Wise Word, 2/10/2021

Principal’s Message:

Dear Golden Owls,

MVWSD is currently planning to reopen schools for in-person learning 14 days after Santa Clara County passes into the Red Tier. Because this reopening target is based on numbers of COVID-19 cases, we don’t have the specific date Santa Clara County will pass into the Red Tier, but we are preparing as if it’s soon. 


Learning Options Survey due Feb 28: We’ll need to collect updated information on your preferences for your students’ learning options for the rest of the school year. You will still have the option to keep your children at home in distance learning, or you may tell us you’d like them to return to campus when schools reopen. Please look for the survey to come to you by email on Friday. 


We wanted you to have ample time to review it, which is why you received it before February break.  Please answer the survey with as much certainty as possible, and if you have questions, we can help you the week of Feb. 22. Information is available on https://www.mvwsd.org/academicsduringcovid


Our reopening hinges on COVID cases continuing to drop. Please remain vigilant about wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and curtailing travel. 


We appreciate you for supporting our school and students.


In Partnership,


Principal  Taylor


Events Calendar

  • 2/10 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here

  • 2/11 - Vargas PTA - Dine-out Pizza My Heart @ El Monte, 4pm - 8pm

  • 2/12 - End of 2nd Trimester - Minimum Day

  • 2/15 - 2/19 - Winter Break - No School 

  • 2/24 - Read-a-Thon Material Kit Pick-up, 11:00am - 1:30pm

  • 2/24 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here

  • 2/24 - SSC Meeting - 5:30pm - 6:30pm  

  • 2/26 - Principal’s Coffee (Virtual), Register Here 

  • 3/2 - PTA - Read-a-Thon Kick-Off - Dr. Seuss's Birthday

  • 3/3 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here

  • 3/4 - MVWSD Board of Trustee Meeting, 6pm - 10pm 

  • 3/5 - Reports Cards go home Electronically 

  • 3/10 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here

  • 3/12 - PTA - Read-a-Thon Last Day


In this Newsletter

School News

  • Golden Ticket Winners

  • PTA Pizza My Heart Dine-out!!

  • Material Pick-up 5th grade only

  • End of the Trimester

  • LCAP survey closes on Friday. We want to hear from you!

  • Winter Break Meal Schedule

  • 2021 Vargas Carnival Game Challenge!

  • Open House Cancelled 

  • Read-a-Thon

  • MVEF Gala

  • Principal Virtual Office Hours 

  • Technology Support 

District News

  • Black History Month - Flyer

  • February CAC Events

  • MV Library Valentine’s Celebration - Flyer

  • Parent University: The Special Education Team - Who We Are and How We Support Our Schools and Students - Feb 24th

  • Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Thursday, February 25th

  • MVEF Virtual Gala is March 6, 2021


PTA News

  • Announcement

  • Spirit Wear!

  • Amazon


Golden Ticket Winners - Week  2/8/2020
Dania S         RM: 1          Katherine P         RM: 11
Kiley A          RM: 2          Rajvir D               RM: 13
Julio R          RM: 3          Ryker B               RM: 14
Nate D          RM: 5          Kashish S            RM: 15
Carson C      RM: 6          Benjamin L         RM: 16
David J        RM: 8           Ethan D               RM: 17      
Luke D         RM: 9           Mrs. Amanda     RM: 2
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.

PTA Pizza My Heart Dine-out!!

Don’t forget to grab dinner at Pizza My Heart this Thursday, February 11th from 4:00 - 8:00pm, located at 1037 El Monte Ave, Mountain View. 

Please see video from Mrs. Amanda, our PTA representative - video here

 

Material Pick-up 5th Grade Only

Material distribution on Thursday, February 11th and Friday, February 12th from 8am to 2pm. Please come at any time during the allotted time on either Thursday or Friday to pick up your child's materials.

