Sundays From The Mesa #36

Dear Alta Mesa Families,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Monday is National Speech Pathologist Day, and we want to give a huge thank you to Kelly for all of her hard work, dedication, and support for our students and staff. We appreciate the care, patience, and positivity you bring each day. Thank you for making such a difference at Alta Mesa!

Our last lockdown drill of the 2025-2026 school year will be on Wednesday at 1:00pm. The purpose of this drill is to practice our safety procedures in real-life scenarios, ensuring that both staff and students know exactly how to respond if an emergency occurs during times when routines are less predictable. Practicing helps us identify potential challenges and ensures everyone remains prepared to keep our school community safe.

Open House is this Thursday from 5:30-7:00! Join us for a fun evening featuring a BBQ, games on the lawn, and the book fair beginning at 5:30. Classrooms will open promptly at 6:00 for families to visit and celebrate all of the amazing work students have done this year.

The Book Fair is back! Starting Monday, May 18th through Thursday, May 21st from 8:00-3:00. Classes are welcome to attend during their normal library hours, and students may also visit during recess and lunch breaks if they have money to shop. The book fair will also be open during Open House on Thursday, May 21st from 5:30-7:00, giving families an additional opportunity to shop together.

A few last reminders as we wrap up the school year! All library books are due back to the library by Friday, May 22nd. Also, our last Eagle Store of the year will be on Friday, May 22nd as well.

With excitement,

Kristen Crites

Principal-Alta Mesa School

(530) 224-4130

kcrites@eesd.net

Monday:

• Minimum Day - Dismissal @ 1:23
• Flag Football Practice 2:00-3:00

Tuesday:

• Student Lighthouse Meeting 12:05-12:40
• STEAM Club 2:30-3:30
• Softball Game: Mistletoe @ Alta Mesa 3:00
• Flag Football Game: Mistletoe @ Alta Mesa 3:00
• Reading Pals 3:00-4:00

Wednesday:

• Lockdown Drill 1:00
• Student Lighthouse Team Meeting 2:30-3:30
• Softball Game: Lassen View @ Alta Mesa 3:00

Thursday:

• Student Lighthouse Meeting 12:05-12:40
• Softball Game: Shasta Meadows @ Alta Mesa 3:00
• Flag Football Game: Shasta Meadows @ Alta Mesa 3:00
• Reading Pals 3:00-4:00
• Open House 5:30-7:00

Friday:

• All library books are due!
• Last day for Student Store!

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting NEXT LEVEL HOOPS Basketball Camp from June 8th–12th, 3:00–6:00 PM. This camp is open to incoming 3rd–6th grade students and is a great opportunity for players to build and strengthen their basketball skills while having fun and staying active. Cost will be $50 per participant.

Flyers will be sent home with students this week. Each participant will receive a basketball, camp shirt, and daily snacks, along with instruction focused on skill development, teamwork, and game play. We look forward to a great week of basketball growth and energy!

Register HERE!

3rd-5th Grade CAASPP Testing ~ 5/12 - 5/22

The purposed of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System is to assist teachers, administrators, students, and parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types.

This year testing will start on Tuesday, May 12th and will go through Friday, May 22nd. Testing is scheduled for two weeks because we only test students for an hour and a half each morning.

Here are a few helpful tips for making sure your student is ready to go for testing:

• Ensure they arrive to school on time (8:05 for 4/5th grade, 8:20 for 3rd grade)
• Please refrain from scheduling appointments in the mornings as that is when our testing will be taking place
• Make sure your student has a healthy breakfast each day (our cafeteria has the best school breakfast in all the county)
• Make sure students are well rested and in bed on time

Our Alta Mesa Book Fair is back, and we couldn’t be more excited! The book fair will be open May 18–21 from 7:45 AM–3:00 PM. All students will have the opportunity to visit with their class during the school day.

If families would like extra shopping time, parents are welcome to stop by before or after school, just be sure to sign in at the front office with your ID. We’re also happy to share that the book fair will be open during Open House from 5:30–7:00 PM, giving everyone a chance to shop together.

