This is an exciting week at Ella B. Allen Elementary School! Not only is it Red Ribbon Week, but it is also a Spirit Week and the week before popular fall holidays such as Halloween, All Saints Day, and Día de los Muertos.
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
The Mayor of Chula Vista made a virtual visit to our third grade classes on Wednesday, October 20th. Mayor Mary Casillas Salas spoke to students and responded to their letters. Thank you to Ms. Kriss, Ms. Farlow, and Ms. Rañon for organzing this event.
Please watch Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week via the 5 minute YouTube video below:
If you haven’t done so already, please check out the PTC 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. The PTC is currently hosting their annual Ultra Fun Run to support STEAM activities this year (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).
Use an Amazon Smile account to place your orders on Amazon and help our PTC! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible Amazon Smile purchases to the charities selected by you! It doesn’t increase the cost of the product and is a one-time, simple extra click to your Amazon purchases initially. Please choose Allen Elementary School Parents Teachers Club Inc by clicking this link for your Amazon purchases: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-4403426
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.” • “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.” • “I apologize for…” • “Excuse me.”
This week’s Core Value is Perseverance. This week’s Common Courtesy is “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.”
If you need to conduct business with the school office, please contact the school office between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Anyone coming to the school office must follow all safety protocols, including wearing a facial covering. If the office hour times do not work for you, please contact the office directly and we will arrange an appointment with you.
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:
- Please note the absence of a Fall Break in the school calendar this year.
October 26 – 30: Red Ribbon Week and Spirit Week
Friday, October 30 – Costume Day [Please, no scary or gory costumes, no props of any kind, no weapons of any kind, no masks that cover the entire face, and no costumes that may be considered culturally offensive].
Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day from 7 am to 8 pm; Allen will not be used as a polling location for this election.
Friday, November 6 at 8 am – Virtual Family First Friday
Tuesday, November 10 – School Photo Day
Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
November 23 – 27: Thanksgiving Break
Spirit Week and Red Ribbon Week
This week is Red Ribbon Week!
Monday, October 26: Allen Spirit Day – Wear any Allen School t-shirt or any plain green shirt!
Tuesday, October 27: Wear Red Day – Make a commitment to say no to drugs by wearing as much red clothing as you comfortably can!
Wednesday, October 28: Wacky Hat Day – Find a crazy hat to wear or make one of your own!
Thursday, October 29: Pajama Day – Wear your pajamas today.
Friday, October 30: Costume Day – Wear a costume today. Please, no scary or gory costumes, no props of any kind, no weapons of any kind, no masks that cover the entire face, and no costumes that may be considered culturally offensive.
We want you to share your photos showing your Allen School Spirit. Please send them to: michelle.reza@cvesd.org. Photos received may go on the Allen School Blog (allenelementary.org) or on our Twitter account (@EaglesBonita). Parents, kindly note when emailing the photos that you give permission for these photos to be shared on social media.
First Quarter Awards Ceremonies
We have so much to celebrate as we enter the second quarter of the school year! Teachers will celebrate student successes in awards ceremonies scheduled during the school day the week of November 9th .
Grab and Go Materials Distribution for Q2
Thank you to our staff and volunteers for making the quarter 2 materials distribution process so smooth for the Grab and Go! If you still need to pick up these essential learning materials for quarter 2, please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662.
Sharing Some Good News!
Former Allen student Ethan Danley completed his Eagle Scout project. Way to go Ethan!
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas visited with third grade students at Allen!
Mr. Greenwell and Ms. Reza delivered some awards to last year’s Speech Contest winner!
Resources for a Safe Halloween and Día de los Muertos
Safer Activities for Halloween
- Online parties/contests (e.g., costume or pumpkin carving) and drive-through events and car parades.
- Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations.
- Halloween movie nights with your own household or at drive-in theaters.
- Outdoor activities such as pumpkin patches where people use hand sanitizer and maintain 6-feet of distance from others.
- Make fall recipes and crafts as a family for creative dinners and spooky decorations.
