Pawprints

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Sept. 19: 5:30-7:30 Back to School Picnic

Sept. 25: Chat with Interim Superintendent, Dr. Darneika Watson

Sept. 26: School Site Council Meeting via Zoom

Sept. 27: PTA Dine Out - Baja Fresh

Sept. 28: Progress Reports are sent home

Sept. 29: Spirit Assembly - “Responsibility”

GUSD Interim Superintendent, Dr. Watson, will be visiting Monte Vista on September 25 at 9:00am to meet with Monte Vista families. Parents/Guardians are cordially invited to attend this meeting, when Dr. Watson will share information and answer questions about what our students learn at school and how parents can get more involved in their child’s education. Please keep in mind that this meeting is for Monte Vista families only. It is an opportunity for you to ask questions and share feedback directly with our Interim Superintendent. If you would like to submit a question before the meeting, please fill out this Google Form. You may also ask questions during the meeting. Feel free to email Principal Babayan if you have any questions.

GIRLS ON THE RUN:

Hello 3rd - 6th grade girls!

Girls on the Run is starting up again for this Fall 2023 season. Mrs. Pardo and Mrs. Smith will be the coaches. See the flyer that was sent home. The season will start on October 3. Space is limited. If you are unable to participate this season, due to limited space or other, Spring season will also be offered."

Best,

Coach Pardo and Coach Smith

There is still time to order school photos by scanning the QR code on the left and ordering online. This online option is only available until Thursday, September 28th.

Thank you to those who voted for the Monte Vista School Site Council representatives. The new members are Darnie Galloway, Maria Ibarra and Deborah Pasachoff. Please remember that all Monte Vista parents are able to attend School Site Council meetings. The first School Site Council Meeting will be held via Zoom on September 26th. Information for each meeting will be posted on our website and Pawprints.

SCHOOL FOCUS FOR 2023-24:

Based on our data from last year, our instructional priorities for the current school year are as follows:

• We will provide engaging and differentiated instruction to all students in mathematics incorporating real-life problem-solving scenarios.

• We will foster students’ social-emotional well-being with a focus on emotional regulation through community building and mindfulness strategies.

The La Crescenta Library would like to invite students to participate in LA County Library’s 44th Annual Bookmark Contest, an annual program that encourages a love of books and reading while also promoting creativity, artistic expression, and community engagement. For more information, click on this link.

Help the process during Monty Lane pickup by printing the linked car sign (pdf or Word) and adding your child’s grade and teacher’s name. Then, place the sign on your dashboard on the passenger side of your car during pick up.

Even though school meals are free this year, we need all families to fill out a meal application online whether or not you feel you would qualify. We need 100% participation. This helps our school receive funding and so much more. Apply at mealapp.gusd.net. Thank you.

BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC

Please join other families and friends at Monte Vista’s Back to School Picnic on Tuesday, September 19th from 5:30 -7:30 pm! We will have IN-N-OUT and KONA ICE Food Trucks available.

PTA DINE OUT at BAJA FRESH -- WEDNESDAY, September 27!

Take a break from cooking and get something FRESH! Join us on Wednesday, September 27th anytime between 3:00-8:00 pm at Baja Fresh in La Crescenta. The owner will generously donate 20% of the proceeds to our school. Order take out, delivery, or in-person, but you must type in or mention "Monte Vista PTA." Recommendations from the owner for an optimal restaurant experience:

• Order ahead (and early) online @ https://www.bajafresh.com/ and schedule a pick-up/delivery time (the ASAP times may get delayed to meet in-person orders).

• Dine-in service available but limited seating

• If ordering in person, wait times will be higher than normal

• Remember to mention or type in comments Monte Vista PTA

• Lastly, please be patient. The team is currently understaffed and working extra hard to make your order FRESH.

Your Dineout Chairs,

Margaux Chan and Danielle Bell

JOIN THE PTA

We are getting closer to our 100% Membership goal! As of this week, we are at 90% of our goal school wide! Please see the current classroom membership %: Doom 70%, Sesay 77%, A. Kim 71%, Gershen 63%, S. Kim 87%, Fong 61%, Nakano 84%, Smith 72%, HARVEY 123%, Stephan 92%, CHO 108%, Vroman 71%, BLESSINGER 127%, H. KIM 109%, Pardo 82%, Weingarten 59%, TAHK 104%, Nelson 83%, R. KIM 114%, Oh 70%, Son 77%, C. Kim 92%, Yniguez 77%, Kang 81%, Widholm 82%, Lee 94%. If you are joining online, please include your child’s name and teacher. There are currently 26 members that I don’t know which class they’re in.

