Community Crew News #24

Greeting Conway Community,

With rain comes rainbows and our 6th graders reminded of this today. Thank you Mr. Williams for sharing this beautiful sight this morning as we started our day.

This week examples of compassion was demonstrated time and time again by our learners. I'd hear them reminding each other to stay out of puddles or telling each other to walk, but the most heartwarming images was seeing so many students sharing their umbrellas. It was an EPIC sight.

Next week rain remains in our forecast. Please remember to dress your students appropriately since temperatures have dropped. If any family is in need of jackets, please reach out to our Family Liaison, Xochitl Maldonado, xmaldonado@eusd.org. We've received a donation from a local church and happy to provide jackets especially now that the cold season has arrived.

It was a rainy Thursday, but that didn't stop Dr. Ibarra, our superintendent, from visiting our site. He was so impressed by our kindergarten students in art creating self portraits. He questioned, "these are kindergarten drawings? They look like them?" We stopped by Mr. Johnson leading a brass lesson, and we were both so impressed by our students perseverance and show of excellence. In fact, Mr. Johnson mentioned that this Conway beginner brass class is his best of all the schools he serves. Way to be EPIC cougars!

Our students can be seen learning and demonstrating their creative problem-solving skills at the earliest stages of their education, in all types of activities – whether it’s free-play time or math. During his visit, we visited Mrs. Sellier’s Transitional Kindergarten class, where learners were immersed in free play, choosing from a variety of activities around the room. Sharing is essential, and the children experience “not having their way right away,” Sellier said. For example, building with Magna-Tiles was an especially popular activity, and making sure that everyone who wants a turn gets one requires patience and creative problem-solving. Sellier provides direction, so that the students have the chance to solve the problem – a crowded Magna-Tiles group – on their own. “Is somebody ready to leave so Christopher can have a turn?” Sellier asks. And soon, a calm transition was underway!

This month, we will highlighting several examples of our Creative Problem Solvers, one of the six whole-learner outcomes in the EUSD Learner Profile, part of our Framework for the Future. A Creative Problem Solver is an individual who seeks opportunities to creatively design solutions, solve complex problems, and act on novel ideas. This TK is a strong example of how our youngest learners practice problem solving in social interactions.

Our learners are preparing for their student led conferences. Please click on the 2nd - 6th SLC parent letter , 1st grade SLC letter, kindergarten SLC parent letter. Families, please make sure to sign up for a time. If you can't make it, this is a perfect time to send an aunt, uncle, older sibling, valued family friend. Our goal is to have 100% participation and we can't do this without you.

We are so happy to announce our Teacher of the Year, Steve Palomino. Mr. Palomino is a 4th grade teacher that first came to Conway as a student teacher. He's an Escondido native and resident. This is his eighth year teaching and definitely has emerged as a teacher leader. We are all so happy for Mr. Palomino on this well deserved recognition.

Communication is extremely important to everyone at our EPIC school. Please make sure to scroll all the way through the weekly message. If you miss a message, you can view all communication on our website under "NEWS".

I am grateful for the opportunity to inspire students to discover their unlimited potential through Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Compassion. Together we are creating an EPIC school.

We are in this together and believe, We Are Crew, not passengers.

Tina Meglich

Principal

Are you struggling to support your child with Math? If so, we a special Parent Workshop for you. EUSD Math TOSA’s are coming to Conway to answer any questions you may have in regards to how to best support your child and to share a few resources available to families.

Join us Friday, February 9th at 8:30 am in the MPR.

Childcare will be provided.

TK & Kindergarten Registration for 2024-2025 school year

Conway is now enrolling TK & Kindergarten students for the 2024-2025 school year. It is very important that Conway is your school of residence. If not you will need to apply for a School of Choice Application and/or Interdistrict Application.

For more information please visit our

Registration and Enrollment web page

Dear 5th grade families,

In 2019 we embarked on a journey by expanding the Expeditionary Learning experience to 6th grade. The intention of this was to provide our students an additional year of personalized learning focused on empowering our students to become leaders of their own learning and better equipped and prepared for their future. As a former middle school educator, I spent fourteen years teaching at the middle school level and understand the middle school climate and see the benefits of offering options to our families. Our 6th grade model is similar to our middle school and structured as departments. Our students have a humanities teacher, a math/science teacher, exploratory, music, and P.E. Students will earn letter grades and learn how to calculate their G.P.A, and how to develop scholarly habits for monitoring their own progress. The biggest difference is that our classes are small, and our teachers can truly personalize their learning in all areas.

