Happy Sunday! If you have not yet read the most recent update from the Superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District, please do so here.
Monday, April 12th begins our hybrid instructional model for selected students at Allen:
- Some students will be on campus in the morning cohort (8:50 am to 11:25 am, Monday through Thursday).
- Some will be on campus in the afternoon cohort (12:35 pm to 3:10 pm,
- Monday through Thursday).
- Other students will continue in the Distance Learning instructional model for the remainder of the school year. Please note that this change to hybrid instruction required many students, even those continuing in Distance Learning, to be re-assigned to a different teacher.
Please check your email for more up-to-date information regarding your child’s placement.
You should have received an email on March 27th with this information. This email may be in your junk or spam folders. If you did not receive that email from the school with this information, it may be because we do not have your current email address on file in our system. Kindly call the school office at (619) 479-3662 to update this.
As always, continue to communicate with your child’s teacher and the school office at (619) 479-3662 should you have any questions.
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week for April 11, 2021:
Please see our revised Parent Handbook here.
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 3:30 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 for all students at 8:50 am: Some students in the hybrid model will start classes on campus at this time. Other students will begin their asynchronous learning time at home at this time, while a third group will be learning synchronously at home with their child’s teacher via distance learning.
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, April 12, 2021 – First day of In-Person Learning for select students; PTC Meeting at 6 pm via this link
[Please note: ELAC and SSC meetings scheduled for this day have been adjourned to May 10th]
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 – CVESD DAC/DELAC meeting moved to 4/27 at 6 pm
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 – CVESD Board of Education meeting at 6 pm
Thursday, April 22, 2021 – Earth Day Virtual Celebration at Allen Elementary
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 – CVESD DAC/DELAC at 6 pm
Thursday, April 29, 2021 – CVESD BLAC meeting at 6 pm
Hybrid/In-Person Instructional Model Updates
Families with students returning to campus will want to refer to the helpful infographic below:
- Families will participate in the Thumbs Up Health Screening listed in the graphic above when students come to campus. All families also consent to a daily temperature screening as part of this Thumbs Up process.
- We recommend students use the bathroom at home before coming to school to maximize time on campus for learning and social interaction.
- We recommend students eat breakfast (for the AM cohort) and lunch (for the PM cohort) before coming to school. There will be no meals served to students on campus outside of the weekly meal distribution on Mondays.
Please note in the schedule that there is no class on campus on Fridays in this instructional model. All learning takes place online. See the video below to learn about the ingress and egress procedures for students returning to campus via the hybrid/in-person instructional model here:
- Kindly contact the school office directly at (619) 479-3662 and our staff will do its best to accommodate any changes, pending availability and space. This means your child will be placed on a waitlist.
- The start date for this model has been set: April 12, 2021.
- See the working schedule of the Hybrid/In-Person Cohort below.
Families who will drop off and pick up their children in the hybrid model will drop off students in front of Daly Academy. Students will enter campus at the gate according to their grade level, per the graphic below:
Only students in the Distance Learning Support Program, students walking to school, and students who arrive late will enter campus via the front school gates. No parents or volunteers will be allowed on campus.
If you missed the presentation on our Reopening Plan, the powerpoint presentation can be found here:
Please note there is a slight change to the Friday schedule for students staying in Distance Learning. See the revised schedule here:
New COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing Program
CVESD is collaborating with the County of San Diego, the State of California and Primary Health (system that reports test results to the state) to conduct free COVID Antigen Testing for our staff and students over the next couple months. For more information, see email, with same subject line, from CVESD Office of Communications sent on Friday, April 9 at approximately 6.30 p.m.
You will receive an email and text message from a company called “Primary” to register for the CVESD COVID-19 Antigen Testing Program.
We are proud to announce the launch of a new, free COVID-19 viral testing program—a “rapid” antigen testing program that will provide results in as little as 15 minutes. The program is part of our COVID-19 mitigation strategy and is made possible through the training and support of medical professionals.
Next week, April 12 – 16, testing hours at the Education Services and Support Center, 84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910 will be from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and students will be invited to test. At this location, we will have on-demand testing, which means that we are accepting walk-ins, no appointments are necessary.
On April 19, we will start a two-week rotation at each of our school sites. These testing opportunities will be by appointment. Please talk to your administrator for your testing schedule. For your convenience you will be able to make appointments at any CVESD school if it works better for your schedule. In addition, employees and students will have the opportunity to test at the Education Services and Support Center, 84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910, every Friday if you are unable to attend your school’s testing or would like to be tested more frequently.
