Hello Golden Owls,
As we enter the first full month of school, we are settling into our school routine and students are continuing to strive to do their best. We finished assessing our students on i-Ready and the teachers will continue to use the data to plan lessons to help tailor the students levels in the classroom.
i-Ready Diagnostic 1 Assessment Scores
Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal on September 8, 2023, after 4:00 p.m. Reports are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports” for each of your students. Steps for accessing reports on PowerSchool Parent Portal are here: Accessing PowerSchool Parent Portal i-Ready Reports. If you have difficulty logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your school’s office.
Additionally, we encourage all of our students to practice the lessons on i-Ready at home daily to work on the lessons assigned to them. In the next couple of weeks, we will be starting to draft our school site plan and creating goals using data from both i-ready and last year’s CAASPP. Our site goals guide our instruction for the year and align to our district’s strategic goals as described in the plan.
In Partnership,
Principal Vern Taylor
Events Calendar
September
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7th Board of Trustees 6 pm Agenda here
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7th Ice Cream Social 12:00 -1:30 PM
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8th Community Check-in with Dr. Rudolph- Register here
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11th CSMA Art & Music for K-4
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21st Bike Safety Assembly
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26th ELAC Meeting 6:00 pm - MUR
In this Newsletter
School News:
Golden Ticket Winners
September: Attendance Awareness Month
Early Pick-Up
After School Pick-up and Drop-off
Water Bottles and Student Property
Gift Card Donation
Pedestrian and Bike Safety
School Meals are Free
Looking for an Afterschool program?
How to Apply to be a Regular Volunteer
Flyers:
2023 -2024 School Year Calendar - Here
SELPA 1 CAC Newsletter 2023-2024 Here
September Menu Here
District News:
The Board of Trustees will meet September 07 at 6:00 pm Agenda here
Superintendent’s Community Check Sep 08 3:30 pm
iReady Diagnostic 1 Assessment Scores
Volunteer badges: New, easy-to-follow chart
MVWSD Seeks Parents & Staff Members for Health & Wellness Committee
Volunteer with MVEF!
Mentor Tutor Connection: Volunteer Information Session
August/ September CAC and LCC Events here
Parent Chat - Sep 12 10:00 am
Morning Let’s Talk Sep 13 10:00 am
The View Teen Center: September here
MVLA Parent Ed presents “Growing Up in Public: Helping our Kids Navigate the Digital Coming of Age
MV Public Library Parenting Program: Sep 27 here
PTA News
After School Programs
Volunteering
Ice Cream Social
Amici’s Dine Out Fundraiser
Membership Drive
Konstella
Website
Golden Ticket Winners August 30, 2023
Noah N. RM: 1 Celeste R. RM: 10
Walter K. RM: 2 Elmer K. RM: 11
Julia W. RM: 3 Rushil M RM: 12
Eric M. RM: 4 Penny R. RM: 13
Kai R. RM: 5 Joshua B. RM: 14
Dannyel O. RM: 6 Veer K. RM: 15
Alexa G. RM: 8 Gia R. RM: 17
Perla G. RM: 9 Julio R . RM: 18
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September: Attendance Awareness Month
September is Attendance Awareness Month.
Why is it important that students are in school regularly? Research shows that school attendance is a strong indicator of success. Missing just two days of school a month is 10% of the school year, and negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit early, so they learn that going to school on time, every day, is important.
Our schools’ goals are a 97% attendance rate.
Early Pick Up
Do you need to pick up your child early? Please make sure to follow our procedure:
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An approved adult must check in and sign-out students.
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The office will call the classroom and ask for the student to come down.
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Students will be dismissed from the office.
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For security reasons, no one is allowed to go to the classroom to pick up students.
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*Feel free to call the front office to alert us that you are on your own.
After School Pick-up and Drop-off
The drop-off- and pickup lane is for drop off and pick up only.
A few reminders:
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Please do not leave your car unattended on the curb during pick up and drop-off.
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Please wait in your car until students are brought to the main gate.
If you need to park, please use the designated spots only. Parking is limited, so if you need to park, please arrive early and park in our designated spots only.
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**Our School maintains accessibility for people with mobility challenges in accordance with Mountain View’s guidelines. That includes blue reserved parking zones in our parking lot, for physically challenged drivers and passengers. Blue zones are areas reserved for parking by disabled persons. Blue means no standing or parking except by vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or a placard issued pursuant to Section 2251.5 ("Disabled Persons' Exemption"), or Section 9105 ("Disabled or Blind Veterans"), of the California Vehicle Code.
