

Arts Magnet News!
August 22-26, 2022

A View from the Tower
Week 9, for Families and Community October 3-7, 2022
Welcome October!
Dear Altadena Eliot Arts Families,
I hope you're enjoying the beautiful, cooler weather this weekend. I finally made it all the way up to the Eliot tower this weekend with my family and although the trek is a bit scary (two very vertical ladders) the view and breezes were spectacular!
For those who are observing Yom Kippur this week, I wish you Yom Tov, blessings that you are sealed in the book of life for another year.
Middle School Families, please vote for SSC member here: https://forms.gle/pXDBh2sBvXcW9Rb36
Our Eliot Middle School students were tremendous in the first all district middle school marching band playing and marching in the Latino Heritage Parade on Saturday! Thank you to Ms. Duboucheron who led the way as our fabulously talented musicians played and marched and made us #huskyproud!
We had over 100 students audition for the Principal's/Gospel Choir. Wow, have we got some amazingly talented students! We will be hosting one more day for make up auditions for those who were not able to make it last week and then we'll send out the list of who is in the choir. Thank you to all who came in to sing for us. Great job Cougars and Huskies!
Don't miss the First Ever Mime Show at our middle school campus on Thursday! (See flyer below)
This Week:
Thursday, 10/6 Elementary School Tour @ 9am in the parent room
Thursday, 10/6 Elementary Fall Photos PreK-2nd grade
Thursday, 10/6 Middle School First Annual Mime Show at 6pm in the auditorium
Friday, 10/7 Elementary Fall Photos 3rd-5th grade and Cougar Values Awards Assembly
It's a great week to be a Cougar and a Husky!
Yours in Service,
Dr. Scheckel, Principal
Open Enrollment!
- Open Enrollment Dates for the 2023-24 school year are now posted on our website. All current PUSD families will receive a hard copy of the Open Enrollment calendar in the mail in mid-October, and we will send extras to your school sites in October.
- Sibling and Program Priority Registration applications go live online Oct. 24, 2022, 9AM - Nov. 14, 2022, 4PM.
Clean Air Week!
Celebrating Altadena Clean Air Week - Walk (bike) to School Wednesday, 10/5 on CA Clean Air Day!
We are encouraging the community to participate during the week-long activities and to take the Clean Air Pledge.
ALTADENA CLEAN AIR WEEK is just around the corner. The details for those events and added events are listed on Altadena Clean Air facebook page
Here's how you can help
1. Please share on your social media links.
2. Encourage people to attend any or all the events. They will receive a raffle ticket for a drawing on Saturday, October 8th at noon, after CHA CHA's event of "1000 yardscapes"
3, Take the pledge of action at CLEAN AIR DAY
4. If you know a business that incorporates clean air practices - dry cleaner, house/business cleaners, please let me know.
District African American Parent Council Meeting Tuesday!
Join the District AAPC meeting on Tuesday via this link: https://tcsedsystem.zoom.us/j/97975602019#success
Room 13 is starting at Elementary!
PTA Reflections Art Contest!
PTA Reflections Contest!
There's nothing to turn in until you submit your entry. Please do not turn in entries before Monday, 10/17/22. You will turn in with the entry form on the 17th.
“Show Your Voice!”
That’s the theme for the 2022-23 Reflections Art Program, which has been bringing the arts to life for more than 10 million students since 1969. California State PTA and its members, families and kids are on the forefront of this amazing program, which increases community awareness of the importance of arts in education. Visit https://capta.org/programs-events/reflections/ for morre information.
Reflections encourages students of all ages to:
- Unleash creative talents and be inspired
- Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
- Experience the fun and joy of making art
- Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
- Receive positive recognition for their original works of art.
Click here to see the California winners of the 2021-2022 Reflections Art Program. Here is a promotional video: https://youtu.be/0oOU3kyk28Y and this is from a teacher explaining the whole program https://youtu.be/xntygaUdOW0
Tournament of Roses Dia de los Muertos Art Contest!
NUTRITION, NUTRITION, NUTRITION!