EACH CLASS that receives 100% membership, which is one PTA member per student, will receive popsicles! We will also identify the highest percentage in membership for primary and for upper grades and those classes will receive a special pizza party! The deadline for classrooms to earn both incentives is September 29, 2023.

We can accomplish this goal by getting one PTA Member per student at Monte Vista. Each $10 membership positively impacts ALL students through advocacy at local, state, and national levels.

There are other perks to being a PTA member! PTA members can save money on everyday purchases thanks to these National PTA Member offers. PTA Benefits

Please review the Membership Flyer or on our Monte Vista website. You also join online on Totem.

~ Mary Klausner

DOLLAR-A-DAY CAMPAIGN

The deadline is fast approaching to contribute to our campaign! You don’t want to miss our on our incentive this year, which is a custom, one of a kind Monte Vista socks for families that donate $180!

Our PTA Dollar-A-Day contributions are what make these programs possible:

• Primary Music Program

• PE for Primary Grade students

• Monty’s Science Night

• Assemblies

• Carnival

• Red Ribbons Week

• and SO much more!

We suggest a contribution of $1 for each day of the school year, for a total of $180 per student. BUT ANY AMOUNT MAKES A DIFFERENCE! 100% of your contribution is tax-deductible and goes directly toward enriching our children’s education.

• Each student who turns in $180 will receive a pair of custom Monte Vista socks.

• Each family that contributes $180 or more will be recognized on the Monte Vista website.

Please look for the Dollar-A-Day Campaign Flyer for additional information. To qualify for these incentives, please remember to remit your donation by Friday, September 29, 2023.

– Brenda Sullivan

REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM 2023-24 | I am Hopeful Because…

Calling all budding artists! Did you make something special over the summer you'd like to share with the world? Start preparing your submissions for this year's Reflections Program, "I am Hopeful Because...". Drawings, paintings, poems, stories, photography, dance, film, music and more are all welcome! All grades (K-6th) are eligible to submit entries as well. More information can be found here and the digital submission form is now OPEN! Entries are due by October 13th!

~ Jessica Baron, Reflections Chair

DEI UPDATE

Rosh Hashanah [Sep 15 - Sep 17]

Many important Jewish holidays occur in the fall. The first are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which are collectively referred to as the High Holidays (Holy Days). This year, Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown on Friday, September 15, and lasts for two days, ending at sundown on Sunday, September 17. Jewish holidays run from sundown to sundown, rather than midnight to midnight as most secular holidays do.

Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year. In observance of the holiday, Jews do not do any work and instead spend time at a synagogue or in reflection about the year past and the year to come. It is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey and honey cake (honey representing sweetness that is hoped for in the New Year). On Rosh Hashanah, Jews eat round challah instead of the straight ones enjoyed through the year, because the round shape represents the year coming full circle. Pomegranates are also a sweet fruit that is traditionally enjoyed at this time.

Because the words Rosh Hashanah are transliterated (put into English letters) from the Hebrew, you will see different spellings of the name.

Rosh Hashana

National Hispanic Heritage Month [Sep 15 - Oct 15]

“Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

“The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

“The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.”

Source:

Link: Census.gov

LA County Library Events and Book Recommendations

National Hispanic Heritage Month: This Web portal is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

- DEI Committee

GROCERY & LABEL REWARD PROGRAMS

Did you know that our PTA can earn money when you grocery shop at Ralphs? Learn more HERE. Flyers will be available in this week’s Thursday folder!

- Emily Geller, Grocery & Label Programs Chair

MONTE VISTA PTA INSTAGRAM

Follow our PTA on Instagram @monte_vista_pta and get updates on what is happening with our PTA in real time! #instagram #pta #weloveMV

Monte Vista Elementary serves students in grades K-6. We are a National Blue Ribbon School offering one of GUSD's FLAG dual immersion programs in Korean. Recently, Monte Vista has been selected as a 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award Program winner!

Website: https://www.gusd.net/montevista
Location: 2620 Orange Avenue, La Crescenta, CA, 91214
Phone: (818) 248-2617
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montevistagusd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montevistagusd