November 12, 2021

From the Principal's Desk

Hello, Cheetah Families!

I hope that everyone enjoyed a day of relaxation and meaningful reflection as we all celebrated our nation's veterans. To those who have served in the armed forces and to those who currently serve---we are so incredibly thankful for your service and sacrifice. As I reflect on my own family, I recall how much it meant to my father when he heard people thank him for his service in the army. My grandfather also served valiantly during World War II, and though I never met him, I know that his legacy remains an important part of the fabric of our country even today. Even if you are reading this after Veteran's Day, I do hope that you take a couple of minutes to call, write or visit a veteran and thank them for their service and hard work to fight for our freedom. 

If you and your family would like to reach out to a veteran by writing a letter of thanks, please click here. Students may drop off their letters in the school office from now through December 1st.

 

Thank you, as always, for your support, service, and collaboration!

Together, we make a difference.

 

Yours in service,

Michelle Williams, Principal

Important Dates

Wednesday, November 17- SSC Meeting  (Zoom)

Friday, November 19- Report cards are sent out

November 22-26- Thanksgiving Recess - No School 

Wednesday, December 8- SSC Meeting 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom)

Friday, December 10- ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:00am (Zoom)

Thursday, December 16- Principal’s Coffee 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom)

December 20-31- Holiday Break- No School

Monday, January 3- Teacher Service Day- No School

Tuesday, January 4-Students return to school

***Wednesdays Open Office Hours with the Principal 4:00-5:00pm this link***

School News

PowerSchool Uploads - Test Results, Vaccination Updates

Parents can now upload to PowerSchool the important COVID documents that will help expedite students’ return to school after a COVID exposure. Please take a moment now to upload your documentation. After logging in to https://ps.mvwsd.org/public, parents will be able to click on the “COVID reporting” icon to upload:

1. Students’ proof of COVID vaccination 

2. Past positive COVID test. Here’s how to upload.

Please call our office (650) 903-6925 if you have trouble accessing PowerSchool.

 

Reposted: Lost and Found Clothing and Accessories

Is your child missing a sweater, jacket, hat, or other items? If so, please stop by the front gate during morning or afternoon pick-up. There are many found water bottles and other items, as well.

 

Reposted: COVID Vaccinations for Kids

After much anticipation, the COVID-19 vaccines for kids ages 5-11 have begun.

Parents and guardians can visit www.sccfreevax.org now to sign up for an appointment or to find a convenient walk-in location. Many of the initial available appointments have already been reserved, but the County expects an increased vaccination supply in the coming weeks and additional slots should open soon.

Among other options, there is a drop-in vaccination site on Nov. 6, 10:00am - 5:00pm at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, 160 N. Rengstorff Avenue.

MVWSD is working with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department to provide free, mobile vaccination events at our schools for our students. We will update you as we know more about dates and specifics.

 

Reposted: Reporting absences

We need all students with us in class every single day. If you do need to report an absence, call the office at (650) 903-6925, or email [email protected].  Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, room number, reason for absence, and name and relationship of the person reporting the absence. It is very important, for safety reasons, that we know the specific reason why a student is not present at school. 

 

Re-posted: Upcoming Social Events from MVEF

1. TeaCub Boba Fundraiser for MVEF  (Tuesday, November 16th)

Get a tasty treat and support MVEF!! TeaCub Boba & Snack is donating 25% of ALL proceeds on Tuesday November 16 to MVEF.   TeaCub Boba & Snack is located in the Mountain View Shopping Center at 175C East El Camino Real.  Please stop by to enjoy smoothies, slushies, milk and flavored tea as well as snacks.  (You can also let the cashier know you are supporting MVEF)

2. Holiday Zumba Dance Party for MVEF (Sunday, December 19th)

Get ready to have fun and get fit while grooving to some sweet Latin beats!  We’re going to shake it up with 90 minutes of Zumba awesomeness on Sunday, December 19th at 3 pm at the Mountain View Civic Center Plaza.  Bring water, comfortable exercise clothes, and all your friends.  Suggested donation is $20 per person towards the Mountain View Educational Foundation. It is going to be a party!

https://www.mvef.org/

PTA News

Panda Express Restaurant Night on November 19th

Panda Express is giving back 20% on food orders back to the PTA. For details, please see this flyer. Enjoy a tasty meal and give back - it doesn't get any easier!

