Quetzal News
Gabriela Mistral's News September 30, 2020
Ms. O's Message
Good afternoon Quetzal Families!
Happy Wednesday to all! I wanted to thank you for responding to our Learning Options Survey. We had 93% responses from our wonderful families!
Our Quetzal value for the week is resilience (the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties). I talked to our students this week about resilience, and how this value goes hand in hand with perseverance. Please talk to your child about the importance of being resilient and share with them some great examples in real life. As Steve Maraboli says, “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving; we get stronger and more resilient.”
I enjoyed our Monthly Cafecitos con Ms. O. I have scheduled a “make up” session for our Second/Third grade parents on Monday, October 5th @ 6pm. Please register at our Zoom link.
Some of us experienced internet connectivity issues during these last few weeks. When this occurs, please contact our office at (650) 526-3575 and let us know. Your child can continue working on their assignments on Google Classroom/Seesaw while the internet is back up and running.
This past weekend, our district began the process of developing a new Strategic Plan. MVWSD parents, staff, and the Board of Trustees met for a strategic planning session. This session is one of the many steps MVWSD is using to gather input for our Strategic Plan 2027. The group reviewed our district’s academic data as well as discussed potential goals and priorities for the next six years. It was a very rich conversation and was inspiring to imagine the possibilities for what we can achieve and accomplish, together! Our school communities will get opportunities to provide input in the upcoming days on the draft through SSC, ELAC, and Cafecitos with Ms. O. Please keep an eye out for them.
As parents, you will all have access to your child’s iReady Diagnostic results on October 1, 2020. You must’ve received an email from our Interim Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Swati Dagar. If you missed it in your inbox, below are instructions on how to access your child’s results. As always, contact us if you need assistance. Our school secretary, Daena Armenta, can be reached at at darmenta@mvwsd.org, and our School Community Engagement Facilitator, Eb Lopez at elopez@mvwsd.org. Either of them can help you with PowerSchool Parent Portal queries. You can always reach me at colaciregui@mvwsd.org for assistance understanding your iReady report.
Please join us at the Community Check-in meeting with Superintendent Dr. Rudolph this Friday at 3:30 p.m. You can register on this link. This is a good opportunity to hear district-wide updates on distance learning and Learning Options Survey.
Have a great week!
Ms. Olaciregui
Principal
Perimeter Control at Mistral
The District is in the process of planning to install perimeter controls around Castro/Mistral to keep students safe during the school day. The planned fencing is intended to help secure the school buildings and fields where the children play from unscreened members of the public. Increasing security at all school sites in the District was part of Measure T and was expedited due to COVID.
While we want to secure our campus, we also want to continue to share the fields and playgrounds with community members for use after school hours. Gates along the field will automatically unlock after school and remain unlocked during the weekends so the community has access for recreation. Like Crittenden Middle School field, the fences around the district fields have not impeded public access.
Dr. Rebecca Westover, MVWSD’s Chief Business Officer, will be holding a community meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 4-5 p.m to present information and to answer your questions. Please join us at the Zoom meeting at http://mvw.sd/CaMi (Registration required).
Material Distribution
K-2nd Gr: Please plan to come this coming Tuesday, October 6th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm
3rd – 5th Gr: Please plan to come this coming Wednesday, October 7th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm
· Kinder – 2nd Grade: Science Journal Unit 1, Crayons, Scissors
· 3rd Gr: Science Journal Unit 2, crayons, scissors
· 4th – 5th Gr: Science Journal Unit 2, Organizer box, Scissors
A staff member will greet you in front of our main office, and place the items in your trunk.
Upcoming Events
October 5, 2020
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: "make up" session Coffee/Tea with Ms. O (2nd/3rd Gr)
October 6, 2020
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm: K-2nd Gr Materials distribution
October 7, 2020
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm: 3rd-5th Gr Materials distribution
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Q&A Checkin with Ms. O (Zoom Link here )
October 12, 2020
- Recess Day - NO SCHOOL
October 13, 2020
- 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Mistral/Castro Community Meeting on fences (Pre-Register here )
October 15, 2020
- 5:00pm - 6:00pm: SSC Meeting
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm: ELAC Meeting
District News
Check-In with the Superintendent on Oct. 2
Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Oct. 2, 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/TIUcn
Free Student Meals: *New* Pick up meals for multiple days
Free meals are again available to all children in the Mountain View Whisman School District age 18 and younger. No IDs required.
Daily breakfast and lunch at 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.
Come to Graham Middle School between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to pick up meals for multiple days. Food items will be different from what is served during daily pickups. On Monday: Pick up for four days. On Friday: Pick up for three days.
Walk, drive or roll up to grab a free meal and go! For menus and information, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition.i-Ready
Your child recently completed his/her first i-Ready Math and Reading assessments. i-Ready is an online program that helps us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth in mathematics and reading. Teachers use this information to support instruction in core subjects for every student. Families can access their child’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score via their Powerschool Parent Portal starting October 1, 2020.
