Monday Message
December 13, 2021
Holiday Hoopla
As elementary students crafted, danced, limboed, and hoopla-ed they were directed and supported by the MEA community. Mrs. Sink headed up the event and even supplied two of her own kids to help with crafts: Madylin and the ever popular MEA alumni, Colton. Mrs. Finney and Mrs. Ellie Suko helped with the crafts also.
Thank you to our wonderful ASB for setting up the canopy, tables and lights, selling snacks, adding helping hands to the crafts, DJ’ing the music, dancing with the younger students, and managing the limbo bar. And it was great to have elementary parents here for this MEA community event!
Link to Holiday Hoopla photo gallery
UPCOMING EVENTS
POSTPONED: Winter Concert
Due to Inclement weather forecasted for tomorrow evening, the MEA Winter Concert will be postponed until Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 4:15. We hope to see everyone then!
Family Dinner at Chipotle
Wednesday, Dec. 15
4:00-8:00pm
Let’s guac and roll! MEA Foundation has partnered with Chipotle for a school fundraiser with 33% of sales donated to MEAF. You can order their freshly grilled, made-to-order food in person or online with this flyer.
- In Person: Before you order, be sure to let the cashier know you’re there for Mt. Everest Academy (show paper or digital flyer)
- Online: Use order code 2G2BCHX with the Chipotle app or website.
It’s a win-win, help Mt Everest Academy and enjoy Mexican food fresh from the grill!
5650 Balboa Ave. Suite 106
858-380-2316
Elementary Chicken Coop Time
Friday, Dec. 17
9:00-10:00
Since November’s K through 5 open chicken coop time was such a success, Miss Shannon would like to offer it again on Friday, December 17 from 9 AM to 10 AM.
Please remember to sign in on the enrichment sign-in form in the front office, and then make your way to the chicken coop with your K through 5 child, remaining with them the entire time they are in the coop.
Stay as long as you’d like during that 1 hour time! Hope to see you there… We have plenty of dried mealworms to offer to the chickens!
Work Due for Month 4
Friday, Dec. 17 completed by 3:00pm
(must arrive by 2pm for enough time to meet with your supervising teacher)
Mt. Everest Academy must follow strict Ed Code policy regarding independent study. We realize turn-in and work samples can be a hassle, however, they MUST be done correctly in order for our program to stay in existence. So, please carefully follow instructions for turn-in and audit. If you are not sure you are doing something correctly, ask your supervising teacher. (And DO NOT write "audit" anywhere on a work sample or subject title.)
Turn in all of your work to your content area teachers
Use this checklist to prepare your work samples (audits)
Go see your supervising teacher for your monthly "check-in". You will review completed work in all of your classes with them and turn in your work samples.
We strongly suggest completing work samples on Tuesday or Wednesday this week so it is not a rush to get it done on Friday!
WINTER BREAK
School will be closed for winter break from December 20 - December 31. School will re-open on Monday, January 3. Enjoy!!
Ice Skating at Liberty Station
Join us in an MEA community tradition! This is a family style meet-up and not a school sponsored event. All students must be supervised by accompanying adults.
Friday, Jan. 7
10am-1pm
$5/per skater (bring to the window and say you are with the Mt. Everest group)
Ice rink: https://www.radyfoundation.org/icerink
Liberty Station: 2875 Dewey Road, San Diego, 92106
Photos?
If any attendees take ice-skating photos that could be shared in the Monday Message, would you please send them to Linda Ele at lele@sandi.net? Thank you!
Parent Workshop
MEA foundation in partnership with UCSD Extension is offering the first parent workshop for the school year 2021-2022 on the topic of social media and gaming addiction effect on the brain.
Topic Title: THE BRAIN, SOCIAL MEDIA and GAMING ADDICTION
Date: Monday, January 10, 2022
Time: 12:00-1:30 pm
Who should attend: parents and caregivers for children and young adults of all ages.
