August 13, 2025

August 13, 2025

 

 Principal's Message

Welcome back cheetahs and welcome to our new cheetah families! I am your principal, Danielle Lyons and I am so happy to be back with the students and families this week! 

If you are meeting me for the first time, I’d love to share a little about myself with you! I am originally from Connecticut and am very family oriented with my huge italian family! I was an elementary school teacher in CT, then moved here with my husband for his tech job. I immediately fell in love with MVWSD and who can beat this wonderful weather? I was a teacher and instructional coach at Stevenson and then transitioned to the Assistant Principal role at Crittenden Middle school. This is now my third year at Theuerkauf as principal and I couldn’t be more grateful and energized for what's to come this year!

Our staff is also the best in the district in my humble opinion. The way everyone works together for the common goal of supporting each child to succeed at their level is incredible. Our grade level cohort teachers will be working closely together throughout the year to really dissect what each child needs to continue to grow.

Pick Up/ Drop Off Expectations: 

For the side yellow inlet on San Luis Ave, this is a drop off zone ONLY. We now have fancy new traffic wands and three teachers to help direct you to pull all the way to the end, drop your child off at the end, and then safely leave straight down the street. As always, NO U Turns please! Safety is our number one priority! We want all students, cars, and cheetah families safe. This may mean that you have to take a couple of extra minutes to drive around the block, but it’s worth it for safety first! For more detailed pick up and drop off information, please read that section under “School News”. Thank you!!!

iReady Reading and Math Diagnostic Next Week! 

On Monday - Friday next week students will be taking their first iReady diagnostic. There are three times we take this assessment throughout the year. This helps teachers understand where each child is as with many of their skills. Please do not book any appointments next week so students can focus on doing their best. If you have to go to an appointment please reach out to your child’s teacher and front office to let them know ahead of time. Remind your child that this is to show the teacher what you know. It’s okay if there are questions you don’t know, that is why you are here at school with us! 

TK ONLY - Minimum days from 8/13- 8/22 as we help them transition into school

Thank you for all of the smiles and waves in the morning and afternoon! It has been a fantastic start to the year and I am excited to continue our partnership this year! Stay tuned on Facebook and Instagram for pictures of our Bubble Dance Party on Friday to celebrate our first week of school!

Goooooo Cheetahs!

With gratitude,

Danielle Lyons

 
 Important Dates

 

Thursday August 14th-22nd~ Minimum Day for only TK~ Dismissal at 12:10pm

Friday, August 22~ PTA/Principal’s Coffee 8:15-9:00am by the flagpole

Tuesday, August 19~ PTA Meeting 3:00-4:00pm

Wednesday, August 27~ Back to School Night 

Monday, September 1~ Labor Day~ No School

 
 School News

 

School & Community Engagement Facilitator (SCEF)

As part of Theuerkauf’s plan, we have a School and Community Engagement Facilitator who works to ensure that every student, family, and community member feels valued and supported while working, learning, and partnering with our school. Here at Theuerkauf, Lisset Tellez Garduno is our School and Community Engagement Facilitator. She specifically focuses on students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and/or English learners and works to organize parent education and support positive student behavior. Lisset’s overall goal is to increase parent education and engagement, support our PTA and ELAC parent groups, and form strong relationships with students and families. She can be reached at [email protected]

 

Medication Forms

If your child requires medication to be kept at school, please email Ms. Sherri Minor [email protected] to be emailed medication release forms during our first week of school and then return the form ASAP (we cannot administer any medication without the form).  Please note that all medication, even over the counter ones, need a medication form signed by your doctor.  

 

Bell Schedules and Schools’ Start/End Times

Please click here to view our school’s updated schedule for the 2025-26 school year. Please note that Thursdays end early at all elementary school sites, and last days of trimesters are minimum days during the 2025-26  school year. 

 

Please click here for the District Calendar At A Glance 

 

Drop Off and Pick-up Procedures:

Morning Drop off - Vehicle Drop

TH School Map Link with direction

  • School starts at 8:15am - Drop off starts no earlier than 8:00am

  • K-2nd grade - drop off using the drive through on San Luis Ave. Please DO NOT park in the drive through. You can park on the street if you are not doing a quick drop off. 

  • 3rd-5th grade - drop off using the drive through parking lot at the front gate. 

  • Adults should stay inside the vehicle. *If a student needs help getting out of a car seat/seat belt, please do so quickly. Have all materials (lunch, backpacks, masks) ready to go for easy drop-off. Two staff members will be at the drop off location to help support line movement to make drop off quicker. . 

  • Students will walk to the blacktop to play until 8:10am

  • At 8:10am the warning bell will ring. Students will walk to their room number line. 

  • Please leave campus immediately after drop off to allow for flow of traffic. You can wave goodbye to your child as they walk through the gate with their teacher. Please do not go through the gate. This will help support campus safety. 

  • At 8:15 AM the final bell will ring, your child needs to report to the main office for a tardy pass. 

