Hello Allen Families and Friends!
Can you believe we are already two weeks into the school year?
Grade levels will hold their Back to School Night/Curriculum Night this week. Many of these events will be recorded and shared later via video links. A friendly reminder that teachers are accessible by email and ClassDojo during Distance Learning so that you don’t need to wait until those days to ask questions.
We are currently requesting Allen community members to serve on our School Site Council and our English Learner Advisory Committee. We also need parent representatives to serve on two district groups, the District Advisory Council (DAC) and the District English Learner Advisory Council (DELAC). Please carefully read the section on Parent Meetings below for the details. This information is at the end of this Sunday Update.
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Thank you to everyone who made the Beep and Greet this past week a huge success! Our staff spent several days before the event to prepare nearly 400 boxes of materials and books for students. Custodians, noon duties, instructional aides, office staff, and teachers all made this event come together. Our amazing Allen PTC also prepared free school supplies as the last stop of the Beep and Greet. If you haven’t done so already, please check out their website at AllenPTC.org to become a member of the PTC and make a donation. Allen’s PTC is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the school’s educational mission and funding programs and initiatives.
A reminder of our school’s Core Values and Common Courtesies:
Allen School’s Core Values:
Caring • Honesty • Perseverance • Respect • Responsibility
Allen School’s Common Courtesies:
“Please.” • “Thank you.” • “I apologize for…” • “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.” • “Excuse me.”
This week’s Core Value is Honesty. This week’s Common Courtesy is Thank You.
VAPA (Visual and Performing Art) classes will begin this week. At least once per week (and sometimes two or three times a week), your child will receive instruction in the arts from one of our talented VAPA teachers via their homeroom teacher’s Teams meeting. It is important for students to listen to the instructions and have patience as we begin these lessons via distance learning.
A friendly reminder that school starts online for all students at 8:50 am. Attendance and student engagement continue to be tracked and monitored, according to state law and AB 77 and SB 98. Please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 if your child is having trouble accessing class online.
A Look Ahead:
Monday, September 14 at 3:00 pm – ELAC Meeting
Monday, September 14 at 3:30 pm – SSC Meeting
Monday, September 14 at 6:00 pm – PTC Meeting
Tuesday, September 15 at 12 noon – DAC/DELAC Meeting
Tuesday, September 15 at 6:00 pm – Keeping Kids Safe Meeting
Friday, October 2 at 8:00 am – Virtual Family First Friday
Monday, October 12 at 3:00 pm – ELAC Meeting
Monday, October 12 at 3:30 pm – SSC Meeting
Monday, October 12 at 6:00 pm – PTC Meeting
Tuesday, October 13 at 12 noon – DAC/DELAC Meeting
Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00 pm – CVESD Board of Education Meeting
October 15 – 23 Parent-Teacher Conferences
Please note the absence of a Fall Break in the school calendar this year.
Beep and Greet 2020
Our team is amazing! Thank you to our staff and teachers for volunteering for our Beep and Greet. Thank you to the PTC for collecting and distributing school supplies. Nearly 400 boxes of materials were passed out to our school’s families on Friday. We loved seeing your smiling faces! Be sure to check out some of the photos from Friday below… Our new Allen Eagle mascot even flew in for a brief appearance.
Families need to return the packet of forms and paperwork from this event to the school office. If you still need to pick up materials or have questions about the paperwork, please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662. Please wear a facial covering when coming to the school. See the photos from Friday here:
First Week Photos
Here are some photos of our Eagles from our first week of school. Thank you to the parents who sent these in and consented for them to be displayed on social media.
Family Handbook (Distance Learning Edition)
To download the Family Handbook (Distance Learning Edition) for the 2020-2021 School Year, please click on this link:
Resources and Trainings for CVESD Families
Parents trainings are available for families during Distance Learning! Please see the district website here: Distance Learning for Parents
The district is providing support for families to learn about our online programs, such as the Microsoft Office 365 Suite, Achieve 3000, and Smarty Ants.
