The Dolphin Whistle

Dear Parents,

Reopening is almost here! Grades K-2 will return on Thursday, March 18th and grades 3-5 will return on Monday, March 29th. I am looking at the parent survey results now to compile class lists and I will be informing you of your child's official placement on Monday, March 15th.

Please join me at the Principal's Coffee on March 15th at 6:00 p.m. I will send the meeting link via email for those parents whose child has been placed in in-person learning (Option B). We will be discussing the mandatory procedures for the students and their families that are participating in in-person learning.

If your child is staying in full distance learning, they will now see their teacher and other classmates in the Castro classroom. The teacher will be teaching both the in-person students and the distance learning students at the same time so all will still be part of the same class!

Best Regards,

Theresa Lambert

Principal Mariano Castro Elementary

cell number (831)206-9522

Even though many in the county are being vaccinated now it is still crucial that we all wear masks and maintain 6 foot distance for several more months. Please be vigilant in this so we do not have any spikes in COVID cases.

Dear Parents

Please remember that our school fields and playgrounds are closed during school days until 4 p.m., just as they’d be as if we are in a typical school year. Our students will be even more spread out on campus in order to ensure physical spacing and social distancing. There are also other student programs, such as Learning Support Pods and Rhythm and Moves fitness classes, and staff present on campus during the school day. This makes it even more critical that the public stays off school fields and playgrounds during school hours in order to reduce the risk of COVID transmission and to ensure students’ physical safety.

You can help keep students and staff safe, and our school open. Please:
* Enter campus at designated entry points (at the office) for check in, hand sanitizing and health screenings, even if it’s a longer walk to the front.
* Remember no parents on campus after students are checked in
* Remind your neighbors that school fields are closed during school days

For everyone’s safety - especially during COVID - we need to keep our schools secure. Thanks in advance for your understanding and help with this.

Friday, March 5, 2021 - Superintendent's community check in, 3:30 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

Monday, March 15, 2021 - Principal's Coffee for All Parents 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021 - ELAC Meeting, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - Food pantry, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - Parent University 5:30 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.

Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, Mar 5 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/mOoiT

Date: Wednesday, Mar. 10, 6 p.m. on Zoom: http://mvw.sd/LatinX

The Latinx community has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us for a panel discussion with parents and Latinx community leaders about how this has personally affected families and students and how individuals can be true allies to their LatinX neighbors or others who are suffering through this pandemic without perpetuating harmful stereotypes or practices.

Panelists:

Sophie Alcorn, Attorney in Immigration and Nationality Law, Alcorn Immigration Law

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal at Mistral Elementary

Malia Pires, Executive Director, Reach Potential Movement

José Gutiérrez, Former MVWSD Board member

Priscila Bogdanic, School and Community Engagement Facilitator, MVWSD

For more information about how MVWSD is working to support equity in our community, please see https://www.mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.

Date: Wednesday, March 17 at 5:30pm Register here: http://mvw.sd/VbH07

As we prepare for transitions and changes to our routine, join district Health and Wellness Coordinator Karin Jinbo and our partners from CHAC and the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health on a journey of self-awareness as we learn about self regulation, mindfulness and self care activities. Participants will receive activities or strategies to support children with Hybrid Learning and 100% Distance Learning.

Submit your questions before the session here: http://mvw.sd/vCG5V

MVWSD is seeking substitute teachers. Please consider this flexible, fun, dynamic work that has a big impact on our students!

We have increased the full-day substitute teacher rate from $170 to $220 per day (From March 5 to June 4, 2021) for any substitute who will commit to working daily in the Mountain View Whisman School District. We appreciate your commitment to our students and community, especially in this time of COVID-19.

Requirements to become a substitute teacher:

* A Bachelor’s Degree

* Pass the CBEST test

* Substitute permit or a valid California teaching credential.

* Complete required background check. This can be done by appointment in the MVWSD Human Resources Department.

* A negative tuberculosis test

You may apply online: http://mvw.sd/sub. For information, please email Noemi Herrera at nherrera@mvwsd.org.

Interested in a fun and flexible job while connecting with kids? MVWSD is looking for people interested in working a couple hours during lunchtime as noon duty supervisors. We need you to help us provide safe, consistent supervision of students during recess and lunch periods. $22/hour. Please apply here: http://mvw.sd/noon.

In the month of March, we are celebrating Women’s History. BetterTogether recognizes the people, movements, and ideas that challenge expectations and gender stereotypes that negatively affect us all. From women’s suffrage to the gender equality movements of modern day, it has become clear that when we all fight gender inequality, we all win. Celebrate this month by having meaningful conversations with your students, your children, and your fellow s(heroes). In addition to the infographic, this month we will also be highlighting amazing women from our organization and learning about the s(heroes) that have inspired their own commitment to gender equality.

For a closer look at this month’s infographic, click on the attached flyers or visit https://www.mvwsd.org/bettertogetherMVWSD.

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

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.

Educators and families are invited to attend the free 2021 Wellness Together Spring Event Series, hosted by Wellness Together School Mental Health and the California Department of Education. Webinars will take place on Thursdays in March, and include topics such as social media usage, building emotional resilience, and parenting. For more information and registration, head to https://www.wellnesstogether.org/blogs/news/2021-wellness-together-spring-event-series?mc_cid=1cd9799b03&mc_eid=cd01a465eb.

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

March 1, 9 am- General Parent/Community Meeting with Special Ed. Directors & Staff, Zoom at 9:00 am for LCC and 9:30 am for CAC. We will be planning for the year, discussing upcoming programs and discussing distance learning and learning challenges. For our agenda, please join our Google group, https://groups.google.com/g/selpa1cac. For the Zoom link for this meeting, email selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com

March 9 Parent Chat, 10 am - Support for parents of teens with mental health challenges. A great place for help and support for challenges with your teens. Please contact trudy.palmer@me.com for Google Meet invite.

March 10, Morning Let’s Talk 10 am- 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. Please contact selpa1cacinfo@gmail.com

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/

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

The Mountain View Public Library will be hosting a virtual Spanish-only Storytime on Tuesdays from March 16 - April 20 from 10:00-10:30am. The program (for 3-5 year olds) will include stories, fingerplays, music and more. Zoom registration is at: mountainview.libcal.com/event/7550162