Principal’s Message:

 

Hello Golden Owls,

 

This Friday marks the end of the second trimester. As we get ready for the final trimester, I want to take a moment to reflect and celebrate the wins we’ve had over the past two trimesters.

Over the past two trimesters, students have demonstrated academic growth using a variety of different measures, including iReady and Literably. Thanks to our partnership with CHAC, ALL of our students have had the opportunity to learn and practice a variety of socioemotional learning strategies with their entire classroom. Additionally, the CHAC counselors have been able to support groups and individual sessions that have been able to provide even more students with social, emotional, and mental support that they need.

Our PTA and SCEF have worked to make sure to bring countless events like the Walk-a-Thon, Family dine in, Art nights, Math nights, reading nights, and movie nights in the evening, and our lunchtime celebrations like our Hispanic Heritage month celebration and our Lunar New Year celebration.

Our staff has been working tirelessly to implement new systems and programs that support gathering the necessary data, and using that data to plan targeted interventions and enrichment to help support students grow in their learning. 

Hopefully thinking about all the accomplishments we’ve had this year, serves as motivation to continue the work we’ve done and we can finish trimester 3 strong. 

In addition to reflecting on what we’ve done, I also, want to highlight some of the things that we will be looking forward to in the upcoming trimester. In addition to making academic progress on our normal assessments, many of our students will be preparing for public presentations and performances to our families. Our 3–5 graders will start preparing for the State-Wide assessments to demonstrate all the work that they’ve been doing all year. We are also excited that we will have some community events such as Read-a-Thon, International Festival, Open House, and Science Night.

I look forward to your partnership in having a successful trimester 3. Let’s do this Golden Owls!

Two final things, 

1)Just a gentle reminder that this week we have 2 minimum days, Thursday is our normal minimum day with dismissal at 11:55am. Friday, the last day of the trimester, will also be a minimum day with an 11:55am dismissal. 

2) Please complete the LCAP if you haven’t. The information collected helps both MVWSD and Vargas plan for better programs for our students. Please click on your unique survey link sent to your email on Jan. 29. Your responses are confidential. 

 

 

In Partnership, 

 

Principal Vern Taylor

 

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Events Calendar

 

February

 

March

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

Golden Ticket Winners 

Walden West for Fifth Grade Parents

The District is beginning its annual process of updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan)

Read-A-Thon is coming (March 4-8)

Lost and Found

5th, 8th grade promotion dates

 

Flyers:

School Year Calendar  2024-2025 Here

February Menu Here

March Menu Here

Lifetouch Flyer Here

 

District News:

Better Together: February

MVWSD works to update English Language Arts and Pre-K/TK Curriculum for 2024-25

Complete your LCAP survey today! (before Feb. 16)

The View Teen Center February Here

YMCA Parent Workshops - Flyer

MVEF: Hiring Lead Executive Director

City of MV: Summer Camp Fair - Flyer

PTA News

PTA Open Board Positions for 2023-2024

ACE After-school Programs - Spots available

 

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Golden Ticket Winners February 8th , 2024
Youssoupha N.     RM: 1            Valentina S.          RM: 10  
Alan G.                 RM: 2            Victor M.             RM: 11
Emir E.                 RM: 3            Mayuka M.          RM: 13
Jaein S.                 RM: 4            Adam M.              RM: 14
Jonathan F.           RM: 5             Alice B.                RM: 15 
Matthew C.          RM: 6             Samuel K.            RM: 16
Sofia C.                RM: 8             Matvey G.            RM: 17
Emiliano O.          RM: 9            Miles C.                RM: 18                                                                  Mrs. Ragas           RM: 3

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Walden West for Fifth Grade Parents
We are so very excited for your students to go to Walden West. As you know, students will be returning to school on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at around 11:55. This is a minimum day for students and at the same time as dismissal. The buses will need time to unload, and we will need to manage the traffic from dismissal as well. 5th grade parents, please plan to start picking your student up at 12:20PM instead of the normal minimum day pick up time.

 

The District is beginning its annual process of updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan)

This input collected will guide the update of our District plan for the 2024-25 school year. 

Please click on your unique survey link sent to your email on Jan. 29. Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 will also be taking the LCAP survey. More information found here: mvwsd.org/LCAP.

Read-A-Thon is coming (March 4-8)

I wanted to bring your attention to three events that will be happening early in trimester 3.

During the week of March 4, 2024, we will be having our Read-a-Thon. Students will be encouraged to read as much as possible during this week. We plan to have guest readers from local community members, class reading parties, and special prizes for top readers. Our PTA will be providing more details about the logistics of logging minutes and prizes at a later time. Secondly, Thursday, March 7, 2024 we will be hosting a family reading night as part of our Read-A-Thon. All families are invited to come and join our reading party. I hear we have a few guest staff members who will be doing read alouds of their favorite stories.  Finally, to help support all of this reading, Our PTA is proud to host our Spring Book Fair the entire week of the Read-a Thon.

Lost and Found

The lost and found rack is getting full again, please take a look to see if any items belong to your child. The last day to claim any items is Thursday, February 15. Anything left after dismissal will be donated.

