Hello Allen Families and Staff,
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
In the spirit of Heart Health Month, we ask that families follow the district’s Wellness Policy. If you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, we ask that every person in the classroom receive a valentine note and that there is NO candy, sweets, or junk food with the Valentine’s Day note. Stickers, pencils, erasers, and other items make great, healthy substitutions for Valentine’s sweets. Please also be respectful of families that choose to not celebrate this day.
Our school and district continue the celebration of Black History Month throughout the month of February.
Allen Elementary also celebrates Heart Health Month in the month of February. Exercise, good nutrition, a full night of sleep, and lots of water will be emphasized with our students all month long!
If you have questions for our staff or need assistance, please call at at (619) 479-3662. Office hours are 8 am to 3:30 pm, M-F.
Have you downloaded the Family Handbook for 2022-2023? Kindly review this with your child.
https://allenelementary.org/family-handbook/
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Read the section below if you would like to volunteer for the PTC’s Out of This World Dance on Friday, Feb. 24th!
Please watch Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week for this upcoming week at the YouTube link below:
Please download our Q3 Calendar of Events here:
Help our partners at the YMCA meet their fundraising goal as our students benefit greatly from services at Allen and at our local branch! Contribute here: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/4298539
Do you receive School Messenger emails and communication from our district? Be sure to check www.cvesd.org and bookmark our district’s website and follow its social media:
Please see our updated 2022-2023 Family Handbook here: Link to Family Handbook
A reminder of our school’s Core Values and Common Courtesies:
The Core Value for this upcoming week of school is Responsibility. The Common Courtesy for this week 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! Wondering how to support children if they experience a problem with another student? We suggest:
- Use “I feel…” statements to express yourself clearly.
- Set boundaries by saying “I don’t like that…” or “Please stop!”
- Move away from the student you have conflict with and…
- Seek 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. What is bullying? See the helpful graphic below:
If you have a concern about another child’s behaviors impacting your child, we suggest you first contact your child’s teacher. Afterwards, please see this page here. It’s our District’s Anti-Bullying page.
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, at (619) 479-3662 and we will arrange an appointment with you.
A Look Ahead:
Monday, February 13, 2023 – Parent Meetings (in person in MPR and online)
- Student Council Sock Drive continues until Feb. 16th
- ELAC at 3 pm [ELAC LINK here]
- SSC at 3:30 pm [SSC LINK here]
- PTC at 6 pm [PTC Link HERE]
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – 3rd grade students visit the San Diego Zoo
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
- Registration for the 2023-2024 school year begins (see below for details)
- 5th grade students visit the USS Midway Museum
Thursday, February 16, 2023
- Kids Heart Challenge during the school day
- Student Council Sock Drive ends
- Family Focus Series: “10 Things Parents Need to Know About Fentanyl” at 6 pm at 84 East J Street in Chula Vista
Friday, February 17, 2023 – NO SCHOOL – Presidents Day Weekend
Monday, February 20, 2023 – NO SCHOOL – Presidents Day Weekend
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
- Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent
- CVESD Budget Advisory Meeting at 6 pm at ESSC (84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910)
Thursday, February, 23, 2023
- Spring Photography Day
- Bus Evacuation Drill at Allen
- CVESD B-LAC Meeting at Fahari Jeffers Elementary (1145 Camino Prado, Chula Vista, CA 91913) at 6 pm
Friday, February 24, 2023 – PTC’s Out of this World Family Dance (5 – 7 pm) at Allen
February 27 – March 3, 2023: Read Across America Week and Spirit Week
Monday, February 27, 2023 – Sixth Grade Parent Resource Night online for AGE at 6 pm
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 – 4th grade students visit the Living Coast Discovery Center
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
- Women’s History Month begins
- Fourth Grade (girls only) Parent Resource Night online for AGE at 6 pm
Thursday, March 2, 2023 – Fifth Grade Parent Resource Night online for AGE at 6 pm
Friday, March 3, 2023 – Family First Friday from 8 am to 9 am (with free coffee for adults) and PTC Spirit Booth
March 6 – 10, 2023: Scholastic Spring Book Fair (BOGO)
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
- Second Grade dental presentations
- CVESD DAC/DELAC 12 noon to 2 pm at ESSC (84 East J Street, Chula Vista)
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
- Holi
- First grade students visit the Living Coast Discovery Center
- CVESD Board of Education meeting at 6 pm at ESSC (84 East J Street, Chula Vista)
March 9 – 16, 2023: Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences (dismissal at 2 pm for all students in grades TK-6)
Monday, March 13, 2023 – Parent Meetings (in person in MPR and online)
Friday, March 17, 2023 – Green Spirit Day and dismiss for Spring Break
March 20 – 31, 2023: Spring Break – NO SCHOOL
Monday, April 3, 2023 – Classes resume (with a 2 pm dismissal for all students in grades TK-6)
Online Safety
Parents, please monitor your child’s activity on cell phones and computers. There has been an increase in conflicts between students that is taking place at home home via social media, online gaming, and other apps. A helpful resource for many parents is the website Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/online-safety
Spring Photography Day
Information will be sent to parents and legal guardians directly from our school photographer, Chalkboard Photography, about our Spring Photography Day on Thursday, February 23, 2023.
