Dear Cheetah Community, 

This month is Attendance Awareness Month! We kicked off the month by announcing the winner of our monthly attendance award at our Cool Cats Assembly. 5th grade won again! They earned a 2nd attendance award pin for their sash!  Nice job getting your students to school, on time, so they can access all the great learning that happens at Theuerkauf! At the end of the month 5th graders have put together an attendance awareness spirit week! Hopefully they can share the winning title with another grade for October!

See below for attachment

 

We also celebrated the grade level who had the cleanest lunch tables! They earned the Clean Tables Award pin! Each day tables earn a sticker for the cleanest table, then at the end of the month we have an overall winner. This process starts new each month so anyone can be a winner! The first winner of the year is Kindergarten! At the Cool Cats Assembly they were awarded this pin and we all reminded ourselves that this is our school! We are all in charge of caring for our campus!

We are also in charge of caring for each other! Today at the Cool Cats Assembly our cheetahs who are now English proficient were awarded a reclassification pin for their class and received a special certificate while their peers cheered so loudly for them! With the continued theme of celebrations, our school was awarded THREE Healthy School Awards from last year! 

1. Strengthening Social Emotional Health & Learning

2. Increasing Family and Community Engagement

3. Cultivating Staff Well-Being

It was a wonderful morning celebrating our Cheetahs, both students and staff!

 

Commemoration of 9/11

This week marks the 24th Anniversary of the commemoration of the tragic events of 9/11. 

On Thursday, we will be taking a moment to reflect on what it means to commemorate: To commemorate can mean to remember something, but remembering an event is only a small part of what it means to commemorate. For our moment of reflection, our students will sit or stand in silence all together as a school. During this moment when we are all quiet, we will think about how we can truly commemorate this day by committing to doing one of the following:

• Be kind to someone today. On 9/11, people who didn’t even know one another reached out to pass along kindness and compassion.

• Offer a helping hand. Thousands of firefighters, police officers, and even ordinary people risked their lives for others.

• Get to know someone you don’t already know. Our school is made up of people who look differently than you and may think differently from you. This makes our school a better place. Our differences are our strengths.

 

With Gratitude,

Principal Danielle Lyons

 

Wednesday, September 10~ Picture Day

Thursday, September 11~ Library Bookmobile 12:00pm

Thursday, September 12 ~ ELAC Meeting 9-10:30am  Zoom Link

Friday, September 19~ PTA/Principal’s Coffee 8:15-9:00am by the flagpole

Tuesday, September 23~ PTA Meeting 6:30-7:30 pm 

Friday, September 26 ~ Walkathon 3:15-5:30pm 

Thursday, October 2~ Library Bookmobile 12:00pm

Thursday, October 9- Teacher Service Day_ No School

Friday, October 10- Recess Day- No School

Monday, October 13-17- Conference Week- Minimum Days, Dismissal 12:10pm

 

Cool Cat Winners going above and beyond to show one of the Core Values (Respect, Integrity, Courage, Responsibility, Perseverance) for September 5th.

Mila F.                       Rm 13

Benjamin C.              Rm 14

Theodore M.             Rm 15

Zoey L.                     Rm 11

Eleanora S.              Rm 16

Adithya L.                 Rm 6

Liv B.                        Rm 6

Anjali C.                   Rm 8

Rosa B.                    Rm 9

Impana P.                 Rm 17

Shiv L.                      Rm 18

Cruz C.                     Rm 20

Max D.                      Rm 20

Elijah Y.                     Rm 21

Avery P.                    Rm 22

Showing Up Matters….for learning, for friendships, for success 

Why is it important that students are in school regularly? Research shows that school attendance is a strong indicator of success. Missing just two days of school a month is 10% of the school year, and negatively affects a student’s academic performance. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit early so they learn that going to school on time, every day, is important. 

 

When we reduce chronic absence, we improve graduation rates, increase academic achievement and give young people the best chance at success in their adult life. Read here the FAQs about MVWSD student attendance. 

