Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
October 7-11 is our annual Conference week, a key opportunity for families and teachers to discuss the progress of each student and to discuss what supports or extensions are needed to ensure success.
Parent conferences are an excellent time to let the teacher know of anything going on in your child's life that could affect him or her at school. This is also a good time to let us know of any resources your family needs. In addition, your child's teacher will be talking to you about progress so far, both academically and social. This is an important opportunity for you to be involved in your child's education. Working together as partners will ensure that your child has a happy and successful experience at school!
Each family signs up for a 20-minute conference per child. Conferences take place in the afternoons; every day that week is a minimum day: students are dismissed at 11:55 a.m. M-F.
Your teacher will be sending home a preference form by 9/20.(Sample) Please return the form with your three (or more) available time slots. The teacher will create a schedule and send out confirmations to parents by 9/30. If you would like an interpreter for your conference, please indicate what language.
Thank you for your help and support.
Mr. Taylor
Events Calendar
- 9/18/19 - Hearing and Vision for Kinder & 2nd graders
- 9/20/19 - PTA Fundraiser: Sip & Shop Mom's Night Out - 436 Nicholas Drive (in the Whisman Station neighborhood)
- 9/23/19 - The Vargas Way Morning Assembly, 8:00am-8:15am - Blacktop
- 9/25/19 - ELAC & SSC Meeting, 5:00pm - 6:00pm - MUR
- 9/27/19 - Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - 9:10am - MUR
- 9/30/19 - The Vargas Way Morning Assembly, 8:00am-8:15am - Blacktop
- 10/4/19 - Coffee with the Superintendent, 8:15am - 9:15am - MUR
- 10/7 - 10/11 - Minimum Day all Week due to Parent Teacher Conferences
- 10/16/19 - Picture Retakes
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In this Newsletter
School News
- Golden Ticket Winners
- Tardy Procedure
- Visitors and Delivery Procedures
- Pets on Campus
- Need Noon Duty Supervisors
District News
- Are Vacations/Travel Excused Absences
- MV Parent U: Like movie and discussion
- MVLA Parent Education Speaker
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 9/18
Week 9/18
Elliot RM: 1
Lily RM: 6
Bellneu RM: 8
Edgar RM: 9
Reyna RM: 21
Tardy Procedure
This is a reminder that 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. I will be arranging appointments with all families that have 5 or more tardies so we can discuss in person the importance, ramifications, and any support you many need to resolve the situation.
If your child is at school after 8:00 a.m. please remember you must come through the office to pick up a tardy slip. We have a 2 minute warning bell that rings at 7:58 a.m., students should be in line by this time to avoid being marked absent when the 8:00 a.m. bell rings and attendance is taken.
Visitors and Delivery Procedures
- All visitors/volunteers must sign in at the Office and put on a visitor’s sticker before continuing to other parts of campus.
- If dropping off items for students during the day, please bring them to the office and we will deliver the items or call the students to pick them up.
- Visitors/volunteers who have signed in may use the adult restrooms in the front office. Adults may not use student restrooms unless escorting their child.
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Pets on Campus
In order to keep all students safe, we ask that you do not bring pets on campus before 6:00PM. We have aftercare programs s until 6:00PM. Thank you for keeping all of our Vargas students safe.
Noon Duty Supervisors
Golden Owls, We are in need of some wonderful individuals to help with Noon Duty supervision. If you are interested please Apply Here.
Expiration of Free & reduced Eligibility Status!
The 30-day grace period for last year’s eligibility status for Free & Reduced students expires on September 27! Unless students have submitted an application, they will be charged the full price for breakfast and lunch beginning Monday, September 30. Please submit your applications online, please go to www.EZMEALAPP.com
Lost and Found Items
Please stop by the front office to check our Lost and Found box. Our box is starting to overflow, any items not claimed by Friday, September 27th will be donated.
Vargas PTA
Join PTA
Popsicle Party! YAY!
Listen up! Here's the scoop!
Membership in the PTA is an important part of our school community, so our goal is 100% participation.
