Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
March was an exciting month for us. We celebrated Women’s History Month, started in-person instruction for all K-5 Golden Owls, and completed our Read-A-Thon. I have a few important updates that I would like to share!
Read-A-Thon Update
We are happy to report that we had another successful Read-A-Thon. In the two-week period of our Read-a-Thon, Vargas students read 265,699 minutes. That means each student engaged in around 880 minutes of reading over the course of two weeks. That is AMAZING. Please continue to encourage your child to read nightly.
I’m also happy to report every single class met our first Reading Goal and has earned an extra recess/zoom pass. Half of our classrooms met the third reading goal, and those classes will get to pie Mr. Taylor in the face! Finally, I wanted to report that we also met our financial goal of $30 per student. We raised $14,110 for our school. Thank you all for your support and hard work in making this a successful event.
PTA
We're still seeking a couple more fresh faces to serve on the executive board for next school year. Serving on the PTA Board is a great way to get involved, meet new friends and make a difference at Vargas! If you are interested, please contact [email protected]. Please note that there is no prior experience necessary and training will be provided. We know everyone is busy, but we depend on parents like you to keep the PTA running!
Health Screeners
Thank you all for your support in completing your daily screener. I have received many questions about what to do if your Child is showing symptoms or is ill. The Santa Clara County Department of Public Health has provided the following graphics to support you in determining next steps if your child shows symptoms. Parent Handouts (Spanish)
In Partnership,
Principal Taylor
Events Calendar
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3/31 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here
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4/1 - MVWSD Board of Trustee Meeting, 6pm - 10pm
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4/2 - Superintendent Community Check-in, 3:30pm
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4/7 - PTA: GolfLand Family Fun Event (Sunnyvale), 10am -9pm
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4/7 - Picture Day (Optional), 1pm - 6pm - MUR
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4/7 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here
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4/12 - 4/16 - Spring Recess - No School
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4/21 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here
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4/23 - ELAC Meeting, 4pm - 5pm
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4/28 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here
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4/28 - SSC Meeting, 5:30pm -6:30pm
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4/30 - Principal’s Coffee (Virtual), 8:30am Register Here
In this Newsletter
School News
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Golden Ticket Winners
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Lunch Menu
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OKtoReopen health screener pro tips
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Picture Day - Optional
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Spring Break Travel Advisory
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Principal Virtual Office Hours
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Technology Support
District News
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CAC Parent Education Event - Mental Health for the Whole Family - with Thierry Kolpin, Ph.D Wednesday. March 31, 7PM - 8:30 PM
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Board meeting preview: April 1
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Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday
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COVID testing available for students and families
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Parent University: A Conversation with Haben Girma, the Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
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Join the MVEF Board and make a difference!
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In case you missed it: Parent University videos and materials are available online
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MVWSD is on Instagram!
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Your Donations to MVEF at Work!
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Resilience Pause Series
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Virtual Earth Day Events with the City of Mountain View - Flyer, Contest Guidelines
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MVLA Parent Speaker Series, “The Power of Showing Up: What Kids Really Need from Adults,” April 22 from 7:00 - 9:00pm
PTA News
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The Results are in!
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Save the Date – GOLFLAND
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Spirit Wear!
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Amazon
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 3/29/2021
Rushil M RM: 1 Eli L RM: 13
Jay-Yun H RM: 3 Stephani A RM: 14
Kimberly V RM: 5 Alejandra R RM: 15
Brandon P RM: 9 Isaiah H RM: 16
Ian L RM: 10 Valeria B RM: 17
Aubrey C RM: 11
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.
Lunch Menu
April lunch Menu here.
OKtoReopen health screener pro tips
OKtoReopen is the daily health screener for in person students to complete each day before they arrive on campus. Here are a few tips to make the process even easier:
You don’t have to wait until you get the message
Reminders are sent each day that the student is expected on campus. If parents have already completed the survey before the first reminder is scheduled to be sent they don't receive a reminder.
Parents can always complete the screener earlier than the reminder by using a previous email or going to oktoreopen.com on a browser they previously have used.
You can complete the screener for multiple students
You can complete the survey for more than one child in the same window by clicking through the names at the top right drop-down menu. If there is another student in the family you can hit next to complete that survey. When all of the surveys have been completed there is a done button.
Make sure your survey is submitted
For families with just one student you hit submit and then done (students with more than one student click next until all surveys are completed, and then submit). You don't have to click done to complete the survey.
