Principal’s Message:
Hello Golden Owls,
Next Week, March 20, 2025 marks the Spring Equinox for the Northern Hemisphere aka the first day of Spring. During the springtime, it feels like there is a rebirth of energy in the atmosphere as we can see the new blossoms blooming and animals start to reemerge. While the spring is where we see all of the beauty start to emerge, it's important to remember that during the Fall and Winter, we were preparing.
This reminds me a lot of a similar cycle in education. As we look forward into the next few months, we will be noticing our educational blossom’s blooming. In April and May our students will be assessed using a variety of measures that allow us to show how much they have grown this year. In our 3-5 grades, students will be assessed using the state CAASPP. Students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge on their current grades standards. Additionally, our 5th grade students will demonstrate their science knowledge through the statewide CAST assessments. All of our students will be assessed the week of May 13, 2025 using the iReady Diagnostic assessment. This assessment should allow us to demonstrate growth from where students started in the fall.
With that--we also want to take time to celebrate the hard work that has been done by students, staff, and families this year in nonacademic areas as well.
Below are a few dates that I want to highlight so you can mark your calendars:
Thursday, March 27, 2025 is Open House, This is a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work of your children. Families are invited to come with their children to visit the classroom and see all the hard work that has taken place over this past year. This will also be the time when parents can visit the CSMA Art showcase in the MUR. The students taking Art will select the work that they are most proud of to display in our show.
Our students will be showcasing their hard work and learning from CSMA music classes as well. Dates and times are being finalized for grades K-4.
The 5th grade instruments concert will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 from 10:45-12:00 PM.
Thursday, April 17, 2025 is our International Festival. Our Vargas PTA will be hosting another International Festival to celebrate the cultural diversity of our school. Families can work together to share their culture.
At the end of April, we will have a Talent Show to highlight the various talents that we have. More information will follow.
June 4, 2025 will be our 5th grade Promotion Ceremony. Their ceremony will take place immediately after school in the Vargas MUR.
The Kinder Promotion Ceremony will also take place in June. More details to follow.
I look forward to seeing you all at these events as we celebrate our community.
In Partnership,
Principal Vern Taylor
Events Calendar
March
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13th
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Family Reading Night, 6-7pm
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10-14
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Read-a-Thon Week
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14th
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Lifetouch Spring Pictures
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17th
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The Walt Disney Family Museum Field Trip
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20th
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A Touch of the Earth Assembly
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20th
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MSI Field Trip
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20th
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MVWSD Board Meeting, District Office 6pm-10pm
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21st
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Teacher-in-Service Day - No school
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27th
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Open House, 6pm-7pm
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28th
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Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - MUR in person
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April
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1st
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Deer Hollow Farm Field Trip
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2nd
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Hidden Villa Field Trip
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3rd
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MVWSD Board Meeting, District Office 6pm-10pm
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4th
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Pillar Point Half Moon Bay Field Trip
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7th -11th
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Spring Break No School
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14th
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DELAC Meeting, 5:30pm - Zoom
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17th
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International Festival
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24th
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MVWSD Board Meeting, District Office 6pm-10pm
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In this Newsletter
School News:
Golden Ticket Winners
Women’s History Month
Read-a-Thon, March 10-14
Lifetouch Spring Pictures, March 14
No School Friday, March 21st
Earth Hour
Open House, March 27th
Mountain View’s Bookmobile, April 2
CAASPP Testing (Grades 3-5)
Students Not Returning for 2025-2026 School Year
Volunteers Needed CSMA Art Show
5th Grade Promotion Date
Flyers:
2024 -2025 School Year Calendar - Here
2025-2026 School Year Calendar - Here
March Menu - Here
District News:
Better Together: March
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: We Want Your Input!
MVEF SPRING GALA - JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION!
PTA News:
Upcoming Events
Read-a-thon Week, March 10th-14th
Family Reading Night – Thursday March 13th, 6-7pm
Next PTA Association Meeting - March 26th (8:30am on Zoom)
New session of afterschool classes starting soon!
Community Partners:
City of Mountain View Multicultural Festival - Flyer
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: How to Find the Right College
City of Mountain View Nature Photography Contest, Earth & Arbor Day 2025 - Flyer
School News
Golden Ticket Winners March 6, 2025
Allison D. RM: 1 Prithika S. RM: 11
Meher G. RM: 2 Kira L. RM: 12
Saaru K. RM: 3 Theodore F. RM: 13
Catherin L. RM: 4 Max L. RM: 14
Yiselle R. RM: 5 Miles C. RM: 15
Elise D. RM: 6 Sarah G. RM: 16
Nurali R. RM: 8 Alice B. RM: 17
Jeremiah O. RM: 9 Leyla B RM: 18
ALexa D. RM: 10 Ms. Kwon RM: 10
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Women’s History Month
As you know March is Women’s History Month. In order to honor Women’s History Month, we are asking students to honor a woman that they admire. This person can be someone they know personally, or someone who is famous that they admire.
