Principal’s Message:

Hello Golden Owls,

 

October is Safety Month in MVWSD. Don’t forget that the district-wide earthquake drill is this week on Oct. 27. We have reviewed our procedures, and we are ready to practice. Parents, since students will be outside for approximately one hour, please plan to apply sunscreen to your child in the morning and have them bring a hat if they’re sun-sensitive. Our dangerous intruder practice also happened on Monday, October 24, 2022. Here is the video (Spanish) that we watched as a reference. 

The Mountain View Police will be practicing alongside us during the drill at several of our schools. Please do not be concerned if you see police vehicles on campus and lots of students outside on Oct. 27.

Please reassure your child that drills are our way of practicing for an emergency.  These things may never happen, but if they do, we’re better protected and are more able to help ourselves and others. 

Prep your home disaster supply kit: An earthquake could mean being without food, water or electricity for hours or days.  A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items, including your own food, water and other supplies, to last for several days that you’ll need in the event of an emergency. This is the week for your family to create or update your home kit. Here’s what should be in it. (Spanish)

In Partnership, 

Principal Vern Taylor

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Events Calendar

 

October

 

November

 

December

 

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

• Golden Ticket Winners

• Spirit Week

• Walden West for 5th Grade Parents

• United Against Hate Week

• After school Halloween Parade 10/31 @2:45pm

• Lost & Found

• Winter Clothes Donations

• Parent University: Effective Parent/Teacher Communication

• Principal’s Virtual Office Hours

District News:

• Parent University: Social Emotional Learning at School and Home

• MVHS Sports Boosters Golf Tournament - Flyer

• Survey: Help MVWSD and the City make walking and biking to school safer for our students

• Available now: Updated COVID boosters for ages 5+

• Drafts available: Single Plan for Student Achievement

• Health and Wellness: Parenting Tip

• The View Teen Center - Flyer

• My Digital TAT2 Webinar: Supporting Young People's Digital Health and Well-Being - Flyer

• MVLA Parent Ed: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: In Our Families, Our Friendships, and Our Community

• Become a Key Donor to MVEF

PTA News:

• Membership Drive 10/3-10/28

• Fall Festival 11/17, 3:30-5:30pm

• Donation request

• Kontella

• Spirit Wear

• Website

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Golden Ticket Winners 10/20/2022
Rafael G.          RM: 1          Carter B-M.    RM: 10
Ethan W.           RM: 2          Annie D.         RM: 11
Austin K.          RM: 3          Thea V.           RM: 13
Blair W.            RM: 4           Ian L.             RM: 14
Keily M-G.       RM: 5          Antonio R.     RM: 15
Eshana V.         RM: 6           Aubrey C.       RM: 16
George C.         RM: 9          Yahir E.           RM: 17
                                              Ms. Mai          RM: 13

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School News

 

Spirit Week 

Next week is spirit week, Here is a quick video from Mrs. Bisbee describing each day. Can’t wait to show off all of your Golden Owl Spirit next week:

 

Monday 10/31:     Costume Day

Tuesday 11/1:       Pajama 

Wednesday 11/2:  Science Day

Thursday 11/3:     Stuffed Animal Day

Friday 11/4:          Sports Day

 

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 Friday, November 4, 2022 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.

 

United Against Hate Week

We are excited to join MVWSD schools in participating in United Against Hate Week. United Against Hate Week was founded in 2017. For more information, click here. At Vargas, we will use this week to help us celebrate, embrace, honor our differences. Teachers and students will be engaging in activities that allow them to identify their own cultural identity and provide a representation using flags. On Thursday, November 17, will also have a Read Around the World Event. Readers from our community will read books written in other languages, and students will ask questions about the reader’s experience. This week will be a great follow-up to our Unity Day last week. Students signed a pledge to stand up against bullying in our community. (see pictures below)

 

(Repeat) After school Halloween Parade 10/31 @2:45pm

This year, we will be hosting a Halloween parade after school. For those wishing to participate, we will be meeting on the blacktop after dismissal.  For those who have students in Right at School and YMCA, they will also be able to join.  Can’t wait to see OWL of you!

 

Please note: Our school does not have any school-wide event that asks students to wear costumes during the day of 10/31; however, if students want to wear costumes for the day of Halloween, they can. We are asking, as is standard, not to wear masks or overly gruesome or violent attire. We are also asking that students not bring any accessories that would distract from regular classroom instruction.

