September 6, 2023

 Principal's Message

Dear Cheetah Community, 

 

I hope you had a great long weekend making memories with your families. My husband and I went on a van trip hiking and paddleboarding/windsurfing in Yosemite and Mammoth. If your family loves to hike or be on the water I highly recommend Parker Lake Trail (left picture) and Tenaya Lake (right picture)! 

picture of a lakepicture of the principal at the lake

As you can see, I love being in nature and one thing I love about our campus is the beautiful nature throughout! One of the first things we did during staff development was a mindfulness activity called a Rainbow Walk. You can do this with your family on our campus or around your neighborhood as well! All you do is take a piece of paper and a writing/drawing tool with you on a walk. Then you quietly walk down your street or through our campus and write or draw a picture of something you see for each color of the rainbow. You start in order and only draw or write something red first. Then move on to orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. When you get to purple, start back again at red and go through the whole list again until your walk is over. At the end of the walk, share with your family what you saw, talk about how it felt to walk quietly through nature noticing different colors of nature. For me, it helps to ground me and it helps to refocus me to be in the moment. I hope you get a chance to try this out with your family! Feel free to send me a note or picture of how it went! 

 

STEAM/RTI

This week at school I wanted to share some of the great teaching we are doing that started last week. You may have heard your teacher or students mention the following parts of the day: 

  • STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics)

  • RTI (Response to Instruction) 

RTI is data-driven instruction where teachers regularly monitor progress to help tailor instruction to what students need. At our school, RTI and STEAM go hand-in-hand. Haley Burton, our STEAM teacher, focuses on hands-on K-5 science during RTI time, while the classroom or grade level teacher provides small-group support and enrichment. Teachers are able to differentiate instruction in a small group based on academic needs. This allows students to get more individualized instruction time. 

 

ELAC

Next week we have our first English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) meeting on Monday, September 11th- 1st ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:30 AM (Zoom). We look forward to discussing our School Site Plan and the Newcomer class which is new this year at Theuerkauf! We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

Follow Us! 

Please remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Last week I posted the Fun Friday Chess Club! On our social media pages we are able to give quick updates of great work happening at our school! Make sure to sign up and tell all of your Theuerkauf friends!

Theuerkauf Elementary - - FacebookInstagram

 

Warm Regards,

Danielle Lyons

 
 Important Dates

 

  • Friday, September 8th-Community Check-in with Dr. Rudolph, 3:30PM - 4:30PM (Register Here)

  • Monday, September 11th- 1st ELAC Meeting 9:00-10:30 AM (Zoom)

  • Tuesday, September 12th- Picture Day Click Here  (Picture ID: EVT7ZN26K)

  • Friday, September 29th- PTA/Principal’s Coffee 8:00am-8:30am by the TH Flagpole

  • Friday, October 6th- Community Check-in with Dr. Rudolph, 3:30pm- 4:30pm (Register Here)

  • Wednesday, October 11th-3:15pm-5:30pm- Walkathon

  • Thursday, October 12th- Teacher Service Day- No School

  • Friday, October 13th- Recess Day- No School

  • Friday, October 20th- PTA/Principal’s Coffee 8:00am-8:30am by the TH Flagpole

  • Tuesday, October 24th-27th- 5th Grade Science Camp

 
 School News

 

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!

 

School Meals are free

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals to all students as part of California’s universal meal program. Breakfast and lunches are available daily.  Menus and nutritional analysis can be found on https://www.mvwsd.org/nutrition. There will be a vegetarian option each day. Students will get their card at the beginning of the lunch line to scan each time they get a meal. Students may bring their own self-contained lunches if desired. 

 

Parent pick up from the Cafeteria

If your child will be eating  in the cafeteria after school on Thursday’s. The Parent pick up will be on the outside door facing San Luis Ave on the right side with the ramp. 

 
 District News

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Some of the topics include:

  • Resolution in Support of Hispanic Heritage Month 

  • Monta Loma Fence Choice    

  • Discussion of Joint Meeting with MVLA, MVWSD, and the City of Mountain View 

  • Questions for the September 18, 2023 Joint Meeting for the Education Enhancement Reserve Joint Powers Authority (Shoreline)

  • Literacy Instruction and Dyslexia Support Plan

  • Early Literacy Update

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

 

Superintendent's Community Check In on Friday, Sept. 8

Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: mvw.sd/CC0908.  Mark your calendars for all upcoming community check-ins! A list of dates and login information is here. 

 

September: Attendance Awareness Month

September is Attendance Awareness Month.

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.

Our schools’ goals are a 97% attendance rate.

 

i-Ready Diagnostic 1 Assessment Scores

Families can access their student’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score through their Powerschool Parent Portal on September 8, 2023, 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.

 

Volunteer badges: New, easy-to-follow chart

If you think that you will be volunteering on campus more than 3 times this school year for more than 10 min each visit, or plan to be an overnight trip chaperone, now is the time to apply for your volunteer badge.  Please check the easy-to-follow chart here to help you get started. There are more steps to complete the first time you apply. After that, renewals are easier. Thank you for helping to protect our students' safety and to ensure MVWSD complies with state law. We are grateful for parents willing to help us at school!

 

MVWSD Seeks Parents & Staff Members for Health & Wellness Committee

The Health & Wellness Committee is looking for parents and staff members for the 2023-24 school year! This committee aligns District efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and through promoting a safe and healthy school environment. 

