Monday Message
MAY 3, 2021
Covid-19 Safety Expectations for On-Campus Learning Opportunities
If your student is attending one of our on-site learning opportunities, please be sure:
1) You have discussed Covid-19 safety procedures with them.
2) Your student arrives with a signed copy of the Parent acknowledgement of student on-site learning form. (This only needs to be brought on the first day.)
3) Your student brings the Daily Student Symptoms Checklist that is filled out at home before coming to school, or you can complete the daily symptom checklist online at the ClearPass web portal using your child’s district ID and pw. Then a screenshot on your phone can be shown at check-in that this has been completed. (Grades 6-12 can do this on their own phones.)
Some of the expectations for on campus attendance:
✔ Parents must take their child's temperature before coming to school. (Thermometers will be provided for any families needing one for home.)
✔ Students must arrive at the appropriate gate entrance on time at the beginning of the session. Students may not enter gates after this time. Pick up on time afterward is also strictly enforced.
✔ At the entrance, parents must arrive with a completed form (which can be done on paper or online) verifying their child does not have a temperature or any signs of illness.
✔ Parents/other adults are not allowed on campus past the gates.
✔ Masks must be worn at all times.
✔ Everyone will remain socially distanced at all times
✔ Playground/outdoor play will be allowed during each grade's allotted time.
✔ Eating will not be allowed on campus (no snacks).
✔ Extra air filtration devices will be in each classroom.
✔ Windows and doors will remain open. We will also schedule some of the activities to be outdoors.
✔ If you or your child have any signs of illness, please stay home. Any students showing signs of illness at school will be isolated in another location until parents can pick them up.
On-Campus Opportunities
If your student is signed up to attend our "Unplugged" sessions, you should have received a detailed message with procedures and expectations. Part of the elementary parking lot will be coned off for students/families to line up by grade level. Please park and line up with your child in their grade level line.
- Students must be checked in between 12:00 and 12:15
- Students must be picked up at 2pm. (Please wait in your grade level line until your student is released to you.)
6-12 "Study Zone"
One of the things families and students have said they miss the most about being on campus are the impromptu conversations they have with others in the MEA community. We will try to re-create this in the Study Zone, where students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 will have opportunities to study with their peers and meet with available teachers. The auditorium and lunch court will be open during specific times for middle school and high school, following protocols outlined above. We may offer additional opportunities based on student input. ASB members, clubs, gardening, and the Coop Group may possibly also have meetings within the Study Zone timeframe. Students must sign up ahead of time to attend and sign ups will occur weekly. Please sign up here. Each student can sign up for up to two sessions per week, although three are offered. Please see schedule below. Students may be in Study Zone while attending a studygroup online.
Students attending Study Zone must check-in at the front entrance of school by the office.
* * UPCOMING ACTIVITIES * *
SPIRIT WEEK
The final Spirit Week is coming up soon! Express your creativity and show your school spirit! ASB is sponsoring the following Spirit Days, the week of May 2:
MT. EVEREST DAY - May 4th
Dress up in our school colors (blue and white), or as our mascot (a wolf).
MENTAL WELLNESS WEDNESDAY - May 5th
To promote Mental Wellness, do some of the following:
- Immerse yourself in nature (take a picture of an interesting plant),
- Do a hobby or something you enjoy
- Eat something green
We also encourage you to wear green, which is the mental health awareness color. Submit photos of yourself doing these things for extra spirit points!
THE ULTIMATE SPIRIT DAY - May 6th
On this day, (almost) anything goes! The more prompts from this list you can simultaneously dress up for, the more points you can earn for your class! Remember, even if your class doesn't win the Cup, the student who earns the most points gets a 10 dollar amazon gift card! Go wild, and good luck!
It is encouraged that students turn on their cameras during zoom meetings, so that they can show their spirit from home!
