Arts Magnet Weekly News
Week 30 for Families and Community March 21-25, 2022
It's Gala Time!
Dear Eliot Arts Magnet Families,
The week we've been planning for is finally upon us! Special love and thanks to Ms. Felicia Lee and her incredible AF committee for all their hard work and dedication in making Thursday evening's festivities fruitful and delightful! We cannot wait to see you all there!
It is easy to forget, especially in these strange times, that all of us in education are here because we love your children and we want to see them grow and thrive. We ask you to partner with us to support your child in making good decisions at school and in their community.
APPLE WATCHES AND CELL PHONES Parents, we are in a quagmire and we need your help. We understand the desire to be connected to your children all day long since now we have the technology that makes this possible. However, the use of these devices at the very least are interfering with the staff's professional responsibilities, and at most are deeply hurting our children with the constant use of Instagram and other platforms to bully, shame and harass other students.
Here is my ask:
- Discourage your child from texting you throughout the school day and please don't text them. Devices should be off during school hours.
- Check your child's device for social media accounts and talk with them about appropriate use. (Some of our older students use their friends' devices to get on social media, even if you have not allowed them their own accounts, so please be thorough in your conversations.)
- Trust us; our systems and protocols to take care of and protect your child.
Let me share a typical scenario:
Child falls down, gets a scrape and texts their parent, "I fell down." Parent panics and wonders if their child was pushed or worse yet, bullied. Child is sent to the nurse. Child comes to nurse and the nurse runs through her protocols, asks questions, cleans the scrape, maybe gives an icepack, takes notes in her log, and sends child back to class. An hour later, angry parent calls the school and yells at staff, "My child was hurt and I wasn't notified!" Parent starts texting other parents or posts on social media, "My child was hurt and no one at school notified me. What is going on there?"
And sometimes the angry parent will leave work and just show up in our main office demanding to speak with the principal because of a text they received from their child. We know nothing about it because the child did not come to any of the adults on campus for help.
We will always inform you if your child is seriously injured or is sick and needs to be picked up. You will not hear from us for bumps and scrapes. Sometimes if the injury requires investigation and fact finding, you won't hear from us until our investigation is complete. Of course, if it's serious and requires medical attention outside of school, we will call you immediately regardless of our investigation.
We are trained and want to take care of your children. As you've seen in the news recently, staff members in education are getting hammered constantly by anxious parents. Check out this article if you'd like to read some data from the NEA Advocating for Change: Violence and Threats Against School Staff If you are worried or if we mishandled something, please let me know and I'll take care of it. Let me be the filter for your anxiety and let's keep it away from our overwrought teachers and staff.
Physical Education Classes Students must dress for PE and participate in order to pass. If they do not pass, they may not be eligible for extracurriculars such as the 8th grade end of year events. Please talk with your child about dressing for PE and participating.
Summer Programs! We will be offering summer programs. Please see below!
Please order See's Candy to support Eliot's PTSA https://tinyurl.com/EliotSpring Last day to order is 3/25.
Parent Valet Volunteers We are looking for a few parents who are willing to assist us from 7:45-8:15 am and from 2:45-3:15 pm. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Helen Sandoval at sandoval.helen@pusd.us Thank you to those who have already stepped up!!! We will provide you with a reflective vest and training. Let's work together to keep everyone safe!
Our Annual Fund Gala and Auction Thursday, March 24. Last chance to get your tickets!!!
http://weblink.donorperfect.com/EliotAFSilentAuction
There is no school on Friday 3/25 for staff professional development.
It's a great week to be an Eliot Husky!!
Yours in Service,
Dr. Scheckel, Principal
Gala, Silent and Live Auction is Thursday!!!
Summer Programs are Coming!!!
Grades 4-9 will be offered a full day of awesomeness at Eliot's campus including academics, art with Ms. Shih, wood working with Mr. Duffy, Theatre with Mr. Jonathan and more! Please look for the PEF summer catalogue coming out soon!
Wednesday at 6pm
Get your Yearbook Today!
Join AAM and Eliot Arts Day at Two Bit Circus!
