Principal’s Message:

Hello Golden Owls,

This month, we are bringing awareness to student mental health with All The Feels September! Whether you are a parent, student, or school staff, it’s normal for the start of the school year to bring some  anxiety and other challenges to our mental health. When those challenges become too big for us to handle on our own or when we worry about a friend’s mental health, talking with a trusted friend or adult can be difficult.

Even though it can be awkward, initiating conversations about mental health with trusted adults can make a big difference for ourselves and others. 

SeizetheAwkward.org offers older children and adults tools for recognizing the signs someone is struggling and tips for starting and engaging in conversations about mental health.  

When we face challenges that are too big to handle on our own, we need the care and support of one another! 

In Partnership, 

Principal Vern Taylor

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Events Calendar

September

 

October

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

• Golden Ticket Winners

• EZMealApp: Future benefits could include after school care!

• Attendance Awareness Month: September

• Family Health and Wellness Fair: Sept 24

• September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month

• Family Science Night

• Principal’s Virtual Office Hours

 

District News:

• Board meeting: Sept. 22 - Agenda 

• Elevate MV: Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program - Flyer

• MVLA Speakers Series: Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: How to Make Friends As An Adult - Flyer

• Volunteer with MVEF

PTA News:

• PTA Association Meeting

• Volunteering

• Membership

• Kontella

• Spirit Wear

• Website

 

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Golden Ticket Winners 9/15/2022
Emilio L.        RM: 1        Adrian F.        RM: 10
Kai R.             RM: 2       Alice B.           RM: 11
Olivia M.        RM: 3       Milana K.        RM: 13
Zen N.             RM: 4       Bryn B.           RM: 14
Mills G.           RM: 5       Isabella L.      RM: 15
Alondra L.       RM: 6       Pravara D.      RM: 16
Matthew R.      RM: 8      Adheen K.       RM: 17
Narek D.          RM: 9      Mrs. Ragas      RM: 3

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School News

 

EZMealApp: Future benefits could include after school care!

Even though all public school meals are currently free in California, applying for free- or reduced-price lunch status by October 1 means potentially more district funding and other benefits for your family. In 2022-23, families who qualify will also be offered free after school childcare and summer programs when they become available. Go to http://secure.ezmealapp.com now to see if you qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch status, and to apply!

 

Attendance Awareness Month: September

What’s an Excused vs. Not Excused absence?
Illness (including staying home for COVID-like symptoms), doctor’s appointments, bereavement, and certain religious exercises are excused absences. Please see MVWSD board policy for the full list. All other reasons are not considered excused. Research shows that school attendance is a strong indicator of success. It's about students learning what they need to know, belonging to the school community, and being part of the team that is preparing them with good habits for high school.

Tardy Procedure

Students are tardy if they are not in line by 8:00 a.m. Although one or two minutes may not seem like it makes a big impact, there really is an impact on your child and on the rest of the class. Please aim for having your child here by 7:50 a.m. to allow for possible slow-downs on your route here. We are well into our first month of school and have gotten our routine set. I will be starting to track students' tardiness on a weekly basis, and arranging appointments with families to discuss the importance, ramification, and any support you may need to resolve this situation if I see a pattern. 

 

If your child is at school after 8:00 a.m. please remember, students must come through the office to pick up a tardy slip. 

 

(Repeat) Family Health and Wellness Fair: Sept 24 

There will be a free Family Health and Wellness Fair hosted by Assemblymember Marc Berman and in partnership with El Camino Health and MVWSD on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mariano Castro Elementary School (500 Toft St). 

 

Come for free screenings and vaccines, free school supplies, backpacks, kid’s masks, diapers, period products, bike repair and healthy snacks.

Available:

*  Kids’ health screenings: dental, vision, heart, mental health, and nutrition screenings

* Free school supplies and backpacks

* Healthy snacks

* Fun activities for kids

* COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

* Hands-on science with NASA

* COVID-19 test kits

* Fire and garbage trucks up close

* Art projects

* Bike raffle and repair 

* Casework services

 

For more information, please call (650) 324-0224 or visit http://ASMDC.ORG/CP-FHWF.

 

(Repeat) September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. Our students will be engaging in activities to learn about the contributions of various Hispanic Americans.

