Oct. 21, 2021

October 21, 2021


From the Principal's Desk

Hello, Theuerkauf Families!

There are always so many great things going on at Theuerkauf Elementary!  Here are a few updates for this week:

 

After School Tutoring

As a result of the pandemic, some students have “unfinished learning” compared to the learning they would have completed in a typical year. MVWSD has a Learning Recovery Plan to support any unfinished learning. As a part of this plan, all students will get more practice on foundational skills through instruction tailored to them based on their academic needs. These additional learning opportunities will come in the form of instruction in the classroom, in addition to access to professional tutors - either in-person or virtually.

Parents, look for an email that was sent to you on Friday, Oct. 15 with information specific to your child. Some of these programs (those that happen outside the school day) require you to give permission for your students to participate, so please complete the online form in the link.

Wondering about why you received information for your student and how to learn more? For answers to these and other frequently asked questions, please click here.

I am available to answer any questions that you might have about your child’s individualized tutoring plan. Here are a few ways to reach me:

  • You can email me with any specific questions ([email protected]).

  • Feel free to join me for open office hours each Wednesday from 4-5pm though this Zoom link

  • Join me for our next principal's coffee on 10/29 from 5-6pm via this Zoom link.  In addition to tutoring, I will discuss our school’s safety protocols for emergencies and rainy/smoke day lunch and recess procedures during this time.

 

COVID Pooled Testing
We completed our first full round of pooled testing on Tuesday, and students did great!  No news is good news--we will only send you a notification if there is a positive case in your child’s testing pool. If there is a positive: 1) families will be notified, 2) asymptomatic students with testing consent will be tested at school in the morning, 3) students without testing consent will need to quarantine at home until they provide negative COVID test results, and 4) students who are symptomatic or test positive for COVID will be isolated at home. If you would like to change your testing consent, please contact the front office. We pull the names of students for our testing pools on Wednesdays to test the following Monday.

 

Earthquake drill - Oct. 21

In coordination with the Great ShakeOut, the District will be conducting its annual earthquake exercise on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 10:21 am. This is an opportunity for staff and students to test our emergency response actions and make improvements.  

During the drill, our students will practice duck, cover, and hold. Staff will participate in duck, cover, and hold, and will have additional training about safety protocols at a separate time. 

This week is also a good time to go over your family's emergency procedures. We appreciate your support of these efforts to ensure our students’ safety.


End of Trimester Benchmark Assessments

As part of our efforts to make data-driven instructional decisions, all students are given end-of year assessment benchmarks. From now until the end of the trimester (11/5), students will be taking a writing assessment, a reading fluency and comprehension assessment (called Literably), and early literacy assessments (K-1 letter sounds, phonemic awareness, and high frequency words). First trimester progress reports will be sent home to families on 11/19.  Per our district's calendar, parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for January.

 

As always, thank you for your partnership and service. Together, we make a difference!

 

Yours in service, 

Michelle Williams


Important Dates

Wednesday, October 27- Principal’s Coffee 5-6pm (Zoom)

Friday, October 29- ELAC Meeting 9-10am (Zoom)

Friday, November 5- End of 1st Trimester- Minimum Day

Wednesday, November 10- SSC Meeting 5-6pm (Zoom)

Thursday, November 11- Veterans Day- No School

Wednesday, November 17- Principal’s Coffee 5-6pm (Zoom)

November 22-26- Thanksgiving Recess- No School 

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



School News

SSC Voting Complete! New Members Elected

Thank you for your input in determining our School Site Council (SSC) makeup for the 2021-22 school year. The votes are in, and though the race was VERY close, the following parents were elected to our SSC for this year:

  • Amie Santiago

  • Antje Kirschner

  • Bea Reiter

  • David Clayton

  • Diana Rubio

We thank you, parents, for volunteering to participate in this very important council. Every single community member is always welcome to attend this group each month, regardless of who has been elected. You can view our monthly agendas here, on our website. We THANK YOU each of you for volunteering your time and your service to our community. 

 

Reposted: A Word from MVEF!

At Theuerkauf, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) funds art, music and Living Classroom and environmental lessons for your child.  MVEF also provides art and STEAM room supplies, repairs and replaces musical instruments and helps support training for STEAM teachers.   Every year the foundation aims to raise $800,000 to fund these enriching classes, and this year they hope to raise an additional $300,000 with the goal of hiring more middle school language arts teachers. Please see the website at https://www.mvef.org/ for more information and to donate online. You can also use your credit card to pay in monthly installments. 

