Hello Golden Owls,
I hope that you and your families are well and finishing up a memorable summer! I was able to spend some time relaxing, reading, exercising, and traveling to a few cities in Europe. I am so grateful for that time to unwind and recharge, and I am excited to welcome all students back to campus soon!
For those of you haven’t met me, My name is Principal Vern Taylor. This is my Fifth year as principal, and we are very much looking forward to the coming school year and welcoming all our students and staff back. I look forward to getting to know you and your students this upcoming school year. Thank you for joining our Vargas community.
Please read the entire message below for important back to school information. At Wednesday’s New Family Orientation, I reviewed many procedures. You can find the presentation here, and the video here. In addition, please plan on attending the following information sessions:
Bring your school-related questions to the Vargas Principal's Office hours on Wednesday, August 9th @ 4:00 pm on Zoom meeting here. I’ll be talking about campus procedures and provide an update about campus construction. Spanish interpretation will be available.
Bring your district-related questions to the Superintendent’s Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Aug. 18, at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom at http://mvw.sd/CC818
Finally, please join me at the Vargas blacktop for our Popsicle Social on Monday, August 7th @ 4:00-5:30 pm.
In Partnership,
Principal Vern Taylor
Events Calendar
August
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7th - Popsicle Party, 4:00 PM - 5:30PM
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9th- First Day of School - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:55AM
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9th - Principal’s Office Hours 4:00 PM Register Here
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18th - Community Check-in with Dr. Rudolph, 3:30PM - 4:30PM Register Here
In this Newsletter
School News:
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First Day of School - Minimum Day
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Bell Schedule
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Drop off and Pick up Procedures
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Reporting an Absence
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School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form
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School Meals are Free
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Transportation
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Stay in touch
Flyers:
First Day of School is a Minimum Day
The first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 9, is a minimum day, meaning students will be dismissed earlier according to the schedule. Thursday, Aug. 10 is on the Thursday schedule (earlier than typical release). Friday, Aug. 11 will be a full school day for students.
Bell Schedules and Schools’ Start/End Times
Please click here to view our school’s updated schedule for the 2023-24 school year. Please note that Thursdays end early at all elementary school sites, and last days of trimesters are minimum days during the 2023-24 school year.
Drop Off and Pick-up Procedures:
Morning Drop off - Vehicle Drop
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School starts at 8:00am - Drop off starts at 7:45am
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Drop off time begins 15 minutes before the school day (7:45)
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Parents/guardians or other individuals dropping off or picking up children should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.
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Students will walk to their morning Pickup location.
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Parents/guardians should drop off their child(ren) at the main entrance.
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Adults should stay inside the vehicle. *If a student needs help getting out of a car seat/seat belt, please do so quickly. Have all materials (lunch, backpacks, masks) ready to go for easy drop-off.
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Staff will guide students to walk to the basketball courts and stand by the cone of their classroom number.
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Please leave campus immediately after drop off to allow for flow of traffic.
Kindergarten and New Families:
We know this will be new to you and your child. At the drop-off location, will have a staff member walk your child to his/her designated classroom area. To help with a smooth transition, please send your child an index card with the following information: Student's name, classroom number, and teacher name to hand to our staff.
Pedestrian Drop-Off:
Drop off time begins 15 minutes before the school day (7:45AM)
We recommend parents/guardians drop off their child(ren) at the main front gate entrance.
Students will walk to their morning location.
**If your child is allowed to walk or bike to and from school, parents MUST email our front office staff giving authorization. Please email our school clerk,Ms. Silvia McElyea [email protected].
Commuting to school safely
It's critically important for children's safety that you take time now before the start of the school year to plan their route, tune up their wheels and talk with them about road safety. Please see your inbox for a letter this week from Dr. Rudolph that contains resources on our bike safety webpage.
Dismissal:
Kinder Dismissal at 1:30pm: - Map designations here
For parents who are walking onto campus
Parents will remain in the kinder waiting area
Teacher will dismiss students from the classroom
Parents/guardians who walk should leave campus as quickly as possible because other students are still learning on campus
For Parents who are picking up by vehicle
Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children in their car should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.
Teacher and Front Office Staff will help students connect to their vehicle/parents/guardians.
1st to 3rd grade Dismissal at 2:35pm - 4th to 5th grade Dismissal at 2:40pm:
Parents may arrive at 2:35pm and walk through the main gate and wait in the gray area
Any student not picked up by 2:45pm from gray area will walk out to their vehicle
Front Office Staff will help students connect to their vehicle.
Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.
Students attending YMCA or Right At School: Staff members will pick up students from their classrooms.
Reporting an Absence
Please call the office at (650) 903-6952 or email [email protected] to report an absence or late arrival. Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, grade and room number, reason for absence, name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.
School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form
We will be furnishing all basic school supplies and textbooks for all students. Donations of items and funds for this purpose are appreciated, but not required. For those able to donate, please fill out this form and bring it to the front office, along with your donation, and our front office staff will provide you with a receipt.
School Meals are free
MVWSD will continue to provide free meals to all students as part of California’s universal meal program. Breakfast and lunches are available daily. Menus and nutritional analysis can be found on https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition. There will be a vegetarian option each day. A count of those taking school lunch will be taken at the beginning of the school day. Students may bring their own self-contained lunches if desired.
Transportation
The Mountain View Whisman School District Transportation Department provides transportation for students who are residents of Moffett and students with disabilities who are eligible for this service. For more information, and to apply for a bus pass, please visit this web page.
Stay in touch
Please take a moment and follow our district and school social media accounts. Staying in touch with us on social media will keep you in the loop on important happenings, as well as provide a critical line of communication during emergencies.
Click on the account links below and like or follow to stay in touch!
Mountain View Whisman School District - Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo
Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary - Facebook, Instagram
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