged to join. Ms. Mullen and Mr. Nielsen are the facilitators and the student leaders are Jade Rodenberg and Jody Huege. Starting September 15th.
Picture Day
Wednesday, Sept. 29 / 8:30-1:30
Auditorium
Yay! School portraits are back and this year they will be taken by Gerardy Photography!
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
Cafeteria and Zoom
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.
PALS Tutoring
We are looking forward to resuming our PALS tutoring program this school year and would like your feedback on the times that will work best for you. This year we are looking to expand PALS for all grade levels so even high schoolers can be supported by peers.
Please take the survey here so we can schedule PALS for times that meet the needs of the most students.
Sync MEA calendar to your phone
To help keep track of important school events it’s suggested that parents sync our school website calendar to their phone. Just click on the Share Icon (top right) and choose “iCal/RSS feed”.
Box Tops for Education
Shopping for groceries can be turned into easy cash for Mt. Everest Academy from hundreds of products with the Box Tops logo.
All you need is your phone! Download the Box Tops app, shop as you normally would, then use the app to scan your store receipt. The app will identify Box Tops products on your receipt and automatically credit Mt. Everest Academy’s earnings online. Find out how it works.
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.)
School Site Council (SSC) and Site Governance Team (SGT)
Looking to support our awesome school with your time? The Mt. Everest Academy SSC and SGT have open positions for at least one parent (SSC and SGT) and two students (SSC). If you are a parent or student 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 . Biographies will be shared next week for voting purposes.
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 seven times during the year and meetings will usually be scheduled on Wednesdays from 2pm-3pm. Meetings will be held on Zoom. Scheduled dates for this year include:
- 9/29/21
- 10/27/21
- 12/1/21
- 1/12/22
- 2/16/22
- 3/9/22
- 4/27/22
We greatly appreciate your willingness to support Mt. Everest with your time!
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)
Yearbook Discount
Purchase your yearbook by September 30, and get 10% off.
- Go to https://tr5.treering.com/validate
- Our passcode is 1013183679162246
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 * *
2021 Climate Strike
Join us for The Global Day of Climate Action! Take this concrete step to combat the climate crisis: demand a zero-carbon future and fight for environmental justice and equity!
As you may know, the recent IPCC report has done nothing but confirm the drastic case for our dying climate. Alongside the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global wildfires, this report adds to the long list of concrete evidence that shows that we need serious intersectional climate action NOW!!
MEA has been invited to join UCSD in their climate strike, the Green New Deal! The rally is at noon on September 24th. Group transportation could be organized. If you have any questions or are interested in participating, please reach out to Theo Martien at gabriella@themartiens.com or 8582509180.