Principal’s Message:

Hello Golden Owls,

 

We are in our second week of school and looking forward to a spectacular year. As you may know, this year all of our MVWSD schools have full-time counselors. For Vargas, that person is Elisa Gove. We are excited to have access to this valuable resource. Our counselor is here to support our students' social-emotional and mental health in numerous ways. She will be working with students whole-classes leading social-emotional lessons. She will also be working with students in small groups to support building healthy friendships and develop conflict resolution skills, and for some students she will provide one-to-one counseling support to achieve individual goals. Furthermore, Ms. Gove will also be available as another caring adult on our campus. Please note, because we have a full-time counselor, we will no longer be utilizing CHAC services during the school day. Ms. Gove’s services will replace services offered by CHAC. 

 

Ms. Gove will also be available to support families in order to support student well-being. One recommendation that she has as a start for parents is the Parenting Space. This is a great beginning resource for families in this district.

 

For more information about Ms. Gove, click here. If you have any questions about counseling please join me at this Friday’s principal coffee. We will have Ms. Gove.

 

In Partnership, 

Principal Vern Taylor

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Events Calendar

August

 

September

 

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In this Newsletter

 

School News:

Ice Cream Social 

Back to School Night 2024 

No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28, 2024

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

School & Community Engagement Facilitator (SCEF)

Composting

iReady Assessment

Bell Schedule

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+!

Reporting an Absence

School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form

Flyers:

2024 -2025 School Year Calendar - Here

August Menu Here

 

District News:

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

CAASPP scores are now available

MVWSD’s high financial rating saves taxpayers money on Measure T bond sale

Applying to be a school volunteer this year? Training and help sessions happen this month

School meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school

Welcome from MVEF and Why MVEF Matters

MVEF - Who we are and why we matter - Please donate!

MVEF - Who we are and why we matter - Please donate!

Living Classroom: MVWSD Volunteer Information Meetings - Fyler

Parent University: The Science of Reading, Part 1 of 2 

PTA News:

Save the Date!! - Details to come

Konstella

Afterschool Enrichment Classes

PTA Board and Committee Positions

Membership Drive - ends Sept 6

Spirit Wear 

Website

 

Community Partners

The View Teen Center: Volunteer Fair - Flyer

City of MV: Hazardous waste collection

MV Public Library: Upcoming Parent Event - Flyer

Announcing the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series for 2024-25 - Flyer

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School News

 

Ice Cream Social 

Please join us and the PTA tomorrow immediately after school for our ice cream social. There is no charge for Ice Cream thanks to the generous donation of our parent volunteers. Thank you PTA, for organizing this event for our community. 

 

Back to School Night 2024 

Families, you are cordially invited to our annual Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. BTSN is an important opportunity for families to learn about their children’s 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 7:00 p.m.  See you on August 28! 

*Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)teachers, Mrs. Bisbee and Mrs. Butchko, our Education specialist Mrs. Solorzano and Ms. Abraham, and I will also be hosting during the second session. Mrs. Butchko teaches Kinder and second grade. Ms. Bisbee teaches first, third, fourth and fifth. Feel free to stop by their rooms as well!

No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Due to preparations for Elementary School Back to School Night and afterschool staff development, there will be no MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28 (a minimum day for students). MVWSD+ families, thank you in advance for making other arrangements. This affects all Right At School programs, all Beyond the Bell programs, and the district-paid YMCA programs. Please note that due to contractual reasons, parent-paid YMCA programs will still operate. All programs resume as normal on Thursday, August 29.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (650) 526-3500 x1061. 

 

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

This week, our students started visiting STEAM classes and teachers. Our two STEAM teachers, Mrs. Bisbee and Mrs. Butchko will be conducting introductory lessons for all students in their homerooms. In the next few weeks, 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.