 

Puberty Talk Information Session

As part of the California Health Education Content standards for 5th grade, the Mountain View Whisman School District is required to provide 5th grade students with a unit on human growth and development. The District continues to use the Puberty Talk program, a five-hour program developed by Health Connected, a non-profit agency dedicated to helping young people feel confident and supported to make informed decisions about their own sexual health. 

 

Your 5th grade teacher will communicate your school's scheduled week. The classes will be taught by trained health educators from Health Connected during school time. Please click here to register for the Puberty Talk parent information session on September 15th at 5:30 pm for MVWSD parents only. Parents who wish to know more about the Puberty Talk sessions and content can see the Family Guide here. More information: https://www.health-connected.org/.

 

Curriculum information

The Mountain View Whisman School District engages in a thoughtful process to select curricular materials that align with state and local content standards and support academic achievement. Parents and guardians have the ability to review curriculum from their children's classroom by request. MVWSD will consider parent requests to excuse students from parts of instruction in accordance with applicable law. If you have any concerns about any curricular materials, including concerns related to personal religious beliefs, please contact your child’s principal.

 

Suicide prevention 

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Know the warning signs of suicide risk in young people. 

Behavior changes can include:

• Talking about or making plans for suicide

• Expressing hopelessness about the future

• Displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress.

• Worrisome changes in behavior.

If you or someone you know is displaying these warning signs, help is available. Text, call, or chat 988 from anywhere at any time. Visit 988lifeline.org for more information.

Content provided by: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

 

SEL Survey and Mental Health Screening Parent Notification and Opt Out

Parents received an email that provides information about our SEL Survey process. Please take time to review it. 

In grades 3-8, three times this school year—in September, November, and March— students will take a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Survey (Gr 3-5 ENG/ ESP & Gr 6-8 ENG/ ESP) through Panorama, which replaces the twice-yearly Sown to Grow SEL survey. This new tool helps us efficiently & effectively identify students who may need extra support, such as school counseling or participation in a small group intervention.

In grades 6-8, if a student’s SEL Survey results fall in the “moderate” or “high” needs range, they will meet up to two times in a small group with a school counselor. These sessions use our District’s SEL curriculum, CharacterStrong, and include completing the Youth Needs Screener. 

Paper copies of the SEL Survey and Youth Needs Screener are available for review at our school. For questions, please email [email protected] or call 650-526-3500 x1130. We appreciate your partnership in ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed this school year.

 

i-Ready Diagnostic 1 Assessment Scores (grades K-8)

Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal on September 8, 2025, after 4:00 p.m. Reports are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/ under “Parent Reports” for each of your students. Steps for accessing reports on PowerSchool Parent Portal are here: Accessing PowerSchool Parent Portal i-Ready Reports. If you have difficulty logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact your school’s office.

 

Get Involved And Become an MVEF Ambassador!
Are you passionate about education and community? Become an MVEF Ambassador! Ambassadors are volunteers who help raise awareness, support outreach, and strengthen the connection between our schools and MVEF. We are especially looking at the following schools: Monta Loma, Castro, Imai, Vargas, and Theuerkauf.

What Ambassadors Do:

• Share updates with your school community

• Represent MVEF at events

• Help with outreach and fundraising

• Provide valuable feedback

Who Can Join:
Parents, teachers, alumni, and community members — all are welcome!

Time Commitment:
Just 2–4 hours/month (flexible) + optional events

Perks:
Volunteer hours, MVEF swag, community connections, and more!

Interested? Contact us.

Let’s make a difference together!

You can raise funds for walk-a-thon by collecting checks and cash in the walk-a-thon envelopes and with on-line donations through 99pledges. Set up your 99pledges page by clicking on the main fundraiser link (https://app.99pledges.com/fund/fastfeetkindhearts) and clicking on “Add a participant” at the bottom of the page. (Making your 99pledges page ensures that your class gets credit towards the class participation prize and allows you to add a personalized message.)

Let’s Make the Library Shine Together!

We’re giving the library a fresh look and need adult volunteers to help. From decorating room dividers to adding welcoming touches to other parts of the library, it’s a fun way to support the school and make the space brighter for our kids.

Come join us—no special skills required, just your energy and ideas! Reach out to Ms. Baikie at [email protected] in the library for details and schedule. 

