Principal’s Message:
Hello Golden Owls,
As you have heard by now, on Monday we had a dangerous scare on campus when a bullet was found on our campus. Thank you to our staff, and MVPD, and our MVWSD district office for acting swiftly, so that we can quickly investigate and ensure that all of the students were safe, and we could communicate with families expeditiously.
At yesterday’s safety meeting the Mountain View Police Department and I were able to answer many questions, and provide a little more context about the situation. I again want to reiterate my thanks for the MVPD for their ongoing support in keeping our campus safe.
While hearing this news was scary for our community, a key take away from this situation is that we can use this as a learning opportunity. It is a great opportunity to work with our students in age-appropriate ways to remind them of staying away from harmful items like guns and ammunition. It is also a good learning opportunity to revisit the proper reporting protocols when students see something dangerous.
That being said, research tells us most people, especially children, do not learn by being exposed to something once. Children need repetition and continuous reinforcement, guidance, and feedback.
As a school team, we will be revisiting how we can reinforce expectations for what items are appropriate to bring to school and proper reporting protocols when we see something dangerous. We also need the help of the entire community, meaning you as parents have to also send a consistent message about these topics as well. Please remind your children about talking with a trusted adult at school if they witness something dangerous. I suggest in your conversation, you develop a plan of identifying and explicitly articulating the adults that they can feel they can talk with if they need help. This will help them know who to seek out when they are in the moment.
It also serves as an opportunity for all of our caretakers to make sure that we are doing whatever it is that we can to keep harmful items out of the hands of our children. As I mentioned in our meeting yesterday, while we are teaching our students to be responsible, we KNOW their brains are still developing. Children are curious and can often be impulsive. This is one area we cannot afford to give students an opportunity to make a bad judgement call.
According to the December 15, 2023 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
In the United States, unintentional injury is the fourth leading cause of death among infants (i.e., children aged <1 year) and is the top cause of death among children and adolescents aged 1–17 years; firearms are a leading injury method.* Unsecure firearm storage practices (e.g., storing firearms unlocked and loaded) are associated with risk for unintentional and intentional (i.e., suicide) firearm injuries and deaths among children and adolescents (1). Most unintentional firearm injuries among children occur within the home, with firearms predominantly originating in the child’s home (1,2). In 2021, approximately 30 million children lived in homes with firearms, including 4.6 million in households reporting storing firearms loaded and unlocked (3). CDC analyzed unintentional firearm injury deaths among infants, children, adolescents aged 0–17 years (referred to as children in this report) in the United States to examine their characteristics..” Link to full article.
It is absolutely imperative that we make sure all dangerous items (especially firearms) are locked away and kept out reach of children. Here is a resource that all parents should use to revisit information about engaging with students about gun safety. Includes information about proper storage in your home, ensuring that their friends’ and family’s home have proper storage, and helping your children understand about guns.
Again, thank you for your partnership in keeping all of our students safe.
In Partnership,
Principal Vern Taylor
Events Calendar
March
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20th
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A Touch of the Earth Assembly
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20th
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MSI Field Trip
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20th
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MVWSD Board Meeting, District Office 6pm-10pm
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21st
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Teacher-in-Service Day - No school
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27th
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Open House, 6pm-7pm
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28th
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Principal’s Coffee, 8:10am - MUR in person
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April
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1st
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Deer Hollow Farm Field Trip
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2nd
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Hidden Villa Field Trip
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3rd
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MVWSD Board Meeting, District Office 6pm-10pm
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4th
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Pillar Point Half Moon Bay Field Trip
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7th -11th
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Spring Break No School
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14th
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DELAC Meeting, 5:30pm - Zoom
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17th
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International Festival
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24th
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MVWSD Board Meeting, District Office 6pm-10pm
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In this Newsletter
School News:
Golden Ticket Winners
Women’s History Month
Lost and Found
No School Friday, March 21st
Earth Hour (Reminder to turn off your lights this weekend)
Open House, March 27th
Mountain View’s Bookmobile, April 2
CAASPP Testing (Grades 3-5)
Students Not Returning for 2025-2026 School Year
Volunteers Needed CSMA Art Show
5th Grade Promotion - Wednesday - June 4th
Flyers:
2024 -2025 School Year Calendar - Here
2025-2026 School Year Calendar - Here
March Menu - Here
District News:
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, March 20
Better Together: March
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: We Want Your Input!
