Wise Word, 8/18/2021

Principal’s Message:

Hello Golden Owls,

 

As you heard about last week, our students are all learning The Vargas Way. While we are developing these skills in our students, it is important that we--the adults also model the Vargas Way. As we adapt to school life post-COVID 19 there are several things that I need YOUR support with that will demonstrate the Vargas Way during our drop-off and pickup time.

 

Be Safe

  • For the safety of all students and staff, we are asking that everyone who enters our campus wears a mask. This includes both drop off and pick up. If you are walking or biking to campus, we are asking that you put your mask on before approaching the parking lot.

 

  • Please use the crosswalk when crossing the parking lot. If you are driving your students to school, we asked that you do not leave your vehicle. Please use the drop-off and pick-up lanes. If you do need to park, we ask that you use the crosswalk. This will ensure that we avoid any collisions. 

 

Use Respect

  • Our neighbors at 100 N. Whisman have kindly asked that we do not park in their parking lot. On Friday, one of the residents in that complex approached me. He was visibly upset because a Vargas parent had yelled at him when he requested that they don’t park there. While I understand that we have limited parking available on campus, we need to remain respectful of our neighbors. Please do not park at 100 N. Whisman. 

 

  • Similarly, please treat our staff with respect as we direct traffic in the morning. To help with traffic flow, please watch for our morning and afternoon duty for direction. We are asking that you pull all the way forward. This will allow for a more efficient drop-off.

 

Be Responsible

  • The school day begins promptly at 8:00AM. You can begin dropping off at 7:45AM. If you arrive after 8:00AM. Please only enter campus through the front office. You can refer to this chart  for the pickup times for your grade level. Please make sure that you pick up your child within 10 minutes of dismissal.

 

  • To support quick exit from vehicles, please prepare all of your child’s materials so that they have easy access when exiting their vehicle. For example, get in the habit of having your child put on a mask as they approach the parking lot. Make sure your child’s backpack is packed (including a water bottle) BEFORE leaving for school.

 

  • OktoReopen Screener, please remember the screener needs to be completed first thing in the morning BEFORE children come on campus. Since it is so important for everyone's safety on campus.

 

Be an Upstander

  • We are still experiencing a global pandemic. We are all stressed, annoyed, worried, and at times frustrated. That said, remember to treat each other with kindness. Please grant our staff, children, each other, and even me with grace. We are adapting and adjusting as best we can to our new normal. Please remember to be patient and flexible as we make changes.

 

In Partnership,

 

Principal Taylor


Events Calendar

  • August:

18th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

19th - Back to School Night - Virtual - 6:00pm - 7:30pm

24th - Coffee with the Superintendent - 9:00am - 10:00am - Register Here

             24th - Orientation Night: Spanish-speaking Families - 6:00pm - 7:00pm - Register here

25th - ELAC Meeting - 8:30am- 9:30am - Register Here

25th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

26th - MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting - 6:00pm - 10:00pm   

27th - Principal’s Coffee - Virtual - 8:30am - 9:30am - Register Here

 

  • September:

1st - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

6th - Labor Day Holiday - No School

8th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

9th - MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting - 6:00pm - 10:00pm   

10th - Superintendent Community Check-in - 3:30pm - 4:30pm

13th - MVWSD DELAC Meeting - 5:30pm - 7:30pm

15th - ELAC Meeting - 8:30am- 9:30am 

             15th - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

             20th - Picture Day

             22nd - Principal Office Hours - Virtual - 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Register Here

 


In this Newsletter

School News:

  • Golden Ticket Winners

  • Back to School Night - August 19th

  • Update Contact Information

  • Coffee with Dr. Rudolph

  • School Site Council

  • School Safety Plans for COVID

  • STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)

  • iReady Assessment

  • Principal’s Virtual Office Hours

  • School meals are free

  • Reporting an Absence

  • School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form

 

District News:

  • Parent University: Mental Health: Care and Support

  • Positions available with MVWSD: apply today!

