Wise Word, 3/31/2021

Principal’s Message:

Dear Golden Owls,

 

I wanted to give a moment to thank all of our Vargas staff for making sure we had a smooth transition to hybrid instruction for both our K-2nd Roomies and Zoomies. Our teachers and staff members have been working tirelessly to make sure that we maintain safe and quality instruction for our students, and I am proud of their work. I also wanted to thank the K-2 parents for being patient as we work out some technical difficulties as our teachers are adapting to our new way of instruction. As we welcome our 3rd-5th grade students next week, we ask that you continue to be patient and encouraging to our staff.

 

Phase 2 School Reopening

Our 3rd-5th grade students will return on Monday, March 29th. If your child is a 3rd-5th grade Zoomie, they will have an asynchronous day on Monday. Instruction will resume as normal on Tuesday for all 3rd-5th grade students on Tuesday, March 30th. If your child is in K-2nd, there will be no change in your schedule.

 If your child will return to campus, I would like to share a few things with you to help you and your child prepare for this shift.

  Please read our reopening plan and note questions.

  What to expect when back on campus video (Spanish Subtitles available)

  How to use Oktoreopen (English explainer) and (Spanish video)

  How to view student schedules in PowerSchool (English video) and (Spanish video)

  MVWSD Reopening help page

  I am linking a couple of videos that you should watch with your child to prepare. Please watch these together.

  Next, please work with your child on wearing their masks for extended periods of time. Doing this together as a family will be very helpful.

  Please also practice what it means to walk at a distance of 6 feet apart, and practice standing 6 feet apart. Most children do not know how to gauge this distance without practice and modeling.

 

In Partnership,

 

Principal Taylor


Events Calendar

  •  3/24 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here
  •  3/24 - PTA General Meeting, 7:00pm Register Here
  •  3/ 26 - Principal’s Coffee (Virtual), 4pm  Register Here
  •  3/31 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here
  •  4/1 - MVWSD Board of Trustee Meeting, 6pm - 10pm 
  •  4/7 - Picture Day (Optional), 1pm - 6pm - MUR
  •  4/7 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here
  •  4/12 - 4/16 - Spring Recess - No School
  •  4/21 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here
  •  4/23 - ELAC Meeting, 4pm - 5pm
  •  4/28 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here
  •  4/28 - SSC Meeting, 5:30pm -6:30pm
    4/30 - Principal’s Coffee (Virtual), 4pm


In this Newsletter

School News

  • Golden Ticket Winners
  • Picture Day - Optional
  • Student meals
  • 2021 - 2022 School Year Calendar
  • Registration Open for Afterschool/Care Programs
  • Principal Virtual Office Hours 
    Technology Support 

District News

  • Cafecito: March 24
  • MVWSD seeks parents & staff members for Health and Wellness Committee
  • In case you missed it: Parent University videos and materials are available online
  • Women’s History Month - Flyer
  • MVWSD is on Instagram!
  • MVEF Gala Feedback and Fund a Need
  • Your Donations to MVEF at Work!
  • Resilience Pause Series starts March 29
  • CAC Parent Education Event - Mental Health for the Whole Family - with Thierry Kolpin, Ph.D Wednesday. March 31, 7PM - 8:30 PM.

PTA News

  • The Results are in!
  • PTA Meeting TONIGHT!
  • Save the Date – GOLFLAND
  • Spirit Wear!
  • Amazon

Golden Ticket Winners - Week 3/22/2021
George C RM: 1 Pravara D RM: 13
Morgan W RM: 3 Howie B RM: 14
Sophie R RM: 4 Leslie Y RM: 15
Serena C RM: 5 Ashley T RM: 16
Eric C RM: 8 Ian P RM: 17
Che Hsi H RM: 9 Mrs. Bisbee RM: 7
Adrian Z RM: 12
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.

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:

  • Kinder & 1st grade: 1pm to 2:15pm 
  • 2nd grade: 2:15pm to 3:00pm

  • 3rd, 4th and 5th grade: 3:30pm - 5:15pm

  •  Drop-in hours: 5:15pm to 6:00pm

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: 

  • Please make sure to bring your child camera ready - no one will be available to help with grooming.
  • 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.

  • Please note, only the student is allowed to enter the MUR to take the picture, parents must wait outside of the MUR. 

  • 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.