 

(Repeat) Family Science Night

We are currently planning a Science Night for Thursday, October 6th from 5:30-6:30 pm. Students and families that attend will receive and build a Kiwi Kit together. Alternatively, if you are not able to attend or if you do not feel comfortable attending an in-person event, your child will receive a Kiwi kit, and we will send video instructions facilitated by our STEAM teachers, Mrs. Bisbee and Mrs. Butchko.

Please complete the survey by September 28, 2022 and select either the Science Night for your family OR at home option.

 

(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

Board meeting: Sept. 22

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. Please click here for the agenda: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

Topics include:

* Newly Permanent Teachers for the 2022-2023 School Year 

* Resolution In Support of National Hispanic Heritage Month 

* School Plans for Student Achievement: 2022-23 Process

There will not be a Superintendent’s Community Check In on Sept. 23. 

Elevate MV: Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program - Flyer

Applications open September 16th for the Mountain View Elevate MV pilot program, which will give direct cash payments of $500 per month to 166 randomly selected eligible extremely low income Mountain View residents. The pilot program sets itself apart from other direct relief programs by providing unrestricted financial assistance to the most vulnerable in our community. This pilot program will be a part of a national research study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Guaranteed Income Research. For eligibility requirements and details about the program, including how to receive assistance with the application, click here. 

MVLA Speakers Series: Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: How to Make Friends As An Adult - Flyer 

Thursday, October 6, 2022 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | MVHS Spartan Theater ⧫ 3535 Truman Avenue

We are lonelier than ever. Two-thirds of Americans are lonely and the average person hasn't made a new friend in the last five years. In the wake of the pandemic, it’s more clear than ever that our friendships are vital to our health and happiness. But why can it feel so difficult to keep those bonds alive as an adult—especially as parents? Why do we spend only four percent of our time with friends?  Join us as Adam Smiley Poswolsky, workplace belonging keynote speaker, and author of the recent book, Friendship in the Age of Loneliness, proposes a new solution for the mounting pressures of modern life: focus on your friendships.  In this talk, Smiley will share practical habits and playful reminders on how to create meaningful connections, make new friends, be a Minister for Loneliness in your community, prioritize real-world experiences, and deepen your relationships at work and outside of work. With warmth and inspiration, Smiley reminds us that nurturing old and new friendships is a ritual, a necessity, and one of the most worthwhile things we can do in adult life.

Audience:  Grade TK -  12 parents, caretakers, teachers, and counselors Register here for this free event

Volunteer with MVEF

MVEF needs volunteers to help meet our goals in 2022-23 and beyond! As a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteering with MVEF is a great way to add experience to your resume while meeting and working with local families who have similar interests and priorities. 

Please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested in helping in any of the following ways: 

Represent MVEF at your school site’s events and activities.
Ensure that MVEF messages and programs are relevant to your school community.
Plan the MVEF Gala, Auction, and other events.
Technical work like automation and data migration.
Visual designs, graphic design and layout.
Serve as an MVEF Board Member.

MVEF is the local educational foundation providing essential programs at every school in MVWSD. Over 70% of MVEF contributions come from MVWSD families.  To make a donation, click here. Use the monthly credit card payment option to pay your total donation over time.

 

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PTA News

 

PTA Association Meeting

Our first PTA Association Meeting of the year is on Wednesday, September 28th at 7pm on Zoom. At this meeting we will present our programs, events, fundraisers for the year and pass our budget. All parents, guardians and teachers are welcome to attend. 

Zoom link (Registration)

Agenda

 

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]

 

Volunteering

Visit this link  (https://tinyurl.com/VargasVolunteer2022) to see volunteer descriptions and to signup OR contact Shannon [email protected] or Kim [email protected]  

 

• We are looking for Room Parents for Rooms 14, 16, 17

• Join a committee (fundraising, community events, student enrichment, etc) and get to know other parents while enriching our students' experience.

• Don't forget to check with your company for corporate matching. Earn money for the school just by volunteering!

 

Membership

Please join our PTA. The cost is $10 a year. No strings attached! Being a member allows you to fully participate in our meetings, and helps our PTA to plan our budget and programs!

https://jointotem.com/ca/mountain-view/jose-antonio-vargas-pta

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]