Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
I hope you enjoyed your long weekend. In my reflection time over this past weekend, I am reminded of how much of a role model, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was for me growing up.
The Importance of Role Models
When we reflect back on the experiences that shaped us when we were young, we often remember a special adult in our lives. It might have been a teacher, coach, older relative, community member, or other caring adult that made a big impact on us. We see these role models as being important in shaping our lives. And that’s no surprise—research shows that positive adult role models have a tremendous impact on young people and can have the following benefits:
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Higher levels of self esteem
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Reduced use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs
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Improved high school graduation rates
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Greater aspirations and expectations for their careers
Unfortunately, many youth in Silicon Valley don’t have the adult role models that they need to thrive—in Project Cornerstone’s 2016 survey, only 57% of 4th-6th graders and 37% of 7th-12th graders reported the presence of positive adult role models in their lives. To help address this problem, January is Adult Role Model month in Silicon Valley.
A positive role model doesn’t have to have any special skills—you don’t have to be a sports hero or a billionaire for youth to look up to you. In fact, most youth who said that they had role models identified them as caring friends and relatives. Every single one of us has the potential to make a difference in the lives of young people—all that matters is being willing to take the time to get to know a young person and let them get to know you, and to share your experience and knowledge. The following discussion topics can help young people recognize the role models that influence their lives:
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What’s the difference between a hero and a role model?
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Are celebrities like sports stars, actors, and musicians good role models? Why or why not?
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Which adults whom you know do you admire? Why?
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What have you learned from adults that has helped or inspired you?
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What would you like to be able to talk about more with adults?
This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone’s Asset-a-Month program. Project Cornerstone is the Silicon Valley initiative to train and mobilize adults countywide to intentionally develop healthy, caring, and responsible children and youth. For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org.
Parking Lot
In keeping with this week’s message, please remember that your children are always watching. Please help us to model “The Vargas Way.” During pickup and drop-off, please make sure that you are being respectful to staff and other parents. Additionally, please demonstrate safety by using the designated crosswalk.
We appreciate you for supporting our school and students.
Mr. Taylor
Events Calendar
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1/22/2020 - Fourth Grade Field Trip
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1/22/2020 - PTA General Meeting, 6pm - MUR
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1/23/2020 - ELAC Meeting, 8:30am - 9:30am - MUR
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1/23/2020 - Family Math Night, 6:00pm - 7:00pm, MUR
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1/29/2020 - SSC Meeting (Rescheduled from 1/15/2020), 5pm, Conference Room
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1/31/2020 - Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - 9:10am - MUR
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2/7/2020 - Project Cornerstone Meeting, 8:15am - 9:15am, MUR
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2/14/2020 - End of Trimester - Minimum Day
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2/17/2020 - 2/21/2020: Winter Break - No School
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2/26/2020 - Spring Pictures
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2/26/2020 - SSC Meeting, 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Conference Room
In this Newsletter
School News
District News
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Register or reconfirm your student’s enrollment in MVWSD for 2020-21
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MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents William Stixrud, M.D. and Ned Johnson on "The Self-Driven Child
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MV Parent U offering: "Being an "Askable Adult"
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Career event: In conjunction with Silicon Valley Reads 2020: Women Making It Happen
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MVEF Winter Gala and Auction
PTA News
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PTA General Meeting
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Konstella
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Amazon
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 1/21
Hana RM: 2
Serena C. RM: 3
Anaiya RM: 5
CJ Delgado RM: 4
Darina S. RM: 8
Kevin G. RM: 9
Reyansh RM: 10
Stephani RM: 19
Uriel RM: 21
Alexa S RM: 20
Vargas PTA
General PTA meeting
Be the first to know! Join us for our General PTA meeting on Wednesday, January 22 at 6:00pm in the MUR.
We’re going to talk about upcoming parties and events. Principal Taylor will give an update on the campus. We’ll also appoint our Nominating Committee, who will put together the slate for next year’s possible PTA Board!
