Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 was our very first 100th day of school. We have had more than 100 days of learning, growing our minds and skills. We have had more than 100 days to grow as a community. This also means that I have had more than 100 days to grow in my leadership. It has been quite a journey, and I feel honored to be able to celebrate these first 100 days with our fabulous community!
We appreciate you for supporting our school and students.
Mr. Taylor
Events Calendar
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1/29 - SSC Meeting (Rescheduled from 1/15/2020), 5pm, Conference Room
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1/31 - Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - 9:10am - MUR
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1/31 - Family Movie Night with PTA, 5:30pm - MUR
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2/5 - Recycle Craft Night, 5:00pm - 7:00pm - MUR
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2/7 - Project Cornerstone Meeting, 8:15am - 9:15am, MUR
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2/14 - 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 - Spring Pictures
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2/26 - SSC Meeting, 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Conference Room
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2/27 - CSMA Spring Concert - 10:20 -11:10am, MUR
In this Newsletter
School News
District News
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We Are Fighting The Flu!
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It's flu season: Tips for keeping your family healthy
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Afterschool Activities
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Register or reconfirm your student’s enrollment in MVWSD for 2020-21
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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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General CAC Meeting/ Let’s Talk / Parent Chat / Parent Ed. Event: Crisis Prevention Strategies / Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group
Flyers
PTA News
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 1/27
Adalberto RM: 2
Joze RM: 3
Amrita RM: 5
Iris RM: 4
Kathrine RM: 8
Liz RM: 9
Boyuan RM: 10
Charlotte RM: 19
Evan RM: 20
Andy R RM: 21
Artwork by 4th Grade Students
We are happy to announce that artwork by Art4Schools students, including 4th grade students at Vargas, will be shown at the annual student and faculty show, Explore Identity Through Art.
The exhibit will be on display from January 7th, 2020 -- April 30th, 2020 at the Mountain View Children’s Library, 585 Franklin Street.
We would like to recognize these outstanding artists and congratulate them on their great work: Reyna S., Grace J., Yaya L. Sebi J. Tate W., Akash D., Vilmer B., Misha W., Evan B., Ian P.
Principal’s Coffee
Mr. Taylor will be reviewing iReady scores as well as answering any questions. We will have District Guest Speakers: Carmen Ghysels, Chief Human Relations Officer and Shelly Hausman, Public Information Officer to answer any questions.
Family Math Night
It was nice to see so many families at our Family Math Night. I shared information about our math program (Eureka Math) and ways to support students at home. We also played a few games using playing cards and dice that help students with . The presentation can be found here.
After School Pick-up
Parents, please remember to arrange for child care pick-up for your child no later than 10 minutes after dismissal. Our schedule can be found on our website. (Click on link to view schedule.) Vargas Daily Schedule
Attendance
Help our students be their best. When we reduce chronic absences we improve graduation rates, increase academic achievement and give young people the best chance at success in their adult life.
Research shows that school attendance is a strong indicator of success. It's about students learning what they need to know, belonging to the school community, and being part of the team that is preparing them with good habits for high school.
Regular school attendance is required by the state law, and is included in the District’s Local Control Accountability plan (LCAP) and reported in the California School Dashboard. State law requires MVWSD to notify parents whose students are truant or chronically absent. The state, county, and district are monitoring attendance, both excused and unexcused absences because the goal is for students to be in school as often as possible. Our schools’ goals are a 97% attendance rate.
Most parents are aware of what it means for a child to be truant from school. However, there is a new push 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. 15, 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 now 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. MVWSD is bound by law to report and handle chronic absences in this manner.
When do parents get truancy/chronic absence letters? California law requires MVWSD to notify parents after three unexcused absences and/ or tardies over 30 minutes. Any three unexcused absences and/ or tardies over 30 minutes means a child is truant. MVWSD will send parents letters about chronically absent students at regular intervals after students are absent 10% of the time school is in session.
Why do parents get truancy/chronic absence letters? These letters are intended to inform parents of the law as it relates to school attendance. This is a district-wide effort, and all families across the district receive letters when students have had three or more unexcused absences (truancy) or have missed 10% of the time school has been in session (chronically absent). These letters also inform parents of next steps and any resources or procedures in place to help their family get their child to school regularly.
Click on the links to find more detailed information regarding attendance, tardies, and reporting absences.