Send the reminder to just your phone instead of both phone/email
Parents can adjust their OKtoReopen settings to receive text or email only by contacting their school office to make the change in Powerschool.
For a closer look on how to use OktoReopen, check out these videos: https://vimeo.com/521538560 (English) and https://vimeo.com/524450668 (Spanish)
Picture Day - OPTIONAL
Picture Day will be on Wednesday, April 7th from 1:00pm to 6:00pm in the MUR.
Please note Picture Day is OPTIONAL this year, and we will not have a make-up day. This will be the only opportunity for school pictures for the 2020-2021 school year.
Grade level picture timeframes:
Please click here to schedule your picture appointment within your grade level timeframe. To schedule: click on April 7th, select day view then schedule your time slot. If the time that you selected is taken please choose the next available time. We will have several appointments within a 5 minute period.
Please check your email for further details on how to make your online purchase orders.
Important Information:
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Please make sure to bring your child camera ready - no one will be available to help with grooming.
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Students must wear a mask until they are instructed by the photographer to take it off. They will promptly put the mask back on after the photo is taken.
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Please note, only the student is allowed to enter the MUR to take the picture, parents must wait outside of the MUR.
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Entrance and exit doors will be clearly marked. Students enter through the MUR door closest to the main gate, exit the door closest to the field. Parents will wait by this door.
Spring Break Travel Advisory
As Spring Break approaches, MVWSD wants to remind our community to take precautions to keep our community safe and our schools open.
Under our current risk tier, the Health Officer’s Mandatory Directive on limiting travel has been lifted. However, the state continues to advise Californians to avoid non-essential travel to any part of California more than 120 miles from one's place of residence, or to other states or countries.
If you travel, please test. COVID-19 testing is not required for students, however it's recommended for people who travel. Free testing for students and families is available through El Camino Health at https://www.elcaminohealth.org/landing/schedule-covid-19-test?s=mapPin. The CDC advises that individuals get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel. Make your appointment now for after you return.
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
CAC Parent Education Event - Mental Health for the Whole Family - with Thierry Kolpin, Ph.D Wednesday. March 31, 7PM - 8:30 PM
Join us for a much needed discussion of mental health and mindfulness for the whole family. After the year we’ve all experienced, we all need to learn techniques to evaluate and improve our mental health and that of our families. Professor Thierry Kolpin of Brandman University will discuss the challenges we are facing and how every member of the family can improve their mental health. Special attention will be paid to the additional challenges in families of students with learning challenges. Prof. Kolpin is an Assoc. Professor at Brandman University and specializes in school counseling and mindfulness in counseling. Email [email protected] for the link to the event.
*presentation at event will be recorded and available at www.selpa1cac.org, Q&A will not be recorded to protect personal information
Board meeting preview: April 1
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, April 1 at 5:00 p.m. Some of the meeting topics include updates on: the LCAP, 2021-22 school year learning options, Huff renaming, and reports from the Bond Oversight Committee and the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee. Agenda and login information are here. The meeting is also streamed on https://www.youtube.com/mvwsd.
Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation is provided. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/vrNfN
COVID testing available for students and families
Regular, asymptomatic COVID testing for students is not required at this time however, parents may want to have students tested, especially after travel, to ensure that they are not carrying the COVID-19 virus.
Free, asymptomatic testing is available for students and parents at:
* El Camino Hospital or MV Center for Performing Arts. Dates: Ongoing. Schedule through El Camino Health at https://www.elcaminohealth.org/landing/schedule-covid-19-test?s=mapPin.
* Graham and Crittenden Middle Schools. Dates: Tuesday March 30 at Graham MUR; Tuesday, April 20 at Crittenden MUR and Wednesday, April 28 at Graham MUR. You should register here. You also may schedule an appointment by calling 650-940-7022 and use option 4. Please mention you are with the Mountain View Whisman School District when calling.
If your child has symptoms of COVID or has had a known exposure to someone who may have COVID, please contact your child's pediatrician for testing information. If you do not have a health care provider, make a symptomatic testing appointment with a county provider here: https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment/screen/landing.
Parent University: A Conversation with Haben Girma, the Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
Date and Time: April 8, 2021, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/X85Z0
Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer and an advocate for disability justice. She was the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. As a community, we are all tasked with resisting ableism, racism and other forms of oppression. We face the choice to accept oppression or advocate for justice. Come and be inspired by Haben, who has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and TIME100 Talks.
President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Chancellor Angela Merkel have all honored Haben. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation, and she teaches organizations the importance of choosing inclusion.
To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
Join the MVEF Board and make a difference!