We are looking for volunteers to help with the Book Fair! If you have an hour or two to spare during our busier times (recess), please email Mrs. Corona, tcorona@eesd.net.

Please be aware that we will be conducting a lockdown drill on Wednesday, May 20th. This means the drill will take place around 1:00pm.

The purpose of this drill is to practice our safety procedures in real-life scenarios, ensuring that both staff and students know exactly how to respond if an emergency occurs during times when routines are less predictable. Practicing helps us identify potential challenges and ensures everyone remains prepared to keep our school community safe.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation in making this drill effective and meaningful.

We are excited to welcome our Alta Mesa families to Open House on Thursday, May 21st from 5:30–7:00 PM!

Join us from 5:30–6:00 PM for a fun-filled start to the evening with games on the lawn, shopping at our Book Fair in the library, and free dinner provided by our amazing Booster Club. Families are encouraged to come early to enjoy the food, play, and browse together.

Classrooms will open promptly at 6:00 PM, where students can proudly share all of their hard work from the year.

As we approach Memorial Day, we take time to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing three-day weekend filled with gratitude, reflection, and time spent with those who matter most.

On Thursday, May 28th we will be hosting our trimester 3 awards assembly. Teachers will reach out to parents individually if students are receiving awards.

TK - 2nd Grade: 12:40 - 1:20

3rd - 4th Grade: 1:20 - 2:00

Anderson River Splash

Who:

• TK/K, Real and LaBoy

Buses:

• 2 buses

• TK/K - Bus pick up at 9:30, drop off at 10:00. Bus will pick up at 12:15 and drop off at 12:45.

• Real and Laboy - Bus will pick up at 9:30, drop off at 10:00. Bus will pick up at 12:00 and drop off at 12:30.
• Guests will have to meet at Anderson River Splash as there is not enough room on the buses.

Additional Information:

• We have one gazebo reserved, it will have our school name on it. Parents are welcome to grab more but it's first come, first serve.
• Guests are allowed to attend, however they will need to scan their ID in the office within the week of May 26th - 29th, prior to attending.
• Students will eat a sack lunch when they return to campus at 12:45.
• Students are able to be signed out by parents, teachers will have a sign out sheet.

Sun Oaks

Who:

• 1st/2nd Grade

Buses:

• 1 bus
• Bus pick up at 9:15, drop off at 9:30. Bus will pick up at 11:30 and drop off at 11:45.
• Guests will need to meet at Sun Oaks as there is not enough room on buses.

Additional Information:

• Guests are allowed to attend, however they will need to scan their ID in the office within the week of May 26th - 29th, prior to attending.
• Only 75 people are allowed in the pool at a time, however we will have additional lawn activities available for students and families.
• Students will eat a sack lunch when the return to school at 11:45.
• Students are able to be signed out by parents, teachers will have a sign out sheet.

WaterWorks Park

Who:

• 3rd - 5th Grade
• Goetz and Cecil Class

Buses:

• 3 buses
• Bus pick up at 9:40, drop off at 10:00. Bus will pick up at 12:30 and drop off at 12:45.
• Guests will need to meet at WaterWorks as there will not be enough room on the buses.

Additional Information:

• Guests are welcome to attend, however, those wishing to receive the discounted admission rate of $15.50 must pay by Tuesday, May 27th. We are required to submit our final count to WaterWorks and complete payment by May 28th. Paying in advance allows WaterWorks to provide our group day passes early, which means students will be able to step off the bus and head directly into the park instead of waiting 20–30 minutes on the bus while passes are being processed at check-in. Please note that there will be NO exceptions to this deadline. If families would like to take advantage of the discounted rate, payment must be received by May 27th.

• The school will cover the cost for all Alta Mesa students to attend (with the help of Booster Club). However, there will be a spot on the permission slip for parents to indicate if their student has a WaterWorks pass as the school will not need to cover the cost of students who already have passes.

