Cheetah Chatter, Oct. 2, 2019

October 2, 2020

Important Dates

Wednesday, October 2~ Wacky Sock Wednesday- Spirit Day

Monday, October 7-11th~ Teacher Parent Conferences Week, Minimum days all week, Dismissal at 12:30 p.m

Friday, October 11th~ Principal’s Coffee 9:00 a.m in Rm 21

Monday, October 14 & 28~Free Food Pick Up after school hosted by CSA 2:00-4:00 p.m 

Friday, October 18~ College Day Activities 

Wednesday, October 23~ SSC Mtg 5:00-6:00 p.m

Thursday, October 24~ Cool Cat Assembly 8:35 a.m

Friday, October 25~ Fearkauf Festival 2:00-5:00 p.m

Friday, November 1~ End of Trimester~Minimum Day Dismissal at 12:30 p.m

Friday, November 1~ CSMA Music Concert 9:45-10:45 a.m at Stevenson MUR

** Thursdays are minimum days for all students. Dismissal is at 12:30 p.m

 

** October 7th - 11th are minimum days due to Parent-Teacher Conference week. Dismissal is at 12:30 p.m for all grade levels 

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Theurkauf Families, 

Each year, we create a School Plan for Student Achievement (site plan) that guides the work for our school for the coming year. In the fall, elected parent representatives from our School Site Council (SSC) and English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) work with me and school staff members to create a draft that is reviewed and approved by the MVWSD Board of Trustees. This plan helps us prioritize programs and strategies that will best serve our students. It lays out each school’s plan for achieving its goals, and connects with the District's Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), which lays out goals for the entire district.

To learn more about the overarching goals and efforts that will be included in this year’s site plan for Theuerkauf Elementary, please:

  1. Join me for a Principal’s Coffee on Friday, October 11, at 9:00 a.m in Rm 21

  2. Read more in our upcoming school newsletters as I highlight these school goals and plans

  3. Join one of our SSC, ELAC, or PTA meetings 

As we work on our school site plans, I would also like to inform our school community of district wide preliminary CAASPP assessment scores (for grade 3rd- 5th) as well as provide an update on English Learner board goal. Our district works hard to collect and use student performance data in order to improve instruction for student success. Preliminary CAASPP scores, which show gains for all schools and grade levels in English language arts including subgroups such as English learners, indicate that we are on the right track. Theuerkauf Elementary has made significant growth in both English Language Arts and Math CAASPP assessments school wide and we are extremely proud of our students’ hard work and efforts. 

The process of using data entails looking honestly and deeply at what the numbers are telling us. Delving into our English Learner data made us realize that not as many students as we hoped were reaching English proficiency at the rate we expected. We saw that some EL students were not progressing as expected, and at times regressing, in their English language development.

Recently, the Board of Trustees heard a review of English language learner progress and discussed increasing expectations. The new revised goal will focus on reclassification, rather than just proficiency on ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California), which is the first step in English learner reclassification to English proficient. The hope for all of our students is that they are fully proficient in both the English language and content standards, and reclassification is the path.

Last week and this week, I’ve talked about site plans. In the recent School Site Council and ELAC meetings, I have had the opportunity to share our school specific and district wide data as a guiding platform for designing our school goals for English learners. Site plans contain a variety of goals to support English language learners in their journey to reclassification. We will meet these goals with targeted student instruction, intentional teacher professional development, vigilant data monitoring, and our school community’s support. 

As you know, I like to smile, laugh, and enjoy our work with students and staff. Work is so much more fun when we all share laughs and joys together. Many students ask me what a principal does or details about my family. So, I thought we should have some fun as I share part of my life with you. Here it goes - October is National Principals Month. I am going to capture the month in pictures for you and give a snapshot of things in the life of your principal. 

So, join in the pictorial fun on our school facebook page as I create a pictorial snapshot for you through the month! https://www.facebook.com/TheuerkaufElem/ Looking forward to continuing this growth curve for all our students through purposeful and intentional instructional supports. Upward and Beyond. 