Please contact us at 650-526-3575 if you have any trouble accessing reports or send us an email.
Parent University: Raising Digitally Resilient Children and Teens during Quarantine
Kids are online more than ever in this post-COVID world, with increased use of digital technology for academics, entertainment, and social connection.
Join My Digital TAT2 for a highly engaging and informative webinar at the MVWSD Parent University event on Wednesday, October 7th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Hear how young people are affected by the latest news, trends, and data from the world of technology. Get tips and strategies for how to teach responsibility and balanced and healthy use of the internet and social media.
Click here to register for this event on Zoom.
Recommended for all adults who support youth and want to learn thoughtful and supportive ways to navigate media with children. For more information about My Digital TAT2 and their mission, please visit: www.mydigitaltat2.org
Together We Are a Better MVWSD: Hispanic Heritage Month (Flyers attached)
We are excited to announce that this month marks the beginning of a monthly offering towards MVWSD’s equity goals titled Together We Are a Better MVWSD. Each month you will receive an infographic in both English and Spanish that offers educational tools and community guidance inspired by a national diversity calendar. This month is National Hispanic Heritage Month.
You’ll see:
Lessons provided by grade level that are designed to be used by teachers to enhance work they are doing in the classroom.
Activities provided to parents, which are meant to help bridge the gap between lessons at school and conversations at home.
Organization spotlights to help us engage with our community and learn more about organizations doing equity work.
Children’s books by authors who have either the lived experience or scholarly background to contextualize this topic for children and adolescents.
Please see mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD
Distance Learning Tip
How can I help my child when I see him/her getting anxious and upset about distance learning?
Be proactive: When you see your child getting anxious, let him or her know that you notice he or she may be having a difficult time. Ask them if they would like a 2 minute break. Set a timer and then redirect him or her back to the session.
If the situation has already escalated, have your child use calming breathing exercises. Once he or she calms down, you can discuss what your child needs to do before going back to the session. He or she may need a drink of water, a snack or a two minute break.
You can use phrases such as: It seems like you’re having a hard time … I can imagine how difficult it must be… How can I help you?
MVEF news
Did you know that your donations to MVEF support CSMA art and music for your student?
Fifth grade art and music started on 9/23! TK-4 art and music started the week before! All TK-4th students will have virtual art and music classes led by a teacher from CSMA. This year 5th grade students chose instrumental music or art with CSMA. We thank the CSMA teachers for sharing their engaging and FUN talents as well as filling a need for creativity and active learning on Zoom.
MVEF raises money to provide all MVWSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. 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!
Mountain View Public Library presents “Sea Otters” (Flyer attached)
Mountain View Public Library presents “Sea Otters: Author Talk for Kids” (ages 7-12) on Wednesday Oct 14 - 4-4:30 pm. See attached flyer. Free. Sign-up at https://mountainview.gov/librarycalendar
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents: Jeff Selingo on "Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside the College Admissions Process" on Thursday, 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.
October CAC Events
SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com or check out www.selpa1cac.org
October 5, 9 am- General Parent/Community Meeting with Special Ed. Directors & Staff, Zoom at 9:00 am for LCC and 9:30 am for CAC. We will be planning for the year, discussing upcoming programs and discussing distance learning and learning challenges. For our agenda, please join our Google group, https://groups.google.com/g/selpa1cac. For the Zoom link for this meeting, email selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com.
October 6, 9:30 am - Alternative Dispute Resolution training from SC County. BUILDING POSITIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. (Active listening, question strategies, `I’ messages). This two-hour training will provide parents with strategies for holding effective and productive conversations with teachers, service providers and administrators who work with their child(ren). Sign up here: https://santaclara.k12oms.org/421-190128
October 7, 7 - 9 PM - College with Mental Health, Learning or Developmental Challenges with Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer. Dr. Leventhal-Belfer, PhD is the author of, “College on the Autism Spectrum“. Contact selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com for Zoom link.
October 13, 10 am - Parent Chat - Support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. A great place for help and support for challenges with your teens. Please contact trudy.palmer@me.com for Google Meet invite.
October 14, 7 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. Please contact selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com for the Zoom link for this meeting.
October 19, 7:30 pm - Decoding Dyslexia meeting on Zoom. Melissa Baten Caswell, PAUSD board trustee and parent of dyslexic child. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-iprDgiGtNHAaoHhQzOLq_q8qMjndCW
October 24 10am - 12 pm - IEP Goals & Progress Monitoring Webinar Presented by Disability Rights California and organized by Palo Alto CAC. Topics: – IEP Process -Your Rights at an IEP Meeting -Goals & Objectives – FAPE and LRE -Related Services -Assistive Technology -Transition Services/Vocational Services Zoom link at cacpaloalto.org