Students have several options.
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Students can create an art piece that showcases a woman who is important to them. Art work can be visual (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc) or performance art (play, song, interpretive dance).
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Students also have the option to interview a woman they admire. Students can do a written interview or they can do an audio or visual interview.
Students who are interested, should submit their artwork or interview by Friday, March 28. 2025.
For digital submissions, please submit using this link.
Read-a-Thon, March 10-14
Mark your calendars for our Read-a-thon. The Read-a-thon will take place the week of March 10-14.
Next week, students will be sent home with a physical copy of the Read-a-Thon packet, Highlighted in the packet are how to log your minutes, reading goals for grade-levels, prizes, and special events that we will be doing during the Read-A-Thon including guests readers throughout the week, and a family reading night with special guest readings with our Vargas school staff. The Read-a-Thon is a wonderful way to get our students excited about reading, so I appreciate your support and partnership in making it a successful event.
Lifetouch Spring Pictures March 14
Spring pictures are coming up on Friday, March 14th. Picture forms coming home this week.
Orders can be placed online:
Website: mylifetouch.com
Picture ID: EVTHDQMZN
No School Friday, March 21st
Friday, March 21, 2025 is a professional work day for teachers. There is no school for students.
Earth Hour
From 8:30 pm local time on 22nd March, WWF’s Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, returns for its 19th edition with the ‘Biggest Hour for Earth’ in support and celebration of our planet. Earth Hour serves as a beacon of positivity, hope, and inspiration to rally as many people as possible in over 180 countries and territories.
Since its creation in 2007, Earth Hour has been known for its “lights off” moment. As landmarks and homes across the world switch off, supporters are also invited to symbolically switch off and 'Give an hour for Earth’, spending 60 minutes doing something - anything - positive for our planet.
Earth Hour invites everyone, everywhere to find the most enjoyable ways to give an hour for Earth. Whether it is cooking a sustainable meal at home, catching a nature documentary, taking a mindful walk through the woods to bask in nature and feel the earth, or engaging in a home scavenger hunt to identify and swap out unsustainable products with eco-friendly alternatives, there are myriad options to choose from. Check https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/give-an-hour for more. #MyHourForEarth. https://www.facebook.com/earthhour/
Open House, March 27th
Please mark your calendars. We will have an in person Open House on March 27, 2025 from 6:00-7:00 PM. This is an exciting time to join your child in touring their classroom and is a great opportunity for students to share what they have been learning in class. We look forward to making this a fun family night complete with a CSMA art show in the MUR. This night is truly a family favorite you won’t want to miss!
Mountain View’s Bookmobile - April 2
Mountain View Public Library’s bookmobile will visit Vargas on Wednesday, April 2, at 2:30pm on the blacktop. The new bookmobile operates fully on electricity and will be recognizable with the eye-catching City colors and library logos. Come check it out!
CAASPP Testing (Grades 3-5)
Grades 3-5 will start CAASPP testing soon. Vargas 3-5 grade students will start holding their practice tests from April 15-18, this is the week immediately following our return from Spring Break.
The testing dates are as follows:
Students will test before the 10:00AM recess. Please avoid scheduling appointments during these times.
As you know, CAASPP testing is one of the ways in which we measure our success for students. It is imperative that students are present, and do their best for testing each day. Please note that no independent study contracts will be granted for students in grades 3-5 during this time.
Thank you for your support!
Students Not Returning for 2025-2026 School Year
If you plan on moving during the summer or know your child will not return to our school or the District for the 2025-2026 school year, please email our school secretary Ms. Antunez at [email protected].
Volunteers Needed CSMA Art Show
Art Show volunteers play a crucial role in making this event a success and provide a great opportunity for those available for just one or two days of volunteering. If you're interested in helping out, please complete the Art Show Volunteer Form.
5th Grade Promotion Date
Each year, we look forward to celebrating with families as our 5th grade students are promoted to middle school. This year, the 5th grade promotion date is Thursday, June 5. We will share more specifics about the celebration as details are available.
District News
Better Together: March
March is Women's History Month at Mountain View Whisman School District! This special month celebrates the vital contributions, achievements, and influence of women throughout history and in contemporary society. This month, our #BetterTogetherMVWSD initiative highlights "Serving our community/Sirviendo a nuestra comunidad." Community service strengthens our connections, builds empathy, and creates meaningful change through collective action. Join us as we explore how we can work together on projects to make a positive impact in our community. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: We Want Your Input!
