March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

From the Principal's Desk

Hello, Theuerkauf Families!

This week, our teachers and students are so excited to welcome you to our first in-person Open House in three years!  We will welcome all families of K-5 students to visit all of our classrooms to celebrate student learning on Thursday, March 23rd, from 6:00-7:00pm. *Please note that our TK Open House will occur next week on 3/30 at 5pm.*

  • 6:00-7:00 - Current Theuerkauf families 

    • Classrooms open for visits from current Theuerkauf families

    • Ongoing Art Show held in the Library

  • 5:40-6:00 - Families of all new enrollees for 23-24 school year

    • Meet and greet with the Principal and campus tour for incoming new families whose children will be starting in the 23-24 school year in the MUR (Cafeteria) 

In case you have never been to an Open House before, this is what to expect:

  • In each classroom, students will be sharing the work they've completed during the first two trimesters of our school year. Your child will show you artifacts of their learning.  

  • Families and students are also welcome and encouraged to visit other classrooms on campus. Students often appreciate seeing classrooms at the next grade level or visiting their old classrooms. 

  • There will be an ongoing art show in the library that will feature select work samples of our students.  Families can visit the library at any time during the Open House window.

  • Norms for our Open House: Please provide encouragement and feedback to students as they celebrate and share their work. For any concerns, please schedule a separate parent/teacher conference at another time. 

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

 

Yours in service,

Michelle Williams, Principal


Important Dates

Thursday, March 23~ Open House K-5th grade~ 6:00-7:00pm (Classrooms); New families to Theuerkauf~ 5:40pm (MUR/ Cafeteria)

Friday, March 24~ ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:30am (Zoom)

Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31~ Book Fair in the Library  

Tuesday, March 28~ Inclusivity Workshop  6:00-7:30pm (in person, Theuerkauf MUR)

Thursday, March 30~ TK Open House 5:00pm (in-person, report to your child's classroom)

Monday, April 3 - Friday, April 7~ Book Fair in the Library (see PTA section for details)

Wednesday, April 5~ Spring Pictures 

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

April 10-April 14~ Spring Recess~ No School

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

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


School News

Library Corner

This month, we’ve been reading Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker and Devon Holzwarth. As it’s Women’s History Month, Deaf History Month, and Music in Schools Month, it’s been the perfect book to read to students. Many students are interested in learning more about Evelyn Glennie, the musician in this biography, who is still playing and teaching music. By clicking on her name, you and your student can explore her videos and music.

Please remind your students to put their library books in their backpacks every night so that the book comes to school with them each day. Students cannot check out books until they return overdue or lost books. If a student loses or damages a book, families have the following options: (1) Replace the book. The book can be used–it does not have to be new. (2) Replace the book with another title. Books from Little Free Libraries that are in good condition are a great way to replace one title with a different title. (3) Work with Mrs. Baikie to find a solution. The goal is to have all students checking books out to encourage a love of reading. 

 

Happy Reading! 

Mrs. Baikie

 

BUILDING STRONG FAMILIES: Celebrating Inclusion and Community, Tuesday, March 28, Theuerkauf MUR 

Theuerkauf and Stevenson families will join together with Project Cornerstone for a dynamic workshop, dinner, and an opportunity to build community on the evening of Tuesday, March 28th, from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Dinner and childcare will be provided at no cost. Please sign up here: tinyurl.com/MVWSDInclusion. Read more here: English | Español.

 

PTA News

This Wednesday!  @6pm PTA Meeting; Join for our PTA Meeting, elections will be held at this meeting-- make sure to attend  elections will be held!  Pizza and child care provided. Location, MUR!  See you there.

3.31.23 @ 8:15am, Cafecito: Join us for a coffee chat with the PTA. Come build community and meet other parents and caregivers from Theuerkauf Elementary.  Meeting location will be at the staff lounge located in the front office.  Coffee and donuts will be provided! Un Cafecito: Acompañamos a tomar un cafecito este viernes, 31 de marzo a las 8:15am.  Ven a conocer y platicar con otros padres de familia.  Te esperamos, habrá donuts y café, será en el salón de los maestros ubicado dentro de la oficina principal.  

4/3-4/7: Scholastic Book Fair! Get ready! This year's Book Fair is going to be epic! We've turned up the volume with more fun, more choices, and more excitement—so kids will arrive curious and leave bolder, prouder, and stronger than ever before. Here's what you need to know about our upcoming Fair:

  • Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly

  • You can sign up for Book Fair eWallet—a convenient digital payment account, so your child can shop the Fair cash-free. Grandparents, friends, and others can contribute to the eWallet to help build your home library.

  • The fair continues online until April 14!  We will provide a live link soon.