A friendly reminder to all parents: Please allow your child to take assessments and tests without your help and hints. These assessments give teachers a true understanding of how to help your student flourish this year.
School Lunch Program
Starting on Monday, September 14th, meal distribution will occur every Monday from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm for students who qualify for the FREE/REDUCED breakfast/lunch program. Pick up the 5 days worth of meals at the front of the school. Please drive to the front of the school, open your trunk, and be prepared to carry meals from our CNS staff to your car.
Would you like your child to eat school meals this year? The school encourages all families who may need assistance to apply for free and reduced meals via the district website. These forms must be completed again every year, so please do not wait to fill them out! Find the forms and information at the district link here:
If you are unsure if your family needs to fill out this application, please contact our school office at (619) 479-3662 between 8 am and 3 pm.
Distance Learning for Q1
School starts at 8:50 am via distance learning. No classes will take place on Allen’s physical campus as all schools remain closed to the public until further notice.
Accessing Distance Learning
In order for your child to access distance learning, please follow the steps:
User Names: Your child’s username is <student ID #>@live.cvesd.org
Passwords, Transitional Kindergarten through First Grade: Lowercase first initial + lowercase second initial + student ID + equal sign(=) . For example, my name is John Greenwell so my password would be jg12345=
Passwords, Second through Sixth Grade: Capitalized first initial + lowercase second initial + birthday. For example, my name is John Greenwell and I was born on October 4th, 2010 then my password would be Jg10042010
School starts for all students at 8:50 am and attendance will be taken throughout the day, every school day. Starting on September 8th, all Kindergarten students will have a break from 10:25 to 10:40 am. Students in grades 1-6 will have a break from 10:40 am to 10:55 am. The school’s lunch time is 1:05 to 1:55 pm each day. Your child’s teacher should have sent you an email regarding the detailed schedule for their class, but in general all students have a schedule similar to this:
Please contact the school office if you are not getting the School Messenger emails and phone calls. We also recommend you “Follow Our Blog” by entering in your email in the field to the right of this information. This way, you will receive automatic updates as they are released.
Waiver to Borrow a Laptop
The school needs to know if your family needs a laptop computer as it will be critical for all students to have both reliable internet access and a computer or mobile device (such as a tablet) once online learning begins. We are preparing laptops for all students in need. Families needing to borrow a district laptop must fill out the waiver online first. This will take the place of another survey and prompt the school to prepare a laptop for your family. For families that have completed waivers, we will put you on the list and notify you when a laptop is ready.
Families coming to Allen to pick up a device without having completed the waiver in advance and confirming with the school that one is ready will be sadly disappointed. The sooner we receive your request, the sooner we can process that and prepare technology devices for your family. Laptops will be prepared for families on a first-come, first served basis.
Click here to complete the DISTRICT LAPTOP waiver.
Waiver to Borrow a Wifi Hot Spot
Update: Please know that the district currently has a waitlist for wifi hot spot devices. Some devices have arrived, and more are on their way. We will do our very best to support your family and provide a wifi hot spot to families needing this in order for their student to learn.
In light of this limited supply, the school still needs to know if your family needs a wifi hot spot device as it will be critical for all students to have both reliable internet access and a computer once online learning begins. We are preparing these wifi devices for all students in need. Families needing to borrow a wifi hot spot device must fill out the waiver online first. Again, we currently have a waitlist for wifi hot spots. Please complete the waiver as soon as possible and please wait until someone from our school contacts you to pick up the device. Families coming to Allen to pick up a device without having completed the waiver in advance and confirming with the school that one is ready will be sadly disappointed. The sooner we receive your request, the sooner we can process that and prepare the device for your family.
Click here to complete the WIFI HOT SPOT waiver.
