Eagle Newsletter
December 15, 2023
Upcoming Dates
December Observances
- December 21: Winter Solstice ( First Day of Winter)
- December 25: Christmas
- December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa
Mesa Verde Events
- December 20: What Not to Wear Wednesday (Wear an UGLY Sweater!)
- December 21: Deck the Halls (Deck out in Warm Socks or a Warm Sweater)
- December 22: Party in your PJs (Wear PJs and Party like it's 2024!)
- December 22: Minimum Day (All Periods) Dismissal at 12:18pm
- December 25-January 5: District Recess Winter Break (No School)
- Every Friday: School Spirit Day! Wear Black, Purple, or Teal
NEW! Thank You
MVMS would like to thank the National Charity League, Inc. Poway Chapter for decorating our administration office with these beautiful Poinsettias. The Poinsettia is considered to be a holiday flower, and many people give them around the holidays to symbolize good will and community spirit.
NEW! OCIS Contract Information
If there is a planned absence for five or more consecutive days, please contact the attendance clerk and all of your child's teachers 5 school days prior to the absence to set up a homework contract for the student. This allows the student to do the work that he or she would be doing if they were in class. (Note: OCIS contracts will not be made for medical absences; however, home tutors may be appropriate for some extended medical problems. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Deb Nunez, MVMS Attendance Clerk, at dnunez@powayusd.com or 858-538-5478 ext. 3104 as soon as possible regarding home tutors. See Attendance Information
NEW! Update~MVMS Holiday Helpers
Just a few days left to help a Mesa Verde family this holiday season! We are accepting gift cards to assist with groceries, gas, stores, restaurants, etc.
Donations will be accepted until 2:45pm on Monday,
December 18th. Thank you for your support!
Any questions, please contact our student services specialist, Sarah Fitzherbert at sfitzherbertvelasco@powayusd.com
NEW! MVMS Christmas Jazz Concert
This weekend Mesa Verde Jazz Ensemble & the San Diego Youth Jazz Orchestra will be performing at Dizzy's Jazz Club on Saturday and Penasquitos Lutheran Church on Sunday.
Many SDYJO are MVMS alumni. Other towns represented are Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Escondido, San Marcos, Coronado, Bonsall.
Come on out and relax with some fun and exciting holiday tunes. Please click on each photo to see the date, time and location for each concert.
Click here for more information.
Any questions, please contact Robert Resto at rresto@powayusd.com
New! Congrats All Southern CA Honor Groups Members
Jay Posteraro (Director of Bands) and MVMS would like to congratulate the students who were selected for the All Southern CA Honor Groups.
Elementary Band (grades 4-6): Riri Takai (Clarinet), Penelope Zimmerman (Flute), Seiji Ishitsuka (Trumpet)
String Orchestra: Ashley Li(Cello)
Band: Luke Mun (Percussion) and
Wiley Zamora (Trombone)
Full Orchestra: Tristan Toledo (Percussion)
For a few of them, this is their THIRD honor group for this year!
Way to go, we are very proud of you all!
Performing Arts Classes Winter Concert at MCHS
Come join all three of our Performing Arts Classes when we join Mount Carmel Choirs as the Mesa Verde Choirs at the Mount Carmel High School Winter Wonderland Concert on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Tickets are available now!
Just click on the QR code.
Presale Tickets: $10.00
General Admission Tickets:$12.00
You won't want to miss this beautiful celebration of the Holiday Season! Please contact Mrs. Milling if you have questions at emilling@powayusd.com.
The Cold and Flu Season Update
The cold and flu season is especially difficult for families now with the triple threat of the influenza virus or flu, respiratory syncytial virus (better known as RSV), and COVID-19. Please see attached letter for more information.
Poway Unified School District will continue to work with local health officials to share helpful information. Thank you for your partnership in helping us keep our students and staff healthy. We thank you for your cooperation and support.
Sharing Culture and Belonging
Our library promotes our students and community by working with families, students, and staff to create displays throughout the year that celebrates our MVMS culture. Displays we created this year are a New Chapter display for the start of the school year, 9/11 Remembrance, Hispanic Heritage Month, Banned Book Week, Filipino American History Month, Dia de los Muertos, Halloween, Native American Heritage Month, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, “We are Thankful” tree, Kwanza, Christmas, and Hanukkah.
