Monday Message
MAY 17, 2021
For your convenience this year, the returning of library materials and re-enrollment for 2021-22 are being done at the same time. The schedule to come to campus has been set up by grade level and by last names. Please note:
- K-5th - May 24-26
- 6th-12th - June 1-4
- Please see this detailed schedule by last name.
- 2021-22 enrollment forms will be available for you to sign. If your address has changed, please bring a new proof of residence.
- Please come to the ELEMENTARY GATE (enter through the Wiggin Annex parking lot)
- If you have students in various grades, please come during the designated time for the highest grade level and we will accommodate for all of your students.
- Master agreements will still be signed in August when textbooks are picked up
Know what you owe! To view your library account, go to our MEA Destiny Home page
- Follow the login instructions (student ID and password).
- After logging in you can find “Know What You Owe” under “How to…” in the top left column.
Please note, the last day for material checkouts in the Auditorium is May 20.
SDUSD ASSESSMENTS
The district will NOT be administering the CAASPP assessments this year. Instead, we will be administering shorter Math and English exams to grades 3-11 as well as a very short SEL Survey to grades 4-12. Students will receive more information from their teachers. Some grade levels and subject areas have already completed the required assessments. Others will be completing them in the coming weeks.
By taking these exams, we ensure that Mt. Everest students are meeting all expectations and it validates the existence of our unique program. We encourage all students to participate! (High school students earn volunteer hours for participating as we see this as a service to our community.)
Covid-19 Safety Expectations for On-Campus Learning Opportunities
If your student is attending one of our on-site learning opportunities, please be sure:
1) You have discussed Covid-19 safety procedures with them.
2) Your student arrives with a signed copy of the Parent acknowledgement of student on-site learning form. (This only needs to be brought on the first day.)
3) Your student brings the Daily Student Symptoms Checklist that is filled out at home before coming to school, or you can complete the daily symptom checklist online at the ClearPass web portal using your child’s district ID and pw. Then a screenshot on your phone can be shown at check-in that this has been completed. (Grades 6-12 can do this on their own phones.)
Some of the expectations for on campus attendance:
✔ Parents must take their child's temperature before coming to school. (Thermometers will be provided for any families needing one for home.)
✔ Students must arrive at the appropriate gate entrance on time at the beginning of the session. Students may not enter gates after this time. Pick up on time afterward is also strictly enforced.
✔ At the entrance, parents must arrive with a completed form (which can be done on paper or online) verifying their child does not have a temperature or any signs of illness.
✔ Parents/other adults are not allowed on campus past the gates.
✔ Masks must be worn at all times.
✔ Everyone will remain socially distanced at all times
✔ Playground/outdoor play will be allowed during each grade's allotted time.
✔ Eating will not be allowed on campus (no snacks).
✔ Extra air filtration devices will be in each classroom.
✔ Windows and doors will remain open. We will also schedule some of the activities to be outdoors.
✔ If you or your child have any signs of illness, please stay home. Any students showing signs of illness at school will be isolated in another location until parents can pick them up.
On-Campus Opportunities
If your student is signed up to attend our "Unplugged" sessions, you should have received a detailed message with procedures and expectations. Part of the elementary parking lot will be coned off for students/families to line up by grade level. Please park and line up with your child in their grade level line.
- Students must be checked in between 12:00 and 12:15
- Students must be picked up at 2pm. (Please wait in your grade level line until your student is released to you.)
6-12 "Study Zone"
No need to sign up anymore! Just make sure you bring your forms!
Students attending Study Zone must check-in at the front entrance of school by the office.
* * UPCOMING ACTIVITIES * *
"No Time to Waste" Presentation
Day: Thursday, May 20
Time: 10:45-11:45
Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/95830004753
I Love A Clean San Diego will be presenting "No Time to Waste" to our AP Environmental class, and the MEA community is invited to attend. It's geared towards high school students, but is appropriate for any interested age.
There will be an activity at the beginning of the presentation - for those that would like to participate, have a piece of paper and pencil ready.
“Love Our Library” Activities
Check out the "Love Our Library" website with upcoming activities for all ages!
For all activities:
- Zoom: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/81982416813
- Password: Library
Thursdays in May: 5/20, 5/27 at 2:30 pm
Reading "The Search for WandLa" by Tony DiTerlizzi
Library Zoom for grades K-2
Fridays in May: 5/21 at 10:30 am
Please join in the library zoom which is now open to anyone, not just Sandi.net accounts. For the month of May, K-2 Fridays will have Library Zoom time from 10:30 a.m. for all four weeks.
