Quetzal News
Gabriela Mistral's News March 10, 2021
Ms. O's Message
Dear Quetzal Families,
For some of us, this week marks the anniversary of a year of the Pandemic. As we know, this has been very difficult for all of us, and we have faced many challenges. However, the strength, resilience, perseverance, and hardworking spirit of this community have brought us to Return to Learn, with the hopes of a better tomorrow. Together, we have accomplished so much in spite of the many hurdles we have encountered. Take some time today to look back and reflect on what you and your family have accomplished and celebrate! Smile, breath, and remember that we ARE stronger together.
We are in the final stages of preparing to welcome students back to campus! As we begin our phased return to campus on March 18th, students will be assigned one of the following schedules:
Cohort A: Students come two days a week (Monday and Tuesday Roomies), and the rest of the week are at home: Wednesday Asynchronous; Thursday and Friday Zoomies
Cohort B - Students come two days to school (stay at home on Monday and Tuesday Zoomies); Wednesday Asynchronous and they come to school on Thursday and Friday Roomies
Cohort C - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday students are Roomies (4 days at school); Wednesday Asynchronous
Cohort D - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday students are Zoomies (5 days at home); Wednesday Asynchronous
This is a very exciting time of the year for all of us! I want to thank all of our school staff for their hard work, resilience, and dedication to EXCELLENCE in education. Please join our Principal Coffee on Monday to learn more about the Return to Learn logistics. We will go over the plan and have time to answer questions. Please remember that tomorrow, March 12, and Tuesday, March 16, students will have asynchronous days (teacher check in at 8:30am). These two days will allow our teachers to prepare for Hybrid Learning. I want to thank you all for your support and patience during this transition. Monday there is no school for students. This is a Teacher Service Day, and our staff will be attending professional development.
Finally, I want to thank our PTA and the Read-a-thon Team! I am looking forward to an amazing reading experience for our students. Please encourage your child to be part of this and support their reading experience at home. Starting Saturday, March 13, teachers will start tracking students’ reading progress.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Bienginspiredchannel.com
Respectfully,
Claudia Olaciregui
Principal
Upcoming Events
March 11, 2021
March 15, 2021
- Parent Reopening Meeting K-2 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom Link)
- Parent Reopening Meeting 3-5th Gr 6:00-7:00pm (Zoom Link)
- NO SCHOOL -Teacher in service day
March 26, 2021
- School Spirit Day - Heroes Day
School fields and playgrounds
You can help keep students and staff safe, and our school open. Please:
* Enter campus at designated entry points (at the office) for check in, hand sanitizing and health screenings, even if it’s a longer walk to the front.
* Remember no parents on campus after students are checked in
* Remind your neighbors that school fields are closed during school days
For everyone’s safety - especially during COVID - we need to keep our schools secure. Thanks in advance for your understanding and help with this.
District News
Just published: 2021-22 school year calendar
The Board of Trustees approved the 2021-22 school year calendar. Please click here to view and download it. https://www.mvwsd.org/calendar/school_district_calendar_at_a_glance
Better Together MVWSD presents the Talk: Courageous Conversations about Equity
“COVID-19 and the Lasting Impact on our LatinX Community”
Date: Wednesday, Mar. 10, 6 p.m. on Zoom: http://mvw.sd/LatinX
The Latinx community has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us for a panel discussion with parents and Latinx community leaders about how this has personally affected families and students and how individuals can be true allies to their LatinX neighbors or others who are suffering through this pandemic without perpetuating harmful stereotypes or practices.
Panelists:
Sophie Alcorn, Attorney in Immigration and Nationality Law, Alcorn Immigration Law
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal at Mistral Elementary
Malia Pires, Executive Director, Reach Potential Movement
José Gutiérrez, Former MVWSD Board member
Priscila Bogdanic, School and Community Engagement Facilitator, MVWSD
For more information about how MVWSD is working to support equity in our community, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
MVWSD Read Aloud: Storytime with the District Office Staff
Friday, March 12th from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Who doesn’t like a good read aloud story on a Friday evening? March is National Reading Month and we would like to invite you and your family to join some of the MVWSD District staff members for a virtual storytime/ read-aloud with our community. We will be discussing the importance of this month and reading books aloud together.
Register at: http://mvw.sd/read
MVWSD is on Instagram!
Follow us on Instagram @mvw.sd to stay connected and updated with all that is going on in the district!
Parent University: Wellness For All While Experiencing Changes
Date: Wednesday, March 17 at 5:30pm Register here: http://mvw.sd/VbH07
As we prepare for transitions and changes to our routine, join district Health and Wellness Coordinator Karin Jinbo and our partners from CHAC and the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health on a journey of self-awareness as we learn about self regulation, mindfulness and self care activities. Participants will receive activities or strategies to support children with Hybrid Learning and 100% Distance Learning.
