MEA Monday Message

Tuesday, Jan. 28

• 8-8:45- Choir - B15
  
• 8:50- 9:35- Strings - B15
• 9:40-10:25- Band - B15
• 12:30-1:15 Elementary Art - MakerSpace

• 12:30-2:30 PALS - Rm 1

• 9:30-11:30 PALS - Rm 1
• 11:00-11:45 Coop Group - Chicken Coop
• 12:99-12:30 - Senior Meeting
• 12:00-12:30 - Elementary Book Club
• 12:30-1:30 Tech Exploration - Rm 1
• 7:00-9:00 Academic League vs. PLHS @ MEA

• 9:00-11:30 PALS - Rm 6
• 9:20-10:20 USCD eSports Mentorship - Rm 1
• 12:30-2:30 D&D Quest Club - Rm 1 & 2

• February 4 & 5 - MEA Film Festival
• February 6 - Move-A-Thon
• February 10 - Leader in Me Family workshop (11:15-12:15)
• February 11 - Secondary Awards Ceremony (3:15-4:15)
• Feb. 19, 20, 21 - MEA Theatre Company Production "Street Rats"
• March 14 - Talent Show
• March 14 - MEA Silent Auction
• March 21 - PSATs (10th Graders Only)

Check out the week's club calendar below. Please note that some locations and times have been adjusted due to Theatre Rehearsals, all changes are highlighted in red. For more information about clubs, check out the MEA Campus Life.

Esports has rapidly evolved into a significant component of collegiate athletics, with many institutions recognizing its value by offering substantial scholarships to attract top gaming talent. In the 2020-2021 academic year, U.S. colleges awarded over $16 million in esports scholarships, doubling the $8 million distributed the previous year. This trend reflects the growing investment in esports programs across the nation.

The UCSD Triton Esports Team is launching an exciting new mentorship program designed to connect UCSD student mentors with students from Mt. Everest Academy. This program aims to foster teamwork, leadership, and STEM-related skills through the engaging and innovative world of Esports. By building long-term relationships between UCSD and the local community, the initiative also serves to inspire the next generation of students with real-world applications of their passions.

Program Highlights:

• Monthly Virtual Mentoring Sessions: Starting this Friday, January 30th, mentors and mentees will participate in virtual sessions focused on critical life skills and Esports-related topics.
• Culminating Event in May: The program will conclude with an in-person visit to the Triton Esports Center (TEC), where mentees will explore Esports facilities, interact with their mentors, and celebrate their progress.

Monthly Themes:

1. January: Online Citizenship & Self-Management
   Learn how to navigate the digital world responsibly while developing personal accountability in online spaces.

2. February: Game Life Balance: Health & Self-Care
   Discover how to maintain a healthy balance between gaming, academics, and personal well-being.

3. March: Teamwork, Positive Gamer Traits, and Team-Building Tactics
   Explore strategies to foster collaboration, communication, and mutual support in a team environment.

4. April: Career Opportunities, Internships, Streaming, and Gaming for Good
   Uncover potential career paths in the gaming and Esports industry, including content creation, internships, and community impact through gaming.

5. May: End-of-Program Visit to TEC
   Students will visit UCSD’s state-of-the-art Esports facility, engage in hands-on activities, and celebrate the relationships and skills they’ve developed throughout the program.

This mentorship program not only bridges the gap between education and entertainment but also empowers students with valuable life skills in a collaborative and inspiring setting.

Stay tuned for more updates as the program unfolds!

This program is open to all MEA students, 6th grade and up. First meeting is scheduled for Friday at 9:20 in Room 1. If you are interested, please reach out to Mrs. Keck.

ASB will be selling Candy Grams for just $1 each. Each Candy Gram includes a piece of Valentine candy and a personalized note written by you.

Here’s where you can buy them:
February 4, 5, and 6: At 9:00 AM by the elementary gate and during lunch by the auditorium
February 6: During the Move-a-Thon

Candy Grams will be delivered to recipients the following week. Don’t miss this chance to spread some Valentine’s Day cheer! ❤️

Join us for a fun-filled time with Coach Erica from Franklin Covey as she guides us through engaging activities and games that incorporate LiM! Light refreshments will be served.

Monday February 10

11:15-12:15

Get ready for the Hero Move-A-Thon event on Thursday, February 6th 1:30 - 3:30 at Mt. Everest Academy. This will be TONs of fun and raise money to make our school even better for you. Joining will also get you some incredible prizes and an ice cream party.