Please write your child’s first and last name, room number, and grade level on a piece of paper and place it on your passenger window. Please drive up to the MUR; a staff member will greet you with a mask and gloves, and place the items in your trunk.

 

End of the Trimester

Just a reminder that Friday, February 12th marks the end of trimester and there will be a minimum day. School will end at 11:30. Monday, February 15th through Friday, February 19th will be a Winter Break. School will resume again on Monday, February 22. 

 

LCAP survey closes on Friday. We want to hear from you! 

The District is beginning its annual process of writing the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your input from the survey will guide the development of our District’s three-year plan that will correspond with the first three years of the District’s new Strategic Plan 2027. These documents are the blueprints that guide all of the District’s work for the benefit of our students.

Golden Owls, we want to hear from you: Please click here -  http://mvw.sd/ParentLCAP - to give input through February 12 in a survey. We recognize that the wording of some of these questions might seem a little awkward because we are in a pandemic, distance-learning year. Please answer as fully as you can based on the experiences you've had this school year. If you would like a paper copy, please contact the office at 650-903-6952

 

Winter Break Meal Schedule

MVWSD's free, multi-day to-go meal packs for children will be distributed on Friday, Feb. 12 at Castro Elementary School only from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for meals for Feb. 12 through Feb. 17. 


On Wednesday, Feb. 17, meals will be available at Castro Elementary School for Feb 17 through Feb. 21. Regular meal service will resume on Monday, Feb. 22. 

 

2021 Vargas Carnival Game Challenge!

Here the bells ringing and the children cheering! It is time for the school wide Vargas STEAM Carnival Game Challenge! Hosted by Mrs. Bisbee and Mrs. Butchko. Gather your cardboard, recycling and anything else you can use to create your own Carnival Game. Click the link below and follow the steps. Each grade level has a specific focus to the challenge. Brothers, sisters, cousins and friends can combine their talents, too. Then, show off your game on FlipGrid. You might even be featured in the principal’s morning message. Be creative and have fun!

 

Click here for details K-5 Vargas STEAM Carnival Game Challenge

 

 

Open House Cancelled

Due to COVID-19, our schools will not be holding Open House events this spring, as we traditionally do in April. This year is different since our students’ work has been done at home, and gathering in groups at school is not permitted. We certainly will miss seeing all of the amazing work from our students and teachers, and look forward to a time we can gather to celebrate students’ work.

 

Read-a-Thon

Please mark your calendars for Jose Antonio Vargas’s second annual Read-a-Thon!


  • Read-A-Thon Pickup Kit Day- February 24th 11:00 am - 1:30 pm 

  • Read-A-Thon Kick Off -Tuesday, March 2nd 

  • Read-A-Thon Activities Week- March 8-12


What is a Read-A-Thon

A Read-a-thon Fundraiser is a way to raise money by getting people to support students who spend a few weeks focusing on reading. It is the perfect school fundraiser because it does not require students to do anything other than what they are already doing at school.

The best schools allocate specific reading time already being done and use that reading time as reading sessions. Others might ask students to read at home. Where and when the reader reads is not extremely important. The fundraiser is based on the fact that a student is committed to reading more than normal.


MVEF Gala

For our Vargas families who are interested in buying raffle tickets for our upcoming MVEF Gala, you can contact our school librarian MVEF representative Mrs. Claire Quesnel-Oueini at:

Personal email: [email protected]

Work email: [email protected]


Principal’s Virtual Office Hour  

Please drop in my Principal Hours today to ask your questions. Register Here. (Translation is available)


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.


District News

Black History Month - Flyer

Even before children can talk, they are learning about the world and about race through the words and actions of others. Parents, teachers, and caregivers have the unique opportunity to frame their child's first attempts to understand and talk about race. Talking about race matters because (1) everyone has a racialized identity, (2) racialized identity significantly impacts a person's life, and (3) race is a defining social construct in America.

