The Dolphin Whistle
February 24, 2021 Issue 25
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LAMBERT
Dear Parents,
Next week's socio-emotional tool that students will be learning is the Please and Thank You Tool - I treat others with kindness and appreciation. This is an attitude that is important to cultivate at a young age. Our efforts here at school will support what you are already doing at home to teach your children to show others kindness and appreciation.
PLEASE complete your reopening questionnaire to choose whether you want two-days of in-person learning and 3 days at home via Zoom, or 5 days at home via Zoom. Call us if you need support completing the survey. The deadline is Sunday and if the questionnaire is not completed your child will be placed in Option C - 5 days at home learning via Zoom.
Best Regards,
Theresa Lambert
Principal Mariano Castro Elementary
cell number (831)206-9522
Covid Safety
PTA News
Please join the Castro PTA for our next Zoom Meeting! It will be held on Wednesday March 3, 2021 at 6:30 pm. We will have updates to share with the families. The meeting is usually about 30 – 45 minutes in length. We look forward to seeing you in attendance.
Please note: The Zoom Link will be distributed through a school email the day of the Meeting – Wednesday March 3. Check your inbox and click to join us at 6:30!
Membership: Please remember to purchase your PTA Memberships through our PTA Website. 1- $10.00 or 2- $16.00 Click on the Membership Button and you can pay through PayPal, even if you don’t have a PayPal account. We need your support this year so we can stay strong and help the students and school during the next school year.
Sign up today! https://mcastroptapresiden.wixsite.com/website
Calendar
Wednesday, March 3 ,2021- Food Pantry 11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 3 - PTA General Meeting All Parents 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 5, 2021 - Report Cards sent homes
Wednesday, March 10, 2021- Diaper Distribution, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday, March 15, 2021 - No School, Teachers service day
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 - ELAC Meeting, 6:00p.m - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - Food pantry, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 - Principal's Coffee for All Parents 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - Diaper Distribution, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - School Site Council Mtg 5:00 p.m.
FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE
Learning Options Survey-
Please complete this ASAP if you have not already done so. Let your school office know if you need support in completing the survey.
The Learning Options survey gathers family preferences for student learning options if the district returns to in-person instruction. MVWSD’s reopening target date is two weeks after Santa Clara county enters the Red Tier in California’s color-coded COVID-19 tracking system.
The learning options for students are blended in-person/distance learning (Option B) and 100% distance learning (Option C). Parents should choose the option that works best for their family. Please complete this survey no later than Feb. 28th. If you haven’t completed it, please look for an email reminder with your survey link sent on Feb. 22.
Please note:
Only one parent or guardian can submit this survey
If you do not complete this survey for your child by the deadline, he/she will be assigned to distance learning.
FAQ's can be found at mvw.sd/W8kbU
Please let us know if we can help you.
MVEF Virtual Gala - March 6, 2021 - Get your Tickets Today!
While we are not able to gather in person, we hope you will join us for a lively evening of trivia, toasts to our teachers, and fundraising for our schools. Now more than ever, the programs funded by your donations to MVEF help to create a well-rounded education for our children that includes art, music, technology, and science exploration. A significant portion of MVEF funding this year is being directed to support distance learning. All funds raised from the Gala help us meet our goal of raising $800,000 this school year. Help us to support every child at every school in the Mountain View Whisman School District!
You may join us for only the trivia OR enjoy the addition of appetizers and drinks (wine or cocktails) delivered to your home. Food and drink delivery is only available to Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto.
Reservations for food and drink deliveries MUST be made before Friday, February 26th. Ticket sales for trivia close Wednesday, March 3.
To purchase tickets, https://www.mvef.org/virtualgala. For questions, please contact Dena Seki (contact@mvef.org) or Andrea Maes (andrea-m@mvef.org).
