Monday Message
1/13/20
Staff Spotlight
During the recent ice skating event at Liberty Station, one of our parents recorded this video of our very own Principal Browne taking a few spins! Click for video clip.
Fan Factory
Mr. Spiegelberg's history students enacted the Industrial Revolution by running a Fan Factory Simulation. As the entrepreneur, Mr.Spiegelberg took 75% of the total value produced, paid the workers the remainder, and said "They need to work faster and produce more!"
Mission Trails Field Trip
Last Friday was a beautiful day for a hike at Mission Trails! Our MEA group learned about the Kumeyaay Indians' way of life and their usage of native plants and wildlife resources.
**** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ****
PSAT Results
Wednesday, January 15 / 11:55-12:30 / Cafeteria
Mr. Zappala is holding this assembly to review PSAT results with students that took the test last October. Come learn how to interpret and use the PSAT scores. Parents are welcome.
FREE PIZZA!
SSC/SGT Meeting
Wednesday, January 15 / 2:00-3:00 / Cafeteria
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
Souplantation Fundraiser
Thursday, January 16 / 11:00am-9:00pm
Souplantation at 7095 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
Enjoy a farm-fresh family salad bar and buffet at Souplantation this Thursday and 20% of the proceeds will go to the Mount Everest Academy Foundation!
Here is the fundraiser flyer that must be presented at time of purchase via mobile phone or paper copy. Paper copies are available in the front office or the parent room.
Thank you for supporting our wonderful school and foundation!
Academic League: Teachers vs. Students
Thursday, January 16 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
Please come support our incredible Academic League team as they take on their supremely knowledgeable teachers in a trivia contest! (GO STUDENTS!!!)
Yearenders will be selling popcorn and candy. The money raised from this will go to getting a DJ for the prom.
Below, the Academic League practices with their coach, Mr. Cate. Students click on a buzzer when they are ready to answer a question.
Coffee with the Principal
Thursday, January 23 / 9:15-9:45 / Cafeteria
Parents and community members are invited to join Principal Browne over a cup of coffee (or tea) to discuss school happenings. Coffee with the Principal is a time to hear about the instructional program, gain strategies to assist students at home, ask questions and/or share ideas that will positively impact students and our school community. It’s also a perfect time to meet other parents and share in celebrating our successes. All parents and community members are welcome!
Academic League Competition
Thursday, January 23 / 7:00 pm / Mission Bay High
The MEA Academic League with Coach Cate will meet at Mission Bay High School this Thursday to compete with their Academic League. Answering a series of questions for all core subjects, the contestants try to outwit and out-maneuver their opponents in a set of matches to reach the finals. Come out and support our team!
MEA Science Fair
Thursday, January 30 / 11:00-12:45 / Auditorium
Everyone is invited to our 6th Annual MEA Science Fair Open House! Please come, enjoy light refreshments, and learn from our young researchers. The students have been working hard on their projects exploring a wide variety of science topics and would like to let you know what they've discovered. We really appreciate your interactions with them and your support in their efforts.
Wanted: Science Fair Judges
MEA Science Fair judges are needed on:
Tuesday, January 28
Anytime from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm
If you have science background experience and are available to help sometime on Tuesday, January 28, please contact Norm Negus at nnegus@cox.net. Also please let Mr. Negus know if someone you know may be able to help.
Judges will review students' work for determination of places 1, 2, 3, 4 in any of 16 different categories of projects in the life and physical sciences. There are about 60 projects this year, and any number of projects you'd be able to evaluate would be greatly appreciated!
Winter Formal
Friday, January 31 / 6:30-9:30pm / Auditorium
All high school students are invited to the upcoming Winter Formal! "Snowflake" is the theme of the dance. Tickets are $15 the weeks before the formal and $20 the week of the formal. It is only for high schoolers and each high schooler can take one person from a different school if they get a permission slip signed by their parents and an administrator at their school. All the profits from the winter formal will go to getting a DJ for the prom.
If we don't have at least 30 tickets sold by Wednesday, January 29th the dance will have to be cancelled. So invite your friends to come, and buy your tickets early. There will not be tickets sold at the door. Hope to see you there!
Deadline to purchase tickets: Thursday, January 30, 3:00pm
Senior Portraits
Thursday, February 6 / 11:30-1:30 / Auditorium
Lifetouch Photography will be coming to Mt. Everest Academy to take Senior Portraits. Seniors, 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!
Contact Linda Ele, lele@sandi.net, with any questions.
Save the Date!
MEA 2020 Silent Auction and Talent Show: Friday, April 24, 2020.
**** ANNOUNCEMENTS ****
Note of appreciation
The San Diego Center for Children expressed their gratitude for your generous donations of toys and gifts that we were able to present to them for the holidays.
MEA Wish List
Dear MEA parents,
In an effort to conserve school expenditures, we're asking for donations of the following:
- Copy paper
- 3x5 index cards
- Graph paper
- College-ruled paper
Your contributions of the above items will help us maximize our budget to purchase classroom materials that enrich teachers’ instruction and your student’s learning.
Thank you for your support!
MEA Foundation Update
The MEA Foundation is looking for assistance with our silent auction. We are also looking for parents to help organize a jogathon or color run.
If you are interested in helping with any of these events, please email Ms. Ramos in the front office at mramos3@sandi.net or let her know in person.
ASB Book Drive
January 6 - February 7
Book drop off - Front Offfice
- Our ASB is sponsoring this Book Drive, which runs from Tuesday, January 6 to Friday, February 7. Please bring your donated books to the front office.
- The Book Drive will culminate in a Book Sale the week of February 4. All profits from books sold will be used by the ASB to support fun events for students.
Monday Message to Students
STUDENTS, would you like to receive the Monday Message 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.
