Hello Allen Families,
Can you believe it’s the last week of October already? It’s Red Ribbon Week this week!
Have you downloaded the school calendar for the 2021-2022 academic year? Click this link to download it.
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Thank you to everyone who attended our fun Fall CAR-nival on Friday, October 22nd! Thank you to our PTC and staff volunteers as well for ensuring the success of this event. See the photos below!
We are excited to share the details of our Red Ribbon Week and Spirit Week below. Please read and observe the guidelines carefully for Costume Day on Friday, October 29th.
Please see our revised and updated 2021-2022 Family Handbook here: Link to Handbook
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 and Good afternoon.“
Students may earn an Allen Eagle Ticket for demonstrating the Core Values and Common Courtesies each day. Students can redeem these tickets at the Eagle’s Nest Store at the end of each quarter of the school year. Our staff is always looking for ways to celebrate our students!
Kindness counts! A few parents have wondered if their child is experiencing a problem with another student how to handle it. We suggest using “I feel…” statements, moving away from others, and seeking help from an adult. What our staff has noticed is that students are learning how to interact with one another and having some problems or conflict. This is not bullying. It may be due to trauma and other sudden social-emotional issues with a child.
See the helpful graphic below:
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. Please contact the office directly at (619) 479-3662 and we will arrange an appointment with you.
A Look Ahead:
October 25-29, 2021 – Red Ribbon Week and Spirit Week (see information below)
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – Parent Leadership Series: How to Be a “Super” Communicator and Problem Solver at 6 pm online
Thursday, October 28, 2021 – CVESD BLAC at 6 pm [link at http://www.cvesd.org]
November 1-5, 2021 – Scholastic Book Fair before and after school (for students only due to COVID-19 guidelines)
Monday, November 1, 2021 – American Indian Heritage Month begins
Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – Election Day
Thursday, November 4, 2021 – Diwali
Sunday, November 7, 2021 – Daylight Savings Time ends – Turn clocks back 1 hour.
Monday, November 8, 2021 – Online Parent Meetings
- ELAC meeting for parents of English Learners at 3 pm online [LINK here]
- SSC meeting for families and staff to learn about the safety plan and SPSA at 3:30 pm online [Link HERE]
- PTC meeting online at 6 pm [Link here]
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 – CVESD BAC (Budget Advisory Committee) Meeting 6 pm online [Link at http://www.cvesd.org]
Thursday, November 11, 2021 – NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day Holiday
Friday, November 12, 2021 – Online Family First Friday at 8 am [Link here]
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 – CVESD DAC/DELAC Meeting online [Link at http://www.cvesd.org]
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 – CVESD Board of Education meeting at 6 pm
Thursday, November 18, 2021 – CVESD BLAC Meeting online at 6 pm [Link at http://www.cvesd.org]
November 22-26, 2021 – Thanksgiving Break – NO SCHOOL: Classes resume on Monday, Nov. 29 for all students
Monday, November 29, 2021 – Hanukkah
Friday, December 3, 2021 – Online Family First Friday at 8 am [Link here]
Monday, December 13, 2021 – Online Parent Meetings
- ELAC meeting for parents of English Learners at 3 pm online [LINK here]
- SSC meeting for families and staff to learn about the safety plan and SPSA at 3:30 pm online [Link HERE]
- PTC meeting online at 6 pm [Link here]
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – CVESD Board of Education meeting at 6 pm
Friday, December 17, 2021 – Minimum Day dismissal for Winter Break (Classes resume on January 11, 2022)
Saturday, December 25, 2021 – Christmas Day
Saturday, January 1, 2022 – New Year’s Day
Monday, January 10, 2022 – Online Parent Meetings
- ELAC meeting for parents of English Learners at 3 pm online [LINK will be here]
- SSC meeting for families and staff to learn about the safety plan and SPSA at 3:30 pm online [Link will be HERE]
- PTC meeting online at 6 pm [Link here]
Tuesday, January 11, 2022 – Classes resume and minimum day
Monday, January 17, 2022 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday – NO SCHOOL
Fall CAR-nival Photos
Thank you to our PTC and staff volunteers for creating family fun and frights at our Allen Drive-Thru Fall CAR-nival! Thank you also to our families for candy donations. This event created great memories for our students. See the photos below:
Red Ribbon Week and Spirit Week
Allen Elementary is celebrating Red Ribbon Week with a Spirit Week from October 25 to 29th. See the letter and infographic below:
As part of our celebration of Spirit Week, students will be allowed to wear costumes at school on October 29. However, the following guidelines must be followed:
- Costumes must not require students to modify or change their outfit during the school day (i.e. students will not be allowed to go to the bathroom to fix or change outfits).
