The Wise Word 10/04/2023

Hello Golden Owls,

October is Safety Month in MVWSD. As you read in Dr. Rudolph’s letter, we want to be ready to act when dangerous situations arise. We have already practiced fire drills and soon will practice an earthquake drill and how to react to a dangerous intruder.

This week and next, our principals, teachers and staff members will be training on the Incident Command System (ICS) and general emergency procedures. The ICS assigns roles to school staff members so that even scary situations can have well-organized responses.  

Earthquake drill: After training, we’ll practice what to do during the districtwide earthquake drill to be held on Oct. 19. Click here to view the video that shows how we approach safety and what an earthquake drill looks like.

We talk with students in age-appropriate ways about what they can expect and why we practice emergency responses.  For elementary students we say the most important things to remember if an earthquake happens at school are duck, cover and hold if they feel the ground shake.  When it stops, go outside to the field. Stay calm with kid voices off so we can follow adult instructions.  In an emergency, we will keep them safe at school until their grown ups can pick them up.

Dangerous intruder: Our schools will review what to do in the event of a dangerous intruder or similar event on campus. The dates for each school’s practice will vary depending on scheduling. 

Practice at the elementary schools means students will view an age-appropropriate “dangerous intruder” video (which you may preview here) and talk with their teacher. The video and classroom discussion will encourage children to stay calm, follow directions, and listen to trusted adults. 

Middle school dangerous intruder practice involves multiple agencies and will be done when we complete the upgrade of our door lock system. I will give you more information closer to our practice date.

For more details about safety at school, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/safety.

In Partnership, 

Principal Vern Taylor

Events Calendar

October

  • 2-6 Scholastic Book Fair

  • 4th A day without Driving

  • 5th MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00 pm Meeting here

  • 6th PTA - Movie Night

  • 6th Superintendent Check in Register here

  • 12th & 13th staff development/work dayTeacher’s Service Day - No school

  • 18th Picture day - Retakes

  • 18th What is Unity Day

  • 24th ELAC Meeting 6-7 pm MUR

November

  • 1th Writing Workshop 3rd-4th-5th Grades Parents Only 6-7 pm MUR 

  • 2th MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting 

  • 3rd End of Trimester - Minimum Day 11:55

  • 3rd Walkathon Afterschool - Save the date!

  • 10th Veteran’s Day - No School

  • 14th Math Festival 6:00 - 7:30 pm MUR

  • 20th - 24th Thanksgiving Recess - No School

  • 27th Parent U Extension: Effective Parent/Teacher Communication 6-7 pm MUR

In this Newsletter

School News:

Golden Ticket Winners

A Day without Driving

No School for Students on October 12th and 13th

Scholastic Book Fair - October 2-6

What is Unity Day?

Parking before School

Winter Clothes Donations

Attendance Awareness Month: Attendance Tips

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month

Lost and Found - Thursday 10/19/23

Flyers:

2023 -2024 School Year Calendar - Here

SELPA 1 CAC Newsletter 2023-2024 Here

October Menu Here

October CAC and LCC Events Here

District News:

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:00 p.m.

Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Oct. 6

Parent University Speaker Series Presents

Protect your family: Dangers of illegally-made synthetic drugs

BOC & PTOC Seeking Representatives

MVEF Community Survey

October CAC and LCC Events

Parent Chat - October 10, 10 am

October 11, 7 pm Evening Let’s Talk  

Missed our Parent Education events last year?

MVLA Speaker Series: Julie Lythcott-Haims - How to Raise An Adult

Celebrate Shoreline: Oct. 15th Here

City of MV Monster Bash Here

Day Without Driving: Oct 04

Volunteer with MVEF!

MVLA Speaker Series: Julie Lythcott-Haims - How to raise An adult

City of MV Monster Bash Here


PTA News

Movie Night Oct 06

Walkathon - November 3rd. Save the date!

PTA Participation Waivers

Membership Drive - Ends Oct 06

After School Creative Enrichment (ACE) Programs

Konstella

Website

Golden Ticket Winners September 28, 2023

Kaiden P. RM: 1           Martin D.        RM: 11

Nora M.             RM: 2           Steven (Rohan) O.  RM: 12

Cyrus Z. RM: 3           Bryanna Z..             RM: 13

Lucy K. RM: 4           Joshua B.                RM: 14

Zella Y. RM: 5           Aaria M.   RM: 15

Milo A. RM: 6            Sofia B.                  RM: 16

Connor D.         RM: 8            Isabella P.                RM: 17

Eshana V. RM: 9   Carter B.        RM: 18                            

Michael L.        RM: 10          Mrs. Dux                                                                     

   

____________________________________________________________________________


A Day Without Driving

Today, we had a day without driving and approximately 60% of our students came to school by a method other than driving. Way to Go Golden Owls!  Congratulations to rooms 11 and 4  who both had 82% of students who walk or rode a bike/scooter. Thank you, parents and guardians for supporting Mountain View in this city-wide initiative.