Online via Zoom: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/96371999043
Meeting ID: 963 7199 9043
Workshop description: Brave New Worlds explores emerging knowledge on the dynamic impacts of social media and gaming on diverse learners in the age of the pandemic, including mental and physical well-being; cognitive and metacognitive progression; creativity and critical thinking; resilience and stress reduction; technology addiction, among others.
A variety of strategies and resources designed to support children and young adults will be provided, embedded within a practical understanding of fundamental neuroscience and socioemotional development.
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!
Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/7588584792 Passcode: MEA!
Zoom (alternative link): https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/88599896023 Passcode: MEA!
- When: Monday through Friday (holidays and scheduled school concerts/events excluded!)
- Why: Optimum Health, Wellness, and Well-Being!
- Who: The whole MEA Community
- Time: 12-12:30 (You must login by 12:00)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
See’s Candies Fundraiser
Orders are here!
See’s Candies orders have arrived, please come to the front office to pick them up.
Top Sellers
Congratulations to our top 3 sellers, who have each won a prize!
1st place: Amanda O.
2nd place: Christian G.
3rd place: Maddie Q.
And extra appreciation goes out to runner’s up: Gioia F. and the Spiegelbergs.
The grand total of proceeds earned for our school is $1,168.75. THANK YOU to all participants for your selling efforts and helping to support our wonderful school!!
Special recognition goes out to behind-the-scenes helpers for this successful campaign:
- The many hands of many staff members
- ASB students who helped separate and pack the orders: Matthew S, Fayaad H, and Rashad H.
chess for elementary students?
Calling all budding chess players! We are fortunate to have a MEA parent and MEA student who have graciously offered their knowledge and expertise to help guide our little ones in chess! Mr. Martin Nilsson has worked at various schools within San Diego Unified School District bringing his love for the game to young students and is willing to do the same for our students! We are trying to gauge interest level for once a week extracurricular, approximately one hour each session. Exact day to be determined. This extracurricular is geared towards K-5 students, but no one will be turned away (open to all grade levels)!
If you are interested, please fill out this Elementary Chess Interest Form.
Handmade Bowls & Soup Kits
The Art Department and Garden Program are coordinating a group fundraiser. The Ceramics classes created some beautiful bowls and the garden/nutrition program has put together the ingredient kits for a delicious bean soup. This is the same soup kit all of the elementary students built and brought home in October. Bowls will be selling for $15 each, and soup kits with recipe will be selling for $10 each. Both a bowl and soup kit combo will be selling for $20. They make great gifts, and will likely sell fast! 100% of the proceeds will be split between the art department and the garden program. Please pay by Venmo through the MEA Foundation. Bowls and kits will be in the office until they sell out. Thank you for supporting our creative and culinary endeavors!
Letter from Gerardy Photography
Gerardy Photography has been working hard to complete our school’s portrait package orders before Winter break, but may not be able to accomplish this due to pandemic challenges. They’ve written a letter to our families with their appreciation and an explanation of their situation. Letter from Gerardy.
Whether your portrait packages are delivered before or after the holidays, as soon as they arrive at MEA we will let everyone know!
Senior Portraits
Dear Class of 2022,
Senior portraits for MEA will be taken at Chula Vista Photo and they have set up two blocks of time for our seniors to have their portraits taken.
PLEASE CONTACT THE STUDIO TO BOOK YOUR SESSION WITHIN THESE TIME BLOCKS:
- Friday, January 28, 9:00-10:30am
- Friday, February 4, 9:00-10:30am
- If unable to make these times, please call the studio to arrange a different time.
371 Third Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
619-422-9281
- You may choose between wearing a tux/drape or your own clothes
- There is no charge to have your picture taken just for the yearbook.
- The cost is $30 to be able to choose your photos and order pictures.
- Proofs would be available to view online within 2 weeks.
- Orders could be placed at the store (to ensure the correct pose and to discuss retouching) or over the phone.