To earn Spirit Points, students need to submit photos to the Spirit Weeks folder of TreeRing. Please include the student's name, grade, and caption with all submissions. Note that from this time, Spirit Day photos submitted to TreeRing will not be included in the yearbook.
Skribbl.io match
Day: Wednesday, May 5
Time: 12:00
Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/87637496355
Prepare your drawing skills, ASB is planning a schoolwide skribbl.io match on May 5th at 12pm.
skribbl io is a free multiplayer drawing and guessing game. Draw and guess words with your friends and people all around the world! Score the most points and be the winner!
Students in grades 6-12: Come help in the garden!
Ms. Stewart is seeking secondary students to help in the garden this week.
To join in the fun, just sign up for up to two "Study Zone" times this week for your grade level. When you check-in, let them know you are here to help out with the garden.
If this will be your first time on campus this semester, be sure to follow the “Covid-19 Safety Expectations” and “On-Campus Opportunities” guidelines listed at the top of this Monday Message.
“Love Our Library” Activities
Check out the "Love Our Library" website with upcoming activities for all ages!
For all activities:
- Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/81982416813
- Password: Library
Thursdays in May: 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27 at 2:30 pm
Reading "The Search for WandLa" by Tony DiTerlizzi
Library Zoom for grades K-2
Fridays in May: 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 at 10:30 am
Please join in the library zoom which is now open to anyone, not just Sandi.net accounts. For the month of May, K-2 Fridays will have Library Zoom time from 10:30 a.m. for all four weeks.
Librarian will make appointment zoom times usually on Thursdays or Fridays for 15-minute sessions, starting with Ms. Finney's K-2 classes, then grades 3-5 will be added. Please email the librarian at kiwamoto@sandi.net for scheduling requests.
ELEMENTARY ART
Day: Thursday, May 13
Time: 1:00pm
Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/7796265282
We will learn about complimentary colors and create a piece of Op Art (optical illusion) using those color combinations and shading techniques.
Supplies you will need are listed on the Elementary Art webpage.
Grades K-5 are welcome, but this is more geared to grades 2-5; grades K and 1 may need help.
UCSD PiB Engineering Workshop
Saturday, May 15 / 12:00-3:00pm
We have ONE (1) spot left for the virtual, hands-on engineering/Arduino workshop on Saturday, May 15, 2021 12-3pm. Students will have an opportunity to build a robot from scratch and program it to display the color of any Lego piece you "feed" it. A kit must be picked up from MEA during regular library/materials pickup times before May 15. E-mail president@meafoundation.org if you'd like to sign up. First person to respond will secure the spot. Additional responses will be placed on a waitlist in the case of any cancelations.
UCSD Parent Workshop
Brought to you by MEA Foundation
Parents, join us for a UCSD Parent University course on Understanding Talent, Giftedness, Dual Exceptionality! The virtual workshop will be held on Saturday, May 22 at 11am. Meeting link will be provided prior to the event.
* * * * * *
Exploring the Science of Harry Potter
The Exploring the Science of Harry Potter Workshop was absolutely magical! Students tied elements of the Harry Potter series to real life science and learned about genetics, magnetism, and zoology! Thank you to all who attended!
Garden Helpers
Ms. Ele even got in some garden time, raking the new mulch!
Miss Shannon and her helpers have reinvigorated the front garden area; it’s been cleaned up, freshened up, and ready to grow some amazing crops! Fresh Aleppo Pine and eucalyptus mulch has been spread around the weeded and amended raised garden beds. Walking around the beds feels like walking on a spongy layer of forest floor, and when stepping on the mulch, the oils from the trees are released, giving off a whiff of a holiday memory.
Watch the Talent Show
The Talent Show is now available to be viewed in two ways:
- Recording of the complete show. Password: G3b6*c1!
- Each act separately
Art show
The virtual art show is still available for your viewing pleasure.
Artwork below by Renee Dunlap, grade 12.
Humans of MEA
In this episode, Nicole Lee interviews Malvyn Lai, grade 10. If you’re interested in being interviewed, fill out the Humans of MEA form!.
