Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Core value of the month: Respect
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear Monta Families,
We are all looking forward to Valentine’s Day and our break next week. I am grateful for the many ways our students, staff, and families show love and compassion for each other.
Thank you for your careful driving on campus and for helping keep our students safe by following these guidelines.
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The loop closest to the street is only used if you are parking. Pick up and drop off of students should be in the loop closest to the office and MUR. There is no parking in the fire zones indicated by red curbs.
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Student supervision begins at 7:30 in the MUR. Students on campus before 7:30 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Thank you also for letting us know when your child is absent. Please call the office at (650) 903-6915 ext. 3880 or send an email to [email protected]. Absences should be reported daily. Please include the following in your message.
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Name of the student
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Classroom or teacher
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Reason for the absence and any symptoms such as fever or vomiting.
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If students are absent four or more days, we may require a doctor’s note.
And finally, thank you for checking in at the office when you are on campus. We need to know you are here in case there is an emergency.
In partnership,
Gloria
CALENDAR
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Week of February 17 - 21, 2020
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
School Site Council
We have an open position on this team that provides input into the School Site Plan. Contact [email protected] for details.
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS
Has your child lost a jacket, lunch box, or a sweatshirt? Please stop by the Lost and Found Cart next to the MUR. If the items are not picked up by February 14th after school, they will be donated to charity.
Food distribution program at Monta Loma Elementary
In partnership with Community Services Agency (CSA) of Mountain View and Second Harvest Food Bank, we will be distributing bags with food items, such as bread, canned goods, fresh produce, pasta, etc. If you want to supplement your meals with additional items, please come:
The food is free. More details at the event.
PTA News
Tea and Cookies for Staff Thursday, February 13
Hi ML friends!
This coming Thursday, February 13, we will treat our special ML staff to some tea and cookies.
If you would like to donate one box of your favorite aromatic tea or a platter of cookies, please sign up on the attached spreadsheet. Tea and Cookies on Thursday, February 13, 2020
I will be in front of the school at drop off time on Monday (Feb. 10) , Tuesday (Feb. 11), and Wednesday (Feb. 12) to collect the tea boxes.
If you are collaborating with a platter of cookies, please bring them to the staff lounge at drop off time on Thursday, February 13.
Have a happy month celebrating love and friendship!
Dafne Minera
ML PTA
Hospitality Chair
Please donate books for Used Book Sale
The PTA is collecting your gently used books for our annual Used Book Sale. Donations of children's books can be left in the office between now and March 2nd. Please no books for older readers or adults or religious books. We are in most need of chapter books for the 2nd/3rd grade and 4th/5th grade reading levels. We have enough picture books (for young readers) from last year. We need volunteers to sort books between 2/25-3/3, and to help students select their books between 3/4 -3/6 ---please sign up here Used Book Sale 2020 Volunteer Form
PTA Board Elections March 27
Please consider serving on the PTA Board for 2020-2021. We are a friendly group who come from diverse experiences, opinions, and backgrounds and who are unified in wanting to support our faculty and staff, enriching the lives and community of our kids and their families.
Please reach out to any of us to ask questions as you think about how you might like to become more involved. Some positions take more of a commitment than others, but all positions will give you a voice and an opportunity to impact what we do here at Monta Loma.
Feel free to contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Seeking Raffle Chair for our Walk-A-Thon Friday, April 17
Thanks to the wonderful parents who have offered to Chair Food Donations, Field Set Up, and T-Shirts. PTA is still seeking a volunteer to lead the Raffle effort for Walk-A-Thon. No experience necessary, only the willingness to help! We have documentation from previous Raffle Chairs so no one needs to reinvent the wheel.
Please reach out to our VP of Fundraising/Events Elizabeth Jones [email protected]
NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE
Apply for preschool now!
The award-winning MVWSD Preschool Program is currently accepting applications for full- and part-day for the 2020-21 school year.
All 4-year-olds residing in the Castro School boundaries are now eligible for FREE, part-day state preschool at Latham.
Our preschool offers age-appropriate early math, language, literacy and science inquiry instruction, as well as social-emotional development in either part-day and full-day classes.