Here is what you need to do to start your fundraising page.

1. Join your class Team for the event. Simply click “Join a Team”. You’ll create your own fundraising profile and select your grade. You can enter your story, upload a photo and tell why you are fundraising. Then share your fundraiser link.
   
   

2. Set yourself a fundraising goal. Even if it’s just to get your first donation.
   
   

3. Share your link with family and friends. It’s as simple as telling them that you are fundraising for your school programs, and if they’d like to donate you’d be very grateful.

Fundraising prizes:

• Every team that collectively reaches their team fundraising goal will be treated to an ice cream party.

Heroes also needed for:

• Volunteers

• Supplies

Get started and join now

There will be an MEA film festival during lunch Tuesday through Wednesday in week 1 of Month 7 in the auditorium. Multiple short films will be shown and popcorn will be served!

Introducing the MEA Science Fair brought to you by STEM Club! All grades are welcome to participate and create their very own science projects! The Science Fair will take place Month 8 Week 3, March 18-20. Please see the following guidelines and rules to help guide your projects. There will be separate divisions for grades 1-6 and grades 7-12, along with separate divisions for experimental/research and instructional/science communication projects. Have fun exploring!

Guidelines and Rules
Please contact Malia Wilke at maliawilke@gmail.com with any questions.

The 2024 MEA Talent Showcase is happening on Friday, March 14! Applications are now open for performers and stage crew. If your talent can’t be performed live on stage, you can submit a video as your act instead. Completed applications are due on Tuesday, February 13. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Rice or Mr. Nielsen. Don’t miss your chance to shine like the star you are!

Mt. Everest 8th graders win four prizes in Assemblymember Ward's Second Annual Civics Contest!

They received over 150 art and video submissions from six schools across Assembly District 78! To equitably assess the submissions, Assemblymember Ward invited ten local community leaders to judge each art piece and video.

MEA had 4 submissions in the top 5! Their videos will be played during an awards reception and posted on Assemblymember Ward’s social media accounts.

The winners are listed below:
1 – Aaron Chen - check out the link to see his video!
3 – Elsie Krotosky
4 – Lili Flores
5 – Amanda O’Barski

If you ordered during the MEA Spirit Wear drive, your MEA Apparel is ready for pick up in the office. Please stop by and show your spirit for MEA!

The second semester has begun! Do you have new fitness goals for 2025? If you don't already participate in one of our PE classes, take the time and sign up now! We will begin our first unit with Pickleball.
NO NEED TO SIGN UP IF YOU ARE ALREADY ENROLLED
Elementary: Wednesdays from 12:30-1:15 https://forms.gle/BCAP3hhz92WtBfxW8
Secondary: Wednesdays from 1:50-2:40 https://forms.gle/yyxuUbXgJgiftAoA8
(No classes during turn-in week)

Come join the MEA community on the San Diego Bay aboard the Legacy Whale Watching Boat! The Legacy crew and NAT Whaler volunteers will provide detailed information about whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more. During the winter, we will see migrating gray whales.

"Legacy’s 80-foot vessel offers two decks with indoor and outdoor seating, snacks and beverages for purchase, and three full-sized restrooms. The boat can host 115 passengers, providing an intimate experience and up-close views of ocean wildlife. Legacy is docked at Seaforth Landing in Mission Bay, which has ample free parking for passengers."

Friday, February 28 at 10:00 AM
Cost is $32 per person (this is half off the regular price) Use the link to reserve your spot!

https://seaforth.fishingreservations.net/sdwvouchers/user.php?trip_id=952345

Students in Grades 6-12 are invited to enter their art in our yearbook cover contest. The winner will receive a free yearbook and their artwork will be displayed on the front cover! Even if your entry is not used on the cover, it may still be used in other places throughout the book.

You may submit a design that is for the front cover only or a wrap-around spread for both the front and back. Keep in mind that there is a spine roughly half an inch wide that will cut through the middle of a wrap-around design. All entries must be in digital format.

Yearbook Theme:

• This year’s book doesn’t have a specific “tag line,” but the cover art should reflect the uniqueness of this school, which is unlike any other.

Tips for a Good Entry:

• All entries must include Mt. Everest Academy and the school year 2024-25.

• Use lots of color, including the background. Don’t leave much white space.

• Do not add text too close to the edges of the page. Leave 1 inch of space around the outside edges with no text, just color/design. This will avoid print issues when the art is applied to the cover.