PTC Out of This World Family Dance
Save the date! All Allen families are invited to join our PTC Family Dance (themed to “Out of This World” and outer space). This family dance will be on Friday, February 24, 2023 from 5 to 7 pm at Allen Elementary. Space will be limited (pun intended). More information will be shared by our amazing PTC soon. If you would like to volunteer to help set up, run, and clean up this dance, please contact our PTC President, Gina Bennett by email at galbertinibennett@gmail.com to learn how you can support this event.
AGE Parent Information Nights
Join district staff online to learn more about our district’s Adolescent Growth Education resources that will be shared with our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. Teachers will be sending home information about this opt-out program in the coming weeks. Under CA state law, parents have the right to opt out of this program. However, our district encourages participation in AGE as this program provides scientifically and medically accurate information. Please speak to your child’s teacher or contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 if you have questions about this program.
- Sixth Grade – February 27, 2023 from 6 to 7:30 pm
- Fifth Grade – March 2, 2023 from 6 to 7:30 pm
- Fourth Grade (girls only) – March 1, 2023 from 6 to 7:30 pm
PTC Charity Golf Tournament – March 10
PTC is hosting a charity golf event for adults on Friday, March 10, 2023. Please download the information below for registration details.
ThoughtExchange – We Need Your Voice!
Our annual ThoughtExchange for community input on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is now open! We need to hear from every parent/legal guardian. This year, we are asking the question: What are some things we are doing well, and what could improve the educational experience we provide students through the LCAP?
As you’re aware, the LCAP shapes our District’s goals and guides our budgeting priorities. Please join in on the conversation from Feb. 1 through April 1, 2023. Feel free to reach out to our office team if you have any questions at (619) 479-3662. Allen Elementary’s budget priorities are discussed at every ELAC, SSC, and PTC meeting as well.
Link to survey: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/629912727
Kids Heart Challenge
We are excited to promote heart health this month and continue partnering with the American Heart Association on this year’s Kids Heart Challenge (formerly known as Jump Rope for Heart). Our school can earn extra recess and PE equipment by increasing our participation. Be a Heart Hero and register your family now! The day students will participate in the Kids Heart Challenge at Allen is February 16, 2023.
Help us reach our goal to have 100% of school families completing Finn’s Mission!
- Register/Log In at http://www2.heart.org/goto/Allen or download the FREE Kids Heart Challenge App for Apple or Android
- Complete Finn’s Mission: Watch a 2-minute video to learn Hands-Only CPR, learn how to spot the warning signs of a stroke, and so much more!
- Share with friends and family through social media, text and/or email.
Thank you for supporting our school and joining Finn in his mission to have 1.8 million families across the country learn Hands-Only CPR this year!
Sock Drive
Now through February 16th, Allen’s Student Council is hosting a Sock Drive. Please bring new socks (never before worn) to the bins in the front office or in the MPR. Help warm the feet of those in our community! We welcome socks of all sizes and colors as long as they are brand new socks!
February is Museum Month
Explore the fun during San Diego Museum Month with 50% off admission to more than 60 San Diego County museums, historic sites, gardens, zoo/aquariums and more. There’s so much to see at San Diego County museums, and during the month of February the San Diego Museum Council is making it easy to visit your favorites by offering half-price admission. Simply pick up a 50% off pass at any public library in San Diego County and bring it to a participating museum from February 1-28. For more information, visit: https://sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/specials/museum-month/
In addition, the entire month of February (February 1- 28, 2023) seniors age 65 and older receive free admission to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (located in the San Pasqual Valley) with a valid photo ID at the turnstile. For more information, visit: https://sdzsafaripark.org/tickets
YMCA Campaign
Students and families in our area benefit from free and reduced services from the YMCA of San Diego. Help give back by joining the YMCA Campaign for 2023! This year’s campaign theme is “Open Hearts, Open Doors.”
