The Colt

Thanksgiving break is in just a few days and it’s a great time to reflect on what we’re thankful for here at Mountain View. We’re so lucky to have a school filled with kindness, energy, and support from all of you.

Here’s our Top 3 List of Things We’re Thankful For this season:

1. Our Caring Colts – Your kids are the heart of Mountain View! From their curiosity to their big ideas, they make every day brighter.
2. Our Rockstar Teachers and Staff – They go above and beyond to make Mountain View a place where kids feel safe, supported, and excited to learn.
3. Our Awesome Families – Whether you’re helping with homework, volunteering at events, or sending us a friendly wave at drop-off, your support means so much.

Thank you for being such an important part of our Mountain View family. We’re grateful for you and wish you a season full of love, laughter, and good memories. We hope you’ll take some time this season to share what you’re thankful for with your friends and family and spread a little extra kindness. Gratitude is like a ripple—once it starts, it grows!

Respectfully,

Seth, Christine, and Stephanie

Watch this video made by Mountain View students and that your family is excited about participating in one or more of our fun sustainability focused family challenges!

Challenge #1- Get outside day! Try turning off technology and video games and enjoying time playing and exploring outside with your family! How will you enjoy the great outdoors?

Family Challenge #2- Visit a sustainability focused store in Charlottesville- Kid to Kid, Refill Renew Cville, Goodwill, Twice is Nice or any other second hand store. If you love art supplies try The Scrappy Elephant! What cool things will you find?

Family Challenge #3- Collect recyclables and make something new with them! Boxes, paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, etc. What will you make? Where will your creativity lead you?

Family Challenge #4- Find new ways to save energy around your house. Share those ideas with us!

We would love it if you could share how your family challenge experience inspired your family! Please send in your videos (1 minute or less, please) telling us about your experience! Please place your video in this folder. Please name your video with your MVES student’s last name, first name and their teacher’s name, so that we can reach you if necessary. Submit videos by Friday, December 20.

Students in grades 3-5 will have the opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. First students will participate in a classroom spelling bee the week of November 25th. The top spellers will progress to the school spelling bee on December 13th and Mountain View will send one speller to the division bee on February 3rd.

Wow! We had an amazing book fair week and were able to share the joy of reading to all students thanks to our MVES community’s generosity. A huge shout out to Cate Liverman and Laura Oetgen for their endless enthusiasm and efforts as our co-chairs! Many thanks to ALL of our fabulous volunteers throughout the week. The book fair wouldn’t have been the same without you! Thanks again from Mrs. B in the library!!

November 26th: Wacky Tacky Spirit Day

November 27 - 29th: No School, Thanksgiving Break

December 5 - 10th: Winter Growth Assessments

December 18th: 5th Grade Music Performance

December 20th: Family Sustainability Challenge Videos Due

December 23 - January 6th: No School, Winter Break

The Walk-A-Thon results are in!

A HUGE shoutout to everyone who participated—you crushed it! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

• Pizza party champs: Mrs. Ream's Class! 🍕 Way to bring the fundraising heat!

• Gift card winners for most laps in each grade:
• 🌟 Kindergarten: Luca Esherick
• 🌟 First Grade (It’s a tie!): Olivia Tankersley, Knox Cafiero, and Calvin Smith
• 🌟 Second Grade: Isaac Eyo
• 🌟 Third Grade: Blaine Rooney
• 🌟 Fourth Grade: Gus Jones
• 🌟 Fifth Grade (it's a tie!): Tommy Clarens and Harrison Rooney

• Last but not least: MAJOR props to Mrs. Lewandowski's 5th grade class for averaging the most laps! Your reward? Extra Recess AND you get to SLIME PRINCIPAL KENNARD! 💚

Important upcoming dates:

• January 14: Our next PTO meeting is on Jan 14 at 6:30PM @ MVES.

• Staff appreciation - November 25: We're so thankful for all of our amazing teachers and staff. Thank you to everyone who contributed to today's staff appreciation event!
• Staff favorites: As the holiday’s are approaching, here is the list of our staff’s favorite things.
• Grocery shopping: Need some last minute Thanksgiving ingredients? Link your grocery store rewards card and earn money for MVES PTO!
• Kroger organization #: TW595
• Harris Teeter organization #: 3813 (currently still listed as Paul H. Cale Elementary)
• Box Tops for Education: Download the app, find our school (Mountain View Elementary), complete your profile, buy participating Box Top products at the grocery, scan/submit your receipt, earn money for the school!
• November PTO meeting minutes: Summer in November? Yes, please! Many camp registrations open shortly after the holidays, so we got a head start by inviting camps to our November PTO meeting. Check out the minutes for a recap of the camps that attended and their awesome programs!
• Social media & more: Don’t forget to follow us @MVES_ColtsPTO on Instagram, join our Facebook group, or visit our website for more information.

• 2025-26 School Calendar: Next year's school has been approved. School will start one week earlier than it has in the past - first day for students will be August 13th. See the calendar here.
• 🎙️ Tune in to Engage ACPS, the official ACPS podcast! Dive into topics like the school budget process, Race Matters, and more.
• Race Matters: Sign up now! Join this impactful series on race in school communities, led by Gene Cash of the Counseling Alliance of Virginia. Spots are limited, and countywide participation is encouraged. Learn more here and register now!

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