The Dolphin Whistle

Dear Parents,

The Walkathon is this Friday! This is one of the biggest family events of our year and is also our biggest fundraiser. Castro and Mistral students walk together, raising pledges money for their own school. Castro parents are making the food and the food proceeds support Castro PTA. We need volunteers in order to make this event a success. Please help for an hour or so - report to the Volunteer Table when you arrive.

We also need lots of baked goods for the bake sale table. Please make some cookies or brownies or cake or jello dessert and drop them off at school on Thursday or Friday.

It's going to be a fun day. See you all there sometime between 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Best Regards,

Theresa Lambert

Principal Mariano Castro Elementary

Please complete the forms packet asap and return it to your child's teacher or the office. Donations to cover the fees are suggested, but not required.

Wed. Oct. 16 - School Site Council Mtg - 5:00 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 18th- PTA Walk- a- thon! 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Oct 25th- Kinder Field Trip

Nov. 1 - 5th Grade Science Camp forms due

Nov. 5th - 8th - 5th Grade Science Camp

Nov. 7th- 1st Grade Field Trip

MVEF’s phonathon is coming soon! Save MVEF a call and make your donation today. Your donation brings art, music, hands-on science, environmental field trips, Living Classroom, middle school athletics and more to every child in the district! Donate now at mvef.org/donate or contact MVEF at contact@mvef.org if you would like to help at the upcoming Phonathon! Your donation makes a difference for your child and every child in our schools.

Our district works hard to collect and use student performance data in order to improve instruction for student success. Preliminary CAASPP scores, which show gains for all schools and grade levels in English language arts including subgroups such as English learners, indicate that we are on the right track.

The process of using data entails looking honestly and deeply at what the numbers are telling us. Delving into data made us realize that not as many students as we hoped were reaching English proficiency at the rate we expected. We saw that many EL students were not progressing, and in fact at times regressing, in their English language development.

Recently, the Board of Trustees heard a review of English language learner progress and discussed increasing expectations. The new revised goal will focus on reclassification, rather than just proficiency on ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California), which is the first step in English learner reclassification to English proficient. The hope for all of our students is that they are fully proficient in both the English language and content standards, and reclassification is the path.

Last week I talked about site plans. I will be meeting with School Site Council and ELAC to focus on English language development and revising our school goals for English learners. Site plans contain a variety of goals to support English language learners in their journey to reclassification. We will meet these goals with targeted instruction, professional development, vigilant data monitoring, and our school community’s support.

Right at School, a before and afterschool care program, will be hosting an open house for current and prospective families on October 22. Please see the attached flyer for more information. For information on MVWSD's afterschool programs, please visit: https://www.mvwsd.org/academics/supporting_learning/before__afterschool

Learn the basics of mental health, including: definitions, coping with stress, when it is important to seek help, combating stigma, and how to get help in our county.

October 23, 6:30-8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Graham MUR

A team of professionals from Palo Alto University will present foundational information about mental health and mental illness and how mental health challenges may look different in different people or cultures. Participants will engage in interactive dialogue about how to maintain good mental health, and how to combat stigma around mental illness. The training also discusses what to do when someone needs support or help.

Spanish interpretation and child care will be provided. Seating is limited and RSVPs are required for this event. Please click here to reserve your seat.

Decoding Dyslexia CA Please come join SELPA 1 CAC as we talk about what dyslexia is, the California Department of Education Dyslexia Guidelines and the importance of early identification. The presentation will include an abbreviated dyslexia simulation so participants can gain an understanding of what it is like to be dyslexic.

Wednesday, October 16, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Springer Elementary Multi

1120 Rose Ave, Mountain View

The Castro PTA is calling out all volunteers to help with the Walkathon this Friday, October 18th. We are still in great need of many positions to be filled. We encourage you all to volunteer! Your help is greatly appreciated and much help is needed on that day.

Six lucky classrooms, with the most WAT volunteers, will win a popsicle party the following week. Sign up in the Office today! Please check in as a Volunteer on the day of WAT!!

Here is a list of Open Volunteer Positions:

1. Field Set Up (4 volunteers needed)

2. Booth Set Ups (6 volunteers needed)

3. Food Sales (2 volunteers needed)

4. Bake Sales (3 volunteers needed)

5. Spirit Wear Sales (3 volunteers needed)

6. Lap/Course Monitors (4 volunteers needed)

7. Lap Prizes (3 volunteers needed)

8. Volunteer Check-in / Student Check-out (4 volunteers needed)

9. Clean up (10 volunteers needed)

Most shifts are for 1-2 hours. Field set up is during school, clean-up is after the event. Some shifts are during the Walkathon. Check the Office List to learn the details of each shift.

In order to make this Walkathon a successful event, we need everyone's help!

We hope that everybody will attend the Walkathon this year. It is a great family experience that supports Castro and Mistral schools. We are all on one campus; two schools, one heart!

All proceeds from the Food Sales will benefit Mariano Castro Programs.

This is fantastic news for Castro!

Our Castro Food Committee will make fajitas, tacos dorados, rice, beans, elotes, jello, agua fresca, and much more. You will need to buy tickets for these foods. Cash/debit accepted.

There will also be 2 food trucks- Pita Salt (Egyptian / Mediterranean food) and Waffle Roost.

For desserts we will have the Castro Bake Sale, Yogurtland frozen yogurt, a local family with delicious homemade ice cream, and a shave ice vendor!

~ Foods from the vendors, will be paid with your cash or debit card.~

Each vendor has agreed to donate a portion of their profits back to Castro School!

We hope to see you there!

Donna Childress

PTA PRESIDENT