 

Join MVLA for an evening with Jeff Selingo, author of Dream School: Finding the College That's Right For You

Attending college has long been a rite of passage for millions of teens and a bedrock of the American dream. But that well-worn path has lately taken a wrong turn, denying admission even to super-achievers and putting intolerable stress on family finances. Bestselling author Jeff Selingo shifts the spotlight from how colleges pick students to how students can better pick colleges in his new book coming out this September: Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right For You.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 7PM, Los Altos High School - Eagle Theater

Register for this free event

For more information, visit mvlaspeakerseries.org. Events are free thanks to our generous sponsors: MVLA High School Foundation, Los Altos Educational Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation, and the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.

 

Free, Fun JRMF Math Festival

Every student can be a mathematician! Join JRMF for a day of play and problem-solving. At the JRMF Math Festival at Sports Basement Sunnyvale, children and families drop in to enjoy a variety of fun, hands-on math puzzles and games.

The JRMF Math Festival at Sports Basement Sunnyvale is free, open to all, and an event where you can drop in and drop out whenever you’d like. Free snacks will be provided.

When: September 13th, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Where: 1177 Kern Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 in the Summit Room

Register here.

 

Make a Difference in Your Community: Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection! 

Are you passionate about helping students succeed? Mentor Tutor Connection is seeking dedicated volunteers to mentor high school students or tutor K-8 students in math, writing, or reading at local public schools in Los Altos and Mountain View.

Why Volunteer with MTC?

• Make a Lasting Impact: Help underserved students reach their full potential, both academically and personally.

• Support Future Leaders: Mentoring high school students or tutoring younger students can help students navigate challenges and build confidence.

• Join a Community of Like-minded Volunteers: Connect with other compassionate individuals and gain a deeper sense of purpose by helping others.

Get Involved: Join us for a Volunteer Information Session on September 18th at 12 pm online. During this session, you’ll learn about our mentoring and tutoring programs, and have the chance to ask any questions you might have.

To register for our Volunteer Information Session or to learn more about MTC, please email [email protected] or visit mentortutorconnection.org.

 

Upcoming Programs at Mountain View Public Library - Flyers (Improv and Model UN) 

AMPLIFY: Improv-aganza Workshop

Enter the world of improv comedy with this workshop from the LAHS improv club! The program starts with a high-energy performance, followed by a workshop where you’ll rotate through stations and try out the games for yourself! Finally, you’ll get to show off what you learned with your own short performance for your friends. No prior experience is necessary for this fun and interactive program.

Saturday, September 13

4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m.

Grades 4-8

First Floor Program Room

Register here or with the QR code on the attached flyer. 

 

AMPLIFY: Model UN Workshop

This fun and engaging workshop introduces Model UN to students in grades 5-9. We will cover all the Model UN basics and build critical life skills, including public speaking, esearch, paper writing, and creative problem-solving. This is an interactive chance for students to learn more about global affairs, collaborate to create solutions on key issues, and practice public speaking in

learning environment.

 

Saturday, Sept. 20

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Grades 5-9

First Floor Program Room

Register here or with the QR code on the attached flyer.

 

Learning Challenges events for Fall 2025   

For local coverage of issues related to learning challenges and special education, please check out the Learning Challenges Committee. 

 

Calm Down Kit Making Sessions 

Volunteers will make Calm Down kits for classrooms throughout Mountain View and Los Altos and learn how to make their own for their home!  Thursday September 26 (5-7 pm), Tuesday September 30 5-7 pm. For location, contact [email protected].

 

Learning Challenges Committee General Meeting

October 7, 7 pm in person (TBA) and Zoom hybrid

We will be finishing up the Wellness Wish List and will likely need a work session to finish up packing orders for delivery to classrooms! For more info, email [email protected].

 

Evening Let’s Talk Parent Support group

October 15, 7 pm  on Zoom.

IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register here.

 

Missed past Parent Education events?

We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including the recent talk on Assistive Technology, info on summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here.

Showing Up Matters 

Free, Fun JRMF Math Festival 

Volunteer with Mentor Tutor Connection 

Spirit Week