Quetzal News

Dear Quetzal Families,

It's been a great first week of school! I’ve truly enjoyed visiting classrooms and seeing our students so engaged in their learning.

Back to School Night – August 28th at 5:30 PM

We are excited to see you all at our Back to School Night. We'll kick off the evening in the MUR with a brief introduction of our staff and a warm welcome. After that, you’ll have the opportunity to visit classrooms.

Schedule

• 5-30 PM: Welcome and Staff Introduction in the MUR
• 6:00 PM: First Classroom Session
• 6:30 PM: Second Classroom Session (for families with more than one child at Mistral)

This is a parent-focused event, but we will have child care available.

Student Safety

Please enter our driveway through the first entry on Escuela Avenue if you are coming from Latham Street. Do not use the solar panel parking or drive through the alley. Also, remember to enter the school through the front gates to ensure everyone's safety. The preschool gate has caused some difficulties, so we ask that you avoid using it.

Welcome to Our New Staff Members!

We are delighted to introduce six new members to our Mistral Team:

• Ms. Tostado joins us as part of our kindergarten team.
• Mrs. Herrera has joined our third-grade team.
• Mr. Rodriguez is our new fourth-grade teacher.
• Mrs. Noll is our new special education teacher.
• Mr. Okunuuga is our new counselor.
• Mr. Vargas has joined our support team this year as our new school community engagement facilitator, working alongside Ms. Lepe.

We are very happy to have them all on board and will share more information about them soon. Thank you for your continued support in making our school a safe and welcoming place. We look forward to seeing you next week!

Warm regards,

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal

As a new kinder parent at Mistral you are cordially invited to join Konstella. Konstella is where parents can communicate with each other and where all Mistral school wide and classroom activities, events and signups are listed. Konstella helps us streamline communications and foster a close-knit and engaged parent community. Please add yourself to the classroom "Incoming Kinder".

August 28

• Back to School Night at 5:30pm

August 30

• Spirit Day-Crazy Hat Day

September 2

• Labor Day-No School

September 4

• Cafecito with Ms. O-Solar Panel Tables @ 8:30am

DISTRICT NEWS

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

Some of the topics include:

• MVWSD Staff Housing Update

• MVWSD Approach to Staff Wellness

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

MVWSD’s high financial rating saves taxpayers money on Measure T bond sale

MWVSD recently saved the community money in its capital bond sale due to its high financial rating and excellent financial stewardship. Of the 658 California school districts rated by S & P in 2023, the District was among only 26 ‘AAA’ rated districts (top 4%).

Each year, an outside independent auditor audits the district's controls and finances. At the end of each audit cycle, they provide a report to the Board of Trustees. For the past 10 years the district has received clean audits due to exemplary performance and transparency.

Our community has always been supportive of our efforts and we are happy to deliver excellent results. To read more, click here.

CAASPP scores are now available

CAASPP student (ELA, Math) score reports (from the Spring tests, current 4th- through 8th-graders) were recently released by the state and are now available for parents on the PowerSchool Parent Portal (under “Score Reports” - choose the 2023 - 24 school year). To learn more about how to understand your child’s CAASPP score report, go to the Starting Smarter website at https://www.ca.startingsmarter.org/. If you need assistance with logging on to the Powerschool Parent Portal, please contact your student’s school office.

Applying to be a school volunteer this year? Training and help sessions happen this month

We appreciate our parent volunteers! Please check your inbox (email dated Aug. 5) for important information about mandated training and optional volunteer help sessions coming up in the next two weeks. For an overview of the process, please visit https://www.mvwsd.org/volunteers.

No MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Due to preparations for Elementary School Back to School Night and afterschool staff development, there will be no MVWSD+ Afterschool Programs on Wednesday, August 28 (a minimum day for students). MVWSD+ families, thank you in advance for making other arrangements. This affects all Right At School programs, all Beyond the Bell programs, and the district-paid YMCA programs. Please note that due to contractual reasons, parent-paid YMCA programs will still operate. All programs resume as normal on Thursday, August 29.

For more information, please contact plus@mvwsd.org or call (650) 526-3500 x1061.

School meals are free, but fill out the EzSchool Meals application to help you and your school

MVWSD will continue to provide free meals this year to all students as part of California’s universal meal program.

However, parents need to reapply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals program now for this school year. If you think you could qualify (qualifying income levels listed here), we ask you to apply at EzSchool Meals to help MVWSD receive additional funding to support students who are in need, and may help your family. If your child is eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals, your family could get medical benefits, housing benefits, utilities benefits and more. Qualifying is one factor in your child’s eligibility for free MVWSD after school care and summer camp.

The more applications your school gathers at the start of each school year, the more additional funding it can receive for all kinds of programs. If you are currently out of work, you may qualify and help your school, regardless of your financial situation. Apply at https://secure.ezmealapp.com/ or call your school office.