What to Eat, Send and Bring to School!
AAM is currently a completely NUT FREE campus. Please avoid any snacks on this list with nuts. We will revisit this policy next school year and consider nut free tables and spaces other than a campus-wide policy.
We know you sometimes want to host a celebration for your child's birthday in their classroom, or maybe you'd just like to know more about our PUSD approved list of snacks. If so, please read the attached PUSD List of Approved Snacks.
Virtual French Book Fair - Sept 12-26
Bonjour Families,
We are excited to announce the AAM FDLIP Virtual French Book Fair from September 12 to 26. Only purchases made during this time frame will count towards the book fair.
We are once again partnering with the independent French bookstore, Bonjour Books DC in Kensington, MD to offer a wide selection of French-language books for all grade levels. Our book fair coordinator this year is Stephen Raynor (stephen.raynor@gmail.com).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ONLINE SHOPPING:
Book Fair Online Shopping Instructions:
1. Shop for BOOKS: We offer a wide selection of French-language books for all ages and grade levels online at www.bonjourbooksdc.com. Free shipping is available for all orders over $30.
2. Shop for GIFTS. We carry a large selection of gifts and goodies on our website. All sales count toward the book fair!
3. Show your appreciation amour for your child’s teacher!
a. Check to see if they have created a gift registry here.
b. If you don’t see their name, consider purchasing a gift card for them here!
4. Click the checkout button and follow instructions.
a. For orders of at least $30: FREE shipping to home is available.
5. In the "Discount Code" box, enter ALTADENA. Please note no discounts will be applied to your order. This code allows us to track book fair earnings.
6. Continue to the payment method and complete your checkout.
7. Need help? Email bonjourbooksdc@gmail.com or send a text message to 240-383-9163.
PLEASE NOTE: While we update stock frequently, information is not always 100% accurate. If an item shows in stock, it may in fact be out of stock, and vice versa. All in-stock items will be shipped within approximately 2 weeks. All backordered items will be shipped to home in approximately 4-5 weeks after the end of the book fair. Items purchased from gift registries will also be shipped to home and you (or your child via backpack:-)) will need to deliver them to your child’s teacher.
PUSD COVID-19 UPDATE
Since the early days of COVID, PUSD has had to pivot and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. At last night’s meeting, the Pasadena Unified Board of Education approved revisions to COVID safety protocols. The following revisions are now in place at all PUSD schools.
Outdoor in-person meetings/activities with parents/guardians, community members, staff, and students are now allowed with masking strongly recommended.
Indoor in-person meetings/group activities with parents/guardians, community members, staff, students are allowed with masking required for all.
Masks are strongly recommended for students and staff indoors in classrooms and other shared spaces.
Parent group meetings such as (PTA, SSC, ELAC, AAPC) are allowed in person and may be held outdoors or remotely if the respective parent leadership agree.
IEP meetings with parents/guardians may be held in-person or remotely, whichever supports greater parent/guardian participation.
Back to School nights will proceed as planned with masks required for all.
Visitors and volunteers are allowed on campus if they self-attest to being fully vaccinated or to having a negative COVID test within the past 48 hours. They must also conduct a symptom screening prior to entering campus and masking is required. All visitors and volunteers must abide by Board policies, regulations, and school rules. Board Policy - Visitors BP 1250.
Back-to-School Nights will be allowed in-person with mandatory masking.
The following protocols remain in place:
Masks are strongly recommended for students and employees in classrooms and indoors.
Masks are required:
on PUSD buses (with accommodations for students)
at testing and vaccination clinics
during field trips when required by the venue
for 10 days after exposure to COVID-19 and after a positive test result
Reentry Testing Before arriving for the first day of school, PUSD is asking every student and employee to take an at-home rapid antigen test on August 10 or 11. Parents/guardians can pick up rapid antigen test kits (containing 2 tests) at their child’s school/children’s center August 8-10. More information https://www.pusd.us/Page/9801
Rapid Antigen Tests The California Department of Public Health has endorsed the emergency use of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests beyond their FDA authorized expiration. Please follow instructions carefully. If a distinct line in the color specified in the instructions does not appear in the “C” control window, the test may be invalid.
