Quetzal News

Dear Mistral Families,

I’d like to take a moment to update you on how we support our students with counseling and mental health services. Here’s how your child may experience these services throughout the school year.

Our school counselor, Mr. Jasen Okunnuga, plays a vital role in supporting students every day, supporting their academic needs, social-emotional well-being, and college or career planning. They are actively engaged on campus, often visiting classrooms to lead important discussions on topics socio emotional well-being and bullying. Being present and accessible on a daily basis allows them to build strong relationships with students and better understand their needs.

Our counselor is always available for drop-in sessions. He also helps students when they need it (drop-in), some meet in small groups, and others get one-on-one counseling. Individual sessions can last up to 8 weeks. The counselor reviews progress and makes recommendations based on student needs. Based on a student’s needs, the counselor may suggest more or less time in counseling, or they might work with the family to recommend outside care and community resources.

When a student continues to struggle, “COST teams” — a group of educators and support staff, work together to find the best ways to assist that student. Any member of staff may refer a student, and COST meetings are convened every other week to review all students who have been referred for review and support. A COST team’s recommendations are then assigned to our school counselor, who connects the student with more specialized services. Specialized services are provided by a variety of experts on staff, including School Psychologists, Behavior Analysts, and Mental Health Specialists (such as MFT or LCSW).

In some cases, students may have more specific or intensive needs. They might approach a counselor themselves, or their teacher or a parent may refer them. School counselors then work with the family to support them connecting to community resources including the County Behavioral Health warmline, and to other services based on their insurance coverage.

Previously, we worked with CHAC for school-based counseling, but have transitioned to our own school counselor. As we use school based counseling with support from Pacific Clinics for more intensive needs, we are seeing more flexibility and effectiveness in the support we can offer. By staffing School Counselors at MVWSD, we are able to have full-time counselors at every school to provide prevention and intervention student supports. Having counselors right here on campus allows us to know our students better, connect them with the support they need, and help coordinate services and referrals.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to prioritize the well-being of every student in our community.

In partnership,

Claudia Olaciregui, Principal

Celebrate Day of the Dead with the Mistral PTA:

• November 1, 2:30pm in the MUR: Screening of Coco (presented in Spanish), pan dulce, popcorn, and hot chocolate. Open to all Mistral families.
• November 2, 11-4pm: Check out Mistral's altar at the City of Mountain View Día de Muertos event at the Civic Center Plaza.

The Mistral PTA Walkathon is on Friday, November 8th! Check your child's backpack Friday for their Walkathon packets.

1. Help raise money for our school! Set up a pledge site on 99Pledges and start asking family and friends for donations. Or use the paper pledge form.

2. Join our team of volunteers! Sign up for a volunteer shift on Konstella . Sign up to donate baked goods . Your participation is important!

3. Return the Walkathon permission form by Monday, November 4.

Check out the Walkathon web page..

October 21-25

• Conference Week-Minimum Day Schedule dismissal at 11:55am

• School Spirit Day - Twin Day

October 23

• Parent U-Raising resilient children @ 5pm in the MUR

October 31

• Halloween Parade at 8:15am

November 1

• Dia de los Muertos/Movie-MUR @ 2:30 pm - Coco

November 3

• Daylights Saving- ("Fall Back" )Move clocks back one hour

November 8

• Walkathon after school event

November 11

• Veterans Day-No school

November 25-29

• Thanksgiving Recess

DISTRICT NEWS

Drafts available: Single Plans for Student Achievement

Each year, our schools create Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSAs or “site plans”) that guide the work for the coming year. These plans help us prioritize programs and strategies that will best serve our students. In the fall, elected parent representatives from School Site Councils and English Language Advisory Committees work with principals and school staff members to create a draft that is reviewed and approved by the MVWSD Board of Trustees. Parents and staff members may give feedback through Nov. 15 to their principal and elected parent representatives to SSC and ELAC. You may review the draft plans here.

MVWSD Seeking District Equity Advisory Committee Members

MVWSD is continuing our work by engaging meaningfully with the community on issues of equity through the District Equity Advisory Committee (DEAC). The goal of the DEAC is to provide feedback to the Superintendent on how to support MVWSD towards achieving its goals of becoming a more equitable and inclusive school district.