Librarian will make appointment zoom times usually on Thursdays or Fridays for 15-minute sessions, starting with Ms. Finney's K-2 classes, then grades 3-5 will be added. Please email the librarian at kiwamoto@sandi.net for scheduling requests.
Work due for Month 9
Friday, May 21 by 3:00 pm
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.)
We strongly suggest completing audit samples on Tuesday or Wednesday this week so it is not a rush to get it done on Friday!
- Work must be submitted online to all of your content area teachers by 3:00 pm
- Work (Audit) samples must be submitted online to your supervising teacher by 3:00 pm
- Campus remains closed. Everything is done online!
UCSD Parent Workshop
Brought to you by MEA Foundation
Parents, join us for a UCSD Parent University course on Understanding Talent, Giftedness, Dual Exceptionality! The virtual workshop will be held on Saturday, May 22 at 11am.
Senior Save-the-Dates
SENIORS VS. STAFF KICKBALL / SCAVENGER HUNT / MURAL PAINTING
Monday, May 24 / 1:00-3:00
All graduating students are welcome to come to campus on Monday, May 24th, from 1-3pm for an array of activities. These activities include a student vs teachers kickball match, scavenger hunt, and mural painting. If none of these activities interest you, feel free to come and just hang out around campus! Students are also encouraged to wear their prospective college merch. Please fill out this RSVP form to attend.
Clothing advice for seniors interested in working on the mural: wear bottoms that you don’t mind getting dirty and bring something you can wear over college apparel if you don’t want that to get dirty either!
SENIOR CELEBRATION
Friday, June 4 / 12:30-3:30
Gear up for graduation!
- Cap and gown pickup
- Cap decoration
- Yearbook signing
- Mural painting (senior legacy project)
- Textbook turn in (can also turn in on Tuesday, June 1, 10-12:00 or 1-2:30)
SENIOR GRADUATION REHEARSAL
Thursday, June 10 / 12:30-1:30 / Mt. Helix Park Outdoor Amphitheater
SENIOR GRADUATION
Friday, June 11 / 5:00-6:30 / Mt. Helix Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Senior Checklist
This senior letter and graduation checklist contains important reminders about graduation and end-of-year information. Please read it carefully and mark your calendar with the important dates and deadlines.
Conversation with Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi
Wednesday, May 26 / 1:30-2:45
The MEA community is invited to attend a live virtual appearance by Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, put on by the SDUSD Youth Advocacy department.
MEA students Chloe Moya and Fayyad Hassan will be co-hosts for this live event, and students from MEA Ally Action have read portions by and about Gandhi in preparation for attending.
Register for the YouTube live link: bit.ly/raj-gandhi
Sexual Health Awareness Week
Save the Dates!
Grades 8, 9 and 10
- June 1-3
- 10:30-12 (Zoom link will be sent out by either Mr. Tran or Ms. Pachon)
Grades 11-12
- June 3
- 10:30-12
For more information on Sexual Health Education in SDUSD, please see the link here.
MEA SUMMER ART SHOW
Thursday, June 3 / 1:30-2:45 / On Campus!
MEA will host a student art show LIVE on June 3rd from 1:30 to 2:45 pm. Come and enjoy seeing student artwork in person and meet some of the artists!
This will be an outdoor event and masks are required at all times. All district Covid-19 procedures will be followed, and specific guidelines will be listed in the next Monday Message.
This artwork will also be on display at the upcoming on-campus grade level promotion ceremonies.
Request for art from "Unplugged" Students
Show your art in the MEA Art Show!
If you would like to participate in our IN PERSON Art show on June 3rd, please bring your art piece(s) to Mrs Sink during the Unplugged sessions. It can be something you created on campus or at home. Please include a title of your piece and the medium you used to create it. Email Mrs Sink, vsink@sandi.net for more info. We look forward to seeing your artistic creations!
* * * * * *
5th grade Science
Ms. Patterson’s students learned about the saturation and solubility of NaCl.
Elementary Art
In Elementary Art with Mrs. Sink, students learned about complimentary colors and op art (optical illusions).
Watch the Talent Show
The Talent Show from April 16 can be viewed in two ways:
- Recording of the complete show. Password: G3b6*c1!
- Each act separately
Art Show
The virtual art show is still available for your viewing pleasure.
Artwork below by Mckenna Finnie.
* * ANNOUNCEMENTS * *
Student Covid-19 Testing
San Diego Unified has partnered with UC San Diego to provide FREE COVID-19 testing at every school campus for all of our students. Testing is an important part of our district’s plan to protect our community from the spread of coronavirus.