Additional displays created last year and we will create this year are Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Women’s History Month, St. Patrick’s Day, Neurodiversity Week, Arab American Heritage Month, Poetry Month, Easter, Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Military Appreciation Month and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
The library pairs displays and celebrations with the PUSD diversity calendar to ensure we are inclusive. We do our best to have broad representation of all our students.
The library will reach out to the community through the Eagle Newsletter and/or Canvas announcement. The library relies on community involvement, input, and creativity to create
such displays.
If you have suggestions for future displays, or you would like to help create displays, look for announcements and/or reach out to Heather Ferguson (hferguson@powayusd.com) in the library.
Book Club will start on Wednesday, December 13th!
Please join us on Wednesday mornings in the library as we read The Gray by local San Diego author, Chris Baron. The Gray can be purchased at any local bookstore, or on Amazon with this link. We generously received 10 copies of the book. If you would like to join book club and would like to borrow the book, please stop by the library to get a copy. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Ferguson at hferguson@powayusd.com.
Summary: The Gray is a sensitively told middle grade story from Chris Baron about living with anxiety and finding ways to cope.
It’s been a tough year for Sasha―he’s been bullied at his middle school and his anxiety, which he calls the Gray, is growing. Sasha’s dad tells him to “toughen up”―and he does, but with unfortunate, hurtful results. His parents and therapist agree that a summer in the country with his aunt might be the best medicine, but it’s the last place he wants to be. He'll be away from his best friend, video games, and stuck in the house that reminds him of his beloved uncle who died two years earlier.
His aunt is supportive, and there are lots of places to explore, and even some potential new friends. When Sasha is introduced at a local ranch to a horse coincidentally--incredibly--nicknamed the Gray, he feels he's found a kindred spirit.
But his own Gray is ever-present. When one of his new friends disappears, Sasha discovers that the country is wilder and more mysterious than he imagined. He tries to muster enough courage to help in the search . . . but will the Gray hold him back?
Get your MVMS Spirit Wear!
Calling all Mesa Verde Middle School families! The MVMS Spirit Wear Store is now open for holiday orders! Show your school pride and gear up with some stylish apparel, perfect for gift-giving or simply showcasing your Mesa Verde spirit! Click here to browse the incredible selection of spirit wear available, simply visit our online store at From cozy hoodies and trendy t-shirts to stylish hats, there's something for everyone in the Mesa Verde community.
But hurry, time is ticking! PLEASE ALLOW 2-3 WEEKS FOR YOUR ORDER TO SHIP so be sure to place your order before it's too late! If you have any questions or need assistance with your order, contact us at spiritwear@mvmsfoundation.org.
Wishing you all a joyous and spirited holiday season!
2023-2024 MVMS Yearbook
Don't forget to order your MVMS 2023-2024 yearbook!! Books are sold online only –
CLICK HERE to place your order. The last day to order your yearbook is Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Yearbooks are $45 and will be delivered at the beginning of June.
We do not always have extra yearbooks in our final shipment. The only way to guarantee your student receives a yearbook is to order before the January deadline.
Yearbooks sold in June are $55.
Please contact Shawn Tran with any questions (stran@powayusd.com).
Spelling Bee Season is Here
If you are interested, you can click here for resources to help prepare for the spelling bee. They
also can be found on the MVMS Library homepage or the MVMS Library Catalog.
Bike Permits are Required
As of October 2nd, bike permits are required for all bicycles, scooters, E-bikes and skateboards. If your student turned in the Permit Application and passed the online quiz, they should come into the front office to pick up their permit. MVMS will be conducting surprise Permit checks. We will be looking for permit# and names that match the bicycles, scooters, E-bikes and skateboards. Moving forward there will be consequences for bike permit violations.
​​1st offense: Warning
2nd offense: Student Conference, review of requirements with staff member/administrator and written reflection
3rd offense: Student Conference, parent contact, possible safety class participation (with SRO contact)
4th offense: Student / parent conference with possible loss of bike parking privileges
NOTE: The privilege of parking the bike/scooter/E-bike/skateboard may be suspended or revoked by administration if a student does not obey the above, or other reasonable safety rules and regulations.
Click here for more information on the bike permits including the application and online quiz.
6th Grade Camp Letter
Clubs
MVMS Ultimate Frisbee Club
Come out and join the newest club at MVMS which is focusing on fun and teaching kids how to play ultimate frisbee. The club will be coached by MVMS 6th grade teacher, Mr. Buckman and long-time PQ, Coach Ryan Thoma. The coaches are volunteering their time so there are no costs or fees to join.