To sweeten the deal, if every class gets 80% participation, Principal Taylor said the whole school can have an OTTER POP party.
On top of that, for every class that gets 100% participation, everyone gets 1 extra minute of recess! (That’s 1 extra minute of recess per 100% class!)
Membership is $10/person. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors, librarians, police officers, and coworkers all count toward your class total.
Sponsorships are available for those with financial need (contact Beatriz Claas [email protected] or Principal Taylor).
So don’t wait! Sign up now! Online at Totem https://jointotem.com/users/sign_up?show_email_reg=1 or download forms https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GmwsZh7mXDY1ZDC46d2AqXn8vxNXvM8p. Let’s help enrich our kids’ learning, support our teachers, and build our Golden Owls community!
If you’re already a member, thank you!
Sip & Shop Mom's Night Out
Friday, Sept 20th from 7-9pm
436 Nicholas Drive (in the Whisman Station neighborhood)
20% of sales benefit the JA Vargas PTA
Meet other Vargas Moms & check out fun & fashionable LuLaRoe Clothing. We carry sizes XXS-3XL in tops, skirts & dresses, as well as leggings for kids & adults. Can’t make it to the event? Shop online www.shopnowwithjaime.com from Sept 20-22nd and it benefits the PTA.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Art After School
Join us for the PTA's first VERA Program - Art After School! Your children are invited to stay after school and make some great art! We will have various projects for Kinders through 4th Graders.
In addition, you will have the option to purchase your child’s art printed on almost anything you can imagine through Square 1 Art. It is not mandatory for you to purchase anything after the event and more information will be sent home.
The Details:
- This is a FREE event to all grade levels and permission slips will be sent home this week.
- Thursday, September 26, 2019 from 11:55am-2:30pm
- Students will meet in the MUR for lunch, recess, and then creating art.
- We will also be in need of volunteers
Konstella
Please sign up for Konstella at www.Konstella.com. This is the main parent-communication tool for the whole school.
Amazon
If you shop through Amazon, please shop through the Amazon Smile portal for Vargas: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/90-1257353 A percentage of sales through this link goes back to the school.
Book Fair
The Book Fair is coming up and we need your help with setting up the books and cashiering shifts. Please sign up on Konstella!
District News
Are Vacations / Travel Excused Absences?: Unfortunately, family vacations or travel is not excused – even when you inform your teacher or the office. This may come as a surprise for parents. We appreciate you letting us know so that you will not receive a call from the auto-dialer asking you to verify the absence. For more information, click here.
MV Parent U: Like movie and discussion
Mountain View Parent University presents a discussion and showing of “Like,” a documentary that explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain. Social media is a tool and social platforms are a place to connect, share, and care… but is that what's really happening? How can parents and students gain the skills to self-regulate?
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6:30-8 PM at Crittenden Middle School Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m.
After the film, there will be a discussion facilitated by Common Sense Media and MVWSD staff. Spanish translation will be available during the discussion panel, and the film will have Spanish subtitles. Child care will be provided. To RSVP prior to the event, and to view live streaming on the internet during the event: mvwsd.org/parentu.
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents: "The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive" with W. Thomas Boyce, M.D. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | MVHS Spartan Theatre | 3535 Truman Ave, Mountain View, CA.
Developmental pediatrician, Dr. Thomas Boyce, will delve into results from four decades of research and clinical practice – exploring his major discovery that reveals how both genetic make-up and environment shape behavior.
Dr. Boyce will explore how the “dandelion” child (hearty, resilient, healthy) is able to survive and flourish under most circumstances and the “orchid” child (sensitive, susceptible, fragile) when given the right support, can thrive as much as, if not more, than other children. Dr. Boyce will share how we as parents can better nurture and support the unique characteristics of both types of children.
To register for this free event, go to https://mvla2019-20-thomasboyce.eventbrite.com
Sponsored by Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), MVLA High School Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF), and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
Flyers
Sip & Shop Mom's Night Out
MV Parent U: Like Movie
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents: "The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive"