Arts Magnet Weekly News
Week 18 for Families and Community December 13-17, 2021
Last Week of School in 2021!
Dear Eliot Arts Magnet Families,
Many of us in education thought that the 2019-2020 school year was the most difficult year we had ever faced. Then when we opened the 2020-2021 school year in a completely remote format, we were sad and wondered if we'd ever see our students in person again.
And then there's 2021-2022!
Even more challenges revealed themselves in the in between times of almost back to normal, and yet still so far from it. We have enjoyed seeing our students and families in person, if only half faces, and we have all struggled to meet the diverse needs of our learning community.
I know you've heard me say this many times before but our 8th graders were only on campus a few months before we went into quarantine and now suddenly, they are 6 months from promoting out of Eliot and turning their sites toward high school.
The 3 precious years of middle school are fleeting enough without adding a pandemic to truncate our time together.
All of this is to say, I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Eliot Arts community. These last five months have taught me so much but mostly, I am just loving your children. They are funny, smart and creative. They are challenging at times, in ways only middle schoolers can be, and then they are sweet as they invite me to join them in conversation about their beloved cell phones, campus shenanigans and ask why they cannot slide down the cement stairwells outside.
We will close school at 1 pm on Friday and when we return on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 we'll turn our sites to our promoting 8th graders, spring activities and start planning for next year.
I wish you a beautiful winter break full of peace, good food and plenty of laughter.
Holiday Show
Parents, don't miss our holiday show, You Raise Me Up, on Thursday, 12/16/21 @ 6 pm beginning on Lake Avenue in front of the school. Please bundle up and join us for this beautiful promenade style show. Entrance is FREE!
Annual Fund is coming!
We have secured a very exciting, special guest of honor. Please stay tuned for the big reveal and for tickets to go on sale January 3! This is going to be one fabulous event for our school.
It's a great year to be an Eliot Husky!
Yours in Service,
Dr. Scheckel, Principal
Hello All!!
It’s back!! Celebrate Gospel Disneyland 2022. The Rhythm and Moves Children’s Youth Choir is accepting new members, grades 3rd – 6th for it’s submission to the 2022 Celebrate Gospel at Disneyland, (Tentatively the morning of Saturday Feb 26)
There’s no fee. All choir members will enjoy a free day in the park after their performance. Transportation to the Park will be provided.
The first meeting will be on
Wednesday, January 5th, 2:30pm – 4:15pm
Altadena Arts Magnet
Please be prepared to sing.
If interested please email Ms. Major or Dr. Hill ASAP. No later Thursday Dec 15.
We need to confirm with Disneyland this week.
Thanks so much! Look forward to seeing everyone there!
Best
Choir Directors
Frat, Kaya and Frit
Contact: rampac3@yahoo.com
Our first dance was a huge success!!!
From Your Eliot Arts PTSA!
POPCORN AND COCOA AND TAMALES... OH MY!
Your PTSA will be selling refreshments before and after the Holiday Show on December 16. Bring some cash or a credit card and an appetite to support your school. Want to lend a hand? Sign up here to volunteer https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f45afac2baafccf8-youraise and/or email Carin Leffler, your PTSA Volunteer Coordinator at carinjleffler@gmail.com for more information.
PE CLOTHES ARE HERE! Ms. Helen Sandoval, your Eliot Community Assistant and PTSA Membership Chairperson, will be selling PE clothes after school in the office. You can email her at helen.sandoval@pusd.us for details.Spirit wear is on the way!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
It's an MLK month of Service! Join us on school workdays: Saturday January 8 and 22, times TBD. You and your middle school child can volunteer (and earn middle school community service hours). Projects to include an Eliot Design Team Meeting (have a voice in your school's future!) campus beautification, garden work, parent room, costume room and more! Details forthcoming.
Updates from PUSD Health Programs!
