Quetzal News
Gabriela Mistral's News September 9, 2020
Ms. O's Message
Dear Quetzal Families,
According to Jaeda Dewalt, “When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of human experience”. I wanted to share this quote with you, because every time I zoom in a classroom or meet with our parents and students at our Cafecitos/Lemonade with Ms. O, all I see is a Quetzal community that is an example of resilience. It makes me very proud of our school, and what all of you have constructed. I want to invite you to continue being models of patience, dedication, and hard work.
This week, we have been working hard at our Mistral headquarters preparing our facilities for Stage 3. Eb, Daena, and our Noon Duties are working on designing and organizing our classrooms and furniture, so that students can be safe and healthy when they come to school. Our MOT (Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation) team has also supported our site with our sanitizing stations and movement of desks so that we can have our Beyond the Bell classrooms ready for our learners.
Our Teaching Team did an amazing job guiding and supporting our students during the administration of our iReady assessments. This week, we will complete our 1-5th grade English Language Arts and Math assessments, and our Kindergartens will complete their tests by September 18. The results will help us know where our students are, and our teachers can plan their virtual lessons to support their students’ needs. Thank you for your support during these days.
I am looking forward to our first ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee) and SSC (School Site Council) meeting tomorrow. You are all welcome to join us! Next week, on September 16th, I will hold our first Q & A Quetzal Session in case you have some questions in regards to your child’s distance learning experience. Here is the Zoom link for this event:
https://zoom.us/j/95622160646pwd=UWtYcFNVMnE1L1Z1U2tQZGp2cVZ3Zz09.
Have a peaceful and healthy week, and remember to practice our CDC (Center Disease Control and Prevention) helpful tips.
Respectfully,
Claudia Olaciregui
Principal
Upcoming Events
- 5:00pm - 6:00pm: SSC Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92299064841?pwd=QUg1K3FFNHBWZ2RnK0haUlJBYTBwQT09
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: ELAC Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91732369728?pwd=LzZUY0xTQmJScVdrYno1eUx4UUZnUT09
September 16, 2020
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm: Kinder coffee with Ms. O
https://zoom.us/j/96615485790?pwd=eFFWSnA5dm9RdTlaa1M0VjgvOUNDZz09
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Q & A session with Ms. O
https://zoom.us/j/95622160646?pwd=UWtYcFNVMnE1L1Z1U2tQZGp2cVZ3Zz09
September 23, 2020
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: General PTA meeting
District News
The free meal program has been extended! (flyers attached) During Distance Learning, free meals are again available to all children in the Mountain View Whisman School District age 18 and younger. No IDs required. Locations: 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. Walk, drive or roll up to grab a free meal and go! Parents should continue to go here https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ to apply for free or reduced price meal benefits through the National Lunch Program, if needed.
Join the MVWSD conversation: Distance Learning: What's working?
We’re now up to 1200 thoughts so far in our online conversation about Distance Learning. Now that we've been distance learning for several weeks due to COVID-19, in your opinion, what’s working well and what are our areas of improvement?
Before Thursday, Sept 17: Please take some time to participate or rejoin the conversation to star thoughts entered since you were there last. You may participate in this exchange by clicking on this link: http://mvw.sd/TE. Translation is available in multiple languages. Your input will help us further improve and refine our plans as we move into the future.
Distance Learning tip: How can I set sound alerts so that my student doesn’t miss a class meeting?
To have sound, Chromebook users will need to make sure their Google Calendar settings are set correctly. The instructions below will show how to change the notification setting.
- Go to the following page: calendar.google.com/calendar/r/settings
- On the left side of the page under "General" choose "Event Settings"
- Make sure the "Notifications" are set to "Desktop Notifications" and that the play notification sounds button is checked.
This should have the calendar play sound when events trigger.
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents: Jeff Selingo on "Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside the College Admissions Process" on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2020 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | Live Online | Zoom
Join us for an insightful evening with journalist and higher education expert Jeff Selingo, as he dispels entrenched notions about the college admissions process.
While many have long believed that college admissions decisions are driven largely by merit, Jeff presents a more complicated truth. Embedded in three distinctly different admissions offices — a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus — Jeff closely observed college admission officers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions.
Based on a year of reading applications and sitting through committee meetings where up and down votes were taken, Jeff reveals what really matters to the gatekeepers and how their ultimate decisions are often based on a college’s priorities. Following interviews with students, testing agencies, marketers, and ranking organizations, Jeff also shares practical advice and helpful strategies for navigating the confusing, chaotic, and often-times stressful college application process.
Audience: High school parents and students; teachers and counselors
Register: To register for this free event, go to https://mvla2020-21-jeffselingo.eventbrite.com
Book: Jeff's new book, Who Gets In and Why, will be released Sept. 15th and is available with free shipping from Books, Inc. Jeff is generously offering our community a 30% discount + free shipping for pre-orders made directly through him. If interested, use code MVLA30.
Event Login: We will send the Zoom link via Eventbrite email, Thursday afternoon, October 1st.
If you have not used Zoom before, please make sure to allow a few extra minutes before the event to download the free Zoom app.
Sponsored by Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), MVLA High School Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF), and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
Public hearing on Sept. 17: Sufficient instructional materials
A public hearing will be held in order to comply with Ed Code section 60119 on September 17, 2020 to detail the extent to which textbooks and instructional materials were provided to all students, including English Learners.
The definition of “sufficient textbooks or instructional materials” means that each pupil has textbooks or instructional materials, or both to use in class and to take home in each of the following subjects:
• Mathematics
• Science
• History/Social Science
• Language Arts
The public hearing on September 17, 2020 at 7:00pm will be held during the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. To view details about accessing the meeting either online or by phone, please click on the September 17 agenda link on this webpage: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/board_of_trustees/board_meetings
Track your student's online activities at home with Securly
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 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.
Please Support Our Students and Teachers!
MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. We hope you saw the MVEF brochure with your school supplies or watched the video during Back to School. 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!MV Parent U on Sept. 9: Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy
Join us on Wednesday, September 9 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for our next Parent University event: Increasing Student Engagement with Literacy from Home.
MVWSD Instructional Coaches Karen Gordon and Natalie Gallagher will share several resourceful strategies for supporting reading, writing, listening, and speaking at home during distance learning:
Easy activities to boost your child's reading engagement
Creative ways to encourage and support writing using four text types (expository/informative, narrative, opinion, argumentative)
Fostering listening skills to be able to extract key information
Cultivating speaking skills using academic vocabulary
Tips to prepare your child for ELPAC testing
Parent University videos are now on our website!
Did you miss the latest Parent University event? Do you want to review the materials that were presented? Videos and materials are now in English and Spanish on the Parent University website at http://www.mvwsd.org/parent/parent_university
Latest uploads: Mental Health Resources and Distance Learning Support
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - September 10th
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 they we do.
Please note: Mentor Tutor programs are currently remote, and they 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: Thursday, September 10th
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Location: Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register: REGISTER ONLINE
Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org
Information: MentorTutorConnection.org