Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
We want to hear from you! LCAP survey
The District is beginning its annual process of writing the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your input from the survey will guide the development of our District’s three-year plan and inform the update of the District’s Strategic Plan. These documents are the blueprints that guide all of the District’s work for the benefit of our students.
The survey has been revised to include questions about school and District climate. Mr. Taylor will be presenting the LCAP/Strategic Plan process on the following dates:
February 26, 2020 5:00PM at the School Site Council (SSC) meeting
February 27, 2020 6:00 PM at the English Language Advisory Committee ELAC meeting
February 28, 2020 8:00 AM at Principal’s Coffee
At these meetings, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about this survey and/or give your input in person.
Parents, we want to hear from you: Please click below to give input through February 28 in a survey. (Using a laptop/desktop computer or a tablet is recommended. Formatting may not be as readable on mobile devices). If you would like a paper copy, please come to the office.
Parent Survey: https://hanover-research.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0DJUXBF9K0zC1QV?Group=Parent
More information found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/district_plans/lcap_lcff
We appreciate you for supporting our school and students.
Mr. Taylor
​
Events Calendar
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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
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2/27 - ELAC Meeting, 6:00pm - 7:00pm - MUR
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2/28 - Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - 9:10am - MUR
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3/5 - Family Science Night, 6:00pm - 8:00pm - MUR
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3/6 - Project Cornerstone Meeting, 8:15am - 9:15am, MUR
In this Newsletter
School News
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After School Pick-up
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Attendance
District News
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Saturday with the Superintendent: Feb. 8 - Note new time!
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Coronavirus Update
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We Are Fighting The Flu!
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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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Let’s Talk / Parent Chat / Parent Ed. Event: Crisis Prevention Strategies / Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group
Flyers
PTA News
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 2/3
Douglas RM: 1
Jhazlyn RM: 2
Samara RM: 3
Ian RM: 4
Angelina RM: 5
Santiago RM: 8
Katalina RM: 9
Maxine RM: 10
Brandon RM: 19
Valeria RM: 20
Lucas 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.
Science Night at Vargas
Please join us for a fun Super Powers! Science Night on Thursday, March 5 at 6:00pm in the MUR. Sponsored by the San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum.
Children and parents together will:
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Discover the science secrets behind your super hero’s special powers
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Create a superhero who uses friction to climb Up, Up and Away
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Create a Bionic Ear to test your new-found hearing
There will be a Taco truck selling food starting at 5:30pm.
Do you love science? Please consider volunteering for this event, contact Ms Bea at [email protected]
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 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.
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
Saturday with the Superintendent: Feb. 8 - Note new time!
Saturday with the Superintendent: Join Superintendent Dr. Ayindé Rudolph for casual conversation on Saturday, February 8 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Panera Bread at El Monte and El Camino. Bring your questions and comments.
Coronavirus update
It is worrisome to hear the news of the novel (new) coronavirus. While there are many factors we cannot control, please know we are closely monitoring it and working to make our schools as healthy as possible. Our District is going above the recommended basic actions to help protect against the coronavirus as well as the seasonal flu, and we need your assistance. Please visit www.mvwsd.org/coronavirus to read the latest information, learn about the District's actions, and how parents can help.
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
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.
Let’s Talk / Parent Chat / Parent Ed. Event: Crisis Prevention Strategies / Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group
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.