Monday Message
9/11/17
******** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ********
Planning Meeting for the Club Fair
Tuesday, September 12 / 12:00-12:30 / Cafeteria
If you run a club and have not been contacted, or want to start something up, please email Emma R. at emma.rod10@gmail.com. The festival's next planning meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday the 12th, at lunch (12-12.30).
Planning happening below!
Back to School Night
Wednesday, September 13 / 5:00-7:00pm
We want to see a HUGE turnout at Back to School Night this year on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 5-7 pm! Please join us for dinner available for purchase from Beach n’ Bowls food truck (with a % going back to MEA), free child care, student activities, and informational sessions including:
- Demystifying the Common Core (How do the skills and expectations for English Language Arts align and build from elementary through high school?)
- Full STEAM ahead with the Next Generation Science Standards (Explore the changes in science education)
- MakerSpace happenings (Learn how you can best utilize this free on-campus resource, including 3D printing, coding with Spheros, electronics with Arduinos, and monthly STEAM challenges. Come by and MAKE something!)
- Get started with Naviance! (Get logged in and begin utilizing this powerful tool for personalized career and college exploration.)
- The power of your password (Learn what online tools and curricular supports are available through the district for students to utilize for research, creating, and sharing)
- Music at MEA (Wanna jam? Come check out the new re-vAMPED music offerings with Mr. Nielsen, including our new recording studio and classes for beginners to advanced.)
- Mindfulness and Meditation (We know how important it is to keep our bodies healthy, but what about our minds? Learn how mindfulness and meditation can support you and your child.)
- Ahhhhhhh! I'm new and need help organizing! (Learn best practices for time management and organizing for independent study.)
We are looking forward to seeing you all there!
California Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 16 / 9:00-noon
Calling all Mt Everest Families! Come join us for our first service to the community this school year on Saturday, September 16th from 9-noon. Can’t make it the whole time? No problem-come when you can!
We will be cleaning up in our school area to serve the community of Clairemont as part of the 33rd Annual California Coastal Clean Up Day with I Love a Clean San Diego! We will be in Clairemont in the area of Oglala Creek. (Clairemont Mesa Blvd to Lakehurst Ave. Meet at the trailhead at Lakehurst Avenue.) Link to directions.
Please sign this attached waiver as it is necessary to participate in the cleanup. Also, please let me know you are coming at bmulvany@sandi.net so I can look for you on Saturday morning! Thank you and help us keep San Diego beautiful!
WASC Committee Meeting
Monday, September 18 / 9:30-10:30 / Room 2
MEA parents and students in grades 6-12 are needed for committees for our upcoming review by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). WASC accreditation is an ongoing six-year cycle of quality whereby schools demonstrate the capacity, commitment, and competence to support high-quality student learning and ongoing school improvement.
The first meeting for your input this year will be held on:
• Monday, Sept. 18
• 9:30-10:30 am
• Room 2
Your input is invaluable in this process! Please email Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net if you are interested in being a part of our WASC teams or would like to learn more about it. If you were a part of a WASC team last year, we look forward to your continued support!
MEA Picture Day
Thursday, September 21 / 8:30-12:30 / Auditorium
STUDENT PICTURES
It's important that all students have their picture taken! The picture will be used for the student's school ID card and the school yearbook.
Families also have the option to purchase a picture package:
- Order Online
Go to: mylifetouch.com. The Mt. Everest picture day I.D. is CK927510Y0. Pay online, with a credit card, before portraits are taken - Order Form
Order forms will be available in the office or the computer lab after Sept. 15. On Picture Day, bring the order form and payment - either a check made payable to “Lifetouch” or cash (EXACT CHANGE, PLEASE).
PARENT PICTURES
Parents, please have your picture taken on this day also, for your Parent Educator ID card!
Campus safety is our priority and your ID card will give you convenient access to our campus. All visitors, including parents and volunteers, are required to wear a Parent Educator ID card, an MEA lanyard, or a visitor sticker badge.
- If you don't already have a lanyard, they will be available at Picture Day.
- Your Parent Educator ID card will also qualify you for educator discounts.
- The cost for a parent ID card is $3 and must be paid on Picture Day, with cash or a check made payable to "Lifetouch."
Club Fair
Tuesday, September 26 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
Wednesday, September 27 / 12:00-12:30 / Auditorium
Calling all MEAers! Do you want to get involved at school, make a difference, or just have fun? Come to the Club Fair! We will have food, music, and a demonstration by the Improv Club!
MakerPlace Tour
Friday, September 29 / 1:00 /
MakerPlace - 1022 West Morena Blvd, Suite H, San Diego
Mark your calendars! Mt Everest families are welcome to come visit the MakerPlace, located on Morena Boulevard. The MakerPlace is “San Diego’s Premier Do It Yourself Workshop." Love our MakerSpace...come see the amazing things created on the tools there. Wood shop, metal shop, craft shop, laser lab, electronics lab and 3 D printing; all available at the MakerPlace! The tour is not long, 30-40 minutes, but is filled with interesting materials and creations.
Please email bmulvany@cox.net so she may let them know how many of us will be attending the trip. Thanks so much!
PSAT
Wednesday, October 11 / 8:15 - 12:00 / Auditorium
All students that will be taking the PSAT on October 11 need to sign up in the front office. All 10th graders can take the test for free, but you MUST sign up. For all other students, the cost is $16 (payable by check or cash).
PSAT practice booklets are available in Mr. Zappala's office.
************* ANNOUNCEMENTS *************
Study Group Schedules
Here's a link to the Elementary and Secondary Study Group schedules.
There's just one update, Color and Design, which has moved to 10:40am on Wednesdays.
