MEA Monday Message

Tuesday, Apr. 18

• 9:30-10:15 Coop Group
• 12:00-12:30 Clothing Swap
• Academic League Playoffs - Francis Parker
  

Wednesday, Apr. 19

• 9:30-11:30 PALS Tutoring - Maker Space
• 12:00-12:30 Clothing Swap
• 11:30-12:30 Open Coop Hour
• 1:00-2:30 Garden Cleanup

Thursday, Apr. 20

• 9:30-11:30 PALS Tutoring - Maker Space
• 12:00-12:30 Clothing Swap
• 1:00-2:30 Garden Cleanup

Friday, Apr. 21

• End Month 8

Upcoming Events:

April 25: Pactful Presentations

April 25-27: Fitnessgram

April 27: 12 grade Student Panel: The college application process

April 27: Q and A with Oscar winning filmmaker, Aaron Matthews (all welcome)

April 27: Elementary Dance

April 27: Middle School Dance

May 4: Spring Art Show

Pactful teaches teenagers how to become social-minded, doing good-focused innovators in order to help build a better world. Starting at the Innovator’s Guide, students are introduced to the innovator’s mindset, the 17 UN Global Goals (or SDGs), and design thinking.

Students then form teams and identify a local or global problem that feels relevant to them. Teams work through a three-phase design thinking curriculum—Understand, Ideate, and Prototype—to create a solution to their identified problem. During each phase, teams:

• Explore – learn about the phase and how it relates to their project
• Do – complete activities
• Document – submit their activities to their teacher for review and feedback

Once completed, teams will develop a Pitch to share their solution with a larger audience. Using the Showcase feature, teams can see other projects from other classes and how they are aligned to the Global Goal.

MEA students have won this international competition two out of the last three years!

Next week, family and friends are invited to see the MEA 9th grade students as they present their Pactful projects next Tuesday, April 25th at 8:00 am, in the Auditorium. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

MEA Online Auction

Teacher Features are available until Saturday, April 22nd. Tacos with Mr. Cate; Movie & Snacks with Ms. Battin; Dance & Karaoke Party with Staff; and SeaWorld with Mr. Spiegelberg & Ms. Mullen. Plus we have a few auction items without any bids. Take a look and get a great deal!! Thank you to all auction participants!

Applications for 2023-24 ASB President are now open (other officer positions will be filled next fall). If you will be a senior next year and you have at least one semester of ASB experience under your belt, then you are invited to apply. Completed applications are due May 5.

Ally Action is putting on the 2nd year of MEA's annual clothing swap! Leading up to the clothing swap we will be collecting clothing in the front office. Starting April 18th and going through April 20th Ally Action will be hosting a clothing swap in the auditorium during lunchtime. Even people who do not donate any clothing are welcome to "shop" through the clothing and take however much they want. Any leftover clothing that is not taken home by MEA students will be donated to a shelter or non-profit in need of clothing. Please make sure all donated clothing is free of tears, holes, and stains.

In collaboration with Ally Action, Ms. Shannon is launching the first ever MEA Zero Waste Challenge, to coincide with the clothing swap and other Earth Month activities during the last two weeks of April.
Starting Tuesday, April 18 (and concluding Thursday April 27), each student may pick up and complete the challenge sheet, colored according to grade cohort:

• Yellow for K-5
• Orange for 6-8
• Green for 9-12

Forms will be in the front office or available at the K-5 drop off/pickup gate (yellow only).
Do your best to complete the challenges on the sheet, have a parent or guardian sign off that you did indeed complete the challenges, and return the form to Ms. Shannon. If you’d prefer to take a picture of the form (be sure to include your name!) and email to Ms. Shannon (sstewart@sandi.net) that will work as well.
Once you’ve submitted the completed challenge sheet, you will be entered into a drawing for prize awards! There will be 3 awards for each grade cohort, so let’s see some Zero Waste impacts in our community!

We are looking for student/parent volunteers to come and help us help weed and mulch the MEA garden in preparation for the Spring Art Show! We will be working in the gardens by the chicken coop Wednesday 19, 1-2:30 and Thursday April 20, 1-2:30.

Please check out these new wellness videos, made by MEA Student Wellness Ambassador Emma Baxter.
Elementary Wellness
Secondary Wellness

It's the last week of Spirit Month! Come show your support and wear your PJs all week!

Come to the Serenity Garden during lunch, to get your photo taken for the yearbook.

The MEA Varsity Academic League team qualified for the city wide playoffs! The first round match will be against Francis Parker, Tuesday. Come cheer on our amazing team!

