April 7, 2023

 

From the Principal's Desk
Hello, Cheetah Families!

Everyone has been working extremely hard this year, and we are now in the final stretch before the end of the school year. Please remember that we do not have school next week because Mountain View Whisman School District is on Spring Break from April 10-14. Please enjoy your much deserved Spring Break and take some time to unwind, disconnect, and take care of yourself. 

Please note, parents and staff members will once again be receiving free COVID test kits from this week. Please remember to administer the free at-home COVID test kit to your child on April 16, before returning to school on April 17. If your child has symptoms or a positive result, they must stay home.

After Spring Break, Grades 3-5 will start our state CAASPP Testing. Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students began their practice tests this week. Students in grades 3-5 will take the actual CAASPP test between 4/25-5/11, during the morning hours. Our 5th grade students will also take their science test between May 10-12. Please avoid scheduling doctor/dental or other appointments during our testing window, from 8:15-12 pm (4/25-5/12). It is important that our students are at school on time so that they do not miss any portion of the test. Thank you for your support with this!

Below are some tips you may find useful to help prepare your child for the CAASPP assessment:

• Explain to your child that it is important to do his/her best. 

• Provide positive reinforcement and encourage your child each day.

• Keep the test in perspective. We want students to do their best, but please make sure they understand that it is only one test. Remind them that if they are doing their best, you are proud.

• Make sure your child gets an ample, normal amount of sleep the night before the test

• Make sure to arrive on time each day.

• Eat a nice, healthy breakfast. The school will offer free breakfast during testing days.

• Keep a positive attitude about testing around your child. Remind them that this is a time to show what they know.

At our next principal’s coffee on 4/18, I will provide more information about the CAASPP testing and a school safety update. 

 

Thank you for your partnership! Together, we make a difference.

Sincerely, 

Michelle Williams, Principal

Important Dates

April 10-April 14~ Spring Recess~ No School

Thursday, April 18~ Principal’s Coffee 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom)

Friday, April 21~ ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:30am (Zoom)

Tuesday, April 25~ SSC Meeting 5:30-6:30pm (Zoom) 

Tuesday, April 25 - 5/11~CAASPP testing (grades 3-5)

Friday, April 28~ Dia del Niño Activities 3-6pm (sponsored by ELAC & PTA)

Thursday, May 11~ Reclassification Parade 5:00-7:00pm (Crittenden Middle School)

Friday, May 18~ Principal’s Coffee 5:00-6:00pm (Zoom)

Wednesday,  May 24~ PTA Meeting 6:00-7:00pm (Zoom)

Tuesday, May 30~ SSC Meeting 5:30-6:30pm (Zoom)

Monday, June 5~ 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony

Tuesday, June 6~ Last day of School- Minimum Day–Dismissal 12:10pm

School News

Lost and Found Clothing and Accessories

Is your child missing a sweater, jacket, hat, or other items? If so, please plan to stop by the front gate during morning or afternoon pick-up times today and/or the week after Spring Break. Any items that are not claimed will be donated after 4/21.

 

MVEF Gala

It’s not too late to get tickets for this year’s MVEF Gala. Please join us on Saturday, April 29. The MVEF Gala is an opportunity for residents, district parents, business leaders and community members to come together and support local schools. This year’s event will include dinner, fundraising activities (including a raffle plus live and silent auctions), and community-building. 

Tickets: https://bit.ly/2023-MVEF-Gala

Online/Silent Auction Item Preview: https://bit.ly/mvefsilentauction

Raffle: https://www.mvef.org/2023-gala-raffle

 

Field Trip FUN!

Students have enjoyed going on a variety of academically enriching and fun field trips over the past several weeks. Students have attended plays, visited the Tech Museum, learned about animals at Deer Hollow Farm, explored the Marine Science Institute, and more. Thank you to our PTA for their hard work in fundraising for these fantastic experiences. Here are a few highlights of some of the most recent trips. 

                                          

 

                                       

You are invited to 1st-4th grade CSMA Music Concerts

You are invited to see what your students have been learning in their weekly music classes with Ms. Sylvia Yuan from the Community School of Music and Arts (sponsored by MVEF).

Your students receive 24 weeks of music a year thanks to CSMA and MVEF. As we finish the year, we would like to invite you to a grade level concert in the Theuerkauf MUR (cafeteria) on Tuesday April 25th.

