August 21, 2024

August 20, 2024

 

 Principal's Message

Dear Cheetah Community,

Theuerkauf Core Values!

This week we started off with a whole school Cool Cats Assembly! Each month we have an assembly where we talk about the core value of the month and the #BetterTogether community theme of the month. This month we discussed our core value of “respect” and what that looks like in our classroom community and our school community. Feel free to have a conversation at home about what respect looks like to your family and neighborhood community! Here are our core values.

 

Back To School Night (BTSN) - SAVE THE DATE! 8/28/24 (5:30-6:15, 6:30-7:15)

You are cordially invited to our annual Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 28. This is one of the most important nights of the year for adults, so please try to clear your calendar!  We will have two sessions to accommodate families with multiple children and allow them the opportunity to visit more than one classroom that night. Session one will begin at 5:30-6:15pm. and session two will begin at 6:30-7:15 p.m. BTSN is an important opportunity for families to learn about their children’s classrooms, grade level programming, and general expectations. See you on Wednesday, August 28!

 

School Site Council: 

Please see the link below to provide your vote for members of the School Site Council for Theuerkauf Elementary School. Please submit this school ballot online by clicking here before 4 PM on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

 

Coffee with the PTA / Principal! Friday, August 23rd @8:15am. 

I am so excited to share about our great initiatives for the new school year! Please come on over to the flagpole in front of the school to hear from PTA and Principal Lyons about our upcoming school year! There should be some hot coffee and donuts sponsored by PTA! See you on Friday! 

With gratitude,

Principal, Danielle Lyons

 
 Important Dates

 

Friday, August 23 - Coffee+Donuts with Principal+PTA, by the flagpole, 8:20am

Wednesday, August 28th - Back to School Night~ 5:30-7:15pm~ Minimum Day~ Dismissal 12:10

Monday, September 2nd- Labor Day~ No School

Thursday, September 5th- MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00-10:00pm (Zoom)

Friday, September 6th- Community Check-in~ 3:30-4:30pm (Register)

Wednesday, September 11th - Picture Day

Thursday, September 19th~ MVWSD Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00-10:00pm (Zoom)

 
 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 2024-25 school year. Please note that Thursdays end early at all elementary school sites, and last days of trimesters are minimum days during the 2024-25 school year. 

Please click here for the District Calendar At A Glance 

 

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!

 

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

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

Some of the topics include:

  • MVWSD Staff Housing Update

  • Staff Wellness Discussion

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

MVWSD’s high financial rating saves taxpayers money on Measure T bond sale

MWVSD recently saved the community money in its capital bond sale due to its high financial rating and excellent financial stewardship. Of the 658 California school districts rated by S & P in 2023, the District was among only 26 ‘AAA’ rated districts (top 4%). 

Each year, an outside independent auditor audits the district's controls and finances. At the end of each audit cycle, they provide a report to the Board of Trustees. For the past 10 years the district has received clean audits due to exemplary performance and transparency.  

Our community has always been supportive of our efforts and we are happy to deliver excellent results. To read more, click here.

 

CAASPP scores are now available

CAASPP student (ELA, Math) score reports (from the Spring tests, current 4th- through 8th-graders) were recently released by the state and are now available for parents on the PowerSchool Parent Portal (under “Score Reports” - choose the 2023 - 24 school year). To learn more about how to understand your child’s CAASPP score report, go to the Starting Smarter website athttps://www.ca.startingsmarter.org/.  If you need assistance with logging on to the Powerschool Parent Portal, please contact your student’s school office.
 

Applying to be a school volunteer this year? Training and help sessions happen this month

We appreciate our parent volunteers! Please check your inbox (email dated Aug. 5) for important information about mandated training and optional volunteer help sessions coming up in the next two weeks. For an overview of the process, please visit https://www.mvwsd.org/volunteers.

 

No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Due to preparations for Elementary School Back to School Night and afterschool staff development, there will be no MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28 (a minimum day for students). MVWSD+ families, thank you in advance for making other arrangements. This affects all Right At School programs, all Beyond the Bell programs, and the district-paid YMCA programs. Please note that due to contractual reasons, parent-paid YMCA programs will still operate. All programs resume as normal on Thursday, August 29.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (650) 526-3500 x1061. 

 

School meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals this year to all students as part of California’s universal meal program.

