Monday Message
January 10, 2022
Covid-19 Health & Safety
Please remember to do a symptom check for your student prior to sending them to school and do not send students to school if they are exhibiting any symptoms.
We have had many Covid related absences and will do everything we can to not cancel classes. Please be on the lookout for communications from your teachers through email and google classroom in case of emergencies.
We encourage you to sign your student up to get tested on the MEA campus, every Tuesday from 12:00-2:30. Simply follow these steps:
Complete the opt-in process to allow the testers to conduct weekly testing.
Register and consent in the Primary.Health Portal in order to be tested.
For the most up-to-date Covid guidelines, please see the San Diego County’s decision tree. If in doubt, please reach out to the office to answer any questions you may have.
Articulation Meetings for 2022-2023
From February 9 - March 25, students in grades 5-11 will 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 Ms. Patterson through Google Classroom.
Please contact your child’s supervising teacher with questions.
Articulation Sheets:
Grades 8, 9, 10, 11
All 8th -11th graders must make an appointment to meet with Mr. Rubin between February 9 through March 25. Please reserve a conference time at this link to discuss courses for next year, graduation and college entrance requirements, and community college courses.
Incoming 9th graders and their parents can meet with Mr. Rubin 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. Rubin during their appointment with him.
For questions, please contact Mr. Rubin.
Articulation Sheets:
Find all courses being offered next year here: Master Course List 2022-2023
Fun on the Ice
Liberty Station ice-skating was a blast! We had more than 20 students participate, and a few teachers! It was a beautiful day, and a fantastic workout.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spirit Week
ASB is sponsoring the following spirit days; express your creativity and show your school spirit!
- Anything but a backpack - Tues, 1/11
- Semi-formal - Wed, 1/12
- Disney - Thur, 1/13
SSC/SGT Meeting
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 12
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
Location- Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/89056497845
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. The meeting agenda will be posted on the SSC/SGT webpage. For questions, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net
In-Person Winter Concert Cancelled
Previously scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 12
Due to Covid-19, the in-person Winter concert is cancelled. Instead, a video recording of performances will be shared with the whole MEA Community. We apologize for this and look forward to an in-person concert during Spring.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
School will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 17.
Each year on the third Monday of January, America honors the birth, life, and dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a day to remember how Dr. King worked to bring freedom, equality, and dignity to all races and peoples through nonviolence.
Elementary Coop/Garden Times
Miss Shannon would like to offer open coop times for K through 5 students and their parent/guardian on:
- Monday, Jan. 24 from 1-2 PM
- Friday, Jan. 28 from 10-11 AM
If parents are interested, Miss Shannon can do a hybrid event, where students are calculating our growing spaces (counting beds, perimeter and area, percent increase, mapping the areas) in both garden areas. Since we have new raised beds, we have increased our potential growing spaces—by a lot!
If there isn’t a math connection interest, we can maintain the one hour open coop time.
Otherwise it will be 30 minutes of the math connection, 30 minutes of coop time.
Please remember to sign in at the front office, and remain with your child or student.
Winter Semi-Formal Dances Postponed
These secondary dances were previously scheduled for January 27, but due to Covid-19 have been postponed until further notice.
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
Elementary Art Postponement
Unfortunately, we will have to postpone this month's art classes completely until next month due to the COVID absences. For students that are signed up for Month 5 art, he/she will automatically be signed up for month 6 instead. The dates for this are: February 1, 8 and 15.
Please see Mrs. Sink’s elementary art website for more info.
Would you like to create a mandala?
Miss Shannon has been working with several students on a wood slice seed mandala art creation over the past few months. The slices will be mounted onto the freshly student-painted pallets outside the chickens.
If you are interested in creating a wood slice seed mandala in the maker space with Miss Shannon, please email her to set up a time over the next few weeks. It takes about two hours to create just one of these beautiful pieces (can be done in two, one hour sessions). You must be comfortable using a hot glue gun with glue sticks.
