SD Met Family Updates
One student at a time
July 24, 2023
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
The San Diego Met is excited to welcome back all of our returning families, and to welcome in all of our brand new 9th grade and transfer students! We hope everyone in our community had a wonderful summer. The first day of school is Wednesday, August 2!
This newsletter contains important information about schedules, expectations, and opportunities. Please read through this information carefully so that you and your student are well-prepared to start the school year. We look forward to creating a safe, fun, and engaging learning experience for every student this year at the Met!
First Day of School - Wed, August 2
On Wednesday, August 2, all 9th graders and other new transfer students must arrive at school at 8:30am for our New Family Mixer (more details below).
All RETURNING students may arrive at 9:15am for Advisory, although all students and families are welcome to attend the Mixer.
New Family Mixer - Wed, August 2, 8:30am
We are hosting our New Family Mixer on Wednesday, August 2, from 8:30am to 9:15 am for our incoming 9th graders and new transfer students. Meet our staff and other families, and enjoy light refreshments (coffee, bagels, donuts). All NEW 9th grade and transfer students are required to arrive at school at 8:30am on this day, though all students and families are invited to join us. Parents and guardians are invited to stay for the entire time, or just drop in as you are available. The event will be held on the grassy lawn in front of the Met building, with mini-presentations for new families held in K204. During the mixer, we will inform new students of the schedule for the day and where to go.
Week of Welcome (WOW)!
Our school year begins with our annual Week of Welcome, which takes place during the first three days of school, starting on Wednesday, August 2. WOW is the San Diego Met’s tradition of starting the school year with community-building among students and staff, developing relationships both in the advisory and across grade levels, and introducing students to the programs, supports, and learning opportunities that they can expect in the year ahead.
The schedule for August 2, 3, and 4 will be 8:30am to 1:30pm. Please plan to pick up your students at 1:30 on those days.
Daily Schedule
The daily schedule for the school year, starting Monday, August 7, will be 8:30am to 3:15pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to internships, and all students must attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 11:30am to work with their advisor on finding an internship placement. As soon as a student has secured an internship, including a signed contract with the mentor, the student may start attending internship on Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of coming to campus. Please refer to the Daily Schedule here.
Met Gateway Program
All 9th graders and new transfer students must attend our Met Gateway Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 11:30am for the first six weeks of school (starting Tuesday, August 8, and ending Thursday, September 14). LTI Gateway teaches our new students how to search for an internship that aligns to their interests and goals, and how to interview for and be successful in an internship. In addition, students will experience the Met 101 course, which teaches the skills that students need to become successful Met students. During the Gateway program, students will be supported in scheduling interviews for internships, and the goal is for students to be able to transition directly into an internship by the end of the six weeks.
Year at a Glance
Food on Campus
Food options on campus will be limited prior to Mesa’s fall semester start date of August 21. To help you prepare your student, please note the following scheduled food service options:
Terrace Cafe (Starbucks in I-400) is open 8:00am-4:30pm from Monday-Thursday. Options include snacks and light meals (cold sandwiches and salads).
Mesa Commons Grill is open Monday-Thursday for breakfast from 7:30am-10am, and for lunch from 11:00am to 1:30pm.
All food services are currently CLOSED on Fridays.
On Friday of WOW, August 4, we will be having a school-sponsored pizza lunch as a community-building event, which all students will be able to participate in. This will be our main food offering on Friday, 8/4, as all Mesa food service will be closed.
SDUSD sack lunches are available to any student who requests them. Please email shoffman1@sandi.net if you would like to have your student added to the list to receive school lunch.
Students are always welcome to bring lunch from home.
Students are NOT allowed to have food delivered from online delivery services (such as DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, and similar apps). Though we are located on an atypical campus, we are technically considered a CLOSED campus, and students are not allowed on and off campus during school hours without permission, nor are food deliveries or other unauthorized visitors allowed. Please ensure that your students bring food or lunch money so that they can eat well, stay healthy, and stay focused on their studies!
Attendance and Absences
Regular and timely attendance at school and internships is one of the most important factors for your student’s success! Students who are regularly tardy or absent from one or more classes are missing valuable learning time, and as such, we will be contacting parents/guardians for your support if your student is struggling with attendance.