• Students are able to be signed out by parents, teachers will have a sign out sheet.

Students who have demonstrated unsafe behavior or have had major disciplinary incidents at school may be excluded from attending the study trip. Participation is subject to administrative discretion to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff. Parents/guardians will be notified in advance if their child is not eligible to attend.

On Wednesday, June 3rd we will have our annual Eagle Walk and awards assembly for our 5th grade students. Parents are welcome to join in on this Eagle right of passage! Parents and families will need to be here at 12:45 to start lining up for the Eagle Walk, where students will walk from their classrooms to the gym. Students will start their walk at 1:00pm. The awards assembly will follow right after. Please know that EVERY 5TH GRADE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE AN AWARD!

Field Day and Color Run is on our last day of school, June 5th! Please note that students will be outside most of the day so please make sure they are wearing sunscreen and possibly a hat. The Color Run will start right after lunch and then students will be released for the summer!

Field Day / Color Run Highlights:

• Remember to have your student wear sunscreen and a hat
• If you are available to volunteer for Field Day and/or the Color Run, please email Kaylene @ kelliott@eesd.net
• After the Color Run, students will not be allowed back into buildings (this is to keep the color from spreading all over campus, creating a lot of extra cleaning for our custodial staff)
• Friday, June 5th is a minimum day - dismissal is at 1:23

Kona Ice will be on campus on Friday, June 5th! Students do not need to bring any money to school, as Kona Ice will be available during dismissal for families to enjoy together. Each shaved ice will be $5.00.

Practices:

Tuesdays - Thursdays: 2:30-3:30

Games: All Games @ 3:00pm

4/21: Lassen View @ Alta Mesa

4/23: Alta Mesa @ Boulder Creek

4/28: Alta Mesa @ Rother

4/30: Alta Mesa @ Mistletoe

5/05: Alta Mesa @ Shasta Meadows

5/07: Alta Mesa @ Lassen View

5/12: Boulder Creek @ Alta Mesa

5/14: Rother @ Alta Mesa

5/19: Mistletoe @ Alta Mesa

5/21: Shasta Meadows @ Alta Mesa

Practices:

Mondays (2:00-3:00) & Thursdays (2:30-3:30)

Games: All Games @ 3:00pm

4/21: Lassen View @ Alta Mesa

4/23: Alta Mesa @ Boulder Creek

4/27: Bethel @ Alta Mesa

4/28: Alta Mesa @ Rother

4/30: Alta Mesa @ Mistletoe

5/05: Alta Mesa @ Shasta Meadows

5/07: Alta Mesa @ Lassen View

5/12: Boulder Creek @ Alta Mesa

5/14: Rother @ Alta Mesa

5/19: Mistletoe @ Alta Mesa

5/21: Shasta Meadows @ Alta Mesa

2nd/3rd Grade: Lori Duke

Meeting Dates:

Thursdays: 2:15 - 3:15

3/26, 4/02, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/07

K/1st Grade: Dana Randolph

Meeting Dates:

Meeting Dates:

Thursdays: 2:15 - 3:15

3/26, 4/02, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/07

Meeting Dates:

Tuesdays: 2:30-3:30

3/24, 3/31, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/12, 5/19

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)

2nd Grade Tutoring:

Teacher: Lori Duke

Start and End Dates: 3/24 - 5/06

Days of the Week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Time: 2:15-3:15

• 05/18: National Speech Path Day
• 05/18-5/21: Book Fair
• 05/20: Lockdown Drill
  
• 05/21: Open House
  
• 05/25: Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL+
  
• 05/26: Fire Drill
  
• 05/28: Trimester 3 Awards
  
• 05/29: All School Field Trip - Aquatic Center
  
• 06/03: 5th Grade Eagle Walk / Awards Assembly
  
• 06/05: Field Day / All School BBQ / Color Run / Last Day of School / Minimum Day
  

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!

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 altamesa.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