Student Meals
If your student is back on campus, you might be wondering about lunch. Due to federal funding, MVWSD is able to provide free breakfast, snacks and lunches to students on campus daily. Breakfast and snacks are cold. Lunches will be hot. Students will be able to pick up lunches at their classrooms. Menus and nutritional analysis are posted at https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition. A count of those taking school lunch will be taken at the beginning of the school day. Students may bring their own self-contained lunches, if desired. MVWSD continues to provide free grab and go meals at each school (Stevenson and Theuerkauf are combined) during lunchtime for students who continue in distance learning and for young children in the community.
2021-2022 School Year Calendar
The Board of Trustees approved the 2021-22 school year calendar. Please click the link below to view and download. https://www.mvwsd.org/calendar/school_district_calendar_at_a_glance

Registration Open for Afterschool/Care Programs
The District’s partners who provide parent-paid afterschool care and distance learning support are opening registration for the rest of this school year. 
Afterschool care
Right at School has opened registration for their afterschool programs and asynchronous support on Wednesdays. Please follow the links below to access programs for each school site, including asynchronous support on Wednesdays located at Crittenden.

Huff

Bubb

Vargas

Landels

Castro

Mistral

Theuerkauf

Stevenson

Monta Loma

 

YMCA is also providing aftercare at school sites. Contact [email protected] for more information and availability.

 

Distance Learning Support

Additionally, Right at School will continue to offer distance learning support for families that opt out of in-person learning. Registration can be found at Distance Learning Support.

 

YMCA will have "Y Learning Labs for Super Scholars"

Locations: Bubb, Monta Loma and Theuerkauf Elementary

Hours of Operation: 7:45am - 5pm, Monday - Friday

Fee: $280 per youth per week ($20 per week non-refundable deposit) 

Sessions: Set in three week sessions. Session 14 is four weeks in length.

Registration: Available online via our website at https://www.ymcasv.org/child-care-camps

Questions: Please 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

Cafecito: March 24

MVWSD will be hosting an informal meeting for Spanish-speaking parents with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Wednesday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Interpretation will be provided. Please register in advance for this meeting here: http://mvw.sd/zIHrd.

MVWSD seeks parents & staff members for Health and Wellness Committee
Committee and task force members lend perspective and expertise to important district work that benefits our students. Please consider serving on the Health and Wellness Committee. Applications are due by March 24 and found here: http://mvw.sd/health. More information is at https://www.mvwsd.org/about/committees.
Health and Wellness Committee: Task: To align District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment.

Interested applicants would have some experience, knowledge, or interest in the content as described above. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated representative per school site and 3 community-based organization representatives.

Time commitment is approximately one meeting a month during the school year, beginning in April, but is dependent on the work. Meetings are online during the 2020-21 school year.

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.

 

Women’s History Month - Flyer

In the month of March, we are celebrating Women’s History. BetterTogether recognizes the people, movements, and ideas that challenge expectations and gender stereotypes that negatively affect us all. From women’s suffrage to the gender equality movements of modern day, it has become clear that when we all fight gender inequality, we all win. Celebrate this month by having meaningful conversations with your students, your children, and your fellow s(heroes). In addition to the infographic, this month we will also be highlighting amazing women from our organization and learning about the s(heroes) that have inspired their own commitment to gender equality.

For a closer look at this month’s infographic, click on the attached flyers or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.

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!
MVEF Gala Feedback and Fund a Need
Thank you to the many who joined us at the first ever Virtual Gala Trivia Night. We want to know your thoughts about the event. If you attended the Virtual Gala, please go here and fill out this survey to share your thoughts with us: https://tinyurl.com/MVEFgalasurvey

If you haven't had a chance to donate to Fund a Need, please donate here: https://www.mvef.org/donatetogala. Every gift helps MVEF meet our fundraising goal of $800,000 this school year. If your donation went through, we automatically sent you a receipt, but we are happy to double check your donation status for you.  

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 starts March 29
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.  

March 29, 4pm: Tracking Sensations
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

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

 



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!

PTA Meeting TONIGHT!

Join us for the PTA General Association Meeting tonight at 7:00pm.  If you have not already registered please do so using the link below.  Come find out what we have been working on for your students and school!

 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvduyvqz8tG9ce60cVFM5nMDvlSnvHeOEU

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.

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