Monday Message
3/16/20
Message from the Principal: Campus Closure updates
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Principal Browne
Below are a list of community resources and links:
San Diego Unified School District
- District COVID-19 website: Information Page
San Diego Unified Food Services—FREE
The Food Service Dept. will be conducting a drive-thru/walk-up distribution of packaged prepared food. Children will need to be present to receive meals, and each child can take one lunch and one breakfast for the next day. There will be no congregate feeding. All food will be consumed off site. Meal distribution for all locations is Monday-Friday, 11am to 1pm:
- Clark Middle - 4388 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92105
- Cherokee Point Elementary - 3735 38th St, San Diego, CA 92105
- Sherman Elementary - 301 22nd St, San Diego, CA 92102
- Zamorano Elementary - 2655 Casey St, San Diego, CA 92139
- Kearny High - 1954 Komet Way, San Diego, CA 92111
- O'Farrell Charter - 6130 Skyline Dr, San Diego, CA 92114
- Walker Elementary - 9225 Hillery Dr., San Diego, CA 92126
- Farb Middle - 4880 La Cuenta Dr, San Diego, CA 92124
San Diego Area Food Resources
Dial 211-Food Pantry Resources—these programs seek to meet the basic nutritional needs of the community by providing access to food products.
Foodfinder.com—award-winning site/app to help food insecure families find free food assistance programs quickly
Government Resources
- Link for Paid Family Leave, Paid Sick Leave, Disability and Unemployment and more: https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/
- San Diego County Covid-19 page: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/coronavirus.html
- San Diego County Community Support Page: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/community_epidemiology/dc/2019-nCoV/CommunitySectors.html
- Employment Development Department page: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
- CalFresh/SNAP: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/ssp/food_stamps.html
WiFi Resources
Spectrum is offering 60 days free wifi or broadband to any family with a K-12 student who does not already have internet access at home. Call starting March 16 (877-906-9121); there is no income requirement. If they do not service your area, they recommend Googling “FCC remote education emergency”, and it should come up with a list of other companies offering this plan.
Kid-Friendly Explanations of the Coronavirus
- NPR comic about coronavirus: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
- BrainsOn podcast about Coronavirus: https://www.brainson.org/shows/2020/03/10/understanding-coronavirus-and-how-germs-spread-for-kids
- Tumble asks an infectious disease pediatrician questions about Coronavirus: http://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/single-post/2020/03/13/Answering-Kids-Coronavirus-Questions
- Curious Kids Podcast Curious about Cleanliness podcast: https://app.kidslisten.org/ep/Curious-Kid-Podcast-About-Cleanliness
Other articles:
- Washington Post article about parenting during the time of Coronavirus: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/03/14/parenting-tips-coronavirus/
- NPR Guide to parenting during the coronavirus time: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/814615866/coronavirus-and-parenting-what-you-need-to-know-now?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=lifekit&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20200313&fbclid=lwAR3vqZXYYeu7MejFeoTa71gXAOu_iCkwZtDj52_8RQx(KILGIF7wYPI2Rvc
Something to Celebrate - Bravo!!
Dissection
Grade 7 students dissected chicken wings as part of their study of Movement and Forces.
Fun was had by all as they located muscles with attached tendons, ligaments, cartilage caps as well as compact bone and spongy bone with bone marrow.
Leprachaun Traps
**** UPCOMING ****
Work Due for Month 7
Turn-in details during school closure
Teachers have posted or emailed directions for turn-in. Some are requesting you submit work online while others will wait to collect it when we return. Please save audit pieces for Month 7 (dated correctly) for your supervising teacher when campus reopens.
Fun Run
New Day and time TBD
The MEA Foundation is sponsoring this Fun Run to celebrate all the funds that have been raised to support our school!
* * PRIZE DRAWING * *
There will be a prize drawing at the Fun Run for all students who received donations for the MEA Foundation fundraiser.
