Wise Word, 8/4/2021

Principal’s Message:

Dear Golden Owls,

Next Wednesday will be our first day of school, and I am excited to start the school year with you. For over 50% of our school, this will be the first time attending Vargas school in a post-COVID world. I know many of you have worries and concerns about protocols, class assignments, and most importantly safety. Tomorrow I will be hosting a Welcome Back Principal’s Coffee at 4:30 PM. (Click Here to Register). I will be reviewing safety protocols and operational procedures, as well as answering your questions.

This year will bring many new, different, and exciting challenges. It will require everyone's collective effort, flexibility, patience and cooperation to ensure that the Vargas community succeeds in providing a safe, challenging, welcome, and inclusive environment. Again, I know the Delta variant has many people in a heightened state of anxiety, but I know we will thrive this year together.

In Partnership,

Principal Taylor

Events Calendar

August:

5th - Welcome back Principal’s Coffee - 4:30pm - 5:30pm - Register Here

11th - First Day of School - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:55AM

11tth - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

18th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

25th - ELAC Meeting - 8:30am - Register Here

27th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

September:

1st - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

6th - Labor Day Holiday - No School

8th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

In this Newsletter

Non-Returning Students
2021-2022 School Calendar
Vargas School Map
Welcome Week Photos
Drop Off and Pick-up Procedures
OKtoReopen Health Screener
How to Find Out Your Child’s Teacher (PowerSchool)
Masking
Handwashing
School meals are free
Apply at EzSchool Meals
Reporting an Absence
Principal’s Virtual Office Hours
School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form

Non-Returning Students

If you are not returning for the 2021-22 school year, please contact our school secretary, Mrs. Evelyn Antunez via email at [email protected], or by phone 650-903-6952 as soon as possible. Please take a moment to reply ONLY if your children will NOT be attending Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School. It will be a great help to our staff and other students and their families as we prepare for the 2021-22 school year.

2021-2022 School Calendar

Please click here to view our school calendar with important dates.

Vargas School Map

Please click here to view our school map.

Welcome Week Photos

As part of Welcome week, our teachers will be taking first day of school pictures in the classroom to share with parents.

While we know that many parents would also like to take their own first day of school pictures, we are not allowing visitors on campus during the school day. As a way to support parents in having those memories, we are inviting parents to come before the first day of school to take pictures at our decorated front gates. On Monday, August 9 and Tuesday, August 10, parents can come from 10:00-2:30 PM to take their own pictures. Again, we ask that parents do not take pictures at the gates on the first day of school. This will help to prevent crowding.

Drop Off and Pick-up Procedures:

Morning Drop off - Vehicle Drop:

School starts at 8:00am - Drop off starts at 7:45am
Students are Tardy at 8:00am - Students will need to enter through the front office to pick up a tardy slip.
Before arriving at school, parents will complete a health screening questionnaire, OktoReopen.
Please drive slowly in our parking lot and pull as far up as possible.
Parents/guardians will drop off their child(ren) at the main entrances. - Map designations here
Adults should stay inside the vehicle. *If a student needs help getting out of a car seat/seat belt, please do so quickly. Have all materials (lunch, backpacks, masks) ready to go for easy drop-off.
Staff will guide students to walk to the basketball courts and stand by the cone of their classroom number.
Please leave campus immediately after drop off.

Kindergarten and New Families:

We know this will be new to you and your child. At the drop-off location, will have a staff member walk your child to his/her designated classroom area. To help with a smooth transition, please send your child an index card with the following information: Student's name, classroom number, and teacher name to hand to our staff.

Pedestrian Drop-Off:

School starts at 8:00am - Drop off starts at 7:45am
Students are Tardy at 8:00am - Students will need to enter through the front office to pick up a tardy slip.
Before arriving at school, parents will complete a health screening questionnaire.
Parents/guardians will drop off their child(ren) at gate entrance 1 and 4.
At the gates, staff will confirm parents/guardians have completed health screening.
Students will walk to the basketball courts and stand by the cone of their classroom number.
Please leave campus immediately after drop off.

*For in-person/pedestrian drop off, only a single adult individual should drop off the student.

