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Week 6 Newsletter

Posted Date: 9/08/24 (7:05 PM)

Weekly Newsletter
September 9-13, 2024
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Dear Mountain Families,

This Friday, September 13, we have our 1st community event sponsored by the Mountain Parent Club. Please join us from 5-9 p.m. for dinner and entertainment for the whole family at Taco Movie Night! The movie will be shown on the field outside so bring chairs and blankets and a lot of warm layers.

It looks like the weather is going to cool down for a day or two and then head back up on Wednesday. Please encourage your student to drink plenty of water throughout the day and to take breaks if they get to hot. Our staff will continue with the same reminders as well.

Warm regards,

Megan Tresham
Reina Honig
Staff Spotlight: Reina Honig, Intervention Teacher
I have been lucky enough to spend most of my life on the California coast. I received my BA from UCSB in History. After college, my husband and I traveled around the world on a surf trip. Upon our return to Santa Cruz County, I earned my teaching credential from CSUMB and began teaching 4th grade. I quickly found my home at Mountain Elementary, where I taught the 4th and 5th grade combo for many years. Once I had my children, I have found my passion as an intervention teacher. Being able to work with children one-on-one and help them grow academically and socially, has truly been a gift. A subject that I love teaching is Math, and sharing that excitement with my students fuels my instruction. My passion for learning drives my daily practice and I hope to instill that joy in my students by encouraging them to be critical thinkers and believe in themselves.
MESD Board of Trustees Candidates Needed
This year, we have two vacant positions on the School Board and we are looking for candidates to serve as a trustee. Trustees provide a vital component to the management of a school district, helping provide public input and transparency in our community.

Serving as a School Board Trustee means attending our regular board meetings once a month, reviewing information about the meeting, and attending regular meetings with the Superintendent to keep informed on the district between meetings.

If you are interested in serving, applications are available in the office or by emailing Superintendent Tresham directly. To be eligible, applicants must live in the Mountain Elementary School District, must be a registered voter, must be a citizen of the state, and not otherwise disqualified from holding a civil office.

Applications are due in the office by 4 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2024. Interviews will be held at the October 10, 2024 Board Meeting. After conducting the interviews in open session, the Board will finalize their selection and make the provisional appointment. 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions about the positions or nature of the role.
Student Absences/Independent Studies
If your student is absent for as little as one day completing Independent Study helps Mountain Elementary recoup state funding that would otherwise be lost. Please check-in with the office if you know your student will be absent to complete the paperwork. Students may also do Independent Study retroactively if they've been ill. Every little bit helps! Please check in with Rachel (rloveless@mountainesd.org) to start the process. Thanks!
IMPORTANT DATES
September 9: Mountain Parent Club, 6:30 p.m. in the library

September 12: Meeting of the MESD Board of Trustees, 6 p.m.

September 13: Taco Movie Night 5-9 p.m,
After School Enrichment Dates & Times
Art 4th-6th Grade: Wednesdays, 9/4-10/16  12:45pm -2:00pm
Advanced Band: Wednesdays 9/4-12/11 2:15pm -3:30pm
Beginning Band: Wednesdays 9/4-12/11 12:45pm -2:00pm
Lego STEM: Mondays, 9/9-12/16  2:45pm -4:00pm

Art 1st-3rd Grade Wednesdays (begins 10/23-12/11) 12:45pm -2:00pm

Karate has been cancelled due to low sign-ups.
Recyclables Needed for Art
Our Art Teacher, Susan Haight, needs help collecting small recyclable containers like water bottles, yogurt containers, etc. (liter size and smaller), cardboard tubes, and boxes smaller than a shoe box. Anything that kids could use to create the base for an animal sculpture. Please drop anything by the front office!
Parent Representatives Needed
Mountain Elementary School District offers many opportunities for parents/guardians to provide insights and supports on the governance and operations of the school. We are looking for representatives to serve on these three committees. Each Committee meets approximately 4 times a year. Please let me know if you are interested in serving for the 2024-25 school year.

School Site Council/Parent Advisory Committee
The School Site Council/Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is composed of teachers, parents, staff, and community members. The purpose of this group is to provide input on our Local Control Accountability Plan and other important plans, actions and decisions relevant to the running of the school district. The PAC also focused on the importance of Diversity and Inclusion as well as ensuring our Visual and Performing Arts and other programs are thriving.
First Meeting is October 9, 6-7:30 p.m.

Board Committees
Mountain Elementary School has Board-sanctioned committees, Budget and Safety & Facilities. Parents play an important role in these committees along with members of the board,and certificated and classified staff. 

Budget: This committee meets four times a year to review the district budget and to discuss impending legislation and other potential issues related to school funding. Members learn the ins and outs of school finance to learn how and why decisions are made.
First meeting is September 23, 3:30-4:30 via zoom.

Safety & Facilities: This committee meets four times a year to discuss facilities projects and repairs and to review and give feedback on our Comprehensive School Safety Plan. 
First meeting is September 24, 3:30-4:30 via zoom.

Amazon Wishlist
Volunteers
Volunteers are an important part of our school community and there are so many things that would not happen without their help.

If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom or on field trips and have gone through the fingerprinting/live scan process for Mluntain Elementary in a previous school year, please complete the RETURNING VOLUNTEER FORM.

If you are new to Mountain or have never completed fingerprints/live scan for our school, please fill out the NEW VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.

No volunteer may participate in any class activity or field trip without first completing this appication and all required steps listed therein. This includes parents who only plan to drive their students. Thanks for your support.