The Dolphin Whistle

• Snack and Lunch: Our students are excited to be able to have a choice for their snack and lunch.It will really help our food service and yard duty staff if you help your students decide on their lunches before they arrive at school. Our lunch menu is available on the district website or click: April

• State Tests: This is the first time since 2019 that our students have taken the CAASPP and it is an important measure of student learning at Castro. All students in grades 3-5 must take the assessment. We have been working hard on teaching and learning and practicing for the test so that students “show what they know”. The week after break we will do a schoolwide simulation. Official testing starts on Tuesday, April 26. We need all students to attend (unless ill) and arrive on time to school.

Even though some things are returning to near-normal, we are still taking every reasonable precaution to keep our students safe.

• COVID test kits sent home on Thursday. Please make sure that your student takes the test Sunday evening. If positive, please notify the school. And please consider getting yourselves and your children vaccinated in order to keep all of us safe.

• Masking: In addition to strongly recommending masks inside classrooms, students should wear masks when they pick up their snack and lunch due to the large number of people passing through the line in a short period of time. I have been very impressed with how respectful students have been to each other on this issue.

NEW A BOOK IN EVERY BACKPACK

Reading is the foundation of learning success. Even in math, if students cannot read the math word problems they won’t be able to solve them correctly. And improvement is similar to improving in sports: The more you practice, the better you get.

We are fortunate to have received a large donation of new books from local nonprofits. These are books that are at their level, and they are interesting. The idea of A Book in Every Backpack gives the message that a student should always have something to read. Our goal is to send a book home with every student to read during the break. Help your students by setting aside at least 30 minutes a day for reading.

The Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Some of the meeting’s topics include:

• Strategic Plan initiatives Update

• Update on Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS)

• Tentative Agreement with MVEA

For meeting details and agenda, please click here: https://www.mvwsd.org/trustees.

Please join us for our Community Check-In with Dr. Ayindé Rudolph on Friday, April 8 at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Click here to register: http://mvw.sd/CC48.

This is an informal meeting for Spanish speaking parents. Translation will be provided. Please join us on Wednesday, April 6, 2022⋅5:30 – 6:30pm. Click here to register.

Mountain View Whisman School District is on spring break April 11-15.

Parents and staff members will once again be receiving free COVID test kits from schools this week. Please remember to administer the free at-home COVID test kit to your child on April 17, before returning to school on April 18. If your child has symptoms or a positive result, he/she must stay home. Please see https://www.mvwsd.org/returntolearn for detailed COVID information. Have a safe and restful time away.

Both outdoor and indoor masking is strongly recommended (but no longer required) for students and staff in our schools and offices. However, there are times that masks are still very highly recommended.

Multi-use rooms opened for food distribution this week as a result of loosened COVID restrictions. Students will wear masks as they pick up food indoors. Outdoor eating will continue. Please click here for a video about how the new food lines work: https://vimeo.com/694953946. Thanks in advance for your patience as we adjust to new procedures.

Date and Time: April 27, 2022, 5:30pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu042722

Nervous about middle school? We get it! Change can be daunting, but it can also lead to amazing new experiences. Join us to learn how to support your children as they prepare for the next stage in their academic and social lives. We will feature a panel of staff and students from Crittenden and Graham who will offer lots of wisdom and details about grades six, seven, and eight. See you there!

To submit your questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions.

All in person gala ticket sales close Wednesday, April 6. No walk-in tickets will be available.

Join MVEF for a lively evening that includes dinner, fundraising, and trivia in support of our schools. You can join us in person at Michael's at Shoreline OR join us virtually from home for the trivia game and access to online fundraising.

In person ($125 - tickets close April 6th!)

Virtually ($50 - tickets close April 17th!) for the trivia game and online fundraising

We'll also have a raffle if you'd like your chance to win one of three great prizes available!

The winners will be drawn at the gala, but you need not be present to win!

To buy tickets please send an email: aisha@mvef.org

Looking for another way to participate?

We are still looking for items to include in our silent auction catalog. Do you have a vacation home or a timeshare, season tickets, golf course access, lessons, or a special experience to share? Please contact Dena@mvef.org or Andrea-m@mvef.org

The City of Mountain View is holding a Spring Break Camp the week of April 11 - April 15 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm for children ages 7-11. Join city staff for a fun filled week of outdoor games, arts & crafts, and cool projects. For more information and camp registration, click here.

Join the MV Police Activities League on Friday, April 22 from 4 pm to 7:30 pm at Rengstorff Park for a family night of fun promoting health and mental wellness for youth of all ages. The event is free for local Mountain View youth and families. A picnic dinner will be provided!

Crittenden:

April 1, 9:00 - 10:00 am. Zoom meeting link

April 7: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Zoom meeting link

Graham:

April 1, 10:45-11:45 am. Zoom Meeting link

April 7, 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Zoom Meeting link

Want to create animations, stories and games? Learn the basics of Scratch, a block-based programming language, at this MVPL workshop with Pixelators Education on Thursday, April 21 4-5 p.m. on Zoom. Workshop recommended for programming beginners in grades 1-3. Parent/guardian assistance welcome. Register in advance at: https://mountainview.libcal.com/event/8915612.

The MVLA Parent Ed Speaker Series will be hosting their last lecture of year with educator Shafia Zaloom, author of Sex, Teens & Everything in Between. The presentation will be held at the Los Altos High School Eagle Theater on Tue, April 19, 2022 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Zaloom will guide us toward a deeper understanding of how to encourage our children to embrace a healthier, more joyful, and responsible understanding of sexuality. Register for the in-person event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/302284028667.

Date and Time: April 27, 2022, 5:30pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu042722

Nervous about middle school? We get it! Change can be daunting, but it can also lead to amazing new experiences. Join us to learn how to support your children as they prepare for the next stage in their academic and social lives. We will feature a panel of staff and students from Crittenden and Graham who will offer lots of wisdom and details about grades six, seven, and eight. See you there!

To submit your questions prior to the event, go to mvw.sd/questions.