Wise Word - 10/07/2020

Principal’s Message:

Dear Golden Owls,

As you know, MVWSD is working on a new Strategic Plan. We want to ensure this new six-year Strategic Plan 2027 builds on the strengths and assets of our school system, while addressing the most promising opportunities to enhance our work. I want to thank all of you who participated in our survey and those who engaged in our Saturday work session on September 26.. Next week, I will be hosting several opportunities for our community members to provide input on the strategic plan framework. Please join me in shaping our district's strategic plan for the next six years at one of the following sessions.

  • Principal’s Coffee, October 14, 2020  @ 4:00 PM  (Spanish Interpretation available) Register Here

  • School Site Council (SSC)  October 14, 2020 @ 5:30PM  Register Here

  • English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) October 16, 2020 @ 4:00PM Register Here

 

Thank you for supporting our school and students,

Mr. Taylor


Events Calendar

  • 10/7 - Principal’s Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here (Spanish Translation available)

  • 10/12 - Recess Day - No School

  • 10/14 - Principal’s Coffee, 4pm - 5pm, Register Here

  • 10/14 - SSC Virtual Meeting, 5:30pm -6:30pm Register Here

  • 10/16 - ELAC Virtual Meeting, 4pm - 5pm Register Here

  • 10/21 - Principal’s Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm

  • 10/22 - MVWSD Board of Trustee Meeting, 6pm - 10pm

  • 10/28 - Principal’s Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm

  • 10/28 - SSC Virtual Meeting, 5:30pm -6:30pm

  • 10/30 - Principal’s Coffee (Virtual) - 4pm - 5pm

  • 10/30- Vargas Spirit Day - Dress as Favorite Book Character

 


In this Newsletter

School News

  • Golden Ticket Winners 

  • Principal Virtual Office Hours

  • Return to Learn

  • Gift Card Donation

  • Technology Support 

District News

  • Parent University: Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine

  • Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Wednesday, October 14th

  • “Enriching the Learning Experience” Symposium

  • Free Student Meals:  *New* Pick up meals for multiple days

  • How you can protect yourself from COVID: Hand washing

  • Together We Are a Better MVWSD: Together We Are a Better MVWSD: National Coming Out Day - Flyer

  • MVEF News


PTA News

  • PTA Membership Drive is underway!

  • PTA Newsletter - Link here

  • Vargas Spirit Wear

  • Amazon

 


Golden Ticket Winners - Week  10/5/2020
Saleem F         RM: 1              Yusa K             RM:10
Kiley A            RM: 2              Sophie Z          RM: 13
Veda Y            RM: 3              Hayden S        RM: 14
Josh J             RM: 4              Sophia K         RM: 15
Lynn S            RM: 5              Reyna S           RM: 16
Zehra A          RM: 9               Max G             RM: 17
Citlaly A        RM: 10             Ms. Cherry      Food Services
You can stop by the office to pick up your prize! You may stop by on Monday or Wednesday from 11:30am to 2:00pm.

Principal Virtual Office Hour  

Please drop in my Principal Hours today to discuss how to view your child’s i-Ready scores or other questions . Register Here


Return to Learn Update

Thank you so much for completing the Learning Options Survey.  The data is essential  to shape what our Blended Learning program will look like once we reopen.  Although we do not have a reopening date yet, the Vargas and MVWSD staff are working to plan the details for a safe return to learning. As mentioned in previous communication, we have stocked up on PPE for staff and students, cleared out learning spaces to allow for maximum physical distancing, upgraded to MERV 13 air filter, and serviced our HVAC units.  We are developing screening, pick up, drop off, and recess and lunch procedures.  We are also educating students on safety procedures, such as proper hand washing and face mask use, through our Monday morning messages. (You can always view these videos on our school's Facebook page!). You can see our weekly progress on our  Reopening Checklist. While we are using the data from the survey, please know that  classroom/teacher switches will not happen until we have a reopening date.


Gift Card Donation

I hope you and your families are staying healthy during this unprecedented time. As you may know, there are several families in our district that need help to meet some basic needs.  The district is providing meals every day but with kids being home from school, some families need more support for providing dinner and weekend meals.  There is a critical need for gift cards for these families to use for food.  If you are able, please consider donating a gift card to families in our own district.  Thanks so much for your help!  Let’s show these families how strong and supportive our Vargas community really is!

 

Things to remember:

Gift cards should only be for Safeway and should be electronic.  (https://www.giftcardmall.com/e-gift-cards/safeway-egift-card


Electronic gift cards should be sent to our school and community engagement facilitator (SCEF), Ms. Bea, at [email protected].


Families are welcome to donate more than 1 gift card. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Bea at [email protected].


Technology Support:

If you are having problems with the chromebook you can contact: [email protected] to create a ServiceNow ticket or call the Tech Department at

(650) 526-3252.


If it's not device/hardware related or account related, and more about using a program, please contact Marissa Hamaguchi, Tech Coach, ([email protected]) or call/text (650) 336-5863.


District News

Parent University: Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine

Kids are online more than ever in this post-COVID world, with increased use of digital technology for academics, entertainment, and social connection.


Join My Digital TAT2 for a highly engaging and informative webinar at the MVWSD Parent University event on Wednesday, October 7th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Hear how young people are affected by the latest news, trends, and data from the world of technology. Get tips and strategies for how to teach responsibility and balanced and healthy use of the internet and social media.