Students on Campus (gr. K-6)
It is school policy that K-6 students be accompanied by a parent at all times unless the student is in class with their grade level teacher or in PALS. For all extracurriculars and other events, parents are expected to supervise their children.
**** yearbook ****
Yearbook Cover Contest
All students are invited to enter their art in our yearbook cover contest! The winner will receive a yearbook and their artwork will be displayed on the front cover! Even if your entry is not used on the cover, it may still be used in other places throughout the book.
**** Extracurricular activities ****
Please find the most up-to-date extracurricular activities schedule on our website. This is a work in progress; we will continue to add to and fine-tune the schedule as needed.
If you have a talent to share and are interested in leading an extracurricular class or workshop series, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net
MEA Hack Club
The MEA Hack Club is a programming club where students of all experience levels can learn how to code. Whether you're new to programming or not, you can learn and work collaboratively with other students on projects in areas such as web and game development. The club will also be associated with the global Hack Club community, where students can connect with other student programmers around the world. In the future students may get a chance to connect with professionals involved in the computer science and engineering fields.
If you are interested, let us know when you will be available by filling out the form so we can quickly finalize a meeting time.
Rubik's Cube Club
Thursdays / 11:55-12:25 / Cafeteria
Students learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube!
- All ages welcome - simple to learn!
- No experience necessary
- Plenty of speedcubes to borrow
- Know how to solve already? Learn new tricks to increase your speed!
- Go beyond the 3x3 and expand into other twisty puzzles (2x2, 4x4, 5x5, pyraminx, etc.)
- Feel free to come and watch!
Rugby Club
Thursdays / 12:00-12:30 / Blacktop
After a brief break during the holidays, Rugby Club is starting up again on every Thursday (except turn-in week). The coach for this club is 11th grader Colton S., shown in action below playing with UC High School Honey Badgers.
Colton is looking forward to teaching any student who would like to learn how to play rugby!
Any questions? You can email him at toltecsink@gmail.com
Library Challenge
Click for January library challenges
There are two choices this month: a “January challenge” and a “super challenge” but only one prize per student. The reasons for 2 challenges are 2-fold: a new decade to explore and one super challenge to learn a higher level of astronomy terminology.
BOOKIT!
Grades K-6: Sign up for BookIt! in the library.
Read books and earn FREE PIZZA!
All students need to do is come in to the library, sign up and receive a reading log. At the end of each month, turn in the completed reading log. You will then receive a coupon for a FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut! Pick up your new reading log and begin again for the next month.
**** COUNSELING CORNER ****
PSAT Results
Wednesday, January 15 / 11:55-12:30 / Cafeteria
Mr. Zappala is holding this assembly to review PSAT results with students that took the test last October. Come learn how to interpret and use the PSAT scores. Parents are welcome. FREE PIZZA!
San Diego Promise Scholarship
The San Diego Promise Scholarship is a community college two-year completion program designed to ensure students complete their educational goal whether it be to earn a certificate of completion and enter the workforce, complete an associate degree, or transfer to a university. The application opens January 13, 2020.
Community College Dual Enrollment
11th or 12th grade students may take a community college course while being enrolled at Mt. Everest. There are many courses offered for dual credit, where students can meet high school graduation requirements while earning college credit. Now is the time to sign up for a spring semester course!
Spring classes begin at Mesa on February 3rd and students can register now by going to Mesa admissions with their photo ID and supplemental application. All students planning on taking a community college class in the Spring should see Mr. Zappala.
**** COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS ****
UCSD Academic Connections
Applications for Summer 2020 now open
UC San Diego Academic Connections is committed to providing a pre-college summer residential experience that is academically and socially enriching to a diverse population of high-achieving, college-bound high school students motivated to explore the offerings of UC San Diego.
Research Scholars program provides high school students with educational opportunities in top notch research. A variety of programs in Bioengineering, Life Sciences, Medicine, and Design Thinking will be available for students to select from based on their interests.
Global Environmental Leadership and Sustainability (GELS) programs give high school students an exclusive opportunity to engage and address environmental issues making news today through research and learning. The cutting-edge coursework is taught by renowned researchers, graduate students and professional scientists.
Interfaith Mandalas and Music at the North Clairemont Library
Thursday, January 16 / 10:00-11:30am
North Clairemont Library - 4616 Clairemont Dr.
The MEA Interfaith Group, headed up by Ms. Deb Mech, is sharing information about this interfaith community event. There will be music and a simple mandala art project (materials will be provided). They will share quotes and prayers about THE POWER OF OUR THOUGHTS from many spiritual traditions. The intention is to create a space where people from all faith backgrounds can come together to understand and support each other.
Free and open to the public!
For questions please contact Ms. Deb Mech at dmech@sandi.net.
EIR for 5525 Mt. Etna Drive
The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Community Plan Amendment (CPA) is now available. The Final EIR analyzes the potential environmental impacts of amending the community land use plan and rezoning 5255 Mt. Etna Drive for multi-family residential use, as well as preparing the site for future development. As lead agency, the County of San Diego released the Final EIR.
The County invites the public to attend a public hearing for the certification of the Final EIR. The public hearing will be held at the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors regularly scheduled meeting:
Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 9 a.m.
County Administration Center
Board Chambers, 3rd Floor
1600 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
The Final EIR document can be viewed here.
CSF Rose Parade Float Contest
The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021, and will kick off next year with a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2021. The 2021 theme of the Parade is "Education"!
CSF has announced a contest to come up with a design for their float. The contest is open to all CSF and CJSF members and submissions will be accepted through January 15, 2020. Design concepts are welcome from individuals or groups, and may be drawings or text descriptions. The #1 winning designer will be invited to ride on the CSF float, and the 9 runners up will be invited to walk with the float.