Safety precautions
Due to pandemic restrictions, please only bring one additional person with you. Their waiting room is small, so they will be strictly limiting the number of people in the building. Face coverings must be worn by everyone entering. You will be able to remove your face covering (and touch up your make-up, if needed) before taking your portrait.
Questions? Please contact Linda Ele at lele@sandi.net
Thank you!
Many thanks to everyone who donated to the clothing drive sponsored by our GSA club! Jody Huege, GSA member, is pictured below delivering the bags of clothing to Urban Street Angels. They are a non-profit organization that gives clothing to transgender and homeless youth; your donations help make a difference in their lives!
Parent Workshops
Thursdays 5:30pm to 7:30pm
from January 6 to February 24, 2022
The San Diego Unified School District and Carlsbad Unified School District invite parents to participate in a series of workshops where they will receive up to date information about what happens in our community, helping to raise young people who are successful in school and life in general.
Recipes from Nutritional Science
Elementary students made Chimichurri and Herb Hummus last week in their Nutrition Science classes with Chef Nancy and Miss Shannon. Here are the recipes they followed. Kinders are pictured below making Chimichurri.
Sock Drive: sponsored by GSA
As a service to the community, the GSA club of MEA is collecting new pairs of socks for people in need. We are asking our wonderful and generous families to donate new socks of any size. Students, please bring your donations to room 1 by Wednesday, December 15th. We thank all of those who brought in clothes for our very successful clothing drive last month.
Fundraising for MEA gardens and chickens
All proceeds will go directly back towards purchasing raised bed soil for the incoming garden beds. We will be growing for the school and for our chickens!
Christmas Tree Bookshelves
Made by Mr. Shane
There are TWO bookshelves available right now in the front office, with a bag of tchotchkes to accompany each bookshelf. The suggested donation for one bookshelf + one bag (both together) is minimum $25. If there’s interest in more bookshelves please email shannon.t.stewart@gmail.com.
Massive Pinecones
Miss Shannon also has Sugar pine and Coulter pine pinecones available in the front office. The suggested donation is $5 per pinecone, with all proceeds benefiting the gardens and chickens. These are massive pinecones, and make for great statement pieces!
Leaves, Please!
If you happen to have any tree leaves around your area/home, both fresh and dried, we are in need of bags and bags of leaves for this future Hügelkultur bed. If you would like to bring them to the school and drop them off, you may place them outside of the chicken coop gate and Miss Shannon will bring them into the school as she sees them.
Please refrain from bagging up pine needles or liquid amber tree pods (spiky balls!)
Seasons Book TIme in the Library
Hope everyone is enjoying your Book Bundles, and remember there's no deadline to finish and/or getting replacement bundles when finished. We've had one student come back for more, and each student who finishes their first bundle will receive a prize!
Nov/Dec: We read, "Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers", by Cynthia Rylant; "Thanksgiving at Obaachan's House", by Janet Mitsui Brown.... and other four seasons non-fiction books to introduce the spring, summer, fall and winter concepts.
Online Read-aloud fun...
"All right already!" by Jory John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2ysmkvgE4
Have a great break!
Ellie Suko and Karen Iwamoto
Setting a good example
High school students model good listening skills for Kinders during their Read-Aloud time. Ms. Karen was reading “Henry and Madge Get the Cold Shivers” to them.
MEA FOUNDATION
SAT Prep Program
Sign up for a free SAT Prep program for MEA high school students that starts on January 23, 2022. Spots are limited, and first come first serve basis.
MEA Foundation, in partnership with UCSD, is providing an amazing opportunity for a free SAT Prep course (typically $450) for 30 high school students. This includes a pre-test (Sunday, January 23), 16 hours of instruction (weekly 4 hours of zoom training Sundays from 9 am-1 pm from January 30 to February 27), and a post-test (complete by March 6th).
Front End Web Development program
Friday, December 17th is the deadline to sign up for this program.