Each student and staff member will receive an email and text message with a link to register from a company called “Primary,” so check your inbox (and junk/spam mail). Click on the link to register/provide consent before you arrive, and it will save you time once you arrive on site to be tested. Please note the link is personalized, so please do not share it with others. When you have registered once, you will not need to register again to make future appointments. You will not be able to change specific information in the registration process but can ask a testing staff member to make changes for you while on site. Texts and emails form Primary will be sent to your contacts on file with the district as of 4/7/2021.
Once testing starts at schools, students do not need to be accompanied by an adult, IF the parent has already provided consent through the on-line registration process and an appointment is made; however, students will not be taken out of academic instruction on site for testing. Please make appointments for students before and after their academic instruction on site.
Diagnostic tests that determine if someone has an active COVID-19 infection fall into two categories: antigen tests, which are mostly used for rapid testing, and molecular and PCR tests. Antigen tests, also called rapid diagnostic tests, detect specific proteins on the surface of the coronavirus.
IMPORTANT: If an employee or student is experiencing symptoms, we ask you to get a PCR test at a free county facility or with a medical provider. Unfortunately, the antigen tests used by CVESD cannot be used for return to work or school if an individual is symptomatic, per the County’s Symptom Decision Tree. The antigen testing program is for surveillance purposes, in order to quickly determine if individuals are positive and remove such individuals and their contacts from campus as soon as possible.
If you have any trouble registering or need information changed in the system, please visit any of the testing locations and testing staff can assist you and provide testing at that time. If the information is wrong in the registration system, please also contact your school to ensure the information is changed in the school database. Please do not call the school to change information in the testing registration site.
See the one page document below for more information.
Verizon Recall of Mobile Wifi Hot Spots
This week the Chula Vista Elementary School District received notification from the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) regarding Verizon’s recall of millions of mobile Wi-Fi hotspots issued for distance learning.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has cited situations where the internal lithium ion battery in the mobile hotspots can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard. This issue impacts over 2.5 million mobile hotspots nationally, including mobile hotspots issued to our community.
The safety of our students, families, and staff members is our top priority. Our District is working diligently, in concert with SDCOE and Verizon, to exchange all recalled Ellipsis Jetpack devices as quickly and efficiently as possible.
While some students will return to campuses April 12, we understand that others will continue full- or part-time distance learning, so keeping students connected is critical to the learning process.
There are two steps in this resolution process.
Step #1: Reducing Risk
To help students stay connected until they receive their new device, Verizon will immediately push two automatic, over-the-air software updates to the affected Ellipsis Jetpacks. This update prevents the device from charging while the device is plugged in and powered on. This will help reduce some of the risk of overheating by preventing the device from charging while it is plugged in and powered on. Details for this automatic update process is listed below:
• Students will need to power on their devices in order to receive the software update.
• The updates will prevent the device from charging while the device is plugged in and powered on.
• Preventing the device from charging while it is plugged in removes one of the heat-causing variables and helps to reduce some of the risk of overheating associated with the small number of incidents Verizon has seen with the Ellipsis Jetpacks.
• Students will know the software update has been applied when they see the device’s identifying number scrolling across its screen.
• After the software update is applied, students should leave the device powered on while it is plugged in.
• When not in use, the device should be turned off, unplugged from its power source, and securely stored until you receive your replacement device and packaging to return the Ellipsis Jetpack safely.
As a reminder, and to help promote the safe operation of all devices, please follow these best practices:
• When not in use, turn the device off and unplug it.
• Place your device on a flat, solid and sturdy surface such as a floor or table.
• For proper ventilation, do not use the device in a bed, sofa, chair or other soft surface, and ensure your device is not covered by a pillow, blanket or other item.
• Keep devices near room temperature when in use.
• Use only approved charging cables, including the cable provided.
• Do not expose the units to extreme temperatures for extended periods of time.
• Do not expose the unit or its battery to water or other liquids.
• Do not drop the units and do not insert foreign objects into the battery or unit.
Step #2: Return/Exchange Your Hotspot
A detailed plan for exchanging these devices for a new one will be communicated to families with such devices next week.
Notice of Adjournment for April 12th ELAC and SSC Meetings
Please see the following notices of adjournment. There will be no ELAC or SSC meeting on Monday, April 12th. The meetings will resume online on Monday, May 10th at their normally scheduled times. The 6 pm PTC Meeting will continue on April 12th as scheduled.
