April 29, 2020

spotlights

Wednesday April 29, 2020

Core value of the month: Courage

 

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE


Dear Monta Loma Families, 

 

I’ve been happy to visit many classroom Zoom Check-Ins. It is a thrill to see the students and get to connect with them. I will finish visiting all the classes on Thursday. I would love to see you as well. I will be holding a Principal’s Coffee on May 6th at 9:00 via Zoom. A link for the meeting will be shared separately.


Thank you as always for sharing feedback with me. I’ve heard from many of you about how distance learning is going for your students. The whole staff at Monta Loma and MVWSD continues to strive to meet the needs of the students while the school site is shut down. We are committed to providing instruction with the teacher. 


What I know for certain is the human brain is made for learning. It is a pattern and connection making machine. We have thought a lot lately about what students are missing while school is closed. This week I challenge us all to reframe that worry and take notice of what they are learning. Here are just a few of my observations…


Your students may be learning 

  • their teachers and school staff love and miss them

  • they love and miss school

  • there are real heroes in the world who selflessly take care of others.

  • how to plan and manage their time

  • responsibility and teamwork for household chores

  • independence

  • how to slow down and reflect

  • how to make do without something

  • gratitude, patience, and much more. 


Maybe you’re learning some of these lessons too. I know I am.


All the best to you,

Gloria Higgins

 


CALENDAR

  • Monday - Friday: Breakfast and lunch available to youth 18 or younger from 11:30 am to 1 pm at Gabriela Mistral Elementary, 505 Escuela Ave. 


PTA NEWS

Dear Monta Loma Community,

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. These are difficult times, but I've been so moved by the efforts of so many to reach out and take care of each other.  


We will hold our last Association Meeting May 22 at 8:40am online through Zoom.  You need to be a PTA member in order to vote or run for a position.  You can become a member by going to our website www.montalomapta.org/membership/


In addition to financial matters, we'll be holding our election for next year at that meeting.  Although these times are uncertain, we do know that our kids, school staff, and families need our support.  We will continue to work to enrich the lives of our kids, to strengthen our community, and to support our wonderful staff.  Please consider joining us in this work.  


In particular, we are still seeking candidates for Executive Vice-President, Communications Chair, Secretary, Hospitality Chair, Auditor, Historian, and Parliamentarian.  You can see descriptions of most of these roles on our website www.montalomapta.org/get-involved/ Any one of our board members would also be happy to answer any questions you have about these roles and serving on the board.  There is training available through our regional and state PTAs and we have an extensive amount of documentation to share as well.  No one has to reinvent the wheel or go it alone!  Let me know if you'd like to run for a position.  We'll also take nominations the day of the meeting.


We hope you'll join us at the meeting on May 22.  I'll send out a zoom link to members a few days prior.


NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE

Google grants $200,000 for MVWSD students

MVEF is grateful for Google’s longtime commitment to public education and partnership with our District and foundation. Google recently donated $200,000 during COVID-19 school closure to ensure MVWSD students stay on track with their learning.


As MVWSD assessed the technological needs in our community made even more clear by the COVID-19 school closure, it’s clear the digital divide still exists. Even after the District distributed 900 Chromebooks this year, almost 10% (615) of our students still need a device, and 5% (247) students still need internet access. Google immediately stepped up with a $100,000 grant to provide technology for students, primarily internet hotspots and laptops, to enable our students to access assignments and online conferences with their teachers during distance learning.  


Additionally, MVEF was awarded an additional $100,000 grant from Google to fund STEM initiatives next year at MVWSD’s schools, ensuring MVEF can continue to help fund essential Next Generation Science Standards, hands-on science programming at every school.


Superintendent Dr. Ayindé Rudolph shared his gratitude. “We are in uncharted waters in which our daily methods of instruction look very different.  Our students and parents continue to look for a sense of normalcy during remote learning and sheltering in place.  Despite all of the uncertainty, I am grateful that we can continue to count on MVEF and Google as great community advocates and corporate sponsors.  They not only answered our call to reduce the digital divide in our community, but also demonstrated that our path forward through these trying times is together.  On behalf of all of our students, I want to thank MVEF for their continued advocacy, and Google for their continued commitment to our students and community,” he said.


MVEF and MVWSD express its deep appreciation for Google, and for the company’s willingness to help provide an excellent education to all of our children in Mountain View.


MV Parent U: "Angst," raising anxiety awareness

MV Parent U presents "Angst," a 56-minute film that explores anxiety, its causes, effects and treatments on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, 6:00 PM - Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 9:00 PM.

 

Angst features candid interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they’ve learned about it. The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources and tools.

 

To reserve your free spot for this online event, please register here by May 6 at noon: https://angstfilm.eventbrite.com

 

Free, low cost internet for students

We think that it’s important that each of our students has one Internet-ready device (laptop, iPad, etc)  in their house for distance learning schoolwork. There are several ways you can access free/or low cost internet to connect students' Chromebooks. Please see the attached flyer or click on www.mvwsd.org/technology.

 

2020 Census Paper Questionnaires are on their way to Californians!

If you’re among the 70+ million households who have already responded to the 2020 Census, thank you! If you haven’t completed it yet, paper questionnaires are in the mail headed your way. Households receiving the paper questionnaire can still respond online or by phone, or they can return it by mail in the enclosed envelope. When you respond online, use the Census ID from the letter or provide your address. To respond now, go to https://go.usa.gov/xdKjk.


Please encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to complete it too. It’s something everyone can do while practicing social distancing at home to make a difference today, tomorrow and the next 10 years.

 

Flyers/Events

MVWSD 2019-20 calendar

**MVWSD 2020-21 Calendar**

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