 

Reposted: Fall Costumes on 10/29

On October 29th, in celebration of many fall cultural traditions, students are welcome to wear a costume that celebrates a personal tradition or fall. Students must follow our school dress code, and costumes cannot display blood/gore or other implements that may scare other children. Additionally, costume masks and face paint are not permitted. We also welcome you to send in a picture or two of your child for a special virtual parade through a slideshow/video. Please email any pictures to [email protected].

PTA News

Reminder - Activity-a-thon starts this Friday October 22nd!

*** Including zoom dance parties Friday and Saturday @ 7:30pm *** 

*** Prizes based on the number of laptivities completed (ring pop, stickers, pop-it keychains…) 

Find fundraising information in the Activity-a-thon envelope that was sent home Oct 1. 

Find activity details in the Laptivity Packets that students get this Friday (everything is due back on Friday October 29th.) Get ready for fun activities in our community! 

Sign up directly via WalkStarter, where you can also create a fun avatar for your child at https://theuerkaufpta.walkstarter.org/

 

There is still time... ‘Donut’ miss the Krispy Kreme fundraiser this month. 

Look inside your Activity-a-thon envelope for more information and the order form. Or if you choose to order online, you can easily do so here: https://tinyurl.com/theuerkaufdonuts


District News

Board meeting Preview: Oct. 21

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. Some of the meeting’s topics include:

  • Choice schools’ lottery/enrollment priorities

  • Security cameras process discussion

Public comment can be made online on Zoom, or submitted in writing to [email protected]. Agenda and meeting details are here. The meeting is also streamed on www.youtube.com/mvwsd.

 

Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday

Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/CC1015. To plan ahead, please see this webpage for upcoming meeting dates: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/communications/news___events/connecting_with_the_community. In case you miss it, a video recording will be posted on this webpage.

 

Cafecito con el Superintendente

Wednesday, October 20, 2021⋅5:30 – 6:30pm

This is an informal meeting for Spanish-speaking parents. Translation will be provided. Please register in advance for this meeting by clicking here: http://mvw.sd/cafe10-20-21
 

Parent University: Supporting Literacy Grades 3-8

Date: October 27, 2021 Time: 5:30-7:00pm 

Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu102721

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” - Joseph Addison. 

Join Instructional Coaches Melanie Stanley, and Katie Stern share creative tips and strategies to better support your child in their literacy skills. By supporting your child’s literacy you can take part in developing their reading ability, comprehension, and language skills.  To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

Note: While this presentation is tailored towards families with children in third grade and above, all are welcome. If you’d like to see a presentation that is aimed more toward families with younger students, check out the recording of last year’s literacy-focused Parent University event.

 

Trick or Treating for Donations with MVEF

BOO! Don't be afraid, you still have time to donate to MVEF!  We are trick or treating for donations for MVWSD!  Each and every year we rely on generous donors like you to help MVEF fund programming and experiences at your school and every school in the district, ensuring that your child and every child has an inspiring, well-rounded education.  MVEF funds Music, Art, Science, Middle School Sports and Electives helping to create a competitive, well-rounded education.   Please see our website at mvef.org for more information and to donate online.  You can also use your credit card to pay in monthly installments.

 

MVLA Speaker Series with Dr. Michael Bradley 

The MVLA Speaker Series continues on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7:00pm. Join us for an evening with clinical psychologist and author of Yes,Your Teen Is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind, Dr. Michael J. Bradley. Dr. Bradley’s respect-based philosophy is at the heart of the presentations he has given to thousands of parents who are seeking ways to communicate with their adolescent children. He takes you inside your teenager’s head and shows you why teens think and behave the way they do, and gives parents real-world advice, strategies, and methods to use. Register at: https://eventbrite.com/e/michael-bradley-yes-your-teen-is-crazy-registration-167808157717

 

MV Public Library: Upcoming Halloween and Day of the Dead Events 

Learn and Make A-Z Animals: Halloween Edition: Learn about some of nature's creepier creatures just in time for Halloween, on Thursday, October 28th from 4-4:45pm. Are spiders really dangerous to humans? Why are bats associated with vampires? Let's find out together. For children grades 2-5 on Zoom. We will do a craft together at the end of our learning journey. Registration Required: mountainview.gov/librarycalendar.

 

Day of the Dead Balloon Skull Decoration: In celebration of Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos the library will host a virtual program on Monday, November 1st from 4-4:40 p.m. on Zoom. Tweens (ages 9-12) will learn about the Day of the Dead and how it's celebrated. Then, balloon skulls will be decorated while festive music is played in the background. Registration Required: mountainview.gov/librarycalendar.

Attachments

MVLA Speaker Series 

MV Library- Day of Dead 

MV Library- Day of Dead 

 

Theuerkauf Elementary, Mountain View Whisman School District,

1625 San Luis Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043   www.mvwsd.org    650-903-6925

 
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