Monday Message
4/3/17
Spring planting in the MEA Garden
Some of Mrs. Finney's 1st graders planted carrots and snap pea seeds.
Do you know...
What this musical instrument is?
Who plays this instrument at Mt. Everest Academy?
See answer below.
Making Recycled Paper
Students in Eco-Warriors, led by 12th grader Megan P., made recycled paper. They enjoyed blending, preparing, and feeling paper pulp! Making paper is a tactile experience!
************* ANNOUNCEMENTS *************
National Honor Society Inductees
Congratulations to our 2016-17 academic year inductees to the Mt. Everest Academy chapter of the National Honor Society. These students have a cumulative (without PE) grade point average of at least 3.75 or higher, 30+ hours of community services, and demonstrated leadership. We are proud to welcome:
- Rachel E.
- Pricilla H.
- Lucas H.
- Nathan L.
- Emily N.
- Galileo R.
- Emma R.
- Christina S.
- Gabrielle W.
The next applications will be due on September 22, 2017.
Mt. Everest Academy Teacher of the Year: Ms. Pachon!
Congratulations to our stellar science teacher, Ms. Pachon, who has been voted Mt. Everest Academy's Teacher of the Year! Ms. Pachon teaches AP Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Biology, Advanced Biology, and AP Biology. Ms. Pachon shares her love of science with her students through engaging lectures, interesting lab projects, and going on local field trips to give students real world exposure. The Miramar Landfill, the San Diego Pure Water Facility, and the SD Zoo Safari Park are a few of the tours her classes have gone on. Ms. Pachon also supports students by being a sponsor for two student-initiated clubs: the MEA Environmental Club and the MEA Social Advocacy Club. As another bonus for our school, Ms. Pachon recently got accepted into a prestigious summer science research program at UCSD for science teachers, where she will receive a $1,500 stipend for science supplies for our school! We are lucky to have a teacher with Ms. Pachon's passion, dedication, and teaching expertise here at Mt. Everest!
Pokemon/Games Club
Location Change
Please note that the location for the Pokemon/Games Club has changed to the Cafeteria.
Seeking Parent Volunteers
The Pokemon/Games Club is currently led by rotating parent volunteers. So parents, if you'd like to spend an hour with some of our students on a Wednesday from 2:00-3:00, please sign up for a time slot here.
For any questions, please contact parent Florizel Yasuhara at zeliflor@gmail.com
No Guitar and Jam Session this week
There will be no Guitar class this Tuesday, and no Jam Session this Wednesday, as Mr. Antti will be at an offsite training on these days.
eScrip
Support Mt. Everest Academy by signing up for eScrip!
Here's a link to some fun ways to earn money for our school through buying groceries, dining out, shopping online, giving gift cards, booking travel, and more! For any questions, please contact Vivian Sink at vsink@sandi.net.
Water Testing at SDUSD Schools
At Mt. Everest Academy, the well being of students and staff is our top priority. For that reason, San Diego Unified School District has asked the City of San Diego to test the water at our school site. Letter to parents regarding water testing.
Silent Auction Contributions Requested
As well as being entertained by our talented students, part of the fun of this annual event is bidding on exciting gift baskets and certificates. Each grade level teacher is collecting items for a silent auction theme basket. Please see the themes listed below, or if a teacher's theme isn't listed, please ask him/her. Also, if you own a business and would like to donate a service or basket item, please let us know!
This is an ASB sponsored event and all donations go directly back to our student body. Thank you in advance for supporting our school!
- Steve Antti - Cookies
- Erin Becerra - Ice Cream Social
- Rachel Finney - Heroes & Villains
- Jim Greenwood - Games Galore
- Emily Jacobs
- Deborah Mech
- Eric Nielsen
- Trudy Pachon - Candle Aroma
- Linda Patterson - Chocolate Lovers
- Kris Rodenberg - Outdoor Fun
- Bruce Sharp - I Love Coffee
- Daniel Spiegelberg - All About Sports
- Huy Tran - Video Games
- Flo Yssel
Parent "Apprentice" & Volunteers for Talent Show Needed!
The MEA Annual Talent Show and Silent Auction is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2017. We are in need of parent volunteers to ensure this event is a success! Adira Rosen, current MEA senior and MEA theatre Director has graciously offered to organize the show. However, we need a parent who is willing to help run the show in future years to be her “apprentice” this year since she is graduating (sniff, sniff). We also need parents to help with set up and breakdown. If you are interested in helping in any capacity or have further questions, please email Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net. (Remember, the show can’t go on without the help of volunteers!)
Yearbook Orders
Order deadline: Sunday, April 16
It's time to order your school yearbook!
- Order online at ybpay.lifetouch.com. The yearbook code for our school is 13011917
- You can buy a soft cover yearbook for $20 or a hard cover for $25.
- Lifetouch also gives you a variety of different packages to order that you will see online.
- Please place your order soon, before the April 16 deadline.
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.
******** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ********
High Tea Fundraiser to support refugee girls
Sunday, April 9 / 3:00-5:00 pm / Islamic Center of San Diego
Mt. Everest Academy Girl Up, in collaboration with the Islamic Center of San Diego, UCSD's Center on Gender Equity and Health, and the United Nations Association of San Diego, will be holding a high tea fundraiser. Come enjoy an afternoon filled with inspirational talks and discussions, performances, and of course, delicious tea, pastries, and baked goods! Tickets are $15 per person, and all funds raised will support education for refugee girls in Ugandan refugee camps. For more information on speakers and performers, visit our website: meateaparty2017.weebly.com. Come for the cause, stay for the baklava!