Water Bottles and Other Student Property
Students continue to become more familiar with our daily school routines, but we continue to see lunch bags and water bottles left behind. Please take a moment to label all of your child’s items so that we can quickly return them when left out at recess, snack and lunch.
Gift Card Donation
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 some families need more support for providing food, clothes and shoes for their kids. There is a critical need for gift cards for these families. If you are able, please consider donating a Safeway or Target 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!
Please bring the gift cards to the office. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Bea, School and Community Engagement Facilitator – SCEF- at [email protected].
Pedestrian and Bike Safety
On Thursday, September 21, our students will participate in the city’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. The program provides our Golden Owls with lots of good information on walking and rolling to school, including these safety tips and rules for riding. Please make sure your child wears a helmet if biking or scooting to school. You can also see MVWSD updated information about safe walking and biking routes to school. (Click Here-look under Vargas)
School Meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school
MVWSD will continue to provide free meals this year to all students as part of California’s universal meal program.
However, parents need to reapply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals program now for this school year. If you think you could qualify (qualifying income levels listed here), we ask you to apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Qualifying is one factor in your child’s eligibility for free MVWSD after school care and summer camp.
The more applications your school gathers at the start of each school year, the more additional funding it can receive for all kinds of programs. If you are currently out of work, you may qualify and help your school, regardless of your financial situation. Apply at https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ or call your school office.
Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+!
A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:
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The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].
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The student qualifies for free or reduced price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go to ezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.
Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.
For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to [email protected] or Jennifer Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.
How to Apply to be a Regular Volunteer
Start collecting documents now to avoid delays at the beginning of the school year. For all the details and documentation required, please see mvwsd.org/volunteers.
If you have never had a badge before, please read the fingerprinting fact sheet and then ask your principal for the fingerprint request form. After you complete the form, your school will give you the link to the Raptor volunteer application.
If you want to renew your volunteer badge, ask your school for the link to the Raptor volunteer application. TB tests are good for 3 years, although you will still need to upload proof in the online application. Fingerprint checks are good for a few years. In the online application, you will provide the last school year you completed a check or the ATI number.
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DISTRICT NEWS
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
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Resolution in Support of Hispanic Heritage Month
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Monta Loma Fence Choice
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Discussion of Joint Meeting with MVLA, MVWSD, and the City of Mountain View
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Questions for the September 18, 2023 Joint Meeting for the Education Enhancement Reserve Joint Powers Authority (Shoreline)
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Literacy Instruction and Dyslexia Support Plan
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Early Literacy Update
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Sept. 8
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: mvw.sd/CC0908. Mark your calendars for all upcoming community check-ins! A list of dates and login information is here.
i-Ready Diagnostic 1 Assessment Scores
Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal on September 8, 2023, after 4:00 p.m. Reports are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports” for each of your students. Steps for accessing reports on PowerSchool Parent Portal are here: Accessing PowerSchool Parent Portal i-Ready Reports. If you have difficulty logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your school’s office.
Volunteer badges: New, easy-to-follow chart
If you think that you will be volunteering on campus more than 3 times this school year for more than 10 min each visit, or plan to be an overnight trip chaperone, now is the time to apply for your volunteer badge. Please check the easy-to-follow chart here to help you get started. There are more steps to complete the first time you apply. After that, renewals are easier. Thank you for helping to protect our students' safety and to ensure MVWSD complies with state law. We are grateful for parents willing to help us at school!
MVWSD Seeks Parents & Staff Members for Health & Wellness Committee
The Health & Wellness Committee is looking for parents and staff members for the 2023-24 school year! This committee aligns District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and through promoting a safe and healthy school environment.
Last year, the committee’s work helped increase student access to nutrition information and education, professional development on USDA standards for school nutrition, and supported student opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated staff member representative from each school.
If you have experience, knowledge, or interest, please complete an application at: http://mvw.sd/health. Applications are due by September 13.
The Health and Wellness Committee will meet 4 times during the school year on Zoom, with the first meeting scheduled for September 28.
If you have any questions, please contact Brian White, Health & Wellness Coordinator at [email protected].
Volunteer with MVEF!
MVEF needs 1-3 additional volunteers at each school in MVWSD. MVEF school representatives help the families at their school understand what MVEF is and why it exists so that they are inspired to donate and spread the word about the impact of MVEF funding. MVEF also needs volunteers to help with planning our annual Gala and other community events. To learn more, visit: https://www.mvef.org/volunteer
Mentor Tutor Connection: Volunteer Information Session
Mentor Tutor Connection is holding a Volunteer Information Session on Wed., Sept. 13, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, MVLA District Office Conference Room, 1299 Bryant Ave., Mountain View. Please join us and learn about becoming a mentor and/or a tutor in the Mountain View and Los Altos public schools. Help a local student to a brighter future! To register go to www.mentortutorconnection.org/events - or email [email protected].
