Happy Sunday Allen Families!
Please see the latest updates from Allen Elementary and the Chula Vista Elementary School District at https://allenelementary.org/.
COVID-19 infection rates continue to rise in our community. Please wear a mask, wash your hands, sanitize frequently used surfaces, and do not congregate with people living outside of your immediate household.
Please see the latest updates regarding public health and safety from the County of San Diego, including information about COVID-19 testing and vaccination, here.
Please note that DLSP returns to campus this week.
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Please look for a survey for parents/guardians later this week from the district. This will help the school and district prepare for students returning to campus in a hybrid model. The district will provide additional details about CVESD’s Re-Opening Plan as well at this time.
If you could not pick up the necessary materials for quarter 3 at one of our Grab and Go events, please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 to arrange another time in January 2021 to collect them from the school. A friendly reminder: Please keep these materials in a safe place inside your home as we begin quarter 3 of the school year.
Watch the short YouTube video below for a quick message from Mr. Greenwell:
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:
Returning from Winter Break, the Core Value this week is Caring. That week’s Common Courtesy is “Please.”
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 must follow all safety protocols, including wearing a facial covering. We will ask you to remain outside. 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:
Monday, January 11 – 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, January 12, 2021 – CVESD DAC/DELAC Meeting from 12 noon to 2 pm
Monday, January 18, 2021 – NO SCHOOL: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and optional Virtual Day of Service (see details below)
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 – Meal distribution, 12 noon to 2 pm
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – Inauguration Day and CVESD Board of Education Meeting at 6 pm
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – CVESD BAC Meeting at 6 pm
Monday, February 1, 2021 – First Day of Black History Month
Friday, February 12, 2021 – NO SCHOOL: Presidents Day Weekend (Lincoln Day)
Monday, February 15, 2021 – NO SCHOOL: Presidents Day Weekend (Washington Day)
Optional, Virtual Day of Service
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, and Americans are encouraged to spend this day volunteering to improve their communities. As there is no school on Monday, January 18th, we are offering Allen students, families, and staff the opportunity to participate in an optional, virtual day of service to honor Dr. King’s legacy.
Here are some ways you can participate:
1. Learn about and discuss Dr. King’s life and teachings. The King Institute’s Liberation Curriculum is a great place to get started.
2. Volunteer in your community. In the spirit of Dr. King’s service, use this tool from CNCS to find opportunities to help out in your community. You can also just simply grab a trash bag and gloves and clean up a local park or beach with your family! Read a story to a family member, bake a loaf of bread for a neighbor, or beautify your neighborhood!
Note, please follow all county and state health directives such as wearing a mask, maintaining physical distancing, and not interacting with people outside of your immediate household to #StopTheSpread.
Email photos of your act of service to our amazing secretary, Ms. Reza at 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. You may also post photos on your own social media using the hashtags #DayOfService and #TogetherWeSoar and tag @EaglesBonita and @CVESDNews.
3. Lead your own service project. These resources from Youth Service America will help you plan and organize a project that’s meaningful to you.
Don’t forget that there is no school (no online classes, nor DLSP) on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021.
Mid-Year Assessments
This is the time of the year that the school and district offer mid-year assessments to measure student academic progress. You may have noticed that your child has begun the Smarty Ants or Achieve 3000 Level Set this week.
Beginning January 11th, all students at Allen will be taking the i-Ready math mid-year diagnostic assessment. i-Ready allows your child’s teacher to meet your child exactly where they are and provides data to increase your student’s learning gains. This assessment usually takes about three days to complete. However, your child’s teacher may space it out differently in order to support each child’s learning needs.
Please make every effort not to coach or prompt your child on this assessment. Some questions may be easy while others may be tough. While it may be tempting to help your child with some of the problems they will see on the assessment, we need the test results to be an accurate reflection of what your child knows.
Remind your child to read directions and questions in their entirety, use paper and pencil to solve math problems if needed, and use the tools that appear at the bottom of the screen. The results will reveal what your child can do independently. Encourage your student to take each question seriously. Emphasize “thinking before clicking,” because just clicking through will not be a productive use of their time nor reflect what your child actually knows. In order to help your child get re-energized, games may be embedded throughout the test, so don’t be surprised if you see your child playing an engaging math game during his/her assessment time.
Here are some tips that will help your child be successful:
- Ensure your child gets plenty of sleep the night before taking the assessments
- Be sure your child eats a good breakfast the morning before taking the assessments
- Designate a quiet area for working, free of distractions
- Use headphones
- Encourage your child do their best and take their time without any coaching or guidance on answering questions from family members
Please contact your child’s teacher or the school office at (619) 479-3662 should you have any questions regarding this online assessment. We appreciate your support!
Bonita Optimist Club Book Sales
Bonita Optimists are selling over 9,000 books! To purchase books, follow these steps:
- Click here to go to the Bonita Optimists contact page to send a request message.
- A member of the Bonita Optimists (likely Ann Stevens) will send you a listing of available books in your requested categories, authors, and titles.
- When books are ready for pick up, a member of the Bonita Optimists will contact you regarding a safe pick up or drop off method. Venmo and other touchless forms of payment are preferred.
DVDs are available as well. Members of the Bonita Optimist Club are also collecting books, DVDs, and CDs. Money raised from the sales will go back to support the children of Bonita through the club’s endeavors!
DLSP Reminder
The Distance Learning Support Program is scheduled to resume on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. Please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 should you have any questions regarding this.
Licensed Childcare through the YMCA
The Chula Vista Elementary School District is proud to partner with the South Bay Family YMCA to offer licensed childcare at select sites beginning January 11! The Y’s Character Builders childcare program is designed to support distance learning curriculum and provide grade-appropriate activities throughout the day. Students will meet in a classroom-like environment for their school-required live sessions and assignments. Afternoon enrichment activities will allow kids to engage safely in imaginative play and physical activities that stretch both mind and body. This program will likely not occur on Allen’s campus, but will happen at a nearby school.
Program runs 7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Weekly Cost $238 for Y Members / $280 for Non-Members. Click here to view updated flyer. Scholarships available for qualifying families (see flyer here for information). Please email Program Director Miriam Martinez at mmartinez@ymcasd.org for availability.
Intensive Support Program
A voluntary intensive support program may be coming to Allen Elementary later 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.
Free COVID-19 Tests from SD County
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our community. We encourage all Allen staff, students, and families to get tested for COVID-19. 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 County’s website here.
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.
Please also watch the short YouTube video below to see what the school and district are doing to prepare for the return of students to campus once it is safe to do so.
Meal Distribution Program
- Meal distribution will occur every Tuesday (starting January 5th) 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.
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, January 11th 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, January 11th 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, January 11th 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 February 5, 2021 at 8 am. Click here to access this meeting on February 5th. 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 Wednesday, January 20 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 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 