Thursday, January 30th- MVWSD Board Meeting of Trustees Meeting 6:00-10:00pm (Zoom)

Friday, January 31st- ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:00am

Friday, February 7th- Friendship Dance 6:00-8:00pm (Theuerkauf MUR)

Thursday, February 13th- MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00-10:00pm (Zoom)

Friday, February 14th- End of Trimester- Early Dismissal- Dismissal is 12:10pm

February 17-18- Washington & Lincoln Day- Holiday- No School

February 19-21- Winter Break- No School

Friday, February 28- Coffee & Donuts w/ Principal & PTA @ 8:15am near the flag pole in the front of the school.

 

Lost and Found

An impressive collection of coats and jackets is currently in the lost and found!  Please claim if they belong to your kiddos! Clothes will be donated on February 28th.

     

 

Cool Cat Winners going above and beyond to show or give INTEGRITY  for Jan. 29th

Sevier I                  Rm 16

Daniela D.              Rm 11

Matias V.                Rm 14

Ekklisia T.               Rm 13

Emily S.                 Rm 7

Ian R.                     Rm 9

Manav V.                Rm 8

Bryan S.                 Rm 17

Ayrton Y.                 Rm 18

Oliver L.                  Rm 19

Alex M.                   Rm 20

Kashish T.               Rm 21

 Important Notice RE: Items dropped off during school hours.

One of our core values at Theuerkauf is Responsibility. There has been a large increase in items forgotten and dropped off items during the day. Sometimes it is challenging to get items to students in a timely manner and we want to minimize interruptions of lessons during class time so all students can stay focused on their education. 

Please support your child at home by going through a quick checklist before leaving: Warm jacket, hat or gloves if needed, lunch box, backpack, instrument, homework, etc. 

Thank you for supporting our core value of Responsibility and minimizing classroom interruptions. 

 

If you do need to drop off a forgotten item please label it with the following so there is no confusion or mix ups. Please note that the office staff will do their best to get it to the students in a timely manner: 

1. Student name

2. Grade

3. Teacher and Room #

 

LIBRARY CORNER

What we’ve been reading at the Theuerkauf Library

In January, all grades from TK-5 listened to a story about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 

Each grade is also listening and discussing a picture book that supports the unit of knowledge they are working on in their classrooms. 

 

Reminder for Library Book Expectations:

Many books are coming back to the TH library late, and far too often, damaged. Please remind your students to take care of library books. Books are checked out for one week at a time. To renew a book, a student must show the book to Ms. Baikie in the library. 

 

• 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) Work with Mrs. Baikie to find a solution. 

• If a book is damaged, please do not tape or glue the book–Ms. Baikie has special glues and tapes that repair books. 

 

Encouraging your student to read and fostering a love of reading is the goal of having library visits every week. Please contact me if you have any questions. 

 

School Counselor Update

What We’ve Been Learning in SEL Lessons with Mrs. Wilson

Why SEL Is Important
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students develop essential life skills like managing emotions, resolving conflicts, and communicating effectively. Research shows that children who develop empathy and practice kindness are more likely to engage in positive behaviors, show greater empathy, and avoid aggressive actions. These skills empower students to build positive relationships, navigate challenges, and create a supportive and respectful school community.

 

Grades TK-1: Ways to Be Kind
This month, our youngest learners have been exploring how kindness can help others feel good. They’ve practiced kind acts such as helping in different scenarios, asking, “Are you okay?”, and offering to keep someone company. These lessons encourage empathy and thoughtfulness while helping children build stronger connections with others.

 

Try This at Home: Encourage your child to think of kind acts they could do for someone, such as a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor. Help them identify a family member or close friend who might enjoy some company, and suggest they ask, “Would you like some company?”

 

Grades 2-5: Problem-Solving with Kindness
Older students have been learning constructive ways to handle problems with kindness and empathy. They’ve practiced stating problems without blame, brainstorming multiple solutions, choosing the best solution, and making amends when accidents happen. These skills equip students to resolve conflicts respectfully and consider the perspectives of others.

 

Try This at Home: Ask your child how they’d state a problem without blaming others or why it’s helpful to think of more than one solution. Encourage them to reflect on how they can make amends after a mistake by doing more than just saying “sorry.”

 

By supporting these lessons at home, you can help our Cheetahs grow into a thoughtful, empathetic, and resilient individuals!

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Jan. 30. Closed session will begin at 4:30 p.m., and open/public session begins at 6 p.m.

Some of the topics include:

• Health and Wellness: Mental Health Continuum

• Superintendent’s Search

• Travel Policy

• Acknowledging Black History Month
  
  

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

 

LCAP survey opening on January 27

The District is updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan). Your responses to the survey will guide the update of our District plan for the 2025-26 school year.

Parents, please click on your unique survey link that will be sent to your email address on Jan. 27. Your survey link is unique to your household and only one parent/guardian can complete it.

Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 will also be taking the LCAP survey. More information found here: mvwsd.org/LCAP

 

Open Enrollment for 2025-26 ends February 7

The Mountain View Whisman School District’s open enrollment ends February 7.

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 21 to February 7.

For families enrolling NEW students: Please check www.mvwsd.org/register for how to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 21 to February 7. 

