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Elevate News | January 15, 2026

Posted Date: 01/15/26 (10:32 AM)
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7th & 8th Grade Science with Mrs. Matos

Our second semester is off to an exciting start in EMS Science, and both our 7th and 8th grade scientists have been busy exploring new concepts through hands-on learning, real-world connections, and creative projects. Here’s a look at the amazing work happening in our science classrooms!

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Our 7th graders are currently diving into their Cells and Body Systems unit, where they are building an understanding of how living things function from the smallest units of life to complex systems. Students began by learning about cells and their organelles, exploring how each part works together to keep an organism alive and functioning. More recently, they have shifted their focus to the brain and nervous system, learning about how the brain functions, how signals travel through the nervous system, and how sensory inputs allow us to interact with the world around us.

To bring their learning beyond the classroom, our 7th graders recently attended a field trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. During this experience, students learned about the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog, the threats facing its population, and the conservation efforts being made to restore the species. This field trip directly connected to our first unit on ecosystems, allowing students to make real-world connections to concepts such as food webs, human impacts on the environment, and the importance of each organism within an ecosystem. In addition to deepening their scientific understanding, students enjoyed the opportunity to explore the park and observe these ideas in action.

Our 8th graders started the year strong by diving into physics through a variety of hands-on labs and engineering-based projects. Throughout these units, students explored forces, motion, and energy while designing and building marble roller coasters and mini Rube Goldberg machines to apply Newton’s Laws of Motion in creative and meaningful ways.

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Now, our 8th graders are continuing their journey through space science. In this unit, students are learning about the Big Bang Theory, the characteristics of inner and outer planets, and a variety of other celestial objects found throughout the universe. They are also exploring lunar cycles and investigating the causes of tides, making connections between gravity, motion, and Earth–Moon interactions. To wrap up the unit, students are currently working on creating space-themed review board games, allowing them to demonstrate their understanding while practicing collaboration and creativity.

I am so proud of the curiosity and enthusiasm our students bring to science each day. Thank you for your continued support—we look forward to a year full of learning and inquiry!

Mrs. Matos
7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher


DATES AT A GLANCE
Fri, Jan 16 SM Assembly

Coffee with the Directors
Mon, Jan 19 No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tues, Jan 27 Grades K-3 Spring Picture Day

Admissions Information Meetings
Wed, Jan 28 Grades 4-5 Spring Picture Day
Thurs, Jan 29 EMS Community Meeting
Fri, Jan 30 SM Leader of the Month Assembly

TS Assembly

EMS Social

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COFFEE WITH THE DIRECTORS
Tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 8:45 am - Join us for an informal Coffee with the Directors at the SM Campus. All Elevate parents/guardians are invited to attend.

PANORAMIC CAMPUS PHOTO
Our campus-wide panoramic photos will be taken on Wednesday, February 4. These professional prints, captured by Sumner Photography, will feature all students and staff members at each campus for the 2025–2026 school year. To order your copy, click here. Deadline to order is January 30.

SPRING PICTURES
Spring Pictures for Grades K-5 are coming up! Students are invited to dress nicely (no uniforms). 
 - Grades K-3: Tuesday, January 27
 - Grades 4-5: Wednesday, January 28
 - Grades 6-8 do not have Spring Pictures.

VALENTINE'S DAY @ TS & EMS CAMPUSES
We wanted to share an early reminder, as Valentine’s Day can sometimes be tricky at the older elementary and middle school level, especially when families have already purchased items. TS and EMS campuses do not exchange Valentines from home during the school day. Valentine exchanges can become distracting and challenging for students, and we kindly ask that children not bring Valentines to school. Our goal is to maintain an inclusive and equitable learning environment where all students feel supported. Thank you for understanding!

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The week of February 9-11, Elevate will be celebrating Kindness Week, a time dedicated to building empathy, connection, and a positive school culture across our entire campus. Throughout the week, students will participate in activities that encourage kindness toward themselves, others, and our larger community.

Here’s what to expect:

Monday, Feb 9: Kindness Shines Bright Day
Students are encouraged to wear bright colors to show how kindness can shine. This is also the first day of our food drive!

Tuesday, Feb 10: Donation Day
Students are encouraged to bring canned food items as part of our food drive supporting the San Diego Food Bank.

Wednesday, Feb 11: Kind Hearts Day
Students may wear pink, red, or white, or include hearts in their clothing or accessories to represent caring and compassion. This is the last day of our food drive.

Throughout the entire week, students will also participate in Kindness Bingo, lunchtime and classroom activities, and our school wide food drive. We encourage all families to please have your child participate so they can learn about kindness within their school community and how their actions can positively impact others beyond campus.

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Our school is excited to kick off the Golden Eagles Fun Run, our biggest fundraiser of the year and it’s all about movement, leadership, and school spirit! Our two-week program focuses on fitness and leadership, culminating in an exciting Fun Run event where students will hit the track to cross the finish line for a great cause.  

For the first time in our school’s history, we are managing this project in-house, allowing 100% of all donations to directly support our Art, P.E., and STEAM programs!

Important Dates
Kickoff Pep Rally
• EMS: 2/9
• TS: 2/10
• SM: 2/10

Fun Run Event
• EMS: 2/26
• TS: 2/27
• SM: 2/27

Keep a close watch on your inbox
In the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a full information packet with all the exciting details you’ll need, including registration links, our official event theme, and the specific schedule for our big Race Day finale. We can’t wait to share more about how you can join us in celebrating our students' growth and cheering them across the finish line!

Advertise your business 
We are looking for business sponsors to partner with us in providing an incredible experience for our students. Whether you're a small business owner, part of a larger corporation, or know someone who might be interested, we have various sponsorship levels available that provide a special opportunity to partner with and support our Elevate families.

If you or someone you know might be interested in a sponsorship role, please contact our Foundation President, Shukky Sanni, at president@elevateschoolfoundation.org to start the conversation.

HABIT OF THE WEEK
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ELEVATE SPIRIT STORE
Grab some Elevate gear today! The Elevate School Foundation (TESF) has set up an awesome online Spirit Store with branded attire, reusable water bottles, hats, and more! Ten percent of each purchase will go directly to the foundation which supports Elevate's Mission.

QUICK LINKS

Elevate School cultivates leaders and positive changemakers by inspiring students to be excellent in academics, exceptional in leadership, expansive in creativity, and engaged in community.
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