The Dolphin Whistle
December 1, Issue 15
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL SALCIDO
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving week and was able to celebrate the people that they are thankful to have in their lives. I want to say how thankful I am that you work with us to support the learning and growth of your children at Castro Elementary.
Next week, the Castro Dolphin students will be taking the second diagnostic test for iReady reading on December 6th and 7th as well as iReady math on December 8th and 9th! This midyear assessment will tell us how much the students have grown academically since the beginning of the year and how many points they have moved towards their annual growth goal!! Please make sure the students are getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night, having a nutritious breakfast before school, and coming to school on time so they can do their best on the iReady tests.
Castro will also be celebrating the end of 2021 with 10 Spirit days!! Please check out the calendar of days this weekend to begin preparing for all the fun!
Parents!! Don’t miss the Parent workshop on the Zones of Regulation the next 2 Wednesdays, December 8th and 15th. All the Castro students have been taught how to recognize their emotional state by color and have learned about tools to help them regulate their emotions and remain as much as possible in the “Green Zone” where they are happy and ready to learn. This workshop will focus on giving you information on the zones and tools so that you can practice the skills with your students at home. Every parent who completes the 2 workshops will receive a “Castro Dolphin Way” shirt in January! This shirt will match the shirts that will be given to students after winter break.
Finally, for any of you who have entering Kindergarten students or know of someone who has a student who is going to be 5 years old soon, we are having an information night for new families on December 7th, at 6PM. We will talk about what future Castro Dolphins would experience when they come to our school. It is a Zoom meeting, so make sure you register in advance!
Sincerely,
Mr. Salcido
Castro Parent Workshop starts next week on 12/8/21
We are excited to present parents with the information Castro Dolphin students have been learning in the first few months of school about identifying zones of emotions and which tools can help them regulate those emotions. These are great skills to practice at home! Please join us for a 2-session series Wednesday mornings from 9-10AM on Dec. 8th and Dec. 15th via Zoom. See flyer attached for more details, and the zoom link.
CALENDAR
- December 6, 2021 - Long Winter Night ( Pajama Day)
- December 7, 2021 - Candy Cane Lane ( Wear Red and White )
- December 7, 2021 - Castro school information night, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
- December 7, 2021 - Toolbox Parent Workshop, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (zoom)
- December 8, 2021 - Festive Fun ( Wear Blue and White )
- December 9, 2021 - Holiday Hats ( Make Bring and wear a Holiday Hat )
- December 10, 2021 - Silly Socks ( Crazy Sock Day)
- December 13, 2021 - Family Photo ( Wear a Flannel or Plaid )
- December 14, 2021 - Holiday Spirit ( Wear your red and green )
- December 15, 2021 - Holiday Character ( Wear something with your favorite character on it)
- December 15, 2021 - Toolbox Parent Workshop, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (zoom)
- December 16, 2021 - New Year's Countdown ( Dress in your best )
- December 17, 2021 - Ugly Sweater ( Wear your favorite Holiday Sweater)
- December 17, 2021 - Principal's Coffee, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (Zoom)
- December 20, 2021 - January 3, 2022 - No School ( Holiday Break)
DISTRICT NEWS
Upcoming i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Assessments
i-Ready is an online program that helps us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth in mathematics and reading. Teachers use this information to support instruction in core subjects for every student.
Your child will take the second i-Ready Math and Reading diagnostic assessments during the week of December 6th, 2021. Your child’s school will share their specific schedule.
Elementary school families can access their child’s i-Ready Reading and Mathematics score via their Powerschool Parent Portal starting December 17, 2021. Parents will have access to three reports for their child - For Families Report, Common Core State Standards Report (CCSS), and the Diagnostic Growth Report. Here’s how to access PowerSchool Parent Portal i-Ready Reports.
Parents can learn more about the i-Ready platform and how to interpret the various i-Ready reports. Join us for an i-Ready Parent Informational Webinar on December 16th, 2021 at 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Please register in advance via the link .