We are seeking a combination of district-level leaders, principals, teachers, staff members, and parent participants who represent the interests of both elementary and middle schools. Committee members will be expected to attend and participate virtually in meetings held once monthly (on average) online during the 2024-25 school year in the evening hours.

If you’re interested in participating, please click here to apply.

MVEF has reached its second milestone - $400k! Make your donation soon to achieve the goal of $1.2M.

Thanks to the generosity of new donors, repeat donors, corporate matching, and grants, MVEF has already raised 1/3 of this year’s $1.2M funding goal. Thank you to all who have donated so far and a special thanks to the "Nusimow Family Giving Fund" for the generous donation of $50k.

It’s a fast start on a big climb: MVWSD will soon begin planning for next year’s budget. When MVEF is on pace to meet the funding goal early in the school year, it gives confidence that we can continue funding the current priorities and potentially add new ones to next year’s budget.

Consider donating today - it's tax-deductible! Every gift, big or small, makes a difference. Setting up monthly installments is easy, just select "recurring donation" here. Learn more about ways to give here. Ever considered donating stocks? Learn more about it here.

FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

MV Public Library Parenting Program: Navigating Type 1 Diabetes

The Mountain View Public Library will hold a virtual parent program, “Navigating Type 1 Diabetes with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital” on Wednesday, October 30, from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. A roundtable of experts from the Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Care Team at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital will share information on early signs, latest medical technologies, and research, along with practical tips on behavioral and physiological concerns. Session is for families generally concerned, newly diagnosed, and those managing ongoing care. Register in advance here.

City of MV: Día de Muertos

Join the City of Mountain View to celebrate Día de Muertos at Civic Center Plaza on November 2 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to the celebration of memories and a ritual that “encourages remembering over forgetting.” Learn about these festivities and delight with the ofrendas and altars decorated with Cempasúchitl flowers, or marigolds, papel picado, sugar skulls, and a myriad of colors created and inspired by community members. The event will feature live performances and children’s activities. Learn more at MountainView.gov/Dia-de-Muertos.

Learning Challenges events for Fall 2024

For local coverage of issues related to learning challenges and special education, please check out the Learning Challenges Committee http://learningchallenges.lamvptac.org/

For broader coverage, look into the Northwest SCC SELPA CAC

Northwest Santa Clara County CAC meeting

October 29, 9 am

Register: https://sccoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpfuipqTwiGd2j1kNEBuVtKlTXV4IJn1TB

Morning Let’s Talk Parent Support group

October 30, 9 am on Zoom.

IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqcu-vrDsiHdW_I5OTIYOiHcpy1tEmzuta

Who’s Who is Serving Our Little Ones? - Planning and Strategies for Children 3-5

From Department of Developmental Services and Palo Alto CAC

November 14, 6-7 pm on Zoom. Register: http://bit.ly/DDSTraining2

Evening Let’s Talk Parent Support group

November 19, 7 pm on Zoom.

IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtfu2hrj0pG9zqGFeTzEnqs1U7cVxTcfl-

Learning Challenges Committee Meeting

December 3, 7:30 pm on Zoom

The LCC is working on providing a support group for parents, and planning to create a wish list for teachers throughout Mountain View and Los Altos for classroom supplies to support sensory needs. Would you like to help? Other ideas to support students and families with learning challenges? Join us here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld-usrj8tEtNskynSpmorDiYZNt9_KAgq

Morning Let’s Talk Parent Support group

December 19, 10 am on Zoom.

IEP/504 support group. Have questions about the process to get help for your child? Have an IEP but are not sure how to make changes? Need to vent? This is your confidential group. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrduupqD0vEtSpweFX71KvNAcKW8Csy4D3

Missed past Parent Education events?

We have a YouTube channel with many of our past events including the recent talk on Assistive Technology, info on summer camps and recreational activities, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Learning Challenges, SMART Goals and IEP Troubleshooting, and more. Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuy7IcVz-4LTDxv2Jaq13nw