School Expectations for Online Learning
Parents and families, Allen School needs your help to set up kids for success this year. The students and staff at Ella B. Allen Elementary School believe that a safe and positive online environment is important to a child’s learning in the digital classroom. To provide such an environment, Allen Elementary School has established the following online norms and guidelines:
Students should be ready to learn when the school day starts. This means your child should be “school-ready” and prepared for a day of learning at 8:50 am. We recommend that your child is dressed and has eaten breakfast so that learning may start when the school day starts. A computer and reliable internet connection and/or other materials such as paper, pencils, crayons or markers, books, and workbooks may be necessary to support your child’s work that day. If you need a district-provided laptop or wifi hot spot device in order for your child to learn, please inform the school office at (619) 479-3662. The school will provide required learning materials in the coming days and weeks.
Check for updates from your child’s teacher via Class Dojo or email. Two-way communication is important for your child’s success. Teachers will share schedules and ways to access lessons and activities. Please ensure the school’s office has the most up-to-date phone number and email address for your family. Please also check the school blog: https://allenelementary.org/.
Updates are usually posted on Sundays.
Create a working schedule for your household that supports academic time. You may need to ask others in the house to be mindful of a child’s learning. You may need to re-arrange some furniture or ask other members of the household to use quiet voices. If possible, please do not have students working in a bedroom. Some parents have expressed that having a headset or earpods with a microphone helps their child interact with focus in the live sessions.
Be healthy during distance learning. Take breaks throughout the day for movement. Students should drink water, eat a nutritious snack, use the bathroom, and stretch at breaks, as well as eat lunch at lunch time. Promote physical activity and health. Provide time for your child to do activities that are “off screen.”
Respect the privacy and learning of others. Students and guardians/parents should not record (neither video, nor audio) or take photos/screenshots of live sessions or others in distance learning. Online tools, such as video chats and messages, should only be used as directed by teachers and staff.
See the helpful graphic below or download at the link:
In addition, your child’s teacher may have other norms and guidelines to ensure student safety and privacy for all students.
Parent Helpline and Tech Support
Parents may call the Parent Help Line for Tech Support at (619) 409-6638 Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This help line offers technical assistance with district programs such as Microsoft TEAMS, iReady, and Achieve 3000. Parents may need to leave a message during peak times, but please be reassured that someone will contact you as soon as possible if you leave your name and phone number on your voice message. Your patience and flexibility are appreciated.
If your child is using a non-district supported program, such as Zoom or Google Classroom, please note that district technicians may not be able to assist you with those programs.
California Compulsory Education Law and Parental Notification
Please note that California Compulsory Education Law requires everyone between the ages of six and eighteen years of age to attend school, except sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds who have graduated from high school or passed the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) and obtained parental permission to leave.
Annual state and federal laws require that school districts notify parents/guardians of minor pupils of their parental rights (California Education Code Section 48980). Please see the district page regarding more information about this legal notification:
CVESD FAQ on Reopening Schools
Our district will continue to update its FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page regarding the reopening of schools later this year at this website:
Verification of Residency Process
New this year, the Verification of Residency process can be completed online or in person this week. Information on this process is available here:
LINK for the Residency Verification Process
Please contact the office with pressing questions regarding this year’s Residency Verification at (619) 479-3662.
Parent Meetings
Allen School needs parents and guardians to support our school through important parent groups, such as the PTC (Parent Teacher Club), the School Site Council (often referred to as SSC), and the English Language Advisory Committee (often referred to as ELAC). The site-based groups work with the Principal, staff, and other community members to ensure that community voice is part of the shared decision making process of a public school.
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
Ella B. Allen’s next ELAC Meeting will be held on Monday, September 14th at 3 pm and will be held online. Public elections for voting members will be held at this meeting. Please email michelle.reza@cvesd.org for the meeting link at least one day prior to access this online meeting.
School Site Council (SSC)
Allen School’s next SSC Meeting is Monday, September 14th at 3:30 pm and will be held online. Public elections for voting members will be held at this meeting. Please email michelle.reza@cvesd.org for the meeting link at least one day prior to access this online meeting.