Submit Your Digital Art:

• See this link for the specific dimensions for creating your artwork in programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator or others: size, dimensions and resolutions

• Use the specs and templates for an 8 ½ x 11 Hardcover book with 92 pages (Photoshop and inDesign templates available)

• Email your file to rfinney@sandi.net

All Entries Due By: January 31, 2025 (end of Month 6)

Habit 5 focuses on acting within your Circle of Influence — understanding the other person and expressing yourself. Those actions, in turn, can help you effectively influence other people, which can influence situations that impact you, which expands your Circle of Influence.

Communication is a critical aspect of productive interpersonal relationships. When truly effective interdependent people communicate, they first try to understand the other person’s perspective before expressing their own. On a larger scale, this principle holds true in many professions.

We discussed in Habit 4 that an essential step in reaching a Win/Win solution is to try to understand the other person’s perspective and concerns. The key to truly understanding people is empathic listening, which is listening with the intent to see their perspective. Empathetic listening is necessary to work on habit 5: seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Click here for some Family Activities for the 7 Habits.

It is time for students in grades 5-11 to plan their classes for the next school year!

Current 8th-11th Graders (Class of 2026-2029)

• All current 8th -11th graders must either make an appointment (in person or online) to meet with Mr. Rubin or email course requests (arubin@sandi.net). Please reserve a conference time at this link to discuss courses for next year, graduation and college entrance requirements, and community college courses.

• During their articulation meeting, incoming 9th graders and their parents can meet with Mr. Rubin to discuss a four-year plan.

• Parents are encouraged to attend along with their student(s). Parents who cannot attend should review the course options with their student at home.

• Students do not need to return an articulation sheet but should be prepared to share their course requests with Mr. Rubin during their appointment or by email.

• If you would prefer to work with Mr. Rubin over email to select classes, please email him your requests.

Articulation Sheets:

Incoming 9th graders, Class of 2029

Incoming 10th graders, Class of 2028

Incoming 11th graders, Class of 2027

Incoming 12th graders, Class of 2026

Find all courses being offered next year and a tentative class schedule at the links below:

Class Schedule 2025-2026

Sign up for an articulation meeting with Mr. Rubin (for next year's 9th-12th only).

Current 5th-7th Graders (Class of 2030-2032)

You will select your classes for the following school year through a Google Form. Mr. Rubin presented the form in Ms. Patterson's and Mr. Cate’s class. The form will be available to complete in Ms. Patterson's or Mr. Cate’s Google Classrooms and linked here.

To review the course options available to middle school students, please see the following articulation sheets:

Incoming 6th graders, Class of 2032

Incoming 7th graders, Class of 2031

Incoming 8th graders, Class of 2030

Please email Mr. Rubin if you have questions regarding scheduling.

Calling all Elementary Families! We now have our own digital bulletin board for sharing our Meet-Ups each month! Click on the link to see the places we plan to visit! You are welcome to plan your own meet-up, large or small, or join one that has already been organized. Be sure to give your contact information in the comment section so the organizers can reach those families who are interested in attending.
https://padlet.com/bkielty/mea-elementary-meet-ups-bm0xc8x7lp3pdjn

Community Events are not sponsored by Mt. Everest Academy

We’re excited to announce an upcoming meet-up to WonderCon 2025—a celebration of creativity, fandoms, and popular arts! This is a unique opportunity for students to explore their interests, learn from industry professionals, and immerse themselves in the vibrant world of comics, film, television, and more. WonderCon is very similar in flavor to ComicCon San Diego, but tends to be less crowded and more accessible. To learn more about WonderCon, please visit their website at: https://www.comic-con.org/wc/

Date: Saturday, March 29th, 2025

Location: 800 West Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802

Time: Doors open at 10:00

Costs:

• 12 and under Free
• 12-17: $30
• Adults: $59.00 (for every 10 students, we will receive 1 free adult badge)
• PARKING: $20

If you are interested in attending please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/herhkwjU9vKG1WvY7

NOTE: This event is not sponsored by San Diego Unified nor Mt. Everest Academy. Parents/Guardians are solely responsible for their students during the WonderCon Meet-up, including transportation.

If you are seeking opportunities to connect, engage, and with other families in the MEA Community, we invite you to explore the private electronic bulletin board. We encourage you to share any local activities or events that you and fellow MEA students and families may enjoy together. Please note that these activities are not sponsored by Mt. Everest Academy.

Please send any information for the Monday Message using the Google form by end of day Thursday for upcoming message. If you have any question please contact Mrs. Keck at mkeck@sandi.net.