Hello Allen Families and Staff,
Don’t forget that students return to school on TUESDAY and that there is no school on Monday! Please read the important letter below that Mr. Greenwell sent via Class Dojo and School Messenger if you have not yet done so already:
As we gear up for the start of school on Tuesday, January 11th, the state of California encourages all families to access at-home COVID-19 testing for their children before returning to school after the winter break. To help make this a reality, California is providing one rapid test kit for each K–12 public school student.
The Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) will be distributing the tests to families on Monday, January 10 at each school site, including Ella B. Allen Elementary School.
Distribution of these free tests will take place at Allen Elementary on Monday, 1/10 between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm, with one kit provided per CVESD student in grades K through 6 until all tests are distributed. Unfortunately, preschool students will need to be tested at the district offices.
While there is NO statewide testing mandate for students returning to school, we highly encourage you to use the kits to test your children for COVID-19 before they return from break to help keep in-person school safe for everyone.
Should your child(ren) test positive, keep them home from school and contact your doctor and your school right away. This flyer from the state explains how to share your child’s at-home COVID-19 test results with the local health department.
If the results of your child’s at-home test are unclear, please retest at CVESD’s Education Services and Support Center (hours available online at www.cvesd.org) or at a local testing site. If you are unable to get a COVID-19 test from your healthcare provider, testing is available at several locations across the county.
If your child(ren) has/have symptoms (like cough and/or fever) or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, please keep them home and use your test to see if they have COVID-19. In addition, in this case please call us before they return to school – even if the test is negative. More testing may be needed as the variants often cause people to test negative at the early onset of their infection.
Of course, if your child is feeling well, tests negative, and has no COVID-19 symptoms, we look forward to welcoming them back to Allen Elementary’s campus on Tuesday, January 11th for a minimum day.
Our students, employees, and families have been working tirelessly to keep schools both safe and open for in-person learning. Thank you for using the at-home test as one additional tool in our toolbox to keep each other safe and to keep our classrooms open.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the District Risk Manager Jenny Venyak at (619) 426-9500, extension 1353.
Sincerely,
Mr. John E. Greenwell
Principal
Questions about COVID-19? Want information on the free testing locations? Please see our updated page here: https://allenelementary.org/safety-and-health/
You can also download the latest cafeteria menu for the free meals served at school here.
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
We are excited to welcome back our students and staff to campus this Tuesday, January 11 for a minimum day.
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 Responsibility. This week’s Common Courtesy is “Excuse me…“
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 how to support their children if they experience a problem with another student. We suggest using “I feel…” statements, moving away from others, and seeking help from an adult nearby. Our staff prides itself in actively monitoring students at all times. 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 note that our school staff is unable over the Winter Break from Dec. 17 at 3:30 pm until January 11, 2022 at 8 am. Please contact the office directly at (619) 479-3662 and we will arrange an appointment with you.
A Look Ahead:
Monday, January 10, 2022 – NO SCHOOL; Take-home tests available from 11 am to 5 pm
*** Note that the ELAC and SSC meetings have been adjourned to Feb. 7; The PTC meeting has been adjourned to Jan. 24th.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022 – Classes resume for a minimum day; online Awards Ceremony for Kindergarten in morning
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 – Online Awards Ceremony for First and Second Grades in morning
Thursday, January 13, 2022
- Online Awards Ceremony for Third and Fourth Grades in morning
- Virtual Town Hall at 6 pm with Dr. Kelly Motadel, MD — LINK: https://bit.ly/3q33btY
Friday, January 14, 2022
- Online Awards Ceremony for Fifth Grade in morning
- Virtual Family First Friday at 8 am online: LINK
Monday, January 17, 2022 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday – NO SCHOOL; optional day of service
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 – Kickoff to Kid’s Heart Challenge at 9 am
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 – CVESD Board of Education meeting at 6 pm
Monday, January 24, 2022 – PTC Meeting online at 6 pm: LINK HERE
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 – DAC/DELAC online at 12 noon online
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 – CVESD BAC online at 6 pm [link at http://www.cvesd.org]
Thursday, January 27, 2022 – CVESD BLAC at 6 pm
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – First Day of Black History Month; Lunar New Year
Friday, February 4, 2022 – Virtual Family First Friday online at 8 am: LINK
The Great Kindness Challenge
Allen Elementary will be participating again in the annual, worldwide Great Kindness Challenge! We invite all staff, students, and families at Allen to participate in the official Great Kindness Challenge week this January 24 – 28, 2022.