August/September CAC and LCC Events here
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org
We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children: Try a Sensory Diet
Parent Chat - September 12, 10 am
Are you concerned about the emotional well-being of your child? Peer to peer support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. Every second Tuesday of the month at 10 am on Google Meet. Meeting is for 1 hour only due to Google Meet limitations. Contact [email protected] for invite.
September 13, 10 am Morning Let’s Talk - IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZModeirqToiHdQpAOpxx4g3NaLHuElaLtJs
Missed our Parent Education events last year?
We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including last year’s Inclusive Fun Fair for summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy7IcVz-4LTDxv2Jaq13nw
The View Teen Center: September here
The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m., and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming events and programs in September or visit their webpage for more information.
MVLA Parent Ed presents “Growing Up in Public: Helping our Kids Navigate the Digital Coming of Age”
Join MVLA Parent Ed on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 7pm (MVHS- Spartan Theater) as Devorah Heitner, Ph.D., and author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World, shows parents how to help tweens and teens navigate digital identity, boundaries, privacy and reputation. Drawing on her extensive research and interviews with kids, parents, educators, clinicians, and scholars, she teaches parents to overcome the instinct to control and monitor their kids’ online activity, and instead, support them as they build their sense of self. Register for this free event here.
MV Public Library Parenting Program: Sept. 27 here
The MV Public Library will host a parenting presentation, “The Best You for the Best Them,” on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm on Zoom. Research shows that teens' and parents' emotional well-being are highly entwined. With support from author and parenting coach, Laura Cleary, set aside time to acknowledge your need as a parent for selfcare, and receive concrete ideas and support to model this for your teen and uplift your relationship. Register here.
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PTA News
Afterschool Programs
Many of our afterschool programs will be starting next week and the last chance to sign-up for several programs (such as art, science, spanish) is Thursday Sept 7. Sign-up while you can; classes that don’t meet enrollment numbers may be canceled. Some vendors additionally offer scholarships, be sure to check out the website for details.
For the list of programs and details about scheduling and scholarships, click here.
Volunteering
There are numerous ways to get involved, with varying time commitments, and each role is important in making this year even better than the last. Visit this link to see volunteer opportunities: https://tinyurl.com/VargasVolunteer2023 or email Kim at [email protected].
Ice Cream Social - Sept 7th, 12-1:30PM
The PTA is hosting our first ice cream social of the year to celebrate the start of the school year. Come and meet other Vargas families! Sign-up for ice cream toppings donations or to help scoop ice cream on Konstella.
Amici’s Dine Out Fundraiser - September 19th, 11:30am-9pm
On Tuesday, September 19th, JA Vargas PTA will be hosting a fundraiser at Amici’s Pizza between 11:30 and 9pm. Dine-in or pickup ONLY (third party vendors eg Doordash not eligible). Be sure to mention VARGAS school and Amici’s will generously donate 25% of the Vargas sales back to our PTA.
Membership Drive
Support your students’ classrooms and school community by joining the Vargas PTA. Memberships cost $11 and help pay for community engagement events, assemblies, author visits, field trips, teacher reimbursements for classroom enrichment, Ms. Bea’s scholarship program, and teacher appreciation. This year, we hope to raise $150 per student through membership and donations to make these wonderful programs and events possible for your students to enjoy. Our goal is to have 300 members this year and we are halfway there. Classrooms that reach 70% membership participation will get a popsicle party. Members who register by October 6 will be entered in a raffle to win one of three $10 vouchers for spirit wear. Thank you for supporting your school!
Please join and make a contribution: https://jointotem.com/ca/mountain-view/jose-antonio-vargas-pta
Or visit our website to download a membership form, make a donation or find out about corporate matching https://www.javargaspta.org/joindonate
For PTA membership fee sponsorship please contact Mr. Taylor or Ms. Beatriz Claas.
Konstella
Konstella is our main PTA tool to share information with our Vargas community, including upcoming social events, classroom updates, event volunteering opportunities, and fundraising opportunities. You will also be able to communicate with other families from your child's classroom. It's free and you don’t need to be a PTA member to join.
Use this link to register: https://www.konstella.com/p/Vargas
Website
Find links to membership, Konstella, gear shop and volunteer opportunities on our website.
https://www.javargaspta.org/home
Kimberly Cheng, and the PTA Executive Board
[email protected]
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