TK Families:

Please use the side pedestrian walkway around the school and drop your child off at their front door. The TK teachers and instructional aids will open the front door starting at 8:00am.

 

Pedestrian Drop-Off: 

Drop off time begins 15 minutes before the school day (8:00AM)

We recommend parents/guardians drop off their child(ren) at the main front gate entrance or come in through the back field.

Students will walk to the blacktop in the back of the school. 

**If your child is allowed to walk or bike to and from school, parents MUST email our front office staff giving authorization. Please email our school clerk, Ms. Sherri Minor [email protected]

At 8:15 AM the final bell will ring, your child needs to report to the main office for a tardy pass. 

 

Commuting to school safely

It's critically important for children's safety that you take time now before the start of the school year to plan their route, tune up their wheels and talk with them about road safety. Please see your inbox for a letter this week from Dr. Rudolph that contains resources on our bike safety webpage.

 

Dismissal:

Kinder Dismissal at 1:45pm: 

 For parents who are walking to campus

    Students will exit from the middle gate. 

You can wait outside of that gate for the teacher to release your child to you. 

 

For Parents who are picking up by vehicle

Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children in their car should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible. 

Teachers will help students connect to their vehicle/parents/guardians using the drive through on San Luis Ave.

 

After School Program

If a child is attending an after school program, they will get picked up directly from their classroom. 

 

1st to 2nd grade Dismissal at 2:50pm

Teachers and Front Office Staff will help students connect to their vehicle at the middle gate on San Luis Ave. 

Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.

Parents can also park and wait at the middle gate for their child to be released. Please do not park in the drive through lane on San Luis Ave. 

 

3rd to 5th grade Dismissal at 2:50 (3rd) 2:55pm (4th/5th):

Teachers and Front Office Staff will help students connect to their vehicle at the front gate. 

Parents/guardians or other individuals picking up children should remain in their vehicles to the extent possible.

Parents can also park and wait at the front gate for their child to be released. Please do not park in the drive through lane on San Luis Ave. 

*If you have a student in 3rd-5th and a younger sibling, please have the older sibling and younger sibling exit together at the front gate. 

    

Students attending YMCA  

YMCA - K students will be picked up at their classroom. 

All other students will meet at room 26

All other students will meet at room 22

Beyond The Bell (BTB) - Students will meet at the MUR or Room 18

*Please make sure to contact the program coordinators for absences or early pickups. 

 

Reporting an Absence

Please call the office at 650-903-6925 or email  [email protected]  to report an absence or late arrival.  Provide the following information: date of absence, student’s name, grade and room number, reason for absence, name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.

 

School Supplies and Voluntary Donation Form

We will be furnishing all basic school supplies and textbooks for all students. Donations of items and funds for this purpose are appreciated, but not required. For those able to donate, please fill out this form and bring it to the front office, along with your donation, and our front office staff will provide you with a receipt. These donations can also go towards fun events for recess activities or assemblies!

 

Transportation

The Mountain View Whisman School District Transportation Department provides transportation for students who are residents of Moffett and students with disabilities who are eligible for this service. For more information, and to apply for a bus pass, please visit this web page.

 

Stay in touch

Please take a moment and follow our district and school social media accounts. Staying in touch with us on social media will keep you in the loop on important happenings, as well as provide a critical line of communication during emergencies.

Click on the account links below and like or follow to stay in touch!

Mountain View Whisman School District  - FacebookInstagramYouTubeVimeo

Theuerkauf Elementary - FacebookInstagram

 

 
 District News

Volunteering next year

Thank you to the 800+ parents who completed the process to become MVWSD volunteers last year! We’ve been working hard to make registering to be a volunteer more convenient while keeping schools safe. Beginning August 13, 2025, you will be able to start your application for next year. Details are here: mvwsd.org/volunteers.

 

MVWSD Preschool Program: Apply now for August

Explore our flexible, low-cost and convenient options for all families in our high-quality preschool program. MVWSD preschool has lower 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 2, 2025. Maximum age: 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025.) 

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

All 3- and 4-year-olds residing in the Castro School boundaries are eligible for FREE, part-day state preschool at Latham.

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

 

Back to School Celebration  

Saturday, August 16th

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Graham Middle School

This event is for all the families of MVWSD! Whether you're a returning family or new to the community, this event is all about building connections, sharing resources, and celebrating our district spirit.

Event Highlights:

  • School Information: Each school will have a booth with valuable information to help you navigate the year ahead.

  • After-School Programs: Get assistance and sign up for after-school programs.

  • PTA & School Gear: Check out the latest school gear and meet members from the PTA of each school.

  • Meet Our School and district Leaders: An exciting opportunity to meet our superintendent and principals.

Community Resource Booths: Connect with local organizations such as CSA, Teen Center, MVPD, MV Library, Living Classroom,Mentor Tutor Connection and more.

Music & Food: Food trucks selling delicious food and desserts!