 

This Black History Month, use the Better Together infographic to begin racially-focused conversations with children acknowledging that conversations about race will look different for each family and classroom and there is no single way to talk to children about race. Have honest conversations with your students about the history of privilege and oppression as it relates to Black History and, where appropriate, connect this to local community and larger global issues.

 

Together, we can explore Black History. Together, we can become anti-racist.


For a closer look at the graphics, click on the attached flyers or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD


February CAC Events

Happy New Year! 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


We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children may have during distance learning: Try a Sensory Diet


February 10, 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. Please contact [email protected] for the Zoom link for this meeting or sign up on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-iep504-support-tickets-135554074887


MV Library Valentine’s Celebration - Flyer

The Mountain View Public Library and CHAC Family Resource Center are sponsoring a free Valentine’s Celebration for families with young children on Friday, February 12, on Zoom. Please see the attached flyer for details and registration.


Parent University: The Special Education Team - Who We Are and How We Support Our Schools and Students

Join us on Wednesday, February 24th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for our next Parent University event: The Special Education Team - Who We Are and How We Support Our Schools and Students. 


Arianna Mayes (Director) and Acantha Ellard (Coordinator) of MVWSD's Special Education Department will facilitate a panel discussion with Special Educators and professionals who support MVWSD schools and students. The discussion will include who and what the team does and how students are supported both in-person and during distance learning. Additionally, you can submit your own questions beforehand via this Google Form

Spanish interpretation will be provided. 

Zoom link: Register in advance for this meeting: http://mvw.sd/4JMka

Spanish interpretation will be provided. 

**Please also take a look recordings and materials from our previous Parent University sessions at www.mvwsd.org/parentu


Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Thursday, February 25th

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: Our 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, February 25th

Time:            12:00 - 1:00 pm

Location:     Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)

Register:        REGISTER ONLINE

Questions:    [email protected]

Information:  MentorTutorConnection.org


MVEF Virtual Gala is March 6, 2021

Attend and support science, technology, art and music in our schools from your home. Please join us for a lively evening of trivia and fun in support of our schools.  You can attend only for trivia OR enjoy the addition of appetizers and drinks (wine and cocktails) delivered to your home. Check it all out on the MVEF website!  mvef.org/virtualgala


In addition the MVEF Virtual Gala is featuring a Raffle. You don't need to be present to win.   

Ticket Prices 1 ticket: $5, 5 tickets: $20, 20 tickets: $60 To buy tickets please send email: [email protected]  

Raffle Prizes include:


Oculus Quest 2:

Oculus Quest 2 is the most advanced all-in-one VR system yet. No PC or console needed. Explore an expansive library of awe-inspiring games and immersive experiences with unparalleled freedom. Retail Value $399


CSMA Gift Certificate for classes:

$200 gift certificate for art and preschool classes.  Expires December 2021. 


Mike’s Bikes:

$200 gift certificate towards your purchase at Mike’s Bikes.


1 year subscription Adobe Creative Cloud:

Adobe Creative Cloud gives you the world’s best creative apps and services so you can make anything you can imagine.  Get all 20+ creative desktop and mobile apps including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat.  Retail Value $600


Vargas PTA

Announcement

Parents! It's that time of year again to search for new officers for the PTA Executive Board! If you are looking to take on a more active role and have more say about what happens at JA Vargas next year, this is for you! No experience is necessary, we will help you! It is a great way to meet other families within the school community as well as take on an active role in your child's education! There are several positions on the board that need to be filled for next year! We have a few returning parents but several "retiring" parents and without YOU there simply won't be a JA Vargas PTA! 

If you have any interest, please complete this formhttps://forms.gle/nQfpsMCv2y5BUBSG8 and the PTA will be in touch to discuss how best you can help!  


Spirit Wear!  

It’s getting cold out there, so don’t forget to grab your JA Vargas sweatshirts and baseball tee’s!  Click HERE to shop the JA Vargas Store.  Order by Wednesday night and do curbside pick up Friday.  (Address for pick up will be sent after you complete your order.)


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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