Quetzal News
September 30, 2021
From Ms. O's Desk...
Dear Quetzal Families,
Happy end of September! This has been a great month at Gabriela Mistral! Our students are back on an academic routine, and our school procedures and structures are in place. It is always a pleasure to work with such an amazing community of dedicated teachers, hard working staff, cooperating parents, and enthusiastic learners. As we come to the end of this month, let's look at ideas on how to teach our children about responsibility:
Set Expectations
Make a chores list
Allow choices
Trust your child
Let there be consequences for their actions; don’t protect them
Reward them (with words, actions, quality time, experiences)
Provide opportunities for volunteering
Help them set up goals
Allow them to join groups (Girl/Boy Scouts)
Respect their personality
We want to thank all of our candidates for School Site Council. Please continue joining us at our meetings. Your voice, questions, and guidance is greatly appreciated. I want to officially announce our new SSC committee: Dara Tynefield, Joey Mercer, Miriam Hernandez, Liliana Camacho, and Shannon Wilkowski. I look forward to working with you this school year!
I look forward to seeing you all at our Cafecito con Ms. O, on Tuesday, October 5, at 6pm. Please register.
Next week we are starting our Covid Pooled Testing at our school site. On Tuesday, we will have our piloting testing process that will include one class per grade level. We are planning to have our entire school testing in mid October. Please click here for a video that will help you understand our process.
Parents can now upload to PowerSchool the important COVID documents that will help expedite students’ return to school after a COVID exposure. After logging in to https://ps.mvwsd.org/public, you will be able to click
on the “COVID reporting” icon to upload:
1. students’ proof of COVID vaccination and
2. Past positive COVID test. Here’s how to upload.
Please call our office (650) 526-3575 if you have trouble accessing PowerSchool.
We count on you continuing to be safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance, and get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so. Have a great rest of your week!
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal
Calendar
October 5, 2021
- Principal Coffee with Ms. O (6:00pm-7:00pm) Link
October 10-11, 2021
- NO SCHOOL (Teacher in service day)
October 18, 2021
- Picture retakes
October 21, 2021
- ELAC Meeting (6:00pm-7:00pm)
District News
Board meeting Preview: Oct. 7
The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. Some of the meeting’s topics include:
Equitable Access to Choice Schools
Learning Recovery Plan Update
Enrollment Update
ESSER III Expenditure Plan and Safe Return Plan
Agenda and meeting details are: http://mvw.sd/c54jS. The meeting is also streamed on www.youtube.com/mvwsd.
Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Oct. 8 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/sZD6Z. To plan ahead, please see this webpage for upcoming meeting dates: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/communications/news___events/connecting_with_the_community. In case you miss it, a video recording will be posted on this webpage.
Free Tdap vaccination clinic for grades 6-8 on Wednesday
Has your middle school student been vaccinated for Tdap? Vaccination for tetanus, diphtheria & pertussis (Tdap) is required by 7th grade in order to attend school.
For the convenience of parents, the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health is hosting a FREE Tdap vaccine event:
Wednesday, Oct. 6
4-7 p.m.
at the Crittenden Middle School multi-use room
The vaccine is available regardless of immigration status. No insurance needed. For more information on immunizations needed for school, please see https://www.shotsforschool.org
Parent University: Supporting Math at Home Grades 3-8
Date and Time: October 13, 2021, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu101321
Join Principal Heidi Galassi (former math teacher and coach), Instructional Coach Ranen Bhattacharya, and our friends from YUP, the on-demand online math tutoring app, to learn about how you can better support your young mathematicians at home. The math seed you plant now will blossom and help them to succeed in life whatever path they choose!
To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
Note: While the title indicates that this will focus on students in grades 3-8, everyone is welcome to attend. Please also check out last year’s math-related Parent University event, which focused more on supporting the lower grades: Video (English) // Presentation slides (English)
COVID updates: Testing and PowerSchool uploads
Upcoming testing: Full-scale COVID pooled testing for students is coming this month. Please check your email for important information on this topic from MVWSD. Click here for a video showing what student testing will look like.