If you need to excuse your student from any part of their classes or internships, please contact Ms. Suzana Valis at svalis@sandi.net or 619-388-2529.
If your student needs to miss any part of their internship for any reason, including illness, it is the student’s responsibility to reach out to their mentor as early as possible to inform them of the absence or lateness. The parents/guardians must additionally contact the school to inform us that the student is missing internship.
Our attendance protocols exist to keep students safe, both on and off campus, and to ensure that students are here to get the support they need to succeed in their learning. Your support for your student’s attendance ensures that they are getting the learning experience they deserve.
SD Met Website
Parking and Drop-Off/Pick-Up Information
Students who drive and wish to park regularly on campus will be required to purchase a parking permit from the Mesa College Police Office. Visitors may park in visitor spots or use pay stations to get hourly parking permits. Student drop-off and pick-up is allowed in Lot 1, as well as other areas along Mesa College Circle where there are curb cuts to allow cars to pull off the road.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CORNER
Mesa College Classes for Fall
All students who are enrolled in Mesa College classes for Fall 2023 should check the Met/Mesa Google Classroom for updates, deadlines, and instructions. If you have any difficulties with your enrollment process, please contact Mr. Moravec at jmoravec@sandi.net.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL!
Join our Foundation!
This is a great time for interested parents to join our SD Met Foundation board! We are recruiting for parents and family members who would like to participate in activities related to fundraising for our school, developing our parent community, and supporting various ways to improve the learning environment for every student. If you are interested in learning more about our Foundation or would like details about joining the board for the 2023-2024 school year, please reach out to our Foundation President, Justin Schiffer (jschiffer@sandi.net) or Principal Robert Fung (rfung@sandi.net). Even if you are not able to join our board, you can always support our school by making a donation to the Foundation at this link. Our Foundation raises money to support our students, with all proceeds going directly to supporting supplies and resources for teaching and learning. Please share this link with your friends and network! Thank you!
School Tours
REMINDERS
Performing Arts Partnership with Innovation Family Community Theatre
Innovation Family Community Theatre (IFCT), led by a San Diego Met parent, is happy to announce its partnership with the Met in developing its new performing arts program. We envision SD Met students being able to audition and perform in a theater production produced by IFCT during the 2023-2024 school year. All members of the Met community are invited to learn more about IFCT For more details, check out their website at www.theifct.info.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
All parents are highly encouraged to get access to the PowerSchool Parent Portal (sign in here), where you can look up your student’s grades, attendance, and other information. Please contact Ms. Suzana Valis at svalis@sandi.net if you need an Access ID and Password, or if you have any other questions.
Important Dates
The Academic Calendar for 2023-2024 is linked here. Please refer to this for holidays, grading periods, Exhibition dates, Student-Led Conference dates, and other important information. In addition, this Year at a Glance includes just the dates of notable events. Here are some important upcoming dates:
- August 2 - First day of school
- August 2-4 - Week of Welcome (WOW!) (8:30am - 1:30pm)
- August 21 - First day of Mesa College classes
- September 1 - Grading Period P1 ends - grades updated in PowerSchool
- September 4 - Labor Day HOLIDAY (No School)
- September 8 - Back to School Night
SD Met Support Staff
Attendance and Absences
To call in an excused absence, late arrival, or early departure
Suzana Valis - svalis@sandi.net
Records and Transcripts
To request student records or transcripts
Suzana Valis - svalis@sandi.net
Counselor
For questions about counseling services, college admissions, and Mesa College
Jason Moravec - jmoravec@sandi.net
Internship Coordinator
For questions about our internship program
Gini Mann-Deibert - gmann-deibert@sandi.net
PowerSchool Access
For questions about PowerSchool access for students and parents
Suzana Valis - svalis@sandi.net
Nursing and Wellness
For health concerns and reporting medications
Angela Sloskey, School Nurse - asloskey@sandi.net
Enrollment and General Information
For enrollment information
Sylvia Hoffman - shoffman1@sandi.net
Principal
Robert Fung - rfung@sandi.net
Contact Us
Email: rfung@sandi.net
Website: https://sdmet.sandiegounified.org/
Location: 7250 Mesa College Drive, Room K-203, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 619-388-2299
Twitter: @wearesdmet