The MEA Foundation has partnered with UCSD Extension Futures Program to offer 3 courses for free for up to 20 MEA high school students. This course series is normally $840 and counts for 9 units of college credit (but not dual credit for high school high school.) Specifically, the MEA Foundation has secured seats in the “Front End Web Development” series of courses. Students would need to take all 3 courses beginning in Jan. 2022 and ending in September 2022. (Specific course names and dates are listed in the table below.) For more information, please see the Futures website here. If you are a MEA high school student and are interested in signing up for this course series for FREE sponsored by the MEA Foundation, please fill out the form here.
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!
MEA Foundation
What do we do? The simple answer is, we raise funds to support MEA where funds are not available from the district and we organize volunteer efforts to bring workshops, our talent show, teacher appreciation and so much more. We fund music, art supplies, campus improvements, garden, school events, curriculum support and teacher supplements and grants. Our goal is to raise $10,000 this year for MEA.
Please consider making a donation to MEA Foundation. Check if your employer offers corporate matches to double your donation.
Volunteers are needed for the Foundation. We need help with updating the website, organizing a directory for parents, writing grants and fundraising efforts. Please email info@meafoundation.org for more information.
GOOD STUFF
EXTRACURRICULARS
* * * Click box above for Elementary Extracurricular Schedule * * *
Daily Mindfulness & Meditation
Elementary Art
Music with Mr. Johnson
PALS
Covid-19 Protocols for Elementary Students
PALS Tutoring
Wednesdays & Thursdays / 12:30-1:45 / Room 6
Trained tutors are ready to help you get your classwork done. All students grades K-12 who would like some extra help can come to room 6 every Wednesday and Thursday during 4th period (12:30-1:45pm). All grades are welcome, as we have tutors for all grade levels. PALS is a great way to build community and academic skills!
Parents, K-5 students attending PALS must arrive with a check-in form so tutors know what to work on with your child and you receive a report on how things went. (Extra forms will be available when you drop off in case you forget or can't print one at home.)
- K-5 students attending studygroup and PALS on the same day should be signed in when parents drop off at 9am. Parents must indicate if their student is staying for supervised lunch and PALS
- K-5 students attending ONLY PALS on any given day should be signed in outside the front office.
- 6-12 students can report directly to Room 6.
Music classes with Mr. Johnson
These classes are held every Tuesday. Please sign your child in at the front office and note which class(es) they will be attending.
- 8:05- 8:55 - Beginning Band
- 9:05- 9:55 - Choir
- 10:05- 10:55 - Advanced Band
- 11:05 - 11:55 - Music theory (for upper grades)
- 12:30- 1:20 - Advanced Strings (open to secondary)
- 1:35- 2:25 - Beginning Strings
* * * Click box above for Secondary Extracurricular Schedule * * *
Academic League • Ally Action • Anime • Chess • Coop Group • Daily Mindfulness & Meditation • Gaming • German • GSA • Literary Magazine • MathCounts • Mental Health • Music with Mr. Johnson • PALS • Rubik's Cube • Sherpa’s Jam Band • Spanish Conversation • Sports Club • Young Investors Club
GSA Club
Wednesday, Dec. 15 / 12:00-12:30 / Room 1
GSA Club meets this week! - We are the 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 (for month 4 these dates are December 1st and 15th). Bring your lunch and learn more about the LGBT+ community, plan and participate in actions, and build an inclusive community for all. Allies are encouraged to join. Ms. Mullen and Mr. Nielsen are the facilitators, and the student leaders are Jade Myers and Jody Huege. Hope to see you there!
The “Heights”
MEA’s Literary Magazine
Are you a writer or an artist? Do you want to get your work published in a magazine? MEA's Literary Magazine “Heights” is the perfect place for you to submit your work! We are looking for your:
- short stories
- artwork
- poems
- monologues
- and more!