Newspapers Needed!
Families - Your newspapers are needed in the Makerspace (room 7)! This month's engineering challenge is furniture built from newspapers and industrious students have already begun to clean us out. All newspapers are gladly accepted!
"Grab-N-Go" Lunches
Mt. Everest Academy has lunches available in the office three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday. If your child would like a lunch, please sign up in the morning. Lunches are available beginning at 11:00 am and cost $2.25 or are free to students who qualify on the free/reduced lunch application. Apply online for free/reduced lunches.
Parents and Students needed for SSC and SGT!
The Mt. Everest Academy School Site Council (SSC) and Site Governance Team (SGT) each have (2) open parent positions and (1) open student position for a two-year (2017 – 2019) term. If you and/or your high school student are 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 or bring it to MEA’s Front Office. The deadline for submitting your name for candidacy is Tuesday, September 19, 2017.
You may be wondering, “What exactly are SSC and SGT?” 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 six times during the year, and meetings will usually be scheduled on Wednesdays from 2-3. (This time is subject to change due to the availability of members.)
We greatly appreciate your willingness to support Mt. Everest with your time!
************* COUNSELING CORNER *************
UC Application Presentation
Monday, September 25 / 2:15 - 3:00 / Cafeteria
An admissions officer from UCSD will present on the application process for all Universities of California in general, and specifically on UC San Diego admissions. Parents are welcome!
CSU EAP presentation for Seniors
Wednesday, September 27 / 11:55-12:30 / Cafeteria
We will interpret student Early Assessment Program (EAP) results and SAT/ACT test score requirements. Free pizza will be served!
Meeting for all Seniors
Thursday, September 28 / 12:00 / Cafeteria
All 12th graders are required to attend this meeting with Mr. Zappala, who will be sharing important information and reviewing expectations for the year. Free pizza will be served!
National Christian College Fair
Tuesday, October 10 / 6:00-8:00pm / Rock Church and Academy
Hello Juniors and Seniors. The National Christian College Fair will be held on October 10th from 6-8 p.m. at the Rock Church and Academy on Rosecrans Street. Attendance is free, but go online at christiancollegefairs.com to get your barcode. Over 40 Christian colleges will be there including Point Loma Nazarene. There will also be financial aid workshops.
BBB Scholarships for Juniors
Hello class of 2018 and 2019! Try your hand at this BBB scholarship. There are not too many scholarships available to juniors so don’t let this one go by. Also, here is a good opportunity to get involved. Look into the student ambassador program, and begin building or demonstrating your leadership skills. The deadline is October 17, 2017. Colleges love to see this quality in their applicants!!!! Good luck!
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award and show how your volunteer efforts are making a difference in your community! The deadline is 11/7/17.
********** extracurricular activities ***********
This is the week most of our extracurricular activities start! 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.
Garden Exploration
Tuesdays / 12:15-1:30 / Garden
This semester we will be installing irrigation to each raised bed, improving the soil in our garden and orchard, and planting veggies for fall harvest!
Grades 5-12
(K-4 welcome with parent)
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Music!
Wednesdays & Thursdays / 9:00-10:00 / Auditorium
Come enjoy meditation and music at our early morning sessions in the auditorium! The practice of Mindfulness will be explored as we settle into our day. (Arrival and gathering 9:00am to 9:15, 9:15 to 9:45 program, 9:45 to 10:00am closure and departure). Bring your yoga mats, pillows, and water bottles. MEA neighbors and our other friends too! All ages welcome!
Elementary History Co-op
Thursdays / 12:45-1:30 / Cafeteria
The History Co-op class introduces elementary students to world history and geography in a fun and easy to understand format. The class has been going through the Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer textbooks. We're currently reading the last half of Volume 2, discussing the Middle Ages and Reformation period. If you're interested, please join us on Thursdays at 12:45 - 1:30 in the Cafeteria.
For more information, email Judy at chrisandjudyn@yahoo.com.
******************* LIBRARY *******************
Library Time starts this week!
Students can come to the library, listen to a story, and check out a book or two. This first week we will make library cards, talk about how the library works, and read "Never Spit on Your Shoes" by Denys Cazet.
The weekly schedule is as follows:
- TK & Kinder - Tuesdays 9:00-9:20
- 1st grade - Tuesdays 8:40-9:00
- 2nd grade - Thursdays 8:40-9:00
- 3rd grade - Tuesdays 12:00-12:20
- 4th grade - Thursdays 12:00-12:20
- 5th grade - Wednesdays 12:00-12:20
Students are welcome to come in during a different grade level if they cannot make their own grade level.
September Library Challenge
The first Library Challenge of this year is a crossword puzzle! Click here for the puzzle, or pick one up in the library. Turn your completed form into the library by 12:00 on Thursday, September 14 to receive a prize!
********* COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS ********
Art Contest for Air Pollution Control Calendar
The mission of the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is to improve air quality to protect public health. They are asking students in grades K-12 to think about the importance of clean, breathable air, and what the average person can do to help us all breathe a little easier. The APCD, with students' help, will be creating a 2018 calendar where each month will showcase their air quality artwork. The artwork must demonstrate ways to reduce air pollution and may include a clean air message.
The contest begins immediately and all submissions must be postmarked by Saturday, October 21, 2017. And even if a student’s artwork is not used in the calendar, the APCD website will have a gallery of all the submissions.
International Day of Peace Celebration
Sunday, September 17, 2017 / 3:00-5:00pm
Aztec Park - 7945 Morocco Drive, La Mesa
Join millions of people around the world as they participate in activities, events, concerts, and festivals to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Over twenty peace-promoting groups will be presented.