**If your child is allowed to walk or bike to and from school, parents MUST email our front office staff giving authorization. Please email our school secretary Mrs. Evelyn Antunez at [email protected], and Ms. Silvia McElyea [email protected].

Dismissal:

Kinder Dismissal at 1:30pm: - Map designations here

Parents may meet at gate 1 at 1:30pm. We will open the gate and let you into the pickup location, teachers will dismiss students from the blacktop.
Any student not picked up, the teacher will walk students to the front gates.
Teacher and Front Office Staff will help students connect to their vehicle/parents/guardians. Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.
For in-person pickup, only a single individual should pick up the student.
Parents/guardians who walk should wear masks and leave campus as quickly as possible.

1st to 3rd grade Dismissal at 2:35pm - 4th to 5th grade Dismissal at 2:40pm:

Parents may arrive at 2:35pm and walk to the field to pick up their child. - Map designations here. Please use gate 4.
Any student not picked up by 2:45pm from the field will walk with the teacher to the front gates.
Students will wait outside of Gate 2.
Front Office Staff will help students connect to their vehicle.
Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.

Students attending YMCA or Right At School: Staff members will pick up students from their classrooms.

OKtoReopen Health Screener

The screener needs to be completed first thing in the morning BEFORE children come on campus. Since it is so important for everyone's safety on campus.

Within the OK to reopen platform, parents can adjust the settings to receive text or email only. Additionally, questions can be answered for more than one child within the same window, using the drop-down menu at the top right. It is not necessary to download an OKtoReopen app. Please click here for Pro Tips.

How to Find Out Your Child’s Teacher (PowerSchool)

In order to meet social distancing requirements for large events, there will be no in-person class posting events on MVWSD campuses. Class placement information will be available to parents online beginning Monday, August 9 at 8 a.m. Your child’s class placement for the 2021-22 school year will be available for viewing on the PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under the My Schedule link.

For our new families that do not have a parent portal set-up, you should have received instructions on how to create an account on Monday, August 2nd via email. If you did not receive this email or for any questions or concerns, please call our school office at (650) 903-6952, or email our school secretary Mrs. Evelyn Antunez at [email protected] or Ms. Silvia McElyea, our school clerk, at [email protected].

Masking

All students and staff are required to wear masks while on campus. This includes both indoor and outdoor areas. Our staff has masks for students who forget them. Mask breaks will be provided on an as needed basis. Please ensure your child knows how to properly wear a face mask. For more information on facemasks, click here to watch this video.

Handwashing

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect germs from entering our bodies. Students will be expected to wash hands before and after eating, after using the restroom, and when sharing common materials. For information on correctly washing hands, please click here to watch a video on effective handwashing protocols. In cases where handwashing is not available, students can use hand sanitizer. Please practice washing hands with your child prior to the start of school.

School meals are free

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals to all students in the 2021-22 school year as part of California’s universal meal program. Recess breakfast and lunches are available daily. Menus and nutritional analysis can be found on https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition. There will be a vegetarian option each day. Gluten-free lunches are not available. A count of those taking school lunch will be taken at the beginning of the school day. Students may bring their own self-contained lunches if desired.

Apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family.

This Free and Reduced Price Meals benefit is not limited to meals only. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Students who qualify for free and/or reduced-price meals may be eligible for P-EBT cards. 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 that help children at your school. 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/.

If you need help, our office staff is available to help you. Please email Ms. Silvia McElyea [email protected], Mrs. Evelyn Antunez [email protected] or Mrs. Beatriz Claas [email protected].

Reporting an Absence

Please call the office at (650) 903-6952 or email [email protected] to report an absence or late arrival. Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, grade and room number, reason for absence, name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.

Principal’s Virtual Office Hours

We will continue our virtual Principal Office Hours on Wednesdays from 4pm -5pm. Feel free to drop in if you have any questions or if you just want to chat.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form

We will be furnishing all basic school supplies and textbooks for all students. Donations of items and funds for this purpose are appreciated, but not required. For those able to donate, please fill out this form and bring it to the front office, along with your donation, and our front office staff will provide you with a receipt. Sharing of supplies between students will be limited.