Preschool Coming to Allen in July 2021
We encourage all interested families to contact the district’s Early Childhood Education office at (619) 425-2362 as they are able to share the most up-to-date information regarding this program.
Link to Pre-School Pre-Registration for 2021-2022: Click here.
All enrollment information and paperwork is handled by the district’s Early Childhood Education office. Please find more information here: https://www.cvesd.org/parents/welcome_to_enrollment/early_childhood_education
Zone Transfers
Families who live in the Chula Vista Elementary School District, but whose neighborhood school isn’t Allen must complete the Zone Transfer form and email it to: allenschool@cvesd.org. Families who live outside of the Chula Vista Elementary School District must follow the Interdistrict Transfer process instead here.
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, please let us know that as well. Parents of current sixth grade students on a zone transfer do not need to do this step.
2021-2022 Kinder & New Student Registration
Ella B. Allen Elementary School wants you to tell others how great our school is! Please spread the word to share how wonderful your child’s education at Allen Elementary has been! We are recruiting new students for Kindergarten and have a few open spots for students in grades 3 through 6 next year.
Kindergarten and NEW student registration began on March 15th for the 2021-2022 school year with a NEW online system. There will be no paper packets for this year’s registration. Those currently registered at our school DO NOT have to re-register. However, if you attend Allen on a Zone Transfer or interdistrict transfer, those documents will need to be renewed. All families will need to complete proof of residency when the time comes. CLICK HERE for further information and here to register on the district’s website.
The following groups of students need to complete the registration process:
- Kindergarten students who will be 5 years old on or before September 1st
- NEW students in grades 1st through 6th
- Questions? Email michelle.reza@cvesd.org.
- All inquiries and registration for Preschool will be handled by the district’s Early Childhood Education office at (619) 425-2362 as they are able to share the most up-to-date information regarding this program.
Curbside Library Book Service
Ella B. Allen Elementary School students are now able to check out library books online by Thursdays and pick them up curbside on Mondays starting on April 12th! Students can access the library catalog online and place up to two books on HOLD. Please note that any books already checked out must be returned. For more information, click here: https://allenelementary.org/parents/library/
COVID-19 Corner: Health and Safety Updates
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. We are active encouraging all eligible persons to get the free COVID-19 vaccine.
The San Diego County Office of Education encourages families to learn about the importance of getting vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19 and they have other benefits, too. In the rare case that you do still get COVID-19, the vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill. Getting vaccinated may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Click here for English, or here for Spanish for facts about the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Visit covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/ for more information.
If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, please also stay home, leaving only to get tested or seek medical attention.
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 COVID-19 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. Please note that testing sites can only provide information about COVID-19 testing, not vaccinations.
Weekly Meal Distribution
- Meal distribution occurs every Monday (starting on April 12th) from 1:00 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! Find the forms and information at the district link here. We encourage all families to complete this form as the school receives additional funding to support families who qualify.
Parent & Youth Emotional Support Hotline
A group called Parents Anonymous recently launched the California Parent & Youth Helpline and Online Parents Anonymous® Support Groups in response to COVID-19 to provide free emotional support to parents and youth in any language, 7 days a week 8 am to 8 pm at 1-855-4A PARENT (or 1-855-427-2736).
Parent-Teacher Club (PTC)
Visit the PTC website at AllenPTC.org to become a member of the PTC and make a donation to support the latest initiative at the school. Allen’s PTC is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the school’s educational mission through funding programs and initiatives.
Allen’s next PTC meeting is Monday, April 12th at 6 pm.
Please help support Allen’s PTC by shopping at smile.amazon.com! 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
Meetings for Parents and 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.
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 May 7, 2021 at 8 am. Click here to access this meeting. 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.
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
Ella B. Allen’s next ELAC Meeting will be held on Monday, May 10th at 3 pm. This meeting 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, May 10th 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. 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, April 12th at 6 pm. Please also check out the new PTC website to become a member and make a donation: AllenPTC.org
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 regularly scheduled CVESD Board of Education meeting is Wednesday, April 14th at 6 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 April 27, 2021 at 6 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.
Calendar for the 2021-2022 School Year
Did you know that next year’s School Calendar (2021-2022) was already approved by the CVESD Board of Education? Click this link to download it. At this time, we anticipate that all students will be on campus in July 2021 when this school year starts.
Be well Eagles! Stay safe: Wear a mask. We encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible to do so. We miss you and we are excited about having many students returning to campus via the hybrid model on April 12th!
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 