• 1st Grade: 8:30am-8:55am

• 2nd Grade: 9:30am-9:55am

• 3rd Grade: 1:20pm-1:45pm

• 4th Grade: 2:15pm-2:40pm

Parents who come to watch will need to sign in at the office in accordance with the district visitor policy -- showing a valid driver's license or ID and proof of covid vaccinations. You will need a visitor's badge. 

Kinder and TK students will have an in-classroom presentation scheduled soon, and 5th grade students have their own instrument performance at the end of the school year. 

 

SAVE THE DATE: 5th Grade Promotion Date

Each year, we look forward to celebrating with families as our 5th grade students are promoted to middle school. This year, the 5th grade promotion date is Monday, June 5. We will share more specifics about the celebration as details are available.

District News

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m. 

Topics include:

• Action Day Plus School Update on Community Outreach

• Enrollment and Choice Lottery Update 

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

 

Spring break (April 10-14) and test kits

MVWSD is on spring break April 10-14. School and District Offices will be closed. Have a safe and restful time away!

Please remember to administer the free at-home COVID test kit to your child on April 16, before returning to school on Monday, April 17. If your child has symptoms or a positive result, he/she must stay home. Please check this link for specific instructions.
 

 

Electives selection for grades 5-7 closes Friday

All 5th-7th graders should select their course electives online by April 7, 2023 through the PowerSchool portal. Fifth- through seventh-grade parents, please look for an email in your inbox dated March 24 with links to course catalogs and directions. Please log in to your PowerSchool portal account (either student’s or parent’s) to help your student select his/her electives.  If you have difficulty with PowerSchool, please contact your school secretary. If you have not confirmed your child's enrollment for the 2023-24 school year, elective course selection will not be available.

 

Be Sunwise: Sunny days are ahead. Protect your skin.

While some exposure to sunlight can be enjoyable, too much can be dangerous. Take these steps to protect yourself and your children - who are often outside daily.

Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin using a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
Traveling during spring break? Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand that reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
 

 

MVEF News

On April 21, 2021 MVEF and the Crittenden Middle School PTA will be co-hosting a welcome potluck for incoming 6th graders and new students who enrolled during the current school year. To register, please click here: https://bit.ly/3Zy4QH1

Tickets to the MVEF Gala are still available! Ticket sales end 4/23 or when they are sold out. To purchase Gala tickets, click here: https://bit.ly/mvefGala2023

MVEF Gala Raffle Tickets are now on sale! Need not be present to win. Click the link below to view raffle items. Email [email protected] to purchase raffle tickets. https://bit.ly/2023-Gala-Raffle

MVEF still needs to raise an additional $240k to achieve the goal of $1.2MM by June 30, 2023. If you haven't made a donation yet during the current school year, please donate ASAP to help your school site achieve the goal to get an average of 10 new donors per school by April 15!  Donations of any amount are meaningful in helping to reach the goal!  Click here to see ways to donate. 

 

District Chess Tournament Registration Open

The 20th Annual MVWSD Interscholastic Chess Tournament will be held on Sunday, April 30th, from 11:30am to 5:30pm at Bubb Elementary. Students from all MVWSD schools are welcome to join and enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition and camaraderie! The registration form and instructions can be found at tinyurl.com/mvwsdchess, and the deadline for registration is April 29. Any questions can be sent to Jonas Klittmark, tournament director, at [email protected].

 

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Praise

It is natural for us to pay attention to behaviors that are irritating, worrisome, or make us want to disappear from embarrassment. Usually, when our child is calm, quiet, and self-entertained, we breathe a sigh of relief. However, this inadvertently teaches our child that they can get our attention by being disruptive. The good news is that we can reverse this pattern by paying attention to our child’s positive behaviors.

To learn more parenting tips click here.

 

To praise positive behaviors:

Try praising something positive that your child is doing each morning and evening (for example, “Good job sharing with your sibling”). We are used to noticing disruptive behaviors, so praising your child’s positive behaviors will take some practice and patience – but will ultimately benefit both you and your child.

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

To view more resources on parenting and other topics, click here.

 

The View Teen Center: April Events 

The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. The center is open Monday through Friday: 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturday: 1 - 6 p.m, and features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! April Teen Center events include local college tours, an Exploratorium Field Trip, and Extended Spring Break Hours from April 10-14: 1-6 p.m. See attached flyer for details about more upcoming events and programs or visit their webpage for more information.

Attachments

The View Teen Center: April Events