“Heights” is edited and organized by your fellow students, and we meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at 12:00 in Room 2. We would love for you to join us and participate in the editing, organization, and tech work behind our magazine. You do not need to submit work for the magazine to join the club, and you do not need to be in the club to submit work!
Our first issue is going to be out soon, and we need YOUR creative projects to be featured! Here is the link to the Heights website. You'll find the link to the work submission form under Submission Form and Information. Happy writing!
For any questions please email the Editor-in-Chief, Jody Huege, at jodyrh0215@gmail.com.
Pandora’s Box of Secrets
MEA’s Ally Action is organizing a community event for all students. They will be anonymously collecting students' secrets to create a poster for the school, similar to the Museum of Us's PostSecret exhibit.
STUDENTS: You can submit your secret here (everything is anonymous).
AROUND CAMPUS
Where do you stand?
Mr. Spiegelberg's students participated in the activity “Pre-Play Poll: Where Do You Stand?” Mr. Spiegelberg made statements from the play “Julius Caesar” and students showed their opinion by where they moved in the room. Agree? Stand by the windows. Disagree? Stand by the wall. Undecided? Stand in the middle of the room.
Here are some of the questions for which students had to take a stand:
- The will of the people is always best for a country.
- It's a good idea to heed the warnings of psychics or astrologers.
- Power corrupts, no matter how ethical a leader might be.
- Ghosts can bring warnings to the living.
- Flattery will get you nowhere.
- Money often comes between friends.
- A real man is stern, fearless, strong, and tough.
- In a marriage, your spouse should know all your secrets.
- Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. - English translation: "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country."
It was fun, and it got the students engaged and familiar with some of the big ideas of the play.
MEA GARDENS & CHICKENS
HELPFUL INFORMATION
School Spirit Store
Parents are now able to use SchoolCash Online to buy and pay for items using Visa/Visa Debit and Mastercard/Mastercard Debit. We are currently selling school spirit wear and other fundraising items like lanyards, water bottles and DVDs. Simply order online and then come pick up your purchase in the MEA front office.
Please create an account to access our online catalog.
Progress Report Grades
For students in grades 6-12, Progress report grades will be available on the Powerschool Portal soon. These grades will be utilized for eligibility purposes for students in grades 9-12 playing sports at their neighborhood school. Please note, SDUSD has adopted a new format for reporting citizenship grades. Please review the new Mt. Everest Citizenship Rubric with your student(s), which can be found on the school website.
Meet with School Counselor
For students and parents that would like to meet with Mr. Rubin, our school counselor, please sign up for an appointment.
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.)
Student Handbook
Technology Support and Resources
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
Benefit Concert for Rady Children's Hospital
Saturday, Dec. 18 / 3:00pm
La Jolla Riford Library Auditorium
7555 Draper Ave, La Jolla, 92037
Link to FLYER AND PROGRAM
MEA 11th grader, Malvyn Lai, has organized a benefit concert for Rady Children's Hospital. The concert will include performances by piano, flute, clarinet, and ensembles, featuring Nicole Lee, Malvyn Lai, Petunia Rizo, and Ria Rizo from Mt. Everest Academy, as well as the Summit Point youth church ensemble.
Profile in Courage Essay Contest
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
This annual Essay Contest encourages high school students across the country to share inspiring stories of elected leaders past and present, while providing a scholarship and educational opportunity to learn about President Kennedy’s lessons of political courage. The contest deadline is January 14, 2022.
- First place: $10,000
- Second place: $3,000
- 5 Finalists: $1,000 each
The Nutcracker: virtual field trip
Available until January 15
Watch the Southern California Ballet perform narrated show excerpts of “The Nutcracker” with extension activities in movement, pantomime, and costume design in Poway OnStage's Virtual Field Trip.
LINK: https://www.powayonstage.org/scbnut21/
Your Password: nutty21
The full field trip is about 2 hours in length. It is very flexible – synchronous or asynchronous; completed in a single day or over several days – it is up to you!
Thank you to Mrs. Finney for signing our school up to have access to this event!