Podcasts by 3rd & 4th graders
All 3rd and 4th grade students created a podcast! Students started the Podcast unit by first listening to different genres of podcasts. Next, they conducted research on the ideal classroom pet and co-wrote an opinion paper. Finally, they wrote a script and recorded the podcast on the Anchor website. What do you think would make the best classroom pet? Have a listen!
* * ANNOUNCEMENTS * *
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!
Did you attend the UCSD workshop on test anxiety?
If so, the presenters from UCSD are asking if you would please take a moment and rate their presentation given on April 29. Thank you!
All About Chicken Treats
This website and article within it has some wonderful information on appropriate food items for all chickens, especially the MEA chickens.
Beautifully created video (included on this site) showing the various types of flowers and plants we can grow in both garden spaces in order to increase the health and overall well-being of our five resident chickens here.
Take a look at how:
- Lettuce can help keep chickens hydrated over hot summer months
- How watermelon and cantaloupe cores can be a fun treat
- The specific flowers that provide essential vitamins and nutrients...so chickens can keep producing eggs!
Thank you to our Garden Educator, Miss Shannon, for sharing this information!
Student SDUSD Board Member Application
High School students can now apply to serve a one-year term alongside the five Board Trustees for the 2021-22 school year by following the process outlined here and completing this Google Form.
- Thursday, May 6, 2021: Filing Deadline
- Tuesday, May 11, 2021: Districtwide high school student election
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK
Click to Purchase Your 2020-21 MEA Yearbook
- School Passcode: 1013183679162246
This year's book gives each student 2 free pages to fill with their own photos and memories.
619-605-8700
Along with an internet upgrade, MEA now has a new phone system. Please note that we now have a new phone number, 619-605-8700. The old number will continue to work for the next few months to allow for a transition and all communications will soon list our new number.
DVDs of "A Wrinkle in Time"
We have some DVDs left from our last theatre production in March 2020: A Wrinkle in Time. They will be on sale at the discounted price of $7 each. We have a limited quantity, so it is first come first serve. For information to buy one, please call miss Maria at the main office at (619) 605-8700.
Report Cards
We continue to follow the district procedures for COVID19 and all staff is working remotely, therefore report cards are not being mailed home. You may access students’ grades and unofficial transcripts on your PowerSchool parent portal. If you need help accessing the parent portal, please contact Maria Ramos at mramos3@sandi.net”
Senior Reminders
This senior letter and graduation checklist was sent to seniors and their parents on 2/19/21.
Upcoming deadlines:
- Community Service Hours form - 4/23
- Two Surveys - 4/30
Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony
Day: Friday, June 11
Time: 5:00pm
Place: Mt. Helix Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Material Checkout Times
Please come to the North facing door of the auditorium.
- Tuesdays: 10:00-12:00
- Thursdays: 10:00-12:30
Please contact Suzie Wilson at swilson3@sandi.net if you have any questions on Tuesdays through Thursdays. There is no need to email in advance. However, when there are special distributions ready for check-out, they will be noted here in the Monday Message.
Book Returns
Want to return MEA books that you no longer need? There will be a drop-off box underneath the Marquee sign (sunny days only!) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-3:00.
Please send in your Good Stuff!
We know MEA students and families are involved in so many things outside of school. Do you have something fun or interesting to share? Please send your stories and images to share for "The Good Stuff" in upcoming Monday messages to Linda Ele at lele@sandi.net. We want to hear from you!
Kitty Foster Mom
Gabriella M., grade 10, has been fostering kittens since April 2020. She's taken care of about 16 cuties and they've all found homes!
HECATE (to the right) was one of her fosters.
OCASIO (below), pictured at 1 month and 9 months. Gabriella fell in love with Ocasio and adopted him, so technically he's a "foster failure!"
