March 31, 2022
From the Principal's Desk
Hello, Theuerkauf Families!
This is shaping up to be a very exciting week thus far! Students went on their first off-campus field trip in two years, COVID restrictions lifted a bit more, more volunteers have begun helping out on campus, and so much more. As always, thank you for your dedication and collaborative spirit as we ensure that each and every Cheetah is well supported, challenged, and nurtured as they become their next best selves. Next week, we will see a return to lunch pick-ups in the MUR, with salad bar choices and more. Thanks to all of our support staff members who have been helping students to practice these protocols this week.
Traffic concerns - a plea for your help
Parents, we ALL love our kids. As adults, we have high demands that are made of us each and every morning as we travel to and from work. It is true that most everyone is in a hurry in the mornings especially, but I need your help in re-committing to driving slowly - 15 mph - through our parking lots as well as on San Luis and San Pierre. It is so troubling to see some have returned to speeding through these areas. We all have places to go, but there is absolutely no room for endangering the lives of students by driving or moving to and from campus in unsafe ways.
Please slow down, do not double park, and cross only at the corners when walking.
Our school resource officers will be working with us to ensure that each and every one of our students remain safe as they move to and from school. Thank you for your careful consideration of this matter. If you would be interested in joining our new traffic safety committee, please reply to this email to let me know.
As a reminder, Thursdays are now bike/walk to school days! Snap a pic of your child and send it in to me to be entered into a DoorDash and goodie basket drawing to be held during our next Cool Cats assembly! As shared last week, please continue to use safe routes to commute to and from school on foot or by bike, even if it takes a few extra minutes. Let's all do our part to make mornings and afternoons safe for our children.
As always, thank you so much for your partnership. Together, we make a difference!
Yours in service,
Michelle Williams, Principal
Important Dates
Friday, April 1- ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:00 (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 6- Spring Pictures
April 11-April 15 - Spring Break- No School
Wednesday, April 20- SSC Meeting 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 27- Principal’s Coffee 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 27- PTA Meeting 7:00pm
Friday, April 29- ELAC Meeting 8:00-9:00am
***Wednesdays: Open Office Hours with the Principal 4:00-5:00pm (use this link)***
School News
4th Grade Field Trip to Hidden Villa
On Wednesday, our 4th graders took a very exciting field trip by bus to Hidden Villa. They had a blast hiking, petting barnyard animals, learning about plant life, and getting some wonderful sunshine and fresh air. This was our FIRST field trip in two years, so it was so exciting to send our kids out with love. A special thank you goes out to our amazing volunteer chaperone parents and to Mr. Torres! We are grateful for your support in making this trip possible.
Reminder: Please upload your child’s completed vaccine card
When your child's vaccine card has their second shot listed, please upload a copy to Powerschool. Vaccine cards will be referred to in the case of a positive COVID exposure for your student, and MVWSD needs accurate data for decisions about COVID protocols. Click here for a video that shows you how to upload documents: https://vimeo.com/606954357. Thank you in advance for uploading your documents now!
Reminder: Please upload your child’s completed vaccine card
When your child's vaccine card has their second shot listed, please upload a copy to Powerschool. Vaccine cards will be referred to in the case of a positive COVID exposure for your student, and MVWSD needs accurate data for decisions about COVID protocols. Click here for a video that shows you how to upload documents: https://vimeo.com/606954357. Thank you in advance for uploading your documents now!
Reminder: Principal’s Virtual Office Hours
This is just a friendly reminder that you are invited to join me each Wednesday for our informal Principal Office Hours (virtual through Zoom) from 4pm - 5:00pm. Feel free to drop in if you have any questions or if you just want to chat. For office hours, there is no formal agenda, it is a time for you to stop in to say hello, and for us to get to know each other better! I look forward to seeing you!
PTA News
Our PTA Board for 2022-23 is almost formed, but we still need a Treasurer!
Our diligent and beloved treasurer would love to continue, but State PTA rules allow that role to be held for only 2 years. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in helping with this.
Congratulations and Thank You to the 2022-23 PTA Board
President - Teresa Peters
Treasurer - This could be you
Secretary - Jessica Merino
Marketing - Diana Rubio-Olvera
Historian - Sarah Hoang
Customize Your Student's Yearbook by April 14, 2022
It's easy! Just follow these directions:
1) Go to https://www.treering.com and click "Login" if you have already purchased a yearbook, or "Buy Yearbook" if you haven't yet. Our school's passcode is 1016316858373987
2) Once logged in, select "Kid Yearbooks" in the drop-down menu on the far left, then click on "Edit Custom Pages".
3) Upload at least 1 photo. You can choose whether to answer Treering's suggested questions or Skip, then build your pages. You can upload more photos as needed.
Click here or here to learn more about customizing your pages. If you don't customize your pages, your yearbook will just not have those two pages.