The goal is to play once a week at 3pm on the MVMS campus. We will set up games against other teams in the future and share potential tournament opportunities as well.
If your child is interested in participating, then please click here to fill out this Google Form to be in the loop moving forward.
Join MVMS Quizbowl
Are You Interested in After-School Sports at Mesa Verde?
Are you interested in after-school sports at Mesa Verde? Please complete the interest survey Link.
Counseling Corner
School Counseling Quarterly
Volunteers/Job Opportunities
MVMS is Hiring
The Difference Between a Guest, a Visitor and a Volunteer as per the PUSD Board Policies
1. A Visitor is defined as an individual who, with school district authorization, attends a student performance, special event, festival, open house, back-to-school event, sports event, athletic competition, etc. A visitor may either be accompanied or unaccompanied by school district staff. Designated school district administrative personnel are to make this determination. A visitor is usually not required to sign a registry.
Example: Your school is being recognized for achievement and members of SDCOE are coming to watch students or your school is hosting a Jr. Olympic competition.
2. A Guest is defined as an individual who, with school district approval, assists students, schools, and teachers on a non-regular basis or who individually observes a classroom or activity. A guest may also assist with educational programs or with special events on an occasional or infrequent basis. A guest shall immediately report his or her presence at the school office or at the designated school location upon arrival at the school and sign a guest registry.
Example: Your school is hosting the book fair, a play where parents are coming to watch, or a teacher needs help in the classroom with a one- or two-day tie-dye t-shirt project for the jog-a-thon. A class is hosting a party or a fun run.
3. A Volunteer is defined as an individual who, with school district authorization, voluntarily assists school districts, schools, educational programs, or students on a regular and ongoing basis. A volunteer is required to complete a Volunteer Application and have a Megan’s Law Background Check or a State and/or Federal Background Check completed.
Example: A parent is assisting with a weekly and ongoing project such as the running club or Lego league. A grandparent is helping in music or art classes weekly. A field trip chaperone and/or driver (usually requires Level 1 and 2 applications).
If someone is coming to help in the class only one or two times, they are not considered volunteers therefore do not need to fill out a Level 1 application.
Click HERE for steps on becoming a volunteer and all paperwork is on the PUSD Website.
Mesa Verde PTSA and Foundation
SAVE THE DATE: Foundation Spring Fling and Silent Auction
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details. Click here to visit our website for updates and information.
Let's make this Spring Fling a night to remember! #SaveTheDate #SpringFling2024 #SilentAuction #CommunityEvent #MVMSFoundation
Mesa Verde Middle School Named a 2022-2024 National PTA School of Excellence
Mesa Verde PTSA and Foundation
Be sure to check out Mesa Verde PTSA and Mesa Verde Foundation to find out how families can support MVMS and how to get involved
General Information
A Note from the Health Office
More Than A Meal Application
More Than A Meal is a program which can provide support to your family. Families who qualify for assistance may qualify for additional support including discounts on fees for SAT, ACT, AP tests, home internet costs, passes for public transportation, and application fees associated with colleges and universities. Please complete the online application or the paper application which can be obtained from the Front Office (only one application per family).
Attendance Guidelines
Click HERE for more information regarding:
- Reporting Absence Form
- Clearing Absences
- Off Campus Passes (Early Release)
- Tardies
Health Guidelines
- Medication Procedures
- Mandatory Health Screenings
- Medical P.E. Exemption
- Immunization Information
Calendar
Full Bell Schedule
Contact Us
General Questions
If you are unsure of who to contact about a matter, please email us at MVMS@powayusd.com and your message will be answered or forwarded to the correct person.
MVMS NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA REQUESTS
If you have information you would like included in our weekly newsletter, social media, email, or website, etc. please use this form to submit your request. Your request does NOT guarantee that your information will be included. Please note that we may edit your submission (content, length, etc.) but will contact you if our edits would change or remove pertinent information. Please submit by noon on Fridays for inclusion in the weekly Eagle Newsletter.
Mesa Verde Middle School
9:00am-3:00pm (W)
Email: MVMS@powayusd.com
Website: https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/MS/MVMS/Home
Location: 8375 Entreken Way, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: (858) 538-5478
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mesa-Verde-Middle-1493083354314112
Twitter: @MesaVerdeMS