Please contact your child’s school front office if you have any trouble accessing reports.
Parent University: How to Talk to Our Kids About Race, Racism, and Equity (with Project Cornerstone)
Date: December 8, 2021, 5:30pm-7:00pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu120821
Conversations on race, racism, and equity can be uncomfortable. Where do we even start? This presentation will:
Explore the concept of recognizing our own racial identity. It starts with us.
Build a shared understanding of key definitions so we can be more informed when we listen, learn, and talk.
Gain language and tools to hold conversations with our kids.
To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
Kinder info night, school meetings coming up. Open Enrollment for all MVWSD students starts in January
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 24-28.
For NEW students: Open Enrollment is from January 10 through Feb. 4, 2022 online. You can register your child for the 2022-23 school year when online registration opens here: www.mvwsd.org/register
School info meetings: Check www.mvwsd.org/register for a complete list with login information.
District new student information night, covering the registration process, is on November 30 at 5:30 p.m. (in both English and Spanish) at this Zoom link: http://mvw.sd/kinder1130.
School kindergarten/new student information nights are online on December 7 at 6:00 p.m. for all elementary schools, and include choice school information. Click here for meeting information: http://mvw.sd/schoolinfo
If your child turns 5 years old between September 2, 2022 – February 2, 2023, he/she may qualify for transitional kindergarten. TK info night is December 14 at 5:00 p.m online at http://mvw.sd/TK1214
If you are interested in the District's choice schools, information nights are:
Gabriela Mistral: Dual Spanish/English Immersion: December 14 at 6 pm at http://mvw.sd/MI1214
Stevenson: Parent Child Teacher: December 15 at 6 pm at http://mvw.sd/ST1215
Choice schools will also have information at the elementary schools’ info nights (6 p.m. Dec. 7).
Please visit www.mvwsd.org/register for more information.
Please complete the Health and Wellness survey before Friday
As part of its Strategic Plan 2027, our district is prioritizing our health and wellness. MVWSD has partnered with an education market research firm, Hanover Research, to seek the opinions, perceptions and needs of our school community in order to inform our health and wellness programs and practices.
We want to hear the voices and experiences of parents/families, staff members, and middle school students. We invite you to participate in the Health and Wellness Needs Assessment Survey through December 3, 2021.
To participate in this survey, click this link or paste the following URL in your browser: http://mvw.sd/HW
The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and is confidential (i.e., no personally identifiable information will be collected or reported).
If you or a loved one is experiencing a health emergency, please visit an emergency room, or call 911. For self-help and community resources, please see the MVWSD Virtual Wellness Center: https://www.mvwsd.org/wellness. Thank you for your input that will help us provide effective health and wellness supports and services.
Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) approval
On Dec. 9, the Board of Trustees is expected to approve each school’s Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), the document that represents a school’s cycle of continuous improvement of student performance. The plans are the result of a collaborative effort between the school staff and members of the School Site Council (SSC) with input from the school community and site advisory groups including the English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC). Draft site plans have been available for Board of Trustee and public review through the District website since October 22, 2021.
Please upload your child’s completed vaccine card
Many of our younger students are getting their 2nd COVID vaccine shot this week. When your child's vaccine card has their second shot listed, please upload a copy to Powerschool. Vaccine cards will be referred to in the case of a positive COVID exposure for your student, and MVWSD needs accurate data for decisions about COVID protocols. Click here for a video that shows you how to upload documents: https://vimeo.com/606954357.Thank you in advance for uploading your documents now!
Community engagement: Security cameras
One of the projects identified in MVWSD’s Master Facility Plan and the Measure T Bond was the need for security cameras in public areas at all school sites as a way to increase safety for students and staff members by deterring misconduct and preventing vandalism.
Members of the schools’ communities may engage in a series of feedback meetings through Jan. 2022 before the plan for security cameras is finalized. Principals will gather feedback at regularly scheduled meetings such as Principal’s Coffee, School Site Council, PTA, and ELAC.
