Quetzal News
Gabriela Mistral's News October 7, 2020
Ms. O's Message
Good afternoon Quetzal Families!
Today, I would like to share with you Mistral’s Growth Mindset endeavour. This week, I talked to our students about the power of attitude and words. I will continue to talk about a growth mindset during the month of October, and I need your help. I am hoping you could support us at home with a common message. We want our students to develop and maintain a positive, growth mindset. And, how can we do that? We can be role models and show to our students that talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and input from others. We want our students to learn that success is a result of consistent effort and perseverance. Our students should embrace challenges and persist through obstacles. According to Dr. Carol S. Dweck, “a person with a growth mindset, believes that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” On the other hand, a fixed mindset, people have a set amount of talent or intelligence that can’t change.
Here are some words we can practice at home and in distance learning that promote growth mindset:
“Hard work leads to success”
“We learn from our mistakes.”
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
“Build your brain muscle by working hard!”
“Thinking is like giving your brain a workout.”
“When your work gets hard, you start learning.”
Thank you for being partners in promoting a growth mindset for all our Quetzals!
Planning to have your children out for a few days?
If you are planning to have your children out for a few days and need to request an independent study plan (ISP), please remember that our teachers need to be notified a week in advance (five school days). It’s important to know that: the request needs to be approved by the principal, there is a maximum of 15 days a year for an independent study plan, and assignments need to be completed and returned to school the day you come back in order for credits to be applied for the work. Please send an email to Daena Armenta at darmenta@mvwsd.org and to your teacher if you need to request an ISP.
Perimeter Control - What is and Why is it important?
Join Dr. Westover, MVWSD’s Chief Business Officer, this Tuesday, October 13 at 4pm, for our community meeting. Dr. Westover will talk about perimeter control. The planned fencing is intended to help secure the school buildings and fields where the children play from unscreened members of the public. Increasing security at all school sites in the District was part of Measure T and was expedited due to COVID. Please join us at the Zoom meeting at http://mvw.sd/CaMi (Registration required).
Strategic Plan 2027
As you know, MVWSD is working on a new Strategic Plan. Our community will have the opportunity to provide input during our School Site Council (SSC) and English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) next week. Please join us. Your opinion matters!
School Site Council meeting on October 15th at 5pm.
ELAC meeting on October 15th at 6pm.
Have a great week!
Ms. Olaciregui
Principal
Upcoming Events
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm: 3rd-5th Gr Materials distribution
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Q&A Check-in with Ms. O (Zoom Link here )
October 8, 2020
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: 2nd/3rd grade make up cafecito with Ms O (pre-register here)
October 12, 2020
- Recess Day - NO SCHOOL
October 13, 2020
- 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Mistral/Castro Community Meeting on fences (Pre-Register here )
October 15, 2020
October 30,2020
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Kinder distribution (hosted by Kinder teachers)
District News
Parent University: Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine
Kids are online more than ever in this post-COVID world, with increased use of digital technology for academics, entertainment, and social connection.
Join My Digital TAT2 for a highly engaging and informative webinar at the MVWSD Parent University event on Wednesday, October 7th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Hear how young people are affected by the latest news, trends, and data from the world of technology. Get tips and strategies for how to teach responsibility and balanced and healthy use of the internet and social media.
NEW ZOOM LINK (no registration required)
Recommended for all adults who support youth and want to learn thoughtful and supportive ways to navigate media with children. For more information about My Digital TAT2 and their mission, please visit: www.mydigitaltat2.org
How you can protect yourself from COVID: Hand washing
Washing your hands is the single most effective way you can protect yourself from germs, like the COVID-19 virus. Our MVWSD school nurse Jennifer gives important tips in this video: https://vimeo.com/464378808. Please review and practice with your family.
“Enriching the Learning Experience” Symposium
The Santa Clara County Office of Education Parent Engagement team is pleased to announce our FREE virtual event "Enriching the Learning Experience: Vision for 2020 and Beyond" which will be held from 10:00am to Noon on Saturday, Oct 17 and 24, 2020. Together with 6th District PTA, we are putting together a Parent Engagement symposium for parents, students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and liaisons to focus on student success. We have lined up a number of dynamic speakers and 10 workshops each day of the symposium. Here's a sneak peak of our workshops:
Dr. Joyce Epstein, professor of education and director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University. She has over one hundred fifty publications, including School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, 4th edition (2019). Her Keynote will address school administrators in the area of parent engagement and her Workshop will address teachers and how they can involve parents in homework.
