The Dolphin Whistle
January 13, 2021 Issue 21
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL LAMBERT
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your dedication to your child in attending the parent-teacher conference! Parent attendance this week was excellent and I hope that you found your parent-teacher conference helpful. For all students, please continue having your child read every day and also work on iReady reading and iReady math per the teacher's instructions to you in the conference. In grades 3, 4, and 5 please practice multiplication and division facts at home until your child knows them from memory.
Third grade, please look for communication from me next week regarding the Principal's Multiplication Challenge. All third grade students in California need to know their multiplication facts by the end of third grade and I will be setting up a goal-setting challenge with each student to help them have some fun along the way to achieving this goal. Also, every third grade student received a set of multiplication flashcards in their materials on Wednesday. These will help them to practice out loud at home several times a week.
For all parents of English Learners, our ELAC meeting is on Tuesday, Jan. 19th at 6 p.m. Please remember to join us at 6 p.m. for this important meeting.
For ALL parents, the next general association meeting for PTA is February 2nd at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see all of you there.
Best Regards,
Theresa Lambert
Principal Mariano Castro Elementary
cell number (831)206-9522
Tips for Helping your child to deal with traumatic events
Try to be in charge of what and how your child learns about the event. Depending upon the age of your child, it is a good idea to limit children’s exposure to traumatic news stories and images. Older children might use social media to communicate with their friends about events. It is important to monitor their interpretation of what is happening around them.
When exposure is unavoidable, provide basic information about what happened at an age appropriate level. Brief, basic facts are typically appropriate for younger children, while older children and teens may have more questions. Don’t overwhelm young children with too much information, but be sure to address questions as they arise.
Calendar
Monday, January 18th, 2021 - No School, Martin Luther King Day
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - ELAC Meeting, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - School Site Council Meeting 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - Food Pantry, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - Parent University - 5:30 - 7:00 - see article below
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 - Principal's Coffee - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 - Parent University - 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - see article below
Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 - Diaper Distribution, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00p.m.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - Building Academic Vocab
Thurs. January 29th, 2021 - 5th Gr. Info Night
FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE
Enrollment for 2021-22 for *NEW* students is open now
For NEW students: Open Enrollment is now through Feb. 5, 2021 online. You can register your child for the 2021-22 school year here: www.mvwsd.org/register
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 18- 22. Please look for an email from Student Services with a request to log on to the Powerschool Parent Portal: https://ps.mvwsd.org/public/. Please note: School offices will be closed on Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Enrollment support for returning parents will be available beginning Jan. 19.
Fifth Grade Parents: Middle school info night on Jan. 28
Crittenden and Graham both will be welcoming 5th grade families to an Incoming 6th Grade Information Night on Thursday, January 28 at 5 p.m. held on Zoom. Each site will host its own information night, and parents will receive an email from their students' assigned school with meeting login information.
This is a great opportunity to learn about our Middle Schools’ academics, a chance to meet our staff, and learn about the exciting opportunities your incoming sixth-grader will have at Crittenden or Graham.
Please contact Crittenden ((650) 903-6945) or Graham Middle School ((650) 526-3570) if you have any questions.
Parent University: Adolescent Drug Use, including the impact of the current pandemic.
Join us on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. for our next Parent University event: Adolescent Drug Use, including the impact of the current pandemic. While this event is geared toward parents of children ages 10 to 18, all are welcome.
The presenter, Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC), has been in place for 46 years in the Bay Area and addresses the academic, social and mental health needs of the at-risk youth and families. This important workshop will include such topics as:
· Overview of trending substances used by youth (vaping, marijuana, alcohol, opioids, etc.)
· Signs and symptoms
· Why teens are using and the impact of COVID-19
· How families can discuss substance use and support their children
· Alternatives for substance use and ideas for prevention
· Resources
Spanish interpretation will be provided.
Register here: http://mvw.sd/Jan20
Afterschool activities and programs (including free) are on InPlay
Even during COVID, there are fun and educational afterschool programs for kids happening now. Spring break camps are coming up, too. MVWSD partners with the non-profit InPlay to help you find the perfect fit for your child and for your family. Hundreds of programs, including those that are FREE and reduced cost, are nearby and online and can be found through this free, searchable website. Check out http://MV.inplay.org
Parent University: Digging Deeper into Supporting Reading Comprehension at Home
Join us on Tuesday, January 26th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for “Digging Deeper into Supporting Reading Comprehension at Home (K-5 Families)”
Members of MVWSD Instructional Team will share takeaway strategies to support your child's reading comprehension, connections, and applications at home.
Wondering how to support your child with their Reading grade level standards and curriculum?