MEA vs. Francis Parker

April 18th @ 7PM

Francis Parker (Linda Vista Campus)

Please join us for a student panel during lunch on April 27 in the Auditorium. Current 12th graders will share advice and “what they wish they’d known” about the college application process. With the Class of 2023 being accepted into many top tier schools, this is something you do not want to miss! Open to all MEA students and parents.

Save the date! The Spring Dances for Elementary and Middle School students will be held on April 27th. The elementary dance for grades K-5 will be from 2:00-3:00pm and is free. We'll have light snacks and games. A parent must attend this event with their student.

The middle school dance for grades 6-8 will run from 3:15 to 4:30pm. Tickets are available for purchase through your School Cash account. $3.00 each, which includes a slice of pizza and a lot of fun. We must sell 20 tickets by April 24 or the middle school dance will be cancelled, so spread the word and get your tickets early.

Mission Bay Yacht Club
May 12th, 6:30 - 10:00

All High Schoolers are invited to attend MEA's 2023 Prom Night in Old Hollywood! Mark your calendars for May 12th, and purchase your tickets now!

Each MEA student may invite ONE non-MEA guest and purchase a ticket for the guest online with your ticket's purchase. The guest needs to complete his/her own permission. The permission slip for your guest is available at the office.

How to purchase tickets?

• Tickets are sold only online. No cash sale.

• Please sign in to your account or use QR code to purchase the tickets for students and guests.

• All tickets are non-refundable.

• Please keep your receipt to show at the door. A screenshot of the ticket is acceptable.

• No ticket will be sold after midnight on May 11th.
  

Fitnessgram testing is scheduled for the following days and times:

• Tuesday, April 25 / 1:50-2:50 / Auditorium (Grades 7, 9)

• Wednesday, April 26 / 9:20-10:20 / Auditorium (Grades 5, 9)

• Thursday, April 27 / 9:30-10:30 / Auditorium (makeups)

The Fitnessgram is a state mandated exam, which public school students in grades 5, 7, and 9 are required to take. If you are in grades 10-12 and have not taken the Fitnessgram while in high school, you are also mandated to complete the exam this year. There are five parts to the exam, and students are encouraged to practice these exercises ahead of time.

Please remember to wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes!

Coop Group is calling volunteers to help care for the chickens during the summer! Signing up consists of coming to school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of a chosen week during the summer to clean the coop, feed and water the chickens, and give them some love and attention. The chickens still need care during the summer! All students must be accompanied by an adult. Please fill out the form below if you are interested!

Complimentary mulch along Mt. Everest Blvd, near the fruit trees at the front of school! Please come take as much as you would like from the two mulch piles, leaving the smaller pile near the front garden gate untouched. This is clean mulch from a tree company and was delivered a few weeks ago. This mulch is great in your yard or surrounding your gardens, and helps with weed suppression, moisture retention, and quality soil building.

We need and would greatly appreciate your unused mason jars—both small and large! We have several events in the next few months that will require flower adornments, and the mason jar donations will go a long way. Stay tuned for frogs to be offered with the jars and MEA garden flowers at the May spring art show, and the mason jars to be used as centerpieces at the 5th and 8th grade promotion luncheon! Please deliver them to the front office (stored on the floor to the right of the admissions desk) and Ms. Shannon will redistribute them.

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

Students currently in Grades 5, 6, 7

• Students will review articulation sheets/course options with Ms. Patterson during English class this month and parents should go over course options with their student(s) at home.

• Students will receive and submit their articulation sheet, with parent approval, to Ms. Patterson, through Google Classroom.

• Please contact your child’s supervising teacher or Mr. Rubin with questions.

Students currently in Grades 8, 9, 10, 11

• All current 8th -11th graders must make an appointment to meet with Mr. Rubin. Please reserve a conference time at this link to discuss courses for next year, graduation and college entrance requirements, and community college courses.

• Incoming 9th graders and their parents can meet with Mr. Rubin for a 4-year planning conference during the time of their articulation meeting.

• Parents are encouraged to attend along with their student. If parents cannot attend, they 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 with him.

• For questions, please contact Mr. Rubin.

Articulation Sheets:

Incoming 9th graders

Incoming 10th graders

Incoming 11th graders

Incoming 12th graders

Find all courses being offered next year here: Classes 2023-2024

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

If you would prefer to select courses over email, please download and complete the appropriate pdf above and email it to arubin@sandi.net.

Please note that PALS will be in the Maker Space this week.

There are many ways for students to get extra academic support at MEA, on either on campus or via Zoom. Students can receive the support they need by attending PALS Tutoring, meeting with our UCSD Tutors, and/or attending their teacher's office hours. Please refer to the link below for further information.

Attention Seniors: As college acceptances are coming in, please follow the directions on the linked Google Doc to request your final transcript through Xello for the college you will be attending. Some schools may want a mid-year transcript now and a final transcript after semester 2 grades are in. After requesting through Xello, please send me a follow-up email at arubin@sandi.net.