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK
This is your opportunity to get a one-of-a kind, during a pandemic shutdown, uniquely memorable yearbook. So get zooming (not the video meeting kind) and order it now!
Click to Purchase Your 2020-21 MEA Yearbook
- School Passcode: 1013183679162246
This year's book gives each student 2 free pages to fill with their own photos and memories.
Previews of the Mt. Everest Academy 2020-21 yearbook below.
Material Checkout Times
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK FOR MATERIAL CHECKOUTS.
Please come to the North facing door of the auditorium.
- Tuesdays: 10:00-12:00
- Thursdays: 10:00-12:30
Please contact Suzie Wilson at swilson3@sandi.net if you have any questions on Tuesdays through Thursdays. There is no need to email in advance for pickups.
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!
Level Up SD - Summer Program
More information about the summer program will be coming soon. Please visit the Level UP SD website to join the email list.
* * MEA GARDENS & CHICKENS * *
MEA chickens greet their fans
Chicken training (“station” on the wood pallet) + community connection:
This family (children Sydney and Sage) live in Mira Mesa and come here 3x per week to visit Gymboree and see/feed the chickens!
They were excited to see the chicken names/identification poster up, because they made up their own names like Vanilla and Chocolate! More importantly, they were ecstatic to see and talk to Emma, the chicken whisperer.
Join us for chicken training sessions and community connections!
Time with "the girls"
The 5th graders got chicken time during Unplugged. We had a blast interacting with “the girls,” and we were all able to identify them thanks to Ms. Ele’s laminated signs.
Potting Succulents
The 5th graders experienced an impromptu garden half hour during their “recess” at last week’s Unplugged event. We took the opportunity to create succulent planters - each one was unique!
Growing a cutting flower garden at MEA:
Flowers for a Cutting Garden | Old Farmer's Almanac
We have planted a few of the suggestions from this Old Farmer’s Almanac article (amaranth, zinnias, sunflowers).
Best part—cutting flowers don’t need extra nitrogen/fertilizer!
What else would you add?
We’ll be hosting a few farmers markets over the summer—let’s get growing!
Hanging baskets during Study Zone
Students in grades 6-12: Come help in the garden!
Miss Shannon is seeking secondary students to help in the garden this week.
To join in the fun, just sign up for up to two "Study Zone" times this week for your grade level. When you check-in, let them know you are here to help out with the garden.
If this will be your first time on campus this semester, be sure to follow the “Covid-19 Safety Expectations” and “On-Campus Opportunities” guidelines listed at the top of this Monday Message.
** Extracurricular Activities **
CLUBS
- Academic League - led by Kate Papen
- Ally Action - use this Google Classroom code to join: 4pkxv2a
- Art Club - led by Ava G, Renee D, Alexis A.
- Cooking Club - led by Katherine B.
- Drama Club - led by Gabriella Martien
- Engineering Club - led by Matthew S ... Zoom link .
> Mondays, 1:30-2:30 (not turn in) - Film Club - led by Petunia Rizo
German Club – led by Meredith A., Sam M.
GSA – Google Classroom link…GC code to join: wtg4opf
Hack Club - led by Yusuf A.
- Horror Club - led by Toki
- Mental Health Club - led by Leena Iwamoto
- Musicing Club - led by Malyvn Lai
- Rubik's Cube Club - led by Shawn Zhuang
Year Enders
- Yoga/Meditation Club - led by Chloe Lutosky
ASB Students sharing their work
- Link to ASB Website
- ASB Instagram: @mea.asb
- Link to School Site
Ally Action Website
Ally Action Officially has a website! Here you can get information on our club, see our events, and even watch recordings of some of them. We have also linked resources to external events, petitions, and ways to reach out. The entire site was built by students. You can find the link to it here.
THE MEA SPIRIT CUP
ASB is hosting an ongoing school-wide competition, henceforth titled the Spirit Cup! Each grade level/group will compete with each other for a prize (for the sake of fairness, K - 2 and 3 - 4 are combined into groups). Students can earn Spirit Points towards their class's total in the following ways:
SPIRIT DAYS - Through TreeRing, students can submit pictures of themselves in their spirit day costume. They will receive one Spirit Point per spirit day for which they send in a picture demonstrating participation. Here are instructions for submitting photos through TreeRing (use the spirit day folder). Note that photos submitted now will not be included in the yearbook, but will count for Spirit Points!
EVENTS - Students can earn three Spirit Points for participation in an event, as well as additional Spirit Points that might be awarded from the event (e.g. Extra Spirit Points might be earned from placing in the top three in a schoolwide kahoot). To earn these points, students must fill out a short form sent out during the event.
