Principal’s Message:
Dear Golden Owls,
On Monday, I had the realization that we had our last school Monday of the 2020-2021 school year. It has been a year like no other, I am so proud to see the growth of all of our Vargas students. As the year starts to wind down, here are a few reminders:
Early Dismissal
Early dismissal, Friday May 28th is a minimum day, dismissal is at 11:20am.
Memorial Day
Monday, May 31 is Memorial Day. There is no school
Last Day of School and Report Cards
The last day of school is Friday, June 4, 2021. It is a minimum day and students will be dismissed at 11:30. You will be receiving report cards electronically. You should receive report cards by 4PM on June 4.
2021-2022 School Year
We are beginning to plan our classes for next year. If you are not returning to Vargas for 2021-2022 school year, please let us know by calling 650-903-6952 ext. 0 or email Mrs. Antunez at [email protected].
District Wireless Hotspots and Chromebook
If you have a district-issued wireless hotspot or Chromebook and your student will not be returning to MVWSD next school year, OR if he/she no longer needs the hotspot, please return it to the Vargas office by Friday, June 11, 2021.
MVWSD Summer is here! Flyer 1 - Summer Learning Menu and Flyer 2 - iReady Cheat Sheet
Every family's summer plans are different, but our district recommends that all students do some academic practice daily to keep their skills sharp in preparation for next year. MVWSD Summer is a collection of programs to help students maintain their academic skills, keep them connected to learning technology, and access free meals all summer long. These self- and parent-directed programs keep students in a routine during the summer and will go a long way to preventing learning loss. On i-Ready this summer, students will have both personalized lessons that their teachers have chosen for them, and lessons tailored to their needs based on assessment data.
Look for an email soon from MVWSD or click on https://www.mvwsd.org/summer to learn more. Attached are flyers outlining students’ steps for a productive summer and for easy access to all of the programs’ links.
iReady Summer Challenge
If you haven’t heard by now, over the summer I have issued the Mr. Taylor iReady Challenge in order to motivate our students to continue learning over the summer. For all students, including current fifth grade students:
Please encourage your child to participate in our summer challenge!
In Partnership,
Principal Taylor
Events Calendar
-
5/26 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here
-
5/26 - PTA General Meeting, 7:00pm Register Here
-
5/28 - End of Trimester - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:20am
-
5/31 - Memorial Holiday - No School
-
6/2 - Kinder Promotion
-
6/2 - Principal Virtual Office Hours, 4pm - 5pm Register Here
-
6/3 - Fifth Grade Drive-through/Walkthrough Promotion Celebration
-
6/3 - MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting, 6pm
-
6/4 - Fifth Graders Asynchronous Day - Promotion Video Viewing
-
6/4 - Last Day Celebration - Mister Softee
-
6/4 - Report Cards are sent home Electronically
-
6/4 - Last Day of School - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:20am
In this Newsletter
School News
-
Golden Ticket Winners
-
Kindergarten Promotion
-
5th Grade Promotion
-
Library News
-
5th Graders with District Borrowed Instruments
-
Mister Softee End of the Year Celebration
-
Chromebooks
-
Summer Reading Suggestions for Students
-
Principal Virtual Office Hours
-
Technology Support
District News
-
Yellow tier: COVID guidance updated
-
COVID Vaccine now available for students 12 years and older - Flyer
-
COVID testing available for students and families
-
Bullying Stops Here Webinar - Flyer
-
COVID Vaccinations and Free Boba tea at Crittenden on June 2 - Flyer
-
View and comment on MVWSD’s Local Control Accountability Plan Draft
-
Unlocking Our Inner Strengths with CHAC: Registration for free May events available
-
City of MV Summer Camp available - Flyer
-
CalFresh Program for grocery assistance - Flyer
-
Better Together: #MVWSD: Prioritizing Mental Health - Flyer
-
Mental Health Awareness: Sustaining your Tools2Thrive
PTA News
Golden Ticket Winners - Week 5/24/2021
Shesia G RM: 1 Harper F RM: 12
Andrew G RM: 3 Yiyi L RM: 13
Ethan M RM: 4 Ismael C RM: 14
Samara G RM: 5 Leah A RM: 15
Aria D RM: 8 Samantha C RM: 16
Meher D RM: 9 Lucas M RM: 17
Cruz A RM: 11 Ms. Natasa D RM: 17
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.
Kindergarten Promotion
Kinder parents please mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 2. From 8:30-10:00am. We will have a Drive-through/Walkthrough celebration for Kindergarten Promotion.
5th Grade Promotion - Flyer
Fifth-Grade parents please mark your calendars for June 3 and June 4. On Thursday, June 3, from 3:30-5:00pm, we will celebrate our Fifth-graders with a Drive-through/walkthrough promotion celebration. For fifth-grade students only. Friday, June 4th will be an asynchronous day. We will host a 5th grade Promotion video viewing party from 8:30-9:00 with a live awards presentation afterwards.