  • We are also looking for parent volunteers to help us staff the event- here are the times we need parents!

4/28, 3-6pm International Celebration: Dia del Niño: Save the date!  Dia del Niño is a day when children should feel special.  Mexico and other Latin countries will host festivals, music shows, magicians, special events with clowns and more for children on this day.  Our celebration will be a little different, nevertheless filled with fun and games.   More details to come soon- open to all family members!  Event hosted by Theuerkauf ELAC and Theuerkauf PTA.


District News

Electives selection for grades 5-7 opens soon

It is the time of year when our incoming middle school students (grades 5-7) choose their elective courses for next year. 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 talk with your student and then log in to your PowerSchool portal account (either student’s or parent’s) beginning March 27 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.
 

 

Get important text messages about your school!

We send text messages infrequently for the purpose of notifying you of emergencies or with important, time-sensitive information, such as we did last week during the power outages. Make sure you are signed up to receive them. You can subscribe to receive text messages from the District at any time by texting "Y" or “YES" to 67587 using the cell phone number that the District has on record.
 

 

Introducing MVWSD Plus+  

We are pleased to introduce a new district program that aims to provide qualifying students with enriching summer and after-school care. Two opportunities are coming soon:

+Summer Camp 2023

Summer learning is getting a makeover! +Summer Camp will be hosted at district sites and operated by partners YMCA and Right At School. These full day camps will feature YMCA’s and RAS’s award-winning programs as well as exciting and enriching workshops led by MVWSD teachers, CSMA Art and Music instructors, and Canopy outdoor educators.  

+Afterschool for the 2023-24 School Year

Qualifying students will be able to attend Right At School, YMCA, or Beyond the Bell after school clubs free of charge. These programs will support students from the end of the school day until 6pm and full-day during certain school year breaks, such as Thanksgiving week.

Who qualifies? 

Students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and/or English Learners. If you have questions or think you may qualify, contact your school office.

For more details, check out our MVWSD Plus+ website and please look for individualized applications by the end of March.

 

Seeking members for the Sustainability Task Force

MVWSD is seeking members for a Sustainability Task Force to work on current and future environmental and sustainable practices at our schools and campuses. The goal of the group is to give meaningful feedback to the superintendent and support MVWSD towards achieving its goals of becoming more green in its facilities and practices. 

We are seeking a combination of district-level leaders, principals, teachers, staff members, and parents who represent the interests of both elementary and middle schools. Committee members will be expected to attend and participate in meetings held every other month (on average) online during the school year in the evening hours. Applications are due by March 23 and found at this link. More information is at https://www.mvwsd.org/about/committees

 

Fuel for the Future: National Nutrition Month

Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.

Eating a variety of foods from different food groups is important for getting all the necessary nutrients our body needs. It’s also a great way to add flavor to our meals, incorporate family traditions during mealtime, and create a balanced and sustainable diet. 

MyPlate.gov (MiPlato en español) is a nutrition guide developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help people make healthy and balanced food choices. It provides guidance on the types and amounts of food we should eat to meet our daily nutritional needs.

 

Crittenden Middle School Spring Musical: Matilda JR. 

Crittenden Middle School proudly presents the story of a girl who dreams of a better life, and the children she inspires. This show will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.  Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Showtimes:

Friday, March 24th – 7:30 pm: http://ow.ly/qLRI50NcySz

Saturday, March 25th – 7:30 pm: http://ow.ly/ghOL50NcySx

Sunday, March 26th – 2:00 pm: http://ow.ly/XKZ850NcySw

Performances will be held in the Crittenden Middle School Auditorium, 1701 Rock Street. 

Parental Guidance Note: This show may not be appropriate for children under the age of 7. 

Tickets may be purchased in advance online (see the links on the attached flyer) or by dropping off your payment and order form at the Crittenden Front Office, no later than Monday, March 20th at 2:30pm. If shows are not sold out in advance, tickets will be available for purchase at the Box Office 30 minutes prior to showtime.  See the attached Ticket Order Form for details on pricing and online ticket purchases.

 

Graham Middle School Spring Musical: Moana Jr. 

Get ready to set sail on a musical adventure with "Moana Jr."! Featuring beloved songs like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome", this musical is a must-see for fans of all ages! 

The students, staff, and parents have been working so hard for months to present the best performance. Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of "Moana Jr." on stage! 

Tickets are now available for purchase here. The show information is as follows:

Graham Middle School Auditorium

March 24th and 25th 7:30 pm

March 26th 2:00 pm

Adult Ticket: $15

Student Ticket: $10

 

Parent University: Preparing for Middle School

Date and Time: April 4, 2023  5:30 - 7:00 p.m.  Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu040423

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

 

Have you donated to MVEF to support this school year? 

