Hello Golden Owls,

Can you believe that after today, there are only 8 more school days? As the year comes to a close, I think that it is a great time to highlight the many great things about our community. The past few years have been challenging for all of us, but because of the flexibility, dedication, and tenacity of this community, we have not only been able to survive, but thrive as a community. A few things I would like to highlight:

Academics

As you can see from our preliminary scores for D3 iReady Reading (Click here) and Math (Click here), we have significantly improved the percentages of students at grade level from diagnostic 1 to diagnostic 2 as well as reducing the absolute numbers and percentages of students who are one to two years below grade-level.  Additionally, each of our students participated in grade-level projects that integrated content and required students to engage in higher-level thinking and problem-solving. 

Extracurricular

This year, we were able to provide 372 free spots to participants in our after school enrichment classes which included classes like international languages, sports, art, music, chess, acting, Math, Eco-Club and Dance. Additionally, our students have organized 15+ student-led lunchtime clubs. 

Social Emotional Learning 

Coming into this year, we knew that students would need continued support with their socioemotional development. Teachers maintained morning meetings and completed weekly check-ins through Sown to Grow as well as supplemental lessons to support students in their social-emotional development. Each grade-level participated in whole class lessons with CHAC. Again, we were able to have the full-time support of Mr. Damion as he helped students with resolving their conflicts in healthy ways. Additionally, CHAC was able to support many of our students individually and in small group sessions. 

Community Building

With fewer COVID restrictions on public gatherings, we were able to reestablish our in-person community through various events. Thanks to the hard work and exceptional partnering of our PTA and Ms. Bea, we have been able to plan several community events including Vargas movie night, Read Across the World, two Book Fairs, Walk-a-Thon, Fall Festival, Family Science Night, International Festival and an end of the year ice cream social. Similarly, parents and other volunteers have provided both their time and financial resources to support our Golden Owls. The Walk-a-Thon raised $31,155, that will go towards various enrichment opportunities and community events for our students.

While there is always room for improvement, I wanted to emphasize our wins this year. Hopefully, this will provide motivation for our continued growth in the 2023-24 school year.  

Please note the following important upcoming dates:

• Thursday, May 25, 2023 is a Regular Thursday minimum day.

• Friday, May 26, 2023 is a minimum day because it is the end of the trimester.

• Monday, May 29, 2023 is Memorial Day, and we do not have school.

• Thursday, June 1, 2023 is a regular Thursday minimum day.

• Tuesday, June 6, 2023 is the last day of school, it is a minimum day and report cards and iReady Reports sent home. 

In Partnership, 

Principal Vern Taylor

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Events Calendar

May 2023

June 2023

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In this Newsletter

School News:

Golden Tickets

iReady Reports

Vargas Field Days

Ice Cream Social

Summer Reading Program

How to apply to be a Regular Volunteer Next School Year

Thank you for all the wonderful Books

Flyers:

May Menu Here

2023-2024 School Year Calendar - Link here

Talent Show - Flyer here

District News:

View and comment on MVWSD’s Local Control Accountability Plan draft 

MVWSD+ Afterschool Applications for 2023-24 School Year

Look Around, Look Within: Mental Health Awareness Month

Free and low cost summer programs Flyer here

With days left in the school year, MVEF has raised 95% of the stretch goal!!

MVEF Volunteers needed for Summer and Back-to-School Activities

MVEF Volunteers needed for Summer and Back-to-School Activities

CHAC summer sessions for students Flyer here

Mountain View Summer Community Kick-off Flyer here

MV Public Library: Summer Reading Program & Upcoming Events Flyer here

PTA News:

PTA Association Meeting Wednesday, May 24th 7 PM on Zoom

Open Positions

Kinder Summer Play Dates

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Golden Ticket Winners May 18, 2023 

Yuri C.          RM: 1        Liam Puri       RM: 10 

Astrid R.            RM: 2        Keaton M. RM: 11

Albert R. RM: 3       Thea V.             RM: 13

Ricky W. RM: 4        Jeff B.      .        M: 14

Leyla B. RM: 5        Vani S.                 RM: 15

Eshana V. RM: 6        Precious D.          RM: 16

Anita S.         RM: 8        Liz W.                  RM: 17

Rizwan H. RM: 9   

      

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School News

 iReady Reports

Students have completed the iReady assessments for this trimester. The reports will be available for parent access on the last day of school at 4:00PM. Parents will be able to log in into PowerSchool to access the following reports: For Families, CCSS, and Growth Reports.