Our Expeditionary Learning model fosters student ownership by empowering scholars to be leaders of their own learning. At our specialty school, we offer students a unique learning experience built around core practices that lift up these three dimensions of learning: Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, Character, and High Quality Work. Integrating these practices into our expeditions, students embark on long range, in depth studies that encourage them to investigate and solve real world challenges.

As an Expeditionary Learning Academy, we continually evaluate our progress for continual improvement. We have earned national recognition and seen the evidence in academic achievement, positive climate, and low discipline rate. Our goal is to offer more opportunities to personalize learning and push our students thinking, analysis, and synthesis of content information. Our goal for our students is to continue learning to work with others, be curious, and take on challenges with effective and efficient thinking. We are excited to extend this deeper learning experience as our students build the skills they need to be lifelong learners.

What does this mean for your student? As a current Conway family, you have priority to securing a spot in our 6th grade class for the 2024-2025 school year when the applications opens on February 5th. The survey link is for ALL 5th grade families to complete and indicate school choice for the 2024-25 school year now. This information will also help us best support your students' transition. The survey includes the application for one of the 50 spots available for 6th grade at Conway. These are first-come spots and we will move to a lottery system if the interest exceeds the fifty available spots. Priority will be given to current Conway students and we will fill any remaining spots from our waitlist from other EUSD schools.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Ellsworth, mellsworth@eusd.org, our instructional coach or our family liaison, Mrs. Maldonado, xmaldonado@eusd.org or contact the office at 760-432-2435.

Sincerely,

Tina Meglich

Principal

5th grade parent letter - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l-SGV2WuGN3zoAuw4llYdloJMzK2uuV7OnrPlDgstMQ/edit?usp=sharing

Hello families! To help celebrate friendship, Associated Student Body (ASB) will be selling Friendship Grams! They are $1 each and will be sold as follows: 2/8, Thursday 12:15-12:30 2/12, Monday 2:30-2:45 2/13, Tuesday 2:30-2:45 All sales are cash only and will be delivered to classes on 2/14 during school hours! Students will bring home an order form. Please complete and return with payment. There are 10 designs to choose from, supplies are limited

Monday - Dream of a kinder world! Pajama Day.

Tuesday - Peach, Love, & Kindness - Rainbow day

(TK/k Red, 1st - Orange, 2nd - Yellow, 3rd Green, 4th Blue, 5th Purple, 6th White)

Wednesday - We love being kind. HAPPY VALENTINE DAY. Wear red, pink, white, or a special outfit.

Thursday - Spring the spirit of kindness. Let our CREW spirit shine, wear crew blue.

FLAG RUGBY SCHEDULE

• Week 3 2/7 & 2/9 Game Saturday 2/10
• Week 4 2/14 & 2/21 Game Saturday 2/24

• Week 5 2/28 & 3/1 Game Saturday 3/2
• Week 6 3/6 & 3/8 Game Saturday 3/9
• Week 7 3/13 & 3/15 Game Saturday 3/17

Middle School Family Latino Literacy Workshop Series

Families of students in 6,7 & 8th grade are invited to participate in the Latino Literacy Virtual Workshop Series, “Graciela’s Dream”.

Graciela’s circumstances do not make her dream seem achievable. Despite the obstacles and support system, Graciela pursues her dream anyways.

Will Graciela’s Dream become a reality?

Join us to find out!

This is a high school and college preparedness program.

Materials and copy of book will be provided to enrolled participants Monday Feb. 5.

There will be guest speakers.

***This program will be presented in Spanish***

Morning Session: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Evening Session: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

To register please click on the link provided below.

https://forms.gle/Adk1KUXRkUT3cpMX7

For more information please contact Xochitl Maldonado at (760) 432-2435 EXT 12005 or email xmaldonado@eusd.org

Over the past few years, it has become a part of Conway Culture to treat our guests to a delicious meal. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our Conway families meal donations. On Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 Conway Academy will be hosting an EL Seminar 2024 luncheon. We kindly ask our Conway Families to help us continue this tradition by donating any of the following

• Drinks ( sparkling water, agua fresca, etc.)