You can make a tax-deductible donation securely here: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/4298539
Zone Transfers and Registration Information
It’s that time again! Everyone attending Allen Elementary on a CVESD Zone Transfer should have received an email with a specific link to renew the Zone Transfer for their child for the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete this Zone Transfer (or ZT) process ASAP to keep your child at our school, or families risk losing their child’s spot at our school if a new family moves into the neighborhood. Please also remember that a Zone Transfer or Intradistrict Transfer may be denied if a child’s behavior or attendance require improvement.
NEW STUDENT registration will begin on February 15 online for the following:
- Kindergartners who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2023.
- NEW students in grades 1st through 6th
- All registrations will take place online. There will be no paper packets. To register please visit our district website beginning on February 15: www.cvesd.org
Allen Elementary has plenty of space in our Preschool, TK, and Kindergarten classes for next year, but has limited openings in our upper grades. Please contact our office for questions about space availability at (619) 479-3662. More information will be posted on our district’s website at www.cvesd.org in February 2023.
- Please note:
- TK students will not need a renewal zone transfer link as they will need to register at their neighborhood school for Kindergarten. Our district’s Early Childhood Education department supports Preschool and TK enrollment. Please contact them directly at (619) 425-9600 Ext.181725.
- The Renewal Zone Transfer Form is independent of the “New Zone Transfer Form.”
- Students who will be transitioning to Sweetwater Union High School District for seventh grade (middle school) do not need to notify CVESD about this, but will need to complete registration processes with that district via https://www.sweetwaterschools.org/.
Preschool Enrollment
Are you considering enrolling your child in preschool? Look no further! Allen Elementary offers a free preschool program for qualifying families that live in San Diego County. Learn more and enroll your child today at http://cvesd.org/preschool.
Family Focus Series
The next event in our Family Focus Series will help families to learn more about pressing topics such as bullying, social and emotional well-being, and more! Free childcare and dinner are provided for all attendees.
The next workshop is on Feb. 16th at 6 pm and titled “10 Things Parents Need to Know About Fentanyl.”
Questions? Email Angelica.maldonado@cvesd.org.
- In person, 6:00 pm, dinner served, at 84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910
- Free childcare provided.
Colds, Flu, RSV, COVID – Oh My!
A friendly reminder that if your child is sick, please contact the school office and keep your child home.
With millions of people returning to their daily activities and traveling once again, it’s important to recognize that COVID-19 and the flu aren’t the only currently spreading diseases that can cause severe illness in infants. In San Diego, there’s been a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases and it’s crucial you keep sick people away from children.
Talk to your child’s doctor if they are showing signs of illness. Always consult your child’s care provider before giving them medicine or medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. Please contact our school office if your child must stay home due to illness at (619) 479-3662.
Free Campus Clinic Health Services
Families may come to the school office, Monday- Friday, between 8 am and 3:30 pm to receive a free COVID-19 home antigen test. The testing is not required. Please report all positive cases to our school office at (619) 479-3662.
Weekly, voluntary testing will continue on our school campus via Campus Clinic each week. Parents and legal guardians must opt-in to the program and no child will be tested without proper consent. If families would like to watch a video on the registration process, they can visit: https://campusclinic.org/how-to/. For community testing at the kiosks, individuals will need to register on-site. You only need to register one time for a test through the kiosk.
In alignment with our district’s commitment to keeping your children healthy and in school, we are excited to expand Campus Clinic’s health services by adding the flu combo test to our weekly COVID-19 testing program. This combo test is designed to provide results for symptomatic individuals for some of the most common illnesses, such as Flu A, Flu B, RSV, and COVID-19. This testing is provided at no-cost or free to families, but Campus Clinic is required by the state of California to collect insurance information. Campus Clinic will also be providing other essential public health services on our campus in the coming weeks.