Vargas Field Days 

On Friday, May 26, Vargas will be conducting field days. To ensure this day is safe and fun for your child, the following items are recommended:

T-Shirt: color of the team assigned to as noted in teacher notification.

Sunscreen

Hat or Visor

Shorts and Sweatshirt

Tennis Shoes

Water/Water bottle

End of Year Ice Cream Social - Tuesday, June 6 (12:00-1:30PM)

Save the Date - The PTA is hosting an Ice Cream Social to celebrate the end of the school year on Tuesday, June 6th from 12:00-1:30PM on campus. More details to follow.

Summer Reading Program: Mountain View Public Library

The Mountain View Library Summer Reading Program will begin June 1 and end July 31. Registration is online and also begins June 1. To participate, Kindergarten through Rising 5th graders are to read 15 minutes per day for 25 days. Listening to audiobooks or being read to can count toward daily minutes. Upon completion, participants will get a free book and a coupon for one book at a Friends of the Library sale. A bilingual activity and badge book will be issued to each participant (must be obtained at the library). Check out this video from Ms. O with more information.

Other summer activities will include, but are not limited to

• STEAM Fridays; dates TBA

• Summer Solstice celebration

•  Drop Everything and Read on June 10 and one date in July (TBA)

• Kindergarten Readiness; dates TBA

• Let’s Create – 4-5 drop-in crafts sessions; dates TBA

• End of Summer Reading celebration on July 31

For additional information, go to mountainview.gov. The library is located at 585 Franklin St. in downtown MV.

How to Apply to be a Regular Volunteer Next Year

Start collecting documents now to avoid delays at the beginning of the school year. For all of the details and documentation required, please see mvwsd.org/volunteers. 

If you have never had a badge before, please read the fingerprinting fact sheet and then ask your principal for the fingerprint request form. After you complete the form, your school will give you the link to the Raptor volunteer application.

If you want to renew your volunteer badge, ask your school for the link to the Raptor volunteer application. TB tests are good for 3 years, although you will still need to upload proof in the online application. Fingerprint checks are good for a few years. In the online application, you will provide the last school year you completed a check or the ATI number.

Thank you for all the wonderful books!!

We would like to thank all our families that donated books for our summer reading book giveaway program. Thanks to their generosity we were able to donate more than 1000 books to our students but we still have more books to give away!  If you are interested in getting some books for summer reading for your kids, please come to the MUR on Friday 5/26 from 12-1pm.  Happy reading!

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District News

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 corresponds 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 through May 24. You may read presentations and supporting materials at https://www.mvwsd.org/lcap and make comments. Stakeholders may also attend the public hearing during the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, June 1. Agenda and time are found on https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

MVWSD+ Afterschool Applications for 2023-24 School Year

Free MVWSD+ Afterschool childcare will be available for qualifying students next school year. To learn more about the program, including whether your child may qualify, go to www.mvwsd.org/plus. Applications will be sent to qualifying students’ families via email over the next few weeks. Please respond promptly to ensure a spot for your child starting on the first day of the new school year! If you have any questions, please contact your school’s office, SCEF, or email [email protected].

Look Around, Look Within: Mental Health Awareness Month

Nature has a profound impact on our mental health. Spending time outdoors can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. This week, make it a priority to spend some time outdoors. Taking a walk in the park, gardening, hiking in the woods are great ways to connect with nature, recharge, feel peace, and gain perspective!

Free and low cost summer programs Flyer here

Summer is around the corner, so it’s time to explore ways to keep your children engaged when school ends! Check out InPlayKid’s free online search service sponsored by Santa Clara County and our school district. You’ll find thousands of local and affordable programs that will challenge, inspire, and entertain your children to minimize summer brain drain. https://www.inplay.org/r/mountain-view

With days left in the school year, MVEF has raised 95% of the stretch goal!!

This year, and every year, MVEF-funded programs have enriched the experience of every student in MVWSD. As the last day of school approaches, student performances are wrapping up, art portfolios are coming home, final papers are being written, and garden beds are being prepared for the summer.

