Hello Allen Families and Staff,
It’s Scholastic Book Fair week and the start of our Parent-Teacher conferences (March 9 -16, 2023). Students will be dismissed at 2 pm starting on Thursday, March 9, 2023 until we dismiss for Spring Break on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Our teachers will make every effort to meet with each parent/legal guardian: Out of respect for our staff and other families, please honor your scheduled conference time. Generally, spring conferences are student-led so that children can demonstrate their learning to their families!
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 periodically with your child.
https://allenelementary.org/family-handbook/
Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week
Please watch Mr. Greenwell’s Message of the Week for this upcoming week at the YouTube link below:
Parents and legal guardians, please honor our commitment to provide educational field trips by respecting the guidelines and space limitations for parent chaperones. We also respectfully ask that students who leave on the school bus return to school to continue their learning for the day.
Please check the lost and found rack outside of the MPR at school! Any unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity at the end of each quarter. Be sure to write your child’s first and last name in permanent ink on all personal items (hoodies, jackets, lunch bags, water bottles, and backpacks).
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 Perseverance. The Common Courtesy for this week is “Good morning/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! 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:
March 6 – 10, 2023: Scholastic Spring Book Fair (BOGO) in MPR
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
- 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)
Thursday, March 9, 2023 – Allen Eagles basketball game at Montgomery Elementary (versus Cook) at 4:45 pm
Saturday, March 11, 2023 – Spring Forward! Daylight Saving’s Time begins.
Monday, March 13, 2023 – Parent Meetings (in person in MPR and online)
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 – Pi Day at Allen (3.14) – π
Friday, March 17, 2023 – Green Spirit Day (St. Patrick’s 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)
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 – 9:30 am Second Grade Dental Presentations
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 – Q3 Awards for grades TK-2 from 9 am to 9:45 am in the courtyard
Thursday, April 6, 2023 – Q3 Awards for grades 3-6 and 800 building from 9 am to 9:45 am in the courtyard
Friday, April 7, 2023
- Good Friday
- Smarty Plants Assemblies for students during school hours
Monday, April 10, 2023 – Parent Meetings (in person in MPR and online)
Spring Break Reminder
Conferences are minimum days (with a 2 pm dismissal for all students in grades TK-6) from March 9 – March 16, 2023. Spring Break begins when we dismiss at 2 pm on Friday, March 17, 2023. Students return on Monday, April 3rd for a 2 pm dismissal day.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Book Fair is this week! The Book Fair is being hosted by our PTC and will be in the MPR from March 6 – 10, 2023. While the book fair will be closed during all recess and lunch breaks, students will have opportunities during the school day and on select days after school to make purchases. Most books are BOGO this week! Check out our Allen Elementary Book Fair page today: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/allenelemschool1
We recommend setting up an e-Wallet account to create a secure way for your child to make purchases while at school. The video link below will help you set up the e-Wallet…
https://players.brightcove.net/1543299976/Eyj59PHsg_default/index.html?videoId=6234964928001
Sign up to create an eWallet account here: LINK for eWallet
This is an easy way to ensure that your child has the money they need to spend in the book fair, while reducing lines in the book fair and ensuring that no money is lost by a child. We highly encourage families to set up an eWallet account in advance of the book fair.
Allen Students Featured on a Special Edition of the Equity Podcast
A special edition of the CVESD Student Podcast is brought to you by the students of Allen Elementary! The link is also on the CVESD Website Home page: www.cvesd.org
Be sure to listen to this special podcast now at https://www.cvesd.org/home.
Attendance Matters!
Attendance is important! Allen Elementary celebrates excellent attendance as it sets students up for success!
Students attending Allen on a Zone Transfer may be denied if a student has a poor attendance record or behavior concerns.
Did you know that if your child is out of school for five or more days, you can request an independent study contract? If an independent study contract is completed, your child receives attendance credit. For more information, you can contact Ms. Baptista in the front office at (619) 479-3662.
- LET’S CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR ATTENDANCE AT ALLEN!
- Students should only miss school if they are sick. Those with symptoms can return with a negative COVID-19 test, no fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and symptoms improving. STUDENTS DO NOT NEED TO BE SYMPTOM-FREE to attend school. We have plenty of rapid tests at school: just ask in the office. If you have a special circumstance and need an independent study, please let us know.
- Please make sure your child is here by 8:45 am and lined up on the blacktop. If they arrive to campus after 8:50 am, they will be marked tardy.
- We begin a secure campus at 8:50 am. Parents/guardians must exit promptly at 8:50. Thank you.
- Students can arrive as early as 8:20 am when our school’s gates open. There is no supervision for students prior to 8:20 am.
- FREE breakfast is served from 8:20 am to 8:45 am. All meals are eaten at the lunch arbor outside, rain or shine.
- If your child is absent, it is very important to call the office to report the reason for the absence.
- Absences that are not reported will be considered UNEXCUSED. After 3 unexcused absences and/or tardies you will receive a truancy letter.
- If you pick up your child early and/or they are tardy for personal reasons, this is considered unexcused by the state of California.
- Remember to bring a doctor’s note. Vacations, dentist, and doctor visits should be scheduled during our breaks whenever possible.
- If your child misses school, they are missing out on important learning!
- Our school staff will be scheduling SART (School Attendance Review Team) meetings with parents/guardians, calling home, and doing home visits for students who are chronically absent (missing 10% of school or excessive tardies).
- Thank you for helping to get your child to school every day and one time!
Parent Volunteers Still Needed
We need parent volunteers to help monitor student safety on the sidewalks around our school at drop off and dismissal time! Our Eagle Eye volunteers work with school staff to serve as an extra set of eyes to keep kids safe outside of our school gates. Any interested volunteers should contact Mr. Greenwell or Ms. Reza in the office or call (619) 479-3662.
All parent volunteers are allowed to volunteer inside the classroom and school buildings after having completed the required training with the school principal and meeting the District’s volunteer requirements. See below for these requirements:
REQUIRED ITEMS:
- Proof of TB
- RAPTOR I.D. Scan
- Fingerprint Clearance – DOJ & FBI
Note that COVID-19 testing requirements have been lifted by CDPH. Please contact the school office at (619) 479-3662 to be put on the volunteer list and to schedule a volunteer training with the school principal.
YMCA Spring Break Camp
Looking for affordable Spring Break activities and/or child care? We recommend the YMCA Spring Break Camp at Tiffany Elementary. Space is limited so register now!
PTC Charity Golf Tournament – March 10
Have you signed up yet for our adults-only charity golf tournament? PTC is hosting a charity golf event for adults only 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. Please note that any negative comments and comments with profanity directed at an individual will be deleted. Constructive criticism on how to improve our school and district (and better serve students) is always welcome!
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
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 & 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 began 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 is posted on our district’s website at www.cvesd.org.
- 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.
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, April 7, 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 March 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 March 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 March 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, March 8 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 April 20 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. March 15 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.
Academic 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 