As part of our shared commitment to ensuring the best for our students, we are inviting the MVWSD Community (teachers, staff, families) to review and provide feedback on the pilot curricula. Your perspective matters, and we’d love for you to join us at one of the following community review sessions:
SEL Curricula Review
Location: MVWSD District Office - Conference Room C
1400 Montecito Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043
March 13, 2025
Session 1: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 2: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
March 20, 2025
Session 3: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 4: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the SEL programs being considered, share your insights, and engage in the important work of shaping the future of our district’s approach to social-emotional learning. If you are unable to attend these sessions and are interested in reviewing the curricula, please email Karin Jinbo ([email protected]). For information, please see this webpage.
MVEF SPRING GALA - JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 06:00-10:00 pm | Los Altos Community Center
This year, we are celebrating a big milestone - 40 years of MVEF - A Celebration of Eras! Empowering Students from Gen X to Gen Alpha.
Over the past 40 years, MVEF has made a lasting impact by collecting over $20M of funds, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone while continuing to provide vital resources for our local schools and students.
This lively community building event includes dinner, silent and live auctions, DJ, raffle and student performances!
GET YOUR GALA TICKETS WHILE THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
Get your Early Bird ($140) or First Time Attendee ($125) tickets here until March 25th!
General Admission Tickets will go up to $165 after March 25th.
LAST CALL FOR AUCTION ITEMS AND HOST AUCTION PARTIES!
Do you have a vacation home? Do you like throwing parties for kids or adults? Do you have extra tickets for a concert or event? Do you have extra wine bottles to donate?
This annual event usually raises over 10% of our annual fundraising goal of $1.2M to support programs across MVWSD.
Great auction donations include:
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Vacation home stays
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Themed party experiences for adults or kids
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Event tickets (sports, concerts, etc.)
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Bottles of wine for the "wine wall"
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Professional Services
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Merchandise, etc.
Donate Gala auction items here. We appreciate your support!
PTA News
Upcoming Events:
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3/26 – PTA Association Meeting (8:30-9:30am on Zoom)
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3/26 – The Habit Dine Out Fundraiser (4-9pm)
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4/17 – International Festival (5-7pm), details to come. Save the date!
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End of April – Talent show
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4/28 - 5/2 – Scholastic Book Fair
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5/4 – MVWSD Chess Tournament
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5/16-17 – Family Campout, details to come
Read-a-thon Week, March 10th-14th
📚Read-a-thon week is here! The goal of the Read-a-thon is to encourage students to read, read, read! Be sure to have them log their minutes each day – either electronically here or via paper form, which they can turn in by next Monday.
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Your student can read a book, a magazine or a comic book. Read alone, read with a parent, or have an adult read to them – it all counts! But only log minutes read outside of the classroom (non-instructional time). Teachers will log their in-class minutes for the class.
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There will be individual prizes and prizes for the classrooms that read the most.
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During the Read-a-thon this week, guest readers from the Vargas community, MVPD, MVFD, MV Public Library, City Council and MVWSD school board have been visiting the classrooms as guest readers.
Family Reading Night – Thursday March 13th, 6-7pm
Grab your reading-light and a good book and join us for family reading night at Vargas. We’ll have hot chocolate and cookies – teachers and staff will also be doing read alouds for students to listen to throughout the evening. Don’t forget to log these minutes! There will be a taco food truck on site, starting at 5pm.
Next PTA Association Meeting - March 26th (8:30am on Zoom)
Mark your calendars for the next PTA Association Meeting, which is happening virtually Wednesday, March 26th, from 8:30-9:30 am. All are welcome.
New session of afterschool classes starting soon!
https://enrichment.bayareachess.com/JAVargas25Spring
Kimberly Cheng, and the Executive Board
[email protected]
From Our Community Partners
City of Mountain View Multicultural Festival - Flyer
Join the City of Mountain View for a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity at the Mountain View Multicultural Festival! Taking place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, this special event brings the community together to share, learn, and appreciate the unique traditions and heritage of people from around the globe. Immerse yourself in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere filled with community and cultural booths, captivating performances, and engaging exhibits showcasing international cultures. Visit MountainView.gov/MultiCultureFest for more information.
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: How to Find the Right College
Join MVLA Parent Ed on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 PM at the MVHS Spartan Theatre (3535 Truman Avenue) for an insightful presentation on “How to Find the Right College”. A panel of four experts in college recruiting, applications, and admissions will share valuable strategies for identifying great programs and reducing the stress of the application process. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert advice and make informed decisions about your college search. Register for this free event here.
City of Mountain View Nature Photography Contest, Earth & Arbor Day 2025 - Flyer
The City of Mountain View is excited to announce the launch of the second annual
Earth & Arbor Day Nature Photography Contest! Submit your photograph that depicts the beauty, biodiversity, and resilience of the environment in and around Mountain View. The Earth and Arbor Day photo contest is open to all Mountain View community members, including people who live, go to school, and work in the City and their families. Submit your photo by April 1 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to submit, visit https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/photocontest.