Can you believe we are nearly done with Quarter 2? Please be sure to pick up the materials needed for learning in Q3 this week at our Grab and Go on either Wednesday or Thursday. This is how you’ll receive a paper copy of the Q2 Report Card. See below for more information. Kindly keep all materials for quarter 3 in a safe place in your home over winter break, Eagles!
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Please see the abbreviated blog summary of this update at the You Tube video link below:
Join the Allen PTC and Make a Donation: Visit 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 through funding programs and initiatives.
Please help support Allen’s PTC by shopping at smile.amazon.com this Holiday season! AmazonSmile has the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping as the Amazon you know and already use. AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to the Allen Elementary PTC when you shop. Make sure to shop on smile.amazon.com and choose Allen Elementary School Parents Teachers Club Inc as your charity. Thank you!
AmazonSmile customers can now support Ella B. Allen Elementary School’s PTC in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
- Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
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:
This week’s Core Value is Respect. This week’s Common Courtesy is “I apologize for…”
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. Please contact the office directly and we will arrange an appointment with you. Please note that the school will be closed during Winter Break.
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, December 14 – Parent Meetings
- ELAC Meeting at 3 pm (Click link here)
- SSC Meeting at 3:30 pm (Click link here): Note, the link for the two meetings is the same so if you join SSC meeting early, you will be joining the ELAC meeting.
- PTC Meeting at 6 pm (Link here)
Tuesday, December 15 – CVESD Board Meeting at 6 pm
Wednesday, December 16 – Grab and Go for Q3 Materials and Report Card pickup, 3 pm to 5 pm
Thursday, December 17 – Grab and Go for Q3 Materials and Report Card pickup, 7:30 am to 9:30 am
Friday, December 18 – Dismissal for Winter Break in the afternoon (Be safe, Eagles!)
Monday, January 4, 2021 – Teacher Professional Development (NO SCHOOL)
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 – Classes resume
Grab and Go for Q3 Materials & Report Cards
We are happy to announce that we will have another Grab and Go materials distribution process for Q3! This event is designed for the convenience of our families to quickly pick up necessary items for children to learn in quarter 3 as we hope for a return to in-person instruction later on in the school year. Families will drive through the traffic loop and pop their trunk for materials to be placed inside the vehicle.
Paper copies of the quarter 2 Report Card will be available as well at this time. Families may also receive a PDF copy of the report card by emailing your child’s teacher. Please follow all safety protocols, such as wearing a facial covering in your car and kindly stay inside your vehicle at all times.
We will host two dates/times for this Q3 Grab and Go to accommodate the needs of our school’s families for this materials distribution process:
Wednesday, Dec. 16th from 3 pm to 5 pm
Thursday, Dec. 17th from 7:30 am to 9:30 am
If you cannot pick up the necessary materials for quarter 3 at these times, please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 to arrange another time to collect them from the school. A friendly reminder: Please guard these materials in a safe place inside your home over Winter Break.
Online Expectations
Parents and families, Allen School needs your help to ensure success this year for our students. 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. Attendance and participation in classes will be monitored by staff, as is required by AB 77. 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.
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 of 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:
December Spirit Week
Another exciting Spirit Week will be from Dec. 14 to Dec. 18!
Monday, December 14th: Allen Spirit Day – Wear any Allen School t-shirt or any plain green shirt!
Tuesday, Dec. 15th: Mittens, Scarves, Hat Day – Wear warm weather clothes today (or a holiday hat)!
Wednesday, Dec. 16th: Winter Wednesday – Wear blue and white to show your winter spirit! Join us for the Grab and Go this day from 3 pm to 5 pm in your Winter Wednesday wear!
Thursday, Dec. 17th: Disney Day – Wear a Disney themed shirt or outfit today (this includes Star Wars too!). Join us for the Grab and Go from 7:30 am to 9:30 am in your Disney Day outfit.
Friday, Dec. 18th: Festive Friday – Wear an ugly holiday sweater, a favorite holiday outfit, or any festive winter gear today.
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.
Federal Impact Aid Survey – Due now!
Federal funds are provided to the school district based on the number of students enrolled in our schools whose parents or guardians reside or work on Federal Property or are on active duty in the military. It is urgent that any family who meets this criteria send the completed form by email to michelle.reza@cvesd.org or drop it off to the school office Monday-Friday between 8 am and 3 pm. This form must be received this week. This form was already emailed to parents/guardians. You can also complete the form online. Click on the correct link below:
ENGLISH – Federal Impact Aid Survey: Click here.
ESPAÑOL – Encuesta sobre el Programa de Asistencia por el Impacto Económico: Haz click aquí.
Winter Break Reminder
Winter Break is from Dec. 21st, 2020 to January 4th, 2021. Students return for a full day of Distance Learning on Tuesday, January 5th, 2021.
Back by Popular Demand: Allen Spirit Gear Orders!