** Extracurricular Activities **
CLUBS
- Academic League - led by Kate Papen
- Ally Action - use this Google Classroom code to join: 4pkxv2a
- Art Club - led by Ava G, Renee D, Alexis A.
- Cooking Club - led by Katherine B.
- Drama Club - led by Gabriella Martien
- Engineering Club - led by Matthew S ... Zoom link .
> Mondays, 1:30-2:30 (not turn in) - Film Club - led by Petunia Rizo
German Club – led by Meredith A., Sam M.
GSA – Google Classroom link…GC code to join: wtg4opf
Hack Club - led by Yusuf A.
- Horror Club - led by Toki
- Mental Health Club - led by Leena Iwamoto
- Musicing Club - led by Malyvn Lai
- Rubik's Cube Club - led by Shawn Zhuang
Year Enders
- Yoga/Meditation Club - led by Chloe Lutosky
Take your positions!
ASB Students sharing their work
- Link to ASB Website
- ASB Instagram: @mea.asb
- Link to School Site
Ally Action Website
Ally Action Officially has a website! Here you can get information on our club, see our events, and even watch recordings of some of them. We have also linked resources to external events, petitions, and ways to reach out. The entire site was built by students. You can find the link to it here.
THE MEA SPIRIT CUP
ASB is hosting an ongoing school-wide competition, henceforth titled the Spirit Cup! Each grade level/group will compete with each other for a prize (for the sake of fairness, K - 2 and 3 - 4 are combined into groups). Students can earn Spirit Points towards their class's total in the following ways:
SPIRIT DAYS - Through TreeRing, students can submit pictures of themselves in their spirit day costume. They will receive one Spirit Point per spirit day for which they send in a picture demonstrating participation. Here are instructions for submitting photos through TreeRing (use the spirit day folder). Note that photos submitted now will not be included in the yearbook, but will count for Spirit Points!
EVENTS - Students can earn three Spirit Points for participation in an event, as well as additional Spirit Points that might be awarded from the event (e.g. Extra Spirit Points might be earned from placing in the top three in a schoolwide kahoot). To earn these points, students must fill out a short form sent out during the event.
Other ways to earn Spirit Points may be revealed through the year.
The points earned by each class will be tallied up and displayed in the Monday Message at the beginning of each month. Members of whichever class has the most points at the end of month 9 will win the Spirit Cup and associated bragging rights. They will also be rewarded with certificates for 5 oz of free yogurt from YogurtLand, and the student with the most Spirit Points earned will earn a $10 Amazon gift card, which will be distributed at the beginning of month 10.
Humans of MEA
Based on "Humans of New York", Ally Action will interview teachers and high school students to learn their story. The interviews will be shared on the Monday Message. The goal of this project is to help show that we all have our own stories!
If you are interested in participating, please fill out this Humans of MEA form.
** COUNSELING CORNER **
Community College information
Students taking community college classes during the Summer will need to buy their books and materials through the Mesa Bookstore or online (amazon, chegg, etc). You will not be billed through your portal for books.
High school students enrolled in 11 units or less will have their enrollment fees waived, but will be billed for the health fee (roughly $22). Enrollment fees may take 10-12 business days to clear of their balance.
High school students can now begin submitting supplemental applications to the campus where your course is offered as soon as you select your class(es) off of the summer class schedule. You will be enrolled by Admissions around open enrollment May 17, 2021. Please note: all High school students have a hold on their record and are not able to self enroll. Students must meet class requirements prior to being enrolled by Admissions. If you feel like you meet pre-requisite requirements for a class you can take a subject assessment to determine your eligibility. Please submit your supplemental applications for Fall as soon as the Fall class schedule becomes available on June 7th. Keep in mind to schedule classes at the community college that do not conflict with our MEA study group schedule.
