Quetzal News
March 17, 2022
From Ms. O's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families,
Do you think you are lucky? Do you know of anyone who is lucky? Is there such thing as luck? One might wonder...Some people think they got lucky because the scored a goal. I would argue that this is not luck, but skills! So, for me, luck actually comes down to the ability to accomplish or have something that we want and matters to us. However, is that really luck? I disagree! Unless is winning the lottery, when we get what we want or accomplish something, is actually as a result of our skills. If we continuously practice a skill, then we will get very good at it, but some people like to call that luck. I would like to argue that luck is a product of hard work, a good mindset, and a positive perspective of what happens in your life. Buddhist believe that we are in control of our ultimate fate by taking control of our behaviors. If we do this, we create paths that will lead us to experiences that sometimes makes up feel lucky. In reality, it is a result of taking action, getting out of your comfort zone, and being resilient. So I guess this is a good opportunity to continue teaching our children how to be resilient and show examples of grit. Regardless of our believes, I hope you had a nice Saint Patrick's Day, and may the luck of the Irish be with you;)
We have some of our parents with volunteer's badges, and we had 4 chaperones help us with our first field trip to Pescadero with our 5th grade students. Thank you so much for your support with our students' education. We continue to rollout our volunteering opportunities, and as I mentioned in our Quetzal News last month, at Mistral, we are starting with volunteers for Project Cornerstone, Living Classrooms, and field trips. Once we move on to allowing volunteers in the classrooms, I will send the information to our community. If you need some support with fingerprinting, please reach out to me, and I will help with the process. More detailed information on the process coming up soon.
As some of you have heard from Dr. Rudolph, we have updated our COVID protocol guidelines. Starting this last Monday, wearing a mask outdoors is highly recommended, but not required. We continue to require indoor masking and monitor our numbers. As you know, maintaining our schools open and ensuring the safety of our community are our priorities. As part of our inclusive environment, we will continue to talk to our students about respecting other decisions and choices.
The Mistral Read-a-thon ends this Sunday. Friday: have your child wear their Mistral Read-a-thon t-shirt. Mark their progress on the back by checking off boxes for the number of minutes they’ve read with a permanent marker. On Monday, your child can turn in their tracking sheet to their teacher–be sure your child’s name and teacher are clear. Or take a picture of the tracking sheet (front and back) and email it to mistralptaevents@gmail.com. Full Read-a-thon instructions are available here: https://mistral-pta.org/readathon/
Have a great weekend, stay healthy and be safe!
Ms. Olaciregui, Principal
Calendar
March 17
- Spirit Day Wear Green Clothes
March 23
- PTA General Meeting @ 6 pm
March 29
- Cafecito with Principal O. @ 6 pm
March 30
- Parent Workshop - Session#3 @ 5:30 pm
- Lifetouch Spring Pictures
District News
Updated COVID guidelines
Due to falling case rates and updated public health guidance from the county and state, effective now, MVWSD has loosened some COVID restrictions. The most notable change is outdoor masking is recommended but will no longer be required. Masks will remain required indoors for now. Please see this webpage and the attached infographic for more details about the changes to COVID protocols.
Castro/Mistral
As part of the completion of our school’s solar panel installation, crews will be on site on 3/22-3/23 to plant four new trees, replacing those removed during the project, and to install irrigation near the new trees. For every tree removed, two more will be planted across the District. The majority of the new trees will be planted on the north side of the field near the blacktop. Solar structures will save the district $600,000 annually in electrical costs and have provided shade to the play and lunch areas.
March Better Together Infographic
When women succeed, we all succeed. The same can be said for any of our community members who have felt the sting of marginalization or oppression. On International Women’s Day, let us appreciate all of the women and girls in our lives and the many intersecting identities that make them who they are. Let us never stop fighting for a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. After all, we are #BetterTogether. Please see the graphics attached to this newsletter, or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.
Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Belly Breathing
Our mood is influenced by physical sensations in our body. When we feel stressed, we tend to take quick and shallow breaths. By taking slow and deep breaths, we can signal our body to relax.
Watch this video to learn more about how belly breathing can help your child (or you) feel more relaxed.
To belly breathe:
Choose a comfortable position, such as sitting on a chair or laying on your back.
Place one hand on your belly.
Take a deep breath in through your nose while you count to four. As you breathe in, your belly should rise.
Hold your breath while you count to five.
Breathe out through your mouth while you count to six. As you breathe out, your belly should flatten.
You may need to repeat these steps for 5-10 minutes before you start to feel relaxed. By practicing these steps, you can learn to relax after stressful situations.
Get your tickets to the MVEF Spring Gala “The Art of Words”
Join MVEF on Saturday, April 23 for a lively evening that includes dinner, fundraising, and trivia in support of our schools. Individual tickets are $125. (Reduced to $110 until March 20!) Join us from home with a single virtual login for trivia plus access to online fundraising for $50. Find more information at https://www.mvef.org/ or https://secure.qgiv.com/event/mvefgala/
March CAC Announcements
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com or check out www.selpa1cac.org
3/30 Wednesday 17-8:30 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. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrce6qrz8vGdNbIywjg1vppQq3tHwvruYI
SCCOE Career Exploration for Middle School Parents
Join the Santa Clara County Office of Education virtually on March 24th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.to explore future career options for your middle schooler. Parents will learn about the 15 Industry Sectors and the courses designed for career success, in addition to the Career Pathways at Santa Clara County High Schools and Community Colleges including Early College Credit. The session will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available. Registration for this free event: https://na.eventscloud.com/670621
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: Scott Schimmel, Tue. March 22
Join the MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series on Tuesday, March 22nd from 7:00 - 9:00pm for Scott Schimmel’s talk, “Critical Foundations: The questions every kid must answer to build a meaningful life.” In this interactive presentation, you will learn about the critical questions every kid must answer to build the three pillars of a meaningful life- identity, purpose, and belonging, reflect on your parenting style and make adjustments to what your kid(s) need now, and put together an actionable plan to more effectively engage your kids in discussion. Register for this free event (in-person at MVHS Spartan Theater) or the Live Stream.
MVHS Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk: March 18
MVHS Ambassadors have organized an Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk on Friday, March 18th, from 5:30-7:30 pm on the MVHS Track. The walk is inspired by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness program, and is being held to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention and to show community solidarity in our goal of becoming more supportive to those struggling with mental health issues. There will be speakers, performances, introductions to partnership agencies, and a lantern-lighting ceremony to close the event. Registration information: url.mvhs.io/outofdarkness.
LAHS Writers Week - Community Read event
From March 15-18, Los Altos High School is holding the 37th annual Writers Week event, which brings a diverse and inspiring lineup of writers, poets, and journalists to LAHS English classrooms. This year’s Community Read features New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman in discussion with a panel of LAHS students about his books. This event will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, March 16 at 6 p.m. Please RSVP via this Eventbrite link to be sent the Zoom information prior to the event. Read more about our other Writers Week visiting writers here: 2022 Writers Week.
MVHS Spartans Sports Camp: Registration Open
Spartans Sports Camp is proud to announce that registration for Summer Camp 2022 is now open. Camp will run Jun 13-July 29 this summer, and include sports, performing arts, and academic enrichment camps. Spartans Sports Camp is operated entirely by the MVHS Athletic Department and all proceeds go directly to support the sports programs at MVHS. For more information and registration, visit www.SpartansSportsCamp.com.