 

School & Community Engagement Facilitator (SCEF)

As part of Vargas’s plan, we have a School and Community Engagement Facilitator who will work to ensure that every student, family, and community member will feel valued and supported while working, learning, and partnering with our school. Here at Vargas, Bea Claas is our School and Community Engagement Facilitator. She specifically focuses on students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and/or English learners and works to organize parent education, provide translation services, and support positive student behavior. Bea’s overall goal is to increase parent education and engagement, support our PTA and ELAC parent groups, and form strong relationships with students and families. She can be reached at [email protected]

Composting

We are happy that we will be continuing with our composting program on campus again. Our Golden Owls have started composting on campus. Students will be sorting their waste into liquids, recyclables, compost, and trash.  As students are sorting, they are learning how to tell the difference between what can be reused, and what has to go to the landfill. We need students to support our program by joining our Green team. During recess, these students volunteer to help other students sort their waste correctly. If your child is interested in joining the Green Team, please let Mr. Taylor know. 

 

iReady Assessment

Our 1st-5th grade students are finishing up the iReady assessment this week. Parents, once we complete all testing, we will be sharing instructions for parents to access the results in PowerSchool. Kinder students will be taking the iReady reading and math assessment next week. 

Bell Schedules and Schools’ Start/End Times

Please click here to view our school’s updated schedule for the 2024-25 school year. Please note that Thursdays end early at all elementary school sites, and last days of trimesters are minimum days during the 2023-24 school year. 

 

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+! 

A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:

• The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].

• The student qualifies for free or reduced price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go to ezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.

Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.

For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to [email protected] or Jennifer Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.

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.

 

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. 

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District News

 

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

Some of the topics include:

• MVWSD Staff Housing Update

• Staff Wellness Discussion

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

CAASPP scores are now available

CAASPP student (ELA, Math) score reports (from the Spring tests, current 4th- through 8th-graders) were recently released by the state and are now available for parents on the PowerSchool Parent Portal (under “Score Reports” - choose the 2023 - 24 school year). To learn more about how to understand your child’s CAASPP score report, go to the Starting Smarter website at https://www.ca.startingsmarter.org/.  If you need assistance with logging on to the Powerschool Parent Portal, please contact your student’s school office.

MVWSD’s high financial rating saves taxpayers money on Measure T bond sale

MWVSD recently saved the community money in its capital bond sale due to its high financial rating and excellent financial stewardship. Of the 658 California school districts rated by S & P in 2023, the District was among only 26 ‘AAA’ rated districts (top 4%). 

 

Each year, an outside independent auditor audits the district's controls and finances. At the end of each audit cycle, they provide a report to the Board of Trustees. For the past 10 years the district has received clean audits due to exemplary performance and transparency.  

 

Our community has always been supportive of our efforts and we are happy to deliver excellent results. To read more, click here.

 

Applying to be a school volunteer this year? Training and help sessions happen this month

We appreciate our parent volunteers! Please check your inbox (email dated Aug. 5) for important information about mandated training and optional volunteer help sessions coming up in the next two weeks. For an overview of the process, please visit https://www.mvwsd.org/volunteers.

 

School meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals this year to all students as part of California’s universal meal program.

 

However, parents need to reapply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals program now for this school year. If you think you could qualify (qualifying income levels listed here), we ask you to apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Qualifying is one factor in your child’s eligibility for free MVWSD after school care and summer camp.

 

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. 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.

 

Welcome from MVEF and Why MVEF Matters

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) welcomes all families to the 2024-25 school year! Thanks to support from parents like YOU, MVEF provides your child with a competitive, well-rounded education. MVEF is a volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to funding innovative programs for all students in the MVWSD district. School funding covers salaries, facilities, and core academics, while MVEF funding enhances the learning environment with art, music, environmental science, middle school athletics, and additional English teachers in middle school, reducing class sizes by over 20%. To maintain these programs, MVEF seeks donations from parents and community members. The suggested amount per student this school year is $1,100, per student, also payable as a recurring monthly payment, but every donation is meaningful. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit mvef.org for more information and to donate. Thank you for your support!

MVEF - Who we are and why we matter - Please donate!

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF)  is a volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to funding innovative programs for all students in the MVWSD district. 

Thanks to your donations, MVEF provides your child with a competitive, well-rounded education. School funding covers salaries, facilities, and core academics, while MVEF funding enhances the learning environment with art, music, environmental science, middle school athletics, and additional English teachers, reducing class sizes by over 20%  in middle school. 