Free childcare is provided by Right at School, and there will be pizza.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
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.
District News
Happening now: Register or reconfirm your student’s enrollment in MVWSD for 2020-21
Mountain View Whisman School District student enrollment for next fall is open online now.
For NEW students: Through February 7, you can register your child for transitional kindergarten - eighth grade online for the 2020-21 school year here: www.mvwsd.org/register
For CURRENTLY enrolled students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents can log on to the PowerSchool Parent Portal to enroll their children for 2020-21 through February 7. To check your access, log on to https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/. You received an email on Nov. 21 with your username. If you have difficulty signing in, please contact your school office.
You may click here to confirm your child’s school of residence. For more information, call 650-526-3500 or go to www.mvwsd.org/register.
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents William Stixrud, M.D. and Ned Johnson on "The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Kids More Control Over Their Lives" on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | MVHS Spartan Theater | 3535 Truman Ave., Mountain View
Evidence strongly suggests that age-appropriate autonomy is vital for young people’s mental health—it helps them to sculpt brains that are resilient, resourceful, and ready to take on new challenges.
When The Self-Driven Child authors Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson discovered a common problem among their young clients: kids were feeling acutely stressed. Some stumbled in high school, while others hit college and unraveled. Bill is a clinical neuropsychologist who helps kids gripped by anxiety or struggling to learn. Ned is a motivational coach who runs an elite tutoring service. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids a sense of control. In this talk, Bill and Ned advise that parents and educators adopt the role of consultant rather than manager to give kids more responsibility for their own life decisions even before they leave home.
Audience: Parents and educators of students grades 6 - 12.
To register for this free event, go to https://mvla2019-20-stixrudandjohnson.eventbrite.com
Books available for purchase, thanks to Books, Inc., (cash or check)
Sponsored by Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), MVLA High School Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF), and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
MV Parent U offering: "Being an "Askable Adult" Talking to your child about sexuality" on Wednesday, January 29 from 6:30-8pm at Crittenden Middle School, MUR.
Presenters:
Health Connected, a Bay Area health education leader
Parents will learn:
The why, what, when and how of speaking to your child about sexual health
Join us for a fun and interactive workshop to inspire and assist trusted adults to engage their children in open and honest conversation
Appropriate for adults with children of any age, and definitely relevant for adults with children approaching puberty through their teen years
Childcare and Spanish interpretation will be available. Reserve your seat: askableadult2020.eventbrite.com
Career event
In conjunction with Silicon Valley Reads 2020: Women Making It Happen, youth in
grades K-8 are invited to explore career opportunities with women who have excelled in their fields. After a brief opening, attendees will be able to visit with Career Guests who will share information about their careers and answer questions. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Career Guests include women working in these jobs and industries: Airline Pilot, Bank President, Chef, Civil Engineer, Cybersecurity, Dentist, Doctor, Firefighter, Landscape Architect, Lawyer, Law Enforcement, Software Engineer, Television Broadcasting, and more.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2020, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95131
Cost: Free. For more information and to register, go to: www.eiseverywhere.com/sccoesvrcareerday
MVEF Winter Gala and Auction- Get your Tickets Today!
The Mountain View Educational Foundation staff and volunteers are working hard to make the Winter Gala an incredible night. Join MVEF on February 8th to enjoy a delicious dinner, dancing, and lots of auction fun. There are some incredible auction packages in store for guests, including an Escape to Santa Cruz, a Warriors Game Night Experience, dinner at MVFD firehouse, an exquisite handcrafted quilt created by MVWSD’s own Principal Gloria Higgins, Principal Terri Lambert and Executive Assistant Kathi Lilga, summer camps, one of a kind parties, and much, much, more. You don’t want to miss this event that raises funds to support every child and every school in the district. Buy your tickets today at mvef.org. Ticket sales close on January 27th.
Flyers
Family Math Night - January 23rd
MV Parent U offering: "Being an "Askable Adult" - January 29th