Principal’s Message:
Hello Golden Owls,
It’s the last Wise Word of the 2021-22 school year, and I can't believe it. This has been one of the most demanding and challenging years of my career in education, yet it has also been one of the most rewarding. My goals this year were to keep people safe, support students emotionally and academically recover from the effects of the pandemic, and have fun along the way. As I reflect on this year, I truly believe that those goals were achieved. As a relatively new school community, I am grateful for all the hard work, dedication, and positive energy that each of you contribute. I hope everyone has an enjoyable, restful summer!
For anyone who missed it, click here for the recording of the Principal’s Coffee from Friday. In it, review our iReady Data, LCAP Data, and talk about some next steps for next year.
Important reminders for our last week:
Minimum Days:
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Thursday, June 2 - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:55am
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Friday, June 3rd - Last Day of School Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:55am
Check out:
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Please return your child Chromebook if you haven't already done so.
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2022-2023 School Year: If your child will not be returning to MVWSD next school year, please contact Mrs. Antunez at [email protected] or by calling at (650) 903-6952 to request your student withdrawal form that needs to be filled out and turned in.
In Partnership,
Principal Vern Taylor
Events Calendar
1 - Cancelled - Principal Office Hours - Virtual, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
2 - MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:00pm - 10:00pm -
2 - Kinder and 5th Promotion Ceremonies
3 - Report Cards go home - electronically
3 - Last Day of School - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:50am
3 - End of Year Ice Cream Social, 12:00 - 1:30pm
3 - Superintendent Community Check-in, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
In this Newsletter
School News:
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Golden Ticket Winners
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Reminders - Please Read
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Kindergarten and 5th Grade Promotion - June 2
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End of Year Ice Cream Social - Friday, June 3 (12:00-1:30PM)
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Summer Learning Menu
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Staffing Updates
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Measure T-funded Projects
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Summer Meals at schools and on the move
Flyers:
District News:
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Board meeting preview: June 2
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MVWSD’s Summer programs
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Summer Reading at MV Public Library - Flyer
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Covid vaccines and testing locations
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School construction this summer
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Families of English Learners: Look for Summative ELPAC results in the mail
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Supporting neighbors in need: CSA
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MVEF: Additional ELA Teachers Next Year!
PTA News:
Golden Ticket Winners - Week of 5/31/2022
Keily M. RM: 1 Justin W. RM: 11
Isabella A. RM: 3 Ismael R. RM: 13
Steve C. RM: 4 Caleb C. RM: 13
Carter B.M. RM: 5 Sharon L. RM: 14
Mira G. RM: 6 Liz W. RM: 15
Julian M. RM: 8 Hayk D. RM:16
Moises M. RM: 9 Ceidy G. RM: 17
Alice B. RM: 10 Mr. Taylor Office
The Vargas Way - Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be an Upstander.
What are Golden Tickets?
Students earn Golden Tickets from teachers and staff when they are following the Vargas Way. What is
The Vargas Way? Click here for an in depth view.
Reminders:
SSC Vote (Please vote by Thursday, June 2, 2022)
Please vote for the School Site Council representatives. We need three new members for 2022-23. You can vote online here (Vote online) If you prefer a printed ballot, please contact us at [email protected] or call the front office.
Lost and Found
The lost and found rack is getting full again, please take a look to see if any items belong to your child. Last day to claim any items is Friday, June 3rd. Anything left after dismissal will be donated.
Water Bottles
Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle. It has been really hot, and we want to keep our Golden Owls safe. Our staff will also be reminding students to drink water often as well.
Report Cards, iReady Reports
Parents should expect to receive a copy of their child’s report card on June 3rd at 3:00 pm.
Parents can access their children’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score via their Powerschool Parent Portal on June 3 at 3:00 pm. Parents will have access to three reports for their child - For Families Report, Common Core State Standards Report (CCSS), and the Diagnostic Growth Report. Here’s how to access PowerSchool Parent Portal i-Ready Reports. Please contact your child’s school office if you have any trouble accessing reports.