Last year, the committee’s work helped increase student access to nutrition information and education, professional development on USDA standards for school nutrition, and supported student opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. We are seeking at least 1 parent and 1 certificated staff member representative from each school. 

If you have experience, knowledge, or interest, please complete an application at: http://mvw.sd/health. Applications are due by September 13.  

The Health and Wellness Committee will meet 4 times during the school year on Zoom, with the first meeting scheduled for September 28. 

If you have any questions, please contact Brian White, Health & Wellness Coordinator at [email protected].

 

Volunteer with MVEF!
MVEF needs 1-3 additional volunteers at each school in MVWSD. MVEF school representatives help the families at their school understand what MVEF is and why it exists so that they are inspired to donate and spread the word about the impact of MVEF funding. MVEF also needs volunteers to help with planning our annual Gala and other community events. To learn more, visit: https://www.mvef.org/volunteer

 

Mentor Tutor Connection: Volunteer Information Session

Mentor Tutor Connection is holding a Volunteer Information Session on Wed., Sept. 13, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, MVLA District Office Conference Room, 1299 Bryant Ave., Mountain View. Please join us and learn about becoming a mentor and/or a tutor in the Mountain View and Los Altos public schools. Help a local student to a brighter future! To register go to www.mentortutorconnection.org/events  - or email programs@mentortutorconnection.org.

 

August/September CAC and LCC 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

 

Parent Chat

September 12, 10 am                 

Are you concerned about the emotional well-being of your child?  Peer to peer support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. Every second Tuesday of the month at 10 am on Google Meet. Meeting is for 1 hour only due to Google Meet limitations. Contact [email protected] for invite.

 

September 13, 10 am Morning Let’s Talk  - 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 at:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZModeirqToiHdQpAOpxx4g3NaLHuElaLtJs

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

 

The View Teen Center: September 

The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m., and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flyer for details about upcoming events and programs in September or visit their webpage for more information.

 

MVLA Parent Ed presents “Growing Up in Public: Helping our Kids Navigate the Digital Coming of Age” 

Join MVLA Parent Ed on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 7pm (MVHS- Spartan Theater) as Devorah Heitner, Ph.D., and author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World, shows parents how to help tweens and teens navigate digital identity, boundaries, privacy and reputation. Drawing on her extensive research and interviews with kids, parents, educators, clinicians, and scholars, she teaches parents to overcome the instinct to control and monitor their kids’ online activity, and instead, support them as they build their sense of self. Register for this free event here.

 

MV Public Library Parenting Program: Sept. 27 

The MV Public Library will host a parenting presentation, “The Best You for the Best Them,” on  Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm on Zoom. Research shows that teens' and parents' emotional well-being are highly entwined. With support from author and parenting coach, Laura Cleary, set aside time to acknowledge your need as a parent for selfcare, and receive concrete ideas and support to model this for your teen and uplift your relationship. Register here.

 
 PTA News

 

Walkathon 2023

When is the walkathon?

Wednesday Oct 11th, 3:15-5:30 pm, And students will also have a chance to walk the course with  during the school day since we know that not all families can make the afternoon time.

What is the walkathon?
The walkathon is a major fundraising event for the PTA. Family and friends of students make donations to the PTA, contingent on the student walking a certain number of laps or just participating. Money raised helps pay for field trips, classroom supplies, and more!  It is also a big community building opportunity!  Students and families take great pride in working and walking together to help their school. 

What can I do to help?

So glad you asked :).  Please consider taking on a coordinator role below!  Later we'll be asking for volunteers to take on shifts at the lap punching station, food stations, activity stations, etc.
Sign-up here: Walkathon Jobs

When is the walkathon meeting?

The Walkathon-focused meeting will be on Wednesday Sept 6th, 6:30 - 7:30 over Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86736465261 )

What is this year's theme?
Again, we want your input.  We'll vote on a theme during the Sept 6th meeting, but help us brainstorm some theme ideas.
Brainstorm here:  theme ideas.

 

Drama Club opportunity:

Peninsula Youth Theater is offering a drama club for 2nd-5th graders at Theuerkauf after school on Fridays starting Sept 22. This is not PTA or school sponsored, but has been coordinated with the help of Theuerkauf parent Nishani and the PTA. You can register using  this link -- just select the Theuerkauf option! (There is a scholarship opportunity possible through PYT.)

 

Friday Lunchtime Chess Club (3rd - 5th Grades)

We'll be meeting during the 3rd-5th grade lunch period (12:30 - 1:15 pm) on Fridays outside under a tree. Tell your kid(s) to look for the sign/picnic tablecloths/chess sets near the playground/blacktop this Friday during lunch.  They can even bring their lunch over and eat while they play.   No cost or fees! 

If you can join us and lend a hand, we'd LOVE your help!  You'd need to check in at the front office and if you'll be coming more than three volunteer sessions at the school, you'll need a volunteer badge (https://www.mvwsd.org/parents/volunteering)

 

Tuesday Playground Playgroup

Every Tuesday after school from 3-4 pm, parents/caregivers are invited to bring their children to play on the blue Theuerkauf playground.  Bring a snack to share (if you want), meet some more Theuerkauf families and let your kids enjoy a little outdoor playtime with their classmates! Hope to see you on the playground soon.  (Please note that every child needs a parent or caregiver with them – thank you!)  

 
 Flyers
 
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