"Tuesday" Message
9/5/17
Kindness Rocks Project
Stop by the MakerSpace (room 7) this week and paint a rock! We're building a special rock garden to create a space of caring.
If you need a "pick me up" you'll be able to come get a rock to help you through your day. Or, if you are inspired, you can add a painted rock to the pile for others. Your participation makes a difference!
******** UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ********
Faith Group
Wednesday, September 6 / 12:00-12:30 / Room 17B
Fun, food, games, music, and more!
The Faith Group extracurricular activity is having their first meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 6th from 12-12:30 in Room 17B. Everyone in grades 5-12 are welcome! Hope to see you there!"
Meeting for Students Leading Activities
Thursday, September 7 / 12:00-12:30 / Cafeteria
Students that will be leading an extracurricular activity this year will be meeting together on Thursday, Sept. 7. Student Emma R. is heading up this meeting; please contact her with any questions at emma.rod10@gmail.com.
“Spiritual Diversity in Education”
Monday, September 11 / 12:00-3:00 / Cafeteria
Ms. Deb Mech is facilitating Spiritual Diversity in Education which is open to all parents, students, staff, and community members. This workshop is a fully inclusive whole-child / holistic approach to tolerance and understanding and fully aligns with our mission of equity and integrated health and wellness. Light refreshments will be served.
To RSVP or for more information, please contact Ms. Mech at dmech@sandi.net.
Back to School Night
Wednesday, September 13 / 5:00-7:00pm
Mark your calendars for the Mt. Everest Academy Back to School Night! More details to follow.
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.)
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. 11. 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."
2017-18 School Calendar
Save the dates!
Check out our school calendar for the year. A lot of new events have been added, including test dates and the end-of-the year events!
************* ANNOUNCEMENTS *************
Study Group Schedules
Here's a link to the Elementary and Secondary Study Group schedules.
Just the following room changes have been made to the Secondary Study Group schedule:
- Multimedia on Tuesdays - Room 6
- ASB on Tuesdays - Cafeteria
- 8th grade History on Wednesdays - Room 8
- Exploring Computers on Thursdays - Room B16.
Extracurriculars
Most extracurriculars will begin the week of September 11. Stay tuned!
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.
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!
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!
Message from an MEA parent: Your help needed!
MEA is a spectacular school where parents and teachers work in an amazing and beautiful partnership to make a level of learning happen for our kiddos that many of us only dreamt of before coming to MEA. There are a few things more however, that I believe are just outside our grasp, that would be meaningful improvements.
In looking for ways to access community resources and fundraising opportunities, I discovered MEA does not have a parent foundation. And all funds currently raised are through ASB and inaccessible for direct education purposes.
I have seen schools with successful parent foundations. Foundations that pave the way for direct education "extras" such as: computer lab, VAPA programs, art programs, extra teachers, PE equipment, classroom materials, etc.
I wondered, "How hard can this be?"
It's a little trickier than I first thought...But I believe with some help WE CAN DO IT!
For now, I am learning as fast as I can and I am collecting the contact information from anyone who would like to help. If that's you, please email me your contact information (name, email, phone) as well as any skills or experience you may have. If that means no skills, but just a lot of heart - I'll take it. Skills that would be especially helpful are: legal experience starting non-profit corporations, CPA's or accountants, folks who have been on non-profits boards, folks with experience with prior school foundations.
I look forward to meeting more of our school community through this endeavor.
-Hallie Herbert (Mom to an MEA 6th grader & 7th grader)
808-489-6046