The Dolphin Whistle

Dear Parents,

As report cards come last week, it is an important time to help your child focus on what has gone well so far this year and to set goals for the next couple of months. Both short-term and long-term goals help students to be motivated and feel a sense of purpose. Even if their goals change frequently, research shows us that it is the ability to set a goal that helps them to be successful throughout school and in their future. Please take some time to have conversations with your children about their goals for their near future and for when they are older.

Here at school, students set goals for their success on assignments and on assessments. When they look at their results they reflect on what they did well and what they would like to improve for next time. You have probably seen these goal binders during Back to School night or at parent conferences.

By emphasizing goals both at school and at home, the children develop this skill of goal setting until it becomes second-nature to be a positive, forward-thinking individual!

Theresa Lambert

Principal Mariano Castro Elementary

Fifth grade students had another great year at science camp. They returned full of excitement about their fun and learning and this opportunity for learning independence! Next up is the annual 4th grade field trip to Sacramento. This trip to the state capital is a one day trip where students go to to the California Museum and the State Capital building on Friday, Dec. 6th. It's a long day, but well worth it as it is an experience that the students will always remember.

Nov. 22 - Free Chromebook Event 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the MUR

Nov. 26th- Kindergarten Field Trip

Nov. 27th - 29th - Thanksgiving break

Dec. 6th- Fourth Grade Field Trip

Dec. 11th- Castro Kinder information night

Dec. 20th - Jan.3rd - December Break

Eureka Math provides a series of free Parent Tip Sheets at the topic level that include suggested strategies and models, key vocabulary, and tips for how you can support learning at home. Available in English and Spanish for grades K-8. To view those tip sheets, click on https://www.mvwsd.org/academics/teaching_the_standards/eureka_math

To access Eureka math videos, curriculum and homework helpers through a free, sign-in parent dashboard, check out nonprofit GreatMinds at https://greatminds.org/math/parents. To access Common Core standards parent roadmaps for math and language arts by grade, click on Parent Roadmaps - ELA and Parent Roadmap - Math

The Mountain View Whisman School District is seeking Mountain View residents to serve on a committee of community leaders : Parcel Tax Oversight Committee.

Representatives monitor, provide oversight and ensure accountability to the funds received by the District, and include an annual report to the Board regarding the actual uses of such funds.

Applications are due December 9, 2019. Applications can be mailed to Mountain View Whisman School District, Attn: Dr. Rebecca Westover, Chief Business Officer, 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, or faxed to 650-964-8907. Applications are available online at http://www.mvwsd.org/about/committees

Questions? Please call Dr. Rebecca Westover, Chief Business Officer, at 650-526-3500 or email rwestover@mvwsd.org

For NEW students: Open Enrollment is from January 13-February 7 online. You can register your child for the 2020-21 school year when online registration opens on January 13 here: www.mvwsd.org/register

For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment in January 13 - February 7.

District new student information night, covering the registration process, is on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. (Spanish) and 7 p.m. (English) at Castro Elementary School, 500 Toft St.

School kindergarten information nights are at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 for all elementary schools. Please click here for a list of these events.

If your child turns 5 years old between September 2 – December 2 of the current school year, he/she may qualify for transitional kindergarten. TK info night is December 5 at 5:00 PM at Theuerkauf Elementary.

You may click here to confirm your child’s school of residence.

For more information, call 650-526-3500 or go to www.mvwsd.org/register.

There are a variety of school and program information nights and tours in December at the elementary schools. These nights are good opportunities for new families and for those transitioning to new neighborhood schools to learn about a particular school or program, including choice schools. Please click here for a list of these events.