Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
Student attendance is important: Help students be in school and on time.
When we reduce chronic absence we improve graduation rates, increase academic achievement and give young people the best chance at success in their adult life. Read here the FAQs about MVWSD student attendance.
Most parents are aware of what it means for a child to be truant from school. However, there is a new effort through the state of California to reduce the numbers of students who are “chronically absent.” Students who are chronically absent typically attend school fairly regularly, but miss a few days here and there, which really add up and affect their learning. It's important to know both excused or unexcused absences count toward chronic absenteeism.
Chronically absent students have been absent (either excused or unexcused) for 10% of the time that school has been in session. For example, if your student has been absent 2 days before Sept. 16, he is chronically absent. If your student has been absent 5 days before Oct. 20, she is chronically absent. An average of 2 days absent a month means a student is chronically absent.
The District is required to track this data and report it to the state. MVWSD will contact parents when students reach concerning absence levels. If not remedied, chronically absent students and their families may be referred to the District’s Student Attendance Review Board, in a process similar to how truancy is handled.
Thanks for your assistance and support.
Mr. Taylor
Events Calendar
- 9/16/19 - The Vargas Way Morning Assembly, 8:00am-8:15am - Blacktop
- 9/17/19 - Project Cornerstone Meeting, 8:00am - MUR
- 9/18/19 - Hearing and Vision for Kinder & 2nd graders
- 9/20/19 - PTA Fundraiser: Sip & Shop Mom's Night Out - 436 Nicholas Drive (in the Whisman Station neighborhood)
- 9/23/19 - The Vargas Way Morning Assembly, 8:00am-8:15am - Blacktop
- 9/25/19 - ELAC & SSC Meeting, 5:00pm - 6:00pm - MUR
- 9/27/19 - Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - 9:10am - MUR
- 9/30/19 - The Vargas Way Morning Assembly, 8:00am-8:15am - Blacktop
- 10/4/19 - Coffee with the Superintendent, 8:15am - 9:15am - MUR
- 10/7 - 10/11 - Minimum Day all Week due to Parent Teacher Conferences
- 10/16/19 - Picture Retakes
In this Newsletter
School News
- Golden Ticket Winners
- Hearing and Vision for Kinder & 2nd graders
- Lost and Found Items
- CSMA Art Classes
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 9/9
Week 9/9
Ishkirat RM: 1
Aanya RM: 4
Adya RM: 6
Sophie RM: 9
Katerina RM: 19
Kellen RM:20
Hearing and Vision
Each fall, MVWSD conducts hearing and vision screenings of all students in kindergarten, second-, fifth- and eighth-grade, as California State Law mandates. These screenings will take place at Vargas Elementary on Wednesday, September 18th.
Parents will be notified in writing if children fail a screening. Parents who do not want their child screened for either vision and/or hearing should send a letter to their child's school each school year indicating that their child is to be excluded, and vision and/or hearing results will need to be provided from their physician.
If you have any concerns about your child’s vision or hearing please contact your school nurse. Questions about the screenings should be directed to the Health Services office at 650-526-3500.
Lost and Found Items
Please stop by the front office to check our Lost and Found box. Our box is starting to overflow, any items not claimed by Friday, September 27th will be donated.
CSMA Art Club 1st to 3rd Grade
FALL SEMESTER after-school art club at Vargas Elementary School.
Join us for a 12-week fall art club session where we will explore the theme: The Art of Food.
Students will paint, draw and build with support and instruction from CSMA faculty. Teachers develop a new curriculum with each new session. This session we will explore the many ways that food is connected to art. We will look at artists that use food as a medium or theme in their artwork and create projects based on these.
Questions? Call our Registration department at 650-917-6800 ext. 0
Please click here to sign-up CSMA Art Club
Vargas PTA
Sip & Shop Mom's Night Out
Friday, Sept 20th from 7-9pm
436 Nicholas Drive (in the Whisman Station neighborhood)
20% of sales benefit the JA Vargas PTA
Meet other Vargas Moms & check out fun & fashionable LuLaRoe Clothing. We carry sizes XXS-3XL in tops, skirts & dresses, as well as leggings for kids & adults. Can’t make it to the event? Shop online www.shopnowwithjaime.com from Sept 20-22nd and it benefits the PTA.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Vargas Restaurant Night
Tuesday, September 17th 4:00-9:00m at Pizza My Heart, Mountain View: Vargas Restaurant night! A portion of that night’s sales will go back to the school. Make sure you tell the cashier you’re dining for Vargas!
Konstella
Please sign up for Konstella at www.Konstella.com. This is the main parent-communication tool for the whole school.
Amazon
If you shop through Amazon, please shop through the Amazon Smile portal for Vargas: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/90-1257353 A percentage of sales through this link goes back to the school.
Book Fair
The Book Fair is coming up and we need your help with setting up the books and cashiering shifts. Please sign up on Konstella!
Join PTA
It’s not too late to join the PTA! You can join and make your donation on the PTA TOTEM website: https://jointotem.com/ca/mountain-view/jose-antonio-vargas-pta/join
District News
We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
MVEF NEWS
Donations from parents like you are already making an impact in our schools and your child’s school day. Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) art and music lessons are beginning this month at all elementary schools. Their curriculum meets the California content standards for music and art, ensuring that elementary students have the opportunity to experience quality art and music programming, entering middle school prepared for band and art electives. These art and music teachers are paid by MVEF thanks to your generosity. Middle school athletes also benefit from your support. The fall sports season kicked off with both middle schools fielding cross country, girls softball and boys volleyball teams. MVEF helps pay for transportation, coaches and officials to make sure every athlete can compete. Support your child and every child in the district. Donate today at mvef.org/donate.
Food for Thought Truck
MVWSD Food and Nutrition Services is proud to introduce the Food for Thought Truck (flyer attached). This truck was made possible by a grant from Second Harvest Food Bank and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Throughout the year, your students will interact with the truck for nutritional education, as well as for food service. Please look for us!
Meal payments
If your family is experiencing a financial setback, please contact us so we can help. We can assist you in applying for free or reduced price meal benefits through the National Lunch Program. The 2019-20 online application deadline is September 20, 2019. No citizenship information is collected during the application process. Just as in the past, you will need to reapply annually. Please go to the following website to apply online today. http://www.ezmealapp.com (or applications are available at your child’s school office).
Meal payment: Full or reduced price meals can be paid online throughout the year at www.EZschoolPay.com. For 2019-20, full price meals cost $3.50 for lunch and $2.50 for breakfast (reduced price is 40¢ for lunch and 30¢ for breakfast). You can pay in advance (online, check, or cash) or at the time of purchase.
Please call MVWSD Food and Nutrition Services at (650) 903-6965 if you have any questions.
Lunch menus
Menus are found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/parents/nutrition
Flyers
Food Truck
Sip & Shop Mom's Night Out