Principal’s Message:

Hello Golden Owls,

 

October is Safety Month in MVWSD. As you read in last week’s Superintendent’s newsletter,  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.

Last week and this week, our 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. 17. 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 schools will hold similar drills, incorporating new door-locking systems. More details and timeline will come from your principal.

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

Upcoming events: 

We are so excited about our Walkathon next Friday, and we hope our students are as well!  As we prepare for the event, I want to give a shout out to our PTA for organizing this event. It takes a lot of effort, and our school is fortunate to have our volunteers.  We are still in need of some volunteers for  the day of Walkathon activities. If you are able, please also sign up for a volunteer shift

 

Info about Walkathon:

 

Students will have a chance to walk in the Walkathon with their classes before regular dismissal on Friday - Kinders will participate after their dismissal with their adult or afterschool program. The Walkathon opens to families after dismissal, and will go until 6pm. The Walkathon aims to get students moving in a fun-filled family event with prizes, music, food trucks, and more. Our goal is to walk over 5000 laps and raise $30,000! It is the PTA’s main fundraiser of the year, and funds will go to the PTA budget for after-school enrichment, assemblies, classroom supplies, community events, and much more.

There are several important steps for your child to participate in the Walkathon:

• You must complete a Walkathon permission form for your child (students can NOT be left unattended after school dismissal - they must be with a responsible adult or their after school program).

• Please set up your student's fundraising page, then share it with family and friends!

• If you haven't already completed the PTA Participation waiver this year, please do so!

Come to the Walkathon on October 18th from dismissal until 6pm! If you are able, please also sign up for a volunteer shift during the event - it's a fun way to contribute to and get to know our school community!

 

You should have received a flyer soon in your child's Friday folder, or check out the Walkathon website for more details. If you have any questions about the event, you can reach out to the Walkathon Chair at [email protected].

 

Again we are so very excited to have everyone next Friday. 

In Partnership, 

Principal Vern Taylor

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Events Calendar

October

 

November

 

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In this Newsletter

School News:

Golden Ticket Winners

No school for students on October 10 and 11

Vargas Spirit Week

Better Together: October

October 16 is Unity Day-Wear Orange

Lost and Found

Walden West Cabin Leaders

After school Halloween Parade 10/31 @ 12:05pm

 

Flyers:

2024 -2025 School Year Calendar - Here

October Menu - Here

District News:

Parent Involvement Board Policy

Your employer could help us meet the MVEF goal of $1.2 MM for 2024-25!

Free COVID tests available to order

 

PTA News:

Upcoming Events 

Mon, Oct 14 - Fri, Oct 18 - Spirit Week

Trunk or Treat - Fri Oct 25th

Konstella

Spirit Wear 

Website

 

Community Partners

Walden West: Autumn Adventure 2024 - Flyer

The View Teen Center: October - Flyer

MVLA Speaker Series: Never Enough with Jennifer Wallace

Free Parent Training for Families of Children with Disabilities - Flyer

Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection - Flyer 

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School News

 

Golden Ticket Winners October 3, 2024

Safir K.           RM: 1         Blair W.           RM: 11  

Kiaan A.         RM: 2         Narek D.          RM: 12

Millie B.         RM: 3         Rohan W.         RM: 13

Ali U.              RM: 4         Morgan W.       RM: 14 

Sahana B.        RM: 5         Lynn S.           RM: 16 

Emma Y.         RM: 6         Juliette B.        RM: 16 

Mariangel Q.  RM: 8          Eliana T.         RM: 17 

Alex G.           RM: 9         Derek R           RM: 18

Neev B.          RM: 10        Mrs. Butchko  RM: 19

 

No school for students on October 10 and 11

Thursday, October 10th 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 11th is recess day (no school for students and staff). 

 

Vargas Spirit Week

We will be having our first spirit week. The days are below

Crazy Hair Day Monday, October 14, 2024 

Pajama and Stuffy Day Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Unity Day (Wear Orange) Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Dress Like a Teacher Thursday, October 17, 2024

Dress Like an Animal Friday, October 18, 2024

 

Better Together: October

Families come in all shapes and sizes, each one a unique community bound by love, support, and shared experiences. This month #BetterTogether presents the topic “A family is a community”. October is also LGBTQ+ History Month. As we celebrate both of these together, we are reminded of the countless families that have fought for recognition and acceptance, paving the way for a more inclusive understanding of what family means. From single-parent households to multigenerational homes, from same-sex couples to chosen families within the LGBTQ+ community, each family contributes its own special thread to the vibrant tapestry of our society. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.

October 16 is Unity Day-Wear Orange

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.

Lost and Found

The lost and found rack is full, please take a look to see if any items belong to your child. The last day to claim any items is Friday, October 18th. Anything left after dismissal will be donated. 

      

Walden West Cabin Leaders

Attention Vargas Families! Our 5th grade students will be attending Science Camp at Walden West on October 28-October 31, 2024. In order to make this a successful trip, Walden West is in need of Cabin leaders who are High school Sophomores and older, up to 22 years old. These students will live with and help supervise our students during their trip.

Walden West supports high school student’s academic engagement, builds their leadership skills, and adds to their portfolios for future career/college. Students earn up to 100 hours of service learning serving as cabin leaders and enrich their current science knowledge in our field classes. Training and support is provided throughout the week. Per the SCCOE, all volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and will be required to present a negative COVID test on their first day. Click here to apply as a cabin leader for Jose Antonio Vargas. 

