The Colt

Winter Greetings! We are skating into the second half of the school year and hoping that these inclement weather days are behind us. We know the disruptions to the school schedule can be very difficult on working families, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate this chilly season.

Our students in grade 3-5 are completing mid-year assessments this week which will be used to inform instruction for the second half of the school year. Parents will receive copies of score reports in the coming weeks. Additionally, report cards are slated to go home this Friday, January 31st. While this is not a traditional parent-conference quarter, teachers are more than happy to conference with families at your request.

At our January PTO meeting we met with members of the ACPS Building Services team to review the final construction images for the new Mountain View Upper Elementary School. They have broken ground for the school and it is slated to open for students the Fall of 2026! If you missed the meeting the slide deck used can be accessed here.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and school. Please reach out to us directly if there are any better ways that we can support your child’s educational journey here at MVES.

Want to drop a quick word of thanks or encouragement to an MVES staff member? Click below and submit and we will share it with them!

Statement from the Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools

Dear Members of the Albemarle County School Board,

Thank you for the opportunity to address an important topic on the minds of many in our community. Recent inquiries about the potential impact of immigration-enforcement activities on our schools have prompted timely discussions and preparations within our leadership team and School Board.

Above all else, I want to assure our students and their families that our schools are—and will remain—a safe and welcoming place for all. Albemarle County Public Schools does not, and may not, and will not ask students or families about their immigration status. Furthermore, all student education records are private and protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These records will not be shared with any government agency unless presented with a valid warrant or judicial subpoena.

We understand the concern about immigration officials potentially appearing at our schools. Recently, I was asked about the role of our School Resource Officers. Let me be clear: students or their family members will not be questioned, detained, or taken into custody on ACPS premises except when a law enforcement officer presents a valid warrant for an arrest on criminal charges.

Even in those rare circumstances, our protocol requires school-based leaders to notify the School Division Counsel, who will manage all interactions with law enforcement.

We recognize that school bus stops are an extension of our schools and play a critical role in providing students with access to education.

Following federal policies' guidance, school bus stops, like school campuses, have long been considered “sensitive locations.” Immigration enforcement actions at these locations have been strongly discouraged.

Recent changes to immigration enforcement policies have eliminated previous guidelines that restricted immigration officers from making arrests at sensitive locations such as schools and churches. These changes could potentially allow officers to conduct enforcement activities in these locations.

It is important to note, however, that such actions are still subject to legal protocols, including the need for a warrant in certain circumstances. FERPA, which protects student education records, remains in effect and should continue to safeguard private student information unless specific exceptions apply under the law.

We will do everything we can to ensure that public schools and associated spaces remain safe and secure for students and families.

We encourage any family concerned about immigration enforcement at or near schools or school bus stops to contact us or trusted community partners. We aim to provide support, information, and resources to ensure all students can safely travel to and from school and attend school in peace.

To further support our schools and families, our Office of Community Engagement has distributed written materials outlining these protocols and resources available to families who feel they may be facing immigration-related challenges. We are also fortunate to work closely with a network of community partners to ensure families have access to the support they need.

While none of us can predict the future, we remain committed to our core values of equity, excellence, community, and well-being.

We stand ready to protect and support all students, staff, and families to the fullest extent of our abilities.

Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration as we navigate this together.

Dr. Matthew S. Haas
Superintendent

» Declaración del Superintendente de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Albemarle

January 30th: 4th Grade Music Performance (6:15pm arrival)

February 1-28: Black History Month

February 12: PTO meeting

February 17th: No School For Students

February 27th: Soul Fest!

I hope this message finds you well! My name is Shrinidhi, and I’m the President of the Neuroscience Honors Society here at UVA. I’m reaching out today to let you know about an exciting science outreach event that we’re hosting next month, and we would love for your students and their families to join us!

The Neuroscience Fair will be a fun and interactive event where children of all ages can explore the human brain. With hands-on stations and activities like neuroscience arts & crafts, memory games, anatomical brain models, medical brain images, and a virtual microscope to examine brain cells, there will be something for everyone to enjoy!

The event will be on Sunday, February 23rd from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM in Newcomb Hall at the University of Virginia. Students and their families can sign up to attend at this RSVP link.

Important upcoming dates:

• February 7: Grades K-2 movie night - Wear your pj's, bring your favorite blanket, and join us in the MVES gym for popcorn and a movie at 6:30pm. Children must be supervised by an adult.
• February 12: PTO meeting - Our next PTO meeting is on February 12 at 6:30PM in the MVES cafeteria.
• February 17: Restaurant night - Grab dinner at Five Guys at Barracks Road and support the PTO!
• February 21: Grades 3-5 movie night - Wear your pj's, bring your favorite blanket, and join us in the MVES gym for popcorn and a movie at 6:30 pm. Children must be supervised by an adult.
• February 28: Staff appreciation breakfast - We're serving up a delicious hot breakfast for our staff on Friday, February 28. This is the morning after Soul Fest, making it a perfect day to show appreciation for how hard our teachers work - but do take this into account when you are planning. Please sign up here if you are able to!

Other helpful information:

• Family Council - Learn about the ACPS school budget process: The budget process for next school year will start soon! The most recent episode of ACPS's Engage! Podcast provides an overview of the ACPS budget process and how families (you!) can get involved.
• Funding for school construction: Would you like to better understand how funding decisions related to school construction and school renovations are made? Would you like to know how you can advocate around these issues? Family Council is working on a two-part post about this. Here is Part 1.
• Social media & more: Don’t forget to follow us @MVES_ColtsPTO on Instagram, join our Facebook group, or visit our website for more information.

Email: MountainViewOAs@k12albemarle.org
Website: https://mves.k12albemarle.org/
Location: 1757 Avon Street Extended, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Phone: (434)293-7455
PTO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MountainViewESPTO