The Dolphin Whistle

Dear Parents,

I hope you had a great winter break. I know it’s busy getting back into the swing of things, but I need just a few minutes of your time today. It’s important that our school gets your feedback by Friday on the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) survey. Please complete this survey that guides the development of our District’s three-year plan and informs the update of the District’s Strategic Plan.

Please click here to give input through February 28. https://hanover-research.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0DJUXBF9K0zC1QV?Group=Parent. Many of you also received a paper copy via your child's backpack. If you would like a paper copy, please come to the office.

More information is found here: https://www.mvwsd.org/about/district_plans/lcap_lcff

Theresa Lambert

Principal Mariano Castro Elementary

Feb. 27 - Personal Success Assembly - 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. MUR

Feb. 28 -Spirit wear sale before and after school

Feb. 28 - ELAC meeting - 8:30a.m. - 9:30 a.m. MUR

Mar. 4 - CA/MI Project Cornerstone - 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. MUR

Mar. 5 -CSA Food Distribution 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. MUR

Mar. 6 -Coffee with the Principal and Superintendent- 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. MUR

Mar. 6 -MI/CA PTA Movie Night 4:00p.m.- 8:00 p.m. MUR

Mar. 12- MI/CA - Project cornerstone 8:00a.m. - 9:30 a.m. MUR

Mar. 13 - Second Grade Field Trip

Registration for 2020-21 is open now! Right at School is a fee-based, nationally-recognized before- and afterschool program held every day that school is in session, from 6:30 AM until school starts and afterschool until 6 PM, plus drop-in and school break care. Right at School presents experiential two-week science enrichment curriculum units, such as “Icky Experiments,” “Page to Stage,” and “Young Detectives.” The program incorporates physical movement, outdoor time and homework completion. It offers 10% sibling discount, 25% discount for free and reduced lunch families and flexible 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-day pricing options.

At: All MVWSD elementary schools, and Crittenden Middle School

For more information about Right at School, click here.

YMCA Silicon Valley Before and Aftercare

The Y is a 30-year provider of childcare and is led by committed, professional afterschool leaders. YMCA afterschool programs provide a safe and fun learning environment for kids. The Y provides programming in 99 schools throughout the community. Kids enjoy fun physical activities, healthy snacks, homework help, enrichment clubs, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities, arts time and engage in strong character development. The Y offers a 10% sibling discount, as well as financial assistance for qualifying families.


At: Bubb, Castro, Huff, Landels, Monta Loma, Theuerkauf, and Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary

The 2020-21 Kindergarten Afterschool Interest list is open now. For more information, click here to email. YMCA Afterschool Program webpage.

There are other afterschool care programs at MVWSD. Click here for more info.

Representatives from the following agencies will be available beginning at 6:00 PM to provide information and resources: Allcove, Children's Health Council (CHC) Teen Wellness Committee, and Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC)

Please join us to hear from a panel of local high school students about their perspectives on mental health. Students will give a short presentation and then answer questions including:

• What do you think is important for parents to know and keep in mind as they guide and support their kids who might be demonstrating some signs of risk or are already struggling with their mental health?

• What are some effective approaches and ways parents have been helpful in supporting you or your friends?

• What role does social media play related to teen mental health issues, in general? What should the role of parents in supporting and protecting their child?

• What advice would you give to parents with kids who have mental health needs?

All families are welcome to attend, although this event is targeted for parents and teens in grades 5-8.

Reserve your seat at

mentalhealthyouthperspective.eventbrite.com

Provided:

• Interpretation (Spanish support)

• Child care

We are still fighting the flu and working to make our schools as healthy as possible and prevent viruses like the coronavirus.

Please see these guidelines from Santa Clara County: https://www.sccoe.org/news/featured/Pages/Novel-Coronavirus-Information.aspx.

Our District is going above the recommended basic actions to help protect against the coronavirus as well as the seasonal flu, and we need your assistance. Please visit www.mvwsd.org/coronavirus to read the latest information, learn about the District's actions, and how parents can help.

The award-winning MVWSD Preschool Program is currently accepting applications for full- and part-day for the 2020-21 school year.

All 4-year-olds residing in the Castro School boundaries are now eligible for FREE, part-day state preschool at Latham.

Our preschool offers age-appropriate early math, language, literacy and science inquiry instruction, as well as social-emotional development in either part-day and full-day classes.

