Preschool Principal Newsletter
Principal's Message
Dear MVSD Preschool Families and Community,
With the fall season come many opportunities for our preschoolers and their families to engage in positive experiences to support their healthy social-emotional development. I encourage you to purposefully consider enhancing your young children’s vocabulary and cognition skills during special celebrations such as Thanksgiving and everyday interactions. Examples of activities you can do at home are reading a book every night, modeling using new words when speaking to your young child (instead of using the word "good," you can say "excellent," "fantastic," or "superb"), finding objects around the house that start with the same sound as your child's first name (Sebastian, soap, soup, salt, salmon, etc.), counting people at a family gathering, counting together any items at home your child is interested in, comparing fall leaves while taking a stroll with your children by using phrases such as "more or less, how many, longest or shortest, etc.
Most importantly, the fall season can help us create stronger bonds with our children, families, and community. When facing difficult times, it is imperative to protect our youngest children from adult problems because we want them to grow emotionally strong and stable.
On behalf of our Preschool Programs staff, I wish you all a blessed Fall Season!
Respectfully,
Glenda Giron, Principal of Preschool Programs
Red Ribbon Week
We thank our families for participating on October 23-27 to celebrate Red Ribbon Week with this year's theme, "Be Kind to your Mind - Say No to Drugs." This year, all preschool programs at elementary sites followed their school's plan to make it easier for our families to participate. Some of the activities for our preschoolers were Teaming Up Against Drugs by Wearing a Sports Shirt, Crazy Hair Day, Bring a Stuffed Animal to School, Wear Red, Pajama Day, and Favorite Book Character Costume.
- November 10 - Veteran's Day Holiday - Schools and District Offices closed
- November 15 - Virtual Mental Health Workshop, 6 pm - Assertive 2 Way Communication
- November 17 - CPAC Meeting, 9 am to 11 am
- November 17 - End of First Trimester
- November 20 - Thanksgiving Break - Schools Closed (except for Children's Center, Early Head Start Center-based and School Age Programs)
- November 21 - Thanksgiving Break - Schools Closed
- November 22 to November 24 - Thanksgiving Holidays - Schools and District Offices closed
- December 9 - Menudo Breakfast, 8 am to 11 am, Twin Lakes School (tickets on sale now)
- December 15 - Virtual Mental Health Workshop, 6 pm - Setting Limits and Boundaries with Children
- December 18 to January 5 - Winter Break
- December Break Please see our child's teacher if your are in the Children's Center, Early Head Start Center-based and School Age Programs.
- January 8 - Students Return from Winter Break
- January 15 - Martin Luther King Holiday - Schools and District Offices closed
- January 17 - Virtual Mental Health Workshop, 6 pm - Suicide Prevention: Understanding, Supporting, Coping & Healing
- January 26 - CPAC Meeting - 9 am to 11 am
- February 12 - Lincoln's Birthday Holiday - Schools and District Offices closed
- February 19 - Washington's Birthday
- February 21 - Virtual Mental Health Workshop, 6 pm, Bullying
Free COVID & Flu Vaccine Clinics
Herald Christian Health Center is hosting free COVID & Flu Vaccine Clinics during the month of November in the District. The first clinic is on Tuesday, November 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Baker School, 12043 Exline Street in El Monte and the second clinic is on November 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Parkview School, 12044 Elliott Street in El Monte. Free COVID vaccines are available to uninsured or underinsured adults ages 19 and older and uninsured/underinsured, Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal eligible children ages 6 months to 18 years of age. No appointment necessary.
Traditional Short-Term Independent Study - Less than 15 days
Traditional Short-Term Independent Study is offered to students who may face challenges attending school due to mental health or other health issues or who will be on vacation for less than 15 days.
Parents requesting short-term Independent study of less than 15 days (vacation):
1. Request Independent Study 5 days before the student is absent.
2. Complete the Independent Study form and submit it to the school office.
3. Classroom teacher(s) prepare Independent Study work to be completed.
4. Upon return, students are to submit their work to the school site.
For all other Short-term requests, a parent meeting is held with the Director of Pupil Personnel Services to discuss the need for Independent Study. At this meeting, the terms and conditions of the agreement as well as the start and end date of the Independent Study will be established.
ELPAC Testing to Begin in February
The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is California’s assessment system used to determine the English language proficiency of students whose primary language is not English. Every year between February and May, the Summative ELPAC is given to students identified as English learners (ELs). The Summative ELPAC measures EL proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking levels in grades TK-8. Student scores are reported as Beginning to develop (1), Somewhat developed (2), Moderately developed (3), and Well-developed (4). The results help our school plan instruction, monitor academic and language progress, and determine if a student is ready to be reclassified as proficient in English.
For more family resources for the ELPAC, please visit: https://elpac.startingsmarter.org/
MVSD’s Annual Menudo Breakfast
Our annual Menudo Breakfast will be held on Saturday, December 9 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Twin Lakes School. The Menudo Breakfast is a beloved community celebration including delicious, home-made menudo, entertainment, music and raffle prizes including bicycles. Tickets are $5 each (per bowl) and are on sale now at all schools and the Family Center. For more information please call 626-652-4971.
Mental Health Resources
MVSD continues to foster a culture that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of students, staff, and parents, with optional free resources available to families in our District.
As a reminder, 24/7 mental health service is available through our partner Care Solace.
MVSD staff and families may access Care Solace services by calling (888) 515-0595 or emailing weserve@caresolace.org to speak with someone from the Care Concierge team or visit the link caresolace.com/site/mtviewfamilies Care Solace is available at no cost. All information shared with Care Solace or entered on their website is completely confidential and securely stored. They do not share specific user information to any third parties or even the district itself.
Additionally, this school year, the District has launched a new virtual mental health service for students with Hazel Health. Students can see a licensed Hazel Health therapist from home or from school for virtual therapy. Hazel Health’s therapists can help your child or teen with depression, anxiety, change, stress, and everything else. Connect your child to mental health support today.
You can find more information about Hazel Health in Mountain View School District at https://my.hazel.co/mtviewschools/info
Facilities Improvement Update
MVSD construction projects continue with the completion of the underground utility projects at the Cogswell and Voorhis properties. The installation of new digital marquees at each site has begun, as well as the installation of the portable restroom at Twin Lakes School. While a variety of enhancements were completed this summer improving the educational environment for students and staff, we are excited to be moving toward the site modernization phase of the Bond program which will focus on the environment within classrooms, offices, cafeterias, and multipurpose areas. These improvements will be scheduled throughout the school year. Additionally, construction of the solar shade structures will begin this school year.
It's been a very productive first trimester and we thank you for your continued support as we partner together to follow our District’s mission of inspiring each student to succeed every day. As the holiday season quickly approaches, we wish all of our MVSD families peace, hope, joy, good health, and great times with family and friends.