Hello Allen Families and Staff,
Thank you for your continued support of our school as we face this current surge of COVID-19 cases. We are working hard to support our students and their families during this surge. If you have a COVID Positive Case in your home and need guidance on isolation/quarantine, please email covtest4@cvesd.org. If you are reporting a positive case to us in the office, please email allenschool@cvesd.org. As you can imagine, we are getting many emails about a range of needs. We want to be sure that positive cases all go to one inbox, that way our whole team in the office can support.
Testing is still being offered in our district at both Hedenkamp and the District Office. However, testing will be expanded significantly this week to include the addition of testing at Clearview, Castle Park, and Eastlake, as well as weekly testing at both Allen and Tiffany. The district’s website, www.cvesd.org, is updated daily to reflect testing hours and locations.
Masks continue to be required on campus, for adults and students.
If your child is experiencing any symptoms, please keep them at home and notify the school office at (619) 479-3662. If you have someone who is known positive in your household, please also keep your child home and notify the office so that we may further support. Independent Study Contracts are available for students who have tested positive or who must isolate/quarantine. We thank you for your patience and kindness towards our staff as we weather this surge together.
CVESD has changed its policy requiring room closure for three or more cases in a setting for TK-12 students.
If your children are currently in quarantine due to a classroom closure under the old guidance, they may return Monday, January 24, 2022. Testing is recommended. Negative tests do not need to be provided to the school. Positive test results must always be reported to the school. As long as your child has no symptoms and there are no positive cases in your household, your child may return to school.
We thank you for your cooperation while we work through this as a community. We’ve got this, Eagles!
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
You will likely receive an email from COVID Clinic this week. Please read through this email as it contains more information about our weekly testing opportunity as well as your ability to give consent for this weekly testing. Please note that this is “opt-in” testing and that no child or staff member will be required to test without proper consent.
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 Honesty. This week’s Common Courtesy is “Thank you…“
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 contact the office directly at (619) 479-3662 and we will arrange an appointment with you.
A Look Ahead:
Monday, January 24, 2022
- The Great Kindness Challenge begins
- PTC Meeting online at 6 pm: LINK HERE
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 – DAC/DELAC online at 12 noon online [link at http://www.cvesd.org]
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
- Soccer Tryouts Day 1 at 3:20 pm
- CVESD BAC online at 6 pm [link at http://www.cvesd.org]
Thursday, January 27, 2022
- Soccer Tryouts Day 2 at 3:20 pm
- CVESD BLAC at 6 pm: LINK HERE
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – First Day of Black History Month; Lunar New Year
Friday, February 4, 2022
- Wear Red Day
- Virtual Family First Friday online at 8 am: LINK HERE
Optional, Weekly COVID Clinic Testing
We are thrilled to share that a new “opt-in” testing program will be part of keeping our students and staff safe during this COVID-19 surge. You will soon be receiving an email from an organization called COVID Clinic. This is not spam, though it may go into your spam or junk email folders. Rather, this is an important email that contains an electronic permission slip to sign up your child for weekly, free COVID-19 testing at Allen Elementary.
This weekly testing will be provided just outside the door of your child’s classroom by licensed and trained health care professionals. This weekly testing will minimize interruptions to the school instructional day while allowing us to ensure that our students, staff, and community are safe and healthy. Although this is not mandatory, we hope that all families and staff will choose to opt in and participate in this weekly testing opportunity. Please provide consent as soon as you receive the email to assist us in keeping our schools open.
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 Kindness Certified School!
Please click the link below to download a checklist for your child if they have misplaced the one passed out by their teacher.
Kids Heart Challenge
Students had their kickoff to the Kids Heart Challenge earlier this week online. To create your child’s account or log in click this link here.
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.
Free COVID-19 Testing
Testing is for staff and students only at this time at these two locations. Take-home rapid test kits were distributed last week. If you did not pick yours up and would still like it, please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662.
*** We recommend that you check www.cvesd.org for the most updated times. Please note that hours of testing may continue to shift — 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)
Three more testing sites are now available. See the PDF file below:
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 COVID-19 test at a free County facility, at a medical provider, or at our District Office (Education Services and Support Center). If showing symptoms, a person will need a PCR/NAAT test. Otherwise, an antigen/rapid test will suffice. 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 test result.
We are happy to provide an independent study contract for families negatively impacted by the surge of COVID-19 cases in our community. Please contact the school office for help with this.
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..). This decision is not a school-based or district-based decision.
The state of California has issued a mandate that masks must be indoors in all public settings as of Wednesday, December 15, 2021 and this has been extended through the middle of February 2022.
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 any person (regardless of vaccination status) presents with symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, that person will be immediately sent home and may only return with a negative 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, February 4, 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, February 9th 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 2022-2023 School Year
Next year’s School Calendar (2022-2023) is available online! Click this link to download it.
Students in our District are scheduled to start the 2022-2023 school year on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 and end the school year on Friday, June 2, 2023.
Student Starting Date: July 20, 2022
Student Ending Date: June 2, 2023
Key breaks include:
- Fall Break: September 26 – October 7, 2022
- Thanksgiving Break: November 21 – November 25, 2022
- Winter Break: December 19, 2022 – January 6, 2023
- Spring Break: March 20 – March 31, 2023
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 