Sincerely, 

Ms. Swati Dagar 

Principal - Theuerkauf Elementary 

School News

English Learner Board Goal 

Our district works hard to collect and use student performance data in order to improve instruction for student success. Preliminary CAASPP scores, which show gains for all schools and grade levels in English language arts including subgroups such as English learners, indicate that we are on the right track

The process of using data entails looking honestly and deeply at what the numbers are telling us. Delving into data made us realize that not as many students as we hoped were reaching English proficiency at the rate we expected. We saw that many EL students were not progressing, and in fact at times regressing, in their English language development.

Recently, the Board of Trustees heard a review of English language learner progress and discussed increasing expectations. The new revised goal will focus on reclassification, rather than just proficiency on ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California), which is the first step in English learner reclassification to English proficient. The hope for all of our students is that they are fully proficient in both the English language and content standards, and reclassification is the path.

Last week I talked about site plans.  I will be meeting with School Site Council and ELAC to focus on English language development and revising our school goals for English learners. Site plans contain a variety of goals to support English language learners in their journey to reclassification. We will meet these goals with targeted instruction, professional development, vigilant data monitoring, and our school community’s support. 

 

October is Safety month at MVWSD 

October is safety month in our district. During this month, our schools will practice safety drills that are crucial for preparing us for potential crisis events. This month is an opportunity for staff and students to test our emergency response actions and make improvements. 

We know some of these drills may be unsettling for parents and students. Please know that we approach our practices with sensitivity and age-appropriate activities. In these uncertain times, it is imperative that our students and staff members know what to do to keep themselves and others safe. 

During this month, practices to be held:

  • Fire drill: Monthly. 

We practice how a building would be evacuated in the event of a fire or other emergencies, and how students are accounted for.

  • Earthquake drill: Annual. To be held the week of October 14.

Students and staff members practice strategies for evacuation, accounting for students, parent-student reunification, search and rescue techniques, first aid, and school operations without power, food or water.

  • Active shooter/dangerous intruder practice: Annual in October.

We practice what to do in the event of a dangerous intruder or similar event on campus. 

  • For elementary schools, a video will be shown sometime during the week of October 21.  Classes will view the “dangerous intruder” video that encourages children to stay calm, listen to trusted adults and stick to the plan. You may preview the video at www.mvwsd.org/safety

  • For middle schools, dates in October vary by school site. Your school will be sending more information. 

Middle school students learn what they should do in the event of an active shooter from a presentation and by participating in a drill several days later. The training is held in conjunction with the Mountain View Police Department and is aligned with the protocol recommended by the Santa Clara County Police Chiefs’ Association.  

  • For information about how parents can talk with their children about school violence, please see these resources:

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

Talking to your children about lockdown drills

While talking about and practicing for events like this is uncomfortable, we believe that if students know what to do, they will feel more confident, and ultimately be better equipped to react with safety in mind. If you have concerns or questions specific to your child, please contact your principal. 

Safety month is part of a much larger effort by MVWSD as it continues to work to ensure the safety of its students and staff members on its campuses. To learn more about preparation, planning and current District work on school safety, please visit www.mvwsd.org/safety.

We appreciate your support of these efforts to ensure our students’ safety.

 

Congratulations to all our Cool Cat Winners!

Kellen, Celestine, Annalinah, Lance, Bryanna, Marcus, Raya, Adam, Abigail, Vineet, Leianna, Yamilette, Julie, Adrian, Daria, Aiden, Ryan, Miles, Chana, Giordyn, Skylar

Ukulele After School

After School Uke Group for all 3rd-4th-5th graders

All materials are provided - Ukuleles, instructional materials, music and great instructors!

The Uke Group meets after school on Mondays throughout the school year except for holidays. The first class will be on Monday, October 14, at 3:15 p.m  in the Library. 