Kindergarten and 5th Grade Promotion - June 2
Kinder and 5th grade families, We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!
This is a reminder to Kinder families our promotion celebration is Thursday, June 2 from 10:30-11:30am. Because we are hosting this event during the school day, all visitors need to check in at the front office, and provide an updated proof-of Vaccination. For adults, this means that you must have a booster. Masks are required for all visitors, both inside the classroom and outside.
Fifth grade families our celebration is Thursday, June 2 from 12:30-2:00pm, we will celebrate after school. You do not need to check in at the front office, and you can go straight to the MUR. We will have a short celebration inside the MUR, and then have refreshments and social time outside the MUR. Masks are required while inside the MUR.
End of Year Ice Cream Social - Friday, June 3 (12:00-1:30PM)
The PTA is hosting an Ice Cream Social to celebrate the end of the school year on Friday, June 3rd from 12:00-1:30PM on campus. Donations of ice cream toppings (chopped fruit, small candies, sprinkles, crumbled cookies, flavored syrups, or your favorite topping) are welcomed! Either drop them off in the school office ahead of time or bring them to the social.
Summer Learning Menu
Summer is just around the corner, which means lots of outdoor play, family time, and daily academic practice! We know from brain research and our own lived experiences that skills that are not practiced, or periodically reviewed, can be forgotten. Students have worked so hard this year to learn and grow. We want to make sure they maintain these skills over the summer! We know that convincing students to do daily academic practice may be tricky, so we’re helping with an optional
Summer Learning Menu: Menu and Work Log
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# of completed Activities for
First-Second grade in the fall
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# of completed Activities for
Third-Fifth grade in the fall
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Prize
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1-5
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1-10
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10 Minutes extra recess
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6-15
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11-30
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Popsicle party
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16-30
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31-45
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Book Prize
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31-45
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46-60
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Pizza Party
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46-55
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61-75
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Popcorn and Movie Night
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56-65
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76-90
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Vice-Principal for a Day
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66-75
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91-100
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Pie Mr. Taylor in the face
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Staffing Updates
We will bid fond farewells to a few of our staff at the end of this year as they move on to new life adventures. Thank you for everything you do to support our students, Ms. Kamigaki and Ms. Phillips. We will miss you next year!
We will also bid fond farewell to Mrs. Chavez. Mrs. Chavez has been a dedicated teacher in MVWSD for 15 years. We were fortunate to have her end her career as a Golden Owl, and we wish her the best of luck in her newly retired life adventures!
Enrollment:
Based on our enrollment, we are currently planning on the following classroom configurations for next school year. Enrollment continues through the summer, so it is possible that this can change. I continue to monitor enrollment and staffing throughout the summer. Stay tuned for details.
Measure T-funded Projects
Please click here to learn more about the Measure T- funded projects that are happening at Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary over the summer, including a June 28 community meeting about the tree replacement project. Postcards with this info are also being mailed to the residents in the Vargas neighborhoods, so check your mailbox. Thank you for your support of our schools.
Summer meals at schools and on the move
MVWSD is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide FREE summer meals to children, 18 years old and younger. The summer meals program reaches children who need good nutrition when school is out of session.
Rengstorff Park
June 13-July 29, 2022 (No service June 20 and July 4)
11:30 AM-1:00 PM Children 18 years and under
Castro/Mistral Schools (500 Toft St.)
June 13- July 8, 2022 (No school/meal service on June 20 and July 4)
Breakfast, 7:30-8:30 AM
Lunch, 11:30 AM -1:00 PM
Mistral Elementary School (505 Escuela Ave)
Meal pick up
July 11-July 29, 2022
11:30 AM -1:00 PM
Please spread the word to children who may benefit from a FREE meal, For information, call 650-903-6965 ext. 1223 or visit mvwsd.org/parents/nutrition
District News
Board meeting preview: June 2
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, June 2 at 6 p.m. Topics include:
* (6 p.m.) Staff members’ years of service and retirements
Please join us in recognizing our staff members’ years of service and retirements. We are grateful to our MVWSD staff members for their years of dedication and commitment to our students and families. On June 3, check out tributes to these staff members in district social media and the June 3 ad in the Mountain View Voice Express email!