MedLab2020 may call or email families to verify insurance information for individuals who have tested with Campus Clinic previously. MedLab2020 is the lab that Campus Clinic partners with to process COVID-19 PCR & flu combo tests administered through weekly in school testing, as well as at the four kiosks throughout the district. They are part of the letterhead on most of the results sent out. Please feel free to direct any questions or concerns you may have to the Campus Success Team.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the information above, please call or email our Campus Success team.
Campus Success; 8:00am -4:00pm PST
855.286.2577
support@campusclinic.org
www.campusclinic.org
Again, for this free testing support, please email: support@campusclinic.org.
Health and Safety
Vaccines for children are now available. There is currently no mandate for vaccines, nor a mandate for masks. Please understand that the state of California may (in the future) require 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, but rather a state government decision.
Masks, although not required at this time, are encouraged for all staff, students, parents, and visitors while indoors on campus.
- There is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other illnesses in any public place where people are present. The school and district strive to reduce this impact to staff, students, and families.
- It is a current public health recommendation for all eligible people to get COVID-19 booster shots.
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. 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
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 and our school by joining as a member of the Allen Elementary School Parents Teachers Club.
The standing PTC Meeting link is here: PTC MEETING LINK 2022-2023
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 usually reserved for our Family First Friday, Allen’s version of Coffee with the Principal. Our next Family First Friday will be on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 8 am to 9 am. This meeting will be in person at school with a coffee cart available in front of the school. Our Allen PTC will also have their monthly Spirit Gear Booth with great items for sale!
We encourage parents and legal guardians to join this meeting with a free cup of hot coffee or a cold cup of cold brew on nitro 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 will be on February 13, 2023 at 3 pm. This meeting will be both online and in person at Allen in the MPR. Online link here.
The school encourages all legal parent/guardian of students designated as an English Learner to attend these meetings.
School Site Council (SSC)
Ella B. Allen’s next SSC Meeting will be on February 13, 2023 at 3:30 pm. Please note that if you join early, you’ll be attending the ELAC meeting already in progress. This meeting will be both online and in person at Allen in the MPR. Online link here.
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. 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. This meeting will be both online and in person at Allen in the MPR. Link: via this link. The next PTC meeting is February 13 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 15 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 March 7, 2023 at 12 noon. This meeting will be in person at the CVESD Education Services and Support Center (ESSC) in room C. The address is 84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA. 91910.
The link below contains 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: https://www.cvesd.org/parents/getting-involved/dac-delac
CVESD B-LAC Meeting
District Black Learners Advisory Council (B-LAC)
The B-LAC is composed of parents, staff, and community representatives from around the district. The B-LAC provides and monitors the ongoing support for Black/African American students and families in the Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) to ensure unbiased practices/policies, equitable educational outcomes, and equal access to a quality education. The group meets regularly during the school year, once a month. Most meetings occur on Thursdays from 6 – 7 pm. The next meeting is February 23 at 6 pm and will be in person at Fahari Jeffers Elementary (1145 Camino Prado, Chula Vista, CA 91913). For more information and to download the schedule of these meetings, clink the link: https://www.cvesd.org/parents/getting-involved/black-learners-advisory-council—b–lac
CVESD BAC Meeting
District Budget Advisory Council (CVESD BAC)
The District’s Budget Advisory Council (BAC) is composed of parents, staff, and community representatives from around the district. The BAC monitors the financial statements and fiduciary obligations of the Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD). Although it usually only meets 5 – 6 times a year, the BAC’s meetings are useful in understanding how state and federal monies support student learning at a local level. February 22 at 6 pm is the next BAC meeting. This meeting will be in person at the CVESD Education Services and Support Center (ESSC) in room C. The address is 84 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA. 91910.
Calendar for the 2022-2023 School Year
The 2022-2023 School Calendar is available online! Click this link to download it. Please reference this when planning vacations or scheduling appointments with your children that may require them to miss school. Excellent attendance is important in student success!
Our Board of Education approved our 2023-2024 School Calendar as well and we are pleased to share that it aligns well with Sweetwater as well. Please also use this document to plan and schedule family outings, vacations, and other important appointments. Find that document in the file below…
Students in our district will end the current academic year on Friday, June 2, 2023.
Allen Elementary is proud to be a Kindness Certified School again in 2023!
Be well Eagles! Stay safe: As a California public school, we encourage everyone to stay healthy and get the COVID-19 vaccine (and/or booster shots), as well as to test regularly. The health and safety of our students, staff, and community is our number 1 concern!
Ella B. Allen Elementary School 