Submit your questions before the session here: http://mvw.sd/vCG5V
Substitute teachers and noon duty supervisors needed
MVWSD is seeking substitute teachers. Please consider this flexible, fun, dynamic work that has a big impact on our students!
We have increased the full-day substitute teacher rate from $170 to $220 per day (From March 5 to June 4, 2021) for any substitute who will commit to working daily in the Mountain View Whisman School District. We appreciate your commitment to our students and community, especially in this time of COVID-19.
Requirements to become a substitute teacher:
* A Bachelor’s Degree
* Pass the CBEST test
* Substitute permit or a valid California teaching credential.
* Complete required background check. This can be done by appointment in the MVWSD Human Resources Department.
* A negative tuberculosis test
You may apply online: http://mvw.sd/sub. For information, please email Noemi Herrera at nherrera@mvwsd.org.
Interested in a fun and flexible job while connecting with kids? MVWSD is looking for people interested in working a couple hours during lunchtime as noon duty supervisors. We need you to help us provide safe, consistent supervision of students during recess and lunch periods. $22/hour. Please apply here: http://mvw.sd/noon.
MVWSD seeks parents & staff members for Health and Wellness Committee
Committee and task force members lend perspective and expertise to important district work that benefits our students. Please consider serving on the Health and Wellness Committee. Applications are due by March 24 and found here: http://mvw.sd/health. More information is at https://www.mvwsd.org/about/committees.
Health and Wellness Committee: Task: To align District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment.
Interested applicants would have some experience, knowledge, or interest in the content as described above. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated representative per school site and 3 community-based organization representatives.
Time commitment is approximately one meeting a month during the school year, beginning in April, but is dependent on the work. Meetings are online during the 2020-21 school year.
Your Donations to MVEF at Work!
MVEF is proud to fund both (New!) sessions of the Rhythm and Moves Optional fitness classes at the elementary schools. We are also funding CSMA music and art, TechSmart, Living Classroom, and environmental education programs at the elementary level.
MVEF funds the Middle School Elective wheel including apps, music books, art supplies, robotics and TechSmart at both of the middle schools.
Thank you to all our Mountain View Educational Foundation donors for your support during this school year of remote learning! If you haven't donated yet this year, there is still time to donate to support the MVWSD schools right now. https://www.mvef.org/donate
Women’s History Month
In the month of March, we are celebrating Women’s History. BetterTogether recognizes the people, movements, and ideas that challenge expectations and gender stereotypes that negatively affect us all. From women’s suffrage to the gender equality movements of modern day, it has become clear that when we all fight gender inequality, we all win. Celebrate this month by having meaningful conversations with your students, your children, and your fellow s(heroes). In addition to the infographic, this month we will also be highlighting amazing women from our organization and learning about the s(heroes) that have inspired their own commitment to gender equality.
For a closer look at this month’s infographic, click on the attached flyers or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.
March Wellness Series for Educators and Families
Educators and families are invited to attend the free 2021 Wellness Together Spring Event Series, hosted by Wellness Together School Mental Health and the California Department of Education. Webinars will take place on Thursdays in March, and include topics such as social media usage, building emotional resilience, and parenting. For more information and registration, head to https://www.wellnesstogether.org/blogs/news/2021-wellness-together-spring-event-series?mc_cid=1cd9799b03&mc_eid=cd01a465eb.
Wolves of Yellowstone: Mountain View Public Library Event on Mar. 18
Join the Mountain View Public Library for a free Zoom talk on March 18th from 4:00 - 4:45 pm with wolf expert and author Rick McIntyre to learn about these mysterious creatures. For children ages 7-12, and registration is required at https://mountainview.libcal.com/event/7370162.
Spanish Storytime at Mountain View Public Library
The Mountain View Public Library will be hosting a virtual Spanish-only Storytime on Tuesdays from March 16 - April 20 from 10:00-10:30am. The program (for 3-5 year olds) will include stories, fingerplays, music and more. Zoom registration is at: mountainview.libcal.com/event/7550162
Groups for Spanish Speaking Parents
CHAC is offering two groups for Spanish Speaking Parents: one is a support group for women (Thursdays, 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and the other is a parenting class (Mondays, 6:30 to 8 p.m). Both groups are free, and take place over Zoom. See attached flyers for registration information.
PTA News
March 11: Day #1 PTA materials distribution 3 - 5pm
March 12: Day #2 PTA materials distribution 3 - 5pm