Please join us on Sunday, March 20th at Two Bit Circus for a fundraiser to support the Annual Fund. Enjoy classic arcade games, high-tech old school carnival games, VR, escape rooms and much, much more! Come play! 10% of proceeds will benefit the AAM Annual Fund. Book your tickets using the link below.
https://twobitcircus.centeredgeonline.com/event/description/bad8e0b5-c391-4cf0-86b7-dedfdb64cba6
Please note all AAM and Eliot guests must use this link in order for us to properly track and credit the school for the donation
For more information visit: https://twobitcircus.com/locations/
COVID Updates from our Superintendent!
Message from the Superintendent
Dear PUSD Community,
To keep you fully informed, I’m writing to explain upcoming changes to COVID-19 protocols which were discussed at last night’s PUSD Board of Education meeting. Following guidance from state, county, and local public health authorities, masks will no longer be required but strongly recommended indoors at Pasadena Unified schools and childcare sites starting this Monday, March 14, 2022. The relaxed rules come in response to declining COVID-19 cases, fewer hospitalizations, and increasing vaccination rates.
The PUSD team presented and discussed changes with the Board of Education last night so that all opinions could be heard. Our decisions are guided by science and influenced by parents, teachers, staff, and, above all, our students. Your well-being will always be our top priority.
While we’re lifting the mask mandate in PUSD, we must remain vigilant as new variants of the virus develop. If conditions change, it is possible that the mask mandate could be reinstated, so we must keep masks within easy reach.
We strongly encourage parents/guardians to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible. The State of California has announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will be a required vaccination (with options for personal exemptions) once it receives full FDA approval. We know that vaccinations are a key component to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
PUSD Vaccine Clinics
Mondays from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the PUSD Education Center
(351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena). To register, visit myturn.ca.gov
MASKING
Although masks are not required but still strongly recommended in many cases, mask mandates remain in place in the following circumstances:
Exposed students, identified as close contacts, must wear masks for 10 days after exposure.
Exposed students who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated must wear masks upon returning to school from quarantine from Day 6 through Day 10.
Students and staff members on a bus or other PUSD transportation must wear masks at all times.
Students and staff on a field trip at a public facility must wear masks while indoors.
Students, staff, and community members at a PUSD testing or vaccination clinic must wear masks.
Masks will also be required in the school Health Offices and the PUSD Primary Clinic as these offices provide health care.
I want to state clearly: it’s imperative for everyone to feel safe on PUSD campuses. We have a diverse population with differing views and health conditions and we ask that our parents, students, and staff be respectful of each other’s views. We know that some students and staff may have concerns about removing their masks indoors and may choose to continue wearing one. That’s ok. After two years, we know there are individual and private reasons for staff and students to keep wearing their mask. Please be respectful of each others’ decisions.
QUARANTINE
PUSD Student Quarantine protocols may also be changing since revised State TK-12 guidance was recently published and we anticipate similar revisions to county and local guidance. Once county and local guidelines are released, we will review and make adjustments to PUSD’s protocols as needed. We will keep you informed.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Best regards,
Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Our Eliot Arts Turn Around Room is Open!
Ms. Alquijay's Students' Cell Projects!
LEARNs is Hiring!
March
- 3/3 - Virtual School Tour @ 9am http://meet.google.com/tmy-duhe-obz
- 3/5 - Parent Work Day @9am - 3pm with Design Team Meeting at 11 am in the Mac Lab
- 3/8 - PTA Meeting @5:45 pm with Principal http://meet.google.com/dqd-sivj-cwa
- 3/9 - AAPC @5:30 pm and Handel's Fundraiser
- 3/10 - Cafe con Scheckel @ 8:30 am http://meet.google.com/nxo-qffz-ntg
- 3/11 - Art Night Pasadena
- 3/24 - Gala @ 6pm at Altadena Town and Country Club
- 3/25 - Staff Development Day/No School for Students
- 3/30 - PUSD Spelling Bee @ 4:15 pm and Eliot Spring Concert @6:30 pm
- 3/31 - Shortened Day
- 4/1 - Cesar Chavez Day/No School
- 4/2-4/10 - Spring Break