At the Fun Run students can also jump in a bouncy house, navigate a new obstacle course, play with bubbles, and dance to the DJ'd music!
Save the Date!
April 24 - Silent Auction and Talent Show
**** ANNOUNCEMENTS ****
Help the MEA Foundation raise $25,000
ALL MEA students (whether running in the Fun Run or not) can request online pledges from their family and friends to support MEA. Sign up instructions
Funds raised will be used for MEA science curriculum, art classes and workshops, robotics, garden education, professional development opportunities for staff, assemblies and guest speakers, physical education opportunities, and community building events
Fundraiser PRIZES
ALL students that get pledges donated will be entered in a drawing to win prizes from these businesses that are supporting our fundraiser:
- Rockin' Jump * Boomers! * Westfield Shopping * Velocity Paintball * IFly Indoor Skydiving * SkyZone * Mira Mesa Lanes * Bath & Body Works * Let’s Roam * and more!
The PRIZE DRAWING will be held at the Fun Run on March 23 (students do not need to be present to win).
Talent Show Applications
Students, if you'd like to showcase one of your talents, start turning in your applications! The Talent Show/Silent Auction will be on Friday, April 24, and we want to see YOUR fabulous talent on stage!
LINK TO APPLICATION - due Thursday, 3/26
For questions, please contact Mr. Nielsen (enielsen@sandi.net) or Ms. Rice (lrice@sandi.net)
School Parent Survey
Parents, We really need your help! Every year the state of CA surveys parents, student and staff at schools. This data is used to rate school climate and is published on the new CA Schools Dashboard. Many families report looking into our school because of the data they read online about us first. That data comes from student academic performance as well as this annual state survey. If you appreciate our school and the learning environment we create for your student(s), now is the time for your opinion to count. It is extremely important that we have a high participation rate! Thank you so much in advance for your support with this. Please take the survey at the link below or paper copies are available in the front office. The survey should only take you about 10 minutes to complete, but it’s importance can’t be stressed enough! Mt. Everest parents rock!
TAKE SURVEY: surveys.wested.org/csps/QP263CE
For more info please click here
Silent Auction
MEA Foundation is looking for donations for the Silent Auction!
- Do you have a business you frequent?
- Does your student take lessons?
Please ask these businesses if they would donate to the MEA Silent Auction. Donation letters and forms are available from MEA Office if requested. Your assistance is appreciated!
Yearbook
**** Extracurricular activities ****
Please find the most up-to-date extracurricular activities schedule on our website. This is a work in progress; we will continue to add to and fine-tune the schedule as needed.
If you have a talent to share and are interested in leading an extracurricular class or workshop series, please contact Principal Browne at cbrowne@sandi.net
Jam Band at The Loma Club
**** COUNSELING CORNER ****
Elementary Counseling Corner
Mr. Zappala met with elementary students to discuss "what distracts you from doing your school work" and how to handle that the best way possible.
Choosing Classes for 2020-21
During Spring, students in grades 5-11 will have the opportunity to plan their classes for the next school year.
GRADES 5, 6, 7
Students will receive articulation sheets listing course options for next year during study groups the week of February 24. Parents should review course options with their student at home. Students must return the articulation sheet with a parent's signature to their English teacher. If there are any changes needed, please mark the change before returning. For questions, please contact Ms. Patterson (lpatterson@sandi.net).
GRADES 8, 9, 10, 11
All 8th-11th graders must make an appointment to meet with Mr. Zappala during the month of March. Topics discussed will include their courses for next year and the rest of high school, community college courses, and graduation and college entrance requirements. 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 need to return the articulation sheet with a parent's signature to Mr. Zappala. If there are any changes needed, please mark the change before returning. For questions, please contact Mr. Zappala (rzappala@sandi.net).
Articulation Sheets:
GRADE 9 - FOUR YEAR PLAN
9th graders and their parents can meet with Mr. Zappala for a 4-year planning conference during the time of their articulation meeting.