If you missed the virtual elementary school info nights last week for neighborhood and choice schools, recordings and presentations are available on the school websites. Click on the links to each school's page below: Bubb, Castro, Imai, Landels, Mistral, Monta Loma, Stevenson, Theuerkauf, Vargas

There's help if you need it! In person registration help nights: (Sign up here to attend any of the help sessions: http://mvw.sd/help)

* Vargas Elementary  (220 N. Whisman Rd) January 30, 2025 @ 5-7 p.m.

* Theuerkauf Elementary (1625 San Luis) February 5, 2025 @ 5-7 p.m.

 

MVWSD Preschool Program: Apply now for August

Explore our flexible, low-cost and convenient options for all families in our high-quality preschool program. Preschool offers affordable tuition and an 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. class, in addition to extended/full-day class until 3 p.m. and part-day (3 hour) classes.

Our preschool offers age-appropriate early math, language, literacy and science inquiry instruction, as well as social-emotional development. Children who will be 3- or 4-years old are eligible (Minimum age: 3 years old by December 1, 2025. Maximum age: 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025.)

Learn more at these parent meetings:

January 29 @ 4:00 pm (English) Zoom link: http://mvw.sd/PK129

February 6 @ 4:00 pm (Spanish) Zoom link: http://mvw.sd/PK26  

Preschool is currently located near Castro/Mistral Elementary Schools (1850 Latham St.) and Theuerkauf Elementary (1625 San Luis Ave.)

For more info go to www.mvwsd.org/preschool or call 650-526-3560.

 

MVEF - SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR SPRING GALA ON SAT., APRIL 26TH, FROM 6-10 pm!

Join Us to Celebrate 40 Years of MVEF! 

Four decades of empowering students and strengthening our community - let's celebrate together! Save the date for an evening of fun, entertainment, inspiration and connection.

 Mark your calendars and stay tuned for ticket info and more event details. It’s a great chance to unwind, connect with friends and other community members to support our students. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 

Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 06:00-10:00 pm | Los Altos Community Center

 

MVEF IS SEEKING NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES!

Do you care deeply about public education and want to make a meaningful impact in our community? Or do you know someone who would be a great fit for MVEF?

We are actively recruiting Board Members and School Representatives to join our team!

 Interested or have a recommendation?

• Learn more here.

• Email [email protected] to express interest or share recommendations.

• Our recruiting committee will connect directly with all candidates.

Together, we can strengthen our schools and community! 

Friendship Dance

Come and join us for the Friendship Dance on Friday February 7th from 6-8 pm at the Theuerkauf MUR!  We’ll have lots of food, crafts, hair spray, music, and, of course, dancing!! 

Thanks to everybody who has already signed up to volunteer and donate, but there are still a few helping hands needed to make this dance a success for our school. Thanks for donating or volunteering your time - we appreciate it very much! You can start dropping off non-food items on Monday February 3rd, there will be a box labeled Friendship Dance. 

 

Yearbook: We are looking for photos for yearbook! Yearbook Committee is collecting photos. If you have photos to share from Walk-a-thon, Trunk or Treat, Winter Wonderland, etc you can upload them here or email them to [email protected](Reminders: To buy or donate a yearbook click here;For financial assistance getting a yearbook please contact our SCEF Ms. Lisset Tellez. [email protected] ; OPT-OUT: If you prefer that your child NOT be pictured in the yearbook at all, please contact us at [email protected] )

 

Peninsula Symphony Assembly - Parent Volunteers Needed On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the Peninsula Symphony will be coming to do a pair of assemblies for our students. Please volunteer to supervise the students in the MUR so that we can give our teachers the gift of time and  allow them the opportunity to collaborate and plan lessons during their class’ assembly period. Sign up here!

 

MVLA Speaker Series: Accountable with Dashka Slater 

Join the next MVLA Speaker Series presentation, “Accountable: The True Story of a Local Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives it Changed,” with Dashka Slater on Tuesday, February 4 at 7PM at the Mountain View High School Theater. Join the author for a discussion of the propulsive and thought-provoking true story about the revelation of a racist social media account that changes everything for a group of high school students and begs the question: What does it mean to be held accountable for harm that takes place behind a screen? Register for this free event here.

Silicon Valley Reads 2025 Program

Silicon Valley Reads is a community engagement program that features books and an annual theme to bring people together by providing more than 150 free, public events each year in February and March. The 2025 theme is "Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World."  We will learn from those on the forefront of the AI movement, explore ways in which technology impacts our daily lives and future, address questions related to ethics, and discuss how we can create a positive impact using the tools that are rapidly becoming accessible to each of us. For the featured books for adults and children and 2025 calendar of events, visit https://www.siliconvalleyreads.org/.

SCCOE Tobacco Use Prevention Education 

Join the SCCOE Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program for a bilingual event on the harmful effects of vaping and cannabis on adolescent health. This session will provide you with essential knowledge and resources to guide and support your children in making informed decisions. Learn strategies for starting conversations about these issues and connect with other parents dedicated to fostering a healthier environment for our youth. Sessions will be held at 5:30pm on February 6, April 2, and April 9. See flyer for more details or contact Alison Medeiros at [email protected].

SCCOE Tobacco Use Prevention Education