Awards:
* 2018 California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Recipient
* Platinum Level/Top-Tier Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Rating
* High Quality Inclusion from the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Inclusion Collaborative, and 2019 Inclusion Collaborative’s Inclusion Team/Teacher of the Year

** Join us for an info night on February 12 at 5 PM at the Latham Preschool, 1850 Latham St. Prospective families also can join a parent-only tour of part-day and full-day classes at Preschool at Theuerkauf, 1625 San Luis Ave. on February 13 at 3:15 PM. **

Children who will be 3- or 4-years old at any time during the school year are eligible. Priority enrollment for children who will be 4 years by Sept. 1. Full day is 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., part-day is 3 hrs in the morning or afternoon. Now accepting applications for full- and part-day spaces. Enrollment appointments begin in March. For more info go to www.mvwsd.org/preschool or call 650-526-3560.

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.

All volunteers must be high school graduates.

Date: Tuesday, March 3rd

Time: 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Location: MVLA District Office

1299 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View, CA

Register: REGISTER ONLINE

Questions: programs@mentortutorconnection.org

Information: MentorTutorConnection.org

>>Parent Education event: Crisis Prevention Strategies with Special Education Director Arianna Mayes. February 26 Graham Middle School Auditorium 7-8:30 PM

Learn how de-escalation can help create a safe place for kids to express their emotions and solve problems. How managing your own emotions, staying calm, allowing feelings to happen, creating connection, self-awareness and self-advocacy can allow your child your thrive and your household to feel like a safe place for all.

Decoding Dyslexia South Bay Support Group February 26, 7-8:30 pm, Mountain View Rengstorff Community Center.

There are many opportunities in Mountain View for students to enrich their learning afterschool or during school breaks. With safety and consistency in mind, our school newsletter and website will advertise only District-, school- and PTA-sponsored events and activities. While we recognize that there are many providers of enrichment activities who use our campus, we may promote only those that follow specific MVWSD parameters for safety and supervision.

The District provides inplay.org as a resource to parents who are seeking additional learning opportunities for their students. To view student enrichment activities, school break and afterschool classes in our community that are not hosted by MVWSD, please see our partner, https://www.inplay.org/r/mountain-view/. MVWSD has not reviewed all programs/events found there and does not specifically endorse them. Parents may search for activities near their school by entering either the school name or the school address.

The MVEF Winter Gala, held on February 8th, was an incredible night, raising over $125,000 for MVWSD schools! Generous parents, community members, principals and district staff came together to go 'Full Steam Ahead' supporting all MVWSD students. After a lively live auction, MVEF announced they had secured a $25,000 challenge grant from Google. Gala guests immediately stepped up to the challenge and raised their paddles donating over $29,0000 to support STEAM in our classrooms and secure the challenge grant. Thank you parents, community members, and district staff for supporting the Mountain View Educational Foundation's goal to ensure that every child, at every school has access to a well rounded, competitive, well- rounded education. Learn more at mvef.org.

PTA Board Positions - Open for Next School Year

The PTA is looking to fill open positions for the next school year. If you, or someone you know, may be interested in helping the school and our students please go look at the job descriptions (available in English and Spanish) in the Front Office, or contact PTA President - Donna Childress at (650) 933-8162.

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Room Parent Coordinator

• Historian

Book Fair Recap

Thank you to all who attended the Book Fair! This year was a lot of fun and many students purchased new books to read at home. Thank you to all of the Volunteers, from both schools! You all helped make this Book Fair Event possible. Your hard work is very much appreciated!

THIS YEAR the Scholastic Book Fair, hosted by the Castro PTA, was able to add 143 New Books to our School Library during this Fair. Librarian, Mrs. Love, is working hard to categorize and shelve these books for Mistral and Castro students to use. The 143 books are valued at $1,140.00. These books will be available for present and future students to use for years to come!

Spirit Wear Sales

The next Spirit Wear Sale will be this Friday 2/28 before and after school. Please stop by to see the clothing items, youth hats, and stainless steel water bottles for purchase. The Committee tries to provide one sale date each month during the school year.

$$ Cash and Cards are acceptable forms of payment. We hope to see you there!

• Would you like to be a part of the Spirit Wear Committee for Castro??

We need adults to help run the sales, get the merchandise out & put it away, help customers get the sizes needed, and collect the money for each item purchased. We plan to have one sale each month during the school year. The sales are held before and after school on sale days. Contact the Office if you are interested in learning more about this job. You will work with other Castro families, have fun, and you may bring your younger child if necessary. Come join the fun!