During the official Great Kindness Challenge week, students (grades PreK-12) are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible, using the school provided, age-appropriate kindness checklist. With the checklist in hand, students show the world that KINDNESS MATTERS! Ella B. Allen Elementary School is a proud Kindess Certified School!
Notices of Meeting Adjournment
The previously scheduled meetings for Monday, January 10, 2022 have been adjourned to later dates.
Our next PTC meeting is on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 6 pm online. The next ELAC and SSC meetings will be on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 3 pm and 3:30 pm, respectively.
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
As part of our school’s commitment to safety, we would like to ask for a small number of regular volunteers to help with serving as safety monitors along the sidewalk and street.
We need regular volunteers to serve as our Eagle Eyes and help keep students safe along our narrow streets. Volunteers must complete the following:
- Fingerprints and background check via Livescan Clearance CLICK HERE FOR FORM
- TB Clearance
- Proof of full COVID-19 Vaccination (all doses)
- RAPTOR system clearance and government-issued ID on file
- Volunteer Contact Information Forms
- Complete the 20 minute Allen Elementary Volunteer Training (offered by appointment at the school office)
Please email our Principal, Mr. Greenwell, at john.greenwell@cvesd.org or Secretary, Ms. Reza, at michelle.reza@cvesd.org for more information.
Annual MLK Day of Service
MLK Day of Service is a federal holiday dedicated to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of his legacy and passion for serving others. Ella B. Allen Elementary School encourages its families, students, and staff to participate in an optional day of service to honor the memory and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 17, 2022.
Legislation signed in 1983 marked the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a federal holiday. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Each year, on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is observed as a “day on, not a day off.” MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”
Allen community members can participate on their own by partnering with a community organization, doing a neighborhood clean up, or offering an act of service to others. Last year, many of our staff, students, and their families chose to participate and we hope to make this an annual tradition at Ella B. Allen Elementary School. More information can be found at MLKday.gov.
Free COVID-19 Testing
Testing is for staff and students only at this time at these two locations.
*** Testing times may have shifted due to the winter break. We recommend that you check http://www.cvesd.org for the most updated times. Please note that hours of testing shifted as of December 2021 — 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 at 84 East J Street, Chula Vista 91910
- Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (line closes to walk ups at 3:40 PM)
- Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (line closes to walk ups at 3:40 PM)
Hedenkamp Elementary School at 930 East Palomar Street, Chula Vista 91913
- Monday – Thursday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (line closes to walk ups at 2:30 PM)
- Friday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (line closes to walk ups at 2:30 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 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. Please note that if a child presents with any COVID-19 symptoms, we are required to send that student home until symptoms improve and families provide a negative PCR/NAAT test result.
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.
Equity and Access for All Students
View this page here: https://allenelementary.org/equity-and-access/
COVID-19 Corner: Health and Safety
Vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 are now available. Please understand that the state of California may in the future be requiring children to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to attend a public school, just as they already do for other diseases (polio, mumps, rubella, etc..).
The state of California has issued a mandate that masks must be indoors in all public settings as of Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
The CVESD Board of Education requires 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, students, and visitors may remove masks when eating or drinking. 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.
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.
Please help support Allen’s PTC by shopping at smile.amazon.com! AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to the Allen Elementary PTC when you shop on smile.amazon.com and choose Allen Elementary School Parents Teachers Club Inc as your charity.
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 Families & 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, January 14, 2022 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, February 7th at 3 pm.
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, February 7th at 3:30 pm.
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 usually 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 24th 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, January 19th 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 January 25, 2022 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. The 2022-2023 school year calendar will soon be available.
Be well Eagles! Stay safe: We encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The health and safety of our students, staff, and community is our number 1 concern!
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 