 

After school Halloween Parade 10/31 @ 12:05pm

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.

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District News

 

Parent Involvement Board Policy

Families, thank you for your engagement and involvement with our schools. Our sustained partnership is a big part of our continuous improvement as a district. Per California Department of Education guidelines, here for your review is the most recently updated version of our Board Policy on Parent Involvement. Any questions should be directed to Geoff Chang, Director of Federal, State, and Strategic Programs ([email protected]).

Your employer could help us meet the MVEF goal of $1.2 MM for 2024-25!

Employer matching and grants from local companies are a major source of the funding for MVEF each year. October, November, and December are months when many companies coordinate “giving days” to encourage their employees to make philanthropic gifts to support nonprofits. If your company does this, please consider listing MVEF as a non-profit organization doing good work in your child’s school district nurturing all students’ learning experience and education. Sometimes corporations even offer to double match your contribution for a specific time period. Please check here whether your employer offers a corporate matching program.

For more information about what MVEF does, please click here. 

Free COVID tests available to order

US residential households are now eligible to order four free at-home COVID tests from the US Postal Service COVID test order page. Prepare for respiratory virus season and learn how and when to test for COVID-19. Some of the tests shipped may show expired dates on the box—please note the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates of the tests being distributed through this program. You can find the full list of extended test expiration dates at the FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests web page.

 

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PTA News

 

Upcoming Events (see below for details)

• Mon, Oct 14 - Fri, Oct 18 - Spirit Week

• Friday, Oct 18: Walkathon - Save the date to join our main fundraiser of the year!

• Friday, Oct 25: Trunk or Treat 

 

Mon, Oct 14 - Fri, Oct 18 - Spirit Week

To kick off our Walkathon week, dress up for spirit week:

• Monday, Oct 14th - Crazy Hair Day

• Tuesday, Oct 15th - PJ and Stuffie Day

• Wed, Oct 16th - Unity Day - Wear Orange

• Thurs, Oct 17th - Dress like a Teacher

• Fri, Oct 18th - Dress like an Animal 

Trunk or Treat - Fri Oct 25th

We are just one month away from our first-ever Vargas Trunk or Treat, from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Vargas parking lot. What exactly is Trunk or Treat? Trunk-or-treating is an alternative to trick-or-treating, in which parents and guardians gather their vehicles in one spot, typically a parking lot, open and decorate their trunks and give out candy as children walk from car to car. It is a great opportunity to get the Vargas community together and have a night of fun. We will have games and other fun activities. Here are some ideas. You can also buy kits on Amazon that make the process easier. The link to sign up to help or decorate a car also includes pictures from Theuerkauf Elementary’s inaugural event last year. Come join us for this fun evening! Email [email protected] with any questions.

Konstella

Want to hear about the school-wide events planned by the PTA? Konstella is a free app/website– you do not have to be a member to join. 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

 

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.

• Follow JAVargas PTA on facebook for photos of events and updates on future events.

Kimberly Cheng, and the Executive Board 

[email protected]

 

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From Our Community Partners

Walden West: Autumn Adventure 2024 - Flyer

Join the entire Walden West Community for an Autumn Adventure in the woods on Saturday, October 12 from 9am - 12 pm at Walden West! It is a great way for families to see Walden West if they have not been to science camp yet or to revisit their favorite spots if they have already attended. It will be fun for all ages with hiking, nature activities, garden time, food, music, and more! For tickets and ways to be involved, visit https://givebutter.com/wwf-autumn-adventure.

The View Teen Center: October - 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. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m. (Adjusted Hours: Oct. 10-11 & Oct. 21-25, 1-6 p.m.), and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, and outdoor area. October events include Halloween-themed activities, art classes, a Bike to Boba, and much more. For more information, click here.

MVLA Speaker Series: Never Enough with Jennifer Wallace

Join the next MVLA Speaker Series presentation, “Never Enough: Mattering as a Solution to Toxic Achievement Pressure,” with author Jennifer Wallace on Wednesday, October 30th at 7PM at the Crittenden Middle School Auditorium. In this eye-opening talk, Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture, explores its harmful impact on our kids, and delivers the powerful solution: mattering, the psychological concept of feeling like you add value and are valued regardless of your external achievements. Wallace provides a practical mattering framework that parents and educators can use to tackle achievement pressure at home and in the classroom. Register for this free event here.

Free Parent Training for Families of Children with Disabilities - Flyer 

The Community Advisory Committee and Department of Developmental Services are hosting parent training this year. There will be interpretation available through DDS in Spanish, Vietnamese,  and ASL. See below for details:

Who's Who in Serving Our Little Ones

Planning and Strategies for Kids Ages 3 to 5

For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Thursday, November 14, 2024

6-7pm on Zoom

Register here: https://bit.ly/DDSTraining2

Stay Tuned for 2025 Topics: Ages 5 to 14 & 14 to Adulthood

Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection - Flyer 

Mentor Tutor Connection is actively recruiting volunteers for our mentoring (high school students) and tutoring (K-8 students) programs located in Los Altos and Mountain View public schools. To learn more about Mentor Tutor connection, please email [email protected] or visit mentortutorconnection.org.