 

Next Basket Theme is "Family Game Night" - Don't miss your chance to be drawn on November 18th

Check out this month's Family Game Night basket drawing - perfect for the upcoming holidays! 

The drawing will happen Thursday, November 18. Look for a flyer in your child's folder and check out this fun video to see all its contents: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VwbKtMCqVBtkMxRp9

 

Thank you to all Activity-a-thon participants!

It has been so much fun seeing everybody's laptivity checklists, artwork and pictures and we are working hard on counting and putting together the prizes. Prizes will go out by early next week!

 

Support the PTA while shopping on Amazon

If you are shopping on Amazon for the upcoming holidays, please consider the Theuerkauf PTA at no additional cost to you with Amazon Smile. 

Here is how: 

- Go to smile.amazon.com

- Login with your credentials

- Find Theuerkauf PTA & select it

- Shop as you always do

We thank you so much for your support - it helps us fund fun activities for the kids and teachers!

District News

Kinder info night, school meetings coming up. Open Enrollment for all MVWSD students starts in January

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 24-28.

For NEW students:  Open Enrollment is from January 10 through Feb. 4, 2022 online. You can register your child for the 2022-23 school year when online registration opens here:  www.mvwsd.org/register 

School info meetings: Check www.mvwsd.org/register for a complete list with login information.

• District new student information night, covering the registration process, is on November 30 at 5:30 p.m. (in both English and Spanish) at this Zoom link: http://mvw.sd/kinder1130.

• School kindergarten/new student information nights are online on December 7 at 6:00 p.m. for all elementary schools, and include choice school information. 

• If your child turns 5 years old between September 2, 2022 – February 2, 2023, he/she may qualify for transitional kindergarten. TK info night is December 14 at 5:00 p.m online.

• If you are interested in the District's choice schools, information nights are: 

Gabriela Mistral: Dual Spanish/English Immersion: December 14 at 6 pm

Stevenson: Parent Child Teacher: December 15 at 6 pm

Choice schools will also have information at the elementary schools’ info nights (6 p.m. Dec. 7).

Please visit www.mvwsd.org/register for more information.

 

COVID vaccinations for children 5-11 years are here

-After much anticipation, COVID-19 vaccinations for kids ages 5-11 are underway.  

Parents and guardians can visit www.sccfreevax.org now to sign up for an appointment or to find a convenient walk-in location. If initial available appointments are reserved, continue to check back as additional slots open. MVWSD has requested that Santa Clara County provide free, mobile vaccination events at our schools for our students. We will update you as we know more about the specifics and the dates.

Symptoms?

After receiving the COVID shot, it's possible that your child may have symptoms that may be caused by the vaccine. Side effects of the vaccine are not typically a cause for concern and should go away in a few days. However, if your child has any of these symptoms, regardless of cause, he/she should stay home from school: Loss of taste or smell, fever, chills, cough and shortness of breath.

If it’s possible these symptoms were caused by the vaccine and they resolve in 48 hours, with the last 24 hours being fever-free, the individual may return to work or school. If symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, individuals should stay home and get tested for COVID. After being home with symptoms, parents should present proof of the recent COVID vaccine shot upon the student’s return at school. 

Don’t forget to upload!

When your child receives his/her second shot, please upload proof of being fully vaccinated to PowerSchool at https://ps.mvwsd.org. Here's how to upload proof of vaccination. http://mvw.sd/upload. 

 

Want text messages from the District? Opt in!

MVWSD sends text messages infrequently, for the purpose of notifying you of emergencies or with important, time-sensitive information.

In order to receive messages from the District you need to opt-in from the number that is listed as the cell contact number in our student information system. If you need to update this number, please contact your school.

Here’s how to opt in. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to receive text messages from the District at any time by texting one of the short codes listed below to 67587 using the cell phone number that the District has on record. 