NEW ZOOM LINK (no registration required)

 

Recommended for all adults who support youth and want to learn thoughtful and supportive ways to navigate media with children. For more information about My Digital TAT2 and their mission, please visit: www.mydigitaltat2.org

 

Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Wednesday, October 14th

You can change the life of a student!

Come learn about volunteer opportunities to Mentor high school students and Tutor students in grades K-8  in our Mountain View and Los Altos schools.

Becoming a Mentor or Tutor will add joy to your life and help a student in our local community to a brighter future!

There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer.  You're welcome to just come and learn more about what we do. 

Please note: Our programs are currently remote and will remain so until students are back in school and the school district permits volunteers in the classroom

 

All volunteers must be high school graduates.  

Date:             Wednesday, October 14th
Time:            10:00 - 11:00 am
Location:     Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register:      REGISTER ONLINE:
Questions:   [email protected]
Information:  MentorTutorConnection.org

 

“Enriching the Learning Experience” Symposium

The Santa Clara County Office of Education Parent Engagement team is pleased to announce our FREE virtual event "Enriching the Learning Experience: Vision for 2020 and Beyond" which will be held from 10:00am to Noon on Saturday, Oct 17 and 24, 2020. Together with 6th District PTA, we are putting together a Parent Engagement symposium for parents, students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and liaisons to focus on student success. We have lined up a number of dynamic speakers and 10 workshops each day of the symposium. Here's a sneak peak of our workshops: 

  

Dr. Joyce Epstein, professor of education and director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University. She has over one hundred fifty publications, including School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, 4th edition (2019). Her Keynote will address school administrators in the area of parent engagement and her Workshop will address teachers and how they can involve parents in homework. 

  

Ruby Ibarra, local bay area COVID-19 researcher and hip-hop recording artist. Her Keynote will address parents and share her inspiring story of how to channel obstacles into opportunities. She will present a Spoken Word Writing Workshop for students! 

  

Gene Luen Yang, graphic novelist of American Born Chinese, Secret Coders, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Superman. In 2016, he was the Library of Congress's 5th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; he was also the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in that same year. His workshop for teachers will address adopting a rich, diverse reading curriculum for the classroom. 

 

A Financial Literacy Workshop series “Understanding Debt and How to Improve Your Credit Score,” “Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis,” and “Learning the Value of a Dollar” by Excite Credit Union will give good money management tips for students and adults alike.  

 

Registration is open! Visit “Enriching the Learning Experience” event Website to see all 10 workshop descriptions, speaker bios, and registration form. 

 

Free Student Meals:  *New* Pick up meals for multiple days

Free meals are again available to all children in the Mountain View Whisman School District age 18 and younger. No IDs required. 

 

Daily breakfast and lunch at all schools, except Stevenson (pickup for Stevenson is at Theuerkauf). Times: 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the elementary schools. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the middle schools.

 

Come to Graham Middle School between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to pick up meals for multiple days. Food items will be different from what is served during daily pickups. On Monday: Pick up for four days. On Friday: Pick up for three days.

 

Walk, drive or roll up to grab a free meal and go! For menus and information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition.

 

How you can protect yourself from COVID: Hand washing

handwashing video thumbnail Washing your hands is the single most effective way you can protect yourself from germs, like the COVID-19 virus. Our MVWSD school nurse Jennifer gives important tips in this video: https://vimeo.com/464378808.  Please review and practice with your family.


Together We Are a Better MVWSD: Together We Are a Better MVWSD: National Coming Out Day

Mountain View Whisman School District embraces its role in establishing its commitment to equity in our district. As part of our "Together We Are a Better MVWSD" series, here is October's topic:


Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or an ally, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality this Coming Out Day! Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality. Inspired by National Coming Out Day on October 11th, this month’s calendar provides resources for the MVWSD community around the topic of LGBTQ+ and gender identities. Developmentally appropriate lesson plans have been provided for teachers, while articles and parenting guides appear this month in the parent section of the calendar. Check out the literature section at the bottom of the calendar for age-appropriate literature to support your discussions in school and at-home.


For a look at this month's graphic, please see attached flyer or https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD


MVEF News: 

Did you know that your donations to MVEF support CSMA art and music for your student?

 

Fifth grade art and music started on 9/23! TK-4 art and music started the week before! All TK-4th students will have virtual art and music classes led by a teacher from CSMA. This year 5th grade students chose instrumental music or art with CSMA.  We thank the CSMA teachers for sharing their engaging and FUN talents as well as filling a need for creativity and active learning on Zoom.

 

MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding.  Please see the website at https://www.mvef.org/ for more information and to donate online. Please consider joining our team of volunteers or emailing us with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!


Vargas PTA

PTA Membership Drive is underway!

Thank you to over a 100 parents, guardians and family

members for joining our cause!  This month the PTA

is celebrating our members (and their students)

with some treats & sweets!  Our goal is 300 Members strong.

For full details click HERE!

 

What do I have to do?

1. Join the PTA through our website

2. Your Student decorates an owl to add to the

Vargas Nest Community!

3.  Drop the owl off anytime from now

until 10/24.

4. Receive a voucher for FREE coffee

& donut holes from ClockTower

Coffee!

 

*vouchers will be handed out

on 10/24 with student   

enrichment kits   


PTA Newsletter 

Please read this month’s PTA Newsletter to learn more about what we are doing! 


Do you have your JA Vargas Spirit Wear yet?

Do you have your JA Vargas Spirit Wear yet? Lots of great options and make sure your students wear Vargas Green on Mondays to show our school spirit! Here's a link to purchase spirit wear that supports your school! Easy and flexible curbside pickup!


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.
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