No School for Students on October 12 and 13

Thursday, October 12th is a staff development day, which means no school for students but a staff development/work day for teachers, school secretaries and 12-month classified staff. Friday, October 13th a recess day (no school for students and staff)

Scholastic Book Fair - October 2-6

Our Fall Book Fair is this week! Join us to shop from hundreds of items. Bonus: every purchase supports our school and teachers. Can’t make it in person? You can additionally shop online. 

Book fair hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 2:30-3:30 pm; Thurs 12-1:00 pm

Early morning session: Tues, Thurs 7:30-8:30 am

Evening session Fri 5:30-6:30 pm

October 18 is Unity Day-Wear Orange

Watch this video.

Unity Day is an annual event occurring during National Bullying Prevention Month that promotes joining together to create healthier communities through kindness, acceptance of difference, and inclusion. It was started by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in 2011 and is now celebrated around the world.


Unity Day is a day when we can come together in one giant, ORANGE message of hope and support. The call to action is simple: wear and share the color orange. This vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, showing support for students who have been bullied and for bullying prevention. 

A few FAQ’s


Why unity? 

For years, our culture justified bullying with expressions such as, “Bullying is a natural part of childhood,” “Some kids just deserve to be bullied,” or “Bullying is a rite of passage.” The goal of the day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, businesses, and community members across the nation to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community. 

What is the call to action?

 The call to action is simple—wear and share the color orange—as a visible representation of the supportive, universal message that our society wants to prevent bullying, and is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

 Why the color orange?

 Unity Day is held during October, and orange is a color commonly identified with that month and season. It is also a color associated with safety and visibility. Orange is described as warm and inviting, and its vibrancy makes a strong statement. It was also a color that was not being used by another widely known cause.


Parking Before School

Golden Owls we need your help. Our staff is having a difficult time parking in the morning because parents are parking in the lot before school.  I want to remind families that unless you are  parking to come into the office, you should use the drop-off lane. Again, our staff appreciate your cooperation so that we can be here on time ready to work with your students each day.

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 3, 2023.  Thank you!


Attendance Awareness Month: Attendance Tips

Early learning and success later in life depends on attending school. There are long-term positive outcomes for youth who attend school each day. Creating routines for strong attendance can help youth avoid chronic absenteeism.


Here are some tips to help improve attendance and ensure your child gets the most out of their educational experience:

  • Get a good night’s sleep

  • Prepare for school the night before

  • Establish regular morning routines

  • Have a back-up for drop off and pick up: Make a plan with family, friends, or neighbors

  • Reduce health related absences: wash hands and maintain healthy habits

  • Plan family vacations for school breaks


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.


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, October 19th. Anything left after dismissal will be donated. 

____________________________________________________________________________


DISTRICT NEWS


The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:00 p.m.

Some of the topics include:

  • Planning for a Possible Parcel Tax Renewal

  • Update on Measure T Summer Work 

  • Enrollment and Staffing Update

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.  

 

Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Oct. 6

Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/CC106.  Mark your calendars for all upcoming community check-ins! A list of dates and login information is here.


Parent University Speaker Series Presents

Parenting in the Digital Era - Supporting Dialogue and Strategies for Building Healthy Tech Habits

Date and Time: October 24, 2023, 5:30-7:00 pm  Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu102423

One of our favorite nonprofit organizations is back! The staff of My Digital TAT2 will be delivering a workshop that will empower parents with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of raising tech-savvy, digitally responsible children. We will address common tech issues such as digital “perfection”, misinformation, and things you might not know about popular apps and platforms.

Parents will gain crucial strategies that will support open dialogue and cultivate healthy tech habits among all family members.

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


Protect your family: Dangers of illegally-made synthetic drugs

It's important that you and your children know the dangers of illegally-made synthetic drugs. Synthetic drugs created in illegal labs, like Fentanyl, have ingredients that are impossible to know, and carry a high risk of overdose and death. Some are tasteless and odorless—even small amounts can cause an overdose. ANY pill bought through social media or even from a friend can contain deadly amounts of fentanyl. Learn more at http://mvw.sd/drugs. 


BOC & PTOC Seeking Representatives

The District is seeking qualified persons to serve on the Bond Oversight Committee and the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee. Representatives monitor, provide oversight and ensure accountability to the funds received by the District.


Apply at the links below.

BOC: https://ow.ly/HhgA50PQqEs

PTOC: http://mvw.sd/PTOC

Applications can be returned to the district office by mail or emailed to [email protected].