• Salads

• Gluten Free Dishes

• Vegetarian Dishes

• Main Dishes

• Desserts

Stay tuned for more information next week. For more information please contact Mrs. Maldonado information at (760) 432-2435 EXT 12005 or email xmaldonado@eusd.org

SAVE THE DATE

Monday, 2/12 - Thursday 2/15 - Mid-year Student Led Conferences (Schedule coming soon)

Monday, 2/12 - All day Student Led Conference 2, 3, 4 grades

Tuesday, 2/13 - All day Student Led Conference 2, 3, 4 grades

Tuesday, 2/13 - 2:00 pm Kindergarten Student Led Conference

Wednesday, 2/14 - All day Student Led Conference 5, 6 grades

Thursday, 2/15 - All day Student Led Conference 5, 6 grades (Early release day)

Thursday, 2/15 - 1st grade Student Led Conferences in the MPR

Please click on the 2nd - 6th SLC parent letter , 1st grade SLC letter, kindergarten SLC parent letter.

Join us at our next ELAC meeting on Thursday, February 8th in room 5 at 8:30 am. We will be sharing information regarding the upcoming ELCAP Testing

Help flourish our EPIC Garden! Grades 1-3 need support with the EPIC garden, planter boxes by the outdoor learning space and plants for wooly pockets hanging on the fence. Donations of the following plants are needed: 10- Honeysuckle bushes, 8 - Lavender bushes, 8 - Milkweed, 25- succulents, 15- Geraniums and 10 large bags of soil. Please contact Xochitl Maldonado at (760) 432-2435 EXT 12005 for more information and for donation arrangements. *********** ¡Ayude a florecer nuestro jardín EPIC! Los grados 1 a 3 necesitan apoyo con el jardín EPIC, maceteros junto al espacio de aprendizaje al aire libre y plantas para bolsas de lana que cuelgan de la cerca. Se necesitan donaciones de las siguientes plantas: 10- Arbustos de madreselva, 8 - Arbustos de lavanda, 8 - Algodoncillo, 25- Suculentas, 15- Geranios y 10 bolsas grandes de tierra. Por favor contacte a Xochitl Maldonado al (760) 432-2435 EXT 12005 para más información y para arreglos de donación.

You may ask how do we celebrate birthdays at Conway?

We have two unique ways that we celebrate.

First, in the main office you can fill out a form to have your child's birthday acknowledged on our electronic marquee to display a 24 hour message. The cost is only $5. If you cannot make it into the office, you can complete the electronic form https://forms.gle/3dMLHhiK5MTXJdpL9

and send in $5 cash and send it in with your learner. If it is a surprise please put it in an envelope addressed to the Conway ASB.

Second, our office staff has added a fun way to acknowledge each student's birthday. Students can visit the office for a special birthday pencil and cougar paw.

Monday, 2/5 - 6th grade applications open today

Wednesday, 2/7 - Writing Celebration at Bear Valley Middle School

Thursday, 2/8 - ELAC meeting

2/12 - 2/15 - Kindness Crew Spirit Week details coming soon

Monday, 2/12 - Thursday 2/15 - Mid-year Student Led Conferences

Monday, 2/12 - All day Student Led Conference 2, 3, 4 grades

Tuesday, 2/13 - All day Student Led Conference 2, 3, 4 grades

Tuesday, 2/13 - 2:00 pm Kindergarten Student Led Conference

Wednesday, 2/14 - All day Student Led Conference 5, 6 grades

Thursday, 2/15 - All day Student Led Conference 5, 6 grades (Early release day)

Thursday, 2/15 - 1st grade Student Led Conferences in the MPR

2/16 - 2/19 - President's Day Weekend, No School

Thursday, February 22nd - Site Seminar Conway community luncheon

Thursday, February 29th - End of Trimester 2, Report cards issued 3/5/34

Saturday, 3/9 - smART Festival, CCAE

Saturday, 4/13 - STEM Challenge, Rincon Middle School

Tuesday, 5/14 - Elementary Band Concert