Awards:
* 2018 California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Recipient
* Platinum Level/Top-Tier Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Rating
* High Quality Inclusion from the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Inclusion Collaborative, and 2019 Inclusion Collaborative’s Inclusion Team/Teacher of the Year
** Join us for an info night on February 12 at 5 PM at the Latham Preschool, 1850 Latham St. Prospective families also can join a parent-only tour of part-day and full-day classes at Preschool at Theuerkauf, 1625 San Luis Ave. on February 13 at 3:15 PM. **
Children who will be 3- or 4-years old at any time during the school year are eligible. Priority enrollment for children who will be 4 years by Sept. 1. Full day is 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., part-day is 3 hrs in the morning or afternoon. Now accepting applications for full- and part-day spaces. Enrollment appointments begin in March. For more info go to www.mvwsd.org/preschool or call 650-526-3560.
Join us for the new MV Parent U offering: Say it like a scholar! (Flyer here) Techniques and Tools for Educators & Families to Build Academic Language on Wednesday, February 12 from 6:30-8pm at Graham Middle School, Auditorium.
Attendees will learn:
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After school conversation tips to use with children to encourage thoughtful responses
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Strategies to help increase students' academic language and listening skills
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How to facilitate effective collaboration inside and out of the classroom
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How to teach English Learners to ask for help
Families, teachers, and school staff are welcome to attend this workshop.
Childcare and Spanish interpretation will be available. Reserve your seat: sayitlikeascholar.eventbrite.com
Winter break travel reminder: Coronavirus update
We are still fighting the flu and working to make our schools as healthy as possible and prevent viruses like the coronavirus. Please note: As a reminder for winter break travel, any staff or student who has been in China since Feb. 2 may not attend school for 14 days after their return. Please see these guidelines from Santa Clara County: Novel Coronavirus Information | Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Our District is going above the recommended basic actions to help protect against the coronavirus as well as the seasonal flu, and we need your assistance. Please visit www.mvwsd.org/coronavirus to read the latest information, learn about the District's actions, and how parents can help.
We want to hear from you! LCAP survey
The District is beginning its annual process of writing the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your input from the survey will guide the development of our District’s three-year plan and inform the update of the District’s Strategic Plan. These documents are the blueprints that guide all of the District’s work for the benefit of our students.
The survey has been revised to include questions about school and District climate. Look for a meeting at your school to learn more about the LCAP/Strategic Plan process.
Parents, we want to hear from you: Please click below to give input through February 28 in a survey. (Using a laptop/desktop computer or a tablet is recommended. Formatting may not be as readable on mobile devices). If you would like a paper copy, please come to the office.
Parent Survey: Click here
More information found here: LCAP/LCFF
Parent Education event: Crisis Prevention Strategies with Special Education Director Arianna Mayes. February 26 Graham Middle School Auditorium 7-8:30 PM
Learn how de-escalation can help create a safe place for kids to express their emotions and solve problems. How managing your own emotions, staying calm, allowing feelings to happen, creating connection, self-awareness and self-advocacy can allow your child your thrive and your household to feel like a safe place for all. See flyer here.
Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group February 26, 7-8:30 pm, Mountain View Rengstorff Community Center.
InPlay.org
There are many opportunities in Mountain View for students to enrich their learning after school or during school breaks. With safety and consistency in mind, our school newsletter and website will advertise only District-, school- and PTA-sponsored events and activities. While we recognize that there are many providers of enrichment activities who use our campus, we may promote only those that follow specific MVWSD parameters for safety and supervision.
The District provides inplay.org as a resource to parents who are seeking additional learning opportunities for their students. To view student enrichment activities, school break and after school classes in our community that are not hosted by MVWSD, please see our partner, Discover Kids Activities in Mountain View, CA. MVWSD has not reviewed all programs/events found there and does not specifically endorse them. Parents should thoroughly research all activities before enrolling their children.
Flyers/Events
She Can
Informational chat with an immigration Lawyer
Mt. View Cool Block Training
Families learning Together (Special Guest: SJ Sharkie!)
MVLA ParentEd: The Fuzzy and the Techie
Summer Camp Fair
Parents’ Guide to Emergency School Evacuation
MVWSD 2019-20 calendar