Happy Sunday Allen Families!
Please see the latest updates from Allen Elementary and the Chula Vista Elementary School District at https://allenelementary.org/. If you did not yet read the letter from Mr. Greenwell sent out last week, please see that letter here:
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Thank you Allen families for completing the Parent Survey regarding the CVESD’s Re-Opening Plan. If you have not yet completed this survey, please do so here. This survey will close on Tuesday, 1/26. Results from this survey will be analyzed in the coming weeks and will be shared at parent meetings in February 2021. Although no set date is currently scheduled for the return to in-person instruction, the school and district will continue to communicate with families via email and updates on the district website and this school blog. We appreciate your support and cooperation in this uncertain time period.
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:
The Core Value this week is Perseverance. This week’s Common Courtesy is “Good Morning/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 must follow all safety protocols, including wearing a facial covering. We will ask you to remain outside. Please contact the office directly at (619) 479-3662 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:
January 25-29, 2021 – The Great Kindness Challenge 2021 (see details below)
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – CVESD BAC Meeting at 6 pm
Monday, February 1, 2021 – First Day of Black History Month
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 – Groundhog Day and First Day of Curbside Library Check-out (12 to 2 pm)
Friday, February 5, 2021 – National Wear Red Day: National Wear Red Day is a day in February when many people wear red to show their support for the awareness of heart disease.
Thursday, February 11, 2021 – Kids Heart Challenge and Jump Rope for Heart (Click link here.)
Friday, February 12, 2021 – NO SCHOOL: Presidents Day Weekend (Lincoln Day)
Monday, February 15, 2021 – NO SCHOOL: Presidents Day Weekend (Washington Day)
Zone Transfers
Zone Transfer forms (ZTs) must be completed each year in order to have your child continue at Allen School. Please complete the form and email it to: allenschool@cvesd.org. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the form, please feel free to contact the school office at (619) 479-3662. If your child will not be returning to Allen School, please let us know that as well. Parents of current sixth grade students on a zone transfer do not need to do this step.
Virtual Day of Service
We are so proud of our students, staff, and families who participated in our optional, virtual Day of Service for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service. #TogetherWeSoar #DayOfService
The Great Kindness Challenge 2021
All kids deserve to learn in a safe, supportive and caring environment. The Great Kindness Challenge provides a powerful tool that actively engages students, teachers, administrators, families, and communities in creating a culture of compassion, acceptance, unity, and respect. The Great Kindness Challenge is this week, January 25-29, 2021!
The Great Kindness Challenge is a proactive and positive bullying prevention initiative that improves school climate and increases student engagement. The Great Kindness Challenge is one week devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible on campus. Using the provided checklist of 50 kind acts, students accept the challenge and show the world that KINDNESS MATTERS!
How do we participate this week? It’s easy! Simply download the provided kindness checklists. Using the kindness checklist, the students work independently, in small groups or as a whole class to complete all 50 challenges.
Download the checklists here:
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 in the coming weeks 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.
Health and Safety Updates
The COVID-19 virus continues to impact 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. With the arrival of the vaccine designed to prevent COVID-19, our District is happy to share a fact sheet that details why the vaccines are safe and effective.
Visit covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/ for more information.
As our school and district prepares for the return of students to in-person instruction via the Hybrid Model, we would like to share some photos of how our campus is ready for staff and students to return.
Free COVID-19 Tests from SD County
We encourage all Allen staff, students, and families to get tested for COVID-19. Please also stay home, leaving only to get tested or seek medical attention, if you experience any symptoms of COVID-19.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19 and should stay home:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
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 occurs every Tuesday 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 follow all safety directives, such as wearing a mask or facial covering that covers the mouth and nose. This free service is available for all families that attend a school in the Chula Vista Elementary School District..
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, February 8th 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, February 8th 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, February 8th 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, February 10 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 February 9, 2021 from 12 noon to 2 pm. You can access the meeting here at the district’s website.
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 