Vaccine Clinics Getting vaccinated and boosted is still the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death. PUSD is holding vaccination clinics for ages 3 and older at the PUSD Primary Clinic (351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena)
Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 1:00-2:45 pm
Wednesday, August 10, 2022, 1:00-2:45 pm
Pre-register at MyTurn.CA.gov or register on site. Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines available. We also accept limited walk-ins.
Ventilation Air purifiers are in place in classrooms and indoor common areas. Filters were changed over the summer, and all lead custodians were trained on how to change both carbon and HEPA filters.
Personal Protective Equipment Masks and hand sanitizers are in stock and available to students and staff.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we strive to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.
PT(S)A Corner!
Let's Get Involved in our School!
Huskies,
Well, October is here. Your PTSA is looking for volunteers for October events. So please find some time and let's have some fun.
Hey, Eliot Students, we will be ordering Hoodies and Sweats soon. Get your order in.
Remember our October PTSA meeting is the second Tuesday of the month, join us. We need to hear from you.
Eliot hosted the Pasadena PTA Council meeting this past week. It went well. They loved our school. PTA / PTSA units from all over Pasadena attended. The Council is committed to helping all of the PTA / PTSA Units do the best job possible. So we have support, we just need you.
Have a great week!
Michael McCarthy
Eliot Arts PTSA President
"Many hands make light work"
2184 N Lake Ave
Altadena, Ca 91001
P) 626-396-5680
Please consider joining both PT(S)As!
What is PTSA?
The Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) is part of a national organization that engages and empowers families and communities to advocate for all children. At Altadena Eliot Arts Magnet, we support teachers and campus-wide projects and activities, give students, parents and guardians a voice and opportunities to improve the school environment, and work to improve the connection between our school, our families, and our community. Every student, parent, guardian, teacher, and staff person is invited to join PTSA. Members are encouraged but not required to attend three Association meetings during the school year; meetings and other activities are open to the entire school community.
Altadena Eliot Arts Membership Meetings for 2022-2023 are every 2nd Tuesday each month. Our first meeting will be held in the Eliot Library on September 13 at 6pm.
Step 1, join our PT(S)A membership! These parent groups are school advocates with a heart for service for our school! Anyone in the family can join, kids too! Join one, join both! Joining the PTA is simple.Log onto:
Annual Fund!
Please consider making a recurring donation of $45 to one or both of our Annual Funds! Our annual funds help to create a bridge for special services and arts programs at each of our campuses. Our annual funds are separate. Altadena's annual fund is chaired by Ms. Tasiah LeConte and Eliot's annual fund is chaired by Ms. Wendy Silva. Please join their committees and consider making a donation today!
AAM's Annual Fund
Eliot's Annual Fund
Spring Musical!
Calendar
October
- 6 AAM fall photos in the garden grades PreK-2
- 6 AAM School Tour @ 9:00 am
- 7 AAM fall photos in the garden grades 3-5
- 7 Cougar Values Awards Assembly @ 7:50 am
- 8 Latino Heritage Parade
- 10 Hispanic Heritage Celebration - Both Sites
- 11 AAM SSC virtually @ 3:00 pm
- 11 Joint PT(S)A meeting in person @ 6:00 pm at AAM Cafetorium
- 14 Parent/Teacher Conference Day BOTH SITES/SCHOOL CLOSED
- 17 PTA Reflections Artwork Due!
- 19 Unity Day! Wear Orange
- 20 Great CA Shakeout @ 10:20 am Both Sites
- 25 Flu Clinic at Elementary Site
- 27 Eliot School Tour @ 8:30 am
- 27 Eliot SSC virtually at 3:45 pm
- 28 Free Dress Friday @ AAM
- 28 Trunk or Treat Movie Night @ AAM
- 29 Haunted Hallway @ Eliot 2-4pm
- 31 Book-O-Ween Celebration @ AAM