• Opt-in: "Y", "YES", "OPTIN", "OPT IN", and "SUBSCRIBE" are all acceptable keywords for subscribing to SMS text messaging.

• Opt-out: "END", "CANCEL", "OPT OUT", "OPTOUT", "STOP", "QUIT", and "UNSUBSCRIBE" will cancel SMS messages to the recipient.

 

Attendance counts: Please ensure students are in school and on time

We want kids to be healthy and be in school. Regular attendance is essential for students’ learning and to establish healthy routines.  Please make sure that your students come to school every day they are able.

If they need to stay home, please call school with the reason. You must contact us in the morning of your child’s absence. This is a safety measure in order to account for all students daily. Illness (including quarantining due to COVID), doctor’s appointments, bereavement, and certain religious exercises are excused absences. Family vacation or travel is not excused. 

California law requires MVWSD to notify parents after three unexcused absences and/ or tardies over 30 minutes. Any three unexcused absences and/ or tardies over 30 minutes means a child is truant. We are here to support your family, so please contact your school for strategies or help, if needed.

For more information on attendance requirements, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/attendance
 

 

Parent University: Creating Caring Relationships (featuring Project Cornerstone)

Date: November 17, 2021  Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu111721

Kids need our care and support now more than ever. This presentation will:

• Explore proven effective and meaningful ways to express care and support that will make a difference in the lives of young people.

• Provide tools and strategies for connecting and building trust, which lead to strong, positive relationships within families, schools, and communities.

Join Ziem Nguyen Neubert, Executive Director of Project Cornerstone, in a conversation on how we can support young people’s social and emotional well-being so they grow and develop as healthy and responsible humans.

This is one of four Parent University events this year featuring Project Cornerstone. To see what’s coming up, check out this flyer.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

 

November Better Together 

The focus of November’s Better Together infographic is “Creating an Inclusive Community.” MVWSD strives to provide inclusive and supportive environments for all of our students. This is just one way we are providing an identity-affirming space for all who work, learn, and partner with us. Please see the graphics attached to this newsletter, or visithttps://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.

 

Boba Fundraiser for MVEF

TeaCub Boba & Snack is helping fundraise for MVEF on Tuesday November 16 (all day)!  25% of all proceeds on 11/16/21 will be donated to MVEF.   TeaCub Boba & Snack is located in the Mountain View Shopping Center at 175C East El Camino Real.  Please stop by to enjoy smoothies, slushies, milk and flavored tea as well as snacks.  (They use only organic Clover milk and real fruit for all tea & smoothie drinks so please enjoy a treat for you and MVEF!)

 

Safe Gun Storage Notice

Schools alone cannot prevent incidents of gun violence. In 2019, California Education Superintendent Tony Thurmond requested that all schools send parents education about the legal requirements for storing firearms at home. California Penal Code Section 25100 mandates that in all homes where children live (or where children might reasonably be expected to enter), firearms must be safely stored. 

Gun owners can avoid criminal penalty by keeping their firearms in a locked container or secured with a locking device that renders the firearm inoperable. Ensuring firearms are securely stored prevents small children from accidentally accessing the firearm and prevents older children from using an unsecured firearm to commit school violence or suicide. For more information, please see https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr19ltr1120.asp. 

 

Parenting tip: Effective instruction for kids

We give our kids dozens of instructions each day: Get ready for school. Wash your hands before you eat. Do your homework. Sometimes our kids follow our instructions, and sometimes they do not. One way to increase follow through is to give effective instructions. For example, making eye contact with your child and gently telling them to turn off the TV is likely to be more effective than yelling at them from another room.

 

To provide effective instructions:

Think about a few things that you would like your child to do and try using these tips to provide effective instructions.

Instead of saying…                Say….

“Don’t bother me.”                “Please work on your homework.”

“TURN OFF THE TV!!”            “Please turn off the TV.”

“I told you to stop playing video games.”    “If you don’t stop playing video games in the next 5 minutes, then you won’t be able to play tomorrow.”

These tips came directly from the free, online Everyday Parenting program created by parenting expert, Dr. Kazdin.

To learn more parenting tips click here. 


Attachments

November Equity Calendar