What questions should I ask to build my child's reading comprehension?
What does standard progression look like over grade level spans?
Takeaways to support your child who is reading above grade level
Learn new ways to enrich, deepen, and create a joy for reading
Zoom Registration: http://mvw.sd/MlaSK
In order to make this interactive webinar most meaningful for you, please send your questions beforehand to Interim Director, Swati Dagar via this Google Form by Friday, January 15th.
Spanish interpretation will be provided.
Link to flyer is here.
Info meeting next week: MVWSD’s award-winning Preschool
Is now enrolling for full-day and part-day for the 2021-22 school year. Join us for an informational meeting online on January 14 @ 3:00 pm at http://mvw.sd/preschool2. Please see the attached flyer or https://www.mvwsd.org/preschool for more information.
Register now! Parent workshop: How to Build Academic Language with Kate Kinsella
Virtual presentation on January 27 at 6:00 pm
Hosted by Huff, Landels and Jose Antonio Vargas elementary schools
Register: http://mvw.sd/kate
Presenter Kate Kinsella, Ed.D. will talk about:
• After school conversation tips to use with children to encourage thoughtful responses
• Strategies to help increase students' academic language and listening skills
Kate Kinsella, Ed.D., is a teacher educator at San Francisco State University and a highly sought after speaker and consultant to school districts throughout the United States regarding development of academic language and literacy across the K-12 subject areas. Her 25-year teaching career focus has been equipping children from diverse backgrounds with the communication, reading, and writing skills to be career and college ready.
For more information, please visit http://drkatekinsella.com/about-us/
CSMA offers Virtual Art Club Live Zoom Sessions for Elementary students
Afterschool art for grades Grades K-5 from January 19-April 22, 2021. See the attached flyers or click here to view and register: https://arts4all.asapconnected.com/#CourseGroupID=10998
CHAC offers free mental health support to parents and students
For parents: CHAC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible mental health services, supports parents in several ways. Please see the attached flyers for more information.
For students: PLUGGED IN - Social and Emotional Learning Skills Programs
CHAC is excited to offer two new Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills Programs to 3rd and 5th grade students. Both programs are a fun and enriching way to help students navigate the unique challenges they face in these extraordinary times.
1. CHAC's Weekly Virtual Group meetings focus on social interaction between participants. Through collaborative lessons and fun activities students will learn emotion regulation skills, problem solving skills as well as healthy coping and self-care skills.
2. CHAC's Independent SEL Curriculum teaches students essential social and emotional learning skills through entertaining video lessons and a variety of fun activities that students complete independently.
The parents who request the PLUGGED IN Independent Curriculum will have it emailed to them immediately.
The parents who would like their child to join a PLUGGED IN virtual group, will be contacted about scheduling options and asked to complete an online permission slip. Groups are expected to start in early January.
Click here to learn more about PLUGGED IN- CHAC’s new SEL Programs: https://www.chacmv.org/social-emotional-learning
MV Library presents: Raising Kindness and Awareness in Children
Wednesday, January 20, 7 pm - 8 pm. Learn about fostering “kindness activism” in your children. Aila Malik, author, parent activist, social justice warrior, and kindness advocate will present practical ideas and engaging perspectives on activating humility, empathy, action, and togetherness within your family. Free. Flyers attached. Registration is required. https://mountainview.libcal.com/
Parenting in a pandemic: Free 6th district PTA speaker series
Thursday, January 21, 2021, 7pm, “Navigating School During Uncertain Times” with Challenge Success - Laura Easley. For other offerings in January and February, please see the attached flyer. Cost: free. For more information and to reserve your seat visit https://capta6.org/parenting-in-a-pandemic/
MVLA Speakers series presents “Middle School Matters” with Phyllis Fagell
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | Live Online
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Professional School Counselor Phyllis Fagell helps parents use the middle school years as a low-stakes training ground to teach kids the key skills they’ll need to thrive now and in the future, including making good friend choices, negotiating conflict, regulating their own emotions, acting as their own advocates, and more. To answer parents’ most common questions and struggles with middle school-aged children, she combines her professional and personal expertise with stories and advice from prominent psychologists, doctors, parents, educators, school professionals, and middle schoolers themselves.
Audience: Parents of kids grades 4 - 8
Register: To register for this free event at https://mvla2020-21-phyllisfagell.eventbrite.com
Books: https://www.booksinc.net/book/9780738235080
January CAC Events
Happy New Year! 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 selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com or check out www.selpa1cac.org
We encourage families to learn about the sensory needs all children may have during distance learning: Try a Sensory Diet