PowerSchool Uploads: Parents, please take a moment now to upload to PowerSchool the important COVID documents that will help expedite students’ return to school after a COVID exposure. After logging in to https://ps.mvwsd.org/public, parents will be able to click on the “COVID reporting” icon to upload 1) students’ proof of COVID vaccination and 2) Past positive COVID test. Here’s how to upload. Let us know if you have trouble accessing PowerSchool.
Better Together: Seeking Multiple Perspectives (flyers attached to email on 10/4)
The focus of October’s Better Together infographic is “Seeking Multiple Perspectives.” When individuals examine issues from a different point of view, they are able to think more critically and question dominant beliefs. Please see the graphics attached to this newsletter, or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.
Online Wellness Center and October Wellness calendar
MVWSD now has a Virtual Wellness Center on mvwsd.org. At https://www.mvwsd.org/wellness, there is information on physical health, as well as resources for families, students, and employees about sustaining well-being and for accessing care when it is needed.
On the Virtual Wellness Center landing page, you will find Community Resources and monthly Wellness Calendars. The printable October wellness calendar features a tip a day to help you and your family stay well.
In the Physical Health section: Health Screenings, Teen Health Education, Vaccinations, Health Insurance for Children, Health Resources and Forms, as well as various other physical health related information.
In the Mental Health section: Info on immediate mental health crisis needs, mental health literacy, and information on how to take charge of your mental health
No school for students on October 11 and 12
Monday, October 11th is a recess day (no school for students and staff). Tuesday, October 12th is a staff development day, which means no school for students but a staff development/work day for teachers, school secretaries and 12-month classified staff.
Up the effectiveness of kids’ COVID masks
MVEF Relies on Parents Like You!
Please donate to MVEF to help us reach our annual $800,000 fundraising goal and raise an additional $300,000 to fund two ELA teachers to reduce class sizes at the middle schools in 2022-23. Please see the website at mvef.org for more information and to donate online. You can use your credit card to pay in monthly installments.
Disaster Preparedness: Make a Plan
It’s important to take time to prepare for community disasters and emergencies. Asking a few questions of yourself will help guide the creation of an emergency plan:
How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
What is my shelter plan?
What is my evacuation route?
What is my family/household communication plan?
Have I updated my emergency plans due to COVID-19?
As you make your emergency plan, be sure to stay informed. Getting verified information from trusted sources is extremely important before, during, and after an event or emergency. Sign up to get free text or email alerts from AlertSCC, the County of Santa Clara’s official emergency alert and warning system.
Planning for the unexpected begins with the whole family and should be a household conversation. Ready.gov provides age-appropriate tools for parents and teachers to teach emergency preparedness to both kids and teenagers.
SMART Goals - Creating and Troubleshooting IEP Goals that Work (flyers attached to email on 10/4)
IEP Goals are written in very specific language and it can be difficult to see how the goals relate to concrete skills and goals for your child. Learn more about SMART Goals and how they work with Professor Anne Spillane of University of Massachusetts Global.
What: Parent Education Event and Discussion
When: Tuesday, October 19, 7-8:30 PM
Where: On Zoom, email selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com for link
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Thursday, 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.
All volunteers must be high school graduates.
Date: Thursday, October 14th
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register: REGISTER ONLINE
Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org
Information: MentorTutorConnection.org
Eviction Help Center at MV Public Library (flyer attached to email on 10/4)
The City of Mountain View hosts a help center at the MV Public Library with city staff, CSA, and Project Sentinel to provide residents with rent assistance, eviction help, legal resources, and other support services. There are multiple representatives that speak Spanish. The help center is available every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Mountain View Public Library on the 2nd Floor, Room 205. For more information, contact mvrent@mountainview.gov or visit mountainview.gov/COVID19HousingRelief.
MV Public Library Event: Learn + Explore with Science Comics Author Jason Viola
On Tuesday, Oct. 12 from 1-2 p.m., join the MV Public Library for an interactive look at how Science Comics are made with graphic novel author Jason Viola. Recommended for children ages 7-12. Registration required: mountainview.gov/librarycalendar.