Quetzal News
October 26, 2021
From Ms. O's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families,
Our fall festive season has arrived! I am looking forward to enjoying Halloween and Día de los Muertos with our students. I wanted to thank all the parent volunteers who helped us decorate our school over the weekend! Our students really enjoyed walking to school in the mornings and seeing all the decorations. This month, we had a door contest for the Fall Season, and our room parents helped out teachers and students design our classroom doors for a door contest. Please help us select your favorite design by checking out this presentation and completing this form. I want to thank Laura Ramírez Berman and all of the parents who invested their time, energy and love, making this happen. Special thanks to Anthony Arriola, Jaquelynn Herrera, Noel Hoopai, Patty and John Lawler, Bessy Rishel, Yoni Tamler, and Melanie Torbey for spending this rainy weekend decorating the outside of our school.
As October comes to an end, we prepare for the beautiful month of November. A month of gratitude. Did you know that it was president Abraham Lincoln who established Thanksgiving as a holiday? It is always important to take some time to reflect and give thanks for all the blessings we have. Gratitude, however, is something we should be able to express on a regular basis. Let's not wait for a special occasion to let others know how important their actions are to us. Let's remember what President John F. Kennedy's once said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
Please remember our costume guidelines for our Friday's Halloween Train event:
- Grades K and First: Students in these grades can wear their costumes to school.
- Grades 2-5: Students must bring their costumes in their backpacks and change during lunch time before the Halloween Train begins. Please ensure that the costumes are appropriate and follow this guidelines:
Only masks to prevent the transmission of COVID are allowed.
No violent costumes: No pretend “prop” weapons such as guns, knives, or swords. We encourage costumes that show joy and festivity.
Costumes should embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Please don’t send accessories that would distract from regular classroom instruction.
Don't miss our teachers and students in action! Follow us on Instagram@EscuelaMistral, Facebook @Gabriela Mistral Elementary and Twitter@mistral_elementary.
Have a great week!
Ms. Olaciregui, Principal
From our PTA desk
Mistral Fall Door Contest
Our room parents, teachers, and students have been busy decorating their classroom doors to celebrate the fall season and its holidays! Tell us which doors are your favorites and should win a prize!
Step 1: Click here to see pictures of all the doors (https://tinyurl.com/27rybczh)
Step 2: Take the survey by tomorrow, Thursday, Oct 28: https://forms.gle/j5tiCW8GdWiFkRq17
The doors with the most votes will be announced Friday via Konstella and in next week’s Quetzal!
Calendar
November 5, 2021
- End of Trimester Early Dismissal 12:10pm (Friday)
November 9, 2021
- Cafecito (6:00pm-7:00pm) Register
November 11, 2021
- Veterans Day - No School
Noviembre 16, 2021
- School Site Council (6:00pm-7:00pm)
Noviembre 17, 2021
- ATDLE Parent Workshop (6:00-7:00pm) Register
Noviembre 22 - 26
- Thanksgiving Week - No school
District News
Parent University: Supporting Literacy Grades 3-8
Date: October 27, 2021 Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu102721
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” - Joseph Addison.
Join district instructional coaches as they share creative tips and strategies to better support your child in their literacy skills. By supporting your child’s literacy you can take part in developing their reading ability, comprehension, and language skills. 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 this presentation is tailored towards families with children in third grade and above, all are welcome. If you’d like to see a presentation that is aimed more toward families with younger students, check out the recording of last year’s literacy-focused Parent University event.
Drafts available: Single Plans for Student Achievement
Each year, our schools create Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSAs or “site plans”) that guide the work for the coming year. These plans help us prioritize programs and strategies that will best serve our students. In the fall, elected parent representatives from School Site Councils and English Language Advisory Committees work with principals and school staff members to create a draft that is reviewed and approved by the MVWSD Board of Trustees. Parents and staff members may give feedback through Nov. 19 to their principal and elected parent representatives to SSC and ELAC. You may review the draft plans here.
Trick or Treating for Donations with MVEF
BOO! Don't be afraid, you still have time to donate to MVEF! We are trick or treating for donations for MVWSD! Each and every year we rely on generous donors like you to help MVEF fund programming and experiences at your school and every school in the district, ensuring that your child and every child has an inspiring, well-rounded education. MVEF funds Music, Art, Science, Middle School Sports and Electives helping to create a competitive, well-rounded education. Please see our website at mvef.org for more information and to donate online. You can also use your credit card to pay in monthly installments.
MV Public Library: Upcoming Events (flyers attached to email on 10/18 & 10/25)
Learn and Make A-Z Animals: Halloween Edition: Learn about some of nature's creepier creatures just in time for Halloween, on Thursday, October 28th from 4-4:45 pm. Are spiders really dangerous to humans? Why are bats associated with vampires? Let's find out together. For children grades 2-5 on Zoom. We will do a craft together at the end of our learning journey. Registration Required: mountainview.gov/librarycalendar.
Day of the Dead Balloon Skull Decoration: In celebration of Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos the library will host a virtual program on Monday, November 1st from 4-4:40 p.m. on Zoom. Tweens (ages 9-12) will learn about the Day of the Dead and how it's celebrated. Then, balloon skulls will be decorated while festive music is played in the background. Registration Required: mountainview.gov/librarycalendar.
Learn and Listen with Matt de la Peña: Matt de la Peña, bestselling author and national award winner will speak to tweens about his journey from reluctant reader to author and the power of education. Happening Tuesday, November 2nd from 3:30- 4 p.m. on Zoom for children ages 9-12. Registration Required: mountainview.gov/librarycalendar.
Input Requested on Proposed Updates to Parent Involvement Board Policy
Our District’s board policies set broad guidelines for our actions and are based on the most recent updates to California’s Education Code. From time to time, updates are needed to reflect current terminology and best practices. We are currently in the process of updating BP6020: Parent Involvement. Here are links to the current policy and proposed updated policy. The content of the proposed policy is materially the same, but includes terminology and minor wording updates. If you would like to offer feedback on the proposed policy, please send an email to Director of Federal, State, and Strategic Projects, Geoff Chang at gchang@mvwsd.org by November 9, 2021.