Quetzal News
March 12, 2025
From Ms. O's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families,
I want to congratulate our students for their outstanding effort during Readathon Week! Developing a love for reading is essential, and it’s wonderful to see our students embracing this important habit. Regular exposure to books and reading opportunities not only strengthens fluency and comprehension but also unlocks a world of knowledge and imagination. Please continue to encourage your child at home by fostering a daily reading environment that nurtures their curiosity and love for learning. Here are three main reasons why it is important for children to read regularly:
Builds Strong Literacy Skills – Regular reading helps children develop vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency, which are essential for academic success. It also improves their ability to understand complex texts across subjects.
Enhances Cognitive and Social-Emotional Development – Reading stimulates critical thinking, problem-solving, and imagination. It also helps children develop empathy by exposing them to different perspectives and experiences.
Creates a Lifelong Love for Learning – Developing a habit of reading fosters curiosity, creativity, and a love for knowledge, helping children become independent learners.
Minimum recommended reading time for students:
- Kindergarten – 2nd Grade: 15–20 minutes per day
- 3rd – 5th Grade: 20–30 minutes per day
Encouraging daily reading at home and in school helps reinforce these benefits and supports long-term academic growth.
Here are our classroom winners for our Readathon this school year:
- 1st Graders in Maestra Dalia's class-100%
- 1st Graders in Maestra Carmen's class-100%
- 1st Graders in Maestra's Luz class-100%
- 4th Graders in Maestra Leon's class-91%
- 2nd Graders in Maestro Portillo's class-85%
- 4th Graders in Maestro Rodriguez's class-82%
- 5th Graders in Ms. Venell's class-79%
- 2nd Graders in Ms. Whaley's class-74%
Thank you, Karina De Rosa for organizing this event!
As I mentioned on previous emails, we want to celebrate and honor the richness and diversity of the cultures represented in our school community, and what better way than with your participation in this Multicultural event! Please use this link to sign up for our Multicultural event next week.
Best regards,
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal
PTA General Meeting: Join us!
We are excited to invite you to the next PTA General meeting on Monday, March 31, featuring a special presentation about the upcoming Outdoor Learning project. This district-led initiative will transform our campus through the introduction of trees, seating, garden beds, and new play spaces. Please attend this meeting (held in conjunction with Castro's Community) to learn more from the landscape designers Carducci Associates and give feedback on the current plans. Preview the designs for Mistral/Castro and other campuses here.
At this meeting, we will also elect the executive board for next year and talk about exciting opportunities to help out next year as several of our committee leads graduate from the school.
Date: Monday, March 31
Time: 6pm (NOTE: UPDATED TIME)
Location: Online via Zoom
We need volunteers!
We will have the art show at our Open House event on 3/27. Art Show volunteers are a vital part of this event and an excellent volunteer opportunity for those who are only available for one or two days of volunteering a year. If you can help us out, please complete Art Show Volunteer Form.
MVEF Board Members Needed
Two Board members from MVEF are stepping down as their children transition to high school. If you are interested in being part of this amazing organization that provides music, arts, and Living Classrooms at our school, please let me know. You can contact me at colaciregui@mvwsd.org. The role involves attending one Board meeting per month, usually on the second Tuesday evening from 7–9 PM (2 hours), as well as participating in 1–2 committees. These committees focus on areas such as Major Gifts, Gala, Programs, Marketing, Recruiting, Outreach, and more, with responsibilities evolving each year.
Calendar
March 19
- Lifetouch Spring Picture Day
March 19
- Multicultural Event at MUR 5pm
March 21
- Teacher Work Day - No School
- Open House 5:30pm-Art Show in the MUR and class visits at 6 - 7:00pm
March 28
- Spirit Day - Dress like the 80's
- Cafecito w/ Ms. O @ Room 21 8:15am
April 2
- Science Fair @MUR 5pm
DISTRICT NEWS
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: We Want Your Input!
As part of our shared commitment to ensuring the best for our students, we are inviting the MVWSD Community (teachers, staff, families) to review and provide feedback on the pilot curricula. Your perspective matters, and we’d love for you to join us at one of the following community review sessions:
SEL Curricula Review
Location: MVWSD District Office - Conference Room C
1400 Montecito Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043
March 13, 2025
Session 1: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 2: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
March 20, 2025
Session 3: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Session 4: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the SEL programs being considered, share your insights, and engage in the important work of shaping the future of our district’s approach to social-emotional learning. If you are unable to attend these sessions and are interested in reviewing the curricula, please email Karin Jinbo (kjinbo@mvwsd.org). For information, please see this webpage.
Better Together: March
March is Women's History Month at Mountain View Whisman School District! This special month celebrates the vital contributions, achievements, and influence of women throughout history and in contemporary society. This month, our #BetterTogetherMVWSD initiative highlights "Serving our community/Sirviendo a nuestra comunidad." Community service strengthens our connections, builds empathy, and creates meaningful change through collective action. Join us as we explore how we can work together on projects to make a positive impact in our community. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE MVEF SPRING GALA - JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 06:00-10:00 pm | Los Altos Community Center
This year, we are celebrating a big milestone - 40 years of MVEF - A Celebration of ERAS celebrating our legacy of Empowering Students from Gen X to Gen Alpha.
Over the past 40 years, MVEF has made a lasting impact and we are excited to celebrate this milestone while continuing to provide vital resources for our local schools and students.
This lively community building event includes dinner, silent and live auctions, DJ, raffle and student performances!
GET YOUR GALA TICKETS WHILE THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
Get your Early Bird ($140) or First Time Attendee ($125) tickets here until March 25th!
General Admission Tickets will go up to $165 after March 25th.
LAST CALL FOR AUCTION ITEMS AND HOST AUCTION PARTIES!
Do you have a vacation home? Do you like throwing parties for kids or adults? Do you have extra tickets for a concert or event? Do you have extra wine bottles to donate?
This annual event usually raises over 10% of our annual fundraising goal of $1.2M to support programs across MVWSD.
Great auction donations include:
Vacation home stays
Themed party experiences for adults or kids
Event tickets (sports, concerts, etc.)
Bottles of wine for the "wine wall"
Professional Services
Merchandise, etc.
Donate Gala auction items here. We appreciate your support!
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
City of Mountain View Multicultural Festival
Join the City of Mountain View for a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity at the Mountain View Multicultural Festival! Taking place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, this special event brings the community together to share, learn, and appreciate the unique traditions and heritage of people from around the globe. Immerse yourself in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere filled with community and cultural booths, captivating performances, and engaging exhibits showcasing international cultures. Visit MountainView.gov/MultiCultureFest for more information.
MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series: How to Find the Right College
Join MVLA Parent Ed on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 PM at the MVHS Spartan Theatre (3535 Truman Avenue) for an insightful presentation on “How to Find the Right College”. A panel of four experts in college recruiting, applications, and admissions will share valuable strategies for identifying great programs and reducing the stress of the application process. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert advice and make informed decisions about your college search. Register for this free event here.
City of Mountain View Nature Photography Contest, Earth & Arbor Day 2025
The City of Mountain View is excited to announce the launch of the second annual
Earth & Arbor Day Nature Photography Contest! Submit your photograph that depicts the beauty, biodiversity, and resilience of the environment in and around Mountain View. The Earth and Arbor Day photo contest is open to all Mountain View community members, including people who live, go to school, and work in the City and their families. Submit your photo by April 1 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to submit, visit https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/photocontest.