Need to meet with Mr. Rubin?

His door is always open, but to ensure he is available when you can meet, make an appointment at the link https://calendly.com/mt_everest_counseling/meeting

College/Career Opportunities

The link below has some great opportunities for students in grades 9-12.

https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/ccte/student-opportunities

SWAG: Students With Academic Goals
Weekdays June 21-30 at SD City College daily 9am-12pm
Covers college admissions, types of colleges, financial aid, test-taking skills, UC PIQ and Essay Writing and more.
Includes field trips to UCSD and SDSU
Priority Deadline to Apply: 4/25/23

Click the link below to apply.

For questions, contact Karla Whitaker at kkwhitaker@ucsd.edu

The best way to make sure you’re in the yearbook is to send us your pictures. Email pictures to Ms. Rice at lrice@sandi.net or upload your photos directly to the folders in TreeRing.

How to Upload Photos for the Yearbook

Show us your spirit! We’re looking for all things spirit: team spirit (world cup, world series, Superbowl) and school spirit (spirit days, MEA gear).

MEA is all about pursuing your passion and we want to feature that in the yearbook. So send us pictures of you and your classmates Pursuing Your Passions. Whether it's music, art, dance, athletics, philanthropy, advocacy, debate, and so on, we want to see it.

Please return any first semester materials which you are finished using and remember your turn-in date for all materials/Chromebooks/calculators, (and work) is June 1.

Reminder: if you have a Chromebook which is a type N22, N23, 11e, or 14e (listed on the backside of your laptop), please bring it to the library to exchange for a newer model as soon as possible. We are collecting the chargers for those models also.

Last weeks book recommendation was a bit of a success, and many students told me what series they would recommend for my TBR (To Be Read) pile. I'd like to see if we can get those recs out to more students. If you can find a book in the library that you love, help get the word out by filling out an index card telling everyone why your book should be on the top of everyone's TBR pile. You'll get a jolly rancher for filling out an index card and another one if you barrow a book someone else has recommended.

• Please enter your student's name on the form linked below if he/she would like to attend Elementary Art for month 8 on 4/25, 5/2 and 5/9, from 12:30-1:30.
• PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP IF YOUR CHILD CANNOT COMMIT TO ALL CLASSES. In order to attend, you MUST sign up.
• For more information, please see the art website here: https://mrssinkmea.weebly.com/elementary-art.html

Help us get the an eSports team up and running!

An eSports Team at MEA is in its fledgling stages, we are still working on acquiring the necessary equipment. We had a family generously donate 2 Nintendo OLED Switches to the school, but we still need additional items, such as TVs, Games, and extra controllers. We have set up a DonorsChoose in order to garner the necessary funds to get this program up and running.

Please consider donating and sharing the link below, we need your help to get this program off the ground.

Hello, young artists at MEA. If you are looking to publish your work in a magazine, this is the place for you. Heights is MEA's literary magazine that offers a platform for young artists to amplify their voices and share their work. We are accepting submissions of original work for our winter issue now. We accept art, poetry, short stories, essays, short films, excerpts from novels, and more. For this issue, there is an Open Book section which has no theme, and a themed section called New Beginnings. Works in this category could be about new changes, starting over, new ideas and discoveries, and/or new chapters in one's life. Your work will featured in our issues on the Heights website.

Friday was an amazing night to see all of the incredibly talented MEA students showcase how they "Pursue their Passions." Thank you to all of the student performers, stage crew, staff, and families that made this year's Talent Show a success!

All items are discounted from the last school year with limited inventory.

Order Now to take advantage of a good deal!

Please use the following QR code for the list of available items.

Please be advised:

• In the process of purchasing an item online, you will need to create a SchoolCash account if you do not already have an one.

• All items are available to pick up in the front office as soon as the order is placed. Please keep your receipt for the pick-up.

• Anyone can order, such as your relative and friends.

• Final sale: no refund and exchange. You are welcome to come to the office to check the sizes before purchasing.

• Please click Limited Inventory as of 2/10/23

I am Luke Steele, a 9th grader at MEA. I, along with Project 25, am raising awareness of Lyme disease which I have personally battled with. Lyme disease affects about 500,000 annually in the United States and is often misdiagnosed especially on the West Coast. I have created a website with information, as well as personal accounts, of Lyme disease. My website is still growing and in the future I will be adding interviews with several specialists and doctors that are experienced in the field.

What is Lyme Disease

Two MEA students (Adam Shaheen and Talia Shaheen) along with a couple of past MEA students will be taking part in a theatrical production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Please come to see them and give them your support.

As a reminder, this is a community run event, and not sponsored by MEA.

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.