Wise Word, 4/21/2021

Principal’s Message:

Dear Golden Owls,

 

This time of year can be challenging for educators because we are focusing on all the details that come with  finishing this year successfully at the same time that we are planning for next school year. One way we are planning is that we are asking you to confirm your enrollment choice for the 2021-22 school year. Please complete your Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey by April 25. The enrollment surveys were sent to you with a unique link on April 9 and again on APril 19. Please remember that if you do not complete the survey, you will be defaulted to in-persoon learning. Having accurate numbers helps us to plan staffing for next year. Please make sure to respond. 


Another way we are planning is by gathering feedback about the impact of the pandemic on your child’s academic and social development. This feedback will be used to help our staff and district plan for the 2021-22 school year.  You can join me for a live input session of the following meetings:


ELAC meeting on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 6:30PM Register Here

School Site Council on Wednesday April 28, 2021 5:30-6:30 Register Here

Principal’s Coffee on Friday April 30, 2021 @  8:30 AM Register Here

Principal's Coffee on Friday April 30, 2021 @ 6:30 PM Register Here

 

In Partnership,

 

Principal Taylor


Events Calendar

             Evening Session: Principal’s Coffee (Virtual), 6:30pm Register Here

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

  • 5/6   -  MVWSD Board Meeting, 6pm 

  • 5/12 -  Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here

  • 5/19 -  Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here

  • 5/20 -  MVWSD Board Meeting, 6pm

  • 5/26 -  Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here

  • 5/28 -  End of Trimester - Minimum Day

  • 5/30 -  Memorial Holiday - No School 

  • 6/2   -  Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm  Register Here

  • 6/3   -  MVWSD Board Meeting, 6pm

  • 6/4   -  Last Day of School - Minimum Day

 


In this Newsletter

School News

  • Golden Ticket Winners

  • Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey is due April 25

  • CSMA Art

  • Principal Virtual Office Hours 

  • Technology Support 

District News

  • The Talk: Anti-Asian Racism and Model Minority Myth on Wednesday, April 21st

  • Virtual Earth Day Events with the City of Mountain View - Flyer, Contest Guidelines

  • Upcoming MV Public Library Programs: Product Design, Parenting Program - Flyer

  • Virtual Family Concert for Children's Day with MV Public Library - Flyer

  • Parent University: Preparing for Middle School 

  • MVLA Parent Speaker Series, “The Power of Showing Up: What Kids Really Need from Adults,” April 22 from 7:00 - 9:00pm

  • Last one! Resilience Pause Series 

  • COVID testing available for students and families

  • In case you missed it: Haben Girma Parent University event recordings available

  • Better Together: Strengthening Communities - Flyer

  • Join the MVEF Board and make a difference!


PTA News

  • PTA Board Openings

  • Spirit Wear!

  • Amazon

 


Golden Ticket Winners - Week 4/19/2021
Miroslava G         RM: 1           Nil B             RM: 12
Peyto L                 RM: 3           Hayden S     RM: 14
Nika S                   RM: 5           Jayden M    RM: 15
Jesus A                 RM: 6           Leryn C        RM: 16
Gavin W               RM: 10         Isabella F     RM: 17
Sharon L              RM: 11          Mrs. O          Library
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.

Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey is due April 25

As more people get vaccinated and COVID-19 cases remain steady or trend downward, we anticipate the 2021- 22 school year will look more like a typical school year, but with a few differences. Distance learning, in the form of the new MVWSD Distance Learning School (DLS), will be an option for families who prefer it for their students. 


Distance Learning Enrollment Confirmation Survey is due April 25: This is your opportunity to enroll your child in the Distance Learning School for next year. Please look for the survey in your email dated April 9, and a reminder on April 19. Information to help you with your choice is available on https://www.mvwsd.org/academicsduringcovid


CSMA Art

The CSMA Kinder- Fourth Grade Art lessons have concluded for the school year - please find linked here the wonderful and amazing Vargas Virtual Art Show!!


Thank you for sharing with your students and families, and for all of your collaboration and support during our Art lessons this year. We appreciate all you do!


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

The Talk: Anti-Asian Racism and Model Minority Myth on Wednesday, April 21st

Racism and bias-related violence has been on the rise against Asian-Americans, in part due to the racist rhetoric surrounding Covid-19 and its affiliation with Wuhan, China. It’s never been more evident that there is a desperate need for improved and more inclusive education about AAPI people, communities, cultures, and histories. Mountain View is not immune to these occurrences or this ignorance.


Join MVWSD Better Together for our next Roundtable event, The Talk: Courageous Conversations about Equity, Anti-Asian Racism and the Model Minority Myth, a panel discussion with Asian American leaders in our community.


Panelists:

Ellen Kamei, Mayor of Mountain View

Margaret Abe Koga, Former Mayor of Mountain View

Geoff Chang, Director MVWSD, Title I and Special Programs

Chris Hsiung, Chief of Police, Mountain View

Anne Hsieh, Parent and community member

Trisha Lee, Moderator, Principal of Monta Loma Elementary


When: Wednesday, April 21 from 6pm-7pm

Registration: http://mvw.sd/7qkeq


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.


Upcoming MV Public Library Programs: Product Design, Parenting Program- Flyer

The Mountain View Public Library will be hosting two events:


Design an Amusement Park for Dogs: Thursday, April 22, 4pm - 5pm for Grades 3-5 on Zoom. Learn about the product design process and create your own amusement park ride with Product Designer and Author Vicky Fang. Registration required. Sign up at https://mountainview.gov/librarycalendar


Building your Child’s Self-Confidence and Personal Power: (English) Wednesday, April 28, 7pm - 8pm on Zoom. (Spanish) Wednesday, April 21, 7pm - 8pm on Zoom. Presenters from CHAC Family Resource Center will discuss ways to raise a confident child with inner strength and health self worth. For parents of children ages 2-12. Registration required. Sign up at https://mountainview.gov/librarycalendar


Virtual Family Concert for Children's Day with MV Public Library - Flyer

In Celebration of Dia De Los Ninos/Children's Book Day, Mariela Herrera will perform an interactive and lively concert over Zoom of songs in English and Spanish for children of all ages. The event is on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 6:30pm - 7:00pm, and registration is at: https://mountainview.libcal.com/event/7613746.


Parent University: Preparing for Middle School 

Date: April 28th  Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/XWF1A


Come and learn more on how to support your students as they transition to middle school. We will feature a panel of counselors, teachers and middle school students to answer questions and provide information about middle school.

To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.


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.


Last one! 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 26, 4pm:  “Help Now!” A Reactive Strategy


Sessions can be drop-in or attended in a series. To join: http://mvw.sd/HAjbz


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 Middle School. Dates: 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.


In case you missed it: Haben Girma Parent University event recordings available

MVWSD had the pleasure of getting to hear from Haben Girma, the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, earlier this month through Parent University. Hear her inspiring story! English and Spanish recordings of this event can be found at: https://mvwsd.org/parentu.

Better Together: Strengthening Communities
This month’s Better Together focus is on civic engagement and getting involved in the community. Please see the attached or https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD for the infographic, which features activities for the family, engaging books about activism for students, and more!

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].

 


Vargas PTA

PTA Board Openings

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! 

 

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.
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.