Quetzal News
Gabriela Mistral's News September 15, 2021
From Principal Olaciregui's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families
This week is very important for many cultures and Jewish families! Today we celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day and yesterday we celebrated the independence of five countries in Central America. We also start Hispanic Heritage month, and our Jewish families observe Yom Kippur Day. I wanted to make sure we all remember these important days as an inclusive community.
As an educator, I wanted to share what I learned from a parent yesterday. Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday that is observed from sundown on Wednesday to sundown on Thursday. It is considered the holiest day in the year for Judaism. This Jewish holiday is about thinking and self reflection. We don’t wish our Jewish community a “happy Yom Kippur”. It is actually a day of atonement, and Jews spend the day fasting and reflecting. As I analyze this, I think of it as a Catholic Holy Friday. I am very grateful for learning more about this today! So, even though you are not Jewish, you can acknowledge the holiday and tell them, “may you be sealed in the book of life.”
I was reminded by another parent yesterday that it was the Independence Day for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. Let’s celebrate the independence of these countries! Hispanic Heritage month kicks off every 15th of September, the day five central American countries declared their independence from Spain. In the United States, we celebrate the contributions the Hispanic community has made to this country. Today, we also celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day! May we all have a joyful, fun, and cultural holiday!
I want to thank all of our parents who have been our volunteer heroes during arrival and dismissal time. You are amazing! I also want to thank all the members of our community who are running for our school site council. Please vote for your representatives by completing this form as soon as possible.
Take care, stay safe and have a great rest of your week!
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal
Up Coming Events
October 5, 2021
- Principal Coffee with Ms. O (6:00pm-7:00pm)
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
Parent University: Supporting Language Development
Date: Wednesday, September 15th 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu091521
Consistent development of language (reading, writing, speaking, listening) is one of the keys to a child’s overall academic success. What habits can parents develop to support English language development in the home, especially in a multilingual household? Join two of our district experts, Principal Arline Siam and Instructional Coach Karen Gordon, as they explore this complex topic and offer ideas for families to use daily.
To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
Securly: Keeping students safe on the Internet
MVWSD provides a tool that allows parents to be aware of their students' online activities and to help keep them safe on their school-issued devices.
Securly (www.securly.com/) allows you to see what choices your student is making online while at home so that you will be alerted to potential issues and can guide your student. Please note: Securly is for school-issued devices only. Check your email for these weekly reports, and you may also download the Securly app. For more information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/technology.
Returning District Hotspots
Families, if you still have a district-issued internet hotspot from last year that you are no longer using, please return them to your school’s office. Thank you.
Your donations to MVEF support Living Classroom!
Living Classroom had their first lessons September 7! Three of the lessons from the first week were Life Cycle of a Tomato at Mariano Castro, Garden Greetings and Animal Homes at Landels, Seed to Flour at Stevenson and Monta Loma.
And this summer a new native garden at Imai was created thanks to your donations to MVEF! Please go to mvef.org to learn more about all the programs we support in MVWSD and make your donation! mvef.org/donate
Register for 2021-22 Parent U Events
Register in advance for this year’s MVWSD Parent University events. For more information about Parent U and event dates, see attached flyers or head to www.mvwsd.org/parentu.InPlay: Afterschool activities
Looking for afterschool activities for your student? InPlay offers a free searchable program guide for parents, with filters for age, location, price (including free or reduced cost), and more. To find programs local to Mountain View, head to: https://www.inplay.org/r/mountain-view. Available programs include those that serve students with special needs or English learners.Mayor for a Day contest with City of Mountain View
Do you have an elementary or middle school-aged student who would like to be the mayor of Mountain View (at least, for one day in October)? The Mayor for a Day contest is an exciting opportunity for kids to learn about local government and civic issues.
Students are invited to write up to a 500-word essay about what Mountain View would be like if they were mayor for a day. Mountain View’s mayor will select the two winners, who will each present their essay at a City Council meeting in October.
For more details, including contest rules and how to submit your entry, visit MountainView.gov/MayorforaDay. All entries are due by Friday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
Discovery Education Hands-On STEM event: Tuesday, Sep. 21
You're invited to Discovery Education’s upcoming Hands-On STEM event on Tuesday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. PST! This action-packed virtual session empowers the next generation of STEM Solution seekers, equipping them with the skills they need to take on some of the planet's greatest sustainability challenges.
Join host Brandon Okpalobi, President of Siyanse, a STEM organization helping kids to create, think, and innovate. During each Hands-On STEM, Brandon will identify a local or global issue, explore why it's happening, introduce interesting people who are working to find solutions, and inspire your students to uncover their own potential with exciting hands-on STEM activities.
Register at: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/info/hands-on-stem-9-21-21/. If you have any questions about this event, reach out to Nina Sclafani at NSclafani@discoveryed.com.