Summer 2021 College Dates
Summer Class schedule- April 19, 2021
Open Enrollment - May 17, 2021
First day of Summer - June 7, 2021
Fall 2021 College Dates
Fall class schedule - June 7, 2021
Open Enrollment- July 19, 2021
1st day of Fall - Aug 23
Summer Community College Classes
For Sophomores and Juniors wanting to take a community college class in the Summer, please note that the Summer 2021 college class schedule release has been postponed to April 19, 2021. You can view the Summer online class schedule after April 19.
Students need to apply to the community college district if they have not done so. In addition to this, students will also need to complete and submit this online Supplemental Application. Once submitted, students will be scheduled by the community college. Summer classes begin June 7th.
Here is general Mesa College Summer information.
Choosing classes for 2021-22
Articulation Meetings for 2021-2022
Students in grades 5-11 have the opportunity to plan their classes for next school year.
Grades 5, 6, 7
Students will review articulation sheets/course options with Ms. Patterson during English class this month and parents should go over course options with their student(s) at home.
Students must submit the articulation sheet with parent approval to their Supervising/PE teacher through Google Classroom during Month 6.
Please contact your child’s supervising teacher with questions.
Articulation Sheets:
Grades 8, 9, 10, 11
All 8th -11th graders must email Mr. Zappala at rzappala@sandi.net to schedule a time to discuss courses for next year, graduation and college entrance requirements, and community college courses. If students do not meet with Mr. Zappala before the end of April, he will schedule them into their 2021-22 classes.Incoming 9th graders and their parents can meet with Mr. Zappala for a 4-year planning conference during the time of their articulation meeting.
Parents are encouraged to attend along with their student. If parents cannot attend, they should review the course options with their student at home.
Students do not need to return an articulation sheet, but should be prepared to share their course requests with Mr. Zappala during their appointment with him.
For questions, please contact Mr. Zappala.
Articulation Sheets:
Find all courses being offered next year here: Master Course List 2021-2022
Email Mr. Zappala at rzappala@sandi.net to schedule a meeting time.
Mental Health Resource Survey
Have you utilized mental health resources that Mr. Zappala has made available either through teacher websites or in Monday Messages?
Please answer ONE or TWO questions in this anonymous Mental Health Resource Survey. Thank you.
JUNIORS: Poli. Sci. CCAP options for next year
Mesa has offered another CCAP option for our students. In addition to math 150 and 151, Seniors next year can take Poli. Sci. 102 and 121 to meet the Government and Economics graduation requirements. However, I have met with many of this year’s juniors for articulation before knowing this was an option, so I would like for the juniors who have already met with me to know that they can email me to change to the Poli. Sci options for next year and for those who have not met with me to be aware of this option.
- Mr. Zappala, rzappala@sandi.net
Endless Possibilities
Your guide to majors and programs of interest at the San Diego Community College District. They offer endless possibilities for your career journey with a wealth of opportunities for pursuing your education. The SDCCD strives to make their students successful by dedicating their resources to quality instruction and stellar support services.
Class of 2021
Seniors, this Counseling & Guidance Resources webpage was designed with you in mind. From the page you will find helpful resources to support your senior year: understand the college application process, cope with the stressors of transitioning to college and navigate the challenges of senior year.
* * COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS * *
Classics 4 Kids
Classics 4 Kids is offering the following virtual events:
- Physics that make a flute toot
- Meet a Mariachi on Cinco de Mayo
- “What Music Means to Me” art contest
Stress and Resilience Workshops
Monday, May 3 / 6:00-6:45 pm
Monday, May 10 / 6:00-6:45 pm
Zoom: 940-2643-7772
Passcode: 023139
Brought to you by Kaiser Permanente, resilience Actor-Educators focus on the physiological effects of stress, ways to manage stress for families, and tools to build resilience. In this series, parents can:
- Make a schedule that works for their family to help reduce stress
- Learn Meditation and self-regulation techniques for the whole family
- Learn to identify stress triggers by creating a stress diary
- Understand how trauma affects learning, and how to support your child’s learning at home
Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre (ET) has served Southern California since 1986.