Graham Musical: The Pirates of Penzance Jr - Volante
MVWSD is updating its math curriculum
Crittenden Musical: Willy Wonka Jr.
District Film Festival: April 1
MVEF SPRING GALA - JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION!
PTA News:
Upcoming Events
Read-a-thon Week
Next PTA Association Meeting - March 26th (8:30am on Zoom)
Habit Burger Dine Out Fundraiser - March 26th, 4-9pm - Flyer here
International Festival - April 17, 5-7pm
New session of afterschool classes starting soon!
Community Partners:
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: How to Find the Right College
City of Mountain View Nature Photography Contest, Earth & Arbor Day 2025 - Flyer
School News
Golden Ticket Winners March 13, 2025
Emmy R. RM: 1 Austin K. RM: 10
Lori K. RM: 2 Miles G. RM: 11
Pierce D. RM: 3 Mayuka M. RM: 12
Dani Y. RM: 4 Oscar M. RM: 13
Sophia H. RM: 5 Abigail K. RM: 14
Ahaan N. RM: 6 Connor R. RM: 15
Kai R. RM: 8 Mia K. RM: 16
Samuel R. RM: 9 Huseyin N. RM: 17
Leza O. RM: 10 Mrs. Harris RM: 14
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Women’s History Month
As you know March is Women’s History Month. In order to honor Women’s History Month, we are asking students to honor a woman that they admire. This person can be someone they know personally, or someone who is famous that they admire.
Students have several options.
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Students can create an art piece that showcases a woman who is important to them. Art work can be visual (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc) or performance art (play, song, interpretive dance).
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Students also have the option to interview a woman they admire. Students can do a written interview or they can do an audio or visual interview.
Students who are interested, should submit their artwork or interview by Friday, March 28. 2025.
For digital submissions, please submit using this link.
Lost and Found
The lost and found rack is getting full, please take a look to see if any items belong to your child. The last day to claim any items is this Friday, March 28th. Anything left after dismissal will be donated.
No School Friday, March 21st
Friday, March 21, 2025 is a professional work day for teachers. There is no school for students.
Earth Hour (Reminder to turn off your lights this weekend)
From 8:30 pm local time on 22nd March, WWF’s Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, returns for its 19th edition with the ‘Biggest Hour for Earth’ in support and celebration of our planet. Earth Hour serves as a beacon of positivity, hope, and inspiration to rally as many people as possible in over 180 countries and territories.
Since its creation in 2007, Earth Hour has been known for its “lights off” moment. As landmarks and homes across the world switch off, supporters are also invited to symbolically switch off and 'Give an hour for Earth’, spending 60 minutes doing something - anything - positive for our planet.
Earth Hour invites everyone, everywhere to find the most enjoyable ways to give an hour for Earth. Whether it is cooking a sustainable meal at home, catching a nature documentary, taking a mindful walk through the woods to bask in nature and feel the earth, or engaging in a home scavenger hunt to identify and swap out unsustainable products with eco-friendly alternatives, there are myriad options to choose from. Check https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/give-an-hour for more. #MyHourForEarth. https://www.facebook.com/earthhour/
Open House, March 27th
Please mark your calendars. We will have an in person Open House on March 27, 2025 from 6:00-7:00 PM. This is an exciting time to join your child in touring their classroom and is a great opportunity for students to share what they have been learning in class. We look forward to making this a fun family night complete with a CSMA art show in the MUR. This night is truly a family favorite you won’t want to miss!
Mountain View’s Bookmobile - April 2
Mountain View Public Library’s bookmobile will visit Vargas on Wednesday, April 2, at 2:30pm on the blacktop. The new bookmobile operates fully on electricity and will be recognizable with the eye-catching City colors and library logos. Come check it out!
CAASPP Testing (Grades 3-5)
Grades 3-5 will start CAASPP testing soon. Vargas 3-5 grade students will start holding their practice tests from April 15-18, this is the week immediately following our return from Spring Break.
The testing dates are as follows:
Students will test before the 10:00AM recess. Please avoid scheduling appointments during these times.