(Absences & Excuses - AR 5113; BP 5113, Attendance)
Vargas PTA
Announcement
Volunteers Needed! The PTA has worked hard to bring plan a variety of events and fundraisers for students, staff, and families, however, we need YOUR help! There are a variety of ways to donate small amounts of time in order to make these a reality and a success. Please check Konstella for ways to help at upcoming events.
Family Movie Night - January 31st
Join the PTA for our first Family Movie Night! We will be showing Dreamworks “How to Train a Dragon” in the MUR on Friday, January 31st. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and the movie will begin at 6:00 pm. The PTA will be selling food for dinner and of course popcorn! Bring the whole family to this free event and don’t forget a picnic blanket or lawn chairs!
**All students MUST be accompanied by an adult**
Recycled Craft Night - February 5th
The PTA is hosting a Recycled Craft Night on Wednesday, February 5th from 5:00-7:00pm.
We are asking for donations of your clean recyclable items and other things you may have around the house.
Please drop your recycled goods in the box in the MUR from January 27th – January 31st. Help us let our children create their own masterpieces out of recyclables! **All students MUST be accompanied by an adult**
The list of needed supplies:
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
We Are Fighting The Flu!
Our schools are seeing more cases of flu in both staff and students. With seasonal flu circulating at our schools and in the community, here are a few reminders about what you should do.
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If your child has flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose), keep him or her home until they no longer have a fever without taking any fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours. If your child has other health issues, you may want to call your health care provider for advice.
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Drink a lot of liquid (such as juice, water, Pedialyte ®, broth).
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Keep him or her comfortable. Rest is important.
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For fever, sore throat, and muscle aches, you can use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor recommends.
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Use good health habits such as covering coughs and/or sneezes in sleeves, or to cover coughs/sneezes with tissues. Wash hands often and keep them away from your face.
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Keep tissues close and have a trash bag within reach for disposing of used tissues.
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Don’t go to school, daycare, or public places if you are sick.
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If someone in your home is sick, keep him or her away from family members who are not sick.
Be watchful for emergency warning signs that might indicate you need to seek emergency medical care:
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Fast breathing or trouble breathing
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Bluish or gray skin color
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Not drinking enough fluids
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Not waking up or not interacting
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Feeling extremely irritable
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Not urinating
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Your symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
It's flu season: Tips for keeping your family healthy
Just a reminder that it's flu season. Please see click here for information for flu symptoms and tips on how to prevent the flu. Sick children should stay home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). Wash your hands and take care of yourself!
Afterschool Activities
There are many opportunities in Mountain View for students to enrich their learning afterschool or during school breaks. With safety and consistency in mind, our school newsletter and website will advertise only District-, school- and PTA-sponsored events and activities. While we recognize that there are many providers of enrichment activities who use our campus, we may promote only those that follow specific MVWSD parameters for safety and supervision.
The District provides inplay.org as a resource to parents who are seeking additional learning opportunities for their students. To view student enrichment activities, school break and afterschool classes in our community that are not hosted by MVWSD, please see our partner, https://www.inplay.org/r/mountain-view/. MVWSD has not reviewed all programs/events found there and does not specifically endorse them. Parents should thoroughly research all activities before enrolling their children.
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.
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
General CAC Meeting/ Let’s Talk / Parent Chat / Parent Ed. Event: Crisis Prevention Strategies / Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group
General CAC meeting. Monday February 3, 9:30 am at MVWSD Office on Montecito Blvd. 9:00-9:30 am will be for the Learning Challenges Committee and MVWSD specific issues.
Let's Talk IEP/504 Support Group. Tuesday February 11 10am-12pm, Cafe Tables in front of Whole Foods in Los Altos.
Parent Chat, Support group for parents of teens with mental health challenges. Tuesday February 11, 7-8:30. Los Altos Library.
>>Parent Education event: Crisis Prevention Strategies with Special Education Director Arianna Mayes. February 26 Graham Middle School Auditorium 7-8:30 PM
Learn how de-escalation can help create a safe place for kids to express their emotions and solve problems. How managing your own emotions, staying calm, allowing feelings to happen, creating connection, self-awareness and self-advocacy can allow your child your thrive and your household to feel like a safe place for all.
Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group February 26, 7-8:30 pm, Mountain View Rengstorff Community Center.