Other meeting topics include:
* Universal PreK initial plan
* LCAP and Public Hearing
* Health and Wellness Policy
* Governor's May Revision to the Proposed 2022-2023 State Budget
* Public Hearings: 2022-2023 Budget Overview and Adoption
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: mvwsd.org/trustees. Note: There will be no Community Check In on June 3.
MVWSD’s Summer programs
Click here for information about free meals and resources for students to practice their academic skills this summer. mvwsd.org/summer
Summer Reading at MV Public Library - Flyer
Read, learn, and earn rewards with the Mountain View Public Library this summer! The summer reading program will run from June 4 to July 31, 2022 and is free for all. Register the whole family at mountainview.gov/summerreading.
Covid vaccines and testing locations
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. To get a COVID vaccine for yourself or your child, see the county’s drop-in clinics here or schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider or pharmacy.
COVID testing remains an important tool to keep yourself and our community safe this summer. Schedule a COVID PCR test with your healthcare provider or at a county facility here. Additionally, every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home rapid tests if you have not already done so at covid.gov/tests.
School construction this summer
Please click on your school below to learn more about what Measure T- funded projects are happening at each site over the summer. Postcards are also being mailed to the residents in the neighborhoods surrounding each school. Thank you for your support of our schools.
Bubb Elementary
Castro Elementary
Crittenden Middle
Graham Middle
Imai Elementary
Landels Elementary
Mistral Elementary
Monta Loma Elementary
Stevenson Elementary
Theuerkauf Elementary
Vargas Elementary
Families of English Learners: Look for Summative ELPAC results in the mail
MVWSD has begun to receive scores for English Learner students who took the Summative ELPAC assessment this spring. Due to the nature of the assessment, scores will come in on a rolling basis and will be sent to families over the course of the summer. Families should also look for an email this summer detailing how to download the score reports on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].
Supporting neighbors in need: CSA
Community Services Agency (CSA) provides safety-net services to the most vulnerable members of the Mountain View/Los Altos community. They offer emergency rental assistance, short-term hotel stays, car repairs, senior case management, a food pantry, and many other essential services. In order to support the community, CSA holds events like the upcoming Back-to-School Program on July 29 and 30, when parents and children from the Mountain View Whisman School District who are in need can get gift cards to buy school supplies for the 2022-23 school year. If you are interested in learning more about the Back-to-School Program and how you can help, click here. If you are in need of services, contact CSA at 650-968-0836.
MVEF: Additional ELA Teachers Next Year!
Due to increased support from our donors, MVEF has nearly met the stretch goal to raise an additional $300,000 to hire two additional English Language Arts teachers next year, one at each of the MVWSD middle schools. We are happy to announce that MVEF has committed the funds to the District so they can hire the ELA teachers. We are so grateful for the support we have received, and are looking forward to seeing the benefits of smaller class sizes to our students’ education next year!
PTA News
End of Year Ice Cream Social - Friday, June 3 (12:00-1:30PM)
The PTA is hosting an Ice Cream Social to celebrate the end of the school year on Friday, June 3rd from 12:00-1:30PM on campus. Donations of ice cream toppings (chopped fruit, small candies, sprinkles, crumbled cookies, flavored syrups, or your favorite topping) are welcomed! Either drop them off in the school office ahead of time or bring them to the social.
If you would like to volunteer to set up, scoop ice cream, or clean up, please sign up in the Konstella sign-up sheet (linked here), or contact Jennifer ([email protected]). We can’t wait to see you there!
Kinder Play Dates
If you have an incoming Kindergartener and would like to help out with a Kinder Play Date this summer it would be great to have some current Vargas families to meet new Vargas families and have their kinders meet each other. Contact Shannon: [email protected]
Jose Antonio Vargas PTA
[email protected]