Wise Word - 09/02/2020

Principal’s Message:

Dear Golden Owls,

This week while I was observing classrooms, I was fortunate to see Mrs. Chavez lead her first-grade students in reading Zach Gets Frustrated by William Mulcahey. The book provides a framework to support kids in dealing with difficult emotions, such as frustration, through using the Frustration Triangle.  The Frustration Triangle engages and supports students in managing their emotions in a healthy manner by first getting students to identify their correct emotion (Name it), then by engaging their “chill skills,” to relax themselves (Tame it), and finally by contextualizing the current situation and focusing on more positive aspects.  As we continue with distance learning, there will be times when we all will be frustrated. I highly encourage you to use this framework to support your child through challenging moments. If you would like to use the Frustration Triangle with your child, you can find a template here. If you would like a more research backed explanation, You can find a short clip from Dr. Dan Siegel explaining how this approach works here

Thank you you for supporting our school and students,

Mr. Taylor

 


Events Calendar

  • 9/3 -  MVWSD Board of Trustee Meeting, 6pm - 10pm

  • 9/7 - Labor Day Holiday - No School

  • 9/9 - Principal’s Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm

  • 9/16 - Principal’s Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm

  • 9/17 -  MVWSD Board of Trustee Meeting, 6pm - 10pm

  • 9/18 - ELAC Virtual Meeting, 4pm

 


In this Newsletter

School News

  • Golden Ticket Winners 

  • iReady Reading Assessment

  • Attendance

  • COVID Safety Update and Checklist

  • VA SSC Self Nomination Form 2020-2021

  • Technology Support 

  • Old Chromebooks & Library books from last year

  • EZMeal Application Help 

District News

  • Securly

  • MVEF News

  • September announcements for SELPA 1 CAC - Flyer

  • MV Parent U on Sept. 9: Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy - Register here

  • Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - September 10th

  • Public hearing on Sept. 17: Sufficient instructional materials

  • Parent U videos


PTA News

  • Vargas Spirit Wear

  • Become a Member

  • Amazon

 


Golden Ticket Winners - Week  8/31/2020
Dominic M RM: 1 Daniel G RM:11
Hanna H RM: 1 Ryan K RM: 13
Andrew G RM: 2 Ryker B RM: 14
Liam P RM: 3 Jayden M RM: 15
Noelle R RM: 6 Leo F RM: 16
Aanya R RM: 8 Lam N RM: 17
Caleb C RM: 10           Ms. Hamor RM:14
You can stop by the office to pick up your prize! You may stop by on Monday or Wednesday from 11:30am to 2:00pm.

iReady Assessment

Our grade 1-5 students will be taking the iReady Reading assessment on Thursday 9/3 and Friday 9/4.  It is important to note that families are not proctoring the assessment for their students. Students will log in to their Zoom session with their teacher. Teachers will be on Zoom to monitor in real-time your child’s participation in the assessment. As parents/ guardians, you play a very important role in supporting your child before they take the diagnostic assessments.

Below are some tips you may find useful to help prepare your child for the virtual diagnostic assessment:

  • Explain to your child that it is important to do his/her best.

  • Remind your children to work out their problems and pace themselves

  • Make sure your child has a distraction-free area to take the assessment

  • Teachers will live proctor the assessment

  • During the Zoom assessment session, your child’s camera must be on and audio be enabled when asked by the teacher

  • Do not help your child during the assessment

  • Encourage your child to stay steady, focused, and do his/her best.

Attendance

Due to new state guidance, beginning Sept 8, there will be some changes to how our school is required to count and monitor student attendance.

 

It’s important to know that school attendance during distance learning is mandatory. If your student will be absent, please report it by calling or emailing us as soon as possible. If your child is having difficulty with distance learning, please let us know. We want to help.

 

Changes to attendance monitoring beginning Sept 8:

  • Elementary teachers will check in with students at the beginning of the day. Attendance will be taken at the end of the day every day, including Wednesdays. 

  • Students will no longer get a separate participation grade in Google Classroom. Attendance and participation scores are now combined and can be viewed by parents in Powerschool under “attendance history.”

  • If you don’t report your student’s absence, we will be calling you to determine the reason for the absence.

 

For more information about attendance, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/attendance


COVID Safety Update and Checklist

As you come to campus, you may have noticed a few changes. Our staff is hard at work preparing for the safe return of our students, once it is determined by the state and local public health guidance that itsafe to do so. Each Friday, we will be posting our progress on our Reopening Checklist (Click here). 


 A few notable changes: 

  • Staff training on COVID safety, Protocol and our Response Process

  • Increased signage reminding everyone to maintain physical distance, regularly wash hands, and wear face-coverings

  • All individuals supplied with a reusable Face mask and face shields

  • An increased cleaning and sanitizing schedule

  • Employees Required to complete  COVID Screener before coming to campus. 

  • Outdoor sanitizing stations 

  • New no-touch soap and hand-sanitizing dispensers 

  • Replacement of filters with MERV-13


VA SSC Self Nomination Form 2020-2021

Vargas Community, we need you for support with filling  our School Site Council for the 2020-2021 school year.  SSC consists of five staff members and five parents.  School Site Council is very important as it is responsible for developing the school goals and budget with the Principal. Currently, we have one (1) vacancy for parent/community member positions, and these positions will be filled by an election.