Succulent Arrangements Fundraiser
We still have plenty of succulent arrangements offered at the front of school. This is a fundraiser for our gardens/chickens, as we are always in need of inputs for both areas—food for chickens, worm castings for the gardens, and more!
Valentine’s Day and Easter are coming up—these are great, affordable gifts for your loved ones.
Suggested minimum donation is $5.
There is a box just inside the office, near Ms. Ramos. Please feel free to drop donations there.
The Coop Group students thank you in advance!
Upcoming Theatre Production
The MEA Theatre Company (MEATCo) will be putting on a production this spring! It is currently being written by two MEA students and Becca Myers. Auditions will be held at the end of January/early February. An audition workshop will take place the same week. Stay tuned for more detailed information!
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 CALL THE STUDIO AT 619-422-9281 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.
Link to MORE INFORMATION
Chula Vista Photo Studio / 371 Third Avenue, Chula Vista / 619-422-9281
Fundraiser Items
A few of these are still available in the front office:
- Handmade Bowls & Soup Kits - Made by our Art Department and Garden Program. Bowls $15, Soup Kits $10, Bowl & Soup Kit combo $20. Please pay by Venmo through the MEA Foundation.
- Massive Pinecones - Sugar pine and Coulter pine pinecones, suggested donation is $5 per pinecone, with all proceeds benefiting the gardens and chickens.
"Underwater Aquarium One Point Perspective"
A New Years message from Miss Shannon:
MEA FOUNDATION
SAT Prep Program
Monday, January 10th, is the deadline to sign up.
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
Monday, January 17th, is the deadline to sign up.
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
MEA Quest Club
Looking for students to share in an epic adventure at MEA Quest Club! Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy table top roleplaying game, where a group of people come together to create an epic story. D&D is a game of imagination and chance, where you use your creativity and dice to solve ancient puzzles, slay monsters and survive perilous adventures.
MEA Quest Club Flyer
If you are in grades 6-12 and are interested in learning more about D&D, please fill out the MEA Quest Club interest form.
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
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.
AROUND CAMPUS
7th grade science
Ms. Patterson's 7th graders discover who/what is living in the San Diego River.
MEA GARDENS & CHICKENS
Garden Expansion
Have you seen the recent garden improvements on campus? Mr. Zappala and Miss Shannon have been working tirelessly to create a hybrid area near the chickens—a “Zen meets food production” space for all students to enjoy!
Keep an eye out for an invitation for an event in the space very soon!
The raised garden beds (our very generous MEA Foundation purchased from an Oregon-based company) turned out to be absolutely stunning!
Miss Shannon and Mr. Shane were able to acquire about 4 yd.³ of Miramar Greenery Compost to begin the process of filling the beds. It will take several runs to the Greenery to do this, and we will only fill the beds about 3/4 full with this material. The last 20 inches will be excellent quality raised bed soil from San Pasqual Valley soils.
We will soon need help doing the “bucket brigade party” to move compost to the back beds. We will make an announcement for times in the near future.
Coop Group 1/6/22
The first week back to school after the Winter break marked a well attended Thursday Coop Group meet up.
The students did a wonderful job cleaning out the coop and removing leaves and twigs from the netting that protects the chickens from outside predators.
The students also shoveled out about a dozen buckets of soiled dirt. Lots of rain = stinky coop!
They work hard, they have fun, and the chickens always receive garden fresh treats at the end. This time, it was an abundance of bolted lettuce.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
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.
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.
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.)
Community Announcements
K-12 STE(A)M Art Contest
The theme of this year’s San Diego Engineers K-12 STEAM Art Contest is “Reimagining the Possible.”
Help inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists by putting the Art in S.T.E.(A)M. Student artwork is to incorporate the theme via a drawing of (1) a creative invention, or (2) an Engineer or STEAM role model. Entry deadline: February 10, 2022