District News
For grades 5-7: Select Middle School electives before April 8
It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students choose their electives for next year. All 5th-7th graders should preference their course electives online in Powerschool now through April 8, 2022. Parents, an email was sent to you on March 25 with the course catalogs and instructions that are also available on https://www.mvwsd.org/MSelectives. Please take a moment to view the catalog with your student and complete the selection in PowerSchool before April 8.
Electives selection help sessions for grades 5-7 parents (Students welcome):
Crittenden:
April 1, 9:00 - 10:00 am. Zoom meeting link
April 7: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Zoom meeting link
Graham:
April 1, 10:45-11:45 am. Zoom Meeting link
April 7, 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Zoom Meeting link
COVID update: Masking, other protocols changing on March 28
MVWSD will further loosen restrictions due to changing state and county guidance. Please see the attached flyer for the highlights of changes beginning March 28. Both outdoor and indoor masking is strongly recommended (no longer required) for students and staff. Exceptions: Masks are required on buses for all, indoors for volunteers and preschoolers, and unvaccinated persons (including adults without a booster) must wear a mask for 10 days after exposure to a positive case. Masks are required indoors for sports and performing arts spectators, regardless of vaccination status.
Speaking respectfully about mask choices
As mask mandates change at MVWSD, it is important to respect the decisions of individuals and families as they choose to mask or not mask at school. Staff members will support students with respectful conversations on campus. We encourage you to talk with your children about your family’s choices, and about communicating empathy and understanding for others’ choices. For tips on how students can respectfully speak up and speak out, see this helpful infographic. We know our students will be upstanders and take care of each other!
Join MVEF's Spring Gala “The Art of Words” on April 23rd!
All gala ticket sales close Wednesday, April 6. No walk-in tickets will be available. Join MVEF for a lively evening that includes dinner, fundraising, and trivia in support of our schools. You can join us in person at Michael's at Shoreline OR join us virtually from home for the trivia game and access to online fundraising.
In-person: individual tickets are $125
Virtual: join us from home with a single virtual login for trivia plus access to online fundraising for $50.
We'll also have a raffle if you'd like your chance to win one of three great prizes available!
The winners will be drawn at the gala, but you need not be present to win!
To buy tickets please send an email: [email protected]
Looking for another way to participate?
We are still looking for items to include in our silent auction catalog. Do you have a vacation home or a timeshare, season tickets, golf course access, lessons, or a special experience to share? Please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
InPlay Summer Program Guide
Looking for summer fun and out-of-school opportunities? MVWSD partners with nonprofit InPlay to help you find the perfect fit for your child and for your family. Hundreds of programs, including free and reduced-cost programs and those that serve students with special needs or English learners, are nearby and can be found through this free, searchable site. Check out MV.inplay.org.
MVWSD has not reviewed the programs and does not specifically endorse them. Parents should thoroughly research all activities before enrolling their children.
CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program & SCC COVID Assistance Program: Expiring 3/31
The deadline to apply for rent relief through California's COVID-19 Rent Relief program is soon approaching on Thursday, March 31st (Apply at http://HousingisKey.com). See the attached flyer for agencies in Santa Clara County that can help with applying to the state program. SCC’s Isolation and Quarantine Program also ends March 31st. If you are sick with COVID19 or have been sick in the last 90 days and need assistance because you had to isolate and quarantine, call the COVID-19 Resources Hotline: (408) 808-7770 or [email protected]. For more information about both programs, see this webinar.
MV Public Library: Intro to Game Design Workshop
Want to create animations, stories and games? Learn the basics of Scratch, a block-based programming language, at this MVPL workshop with Pixelators Education on Thursday, April 21 4-5 p.m. on Zoom. Workshop recommended for programming beginners in grades 1-3. Parent/guardian assistance welcome. Register in advance at: https://mountainview.libcal.com/event/8915612.
MVLA Speech and Debate Info Session
MVLA Speech and Debate is hosting a parent informational session on Zoom on April 19 at 7:30pm about upcoming free public speaking education opportunities for upper elementary and middle school students. Check out this flyer for more information and registration for the Speech Information Night: https://tinyurl.com/MVLAspeechyfl2022.
Parent University: Preparing for Middle School
Date and Time: April 27, 2022, 5:30pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu042722
Nervous about middle school? We get it! Change can be daunting, but it can also lead to amazing new experiences. Join us to learn how to support your children as they prepare for the next stage in their academic and social lives. We will feature a panel of staff and students from Crittenden and Graham who will offer lots of wisdom and details about grades six, seven, and eight. See you there!
To submit your questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions.
Attachments
COVID update- Masking
inPlay Summer Program
MV Public Library
ERA Step Process
SCC COVID Assistance Program
Spring Pictures