Looking for an afterschool program? Read on to see if your child qualifies for MVWSD+!

A student qualifies for the free MVWSD+ afterschool program if one or both of the following conditions are true:

• The student is an English Learner (EL). EL status is established via the results of the Initial ELPAC exam, which is being administered to certain students in August and September. Results are usually available within two weeks of the completion of testing. If you have questions about the Initial ELPAC exam, please contact Leticia Corcoran at lcorcoran@mvwsd.org.

• The student qualifies for free or reduced price lunches based on federal income guidelines. At this time, lunch for all children is free, but this may not always be the case. To fill out the application for free or reduced lunch, please go to ezmealapp.com. Qualifying students’ data is collected at the state level and usually appears in the district’s data system within two weeks. If you have questions, please contact your school office.

Soon after a student’s EL or Free/Reduced Lunch Status changes to indicate he/she qualifies for MVWSD+, you will receive an email from the MVWSD+ Team inviting your child to enroll.

For questions or troubleshooting, please reach out to plus@mvwsd.org or Jennifer Nunez at (650) 526-3500 x1061.

Parent University: The Science of Reading, Part 1 of 2

Date and Time: September 10, 2024, 5:30-7:00 pm Registration Link: mvw.sd/pu091024r

Reading is fundamental. But how do we best teach children to do it? And how do we support them at home? In this two-part series, we will uncover the “Science of Reading”, how our new district curriculum is based on this science, and how parents can translate the science into practical routines and strategies at home.

About the speaker: Dr. Cyndee Nguyen is MVWSD’s Director of Early Literacy. She leads district efforts to ensure that all students, especially those of early elementary age, develop into capable and confident readers. Previously, Dr. Nguyen was a primary grade teacher and the principal of Bubb Elementary School.

To submit questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions. We will do our best to address your question during the session.

MVEF - Who we are and why we matter - Please donate!

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) is a volunteer-driven non-profit dedicated to funding innovative programs for all students in the MVWSD district.

Thanks to your donations, MVEF provides your child with a competitive, well-rounded education. School funding covers salaries, facilities, and core academics, while MVEF funding enhances the learning environment with art, music, environmental science, middle school athletics, and additional English teachers, reducing class sizes by over 20% in middle school.

To maintain these programs, MVEF seeks donations from parents and community members. The suggested amount per student is $1,100, also payable as a recurring monthly payment, but every donation is meaningful. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit mvef.org for more information and to donate. Thank you for your support!

Living Classroom: MVWSD Volunteer Information Meetings

Living Classroom is a non-profit organization that provides hands-on, garden-based lessons to MVWSD students in TK through 6th Grade. We welcome parent volunteers to help with our lessons in their children's classrooms, but we are also seeking volunteer docents who would like to be trained to teach our lessons throughout the school district. If you are interested in becoming a Living Classroom docent, please attend one of our upcoming information meetings:

Thursday, August 29th, 2024, 9:15-10:15 am; or

Friday, August 30th, 2024, 1:00-2:00 pm

Both meetings will be held in Conference Room C, MVWSD Office, 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View.

Please contact Susan Harder at susanh@living-classroom.org if you have questions or would like further information.

FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The View Teen Center: Volunteer Fair

Teens interested in volunteering will have the opportunity to meet with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities and their services on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center (201 S. Rengstorff Avenue). This event is open to all ages. Stop by, get involved, and make a difference!

City of MV: Hazardous waste collection

Free household hazardous waste collection event coming to Mountain View on Saturday, August 24! Safely dispose of paint, batteries, electronics, auto fluids, used oil, garden chemicals, propane tanks, fluorescent and LED lightbulbs, aerosols and more. This event accepts unwanted or expired drugs from both people and pets to help keep homes safe for children, seniors, and animals.

Appointments are required; call 408-299-7300 or book your appointment online at HHW.org. To schedule online, click the blue “Make a Free Appointment” button then select Mountain View on the calendar for August 24. Upon appointment booking, you will receive the specific Mountain View drop-off location.

MV Public Library: Upcoming Parent Event

Parenting Program: Individualized Education Program: Thursday, September 5, 2024, Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. Matthew Torres, an IDEA Specialist from the San Andreas Regional Center, will expertly guide parents through the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process. Gain insights to support and enhance your advocacy for your child. This program is perfect for parents new to the IEP process and seasoned advocates, offering practical tools and knowledge to navigate and champion your child's educational journey. Register in advance for this online meeting.

Announcing the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series for 2024-25

The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series is thrilled to unveil our speaker line-up for the 2024-25 school year! Local and nationally recognized experts will lead parents in conversations about wide-ranging topics, including navigating the evolving cultural landscape around sex, parenting in our high-achievement environment, exploring the difficulties of parenting boys in contemporary society, learning about a case study in racism at a local high school, and making informed decisions about higher education. View the 2024-25 speaker line-up at https://mvlaspeakerseries.org/.