As you know, CAASPP testing is one of the ways in which we measure our success for students. It is imperative that students are present, and do their best for testing each day. Please note that no independent study contracts will be granted for students in grades 3-5 during this time.
Thank you for your support!
Students Not Returning for 2025-2026 School Year
If you plan on moving during the summer or know your child will not return to our school or the District for the 2025-2026 school year, please email our school secretary Ms. Antunez at [email protected].
Volunteers Needed CSMA Art Show
Art Show volunteers play a crucial role in making this event a success and provide a great opportunity for those available for just one or two days of volunteering. If you're interested in helping out, please complete the Art Show Volunteer Form.
5th Grade Promotion Date
Each year, we look forward to celebrating with families as our 5th grade students are promoted to middle school. This year, the 5th grade promotion date is Wednesday, June 4th. We will share more specifics about the celebration as details are available.
District News
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, March 20. Closed session will begin at 4:30 p.m., and open/public session begins at 6 p.m.
Some of the topics include:
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Staff Housing Update and Options to Fund Purchase of Land
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Literacy Update
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Canopy Partnership at Bubb
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Second Interim Budget Report
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Resolution in support of LGTBQ+ students
For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.
Better Together: March
March is Women's History Month at Mountain View Whisman School District! This special month celebrates the vital contributions, achievements, and influence of women throughout history and in contemporary society. This month, our #BetterTogetherMVWSD initiative highlights "Serving our community/Sirviendo a nuestra comunidad." Community service strengthens our connections, builds empathy, and creates meaningful change through collective action. Join us as we explore how we can work together on projects to make a positive impact in our community. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: We Want Your Input!
As part of our shared commitment to ensuring the best for our students, we are inviting the MVWSD Community (teachers, staff, families) to review and provide feedback on the pilot curricula. Your perspective matters, and we’d love for you to join us at one of the following community review sessions:
SEL Curricula Review
Location: MVWSD District Office - Conference Room C
1400 Montecito Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043
March 13, 2025
Session 1: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 2: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
March 20, 2025
Session 3: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 4: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the SEL programs being considered, share your insights, and engage in the important work of shaping the future of our district’s approach to social-emotional learning. If you are unable to attend these sessions and are interested in reviewing the curricula, please email Karin Jinbo ([email protected]). For information, please see this webpage.
Graham Musical: The Pirates of Penzance Jr - Volante
Raise the anchor and prepare to set sail as Graham Middle School presents The Pirates of Penzance Jr! You can see the show on March 21st and 22nd at 7:30 pm and March 23th at 2:00 pm at the Graham Middle School Auditorium. Join us for this classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, a hilarious, rollicking adventure with something for everyone -- Leap Year misunderstandings, the dynamic love of Frederic and Mabel, the Major General's classic pattersong, and of course, piracy. Join us, and you're guaranteed to have a great time! Tickets are available for purchase here.
MVWSD is updating its math curriculum
As typical with our curriculum cycles, it’s time to review and improve our mathematics program to ensure all students have strong learning opportunities, including acceleration if desired.
MVWSD is launching a two-year process to update math curriculum based on the latest research and best practices for math education. Our math curriculum was last adopted in 2015, and math placement criteria hasn’t been updated since 2021-22. To make this process inclusive, we’re seeking input from students, staff, and parents on math curriculum, instruction, pathways, assessments, and placement.
Please join the upcoming ThoughtExchange to share your thoughts from March 26 – April 4. This online survey will be open to all staff, parents, and students in grades 4-8. Additionally, there will be focus groups for more in-depth discussions with staff, students and parents. Your input matters!
Crittenden Musical: Willy Wonka Jr.
The delicious adventures of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation by Crittenden Middle School of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of fun new songs, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR. is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone's sweet tooth. The show will run from Mar 28th - Mar 30th. Purchase digital tickets here or at the door 30 minutes before the show.
District Film Festival: April 1
Please join us for the third annual District Film Festival, "Spotlight on Solutions," at 6:30 pm on April 1 at the Graham Middle School Auditorium. All students in grades K-8 were eligible to enter short films that explore real-world problems and showcase inspiring solutions. During the festival, the films that are selected as finalists will be screened and awards given. We are excited to see the results of students and their teachers implementing research, science and technology for this important issue. Please RSVP at this link.