Safer Activities for Día de los Muertos
- Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others
- Playing music in your home that your deceased loved ones enjoyed
- Making and decorating masks or making an altar for the deceased
- Setting out pillows and blankets in your home for the deceased
- Joining a virtual get-together celebration
| Things to Keep in Mind: Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween or Día de los Muertos it is important to keep the following in mind: Face Coverings: Face coverings must be wornin accordance with the CDPH Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings, unless an exemption is applicable. Please note plastic, rubber, vinyl and other Halloween costume masks are not an acceptable substitute for cloth face-coverings for the prevention of COVID-19 spread. Practice Social Distancing: Avoid confined spaces, especially indoors. Stay least 6 feet away (3 or more adult steps) from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially while talking, eating, drinking, and singing. Good Hygiene: Wash or sanitize your hands often. Clean frequently touched items regularly. Minimize Mixing: Plan activities to limit mixing between different households. Californians are permitted to gather outdoors with a maximum of two other households. This means that on Halloween, if you are spending time with others, you must stick with a maximum of three households (including your own), and not mingle with others. Gatherings should be two hours or less. Stay Home if You are Sick or You are in a High Risk Group: If you are sick, or you have been in contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 stay home, and away from others. People at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 (such as older adults, people with chronic medical conditions) are strongly urged to stay home. If you are sick or in a high risk group, you should discourage trick-or-treaters from coming to your door by turning off your porch light and other Halloween decoration lights on Halloween night. Please respect your neighbors and your community: Everyone is navigating the COVID-19 pandemic to the best of their abilities and has different comfort levels about what is safe to do. Your local community or your neighbors may be more restrictive than these CDPH guidelines, and we ask that you respect your neighbors’ wishes and concerns. . |
Part Day Enrichment at Eastlake YMCA
The South Bay YMCA is now offering a 4 hour, fee-based, optional enrichment program from 2pm- 6pm (M-F) at the Eastlake YMCA.
- Activities include physical education, arts & crafts, STEM, ninja warrior & more.
With so many families needing childcare assistance, we encourage you to explore this option. Please note: Scholarships are available for qualifying families.
Read the flyers below for more information:
The CVESD Caring Crew and YOU!
We would like to remind our entire community that following the four pillars of health can prevent the spread of COVID-19. As we prepare for the eventual return of some students to campus in phases, our District and school will be enforcing the four core principles (also known as four pillars) for the prevention of COVID-19. These include: 1) Daily Health Screenings, 2) Mask Wearing, 3) Physical Distancing, and 4) Frequent Hand Washing.
Please speak to your children about the importance of following these four core principles.
Yearbooks from 2019-2020
The school office has only a few remaining extra copies of the 2019-2020 school yearbook for sale. Please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 to arrange a time to pick one up. Yearbooks from last year are $20 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We will sell them until we run out. Please bring exact cash.
School Meals Program
Meal distribution will occur every Monday from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm for all students. 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 Resources
Looking for resources for distance learning such as the online waivers for a school laptop or district-provided wifi hot spot device? Click here or find the “Programs” tab in the menu at the top of this page and click “Distance Learning.”
Meetings for Parents and Legal Guardians
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, November 9th at 3 pm and will be held online. Public elections will be held for officer positions at this meeting. Officers must be the legal parent/guardian of a student designated as an English LearnerPlease 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, November 9th at 3:30 pm and will be held online. Please email michelle.reza@cvesd.org for the meeting link at least one day prior to access this online meeting.
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.
Parent Teacher Club (PTC) Meeting
Allen’s PTC meets the second Monday of every month at 6pm. Until further notice, all meetings will be held online. The next PTC meeting is Monday, November 9th at 6 pm. Please also check out the new PTC website to become a member and make a donation: AllenPTC.org
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. Our next Virtual Family First Friday will be on November 6th at 8 am. We encourage parents and legal guardians to join an online meeting with a cup of hot coffee or tea and listen to Mr. Greenwell give an update on the school year. The link will be posted on our blog and in an email shared with parents. You may also email michelle.reza@cvesd.org for the meeting link at least one day prior to access this online meeting.
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, November 18 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 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 November 17th 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.
Election Resources
Our school community encourages all adult citizens to participate in the upcoming election. Please visit https://www.sdvote.com/ to learn about how to ensure your voice is heard in the upcoming election.
Not only is November 3rd Election Day, but it is also MTS Free Ride Day! To help increase access to in-person voting options, all fixed-route MTS and NCTD buses, Trolleys, SPRINTER and COASTER will be free.
While you can skip the fare on Free Ride Day, face covering are a must! Face coverings (worn over your nose and mouth the entire trip) are required on all MTS and NCTD vehicles.
California offers voter registration online, by mail, and in person. Online voter registration is available at RegisterToVote.ca.gov. You can also request and complete a paper voter registration form and mail or hand deliver it to your county elections official to register to vote.
Election Day: November 3, 2020
Registration Deadlines: Online registration deadline is October 19. By mail registration deadline is showing that its is postmarked by October 19. In person registration deadline is November 3.
Absentee or Permanent by mail ballot: Request by October 27. Return by mail must be postmarked by November 3. Return in person must be received by November 3 at 8 pm. Early voting is available October 5 – November 2, but dates and hours vary. For more info, contact the County Registrar of Voters: https://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en.html
Fun Fact: Did you know that you can also register and vote on Election Day?
Conditional voter registration is a safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information. Voters can use the conditional voter registration process from the day after the deadline all the way through Election Day. Eligible citizens can go to their county election office, polling place, or vote center to register and vote conditionally. These ballots will be processed once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.
Be well Eagles! We love you and we miss you.
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 