  • District seeking Parcel Tax Oversight Committee (PTOC) member

  • Apply at EZSchool Meals to help MVWSD and qualify for benefits - Flyer 

  • Volunteer Community Navigator Training with Community Services Agency (CSA) - Flyer

 

PTA News:

  • Welcome Packets!

  • Membership

  • Konstella

  • Spirit Wear

  • Website

 


Golden Ticket Winners - Week of 8/16/2021
Josephine K       RM: 2         Aubrey V        RM: 10
Celeste R           RM: 3          Vani S             RM: 11
Narek D             RM: 5          Stella L           RM: 13
Yoli L                 RM: 6          Elaina P          RM: 17
Chloe G              RM: 8

Back to School Night - August 19th

Reminder! Our Back to School Night is tomorrow, Thursday, August  19, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. BTSN is an important opportunity for families to learn about their children’s virtual classrooms, grade level programming, and general expectations. We will have two sessions to accommodate families with multiple children and allow them the opportunity to visit more than one classroom that night. Session one will begin at 6:00 p.m. and session two will begin at 6:45 p.m.  See you on August  19! Your child’s teacher should have to share the meeting link with you for their individual sessions. Please reach out directly to them, if you have not received it already. 

To join our STEAM teachers, please click here.

To drop in to Mr. Taylor’s BTSN, click here.

 

Updating Contact Information

It is important we have your most current contact information (phone number, email address, emergency contacts). If you have a change or want to add an authorized person to pick up your child, please send an email to our front office staff Mrs. Antunez at [email protected] or Ms. McElyea at [email protected] with any changes or updates you may have.

 

Coffee with Dr. Rudolph

Please mark your calendars! Dr. Rudolph will be hosting a Virtual Superintendents' Coffee with Vargas families on Tuesday, August 24 at 9:00AM-10:00. Please Register in advance for this meeting.

 

School Site Council

Vargas Community, we need your support with filling our School Site Council for the 2021-2022 school year. SSC consists of five staff members and five parents.  The School Site Council is very important as it is responsible for developing the school goals and budget with the Principal. Currently, we have three (3) vacancies for parent/community member positions, and these positions will be filled by an election.

 

If you are interested in running to be a member of our SSC, please complete the Online Nomination Form or you can print this form and return to the front office. Please write a 3-5 sentence professional biography and submit this form to the Vargas office no later than August 25, 2021.

 

For additional information, please contact Principal Taylor at [email protected], call 650-903-6952, or stop by the front office.

 

School Safety Plans for COVID

As we are learning more, we will be adapting practices and procedures that support new information. At next week’s school board meeting on Thursday, August 26, we will be adapting our current School Reopening plan to adjust to new knowledge and guidance that we received from our County Health Department. Once plans have been approved, I will present the updates to our plan at the Principal’s Coffee on August 27, 2021. Click here to register for Principal’s Coffee.

 

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)

This week, our students started STEAM classes. Our two STEAM teachers, Mrs. Bisbee and Mrs. Butchko conducted introductory lessons for all students in their homerooms. Next week, we will start our STEAM rotations. Every Vargas student will receive STEAM twice a week.  Click Here to find more information about Mrs. Bisbee and Mrs. Butchko.

 

iReady Assessment

Our 1st-5th grade students are finishing up the iReady assessment this week. Parents, please look for an email on Friday with information about how to access iReady reports in PowerSchool.

 

(Repeat) Principal’s Virtual Office Hours

Join me today for our informal Principal Office Hours (virtual) from 4pm -5pm. Feel free to drop in if you have any questions or if you just want to chat. For office hours, there is no formal agenda, it is a time for you to stop in to say hello, and for us to get to know each other better! I look forward to meeting you!

 

Register in advance for this meeting.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The first date for Principal’s Office hours will be 8/18/20. That’s today. See you there!


(Repeat) School meals are free

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals to all students in the 2021-22 school year as part of California’s universal meal program.  Recess breakfast and lunches are available daily.  Menus and nutritional analysis can be found on https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition. There will be a vegetarian option each day. Gluten-free lunches are not available. 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. 


