Wednesday June 3, 2020
Core value of the month: Hard work
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear Monta Loma Families,
We made it! The last few months have been very challenging for all of us--staff, students, and families. I could not be prouder of everyone for rising to the challenge.
Parents, you stepped up to distance learning while you juggled careers, childcare, and your families’ health and safety. Our teachers and staff mastered new technology tools, maintained classroom communities from afar, and delivered resources to you while also taking care of their families. And our students amazed us with their resilience, creativity, and curiosity.
The end of the year is always bittersweet as we say goodbye to our 5th graders and our friends in all grades who are moving on to new places and adventures. This year, I find myself feeling sad about the absence of our end of year rituals. While not how we might have chosen to end the year, I take comfort and pride in how this experience has reminded us that we are stronger and more adaptable than we know. So congratulations and thank you! I wish you all a summer of joy and exploration. I look forward to connecting with you all next year.
Love,
Gloria
Hours and First Day of School 2020-21 The first day of the 2020-21 school year is August 17th. Please stay tuned through the summer for information about the calendar and re-opening of the site.
Staffing Updates
We will bid fond farewells to some of our staff at the end of this year as they move on to new life adventures. Ms. Bleick, Mr. Harris, Ms. Kwon, and Mrs. Mai will bring their talents to other schools in our district. We are grateful they will not be too far from us. Ms. Chen will be taking a leave with her new baby. We thank each of these Monta Loma family members for the joy they brought to our school.
We are very pleased to welcome Kaitlyn Yost as our Instructional Coach. Kaitlyn joins us from Theuerkauf where she has been teaching for several years.
Monta Loma will also have some familiar faces in new places next year. We’re excited to have Mrs. Gunshor teaching 2nd grade and Mr. Ares teaching 3rd grade. We know they will do great work in these new roles. We will be welcoming a new School Psychologist, a new Ed Specialist in room 9 and a new At-Risk Supervisor next year as well. I will keep you posted when hiring is completed.
Based on our enrollment we are currently planning on the following classroom configurations for next year. Enrollment continues through the summer, so it is possible that this can change. I continue to monitor enrollment and staffing throughout the summer. Stay tuned for details.
Report Cards
Due to COVID-19 school closure beginning on March 18, 2020 and per direction of the MVWSD Board of Trustees, students will not be given grades for the last trimester of the 2019-20 school year. However, parents will receive a report on June 5 by email with short comments from teachers and information about children’s participation in online learning.
CALENDAR
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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.
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Last Day of School: June 5th
PTA NEWS
Dear Monta Loma Community,
We hope you and your loved ones are well and taking good care during these last few weeks of our school year. We can't wait to see you face-to-face someday soon!
We held our last Association Meeting on Friday, May 22. Thank you to all the members who participated. We're grateful for your input and energy.
Here is your 2020-2021 Monta Loma PTA Executive Board!
President—Vanessa Bernegger
VP of Membership—Kara Chambers
VP of Fundraising—Jenny Coogan
Communications Chair—Jennifer Avalos
Secretary—Cheryl Villareal
Treasurer—Angela Chen
We still have positions open. Please reach out to us if you are interested in joining [email protected]
Executive VP
Financial Secretary
Parliamentarian
Historian
Auditor
Hospitality Coordinator
Spiritwear Coordinator
Thank you to your 2019-2020 Monta Loma Executive Board!
Huge thanks to our 2019-2020 PTA Board members, many of whom will be moving on. A few of these wonderful humans have served for many years in multiple positions! Every one of your 2019-2020 Board members brought creativity, energy, and commitment to their roles. We are so lucky to have had the passion and vision of these amazing people!
Kerri Neschleba
Angela Chen
Jenny Coogan
Vanessa Vernegger
Elizabeth Jones
Cere Fingerhut
Debbie Chin
Cheryl Villareal
Adam Rakestraw
Jennifer Avalos
Dafne Minera
Beverly Lam Weburg
Jill Rakestraw
Katie Kirsch
Jen Manson
We’re also very grateful for the service and support of our wonderful Monta Loma Staff Representative Nwakaego Fletcher-Perry. And we could not have asked for a more supportive and rewarding relationship than the one we enjoy with our Principal, Gloria Higgins. It makes all the difference in the world.
Warmly,
Kara Chambers
Monta Loma PTA President 2019-2020
NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE
Coffees with the Superintendent
Check this webpage for events in which we can connect on topics that are important to students’ education.
Flyers/Events
MVWSD 2019-20 calendar
**MVWSD 2020-21 Calendar**