The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) is seeking new volunteers and board members to join us in supporting its mission to ensure that every child in every school has access to a competitive, comprehensive, and inspiring education.
Board members have the opportunity to make a difference in the experience of every child in the district, gain insight into district programming and planning, and collaborate with other parent leaders in the district. Learn more about MVEF, and its impact on your child’s school day at mvef.org. If interested, please send a message to [email protected]g.
In case you missed it: Parent University videos and materials are available online
Check out mvwsd.org/parentu for English and Spanish recordings on topics such as wellness, mental health, supporting your child’s literacy and math at home, our special education team, the impact of drugs and other substances on adolescents, and many more.
MVWSD is on Instagram!
Follow us on Instagram @mvw.sd (https://www.instagram.com/mvw.sd/) to stay connected and updated with all that is going on in the district!
Your Donations to MVEF at Work!
MVEF is proud to fund both (New!) sessions of the Rhythm and Moves Optional fitness classes at the elementary schools. We are also funding CSMA music and art, TechSmart, Living Classroom, and environmental education programs at the elementary level.
MVEF funds the Middle School Elective wheel including apps, music books, art supplies, robotics and TechSmart at both of the middle schools.
Thank you to all our Mountain View Educational Foundation donors for your support during this school year of remote learning! If you haven't donated yet this year, there is still time to donate to support the MVWSD schools right now. https://www.mvef.org/donate
Resilience Pause Series
The 30-minute, online Community Resiliency Model Resilience Pause sessions for adults (parents and staff members) are scheduled during this transition in our school year to assist participants with building resilience throughout return to in-person instruction. Participants can learn strategies on Mondays and build habits towards resilience during the week. These sessions are designed to teach life-long habits that help us to self-regulate during stressful moments.
April 5, 4pm: Grounding
April 19, 4pm: Resourcing
April 26, 4pm: “Help Now!” A Reactive Strategy
Sessions can be drop-in or attended in a series. To join: http://mvw.sd/HAjbz
Virtual Earth Day Events with the City of Mountain View - Flyer, Contest Guidelines
We know that Earth Day (4/22) is looking a little different this year, so it’s going virtual here at the City of Mountain View! We’re holding two contests with multiple gift card prizes (a short video competition and a student poster contest), all centered around creativity and how you restore the Earth in your own way. For both contests, the deadline for entries is Monday, April 16th, 2021 no later than 5pm. Submissions can be made at: this link; see attached flyers for more information.
Additionally, please join us on Thursday, April 22nd from 6pm-8:30pm for our Virtual Earth Day Event! We’ll be having speakers from the Planet Bee Foundation, Acterra, Recology, and Cool Block. Community members will also be giving 5-minute ‘micro talks’ about how they’re “Restoring the Earth.” And finally, we’ll be announcing the winners of the video and poster contests live during the event. Please visit this link for details.
MVLA Parent Speaker Series, “The Power of Showing Up: What Kids Really Need from Adults,” April 22 from 7:00 - 9:00pm
MVLA will be hosting their last Parent Speaker Series event for the season, “The Power of Showing Up: What Kids Really Need from Adults,” on Thursday, April 22 from 7:00 - 9:00pm with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, a psychotherapist and best-selling author.
Parents worry. It’s what we do. Reassuringly, the latest brain and attachment research is clear on how best to make a difference in our child’s life over the long run: we simply need to show up. Offering plenty of warmth and humor, Dr. Bryson will explore what showing up means, sharing stories and simple strategies for honoring the Four S’s - helping kids feel secure, seen, soothed, and safe. She'll discuss practical advice for supporting anxious kids, hitting the reset button on parenting, and creating a safe harbor at home for children of all ages. Registration for this free event can be found at: https://mvla2020-21-tinapaynebryson.eventbrite.com.
Vargas PTA
The Results are in!
The Read-a-Thon has wrapped up and the results are in proving that our Golden Owls are amazing readers! Together our students read 265,699 minutes and raised over $14,000 for our school! The PTA is working on getting the prizes all sorted out for classrooms and students. We are really hoping to get those prizes out to everyone by the end of next week, so hang tight, check Kostella, and get ready to pick up some prizes!
Save the Date – GOLFLAND
Get ready to head to GolfLand in Sunnyvale for a fun family event. On April 7th from 10:00am – 9:00pm play some mini-golf and mention the JA Vargas fundraiser. By doing this, GolfLand will give the school 50% of the sales back to our school! You can find more information on our website, in Konstella, and on our Facebook page!
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.