(Repeat) Reporting an Absence

Please call the office at (650) 903-6952 or email  [email protected] to report an absence or late arrival.  Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, grade and room number, reason for absence, name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.

 

(Repeat) School Supplies  and Voluntary Donation Form

We will be furnishing all basic school supplies and textbooks for all students. Donations of items and funds for this purpose are appreciated, but not required. For those able to donate, please fill out this form and bring it to the front office, along with your donation, and our front office staff will provide you with a receipt. Sharing of supplies between students will be limited.

 


District News

Parent University: Mental Health: Care and Support

Date: September 1, 2021  Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu090121

Join us to learn about mental health care and support. We will share a wide range of information from basic wellness to seeking mental health treatment.  Presenters include representatives from MVWSD, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health, and local agencies or organizations. 

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

Positions available with MVWSD: apply today!

Want to make a difference in the lives of students and their families? MVWSD is looking for talented individuals to join our team! See below for available positions and application links:


Instructional assistants: http://mvw.sd/AiVGD

At Risk Supervisors: http://mvw.sd/XCMHv

Substitutes for clerical staff: http://mvw.sd/ZC4Sv

Food Service: http://mvw.sd/YIW55

 

District seeking Parcel Tax Oversight Committee (PTOC) member

MVWSD is seeking a Parcel Tax Oversight Committee (PTOC) member. Selected representatives monitor, provide oversight, and ensure accountability to the funds received by the District, including an annual report to the Board regarding the actual uses of such funds. The PTOC is composed of representatives from the local community, including the business community, District homeowners, parents or guardians of a student in the District, or the community at large.


Applications are available for download at http://mvw.sd/PTOC.  Applications can be mailed to: Mountain View Whisman School District, Attn: Dr. Rebecca Westover, Chief Business Officer, 1400 Montecito Ave., Mountain View 94043, faxed to 650-964-8907 or emailed to [email protected].

 

Apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD and qualify for benefits - Flyer 

Please apply, whether you need it or not. It helps your school get more money for student programs!


Apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. This Free and Reduced Price Meals benefit is not limited to meals only. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Students who qualify for free and/or reduced-price meals may be eligible for P-EBT cards. The more applications your school gathers at the start of each school year, the more additional funding it can receive for all kinds of programs that help children at your school. If you are currently out of work, you may qualify and help your school, regardless of your financial situation. Apply at https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ or call your school office.


Volunteer Community Navigator Training with Community Services Agency (CSA) - Flyer

Interested in helping others in the community navigate the Community Services Agency’s (CSA) programs and resources? Join CSA for Volunteer Community Navigator Training on Zoom from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 19th or Thursday, September 16th (every 3rd Thursday of the month). Please register at 650.669.9551. For more information, contact Sandra Luna, Community Resource Coordinator, at [email protected].

 



PTA News

Welcome Packets:

Please look out for PTA welcome packets coming home with your student in the first weeks of school and posted below. There is information on PTA goals, meetings, how to become a member and more!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mWjBQMYySvcNgnLO6XndaetSS-5FwfW4/view

 

Membership

https://jointotem.com/ca/mountain-view/jose-antonio-vargas-pta

 

Konstella

Konstella is our main communication tool. The PTA will post information about meetings, events and volunteer opportunities. You will also be able to communicate with other families from your child's classroom.

 

Use this link to register: https://www.konstella.com/cd/XGJHYL

 

To Join a Classroom

Web:  Click your name at the top left corner.  Click “Your Children” to add/modify your children.

Mobile App:  Click the Settings icon at the top left corner.  Click “Your Children”.

Spirit Wear

Mondays are spirit days at JA Vargas, wear green and show your school spirit. Check out our selection of green spirit wear. Place your order online and pick it up on designated days at the office.

https://www.javargaspta.org/ja-vargas-store

 

Website

Find links to membership, Konstella, gear shop and volunteer opportunities on our website.

https://www.javargaspta.org/home

 

Shannon Lundin, and the Executive Board 

[email protected]


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