5th, 8th grade promotion dates

Each year we look forward to celebrating with families as our 5th and 8th grade students are promoted to the next school level. This year, the dates are:

  * 5th grade promotion:  Thursday, May 30

  * 8th grade promotion:  Friday, May 31  (9 or 11 am, depending on school), the last day of school

Your school principal will share more specifics about the celebrations as details are available.

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DISTRICT NEWS

Better Together: February

February marks a very important time in our district where we pause to honor and celebrate Black History Month, shining a spotlight on the rich contributions and achievements of African Americans in our community and throughout our shared history. It serves as a reminder to us all to acknowledge the struggles and triumphs that have shaped the Black experience in the US. This month #BetterTogether also encourages us to speak up about the importance of equality, justice, and the ongoing fight against systemic racism. The essential question for the month is: How do I speak up for myself and for others? Black History Month offers us an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the diversity that makes our community strong, and to use our voices to advocate for positive change for all. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.

MVWSD works to update English Language Arts and Pre-K/TK Curriculum for 2024-25

As part of our district’s focus on literacy, MVWSD is reviewing updated English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum for our students in grades K-5 and integrated curriculum in preschool and Transitional Kindergarten. In recent decades, more research on children’s cognitive processes, language development, and reading acquisition has shown that curriculum that includes the Science of Reading helps to ensure children develop strong foundational reading skills, enabling them to become proficient readers. 

The ELA curriculum adoption committee and PK/TK adoption committee are currently piloting two curriculums each. The curriculums are built from the Science of Reading. In addition, the PK/TK curriculums are also aligned with research on language development and play-based learning. 

K-5 ELA Pilot Curriculums:

Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts

McGraw Hill Wonders

PK/TK Pilot Curriculums:

Creative Curriculum by Learning Strategies

Three Cheers for PreK by Savvas

Families and members of the public may preview the K-5 ELA and PK/TK pilot curriculums at the District Office, 1400 Montecito Ave., on the following dates and times:

February 12th at 12:00-1:00

February 15th at 12:00-2:00

February 27th at 4:30-6:00

February 28th at 4:30-6:00

If families and members of the public would like to view at a different time, please contact Cyndee Nguyen, [email protected], to make arrangements. To read more about the curriculum adoption process, please see our district website. 

Complete your LCAP survey today! (before Feb. 16)

The District is updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your responses to the survey will guide the update of our District plan for the 2024-25 school year. Please click on your unique survey link sent to your email. Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 will also be taking the LCAP survey. More information found here: mvwsd.org/LCAP

The View Teen Center: February 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. (Feb. adjusted hours: Open 1-6 p.m.: Feb. 16 and Feb. 20-23, No Drop-In: Feb 19), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flier for details about upcoming events and programs in February or visit their webpage for more information.

YMCA Parent Workshops - Flyer

Project Cornerstone/YMCA is hosting two upcoming parent workshops online. Tuesday, February 27 – “Bullying Prevention” and Wednesday, March 20 – “Digital Citizenship”. Please see the attached flyer for online registration and workshop links.

MVEF: Hiring Lead Executive Director

The Mountain View Education Foundation (MVEF) needs your talent and passion as it seeks a new Lead Executive Director. You can learn more and apply https://www.mvef.org/we-re-hiring

City of MV: Summer Camp Fair - Flyer

The City of Mountain View Recreation Division will be hosting their Summer Camp Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center. Summer Camp staff and vendors will be available onsite to answer any questions you may have as you prepare for your youth's summer plans. 2024 Spring & Summer Registration begins Saturday, March 2 at 9 a.m. for Mountain View residents at the Mountain View Community Center. Spring & Summer Activity Guide will be available mid-February. Visit MountainView.gov/Register for more information.

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PTA News

 

PTA Open Board Positions for 2023-2024

In March we will hold our election for PTA board members for next school year. The main position that we need to fill for next year is the Treasurer. The treasurer attends PTA meetings, prepares financial reports, issues checks and updates budgets. There is no accounting or financial experience required as there is good training and support available. The main strengths would be being organized and being able to commit to 6-8 hours per month. 

 

We are also looking for a Parliamentarian and a Historian. A link to PTA positions and descriptions can be found here: Current PTA role descriptions 23/24

 

If you are interested or would like to hear more about any of these positions you can talk to anyone on the nominating committee (Franziska Romanovsky, SE Hayes, Jennifer Chan, Kevin Morrison, Shannon Lundin) or email [email protected]

 

ACE After-school Programs - Spots available

Vargas After-school Creative Enrichment (ACE) programs have started, but you can still join. Scholarships are available! If classes have started already, check with the vendor about prorated fees.

• Interested in sports? Join basketball, soccer, or Run For Fun

• Interested in engineering or STEM? Check out Lando or BrickTech

• Love drawing? Join Art.

• Interested in solving puzzles and problems? Check out Mathletes in Training

• Want to learn a new language? There’s a beginners Mandarin class

• Please visit our website (https://www.javargaspta.org/after-school-programs) for a list of classes, flyers, information about scholarships and more. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

 

Kimberly Cheng, and the PTA Executive Board

[email protected]