MVEF still needs to raise an additional $250k 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

During the next few weeks, MVEF is partnering with school sites and PTAs across MVWSD to welcome all families, including newly-enrolled families, to our schools. After several years of virtual or modified events, this is the first year that MVWSD families will experience on-site Spring Open House and Welcome events which will feature additional information about how MVEF supports MVWSD. We hope to see you at one of these events soon!

Thursday March 23 - Elementary School Open House Nights
Thursday March 30 - Middle School Open House Nights
Friday April 21 - Crittenden Middle School Welcome Potluck for New Families
Saturday April 29 - MVEF Spring Gala

 

Living Classroom: Docent Training Date Change 

Do you enjoy spending time with kids and being outdoors? Volunteer with us to teach fun, engaging STEM-based lessons in your local school! Living Classroom teaches science by using our school gardens as our classroom. No prior teaching experience is necessary. Bring a friend and join the fun!

Come to our training sessions from 9am-12pm in Heritage Park, 771 Rengstorff Ave. in Mountain View:

March 27, 2023 (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Lessons)

April 17, 2023 rescheduled from March 6, 2023 (Kinder & 1st Grade Lessons)

For more information, visit www.living-classroom.org or contact [email protected].

 

Health and Wellness Parenting Tip: Anxiety Curve

Stress is a subjective sensation and is commonly misunderstood as a negative feeling. However, it’s not always bad. Of course, stress differs among all individuals, and stress management is no one-size fits all solution either. A study found that low-to-moderate stress has been found to benefit individuals in terms of resiliency, decreasing their chance of distress. This was tested with the anxiety-performance curve in mind. 

 

Here is a visual of the anxiety-performance curve:

Anxiety-performance curve shows that performance and arousal — that is, stress and motivation — rise in tandem to an optimal level called eustress (think of it as the “sweet spot” for stress). Additional stress beyond that peak tips into distress and impaired performance.

Here are some ways to utilize the anxiety curve when you are going into distress: 

  1. Set realistic goals and deadlines. Consider what you realistically can get done. 

  2. Seek out a challenge that interests you. This can be related to your career, an exercise goal, or a hobby. Make sure it gives you the motivation to engage. 

  3. Setting time-sensitive goals. Setting time-sensitive goals ensures you are accountable to others, which is an excellent way to engage that stress “sweet spot.” 

To learn more, click here. 

These tips came directly from the free online website of Big Think, reviewed by Kevin Dickinson.

 

March 2023 CAC Events 

SELPA 1 CAC and the Learning Challenge Committee are your groups for special education and broader learning challenge needs. We are ALL having learning challenges right now, and CAC and LCC are here to help. If you have questions about learning challenges and special education needs, email [email protected] or check out www.selpa1cac.org

We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children: Try a Sensory Diet

Behavioral Panel of Experts - Challenging Behaviors and Strategies at different ages

Presented by SELPA 1 CAC / Palo Alto CAC

Wednesday March 22, 7 pm on Zoom

Does your child have behavioral challenges at school and at home?

Behavior is communication. Join the CAC and expert panelists from CAPTAIN and PENT for a presentation on strategies to help with behaviors at different ages. Although CAPTAIN is focused on those students with autism spectrum concerns, these insights are suitable for all students. Have a specific question - submit your question ahead of time to our panel here: Questions for the Panel

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkduCurTorHNSOp-szKwNTJdpzNXprqunq

 

Missed our Parent Education events last year?

We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including last year’s Inclusive Fun Fair for summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy7IcVz-4LTDxv2Jaq13nw

 

CTE Summer Exploration Program 

Limited spaces are available for CTE’s Summer Exploration program (June 5 - 29) for students grades 7 - 12. The program is interactive with a "learn by doing" focus and students experience hands-on learning on STEAM topics. Classes include Animation, Fashion Design & Textile Art, Film & Video Production, Medical Assisting, Medical Science/Health Careers, and Veterinary Science. Registration opens in April. For more information, visit www.SVCTE.org or contact Kiran Grewal at [email protected].

 

Find Your Fit: Teen Career Day 

The View Teen Center is hosting a career day for students on Saturday, March 25 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Find Your Fit: Teen Career Day is a wonderful opportunity to gain perspective about different industry careers and network with professionals regarding potential jobs and internships! This FREE event is open to students in 6th-12th grade. Register in advance here.

Attachments

Crittenden Middle School Spring Musical: Matilda JR. 

Graham Middle School Spring Musical: Moana Jr. 

Living Classroom: Docent Training Date Change 

CTE Summer Exploration Program 

Find Your Fit: Teen Career Day 

Book Fair 

 

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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