Additionally, parents and neighbors may attend community meetings:
Stevenson, Theuerkauf, Bubb, Imai, Landels on December 6 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Access the online meeting at http://mvw.sd/security12_6_12
Graham, Crittenden on December 7 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Access the online meeting at http://mvw.sd/security12_7_12
Castro, Mistral, Vargas, and Monta Loma on December 8 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Access the online meeting at http://mvw.sd/security12_8_12
Parent University: How to Talk to Our Kids About Race, Racism, and Equity (with Project Cornerstone)
Date: December 8, 2021, 5:30pm-7:00pm Registration Link: http://mvw.sd/pu120821
Conversations on race, racism, and equity can be uncomfortable. Where do we even start? This presentation will:
Explore the concept of recognizing our own racial identity. It starts with us.
Build a shared understanding of key definitions so we can be more informed when we listen, learn, and talk.
Gain language and tools to hold conversations with our kids.
To submit questions prior to the event, please click here. We will do our best to address your question during the session.
School meetings are coming up. Open Enrollment for all MVWSD students starts in January
For CURRENT students in transitional kindergarten-7th grade: Parents will be asked by email to confirm enrollment from January 24-28.
For NEW students: Open Enrollment is from January 10 through Feb. 4, 2022 online. You can register your child for the 2022-23 school year when online registration opens here: www.mvwsd.org/register
School info meetings: Check www.mvwsd.org/register for a complete list with login information.
School kindergarten/new student information nights are online on December 7 at 6:00 p.m. for all elementary schools, and include choice school information. Click here for meeting information: http://mvw.sd/schoolinfo
If your child turns 5 years old between September 2, 2022 – February 2, 2023, he/she may qualify for transitional kindergarten. TK info night is December 14 at 5:00 p.m online at http://mvw.sd/TK1214
If you are interested in the District's choice schools, information nights are:
Gabriela Mistral: Dual Spanish/English Immersion: December 14 at 6 pm at http://mvw.sd/MI1214
Stevenson: Parent Child Teacher: December 15 at 6 pm at http://mvw.sd/ST1215
Choice schools will also have information at the elementary schools’ info nights (6 p.m. Dec. 7).
Please visit www.mvwsd.org/register for more information.
Seeking EL Testers!
Are you looking for a part time job and enjoy interacting with kids? Our district is looking for a few more EL Testers to administer the annual assessment of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking for English Learners. Fluency in academic English is required. For more information, or to apply, please visit mvwsd.org/jobs and look under “Support Staff - Hourly.” Alternatively, you may contact department secretary Leticia Corcoran at lcorcoran@mvwsd.org.
Upcoming MVEF Phonathon
Our Phonathon is coming up in December and we would love you to save us both a call!
We hope this serves as a gentle reminder to donate to MVEF today and support your child and every child in the district! The majority of our funding comes from donations from parents like you! Make a difference, save us both a call and donate today at mvef.org/donate.
MVHS Spartans Tree Lot
MVHS Sports Boosters is hosting the 8th Annual Spartans Tree Lot at Mountain View High School Stadium (3535 Truman Ave., Mountain View, CA 94040). Spartans Tree Lot offers premium, top-quality trees ranging in size from 3 feet to 12+ feet, holiday decorations, and supplies. In person and online delivery options are available. All proceeds benefit Mountain View High School Athletics. For more information, head to: SpartanTreeLot.com.
City of MV Santa’s Workshop Event
Join the elves at Santa’s Workshop for a jolly-filled time in building and creating some incredible holiday themed crafts on Saturday, Dec. 11th from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m at the Senior Center Social Hall. Children will have the opportunity to design ornaments, decorate cookies, customize their own stocking, make a snowy wonderland globe, write a letter to Santa, and so much more! This holiday program is open to all children ages 6 to 11 years old. Register online at MountainView.gov/Register using Code 15789.