(Repeat) Lost & Found

Our Lost and Found Rack is seeing nice sweaters, water bottles, lunch boxes that miss their owner. If items are not claimed by the end of this month 10/31 they will be donated. 

 

Our Lost and Found Rack can be found in the following places:

• Morning: during drop-off - Located by the main gate (in between the main office and MUR)

• Afternoon: 

  • Kinder Pick-up - Located in the blacktop

  • Upper grades: Located by the main office

 

(Repeat) Winter Clothes Donations

It's finally time to get the warm clothes out of the closet!  If you find items that are too small for your kids, or you just don't want them anymore, please bring them to the Vargas office and we will find them a good home.  Baby and adult clothes are also needed.

 

Clean and gently used clothes only, please.  Nothing with stains or permanent damage.   We will donate these items to families in need in our community.  We will be collecting donations until Friday, November 4, 2022.  Thank you!

 

(Repeat) Parent University: Effective Parent/Teacher Communication

As part of our plan to support our students both inside and outside the classroom, we will be holding a series of Parent University Extension courses to supplement MVWSD’s existing Parent University program.  Our first planned event will be on Effective Parent/Teacher Communication.

Registration Link: November 10, 2022 at 6:00PM   

Please join us for a thorough discussion on effective communication between home and school and tips on how to have a successful parent-teacher conference. Vern Taylor, principal from Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School, will provide helpful feedback on how to approach difficult topics when talking to your child’s teacher or office staff, and on how to prepare for our parent/teacher conferences. Parents will also learn how to navigate the PowerSchool parent portal and how to read and understand the iReady report and the school report cards.

(Repeat) Principal’s Virtual Office Hours

I will again be hosting Principal Office Hours virtually on Wednesdays from 4pm -5pm. Feel free to drop in if you have any questions or if you just want to chat. For office hours, there is no formal agenda, it is a time for you to stop in to say hello, and for us to get to know each other better! I look forward to meeting you!

 

Register in advance for this meeting.

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

 

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District News

Parent University: Social Emotional Learning at School and Home

Date and Time: 10/26/22 5:30pm  Registration Link: https://mvw.sd/pu102622

Having challenges guiding your students with their emotions, feelings and behavior at home? Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from Karin Jinbo, district Director of Health and Wellness, and Brian White, the Health and Wellness Coordinator. The panelists will be sharing about our district-wide goals for student Social Emotional Learning, along with strategies and resources that you can apply at home that support your student’s social and emotional growth. We hope to see you there! 

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

MVHS Sports Boosters Golf Tournament - Flyer

MVHS’s Sports Boosters will be hosting their fifth annual Golf Tournament on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Shoreline Golf Links. For more information and ticket purchase, visit https://mvhssportsboosters.org/golf-tournament.

Survey: Help MVWSD and the City make walking and biking to school safer for our students

The Mountain View Safe Routes to School Program is working to improve safety and encourage healthier, more active lifestyles.

Your feedback is important! This survey and your responses will help us make walking and biking to school safer for our students. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MVSRTS2022 to complete the survey by Oct. 31. 

Available now: Updated COVID boosters for ages 5+

The updated COVID-19 booster is now available for everyone ages 5+! #GetBoosted to keep yourself and your family safer with the most protective doses yet. Find updated boosters for ages 5+ at http://www.sccfreevax.org, your pharmacy, or healthcare provider.

Drafts available: Single Plan for Student Achievement

Each year, our schools create Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSAs or “site plans”) that guide the work for the coming year. These plans help us prioritize programs and strategies that will best serve our students. In the fall, elected parent representatives from School Site Councils and English Language Advisory Committees work with principals and school staff members to create a draft that is reviewed and approved by the MVWSD Board of Trustees. Parents and staff members may give feedback through Nov. 7 to their principal and elected parent representatives to SSC and ELAC. You may review the draft plans here.

Health and Wellness: Parenting Tip

In honor of National ADHD Awareness Month, we must understand and bond with our children to maintain a close connection with them. However, it may be difficult for us to know the intent behind our hyperactive child’s words and actions. Initially, it may feel like a whirlwind, but we are a part of our child’s treatment. 

Here are some signs that your child may have ADHD: 

1. Inattentiveness. Your child may have trouble listening, paying attention, organizing, and remembering things. They may also be unable to follow directions, get distracted, and have low effort in their schoolwork.

2. Hyperactivity. Your child may constantly be in motion (e.g., fidgeting) and unable to sit still. They may jump, climb, and play when it’s time to be quiet. They may also rush instead of taking their time, making careless mistakes. 