MVEF Community Survey

MVEF is seeking input from the community via the annual online survey, which will be open throughout October: http://bit.ly/MVEF-Survey

As a community-funded foundation where over 70% of donations come from families, your input is a very important part of the planning process for future MVEF-funded programs. If donations to MVEF approach the annual goal of $1.2MM by December 31, 2023, MVEF may be able to add additional programs in 2024.

MVEF has raised just shy of $400,000 -- donate today if you haven't already: https://www.mvef.org/donate. THANK YOU MVEF donors and volunteers!


October CAC and LCC Events Here

SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org

The Learning Challenges Committee is looking for members!


Are you interested in helping students with learning challenges? This can include students who receive special education services, students with a 504 plan, or any student with a learning challenge.


The Learning Challenges Committee of the Los Altos Mountain View PTA Council (LCC) helps provide teachers and school staff in Mountain View and Los Altos schools with supplies in their classrooms related to learning challenges. We need a variety of parent and student voices to help us best decide how we can help teachers and students about these issues. 


Can you attend 2-3 meetings per year to help make these kinds of decisions with the LCC? Please email [email protected]. We need more voices to help students with learning challenges. We need you!


We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children: Try a Sensory Diet


Parent Chat - October 10, 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.


October 11, 7 pm Evening 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/tZIodOmhrz8tHNVYUGYMCIHeDa2lL43M-Puz

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

MVLA Speaker Series: Julie Lythcott-Haims - How to Raise An Adult

Join MVLA Parent Ed on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 7pm (MVHS- Spartan Theater) for Julie Lythcott-Haims’ presentation of “How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap.” In this widely acclaimed talk, Julie draws on her insights as the former dean of freshmen at Stanford as well as her deeply personal journey as a parent to highlight the ways in which overparenting undermines skill development and positive mental health and wellbeing in our children. Listen as she offers practical strategies that allow children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary to become healthy, thriving adults. Register for this free event here.


Celebrate Shoreline: Oct. 15th Here

The City is hosting Celebrate Shoreline, a free event for the community to celebrate Shoreline ’s 40th anniversary. The family-friendly event is taking place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 at Shoreline at Mountain View regional park, 3070 N. Shoreline Blvd. The event will feature live music, self-guided tours, carnival games, food, and more! Visit MountainView.gov/CelebrateShoreline for more information.


City of MV Monster Bash Here

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, Mountain View’s Rengstorff Park will transform into a ghoulish good time for all ages with the return of Monster Bash. From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., community members are encouraged to don their favorite costumes and enjoy a fall festival loaded with a treat trail, spooky games, enchanting performances, a stilt walker, inflatables, creepy, crawly, ooey gooey zone, Dia de Muertos celebration and more. This event is free and open to the public. Visit MountainView.gov/MonsterBash for more information.

____________________________________________________________________________

PTA News


Movie Night - October 6th

Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, find a spot on the field, and join us for an outdoor movie screening of “Elemental” on Friday, October 6th, hosted by the PTA. Bring a blanket– it might get chilly at night!

  • 5:30-6:30PM - Book Fair open in MUR - last chance to shop!

  • 6:00PM - Concession sales begin (We will be selling pizza, drinks, boba milk tea, snacks, and spirit gear)

  • ~7:00PM - Movie begins

To volunteer to help with concessions or gear sales, sign up here. 


Walkathon - November 3rd, 12:15-3:30PM– Save the date!

Please plan to join the entire Vargas community right after school for one of our most vital fundraisers and fun community events of the year. Note that 11/3 is a minimum day.


Amici’s Update

Thank you Vargas community for your support! Together, we raised $634.25, which will be used to fund our PTA-sponsored programs.


PTA Participation Waivers: Click here for waiver.

A Participant Waiver is required for you and your child(ren) to participate in any after-school activities sponsored by the Jose Antonio Vargas PTA during the 2023-2024 school year, such as the Ice Cream Social, Movie Night, International Festival, or the Walkathon. Only one form needs to be filled out per family; it is valid for all events for the 2023-2024 school year. 

Membership Drive - ends October 6th

Many classes are just a couple members away from reaching 70% PTA membership! See the most recent class updates and invite others to join. Members who register by October 6 will be entered in a raffle to win one of three $10 vouchers for spirit wear.

Become a member today to have a vote and a voice on goals, programs and budget allocations to benefit your child at Vargas. It’s $10 to join– join here!  

Or visit our website to download a membership form, make a donation or find out about corporate matching. We hope to raise $150/student through donations, fundraising,  and membership to fund our wonderful programs. As an example, see what your contributions last year helped to fund. 

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

Afterschool Creative Enrichment (ACE) Programs

It’s not too late to join an afterschool class. If classes have started already, prorated fees can be offered. 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.

Konstella

Konstella is our main PTA tool to share information with our Vargas community. It's free and you don’t need to be a PTA member to join. Stay in the loop– sign up for Konstella here.

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]

____________________________________________________________________________

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.