Hello MES Families,
Many thanks to our parents who showed up in great numbers to our annual Trunk o' Treat, Halloween Parade, and Dia de Los Muertos events. Thank you also to our Room Parents for organizing our classroom holiday parties. Thank you also to our parents who organized our first-ever Camp Out. The students love these special events and I am certain it will lead to warm lifelong memories of elementary school. Please enjoy the pictures of the events below.
Parents with dogs are doing a fantastic job managing them in the parking lot, however I have to emphasize that dogs are not allowed on school property. And, many children are frightened of dogs too. Thank you for your cooperation. In regard to the parking lot, when using the loading zone, please use the passenger-side door and not the driver's-side door. If you are walking your child across the parking lot, keep your child very close as there are many vehicles parking and then backing out. Remember, the loading zone is the best way to bring children to and from school.
Our 5th graders had a super experience at overnight outdoor school back in October. Thank you to our PTA for helping to subsidize the cost. In June the 5th grade students can anticipate a great Promotion Ceremony thanks to parent volunteers supporting our teachers. Also the students will be going on another exciting field trip in June. (The teachers have received some great ideas from a committee they formed to price out various options.) All MES families can support both the ceremony and the June celebration trip by participating in Bingo Night and in the upcoming Bake Sales. I am so grateful that parents and teachers are working together to create an amazing last year of elementary school for this outstanding group of students.
Fourth grade students can now start to get excited about their overnight trip next school year! The trip is to Pali Camp and will happen in mid-October. (We have reservations and thanks to PTA we are able to put down our reservation deposit.) In January fourth grade parents will learn about camp and decide about fundraising and donations.
Our PTA Sea Lion Giving Wave concluded on October 31st. Thank you to the families who were able and willing to donate. In all $376,222.23 were pledged. $215,293.16 has been collected. The remainder has been pledged. (The class with the highest percent of givers was Mrs. Tate. The students in Mrs. Tate class will now be spraying me down with Silly String!) Your generosity is paying for Instructional Aides, Art, our Marine Science aquariums, subsidizing field trips, bringing our students programs like Lexia and so much more that the district doesn't cover. Your gift helps our very good school to be a great school. Thank you.
Parent conferences are this week. Please sign up to learn how your child is doing and how you can support your child at home. Return to your child and share at least one thing to praise them for and one goal to work on. Children feel empowered and prosper when they have a goal to work toward. Tell your child that you are working closely with their teacher. Children thrive when they know that their teachers and parents partner for their success.
Lastly, please see the two parent surveys below. One is about our school and the other is about after-school programs you hope to see. Thank you for your participation.
Thank you for your partnership,
Proud Principal Chris Hertz