To maintain these programs, MVEF seeks donations from parents and community members. The suggested amount per student is $1,100, also payable as a recurring monthly payment, but every donation is meaningful. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit mvef.org for more information and to donate. Thank you for your support!

Living Classroom: MVWSD Volunteer Information Meetings - Fyler

Living Classroom is a non-profit organization that provides hands-on, garden-based lessons to MVWSD students in TK through 6th Grade.  We welcome parent volunteers to help with our lessons in their children's classrooms, but we are also seeking volunteer docents who would like to be trained to teach our lessons throughout the school district.  If you are interested in becoming a Living Classroom docent, please attend one of our upcoming information meetings:

Thursday, August 29th, 2024, 9:15-10:15 am; or

Friday, August 30th, 2024, 1:00-2:00 pm

Both meetings will be held in Conference Room C, MVWSD Office, 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View.

 

Please contact Susan Harder at [email protected] if you have questions or would like further information.

Parent University: The Science of Reading, Part 1 of 2 

Date and Time: September 10, 2024, 5:30-7:00 pm  Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu091024r

Reading is fundamental. But how do we best teach children to do it? And how do we support them at home? In this two-part series, we will uncover the “Science of Reading”, how our new district curriculum is based on this science, and how parents can translate the science into practical routines and strategies at home. 

About the speaker: Dr. Cyndee Nguyen is MVWSD’s Director of Early Literacy. She leads district efforts to ensure that all students, especially those of early elementary age, develop into capable and confident readers. Previously, Dr. Nguyen was a primary grade teacher and the principal of Bubb Elementary School.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

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PTA News

Save the Date!! - Details to come

• Thursday Aug 22 (12-1pm): Welcome back ice cream social!

• Friday, Sept 13: Movie Night

• Wed, Sept 25: PTA Association Meeting, 6PM

• Friday, Oct 18: Walkathon

Kimberly Cheng, and the Executive Board 

[email protected]

Konstella

Want to hear about the school-wise events planned by the PTA? Konstella is a free app/website– you do not have to be a member to join. 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”. Membership

Afterschool Enrichment Classes

The PTA has teamed up to bring a variety of after school classes this Fall. Check out the list here: https://www.javargaspta.org/after-school-programs

• NEW this year: Bay Area Chess, Coding programs, Animation, in addition to Science, BrickTech, Basketball, Run for Fun, Coach Ken Soccer, and The Green Room.

• Sign up quickly as spots are limited. Programs that don’t meet enrollment minimums are subject to cancellation.

PTA Board and Committee Positions

We need your help more than ever! We have an opening on the Exec Board for Room Parent Coordinator in addition to many non-board roles. There are a variety of roles requiring help: some in-person, some on-going, and some time-limited. We especially need volunteers for planning events and our big Walkathon fundraiser! If you can help us, whether for a couple hours or throughout the year, please fill out this interest form or email [email protected].

 

Membership Drive - ends Sept 6

Support your students’ classrooms and school community by joining the Vargas PTA!  Memberships cost $10 and help pay for community engagement events, assemblies, author visits, field trips, teacher reimbursements for classroom enrichment, Ms. Bea’s scholarship program, and teacher appreciation.  This year, we hope to raise $150 per student through membership and donations to make these wonderful programs and events possible for your students to enjoy. Our goal is to have 250 members this year and we are halfway there. Classrooms that reach 70% membership participation will get a popsicle party. First three classes to reach the membership goal will win a voucher for Scholastic books. Members who register by Sept 6 will be entered in a raffle to win one of three $10 vouchers for spirit wear.  Thank you for supporting your school! 

 

Please join and make a contribution:

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

• To download a paper flyer, make a donation, or find out about corporate matching, visit: https://www.javargaspta.org/joindonate

For PTA membership fee sponsorship please contact Mr. Taylor or Ms. Beatriz Claas.

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.

• Follow JAVargas PTA on facebook for photos of events and updates on future events.

Kimberly Cheng, and the Executive Board 

[email protected]