Parent PALS
Wednesday, April 12 / 10:00 / Cafeteria
Looking for ideas, support, motivation or connection? Join other MEA parents for a monthly meet and greet. The meeting will feature a speaker, group discussion, or parent panel and also allow time for socializing. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Feel free to bring a brunch dish to share and any curriculum or teaching tools you have found useful (optional). Babies and students are welcome; PALS and extracurricular options coincide with this meeting as well. (Note that the April 5 meeting has been changed to April 12.)
* * Talent Showcase & Silent Auction * *
Thursday, April 13 / Auditorium
4:30: Dinner & Silent Auction bidding
5:30: Show starts
Calling all students, parents, staff, families, and friends to come enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment at Mt. Everest Academy’s annual Talent Show & Silent Auction! Students from grades K-12 will showcase their talents, food will be available for purchase, and the Silent Auction will have exciting gift baskets and gift certificates to bid on. This is Mt. Everest’s biggest fundraiser event of the year, and one hundred percent of all funds raised will directly benefit student learning and school activities.
**************** MAKERSPACE ****************
Link to Makerspace calendar of activities.
From Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30-2:30, the Makerspace is open for students ready to tinker and create, unless an activity is listed as "participants only" (marked with an asterisk on the calendar). Questions? Contact supervisors: Nikki Bradford (nbradford@sandi.net) or Barb Mulvany (bmulvany@sandi.net)
Announcing the March Engineer of the Month!
Congratulations to our makerspace Engineer of the Month, Mikey S.! Using only toothpicks, hot glue, and string, he constructed an impressively strong bridge. Using all available weights, a total of 34 POUNDS, his bridge remained unbroken during testing. It is currently on display in the makerspace."
3-D Printer Assistance
Wednesdays / 9:20-11:20am / Makerspace
One of our seniors, Mikey S., has generously volunteered his time and skill to teach other students how to use the 3-D printer. He is available every Wednesday from 9:20-11:20 am. Come learn from an expert!
Use Tinkercad for 3D creation
For students interested in printing their own 3D creation, visit www.tinkercad.com. It takes just a few moments to create your online account and you can begin designing immediately. When ready, you can come to the MakerSpace, log into your tinkercad accounts, and print your creation!
************* COUNSELING CORNER *************
BIA Cares Scholarship
The Building Industry Association of San Diego County is offering scholarships to graduating high school seniors who seek to pursue a career related to the residential and commercial building/development industry. Career options include: developer, contractor, architect, civil/structural/soils engineer, designer, interior designer, banker, accounting, planner, landscape architect, framer, carpenter, plumber, electrician and other real estate and development related professions.
Here is an application; these are also available at the BIA Cares website.
EAP from SDSU for Juniors
Tuesday, April 11 / 12:00-12:30 / Cafeteria
Juniors! San Diego State University will be coming out to speak with you about the Early Assessment Program (EAP). This is the "college ready" aspect of getting into college and being successful. Please plan to attend, and there will be FREE PIZZA!
Required AP Test Pre-Administration Session
Tuesday, April 25 / 11:50am / Cafeteria
For students that have signed up to take AP tests, please plan to attend this mandatory AP Pre-Administration Session. If you are unable to attend, please contact Mrs. Browne or Mr. Zappala. Link to AP exam information on CollegeBoard
****************** LIBRARY *******************
April Challenge: Create a poem!
In honor of Poetry Month, we are challenging you to create a poem about our library. Be creative! All poems will be displayed around the school, put on our website, and students will earn a prize from the library. There are 4 types of poems from which to choose: Concrete, Acrostic, Haiku, and Limerick. Learn more about these formats here, or pick up a hardcopy in the library. Poems are due in the library by 12:00 April 12th.
************ STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ***********
MEA Students on the John Muir Archery Team
This Saturday several of our students competed at the 2017 OAS State Championship. Jackson S, Mikey S, Christina S, and Edward S. all placed very well in the ranking rounds, with Jackson placing 5th out of 52, Christina placing 9th, Mikey placing 10th, and Edward placing 24th. Christina and Mikey won the Gold (first place) medal in the Triples Rounds, and everyone's scores helped win them the 2nd place overall team trophy, which is currently displayed in the Mt. Everest Academy office. They are now all training hard for the National Tournament coming up at the end of the month.
The 3 pictures below are from two weeks ago, before spring break. Our students also competed in the San Diego Regional Archery Championship at the Olympic Training Center. Christina won a silver medal, and as a team, Jackson and Edward won a bronze medal. Congratulations MEA archers!
******* COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS *******
Fast Times 5K & Clairemont Day at the Bay
Saturday, April 8 / De Anza Cove
* * Students * * Families * * Friends * * Staff * *
Come be part of the Mt. Everest Academy team at this annual community event! You can run or walk the 5K to help raise funds for Clairemont schools, or just enjoy all the fun activities.
To learn more and to register: http://sandyfeetevents.com/fast-times-5k/
Kids Bowl Free
Select bowling centers and schools around San Diego County are participating in the Kids Bowl Free program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.
Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free games a day, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations.
Creek to Bay Cleanup
Saturday, April 22
Save the date for our 15th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup! Join us on Earth Day 2017, Saturday, April 22nd, as we beautify over 100 sites in San Diego County! Last year, a record breaking 6,400 volunteers came out to our 110 sites and successfully removed 150,000 lbs. of litter. Instead of turning a blind eye to the abundance of litter found across San Diego County, our volunteers channeled their appreciation for San Diego’s environment into action to protect it. http://www.creektobay.org
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Lucia plays the bassoon!
Lucia, grade 6, is one of just a few students in the San Diego Unified School District that plays the bassoon. Lucia says she likes playing the bassoon because it's different and challenging!