Sundays From The Mesa #18
December 15th - 19th

Principal's Message
Dear Alta Mesa Families,
I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We’re in the final countdown to Christmas break, so let’s finish strong in our attendance challenge! As of today, Alta Mesa is in the lead in our Shasta Meadows competition! Remember, if we win, Santa will come to Alta Mesa to enjoy cookies with all our students! Let’s keep up the great attendance and beat Shasta Meadows!
On Tuesday, our 5th grade students will be heading to Parsons to enjoy their Winter Concert! This is a great opportunity for them to experience the excitement of junior high music programs firsthand. Our goal is to spark their interest and get them thinking about the many extracurricular activities they can participate in when they move on to junior high.
Friday is our All School Sing-Along, a fun event for both students and parents! All parents are welcome to attend and do not need to check in at the office. Please note: to align with our safety protocols, parents will need to remain in the gym will not have access to the rest of campus.
Just a reminder: Students are not allowed to have or chew gum at school. Please make sure your child does not bring gum to school. Thank you!
Please remember Friday, December 19th is a minimum day - dismissal is 1:23 for all grades!
Lastly, Christmas break runs from December 22nd through January 5th, so this will be our final newsletter before we head out. We want to wish all our Alta Mesa families a very Merry Christmas and a joyful, restful holiday season. We hope you enjoy time to relax, recharge, and make special memories with family and friends. Thank you for an amazing first half of the year, we can’t wait to see everyone back in January! Our next Sundays From The Mesa will be sent out on Sunday, January 4th.
Thank You,
Kristen Crites
Principal-Alta Mesa School
(530) 224-4130
kcrites@eesd.net
Schoolwide Weekly Calendar
MONDAY:
- Minimum Day - Dismissal @ 1:23
TUESDAY:
- SLT Meeting (12:00-12:40)
- Ski and Snowboard Club Meeting (2:30-3:00)
- Reading Pals (3:00-4:00)
WEDNESDAY:
- Garden Club (2:30-3:30)
- SLT Meeting (2:30-3:30)
THURSDAY:
- Student Lighthouse Meeting (12:05-12:40)
- Reading Pals (3:00-4:00)
FRIDAY:
- All School Sing-Along (9:00-10:00)
- Minimum Day - Dismissal @ 1:23
Monday Morning Message
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found is officially overflowing—at this point, it could probably enroll as its own student. If your child is missing a jacket, water bottle, lunchbox, single sock, or possibly their entire winter wardrobe, please swing by and take a look. Help us reunite these poor, lonely items with their rightful homes before they form a colony and take over the hallway!
12 Days of Presence
AN ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE!
Did you know that after November 1st, the day after Halloween, the day before Christmas Break had the second highest rate of absenteeism last year? We are challenging our students to maintain high attendance rates between Thanksgiving and Christmas Breaks and that everyone is here for some special learning and events on December 19th (minimum day), the last day before our two-week break.
Parents, help us encourage your children to finish 2025 with the same excitement we carried into the beginning of the year! Help your child by prioritizing good rest, holding to homework routines, and coming to school every day ready to learn. The break is coming, but until then, every day counts for learning!
Upcoming School Events
Christmas Sing-Along - December 19th
Please join us on in the Alta Mesa gym on Thursday, December 19th at 9:00am for our annual Christmas Sing-Along. This is such a fun event at Alta Mesa. Each class works really hard on their songs and are excited to perform for their parents, grandparents, and guardians. Everyone is welcome! We hope to see you all there!
The gym doors will open at 8:45am and we will start promptly at 9:00am.
Christmas Break - December 22nd - January 5th
Christmas Break will begin on Monday, December 22nd and run through Monday 5th. School will resume on Tuesday, December 6th. We hope you enjoy this well-deserved time off to relax, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends.
Wishing everyone a warm, joyful, and restful holiday break!
Sports/Clubs
Ski & Snowboard Club - Dana Randolph
Weekly Meetings:
Tuesdays, 2:30-3:00
12/02, 12/09, 12/16
1/06, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27
2/03, 2/10, 2/24
3/03, 3/10
Mt. Shasta Dates:
January 21st
February 11th
March 11th
Garden Club: Devin Lindsley & Cate Richards
Meeting Dates:
Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30
October: 10/01, 10/08, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29
November: 11/5, 11/12
December: 12/03, 12/10, 12/17
January: 1/07, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28
February: 2/04, 2/11, 2/25
March: 3/04, 3/11, 3/25
April: 4/01, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29
Student Lighthouse Team: Christina Huelman
Meeting Dates:
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12:05 - 12:40
Wednesdays (optional): 2:30 - 3:30
Spirit Days
- 09/26 - Bright and Shiny (bright, bold colors)
- 11/14 - Fall into Thanksgiving (fall colors, leaves)
- 12/12 - Cozy Winter (winter colors, snow, cold weather clothes)
- 01/16 - Shiny New Year (sparkles, glitter, metallic colors)
- 02/13 - Valentines Day (hearts, red, and pink)
- 04/17 - April Showers (flowers, spring, pastel colors)
- 05/15 - Sunshine and Lollipops (summer theme, sunglasses, bright fun colors)
Tutoring
2nd Grade Tutoring:
Teacher: Lori Duke
Start and End Dates: 1/13 - 3/05
Days of the Week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Time: 2:15-3:15
Important Dates
** Minimum Day Mondays ~ Dismissal at 1:23 **
- 12/19: All School Sing-Along
- 12/19: Minimum Day
- 12/22-1/05: Christmas Recess - NO SCHOOL+
- 01/08: Lockdown Drill
- 01/16: Shiny New Year Spirit Day
- 01/19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL+
- 01/21: Ski & Snowboard Club to Mt. Shasta
- 02/04: Alta Mesa Board Presentation
- 02/11: Ski & Snowboard Club to Mt. Shasta
- 02/11: Booster Club Meeting
- 02/16-2/20: Presidents' Week - NO SCHOOL+
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
1st Place Spiritwear
We’re thrilled to introduce our new Alta Mesa apparel ordering site: 1st Place Spiritwear! You can now order shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks, tote bags, hats, cups, and so much more—all featuring Alta Mesa pride. The best part? You can shop anytime! No deadlines, no waiting. Click the LINK to check it out and start gearing up in style! Go Eagles!
You can also find 1st Place Spiritwear on the Alta Mesa website. Click HERE to get to our website and click on Student Life drop down and select Alta Mesa Spiritwear Store!
Campus Maps
General School Information
Alta Mesa School
Alta Mesa is a Preschool-5th Grade, as well as Mrs. Goetz's 6th-8th Graders. At Alta Mesa, we believe that every student deserves a safe, enjoyable learning environment with exceptional instruction. Our caring, highly qulaified staff is committed to meeting the individual needs of each student in all academic areas. We believe that in order for students to grow intellectually and attain academic success, we must also address their social, emotional, and physical needs. We have been recognized for the past 5 years as a Capturing Kids Hearts National Showcase School. For more information you can follow us on facebook @altamesaschool or go to our website altmesa.eesd.net.
We appreciate your support in helping students stay focused and safe while at school.
Address: 2301 Saturn Skyway, Redding Ca. 96002
School Phone: (530) 224-4130
Principal - Kristen Crites
School Secretary - Kaylene Elliott
Student Services Clerk - Michelle Poland