Other ways to earn Spirit Points may be revealed through the year.
The points earned by each class will be tallied up and displayed in the Monday Message at the beginning of each month. Members of whichever class has the most points at the end of month 9 will win the Spirit Cup and associated bragging rights. They will also be rewarded with certificates for 5 oz of free yogurt from YogurtLand, and the student with the most Spirit Points earned will earn a $10 Amazon gift card, which will be distributed at the beginning of month 10.
Humans of MEA
Based on "Humans of New York", Ally Action will interview teachers and high school students to learn their story. The interviews will be shared on the Monday Message. The goal of this project is to help show that we all have our own stories!
If you are interested in participating, please fill out this Humans of MEA form.
** COUNSELING CORNER **
Community College information
Students taking community college classes during the Summer will need to buy their books and materials through the Mesa Bookstore or online (amazon, chegg, etc). You will not be billed through your portal for books.
High school students enrolled in 11 units or less will have their enrollment fees waived, but will be billed for the health fee (roughly $22). Enrollment fees may take 10-12 business days to clear of their balance.
High school students can now begin submitting supplemental applications to the campus where your course is offered as soon as you select your class(es) off of the summer class schedule. You will be enrolled by Admissions around open enrollment May 17, 2021. Please note: all High school students have a hold on their record and are not able to self enroll. Students must meet class requirements prior to being enrolled by Admissions. If you feel like you meet pre-requisite requirements for a class you can take a subject assessment to determine your eligibility. Please submit your supplemental applications for Fall as soon as the Fall class schedule becomes available on June 7th. Keep in mind to schedule classes at the community college that do not conflict with our MEA study group schedule.
Summer 2021 College Dates
Summer Class schedule- April 19, 2021
Open Enrollment - May 17, 2021
First day of Summer - June 7, 2021
Fall 2021 College Dates
Fall class schedule - June 7, 2021
Open Enrollment- July 19, 2021
1st day of Fall - Aug 23, 2021
Summer Community College Classes
For Sophomores and Juniors wanting to take a community college class in the Summer, please note that the Summer 2021 college class schedule release has been postponed to April 19, 2021. You can view the Summer online class schedule after April 19.
Students need to apply to the community college district if they have not done so. In addition to this, students will also need to complete and submit this online Supplemental Application. Once submitted, students will be scheduled by the community college. Summer classes begin June 7th.
Here is general Mesa College Summer information.
JUNIORS: Poli. Sci. CCAP options for next year
Mesa has offered another CCAP option for our students. In addition to math 150 and 151, Seniors next year can take Poli. Sci. 102 and 121 to meet the Government and Economics graduation requirements. However, I have met with many of this year’s juniors for articulation before knowing this was an option, so I would like for the juniors who have already met with me to know that they can email me to change to the Poli. Sci options for next year and for those who have not met with me to be aware of this option.
- Mr. Zappala, rzappala@sandi.net
Endless Possibilities
Your guide to majors and programs of interest at the San Diego Community College District. They offer endless possibilities for your career journey with a wealth of opportunities for pursuing your education. The SDCCD strives to make their students successful by dedicating their resources to quality instruction and stellar support services.
Class of 2021
Seniors, this Counseling & Guidance Resources webpage was designed with you in mind. From the page you will find helpful resources to support your senior year: understand the college application process, cope with the stressors of transitioning to college and navigate the challenges of senior year.
* * COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS * *
Vân-Ánh Võ Performer Spotlight
Poway OnStage presents award-winning composer and musician Vân-Ánh Võ who creates stunning, complex works by melding Vietnamese musical traditions with a variety of genres. Vân-Ánh Võ leads an immersive “show and tell,” of traditional Vietnamese instruments, demonstrating the sound of each unique, hand-constructed instrument, and featuring them in her compositions. Show information
There’s no need to sign up, as Mrs. Finney has already registered our school. It’s pre-recorded, and can be viewed anytime between May 7-28 through the following:
LINK: https://www.powayonstage.org/van-anh-spotlight/
Password: worldmusic
Volunteer Opportunity as Summer Lab Assistant
The Elementary Institute of Science (EIS) is looking for high school volunteers who want to hone their communication skills, develop leadership skills, and support STEM education opportunities for communities who are most underrepresented in STEM.
Qualifications: Must be a high school student entering 11th or 12th grade for the 2021-2022 school year. Students entering 10th grade for the 2021-2022 school year may be eligible only if they have previously participated in an EIS program.