However, parents need to reapply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals program now for this school year. If you think you could qualify (qualifying income levels listed here), we ask you to apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Qualifying is one factor in your child’s eligibility for free MVWSD after school care and summer camp.

The more applications your school gathers at the start of each school year, the more additional funding it can receive for all kinds of programs. If you are currently out of work, you may qualify and help your school, regardless of your financial situation. Apply at https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ or call your school office.

 

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+! 

A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:

  • The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at [email protected].

  • The student qualifies for free or reduced price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go toezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.

Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.

 

For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to [email protected] or Jennifer Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.
 

Parent University: The Science of Reading, Part 1 of 2 

Date and Time: September 10, 2024, 5:30-7:00 pm  Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu091024r

Reading is fundamental. But how do we best teach children to do it? And how do we support them at home? In this two-part series, we will uncover the “Science of Reading”, how our new district curriculum is based on this science, and how parents can translate the science into practical routines and strategies at home. 

About the speaker: Dr. Cyndee Nguyen is MVWSD’s Director of Early Literacy. She leads district efforts to ensure that all students, especially those of early elementary age, develop into capable and confident readers. Previously, Dr. Nguyen was a primary grade teacher and the principal of Bubb Elementary School.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

 

MVEF - Who we are and why we matter - Please donate!

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF)  is a volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to funding innovative programs for all students in the MVWSD district. 

Thanks to your donations, MVEF provides your child with a competitive, well-rounded education. School funding covers salaries, facilities, and core academics, while MVEF funding enhances the learning environment with art, music, environmental science, middle school athletics, and additional English teachers, reducing class sizes by over 20%  in middle school. 

To maintain these programs, MVEF seeks donations from parents and community members. The suggested amount per student is $1,100, also payable as a recurring monthly payment, but every donation is meaningful. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit mvef.org for more information and to donate. Thank you for your support!

 

Living Classroom: MVWSD Volunteer Information Meetings 

Living Classroom is a non-profit organization that provides hands-on, garden-based lessons to MVWSD students in TK through 6th Grade.  We welcome parent volunteers to help with our lessons in their children's classrooms, but we are also seeking volunteer docents who would like to be trained to teach our lessons throughout the school district.  If you are interested in becoming a Living Classroom docent, please attend one of our upcoming information meetings:

Thursday, August 29th, 2024, 9:15-10:15 am; or

Friday, August 30th, 2024, 1:00-2:00 pm

Both meetings will be held in Conference Room C, MVWSD Office, 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View.

Please contact Susan Harder at [email protected] if you have questions or would like further information.

 
 PTA News

Mark your calendar - Walk-a-thon is September 27! Look for the tshirt design contest flyer in your child’s Cheeah folder this week.

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, Garden Club, Walk-a-thon Committee, Lego Club, Library helper, Trunk or Treat Committee, Winter Wonderland Committee, Project Cornerstone Reader, Room Lead, Living Classrooms 

 
 From Our Community Partners

 

The View Teen Center: Volunteer Fair 

Teens interested in volunteering will have the opportunity to meet with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities and their services on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center (201 S. Rengstorff Avenue). This event is open to all ages. Stop by, get involved, and make a difference!

 

City of MV: Hazardous waste collection

Free household hazardous waste collection event coming to Mountain View on Saturday, August 24! 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 24. Upon appointment booking, you will receive the specific Mountain View drop-off location.

 

MV Public Library: Upcoming Parent Event 

Parenting Program: Individualized Education Program: Thursday, September 5, 2024, Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. Matthew Torres, an IDEA Specialist from the San Andreas Regional Center, will expertly guide parents through the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process. Gain insights to support and enhance your advocacy for your child. This program is perfect for parents new to the IEP process and seasoned advocates, offering practical tools and knowledge to navigate and champion your child's educational journey. Register in advance for this online meeting.

 

Announcing the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series for 2024-25 

The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series is thrilled to unveil our speaker line-up for the 2024-25 school year! Local and nationally recognized experts will lead parents in conversations about wide-ranging topics, including navigating the evolving cultural landscape around sex, parenting in our high-achievement environment, exploring the difficulties of parenting boys in contemporary society, learning about a case study in racism at a local high school, and making informed decisions about higher education. View the 2024-25 speaker line-up at https://mvlaspeakerseries.org/.

 
 Flyers
 

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