Quetzal News
January 18, 2024
From Ms. O's Desk
Dear Quetzal Families,
As we continue to foster a strong sense of community within our school, I am pleased to extend an invitation to our upcoming Cafecito event featuring Dr. Rudolph, our esteemed Superintendent.
Date: January 29, 2024
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Mistral/Castro's MUR-Cafeteria
Childcare provided
During this Cafecito, Dr. Rudolph will be providing important updates regarding our district, and it will also be an excellent opportunity for all members of our school community to engage with the Superintendent. We encourage you to join us for an evening of informative discussions and community-building.
Dinner will be provided for all attendees, and we welcome you to bring any questions or concerns you may have. This event is a chance for open dialogue, and we value your input as we work together to enhance the educational experience for our students.
We look forward to your presence at this special event. Your participation contributes to the strength of our school community, and we believe that your insights are invaluable. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing this evening with you.
Our Better Together topic for the month of January is "Conflict Resolution". This is a great skill for our students to develop as it help them navigate relationships, promote inclusivity, and contribute to a positive and supportive school environment. Conflict resolution is an essential aspect of our Ally Theme for the year, emphasizing the importance of standing together, understanding one another, and fostering a community where everyone feels heard and respected.
Throughout the month of January, we will be engaging our students in various activities and discussions centered around conflict resolution. Our goal is to equip them with the necessary tools and strategies to handle conflicts in a constructive manner. By promoting open communication, empathy, and active listening, we aim to empower our students to navigate challenges with resilience and kindness.
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive space, we believe that teaching conflict resolution is an investment in the overall well-being and growth of our students. Through these efforts, we hope to instill values of compassion, cooperation, and understanding, reinforcing the idea that we are truly Better Together.
Thank you for your continued support in fostering a positive learning environment for our students.
Warm regards,
Claudia Olaciregui, Principal
5th Grade Important Information
Monday, January 22 - Crittenden School Information Night for incoming 6th grade families (on zoom at 5:30pm). Please use the link and ID below to join us!
Meeting ID: 825 1973 0305
DISTRICT NEWS
Student enrollment in MVWSD for next year and school info meetings coming up!
Enrollment for next fall for all students in the Mountain View Whisman School District will be open in two weeks.
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 22 to February 9.
Please encourage families who are enrolling NEW students in grades TK-8 to attend one or more of these upcoming meetings:
Jan 17: At Theuerkauf Elementary, 1:30 - 4 p.m.: In-person school exploration event for Kindergarteners incoming to all school sites. Representatives from choice schools will be available.
Jan: 18: Virtual school information night for Transitional Kindergarteners (Meeting link: http://mvw.sd/TK118)
Jan 24: At Castro Elementary, 2-4 p.m.: In-person school exploration events for Kindergarteners incoming to all school sites. Representatives from choice schools will be available.
For families enrolling NEW students, please prepare to register your student:
Learn more about the documents you’ll need. Click here for the video. Please check www.mvwsd.org/register to locate your neighborhood school, how to explore school options and the four steps to register during the enrollment period held January 22 to February 9.
Do you need in-person help to register your child? Sign up at http://mvw.sd/help and attend any of the help sessions:
Castro Elementary, January 24 @ 5-7 p.m. and January 30 @ 5-7 p.m.
Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary, January 31 @ 5-7 p.m.
Theuerkauf Elementary, February 1 @ 5-7 p.m.
For Fifth-Grade Families: Middle School Info Night on Jan. 22
Please join us at this fun and informative virtual event. It is an opportunity for you and your fifth-grader to learn about middle school life. You will have the opportunity to hear from our principals, information about courses, tips on how to be successful at middle school and ask any questions you may have. Future 6th grade students are encouraged to join!
Date: January 22, 2024
Crittenden at 5:30 p.m. Meeting link: http://mvw.sd/CR122
Graham at 6:30 p.m. Meeting link: http://mvw.sd/GR122
The District is beginning its annual process of updating the LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan)
This input collected will guide the update of our District plan for the 2024-25 school year. Look for a meeting at your school to learn more about the LCAP process.
Please click on your unique survey link sent to your email on Jan. 29. Your responses are confidential. Students in grades 4-8 will also be taking the LCAP survey. More information found here: mvwsd.org/LCAP
Better Together: January
“There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Sometimes, being a good ally might mean standing up to our friends to protect someone else. In the month of January, MVWSD students will explore the essential question: How do I have a difficult conversation with someone? A thoughtful ally finds a way to express themselves respectfully and with an open mind. For more information about Better Together, visit mvwsd.org/BetterTogetherMVWSD.
Volunteer with MVEF
MVEF needs volunteers to help meet our goals in 23-24 and beyond! As a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteering with MVEF is a great way to add experience to your resume while meeting and working with local families who have similar interests and priorities.
Please reach out to dena@mvef.org if you are interested in helping in any of the following ways:
Represent MVEF at your school site’s events and activities.
Ensure that MVEF messages and programs are relevant to your school community.
Plan the MVEF Gala, Auction, and other events.
Technical work like automation and data migration.
Visual designs, graphic design and layout.
Serve as an MVEF Board Member.
MVEF is the local educational foundation providing essential programs at every school in MVWSD. Over 70% of MVEF contributions come from MVWSD families. To make a donation, click here. Use the monthly credit card payment option to pay your total donation over time.
SELPA 1 CAC Parent Education Event: Assistive Technology
SELPA 1 CAC, Palo Alto CAC and the PAUSD PATCH team are pleased to host a Zoom panel on Assistive Technology! Assistive Technology (AT) can help with communication and accessing curriculum for a wide variety of students, from those who have specific learning disabilities to dyslexia, ADHD to hearing challenges, unique visual needs or those students who are non-verbal. Learn more about this key part of your student's educational toolkit from the Assistive Technology specialists from PAUSD.
Meeting Live on Zoom: January 17, 9:30 AM. Register here
Have a question about Assistive Technology for the panel? Submit here
Interested in more of our past Parent Education events? Check out our Youtube Channel
The View Teen Center: January
The View Teen Center is a free facility in Mountain View (263 Escuela Ave) for all Mountain View and Los Altos 6th - 12th grade students. Drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 3:15 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 6 p.m., and the center features a game room, makerspace, kitchen, computer/study room, outdoor area, and much more! See attached flier for details about upcoming events and programs in January or visit their webpage for more information.
City of MV: Community Meetings for Homeless Response Strategy
The City of Mountain View is seeking your input to create a Homelessness Response Strategy to address homelessness, assist the unhoused and respond to community needs. Take part in defining a clear vision and action plan to guide decisions about goals, actions, funding and programs!
The City is hosting two community forums to give all community members the opportunity to learn more about homelessness in our community and the City's planning process. The forums will be January 18 (In person at the Mountain View Community Center, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave.) and January 25 (via Zoom, register here). For the January 18 in-person forum, light refreshments will be served and childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available in Spanish, Chinese and Russian for both meetings.