Back by popular demand, we have another opportunity for families to order Allen Spirit gear. Please place all orders by completing the order form below and email it to the vendor directly. Payments must also be made in advance. If you have any questions, please email aplustees@cox.net and inform them you are asking about Allen Elementary School Spirit Gear.
Winter Holidays and COVID-19
Please see the following guidance from the CDC and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services department.
To minimize the spread of COVID-19 and ensure families stay safe during 2020 winter holiday celebrations, the County of San Diego offers guidance for the most common activities:
Recommended Winter Holiday Activities
• Shopping online for holiday gifts or gift cards, and online activities.
• Drive-through events or reverse parades where the participants do not leave their car.
• Send a pre-made dinner or ingredients through online food delivery services and eat together virtually.
• Charity meal activities and donate food to drive-through pantries, local food drives, or online food bank fundraisers.
• Holiday- or Winter-themed movie nights and home decorating with your household.
• Get a flu shot to protect yourself and minimize complications from the flu or COVID-19 virues.
Not Recommended
• Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel considerations, traveling increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.
• In-person, indoor celebratory activities, singing, or vocal performances are not recommended because of the difficulty in maintaining 6 feet of distance and these activities increase the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
Not Allowed
• Per California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance, in-person events or parties with more than 3 households are not permitted, even if they are conducted outdoors. Remember, smaller and shorter gatherings are safer.
• Carnivals, festivals, and live entertainment are not allowed because close interactions increase the risk of infection.
• Ice skating rinks are not allowed as they host many guests from different households where it is difficult to maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet.
Safer Alternatives
Many winter holiday activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are safer, alternative ways to celebrate including:
• Remote games and activities to replace traditional in-person entertainment.
• Driving with members of your household in your car to view holiday lights and decorations.
• Participate in a winter- or holiday-themed virtual run, hike, or bike ride.
• A boat parade following state guidance and the Safe Reopening Protocol for recreational boating.
• Visit Santa, or other holiday figures, at locations that offer a touchless experience only.
• Gift exchanges between 3 households or less, where participants can follow personal protection measures prior to giving and accepting gifts, while observing the state’s private gathering guidance.
Personal Protection Measures
However you celebrate, please continue to follow the County of San Diego Public Health Order, CDPH Holiday Guidance, California Department of Public Health Guidance, and the CDC Holiday Guidelines. To stay safe during the 2020 winter holiday season, please remember to:
• Wash or sanitize your hands often, and clean frequently touched items regularly.
• Avoid close contact – stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not part of your household.
• Avoid indoor spaces that don’t allow for easy distancing of at least 6 feet between you and others and follow state guidance for private outdoor gatherings of up to 3 households.
• Correctly wear an appropriate face covering over your mouth and nose when outside your home and around others who are not part of your household.
• Stay home and away from others if you are sick, have a symptom of COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone who is sick with or has symptoms of COVID-19.
• Follow directionsif you are advised to isolate or quarantine.
For questions, please contact SafeReopeningComplianceTeam@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Download this document below:
Intensive Support Program
A voluntary intensive support program will be coming to Allen Elementary in 2021 for a very limited number of students. Per guidelines from the state of California, priority for this in-person, voluntary support program will be given to students who are:
- Foster and homeless students
- Students with IEPs and 504 plans
- Students identified as English Learners
- Students who are significantly below grade level
Additional details will be shared with families who qualify for this intensive support in the coming weeks.
YMCA Winter Day Camp
Winter Day Camp is a fee-based program offered by the South Bay YMCA over Winter Break. Scholarships are available for families facing economic hardship. This is a great program that supports many of our essential workers who continue to work during the school break. It is highly encouraged for interested families to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing in advance of paying the fee for the YMCA Winter Day Camp. You may wish to reference 211sandiego.org or the list of those sites below (“Free COVID-19 Tests from SD County”). See the flyer below:
Free COVID-19 Tests from SD County
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our community and the Governor of California has placed a Regional Stay-At-Home order for our region. There are a number of testing sites in the South County, thanks to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. It is highly encouraged for families to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing in advance. You may wish to reference 211sandiego.org or the attached list of those sites below:
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:
- Daily Health Screenings
- Mask Wearing
- Physical Distancing, and
- Frequent Hand Washing.
Please speak to your children about the importance of following these four core principles.
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.
- Please note that meals will not be distributed over Winter Break at Allen School.
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.
Distance Learning Resources
Looking for resources for distance learning? 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, December 14th at 3 pm and will be held online. The school encourages all legal parent/guardian of students designated as an English Learner to attend these meetings. Click here or 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, December 14th at 3:30 pm and will be held online. Click here or 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 via this link. The next PTC meeting is Monday, December 14th 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 January 8, 2021 at 8 am. Click here to access this meeting on January 8th. 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 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 Tuesday, December 15 at 6:00 pm. Please note that this meeting’s date was changed on November 18.
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 January 12, 2021 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.
Be well Eagles! We love you and we miss you.
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 