We are pleased to be able to provide our students, parents, staff and community with the latest information about our Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District community through this newsletter. Please join us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to connect with us daily!
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Dear Mt. Pleasant Community,
We are so excited to welcome all of you back to our classrooms! We expect a full return to in-person instruction and have implemented important safety protocols to protect the health of our students, staff and families. We will continue to follow guidelines from our health authorities and monitor any changes in local conditions.
Our priority is to have a safe and successful school year, and we will achieve this goal by working together. In this newsletter, you will find important information for students, parents and guardians that will lead us to the best possible learning experience in a safe environment. These actions include the use of masks and being aware of any symptoms of Covid-19.
At the same time, the call to get vaccinated for those who are eligible (individuals 12 years old and older) remains a crucial part of the strategy to overcome the pandemic and stay healthy. We encourage our families to take advantage of available opportunities for immunization.
We look forward to having a wonderful school year. Thank you for your support!
In community spirit,
Dr. Elida MacArthur
Superintendent
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Please click below for a special message from our Superintendent: |
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Update on District-wide Safety Practices |
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Our district has established safety protocols to protect the health of students, staff and families. We are following the guidelines set by federal, state and local health authorities. We will keep you updated on any changes.
These are some of the basic components of our safety protocols:
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All adults and students will be required to use masks indoors and outdoors regardless of vaccination status. Exemptions have been established by the California Department of Public Health.
- Adults in school settings K-12 should wear a mask when sharing indoor spaces with students.
- Individuals that are exempt from wearing masks due to a medical condition must use a non-restrictive alternative, such as a facial covering, if their condition allows for it.
- MPESD will provide masks to students and adults that have forgotten or lost their mask.
- The district will try to maintain a 3-foot physical distance whenever possible.
- MPESD will utilize indoors and outdoors spaces to maximize physical distance during lunch.
- We are following the state guidelines on proper ventilation and air filters.
- Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces is part of our safety strategy.
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The presence of visitors will be limited. At the beginning of the school year, visitors will not be allowed on school grounds; the district will revisit in November.
- COVID testing for district staff is a priority and we will be facilitating opportunities for staff to test on a regular basis.
- Isolation rooms will be in place for students and staff who may be feeling sick, while they are being assessed or getting ready to go home.
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We expect parents to conduct daily health screenings at home every morning; reminders will be sent daily. Anyone feeling sick especially with COVID 19 symptoms (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, and diarrhea) is asked to stay home and notify your school site.
Please visit our website for more information about safety measures, by clicking here. It is important to stay alert to district communications for any updates and changes on protocols.
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We are happy to share with you a book reading by Ms. Julie Howard, Robert Sanders Principal. The book is titled “The Giving Tree.” Enjoy!
You can see the video by clicking below:
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Registering for the Mt. Pleasant
After School Program (MPAS)
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Once again, our district is providing after school activities in-person! Please note that open registration for all schools (Mt. Pleasant, Robert Sanders, Valle Vista, Ida Jew Academy and August Boeger) will take place on August 16th, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at August Boeger Middle School.
The Parent Orientation will be held as a virtual event, on August 17th, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and the link will be sent out on the 16th.
MPAS is free to all participating students, and it operates Monday through Friday from the time school is out until 6:00pm, explained Daniel Patton, MPESD District Manager. Did you know that MPAS is built around three central components? They are the Homework Center, enrichments classes, and physical activity and sports programs.
At the Homework Center, every student is required to participate in one hour of academic programming at least four days a week. During the homework period, students receive assistance from MPAS staff. Instructional supplies are provided to assist with homework completion. Additionally, MPAS staff have access to the school district’s learning portal – allowing them to monitor homework assignments and completion rates as recorded by each student’s teacher.
Enrichment classes are offered in six-to-eight-week sessions and are similar to electives. At our elementary sites, students rotate through all the classes offered by the staff. At the middle school site, “showcasing” happens the week prior to the new session where staff members present their classes to groups of students and students sign up for the classes that most interest them. The Site Supervisor ultimately places students based on their attendance and behavior. At the end of each session there is a culminating event, a gathering where school faculty, family, and friends can see what students learned throughout the session, usually in the form of performances and/or a recognition ceremony.
In the case of physical activity & sports programs, in addition to all students completing the Healthy Life curriculum, which teaches healthy eating and living habits, each student also participates in regular, structured physical activity throughout the week. Outside of this program, we take part in beginner sports leagues for elementary students and competitive sports leagues for middle school students. Participation in the sports programs is voluntary. We see these activities as vital to our program model, providing participants with the recommended amount of exercise they need each day while reinforcing their listening skills, sportsmanship, teamwork, and self-confidence.
To learn more about MPAS and the registration process, click here.
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Preschool Program Enrolling Now |
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We are pleased to share this opportunity to nurture early learners in our community. Our preschool prepares children for entry into transitional kindergarten and kindergarten through a fun, play-based and developmentally appropriate program. We believe in promoting purposeful social interactions, communication, directed activities and pre-kindergarten readiness activities.
We use the California State adopted Preschool Learning Foundations and kindergarten California State Standards to design our lessons and set goals. Our preschool teachers are qualified, experienced, and engage in ongoing professional development. At the same time, we have experienced bilingual support staff. Our educators work with parents to assess student needs and communicate individual progress throughout the school year.
Our program is culturally responsive and inclusive for all ability levels. It is open to all preschool age children meeting requirements, regardless of home address.
This year, the preschool program will be located at Valle Vista Elementary in our new “Early Learners at Valle Vista” classroom. We will have two programs: a morning program for children turning four years old on or before August 1, and an afternoon program for three and four-year old's (must turn 3 by September 1, 2021; birthdate is on or before September 1, 2018).
The first day of preschool will be August 25, 2021. Parents must complete the online registration and preschool packet and return it to Linda Marqueda at lmarqueda@mpesd.org, (408) 223-3785 or visit our district office at 3434 Marten Avenue.
To learn more, please visit our website.
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A key strategy for keeping germs away is washing your hands. This is also an important Covid-19 safety strategy at our schools.
Here are some of the things we are doing to keep our hands clean and our community safe:
- Teachers will reinforce washing hands, avoiding contact with one's eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes among students and staff.
- We will be promoting handwashing throughout the day, especially before and after eating, after using the toilet, and after handling garbage, or removing gloves.
- Our schools will ensure adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including soap, tissues, no-touch trash cans, face coverings, and hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol for staff and children who can safely use hand sanitizer.
So, remember, wash your hands for 20 seconds whereever you are! Sing the A-B-C song or count, but most importantly keep your hands clean to guard against Covid-19!
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The fight against Covid-19 is far from over. You can do your part by encouraging eligible family and friends to get vaccinated today!
Let’s save lives! See video below:
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