Library News
As the year end approaches, we are collecting our library books that have been checked out to students. If your student has any classroom novels or books to return, please drop them off in the black cart located outside of the office by the flag pool. Please see picture below. Our black cart is out daily from 7:30am to 3:30pm.
5th Graders with District Borrowed Instruments
If you borrowed an instrument from the district for your child to participate in the 5th grade instrumental music program during the 2020-21 school year, we will be collecting the instruments beginning June 3rd and continuing through June 11th. Instruments will be collected at the District Office portables, 1400 Montecito Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043 in room 1.
Please follow the steps outlined below to return your child’s instrument:
-
Please make an appointment on the following link
-
https://www.genbook.com/bookings/slot/reservation/30176118?category=13662615452
-
At the time of your appointment, please bring the instrument without any personal belongings (e.g., pencils, papers, clips, cleaning rugs, etc.,) with it.
-
Before you arrive, please ask your student to make sure that all pieces of the instrument are in the case.
-
For your safety and the safety of our staff, please be sure you wear a mask during your appointment.
-
Please follow social distancing rules and markers while waiting for your appointment.
-
You’ll have only a 10-minute slot, so please be on time.
PLEASE NOTE
If your student is in the Honors Summer program with CSMA, please do not return the instrument. We will email you the date the instruments should be returned upon completion of the program.
If your child has selected an instrumental elective in 6th grade, the middle school will send information about instruments in August 2021.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns to Raquel Hernandez at [email protected].
Mister Softee End of the Year Celebration
Our PTA will continue our end of the year tradition with Mister Softee. Mister Softee will be on campus on Friday, June 4th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Please remember to wear your mask, watch your distance, and please stay home if you have any symptoms.
Chromebooks
We have some exciting news! Returning students can keep Chromebooks this summer. Please note Non-returning students should bring them back.
Thank you for your support of the District’s Chromebook program and distance learning this year. If your student is not returning to a MVWSD school next year, please return your student’s Chromebook to the Vargas front office by June 11, 2021 (or sooner). Students who will return to MVWSD schools can keep Chromebooks this summer. Students who are moving on to MVLA and plan to use their
Chromebooks in high school are welcome to keep them. We will send specific instructions on how 8th-graders can access the MVLA network on their current Chromebooks.
Chromebooks will not be usable by students who are not enrolled in MVWSD or MVLA next year.
Parents may begin dropping off Chromebooks on June 4th, the last day of school to our front office until 3:30 p.m. The week of June 7th to June 11th our office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. When dropping off, please wear a mask and practice social distancing. For questions, please contact Jon Aker, Technology Director at [email protected].
Summer Reading Suggestions for Students
Here are summer reading suggestions by grade level.
1st Grade Reading - Click Here
2nd Grade Reading - Click Here
3rd Grade Reading - Click Here
4th Grade Reading - Click Here
5th Grade Reading - Click Here
Principal’s Virtual Office Hour
Please drop in to my Principal Hours today from 4:00pm - 5:00pm 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
Yellow tier: COVID guidance updated
On Wednesday, Santa Clara County moved into the Yellow Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy due to the fact that more than 75% of Santa Clara County residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to read more about MVWSD’s health and safety protocols through the end of the school year.
COVID Vaccine now available for students 12 years and older - Flyer
Families can schedule an appointment for their children 12 and older to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this age group. Among other options around the county, Levi's stadium has evening appointments and the Mountain View Community Center is open during the day. Vaccination appointments for these locations can be made here: https://vax.sccgov.org/. Students can also be vaccinated at Walmart in Mountain View (600 Showers Dr, Mountain View, CA 94040) and El Camino Health’s Sunnyvale Clinic.
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
* Graham Middle School. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Graham MUR (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.
Bullying Stops Here Webinar - Flyer
Join MVPD School Resource Officers for a webinar on ways to stand up to bullying and cyberbullying. Register here
COVID Vaccinations and Free Boba tea at Crittenden on June 2 - Flyer
Free COVID-19 vaccinations for youth and adults are available on Wednesday, June 2 from noon to 7:30 p.m. at Crittenden Middle School at the Sports Center, 1500 W. Middlefield Road.
Youth (12 years and older) and adults are welcome.
No appointment needed.
You don't need health insurance.
Everyone is welcome regardless of immigration status.
If any patient received their first vaccination elsewhere, they may receive their second dose at this event.
Children ages 12 - 17 need permission from a parent or guardian to get vaccinated which could be:
* A signed consent form (Forms are linked here COVID vaccination consent forms (English) - or can be picked up in the Graham and Crittenden school offices)
* A parent or guardian with them
* A telephone call to the parent or guardian
Staff are onsite to support language needs and disability access. For information, call (408) 970-2999 or sccFreeVax.org
View and comment on MVWSD’s Local Control Accountability Plan draft
The District is finalizing its draft of the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). This is the 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.
Stakeholders are welcome to comment on the draft LCAP plan. Please read the presentation and supporting materials at mvwsd.org/lcap, and click on the form link there to submit any comments. The comments form closes on May 26. Stakeholders may also attend the public learning during the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, June 3 at 6 p.m. on Zoom (the link is here: http://mvw.sd/fRqB5).