We are currently requesting Allen community members to serve on our School Site Council and our English Learner Advisory Committee. Please see the descriptions below and nominate yourself if you are interested.
SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL (SSC) is composed of five elected parent/community representatives and five elected staff/teacher representatives. The role of the SSC is to develop, approve, and monitor the School Plan for Student Achievement.
With a few exceptions, meetings are held the second Monday of every month. Until further notice, meetings will be held online. All parents and staff are welcome to attend. Council members serve for two year terms.
We have several open parent/community representative positions open this school year. Please fill out the form below if you wish to nominate yourself and serve on the Allen School Site Council. Nominations were due by 3:00 pm on September 11th, but we will continue to accept nominations as long as we have vacant positions. Voting will take place the following week at the SSC Meeting on Monday, September 14th at 3:30 pm via the online meeting. Please use the link below to nominate:
PTC Meetings
Allen’s PTC Meetings will continue to be held virtually online in accordance with state and county health guidelines until further notice. Allen PTC Meetings generally occur on the second Monday of each month at 6 pm. Parents will have the opportunity to connect with other parents at Allen.
The next PTC Meeting is 6 pm to 7 pm on Monday, Sept. 14. Please email michelle.reza@cvesd.org for the Zoom link at least one day prior to access this online meeting.
For a complete list of the dates of the PTC, please click here: PTC Meetings
Virtual Family First Friday Meeting
The first Friday of every month is reserved for our Family First Friday, Allen’s version of Coffee with the Principal. We will continue this tradition, albeit virtually, starting in October. Join Mr. Greenwell online via Zoom for some updates regarding the school year on Friday, October 2, 2020 at 8 am. We encourage you to brew your own cup of coffee or tea at home as you join this online meeting. The link will be posted on this blog as the meeting date approaches. Mark your calendars now!
CVESD Board of Education Meeting
The district’s Board of Education meetings are also being held online and generally occur the second Wednesday of each month. The next CVESD Board of Education meeting is Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00 pm.
To access these public meetings, please click the link here: https://www.cvesd.org/board_of_education/board_meetings
CVESD DAC/DELAC Meeting
District Advisory Council (DAC)
The DAC is composed of parent and staff representatives from each School Site Council. It meets regularly during the school year in open public forum to share information, study instructional issues, approve school planning schedules, and make recommendations to the Board of Education on specific items. District meetings take place once a month, mid-afternoon. Most meetings occur on Tuesdays from 12 – 2 pm, with a parent training beforehand. This is an elected position to serve a one-year term.
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)
The DELAC is comprised of parents, teachers, principals, and instructional assistants representing English Learners. This Committee meets regularly to share information as well as to study issues and concerns related to the instruction provided to English Learners. Parents of English Learners play a strong role in these meetings. District meetings take place once a month, mid-afternoon. Most meetings occur on Tuesdays from 12 – 2 pm, with a parent training beforehand. This is an elected position to serve a one-year term.
Nominations are open from Sept. 10 to Sept. 17. Voting will take place the following week.
The district will continue to conduct all meetings online until further notice, including all DAC/DELAC meetings. DAC is the District Advisory Committee. DELAC is the District English Learner Advisory Committee. Both of these groups are designed to support and inform parents in a shared communication setting with the district. Parents learn with other parents and district leadership at the DAC/DELAC meetings.
The next DAC/DELAC Meeting will be on September 15th from 12 noon to 2 pm.
Below is a schedule of all DAC/DELAC meetings for the upcoming school year. I recommend all parents download this schedule if they are interested in learning more about theses district meetings.
Community Kindness: Wear a Mask
COVID-19 presents real health risks to our community. Please continue to stay safe and demonstrate kindness to others: Wash your hands, wear a mask or facial covering, and maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet when around people from outside your household. We all play a role in keeping our community safe and healthy!
Be well Eagles! We love you and we miss you.
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 