If you are interested in running to be a member of our SSC, please complete the Online Nomination Form or you can print This form  and return to the front office.  Please write a 3-5 sentence professional biography and submit this form to the Vargas office no later than September 8, 2020.


For additional information, please contact Principal Taylor at [email protected], call 650-903-6952, or stop by the front office.


Technology Support:

If you are having problems with the chromebook you can contact: [email protected] to create a ServiceNow ticket or call the Tech Department at

(650) 526-3252.


If it's not device/hardware related or account related, and more about using a program, please contact Marissa Hamaguchi, Tech Coach, ([email protected]) or call/text (650) 336-5863.

 

Old Chromebooks & Library Books (Last School Year)(repeated information)

If you have a Chromebook from last year, you should return the Chromebooks by September 4, 2020. We will have a bin outside the MUR for parents to place the Chromebooks, Please come  by between 8am to 2pm all next week.

 

Similarly we will have a box for library book return, if your child has a book from last year please return it.

EZ Meal Application Help - (repeated information)

Free or reduced price meal benefit status from last year can be used to pay for lunches until Sept. 30. We can assist you  in applying for free or reduced price meal benefits through the National Lunch Program and can process applications quickly. Applications are at http://www.ezmealapp.com.  Deadline is Sept. 21st. 


If you need help, our office staff is available to help you.  Please email [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]

 

 


District News

Securly

Track your student's online activities at home with Securly

MVWSD provides a tool that allows parents to be aware of their students' online activities and to help keep them safe on their school-issued devices. Securly allows you to see what choices your student is making online while at home so that you will be alerted to potential issues and can guide your student. Please note: Securly is for school-issued devices only. Check your email for these weekly reports, and you may also download the Securly app. For more information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/technology.

 

MVEF News

Please Support Our Students and Teachers!

MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. We hope you saw the MVEF brochure with your school supplies or watched the video during Back to School. Please see the website at https://www.mvef.org/ for more information and to donate online. Please consider joining our team of volunteers or emailing us with any questions at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

 

September announcements for SELPA 1 CAC

Upcoming CAC events

SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education

needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org

 

Our events for September:

September 8, 10 am - 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. Please contact [email protected] for the Zoom link for this meeting.

 

Also on September 8, 10 am - Parent Chat - Support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. A great place for help and support for challenges with your teens. Please contact [email protected] for Google Meet invite.

 

MV Parent U on Sept. 9: Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy - Register here

Join us on Wednesday, September 9 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for our next Parent University event: Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy from Home.

 

MVWSD Instructional Coaches Karen Gordon and Natalie Gallagher will share several resourceful strategies for supporting reading, writing, listening, and speaking at home during distance learning:

  • Easy activities to boost your child's reading engagement 

  • Creative ways to encourage and support writing using four text types (expository/informative, narrative, opinion, argumentative)

  • Fostering listening skills to be able to extract key information

  • Cultivating speaking skills using academic vocabulary

  • Tips to prepare your child for ELPAC testing

 

Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - September 10th

You can change the life of a student!

Come learn about volunteer opportunities to Mentor high school students and Tutor students in grades K-8  in our Mountain View and Los Altos schools.

Becoming a Mentor or Tutor will add joy to your life and help a student in our local community to a brighter future!

There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer.  You're welcome to just come and learn more about what we do.

 

Please note: Mentor Tutor programs are currently remote and will remain so until students are back in school and the school district permits volunteers in the classroom

 

All volunteers must be high school graduates.  

Date:             Thursday, September 10th

Time:           5:00 - 6:00 pm

Location:     Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)

Register:   REGISTER ONLINE  

Questions: [email protected]

Information: MentorTutorConnection.org

 

Public hearing on Sept. 17: Sufficient instructional materials

A public hearing will be held in order to comply with Ed Code section 60119 on September 17, 2020 to detail the extent to which text books and instructional materials were provided to all students, including English Learners.

 

The definition of “sufficient textbooks or instructional materials” means that each pupil has textbooks or instructional materials, or both to use in class and to take home in each of the following subjects:

• Mathematics

• Science

• History/Social Science

• Language Arts

The public hearing on September 17, 2020 at 7:00pm will be held during the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. To view details about accessing the meeting either online or by phone, please click on the September 17 agenda link on this webpage: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/board_of_trustees/board_meetings

 

Parent U Videos

Parent University videos are now on our website!

Did you miss the latest Parent University event? Do you want to review the materials that were presented? Videos and materials are now in English and Spanish on the Parent University website at http://www.mvwsd.org/parent/parent_university

Latest uploads: Mental Health Resources and Distance Learning Support

 


Vargas PTA


Do you have your JA Vargas Spirit Wear yet?

¡Muchas opciones excelentes y asegúrese de que sus estudiantes usen Vargas Green los lunes para mostrar nuestro espíritu escolar! ¡Aquí hay un enlace para comprar ropa espiritual que apoye a su escuela!


Become a Member!  

Becoming a member is easy and helps support our school! And becoming a member doesn't mean that you have to volunteer! Visit our webpage for a link or scan the QR code in your PTA guide sent home with your school materials!

 

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.
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