With 95% raised and just $55k left to go, we are SO CLOSE to achieving the $1,200,000 stretch goal for 2022-23! Can you help us pass the finish line? https://bit.ly/Donate-to-MVEF

MVEF Volunteers needed for Summer and Back-to-School Activities

MVEF is seeking additional volunteers from every MVWSD school and in every neighborhood. Volunteering with MVEF is a great way to learn more about Public School Funding in California and to meet families from every neighborhood in MVWSD! MVEF volunteers work collaboratively with PTAs, school communities, and neighborhood to ensure that information about our mission and impact reaches everyone in the right way. We are coordinating training for MVEF volunteers so sign up soon! To learn more: https://bit.ly/MVEF-Volunteer

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Youth Depression

All children feel sad or moody at times. But when a sad or bad mood lasts for weeks or longer — and when there are other changes in how a child acts — it could be a sign of depression. If you think your child is depressed, talk with them. Let them know you want to understand what they are going through. Listen if they want to speak.

To learn more about depression, click here.

Here are some signs that your child may have Depression: 

1. Negative outlook. Children who feel depressed may be hard on themselves or on others. They might focus on failures and setbacks. It may be hard for them to see the good parts of things, or the good parts of themselves.

2. Low energy, effort, interest, enjoyment. Your child may lose interest in things they used to enjoy. They may not seem to care. They may put less effort into schoolwork or tasks at home. Things seem to take too much effort. Nothing seems fun or enjoyable.

3. Doing poorly at school. When a child feels depressed, schoolwork can seem harder. They may not complete their work, show effort, or study as much for tests. Their grades may drop.

4. Pulling away from friends and family. Your child may spend more time alone, less time with friends, or seem distant.
   
   Keep in mind that these are NOT ALL the signs of Depression. There are many more signs that a parent can find in their child. Identifying the signs of Depression is the first step to understanding our child. If your child is thinking or talking of suicide, please visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website, call 1-800-273-8255, or call or text 988.
   
   To view more parenting tips, click here. These tips came directly from the free, online website of Nemours Children’s Health, reviewed by Dr.D'Arcy Lyness, Ph.D.

CHAC Summer Sessions for Students Flyer here

CHAC is offering fee-based classes in July for students covering topics such as healthy friendships, anxiety management and play-based social-emotional learning. For more information, see the attached flyers or click on bit.ly/43CAfe9

Mountain View Summer Community Kick-off Flyer here

Join the City of Mountain View and local organizations for a Summer Community Kick-off on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m at Rengstorff Park. Come out for a day of fun and learn about community resources to help you stay healthy, happy and housed! Family activities will include Library Storytime (10:30 a.m.), Pop-up Art Class, Arts & Crafts, Raffle, Shaved Ice, and Tacos.

MV Public Library: Summer Reading Program & Upcoming Events Flyer here

Registration is now open for the Mountain View Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, which runs from June 1-July 31, 2023. Read, learn and earn rewards! Register the whole family for this free program here.

Upcoming Public Library events include a Summer Reading Program Kickoff Concert on June 3 and a Chibis and Monsters Drawing Workshop on June 7. Visit MountainView.gov/Library for more events and information.

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PTA News

PTA Association Meeting Wednesday, May 24th 7 PM on Zoom Registration / Agenda

It is a busy time of year, but please take some time to call in to our last Association Meeting of the year. We will review our budget from this year and we need to approve our proposed budget for next school year as well as approve a new Bookfair vendor.

Open Positions 

We are still looking for people to help with committee roles such as membership, hospitality, dine out coordinator and more. See a list of positions and descriptions here. 

Kinder summer playdates 

If you have an incoming kindergartener next year we are looking for a couple of parents to help organize a couple of incoming kinder play dates over the summer. Helping may include  pick a date and park to meet at, purchase refreshments (reimbursed by PTA). This is a great way for kinders to meet future classmates and parents to meet other parents and share questions and ease nerves before first day. Contact Kim if you are able to help organize play dates [email protected]

Once dates and locations are set we will announce on Konstella. Or sign up here to get incoming kinder news. Feel free to share this link with other families in the community that will have a new kinder entering Vargas

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