MVWSD Summer is here! - Flyer 1 - Summer Learning Menu and Flyer 2 - iReady Cheat Sheet
Every family's summer plans are different, but our district recommends that all students do some academic practice daily to keep their skills sharp in preparation for next year. MVWSD Summer is a collection of programs to help students maintain their academic skills, keep them connected to learning technology, and access free meals all summer long. These self- and parent-directed programs keep students in a routine during the summer and will go a long way to preventing learning loss. On i-Ready this summer, students will have both personalized lessons that their teachers have chosen for them, and lessons tailored to their needs based on assessment data.
Look for an email soon from MVWSD or click on https://www.mvwsd.org/summer to learn more. Attached are flyers outlining students’ steps for a productive summer and for easy access to all of the programs’ links.
Unlocking Our Inner Strengths with CHAC: Registration for free May events available
CHAC has opened registration for their free virtual workshops in May, which focus on unlocking our inner strengths and supporting mental wellness. You are welcome to join for any or all events. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30pm, with optional 30-minute Q&A from 7:30 to 8pm.
May 26: Self-Care & Support Across Diverse Communities
For more information about each session and to register in advance, head to: https://funraise.org/give/Community-Health-Awareness-Council/a25a1482-56ef-448d-80f1-c36132be901c/.
City of MV Summer Camp available - Flyer
The City of Mountain View still has spots available for their Club Rec Explorers summer camp for kids aged 9-11. Camps are held weekly from June 14-July 30, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and breakfast and lunch is provided. Locations include Rengstorff Park, Bubb Park, and Whisman Park. Head to www.mountainview.gov/register or call (650) 903-6331 for more information.
CalFresh Program for grocery assistance - Flyer
Need help buying groceries? You might qualify for CalFresh, a free EBT card you can use to buy food at most stores and select online retailers. If you receive CalFresh benefits, you may also be eligible for P-EBT, a grocery benefit that provides $375 per child 18 and under over the summer months. To find out if you qualify, call 1-800-984-3663, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or scan the QR code (flyer attached) to request a call. We speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog. Second Harvest can also connect you to other food programs in your community.
Better Together #MVWSD: Prioritizing Mental Health - Flyer
This month's #BetterTogether infographic features tools and resources to help all those who work, learn, and partner with MVWSD to prioritize mental health and wellness. No one ever needs to be alone in their struggles. Together we can prioritize mental health and wellness. Click here to view this month’s calendar or visit https://www/mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD
Mental Health Awareness: Sustaining your Tools2Thrive
We highlight mental health awareness one time per year, but the work to maintain our mental wellness is an everyday endeavor. Building self-care habits into each day contributes to our own personal wellness and models these habits for those around us. As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s important to remember that mental health, like physical health, is important to care for. Find the activity or practice that works for you and build time into your day to engage in it. For some people this means some sort of physical activity like walking the dog or practicing yoga. For others this might mean reading a book or listening to music. And for some others this may mean spending time with friends and family. As we choose healthy behavioral practices to enhance our mental health, we also model these for those around us. We may not all have the same interests, but we can all practice good self-care.
Discovering what works for us may mean trying a few different things. Continue to try new things until you find the right fit for you. If you would like to learn more about Living Mentally Healthy, Mental Health America provides a webpage with many resources. If you would like some ideas or to learn more about self-care, you can read Sam Dekin’s article on “How Does Self-Care Affect Mental Health?” or access Mental Health America’s “Taking Good Care of Yourself”, NAMI’s “Taking Care of Yourself”, or ActiveMinds “Self Care”.
As always, MVWSD stands with our students, staff, and families to be #StigmaFree and in support of Mental Health Awareness. We wish you wellness.
Vargas PTA
PTA Elections - Next Meeting May 26th @ 7:00pm
The PTA has had so many wonderful parents volunteer to be members of the PTA board and help with additional roles! At our next Association meeting on May 26th, we will hold elections for the executive board positions. The nominating committee would like to announce the following slate of officers for the association’s consideration:
President: Shannon Lundin
Vice President: Jinny Suh
Treasurer: Anna Du
Secretary: Kristin Johnson
Auditor: Gulay Samatli-Pac
Please register for the meeting on May 26th at 7:00pm. In addition to the elections for next year’s officers, we will also be presenting changes to the bylaws as follows:
-
Adoption of online meetings due to pandemic
-
ARTICLE IIV: SECTION 8. Members of the Association may participate in and act at any meeting of the Association via teleconferencing using equipment with which all association members participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation in such meetings shall constitute attendance and presence in person at the meeting. Quorum shall be established by roll call and identification of individual member.
-
Change Association Meeting Dates
-
Standing Rules #7 Association Meeting Dates
-
Current meeting dates are 4th Wednesday of August, October, January, March, and May
-
Proposed change to 4th Wednesday of September, November, January, March, and May
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.