Ruby Ibarra, local bay area COVID-19 researcher and hip-hop recording artist. Her Keynote will address parents and share her inspiring story of how to channel obstacles into opportunities. She will present a Spoken Word Writing Workshop for students!
Gene Luen Yang, graphic novelist of American Born Chinese, Secret Coders, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Superman. In 2016, he was the Library of Congress's 5th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; he was also the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in that same year. His workshop for teachers will address adopting a rich, diverse reading curriculum for the classroom.
A Financial Literacy Workshop series “Understanding Debt and How to Improve Your Credit Score,” “Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis,” and “Learning the Value of a Dollar” by Excite Credit Union will give good money management tips for students and adults alike.
Registration is open! Visit “Enriching the Learning Experience” event Website to see all 10 workshop descriptions, speaker bios, and registration form.
Together We Are a Better MVWSD: Together We Are a Better MVWSD: National Coming Out Day
Mountain View Whisman School District embraces its role in establishing its commitment to equity in our district. As part of our "Together We Are a Better MVWSD" series, here is October's topic:
Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or an ally, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBTQ+ equality this Coming Out Day! Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality. Inspired by National Coming Out Day on October 11th, this month’s calendar provides resources for the MVWSD community around the topic of LGBTQ+ and gender identities. Developmentally appropriate lesson plans have been provided for teachers, while articles and parenting guides appear this month in the parent section of the calendar. Check out the literature section at the bottom of the calendar for age-appropriate literature to support your discussions in school and at-home.
For a look at this month's graphic, please see attached flyers or https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Wednesday, October 14th
You can change the life of a student!
Come learn about volunteer opportunities to Mentor high school students and Tutor students in grades K-8 in our Mountain View and Los Altos schools. Becoming a Mentor or Tutor will add joy to your life and help a student in our local community to a brighter future! There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer. You're welcome to just come and learn more about what we do.
Please note: Our programs are currently remote and will remain so until students are back in school and the school district permits volunteers in the classroom
All volunteers must be high school graduates.
Date: Wednesday, October 14th
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Location: Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register: REGISTER ONLINE:
Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org
Information: MentorTutorConnection.org
Free Student Meals: *New* Pick up meals for multiple days
Free meals are again available to all children in the Mountain View Whisman School District age 18 and younger. No IDs required.
Daily breakfast and lunch at all schools, except Stevenson (pickup for Stevenson is at Theuerkauf). Times: 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the elementary schools. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the middle schools.
Come to Graham Middle School between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to pick up meals for multiple days. Food items will be different from what is served during daily pickups. On Monday: Pick up for four days. On Friday: Pick up for three days.
Walk, drive or roll up to grab a free meal and go! For menus and information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition.MVEF news
Did you know that your donations to MVEF support CSMA art and music for your student?
Fifth grade art and music started on 9/23! TK-4 art and music started the week before! All TK-4th students will have virtual art and music classes led by a teacher from CSMA. This year 5th grade students chose instrumental music or art with CSMA. We thank the CSMA teachers for sharing their engaging and FUN talents as well as filling a need for creativity and active learning on Zoom.
MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. Please see the website at https://www.mvef.org/ for more information and to donate online. Please consider joining our team of volunteers or emailing us with any questions at contact@mvef.org. Thank you for your support!
October CAC Events
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com or check out www.selpa1cac.org
October 7, 7 - 9 PM - College with Mental Health, Learning or Developmental Challenges with Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer. Dr. Leventhal-Belfer, PhD is the author of, “College on the Autism Spectrum“. Contact selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com for Zoom link.
October 13, 10 am - Parent Chat - Support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. A great place for help and support for challenges with your teens. Please contact trudy.palmer@me.com for Google Meet invite.
October 14, 7 pm - Evening Let’s Talk - IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Please contact selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com for the Zoom link for this meeting.
October 19, 7:30 pm - Decoding Dyslexia meeting on Zoom. Melissa Baten Caswell, PAUSD board trustee and parent of dyslexic child. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-iprDgiGtNHAaoHhQzOLq_q8qMjndCW
October 24 10am - 12 pm - IEP Goals & Progress Monitoring Webinar Presented by Disability Rights California and organized by Palo Alto CAC. Topics: – IEP Process -Your Rights at an IEP Meeting -Goals & Objectives – FAPE and LRE -Related Services -Assistive Technology -Transition Services/Vocational Services Zoom link at cacpaloalto.org