 

Before School and After School Clubs

Chess Club every Tuesday and Thursday 7:45 a.m in Library 

CSMA Art every Friday 3:30-4:30 p.m in Rm 26  (2nd-5th) Starts 9/13-12/13

CSMA Art every Thursday 1:00-2:00 p.m in Rm 26 (Kinder-1st) Starts 9/12-12/12

Ukulele Class every Monday 3:15-4:15 p.m in Library 3rd-5th Starts 10/14

 

Regular school attendance is required by the state law, and is included in the District’s Local Control Accountability plan (LCAP) and Dashboard. State law requires MVWSD to send a letter to parents after three unexcused absences and/ or tardies over 30 minutes.   Letters also inform parents of next steps and any resources or procedures in place to help their family get their child to school regularly. The state, county, and district are monitoring attendance, both excused and unexcused absences because the goal is for students to be in school as often as possible.  Our schools’ goals are a 97% attendance rate. For more information, click here

PTA News

Save the date:

Halloween Fearkauf Festival: October 25  2-5p.m

 

Walkathon November 15 1-4p.m

All classrooms will vote between 3 themes this year for walkathon: Rock Your Own Individuality Walk, Fall Carnival Walk, and All Star Sports Walk. The walkathon theme with the most class votes win!

 

Volunteers Needed: 

Volunteers are needed to help plan and help on the day of the events for set up, run booths, food sales, donations for silent auction, and clean up.

Please contact: [email protected] if you are able to help.

 

Coin Wars:

Coin Wars has one week left. One class is working on their second container! Friday October 4th is the last day to try and catch up. Every penny counts!


District News

RAS open house

Right at School, a before and afterschool care program, will be hosting an open house for current and prospective families on October 22. Please see the attached flyer for more information. For information on MVWSD's afterschool programs, please visit: https://www.mvwsd.org/academics/supporting_learning/before__afterschool

 

Workshop on IEP( Individual Education Plan ) for Special Education & 504 Plan 

FREE. This workshop covers the basics of the IEP/ 504 plan including some common problems, complications, solutions and suggestions. There will be a discussion about common accommodations and parental rights, and a Q & A session during this workshop. Organized by Palo Alto CAC (cacpaloalto.org), presented by H.E.A.L. (Hospital Educational Advocacy Liaisons Program from Stanford Children’s Health), and co-sponsored by PTAC. Please use this form to let us know if you are coming, especially if you would like childcare or Spanish translation.

Sat, Oct 5th, 9:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m

JLS Middle School Room 730 , 480 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto

General Meeting: Monday 10/7, 9:30 at MVWSD Office at 1400 Montecito Ave in Mtn View. 

Parent Chat Support Group for parents of teens with mental health challenges. Second Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m Los Altos Library.

Let’s Talk, IEP/504 Support Group Wednesday October 9, 7p.m - 8:30 p.m Los Altos Library

 

Exciting Parent Education Event!

Decoding Dyslexia CA Please come join SELPA 1 CAC as we talk about what dyslexia is, the California Department of Education Dyslexia Guidelines and the importance of early identification. The presentation will include an abbreviated dyslexia simulation so participants can gain an understanding of what it is like to be dyslexic.

Wednesday, October 16, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Springer Elementary Multi

1120 Rose Ave, Mountain View

 

Max Stossel

Education in the Age of Distraction

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | MVHS Spartan Theatre | 3535 Truman Ave, Mountain View, CA

Join us as Max Stossel, Head of Education at the Center for Humane Technology, explores the ways technology is designed to be addictive and distracting, highlights how social media is impacting adolescent minds, and recommends ways to help our kids build a healthier relationship with technology.

To register for this free event, go to https://mvla2019-20-maxstossel.eventbrite.com 

Sponsored by Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), MVLA High School Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF), and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.

Debbie DeSoto Kundrat

[email protected]

Attachments

Ukulele 

Right at School Open House 

Teen Art Class 

Teen Cooking Class 

Free Robotics Class 

MVLA Speaker Series 

Parent Guide Evacuation 

 

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