3. Impulsive. Your child may interrupt and yell out. They may do things without thinking and do things they know they shouldn’t do (i.e., lacking self-control and losing their temper). They may also struggle with sharing, taking turns, and waiting. 

These behaviors may seem like the child is “just misbehaving,” leaving us very stressed and frustrated. But identifying the signs of ADHD is the first step to understanding our child. 

These tips came directly from the free, online website of Nemours Children’s Health, reviewed by Dr. Hasan, MD. 

To learn more parenting tips click here. 

The View Teen Center - Flyer

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. The center is open Monday through Friday: 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturday: 1 - 6 p.m, and features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming events and programs or visit their webpage for more information.

My Digital TAT2 Webinar: Supporting Young People's Digital Health and Well-Being - Flyer

Parents are invited to attend a webinar with My Digital TAT2 about supporting your student’s digital health on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 - 7:15 PM. Learn about what young people are doing online and how they are affected, and strategies for how to support responsible, mindful, and healthy use of the internet, social media, and gaming. Hosted by Landels Elementary, but all are welcome. Click here to register.

MVLA Parent Ed: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: In Our Families, Our Friendships, and Our Community

Join us for a discussion with LGBTQ+ author Kristin Russo on Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm (LAHS Eagle Theater) on supporting and mentoring LGBTQ+ young people in families, communities, and at school. During our event, Kristin will walk us through some terms and concepts developed in her book This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids, and through My Kid is Gay, a first-of-its-kind digital presence, inclusive of videos, advice, and resources, dedicated toward helping parents and allies understand Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual children and teenagers. Register for this free event here.

Thank you to those who attended our recent event, "Friendship in an Age of Loneliness" with Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky.  For those who were unable to attend or would like to view it again, here is the link.

Become a Key Donor to MVEF

Donations of any amount are meaningful in accomplishing the MVEF mission to provide art, music, hands-on science, athletics, and other resources for our schools. Donors who give $2,000 or more (including employer matching) during a calendar year are known as “Key Donors” – support at this level is “key” to the successful achievement of each year’s funding goal! Donations of $5,000 or more qualify for the Leadership Circle of Giving. Some donors achieve the Key Donor level by signing up for monthly payments. To make a donation of any amount or to join the Key Donor or Leadership Circle groups, click here.

 

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PTA News

 

Membership Drive 10/3-10/28 

We have extended our membership drive until the end of the month. Classes that reach 75% membership level will receive a popsicle party! Check Totem to verify your membership is up to date, or send an email and we can verify your membership.

 

Support your students’ classrooms and school community by joining the Vargas PTA.  Our membership drive will run through the end of October.  Memberships cost $11 and help pay for community engagement events, after school classes, 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 in order to make all these wonderful programs and events possible for your students to enjoy.  Classrooms that reach 75% membership participation will get a popsicle party and 2 people who register through October 28th will be entered in a raffle to win a $10 voucher 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

For questions on membership or donations check out our Membership FAQ’s.

 

For PTA membership fee sponsorship please contact Mr. Taylor or Ms. Beatriz Claas.

 

Fall Festival 11/17, 3:30-5:30pm

Save the date! PTA will be hosting a fall festival for all families on Thursday, November 17th. Stay tuned for more details and volunteer opportunities to be posted on Konstella.

 

Donation request

We are looking for an ipad (version 12 or up) or android tablet (version 7 or up) to use at events for gear and concession sales and membership and Konstella sign ups. If anyone has an old tablet they would be willing to donate please contact [email protected]

 

Konstella

Konstella is our main communication tool. The PTA will post information about meetings, events and volunteer opportunities. You will also be able to communicate with other families from your child's classroom.

Use this link to register: https://www.konstella.com/cd/XGJHYL

To Join a Classroom

Web:  Click your name at the top left corner.  Click “Your Children” to add/modify your children.

Mobile App:  Click the Settings icon at the top left corner.  Click “Your Children”. Membership

Spirit Wear 

Mondays are spirit days at JA Vargas, wear green and show your school spirit. Check out our selection of green spirit wear. Place your order online and pick it up on designated days at the office.

https://www.javargaspta.org/ja-vargas-store

Website

Find links to membership, Konstella, gear shop and volunteer opportunities on our website.

https://www.javargaspta.org/home

Shannon Lundin, and the Executive Board 

[email protected]