This event is open to all families in our district. It's the perfect chance to meet fellow parents, learn about important programs, and start the school year off with excitement and community spirit.

We can’t wait to see you there!

 

Mental health matters, and we're taking action!

MVWSD is proud to partner with the statewide Children & Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) to expand access to mental health services for students and prioritize early intervention. The good news is that with parents’ help, the cost of these services can be subsidized by California’s health plans and insurers. 

Parents, we need your help to access these additional resources. California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools for covered mental health services provided to students. This means more resources for our students and families! 

Health plans and insurers will pay for mental health services provided to your child in a school-linked setting, and there will not be any out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., co-payments, deductibles) for you and your family. State law prohibits health plans and insurers from passing any of the cost of these services on to families. 

Look for more information soon about how you can securely sign up online to provide your insurance information to help schools get reimbursed to keep our mental health and wellness programs sustainable. www.mvwsd.org/CYBHI 

 

CAASPP Scores are Now Available!

CAASPP student (ELA, Math) score reports (from the Spring tests, current 4th- through 8th-graders) were released by the state and are now available for parents on the PowerSchool Parent Portal (under “Score Reports” - choose the 2024-25 school year). To learn more about how to understand your child’s CAASPP score report, go to the Starting Smarter website at https://www.ca.startingsmarter.org/.  If you need assistance with logging on to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your student’s school office.

 

Welcome from MVEF – Why It Matters

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year from the Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF)! MVEF is a volunteer-led nonprofit that funds essential programs not covered by public school budgets - like art, music, hands-on science, middle school athletics, and extra English teachers to reduce class sizes.

Thanks to donations from parents like YOU, every MVWSD student benefits. But these programs depend on your support. The suggested donation for 2025-26 is $1,100 per student (or any amount that works for you). All gifts are tax-deductible and make a big impact. And you can double your impact with corporate matching!

What MVEF funds:

  • Art & Music (via CSMA) - TK–5

  • Hands-On-Science (Living Classroom) - TK–6

  • Science Enrichment & Field Trips - Grades 4–5

  • One Additional English Teacher in each middle school to reduce class sizes

  • Athletics and Supplemental Funding for Clubs & Performing Arts in Middle Schools

Over 80% of our funding comes from MVWSD families. Visit mvef.org to learn more and donate here today. Thank you for helping us enrich every student’s education!

 
 PTA News

You can now join a specific classroom in Konstella by logging into your account, navigating to "Your Children" and then selecting "Join Classroom". Using Konstella is a great way to keep involved with your child’s class, PTA events, and general school reminders. Join by Aug 27 and be entered to win Cheetah Gear. https://www.konstella.com/cd/VUATEB

There are lots of ways to volunteer! Watch Konstella for details or email [email protected] if you are interested: Emergency kit snacks update, Yearbook committee, Walk-a-thon Committee, Library helper, Trunk or Treat Committee, Project Cornerstone Reader, Room Lead and Living Classroom. 

Join us on Tuesday, Aug 19 after school for a PTA Meet & Greet by the playground.

visit us at https://sites.google.com/site/theuerkaufpta/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

Ahora puedes unirte a un aula específica en Konstella iniciando sesión en tu cuenta, navegando a "Tus hijos" y luego seleccionando "Unirse al aula". Usar Konstella es una excelente manera de mantenerte al tanto de la clase de tu hijo, los eventos de la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (PTA) y los recordatorios escolares generales. Únete antes del 27 de agosto y participa para ganar artículos de Cheetahhttps://www.konstella.com/cd/VUATEB

¡Hay muchas maneras de ser voluntario! Sigue a Konstella para obtener más información o envía un correo electrónico a [email protected] si te interesa: Actualización sobre el kit de refrigerios de emergencia, Comité del anuario, Comité de caminatas, Ayudante de biblioteca, Comité de "Travesaño o Trato", Lector del Proyecto. Cornerstone, Líder de aula y Aula Viviente.

Ya sea que tengas pies ágiles, un corazón bondadoso o solo tengas 20 minutos libres, hay una manera de ayudar.

Únase a nosotros el martes 19 de agosto después de la escuela para una reunión de la PTA en el patio de juegos.

Visítanos en https://sites.google.com/site/theuerkaufpta/

 
 From Our Community Partners

 

City of Mountain View: Hazardous Waste Drop-off 

Free household hazardous waste collection event coming to Mountain View on Saturday, August 23! Safely dispose of paint, batteries, electronics, auto fluids, used oil, garden chemicals, propane tanks, fluorescent and LED lightbulbs, aerosols and more.  This event accepts unwanted or expired drugs from both people and pets to help keep homes safe for children, seniors, and animals.

 

Appointments are required; call 408-299-7300 or book your appointment online at HHW.org. To schedule online, click the blue “Make a Free Appointment” button, then select Mountain View on the calendar for August 23. Upon appointment booking, you will receive the specific Mountain View drop-off location.

 
 Flyers

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2025 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.