- Costumes may not be gory/scary.
- Masks that cover the entire face are not allowed: Of course, COVID-19 safety masks must be worn.
- No weapons or props of any kind. This means no swords, light sabers, axes, etc… even if made out of cardboard or plastic.
- No costumes that are considered culturally offensive: A person’s identity isn’t a costume.
- No inflatable costumes, please. These types of costumes have been linked to the spread of COVID-19.
- We will also do a short costume parade on the blacktop at the start of the day, but unfortunately parents will not be able to attend, per district guidelines.
Kickball Update
CVESD Kickball season is coming up in November and December 2021!
Mr. Messina and Ms. Farlow are still waiting for the tryout forms to be available from CVESD. We hope that the forms will be released soon.
We will be postponing kickball tryouts to the following Monday and Wednesday (Nov 1 & Nov 3). The season is slated to begin on Monday, Nov 8th. Thank you for understanding. A friendly reminder that tryouts will be from 3:20-4:30 PM. Students must attend BOTH tryout days and students who were on the team 2019 must tryout again. Games will be Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:45 PM.
SPECTATORS AND COACHES MUST WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES while attending CVESD Intramural Sports events. Please see Mr. Messina or Ms. Farlow with questions.
Walking Club Starting This Week!
Walking Club begins this Wednesday and Thursday and will continue every Wednesday and Thursday in the mornings from 8:25 am to 8:45 am each morning. This optional club allows students to track their distance while they walk and talk with friends to start the day with a morning constitutional. Students can monitor their progress and earn prizes.
Gaga Pit Now Open
Our new Gaga Pit is finally ready for students! This is one of the campus improvements funded by the PTC Ultra Fun Run!
Students are learning how to play Gaga in PE class first before this becomes available at recess.
SDG&E Construction Update
San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) has notified the school that they will be conducting work at the intersection of Otay Lakes Road and Allen School Lane from October 1 to December 1, 2021. Families and neighbors have noticed that some days the intersection near Allen School Lane and Otay Lakes Road is backed up. Other days, Bonita Road is backed up. Please plan accordingly as this may cause traffic delays in the neighborhood.
Free COVID-19 Testing
Testing is for staff and students only at this time. The Chula Vista Elementary School District is offering free COVID-19 testing for students and staff at the following locations:
Education Services and Support Center (located at 84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910)
- Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (line closes to walk ups at 3:40 PM)
- Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (line closes to walk ups at 3:40 PM)
Hedenkamp Elementary School (located at 930 East Palomar Street, Chula Vista, CA 91913)
- Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (line closes to walk ups at 4:00 PM)
- Friday 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM (line closes to walk ups at 4:00 PM)
Are you unsure if you should bring your child to school and/or test them for COVID-19? Click here for an easy-to-view handout. We highly recommend getting a PCR/NAAT test at a free County facility, at a medical provider, or at our District Office (Education Services and Support Center), if your child is showing symptoms. If you are unable to get a COVID-19 test from your healthcare provider, free testing is available at several locations across San Diego County. Click here to view a complete listing of no-cost testing options.
Please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 with questions.
Equity and Access for All Students
The Chula Vista Elementary School District is working towards eliminating opportunity gaps by providing equitable educational experiences for each student. Supporting and fostering students’ excellence in academic pursuits occurs by focusing on the whole child—their race, culture, language, heritage, gender/expression, and experiences. The unique aspects of each individual are valued by educators and used to inform students’ learning and development. At the Chula Vista Elementary School District, we believe “Each child is an individual of great worth!“
To get the facts on the district’s Equity Policy and learn how all children are supported by this policy, please visit:
https://www.cvesd.org/parents/equity-and-access
COVID-19 Corner: Health and Safety
Please know that we will communicate with parents on the latest guidance from state, county, and district officials regarding the safety of students on Allen Elementary’s campus as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The California Department of Public Health created a series of short animated videos to assist parents in understanding different aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos review:
- Seven Tips for Safe Schools
- How Parents Can Help Keep Schools Safe
- The Importance of In-Person Learning
- What to do if Your Child is Exposed to COVID-19
The videos are available on the Parent Page of the Safe Schools for All Hub in English or the Parent Page of the Safe Schools for All Hub in Spanish.
