The Colt

Happy October! We are thrilled that so many families came out to join us at our annual Hispanic Heritage Night Celebration last Thursday. We would like to thank all our volunteers, families and teachers for their planning and putting together this special event.

Our lost and found is growing! Take a look at this quick video from Ms. Provines where she shows you our latest collection of coats, water bottles, sweatshirts, and yes, socks.

Our instructional staff is undertaking an enormous lift this year in completing their LETRS literacy certifications. LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a comprehensive Science of Reading program that reviews the cognitive science behind learning to read and strategies to make more efficient readers. Our staff will each spend about 40 hours this year completing this training, all with the goal of becoming better reading teachers. Interested in learning more about LETRS? Visit this helpful resource.

One of our goals this year is to reduce our number of students who are designated “chronically absent.” Last year about 16% of our students had this designation, which means they missed 18 or more days of school! Please help us keep our absenteeism rate down by bringing your child to school (even if they have an appointment that day) and only keeping them home if they are seriously ill. Families with excessive absences this year will be partnered with our attendance administrator and need to develop attendance contracts and schedule make-up school sessions. Thank you for partnering with us in getting your child to school on time each day.

Thank you for your support this fall. Our quarter ends in just two weeks, and soon our teachers will be reaching out about report card conferences. As always, please contact us if there is anything we can do to better support your child’s educational journey at Mountain View.

Last Thursday we celebrate our annual Hispanic Heritage Night! Thank you to all the families who attended and celebrated with this. We want to offer our biggest thanks to those families that baked the wonderful food we all were able to enjoy--thank you for sharing your culture with us!

Our Student Support Team has doubled since last year, giving us lots of opportunities to support students in learning social and emotional skills.

Learn more about this team and their interactions with your child here!

Does your family need support for the upcoming holiday season? The Charlottesville area Toy Lift provides toys and books to needy children in Charlottesville.

Children receiving assistance from the Toy Lift must meet these criteria:

• They must be 8th grade or younger.
• They must reside in Albemarle, Buckingham, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, or Nelson.
• They may not be receiving gift assistance from another organization such as Salvation Army, Love, INC, or GRACE.

If you would like to sign your child up for the Toy Lift, complete this form by NOVEMBER 12th.

English: https://bit.ly/toylift2024

Spanish: https://bit.ly/juguete2024

If you would like to contribute to the Toy Lift to help ensure that all of our students receive gifts for the holiday season, you may contribute at https://toylift.org/donations/

Interested in learning more about the Virginia Literacy Act, the Science of Reading and our new HMH Literacy Curriculum? Here are resources for you to explore.

October 22nd: PTO Meeting at Southwood Boys & Girls Club

October 23rd: Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Please send a card with your child on the school bus!

October 23rd: Last Day of First Quarter

October 24-25th: No School, Teacher Work Days

November 1st: Spirit Day Pajama Day! (Day after Halloween, We All Need an Easy Morning)

November 4-5th: No School, Teacher Work Day and Election Day

• October 15 - Spirit Swag Store Closing: The store closes this Tuesday, October 15! Help us reach our fundraising goal by purchasing trendy tees and cozy hoodies for students and adults—perfect for the fall weather. Order yours today!
• October 16 - Pour It Forward Restaurant Night: Stop by Random Row Brewing on Wednesday, October 16, between 4:30–10:00 PM for dinner and drinks! Mention MVES PTO at the time of purchase, and the PTO will earn $2 for every pint and pizza sold.
• October 22 - PTO Meeting: Join us on October 22 at 6:30 PM at the Southwood Boys & Girls Club (383 Hickory St) for our next PTO meeting. Childcare and translation services will be provided. We'll hear from teachers about our school-wide immersion program and enjoy a classroom-like experience from the student perspective!
• October 23 - Bus Driver Appreciation: Show love to our amazing bus drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day, October 23! Say thanks with a card or join the PTO in making goody bags. Interested in helping? Please email laurencp@gmail.com.
• November 15 - Walk-A-Thon: Mark your calendar for the 4th annual Colts Derby Walk-A-Thon, happening on Friday, November 15! This fun event is held during the school day so that everyone can participate. Students will move, groove and have a blast, all while supporting our school community! More details coming soon on how families and friends can pledge their support.

• Staff Appreciation: Our October Staff Appreciation treat will be a popcorn bar on Tuesday, October 15. Thanks to the Redfields neighborhood for sponsoring this month!
• Room Parent Volunteers Needed: We are still looking for 11 volunteers to serve as room parents for grades 1-5. Many room parents have already organized class-wide playdates. Learn more about being a room parent here or email candice.bronez@gmail.com to sign up or ask questions.
• Gift Card Drive: Support families in our school community by donating gift cards! Grocery cards are most needed, but cards for gas, food, or stores are also appreciated. Drop them off at the front office or send them with your child to their teacher.
• 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