MVEF SPRING GALA - JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 06:00-10:00 pm | Los Altos Community Center
This year, we are celebrating a big milestone - 40 years of MVEF - A Celebration of Eras! Empowering Students from Gen X to Gen Alpha.
Over the past 40 years, MVEF has made a lasting impact by collecting over $20M of funds, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone while continuing to provide vital resources for our local schools and students.
This lively community building event includes dinner, silent and live auctions, DJ, raffle and student performances!
GET YOUR GALA TICKETS WHILE THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
Get your Early Bird ($140) or First Time Attendee ($125) tickets here until March 25th!
General Admission Tickets will go up to $165 after March 25th.
LAST CALL FOR AUCTION ITEMS AND HOST AUCTION PARTIES!
Do you have a vacation home? Do you like throwing parties for kids or adults? Do you have extra tickets for a concert or event? Do you have extra wine bottles to donate?
This annual event usually raises over 10% of our annual fundraising goal of $1.2M to support programs across MVWSD.
Great auction donations include:
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Vacation home stays
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Themed party experiences for adults or kids
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Event tickets (sports, concerts, etc.)
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Bottles of wine for the "wine wall"
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Professional Services
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Merchandise, etc.
Donate Gala auction items here. We appreciate your support!
PTA News
Upcoming Events:
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3/26 – PTA Association Meeting (8:30-9:30am on Zoom)
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3/26 – The Habit Dine Out Fundraiser (4-9pm)
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4/17 – International Festival (5-7pm)
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End of April – Talent show
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4/28 - 5/2 – Scholastic Book Fair
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5/4 – MVWSD Chess Tournament
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5/16-17 – Family Campout, details to come
Read-a-thon Week
📚Thank you to all who made our Readathon week a success– the many guest readers (Vargas parents and community leaders), teachers who read so many great stories during the Family Reading Night, hot chocolate helpers, planning team Sourobh and Kim, and all the students who worked so hard to log minutes. We are still logging the minutes, results to come soon!
Next PTA Association Meeting - March 26th (8:30am on Zoom)
Mark your calendars for the next PTA Association Meeting, which is happening virtually Wednesday, March 26th, from 8:30-9:30 am. Zoom link registration here. Log on and hear from the principal and hear how you can support the many upcoming activities of the PTA.
Habit Burger Dine Out Fundraiser - March 26th, 4-9pm - Flyer here
Our next dine-out fundraiser is coming up on Wednesday, March 26th, between 4-9pm at The Habit Burger (1040 Grand Road, Suite 370, Mountain View). Show the flyer at the register or use the code “Giveback,” when ordering on habitburger.com, app, or in-restaurant kiosks. Give yourself a break from cooking and dine out for a great cause!
International Festival - April 17, 5-7pm
An international festival is a celebration that showcases diverse cultures, traditions, and cuisines, bringing people from different backgrounds together to experience and learn about each other's heritage. You can showcase games (activity), music, dance, books, food, art, and crafts from your country allowing attendees to immerse themselves in different cultures.
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We are looking for people to help join our planning team for the International Festival! If interested or have ideas to share, please email Jennifer C ([email protected])
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To sign-up to participate (either hosting or helping with a table) or to bring a dish for the potluck, sign-up here: https://forms.gle/oXy27m8ErMx7yRmh9
New session of afterschool classes starting soon!
https://enrichment.bayareachess.com/JAVargas25Spring
Kimberly Cheng, and the Executive Board
[email protected]
From Our Community Partners
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: How to Find the Right College
Join MVLA Parent Ed on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 PM at the MVHS Spartan Theatre (3535 Truman Avenue) for an insightful presentation on “How to Find the Right College”. A panel of four experts in college recruiting, applications, and admissions will share valuable strategies for identifying great programs and reducing the stress of the application process. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert advice and make informed decisions about your college search. Register for this free event here.
City of Mountain View Nature Photography Contest, Earth & Arbor Day 2025 - Flyer
The City of Mountain View is excited to announce the launch of the second annual
Earth & Arbor Day Nature Photography Contest! Submit your photograph that depicts the beauty, biodiversity, and resilience of the environment in and around Mountain View. The Earth and Arbor Day photo contest is open to all Mountain View community members, including people who live, go to school, and work in the City and their families. Submit your photo by April 1 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to submit, visit https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/photocontest.