We also have a raffle going on if you would like to take your chance at one of 4 great prizes! The winners will be drawn at the gala, but you need not be present to win. Ticket Prices 1 ticket: $5, 5 tickets: $20, 20 tickets: $60
To buy tickets please send email: jenn@mvef.org
Open House Cancelled
Due to COVID-19, our schools will not be holding Open House events this spring, as we traditionally do in April. This year is different since our students’ work has been done at home, and gathering in groups at school is not permitted. We certainly will miss seeing all of the amazing work from our students and teachers, and look forward to a time we can gather to celebrate students’ work.
Black History Month
Even before children can talk, they are learning about the world and about race through the words and actions of others. Parents, teachers, and caregivers have the unique opportunity to frame their child's first attempts to understand and talk about race. Talking about race matters because (1) everyone has a racialized identity, (2) racialized identity significantly impacts a person's life, and (3) race is a defining social construct in America.
This Black History Month, use the Better Together infographic to begin racially-focused conversations with children acknowledging that conversations about race will look different for each family and classroom and there is no single way to talk to children about race. Have honest conversations with your students about the history of privilege and oppression as it relates to Black History and, where appropriate, connect this to local community and larger global issues.
Together, we can explore Black History. Together, we can become anti-racist.
For a closer look at the graphics, click on the attached flyers or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD
Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Session - Thursday, February 25th
You can change the life of a student! Come learn about volunteer opportunities to Mentor high school students and Tutor students in grades K-8 in our Mountain View and Los Altos schools.
Becoming a Mentor or Tutor will add joy to your life and help a student in our local community to a brighter future!
There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer. You're welcome to just come and learn more about what we do.
Please note: Our programs are currently remote and will remain so until students are back in school and the school district permits volunteers in the classroom.
All volunteers must be high school graduates.
Date: Thursday, February 25th
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: Online via Zoom (URL provided upon registration)
Register: REGISTER ONLINE
Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org
Information: MentorTutorConnection.org
InPlay’s summer program search guide
Looking for summer fun and out-of-school opportunities? MVWSD partners with nonprofit InPlay to help you find the perfect fit for your child and for your family. Hundreds of programs, including FREE and reduced cost and those that serve students with special needs or English learners, are nearby and can be found through this free searchable site. Check it out at mv.inplay.org.
Los Altos High School Writers Week Community Read: Julie Lythcott-Haims discusses her new book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult
From March 1-5, Los Altos High School is holding the 36th annual Writers Week event, which brings a diverse and inspiring lineup of writers, poets, and journalists to LAHS English classrooms. This year, the events are all virtual, but we are still holding our annual free evening event to which the entire community is invited. This year’s Community Read features New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims in discussion with a panel of LAHS students about her new book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult--a follow-up to her bestseller How to Raise an Adult. This event will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. Please RSVP via this Eventbrite link to be sent the Zoom information and to be entered to win a copy of this new book when it is released on April 6! You can also pre order your own copy from Linden Tree HERE.
Everyone is invited to attend, and this special event is likely to be particularly helpful to students on the verge of adulthood (and their parents) as well as adults struggling with some aspect of adulting. Please feel free to share with any recent high school graduates, as well!
Read more about our other Writers Week visiting writers here: https://lahs.mvla.net/Student-Activities/Writers-Week/index.html
Parenting Program: Developing Social Skills in Children While Social Distancing
The MV Public Library will be hosting a free parenting workshop on Wednesday, March 10 from 7-8pm. Join Susan Stone of Parents Place to learn about developing social skills in PreK and elementary school students while social distancing. Register in advance at: https://mountainview.libcal.com/
K-8 Virtual Career Fair with SCCOE
The SCCOE K-8 Virtual Career Fair is being held Thursday, March 11 from 1-3p.m. The event theme is Connecting Passions to Careers and will feature guest speakers from various fields and industries, who will encourage students to follow their passions and dream big. The career fair is a part of the Silicon Valley Reads community engagement initiative. More information and registration is at: http://bit.ly/careerfair2021reg