The Chula Vista Elementary School District released its Safe Return to School Playbook for Parents. This document outlines procedures for our safe return to in-person instruction. Please review this “Parent Playbook” thoroughly. As you may know, the California Department of Public Health states that multi-layered mitigation strategies are key to ensuring safe workplaces for teachers and other staff, as well as safe learning environments for children. As outlined in the playbook, our District plans to use this multi-layered mitigation approach. Please know that our district is committed to in-person learning this year and will follow the latest guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
The CVESD Board of Education recently approved a change to the IIPP (Injury and Illness Prevention Program) requiring masks to be worn on all sites within the Chula Vista Elementary School District, regardless of vaccination status. Masks must cover the mouth and nose for all staff, students, parents, and visitors on campus. Students may remove masks for outdoor recess and PE, and staff and students may remove masks when eating or drinking.
Please note there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present. The school and district strive to reduce this impact to staff, students, and families.
Please follow all district and school safety guidelines at school. We encourage families to monitor the latest state guidelines and mandates from the County of San Diego and California Department of Public Health. Parents, please assist in monitoring your child’s health before sending them to school.
- CVESD will follow the state of California requirement of face masks when K-12 students and adults are together indoors regardless of vaccination status. Students, staff, parents, and visitors are required to wear masks outside and indoors when on campus due to recent changes approved by the CVESD Board of Education. Students and staff may remove masks when eating or drinking. Students may also remove masks when playing outside during recess or PE.
- The California Dept. of Public Health explained that this is the best way to ensure that all kids can remain back in school in-person and miss fewer days – especially when masks are combined with other safety measures such as testing, screening, disinfecting, and handwashing.
- The California Dept. of Public Health will decide by November 1st whether to update the face mask requirements in school settings and will continue to examine evidence such as whether or not vaccines are available for kids under 12, community case and hospitalization rates, and ongoing vaccine effectiveness for the community, county, and state.
- For more information on vaccine and mask requirements, please visit the California Dept. of Public Health website here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
If your child has a chronic health condition, such as allergies or asthma, please contact the school office and download the form below to have your child’s doctor complete and send it back to the school’s nurse. We recommend doing this in advance of a child showing symptoms.
If your child experiences any symptoms of COVID-19, please keep your child home and contact the school office at (619) 479-3662. If an unvaccinated person presents with symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, that person will be immediately sent home and may only return with a negative PCR/NAAT test and no more symptoms. All schools in CVESD must follow the latest County of San Diego COVID-19 Decision Tree (see below) for persons with symptoms associated with 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
*** Please see the latest COVID-19 Decision Tree here: LINK to Newest Decision Tree
Please know that we will communicate with parents on the latest guidance from state, county, and district officials regarding the safety of students on Allen Elementary’s campus as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Please note there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present. The school and district strive to reduce this impact to staff, students, and families.
Parent-Teacher Club (PTC) Corner
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, November 8th at 6 pm. Details regarding this meeting will be released soon, but we anticipate that we will meet in person in room 201 and will also have a Zoom link available here: [Link for PTC Meeting]
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
School and District Meetings for Families and Staff
Allen School needs parents and legal 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.
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 Family First Friday will be on Friday, November 8, 2021 at 8 am, available online only here.
We encourage parents and legal guardians to join this meeting with a cup of hot coffee or tea and listen to Mr. Greenwell give an update on the school year and meet other amazing Allen families.
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
Ella B. Allen’s next ELAC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 8th at 3 pm. This meeting will share updates to our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP).
This meeting will be held only online via this link: [LINK for ELAC and SSC Meeting]
Please note that this online meeting link is the same for both ELAC and SSC. All ELAC members are welcome to attend SSC meetings for additional information. The school encourages all legal parent/guardian of students designated as an English Learner to attend both of these meetings.
School Site Council (SSC)
Allen School’s next SSC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 8th at 3:30 pm. This meeting will share updates to our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP).
This meeting will be held online only via this link: [LINK for ELAC and SSC Meeting]
Please note that this online meeting link is the same for both ELAC and SSC so if you join early, you will be joining the ELAC meeting. All SSC members are welcome to attend ELAC meetings for additional information.
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, November 8th online 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, November 17th at 6 pm. Limited in-person access is permitted, but check the district’s website for more information on this.
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 16th at 12 noon. 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
This year’s School Calendar (2021-2022) is available online! Click this link to download it. All students will be on campus for in-person learning in the 2021-2022 academic year.
Distance Learning is not allowed due to changes in CA state laws. The district is offering a Virtual Academy, but this would require a transfer process and your child would no longer attend Allen Elementary.
Be well Eagles! Stay safe: We encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible to do so. The health and safety of our students, staff, and community is our number 1 concern!
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 