Updates from Health Programs:
Pfizer Vaccinations for 5 – 11 year olds:
· Following this week’s CDC recommendation, we are finalizing our plans with the Pasadena Public Health Department to provide pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 - 11. It is our goal to offer opportunities for the first dose before Thanksgiving and the second dose three weeks later which will allow our students to be fully vaccinated before they return from winter break.
· PUSD will partner with PPHD to host 3 pediatric clinics in November for first dose and two pediatric clinics in December for second dose for kids 5 – 11 only. Dates and times will be announced through the Superintendents Monday message. The locations of the clinics are Ed Center, Willard/Wilson, and Madison. Appointments will be first come first served and completed through myturn.ca.gov. We will hold a small amount of appointments for walk up patients.
Pfizer Vaccinations for 12 – 17 year olds:
· Vaccination appointments for 12 and older individuals can be accessed through myturn.ca.gov. Locations included:
o Pharmacies
o CHAPCare clinic in Santa Anita Mall, appointments or walk ins 626.398.6300
o PPHD
Booster Shots:
· PUSD staff is eligible for boosters due to our work in a high risk setting (CDC language). Anyone can find a clinic and Register for an appointment on MyTurn.CA.gov. You will be asked to self-attest to eligibility upon registration.
· PUSD Primary Clinic is offering Pfizer boosters. People must call the Primary Clinic for an appointment, 626-396-3600, xt. 88180. We are waiting for confirmation of our Moderna booster supply and are tentatively holding Nov. 15 for Moderna booster appointments.
COVID-19 Testing:
· Weekly school site testing will continue. We are working through adjustments in the schedule when there are holidays and shortened days.
· On November 27 will host a drive through testing clinic from 9:00-2:00pm at the Ed Center, Oak Knoll parking lot. This is a pre-entry screening after vacation for students and staff.
Quarantine and Notifications:
· Now that elementary students are eligible for vaccinations, we will revise the quarantine letters for close contacts.
Governor Newsom’s Executive Order can be found here. This will be further discussed on Monday.
SALVATION ARMY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
THE GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE!
Mask Mandate Policy
We have a strict mask mandate on both our campuses to keep all students, staff and families safe from infection with COVID-19. We understand the masks can be uncomfortable for students to wear all day long, but they are necessary. We will follow the process below for students who do not/can not wear a mask over their nose, mouth and chin:
- First time, Verbal warning to wear their mask
- Second time, Phone call home
- Third time, Recommendation for PUSD Independent Study for 3 days
Student will be placed on our regular independent study program for 3 days. This program keeps the student enrolled at their present school with work delivered on Canvas. After 3 days the student returns to their home school and the process starts all over. Each time we get to step three, we add an additional day of independent study until we reach the maximum which is 15 days. After that, student will be referred to our district's CIS program for the rest of the school year.
If you have any questions about this policy, please reach out to principal Scheckel.
COVID TESTING ON Tuesdays now
Participants or their parents/guardians can register one of two ways:
- Using their own device
- Email registration links to students (and parent/guardians) and staff so they can register at home before testing.
- Turn registrations links into QR codes to print and post at the collection site. To create a QR code, head to qrcode-monkey.com, enter your URL, click “Generate QR Code”, then “Download PNG”
- With assistance
- For participants or parent/guardians without access to technology or who need additional assistance, set up a device on site on testing days.
Here's the registration links for Altadena Elementary:
Here's the registration links for Charles W. Eliot Middle:
Questions?
- Walk through the site setup process at www.color.com/cdph-site-setup
- Join Zoom office hours Wednesday and Friday at 10:00am PT
- Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to reach Support
Upcoming Events
December
- 12/4 Holiday Tree and Wreath Pick Up 11am - 3 pm
- 12/9 Cafe con Scheckel @ 8:30 am http://meet.google.com/nxo-qffz-ntg
- 12/9 ELAC Meeting @ 6:30 pm
- 12/10 Winter Formal @ 6pm-9 pm
- 12/16 Holiday Show @ 6 pm
- 12/17 Last day of school before Winter Break, Shortened Day, Students dismissed at 1pm
- 1/4/22 School Resumes