Bus Transportation/Passes

The District provides home-to-school of residence transportation to pupils living beyond the established transportation boundary line. This transportation service is provided for a fee. The Transportation Fee Program provides the option of purchasing an annual bus pass, a semester buss pass, a single ride ticket book, or a single ride ticket. To be cost effective, passes should be purchased at the beginning of the year or semester. Prices are not prorated when purchased during the semester.

Applications may be obtained from the school site, Transportation Department, or the bus driver. Free and reduced-fare transportation is available to children whose families meet certain low-income guidelines and who reside within the appropriate transportation area. Income verification will be required to process free or reduced-fare passes. Bus transportation is provided for pupils living beyond the following distances:

K-3  1 mile
4-5   1 1/2 mile
6-8   2 mile

Should you wish to contact the Transportation Department, please call 668-5767.

The La Mesa Collaborative is a volunteer partnership of community members working to enhance La Mesa's quality of life and to create a strong sense of community. For a closer look at what the Collaborative does and the community groups involved, click on the La Mesa Collaborative title above.

You are invited to participate in monthly meetings held the first Tuesday of every month at:
La Mesa Community Center
4975 Memorial Drive
La Mesa, CA 91951
9–10:30 am

For current information on the Collaborative please contact Yvonne Garrett, 619 667-1311

Murdock Cultural Events Foundation

The Murdock Cultural Events Foundation is an incorporated nonprofit group organized to stimulate and foster fine arts in La Mesa-Spring Valley schools. The Foundation provides:

• Quality events designed especially for children.
• Music and art workshops
• Transportation to cultural events.
• An open door to the world of the arts.

Any individual, business, or organization may join and support the Foundation with an annual tax-deductible donation. For information, call 668-5700, ext. 6383.

Kindergarten Readiness

Before starting kindergarten your child should . . .

1. Recognize their name when it is written.
2. Write their name using a capital letter and lower case letters.
3. Count to 10 or higher.
4. Recognize the numbers 1-10.
5. Know colors.
6. Be able to cut with scissors.
7. Say the alphabet.
8. Recognize body parts.
9. Know their full name, address, phone number, and birth date.
10. Tie his/her own shoes.
11. Use the restroom independently.
12. Dress themselves including zipping, buttoning, snapping, and buckling.

Peter Pan Junior Theater

Each year Peter Pan Junior Theatre presents a play. Auditions are held in September and are open to any LMSV student in grades 4–8. The presentation is a self-supporting production relying on volunteer time and fund-raising efforts. You may visit the Peter Pan Jr. Theater web site at www.ppjt.org.

Peter Pan Junior Theatre Mission and History

Children's Services

YMCA Child Care Referral

1-800-481-2151

La Mesa Community Services
(classes for children 3 yrs. & up)

667-1300

Spring Valley Community Services

479-1832

East County Career Center

590-3900

New Alternatives

233-6788

La Mesa-Spring Valley Healthy Start (English and Spanish)

668-8391

Children's Hospital Child Center (English/Spanish)

460-1095

East County Mental Health (Medication Assessment-Adults Only)

401-5500

La Mesa-Spring Valley Healthy Start (English and Spanish)

668-8391

Child Protective Services

1-858-560-2191

Domestic Violence Hotline

234-3164

San Diego Access & Crisis Line
(Mental Health) Access & Crisis Line

1-800-479-3339

National Runaway Switchboard

1-800-621-4000

East Region Public Health Center
855 Madison Ave., El Cajon
Immunizations (no appointment needed)
General Medicine, Physicals

441-6500
M-F 8-11 a.m.
Thurs 1-4 p.m.

Neighbor Health Care
7339 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa
Immunizations (no appointment needed)
General Medicine, Physicals

668-6280
M, Tu, Th, F 8:30-11 a.m.
Wed. 9:30-3:30

Grossmont/Spring Valley Family Health Clinic
8788 Jamacha Road, Spring Valley

515-2555

Heartland Human Relations
1068 Broadway, Suite 221, El Cajon

444-5700

Mission of the PTA

• To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children.
• To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children.
• To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation.

The Purpose

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
• To raise the standards of home life.
• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
• To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

Information on Educational Issues

Education Source
Easy to understand non partisan analysis of educational issues in California.
http://www.edsource.org/

The Sacramento Bee
Good news reporting on State budget and legislation.
http://www.sacbee.com/

California Budget Project
Non partisan research group with some good analysis of California budget and educational issues.
http://www.cbp.org/

Public Policy Institute of California
Non partisan research group.  They conduct regular polling of Californians on a variety of issues, including budget and education.
www.ppic.org

California Forward
Non partisan research group working for innovative and practical ways to deal with issues facing California.
http://www.caforward.org

Homelessness Should Not Affect Your Child’s Education!

Por estar sin techo no debe afectar la educación de su niño

It is unacceptable for one child in the United States to be homeless for even one day. The reality, however, is that there are approximately 1,969 family members enrolled in San Diego shelters as a family unit. For every homeless family living in a shelter, experts estimate that there are two to three families who are on the verge of homelessness due to unstable living conditions and who need similar support services as homeless families in order to sustain permanent housing. Families who are living in the temporary accommodations of family or friends may be qualified under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to receive services for their student. There are federal laws in place to ensure that students can continue their education at their school should there be a loss of housing for the family. Please contact the District's Homeless Liaison at the District Office for more information: 668-5700.

Es inaceptable que un niño  en los Estados Unidos esté sin techo hasta por un día. La realidad, sin embargo, es que existen aproximadamente 1,969 familias que viven en albergues. Por cada familia sin techo en un albergue, los expertos estiman que hay de dos a tres familias que están al punto de estar sin techo debido a la instable condición de vida y quienes necesitan servicios de apoyo como de familias sin techo con fin de sostener vivienda permanente. Las familias que están viviendo en lugares provisionales de la familia o amigos pueden calificar baja la ley McKinney-Vento HomelessAssistance para recibir servicios para sus alumnus. Existen leyes federales para garantizar que los alumnus continúen sue educación en sus escuelas aunque su  familia haya perdido su casa. Favor de llamar al Dep. de Enlace de familias sin techo (Homeless Liaison) del Distrito para más información al 668-5700.